CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALLSTATE AND THE SEARLE FUNDS AT THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST.

GOOD EVENING.

Y BIENVENIDAS CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ OF UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO WE ARE HERE THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT IN MARCH OF 2021 THE CITY WAS SENT REELING WHEN CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS SHOT AND KILLED TWO MEN TWO DAYS APART.

WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LATINO COMMUNITY STANDS A YEAR LATER.

>>> A NEW MEDICAID EXPANSION OFFERS HEALTHCARE BENEFITS FOR IMMIGRANT ADULTS OVER 55 YEARS OLD.

ESTATE PLAN OFFERS RESOURCES TO STOP DEATHS FROM OPIOID OVERDOSE IS PAIRED WE TALK TO THOSE ABOUT THE PANDEMIC AND HOW IT LED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSES.

>> A LITTLE VILLAGE BUSINESS WHERE YOU CAN GET A HAIRCUT WITH A SIDE OF VINTAGE VIBES.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT ONE YEAR AGO THIS WEEK TWO YOUNG LATINOS WERE SHOT AND KILLED BICE CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS BUT WHO EXACTLY WAS TO BLAME FOR THE TWO DEATHS?

STILL DIVIDES THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY.

WHERE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE VIOLENT CRIME IS ALL TOO COMMON, OPINIONS ON HOW POLICE SHOOT AND OPERATE IN THE COMMUNITIES IS FAR FROM UNITED.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY COUNCIL, GRACIELA GARCIA.

AND RETIRED POLICE SERGEANT AND PRESIDENT OF THE POLICE ASSOCIATION AND PILSEN RESIDENT, WILLIAM GUERRERO.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU WILLIAM WHAT WAS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DECLINING TO PRESS CHARGES AGAINST THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO SHOT ADAM AND ANTHONY?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST THANK YOU GUYS FOR BRINGING THE PLATFORM TO US AND YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING.

VERY DISAPPOINTING.

RIGHT?

WE JUST SAW A HUMAN BEING KILL ANOTHER HUMAN BEING AND THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY WHATSOEVER BEING HELD TO THESE OFFICERS.

THEY SHOT AND KILLED THESE TWO YOUNG PEOPLE.

RIGHT?

IT IS FRUSTRATING, VERY FRUSTRATING.

>> GRACIELA, THIS YEAR ALSO AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN LITTLE VILLAGE BY A TEENAGE GANG MEMBER TARGETING RIVAL GANG MEMBERS AND THERE HAVE BEEN MORE SHOOTING SINCE THEN.

HOW MUCH RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THEMSELVES BEAR FOR THIS CONTINUED VIOLENCE?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE RESPONSIBILITY.

I WOULD SAY OUR COMMUNITY HAS GENERATIONAL TRAUMA THAT OUR YOUTH IS EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.

AND, A LARGE PART OF THESE VIOLENT ACTS THAT ARE BEING COMMITTED ARE BECAUSE THERE ARE NO RESOURCES FOR RENTAL HEALTH FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS TO HEAL.

IN PART, THE REASON OR SOME OF THE REASON THAT THEY ARE DOING IT IS BECAUSE THE REALITY OF THIS PAIN THAT IS GENERATIONAL THAT EXISTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE LIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT A SICKLY EVERYONE SUFFERS FROM PTSD.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES OR KNOWLEDGE TO HEAL AND THEY EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH THESE VIOLENT ACTS OF CRIME.

IN PART, IT IS CATHARTIC TO THEM BECAUSE IT IS BETTER THAN WHAT THE REALITY IS.

THERE IS NO RESORT SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH SO THAT WE CAN SAY OKAY, NOW WHAT IS THE REASON THAT THE COMMUNITY DOES HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE?

EVEN WHEN WE TRY TO HOLD PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IS A HOPE THAT IS BEYOND OUR REACH THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO OBTAIN.

>> ON THIS NEXT QUESTION I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ALL THREE OF YOU FROM CPD.

DID THEY DO THE RIGHT THING OR NOT IN REVISING THEIR FOOT PURSUIT?

I WANT TO START WITH YOU WILLIAM.

>> THERE'S A LOT THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, RIGHT?

IN THE CASE OF ADAM, HE COULD HAVE BEEN PATTED DOWN.

THERE WAS A NEED TO USE A GUN THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SHOT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THE FACT THAT HE WAS SHOT IN THE CHEST, AGAIN, IT IS FRUSTRATING, RIGHT?

LIKE WHY IS THIS DONE?

