If there is such a thing as a trailblazing parade marshal, then Monica Pizano is it.

The 44-year-old Pizano, the first Hispanic to own a real estate firm in Kankakee County when she opened her downtown Kankakee RE/MAX Prestige Homes office in 2022, can now add another first to her resume.

Pizano, of St. Anne, is a 1999 graduate of St. Anne Community High School and will become the first Latino to be the Kankakee Christmas Parade’s grand marshal.

Saturday’s parade will be only the fourth since it was restarted by 4th Ward Alderman Lance Marczak in December 2022, but in its previous long history, it never had a Latino or Hispanic grand marshal.

Pizano is not the first in her family to be a first in Kankakee. Her uncle, Aurelio Garcia, was the first Hispanic officer on the Kankakee Police Department when he was hired in April 1992. He has since retired.

The parade is not new to Pizano. Her real estate office is located in the 200 block of South Schuyler Avenue – basically in the center of the parade’s route.

However, she will have a much different vantage point this year. Pizano has been a fixture in the parade’s staging area, helping to get all the participants lined up and ready to move.

She now will be at the front, waving to those gathered along North and South Schuyler avenues.

“I’m excited,” she said.

The parade is slated to begin at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Pizano said she was a bit nervous a couple of weeks ago when she was at the National Association of Realtors Conference in Houston, Texas. While attending the conference, she received a call from Kankakee Mayor Chris Curtis.

She, of course, thought something was wrong.

“I was frantic. I returned the call,” she said.

Curtis, however, had good news.

The committee – comprising the past three grand marshals, Curtis and Marczak, who serves as chairman of the parade’s organizing committee – had met and selected her as the grand marshal.

The past three grand marshals were Dennis Baron, former longtime 6th Ward Kankakee alderman; Theodis Pace, longtime president of the Kankakee County branch of the NAACP; and Allison Beasley, Kankakee Public Library director.

Relieved that the call was not about anything negative, Pizano broke out in laughter when Curtis delivered the news.

“It wasn’t bad news,” she said. “I was speechless. I am so honored.”

Biz owner and city helper

A lifelong Kankakee County resident, Pizano and her husband, Ricardo, are parents to Jose “Angel,” 22, and Sofia, 18.

She noted that her grandfather also was one of the first Hispanics to call Kankakee County home.

“I want our youth to see we can be change-makers,” Pizano said. “This means a lot. I’m proud to be a Latino.”

The committee kicked around a couple of other names, but once Pizano’s name was brought to the table of the naming committee, it was agreed upon that she was the choice.

Beasley, who suggested Pizano, said her community engagement is what sets her apart. In addition to her professional work, Pizano also is vice president of the Kankakee County Hispanic Partnership.

The partnership focuses on the collaboration of individuals and organizations in Kankakee County dedicated to empowering the Hispanic community.

“A grand marshal should represent the heart of our community, and Monica does exactly that” Marczak said. “Her service, her advocacy and her commitment to our city make her an outstanding choice. We are honored to have her lead this year’s parade.”

Pizano has been active in helping to protect Latinos and Hispanics from Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the federal government’s efforts to deport illegal immigrants.

That work, Beasley said, is a key factor in bringing her name forward.

She said her dedication to downtown Kankakee also has not gone unnoticed.

“She is one of the ‘behind the scene’ people who make this a better place to live,” Beasley said. “When I brought her name to the committee, everyone immediately went for her. I was willing to fight for her if I had to.”

No fight was necessary. Committee members know her spirit and her dedication.

“She’s one of those people who says, ‘What can I do to help?’ She jumps in and helps whenever possible,” Beasley said.

On Saturday, she will not be needed in the back of the parade. Her participation will be required up front, with a broad smile and hand waves to the crowd.