THEY COULD'VE TAKEN ANY OTHER METHOD THAT WOULD HAVE HAD ADAM STILL ALIVE TODAY.

BUT NO, THAT HASN'T HAPPENED AND I DON'T THINK THEY DID THE RIGHT THING.

>> WALDEMAR, SAME QUESTION.

>> WE WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

WE KEEP ANSWERING THIS QUESTION.

WE HAVE SIX DECADES IN THESE COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY LATINO COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE GROWN UP IN DIFFERENT AREAS THAT IS PREDOMINANTLY LATINO AND YET A LOT OF THINGS AND VIOLENCE AND THE PROBLEM IS THE SIX DECADES OF GANGS WHO ARE BLOOMING YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GENERATION AFTER GENERATION ROOMING YOUNG PEOPLE TO JOIN GANGS.

IS IT A TRAGEDY?

YES.

IS IT A TRAGEDY THAT WE DON'T HAVE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS OPEN?

ABSOLUTELY.

WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO BLAME THE POLICE.

AND, IN THE LAST YEAR, 2021 TO 2022 THERE WAS 276 SHOOTING VICTIMS UNDER THE AGE OF 16.

43 WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 13.

AND WE DON'T HEAR THE PUBLIC COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT.

WE DON'T HEAR COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS SAYING IT'S AN ISSUE.

IT'S ONLY AN ISSUE WHEN THE POLICE ARE CALLED OUT TO PROTECT SOCIETY AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND THEY HAVE TO MAKE SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS TO SAVE THEIR LIVES OR OTHERS.

>> GRACIELA WHAT TO MAKE OF THE FOOT PURSUIT?

>> I WANT TO COMMENT ON SOMETHING.

OUR ORGANIZATION MOST DEFINITELY DOES NOT BLAME THE POLICE.

IN FACT WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO BLAME ANYONE.

WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE SOLUTIONS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

NOTHING IS GOING TO BE FIXED WHEN THEY START SAYING IT'S THE PARENTS FAULT, IT'S THE POLICES FAULT, LET'S THROW IN THE TEACHERS, TO, RIGHT?

NOTHING WILL BE RESOLVED.

THE REAL CONVERSATION WILL BE HELD FROM ACCOUNTABILITY FROM EVERYONE.

RIGHT?

THE POLICE PUT IN PART THESE POLICIES AND EVEN WHEN THESE POLICIES ARE IN PLACE POLICE OFFICERS DO NOT FOLLOW THOSE POLICIES.

WE HAVE PAID MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THOSE INFRACTIONS THAT THEY DO NOT FOLLOW.

SOME HAVE EVEN PAID WITH THEIR LIFE.

THAT WOMAN POLICE OFFICER, I CANNOT REMEMBER HER NAME BUT SHE DID NOT FOLLOW THE POLICY.

>> GRACIELA, WHAT SHOULD POLICE DO WITH FOOT PURSUITS?

>> WITH FOOT PURSUITS?

IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO COMMENT ON.

BUT, IN POLICE PURSUITS, THE SAFETY OF OTHERS IF IT'S NOT COMPROMISED THEN OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO STOP THE CRIME IN ACTION.

THE CITY OF CHICAGO JUST PAID OUT THE PURSUIT THAT THEY WERE TOLD TO STAND DOWN FROM WHEN A CHILD WAS KILLED AND THERE WE GO PAYING OUT MORE MONEY.

>> I WANT TO MOVE ON BECAUSE THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY MORE QUESTIONS.

WHAT OTHER FACTORS CONTRIBUTED TO VIOLENCE THAT POLICE CANNOT ADDRESS?

>> WHAT DO I SEE THAT ARE FACTORS?

OBVIOUSLY THE SAME THING AS ALWAYS A LOCK OF RESOURCES.

A LACKING OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY REACHING OUT TO INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN NEED.

ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MYSELF THAT OPERATE ON A $7000 PER YEAR BUDGET THAT ARE LIMITED BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO US.

THAT IS IN PART OF WHAT THEY SEE HERE AND IT IS ALL ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT ARE LACKING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IT SHOULDN'T BE LACKING ESPECIALLY LITTLE VILLAGE WHEN REVENUE PRODUCES IS ALWAYS BEING COMPARED TO MICHIGAN AVENUE BUT WE DO NOT HAVE THOSE SAME RESOURCES OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES.

>> LISTEN TO THIS SPIRITUAL CALL HAS MORE POLICE PER CAPITA THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN AMERICA BUT VIOLENCE RATES HAVE BEEN HIGH FOR YEARS.

WE KNOW THAT.

HOW SHOULD COMMUNITIES DETERMINE IF POLICE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB?

>> THAT'S A DIFFICULT QUESTION RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE THE POLICE HELD AT SUCH A HIGH STANDARD WHICH WE UNDERSTAND.

WE TOOK THE JOB AND WE UNDERSTAND WE ARE HELD AT A HIGHER STANDARD BUT AT THE SAME TIME EVERYTHING GETS POINTED AT US.WE HAVE SO MANY DUTIES ON THE JOB WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, TEACHERS, HANDLE MARRIAGE COUNSELING A LOT OF DOMESTIC ISSUES.

A LOT OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ISSUES AND THEN WE ADD GANGS AND VIOLENCE AND ISSUES THAT HAPPEN AT LOCAL SCHOOLS THAT'S A LOT OF WEAR-AND-TEAR AND A LOT OF PRESSURE TO PUT ON POLICE OFFICERS.

I KNOW EVERYBODY SAYS WE HAVE THE HIGHEST POLICE PRESENCE PER CAPITA BUT UNDER THE CITY BUDGET WE WENT FROM 13,000 POLICE OFFICERS AND WE ARE CLOSE TO 10,500 AND HUNDRED RETIRING EVERY MONTH.

INSTEAD OF US PRODUCING A SYSTEM WHERE WE DIVERSIFY THE POLICE LEASE DEPARTMENT AND WE TAKE COMMUNITIES LIKE LITTLE VILLAGE AND HUMBLE PARK WE PARTNER UP WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY AS MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, OUR TIME IS UP HERE WE COULD SPEND A WHOLE HOUR DEBATING ABOUT THIS AND TALKING ABOUT THIS.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO THANK GRACIELA GARCIA, WALDEMAR CRUZ AND WILLIAM GUERRERO.

>>> IN THE SUMMER OF 2020 ILLINOIS EXPANDED MEDICAID TO PROVIDE HEALTH COVERAGE TO IMMIGRANT ADULTS AGE 65 AND OLDER AND NOW ANOTHER EXPANSION WILL ADD HEALTHCARE BENEFITS TO LOW INCOME IMMIGRANTS AGE 55 TO 64 STARTING IN MAY.

DR. YOLANDA ESCALONA MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF COOK COUNTY HEALTH ARLINGTON HEIGHTS CLINIC SAID THE EXPANSION WAS NECESSARY TO HELP PROTECT THE HEALTH OF A VERY VULNERABLE POPULATION.

>> IT ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR OUR PATIENTS THAT OUR SYSTEM CANNOT PROVIDE FOR THEM.

FOR EXAMPLE IN OUR SYSTEM OUR PATIENTS CAN RECEIVE PRESCRIPTIONS, HEALTHCARE, PRIMARY CARE, SPECIALTY CARE THAT IF THEY NEED OTHER THINGS OUTSIDE OF THAT FOR EXAMPLE, DURABLE MEDICAL WOMEN LIKE OXYGEN AT HOME OR SUPPLIES IF THEY HAVE WOUNDS OR PROBLEMS WITH INCONTINENCE, THESE ARE THE SERVICES THAT THEY CAN RECEIVE WITH THIS PROGRAM HERE THESE ARE OLDER PATIENTS WHO COME FROM OTHER COUNTRIES WHO ARE DEPENDENT ON THEIR CHILDREN AND A LOT OF THEM ARE AFRAID THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD HEALTHCARE NOR DO THEY WANT TO BE A BURDEN TO THEIR CHILDREN.

SO, THEY WILL STAY HOME AND WILL IGNORE THEIR CARE.

A LOT OF THEIR PATIENTS MY PATIENTS WILL COME IN WITH END-STAGE HEALTH CONDITIONS AND ADVANCE PROBLEMS AND IF THEY JUST HAD THE HEALTHCARE THAT COVERAGE THEY WOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO COME IN SOONER.

THAT'S WHY AS A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER WHO BELIEVES IN PREVENTION THIS REALLY HELPS ME AND HELPS PATIENTS TO GET COMFORTABLE TO SEEK THE CARE.

>> THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS ON THE PROGRAM.

HOME HEALTHCARE, VISITATION CARE AND LONG-TERM NURSING OR NOT COVERED UNDER THIS PROGRAM.

THOSE INTERESTED IN APPLYING CAN FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ON A WEBSITE OR APPLY IN PERSON AT COOK COUNTY HEALTH LOCATION.

NEXT BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ON AN EFFORT TO STOP OVERDOSE RELATED DEATHS.

STAY WITH US.

[MUSIC] GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER RECENTLY OUTLINED A PLAN TO STEM THE TIDE OF DEATH DUE TO OPIOID OVERDOSES IN ILLINOIS.

THE ACTION PLAN OFFERS NEW AND EXPANDED RESOURCES TO HELP TREAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTION INCLUDING A MOBILE VAN WITH MEDICATION ASSISTED RECOVERY, OVERDOSE EDUCATION AND TREATMENT IN THE LOCK ZONE AND THAT IS AN OVERDOSE RECOVERY SERVICE FOR COMMUNITIES MOST AFFECTED BY OPIOID DEATHS.

THIS AS CHICAGO COMMUNITIES, HUMBLE PARK AND NORTH MONDALE RECORDED THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS EVER IN 2020.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON THIS ARE LAURA COOPER ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF CHILD YOUTH SERVICES AT CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND EVELYN DELGADO MANAGER OF THE MEDICATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AT ESPERANZA HEALTH CENTERS.

YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

EVELYN LET'S START WITH YOU.

HAVE YOU SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE OPIOID USE SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN?

>> I BELIEVE SO.

WE HAVE SEEN A NEW FULL TO OUR PROGRAM.

THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THAT BUT WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE FACTORS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED HE MET.

>> A COUPLE OF FACTORS.

CONTRIBUTING TO THE RISE AND THOSE ARE ACCESS TO RESOURCES DURING THE PANDEMIC A LOT OF RESOURCES WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO MANY PATIENT.

A LOT OF PATIENTS HAD WEIGHTLESS OVER NOT ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS OR CLIENTS WERE SEEKING OTHER FORMS OF SUPPORT BECAUSE THE CURRENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE QUARANTINE AND PANDEMIC.

THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THEY COULD NO LONGER GO TO GROUP OR SEE THEIR SPONSORS OR THEIR SUPPORT NETWORK AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MORE EXCEPT OF A DIFFERENT KIND OF TREATMENT AND I THINK THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF FACTORS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE RISE IN REFERRALS.

>> THIS MONTH CHICAGO HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED IT WOULD STOP DOSES OF MALAKI'S OWN IN 14 DIFFERENT PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

HOW DO INITIATIVES LIKE THAT HOPE TO STOP DEATH?

>> GETTING IT TO THE HANDS OF PEOPLE THAT NEED IT IN A SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE OVERDOSES IS A WAY THAT WE CAN SAVE LIVES.

HAVING IT BE SO AVAILABLE IN PLACES THAT COMMUTING MEMBERS CAN GO TO AND IS SO EASILY ACCESSIBLE WITH NO QUESTION ASKS IS GETTING IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT MOST.

>> TALK ABOUT HOW ESPERANCE APPROACHES TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

>> WE HAVE A VERY GOOD APPROACH WITH PATIENTS AS THEY ARE TO BE ALLOW THE PATIENT TO DESCRIBE WHAT RECOVERY MEANS TO THEM AND THEIR GOALS.

THEY CAN GET A NUMBER OF MEDICATIONS AND WE PROVIDE NARCAN WHICH IS ONE OF THE VERSIONS OF MOLOCH'S OWN.

THEY CHARGE PATIENTS WHO ARE UNDERINSURED AND ANY PATIENT THAT COMES INTO THE PROGRAM WHETHER IT BE FOR OPIOID ABUSE DISORDER OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER WILL ALSO RECEIVE EDUCATION ON HOW TO USE NARCAN AND AGAIN IF THEY CANNOT AFFORD IT WE WILL PROVIDE IT TO THEM FREE OF CHARGE.

>> HARM REDUCTION BASICALLY REDUCING HARM NOT TELLING PATIENT OR CLIENT TO NOT GIVE THE DRUG UP ENTIRELY OR INTRODUCE SOME OTHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE RECOVERY TOOLS.

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

WE DEFINITELY HAVE A POSITIVE CHANGE MENTALITY APPEARED WHETHER IT IS USING LESS OR HAVING NARCAN AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES OR BEING ABLE TO KEEP A JOB WHATEVER THEIR GOALS ARE.

SO WE CAN SUPPORT AND HELP THE PATIENT WITH.

>> LAURA, HOW MUCH DOES FIT IN ALL FACTOR TO THE NUMBER OF OVERDOSE DEATHS WE'VE SEEN?

>> I THINK IT IS FACTORING A LOT.

WITH THAT NOT IT IS SO POTENT.

IT CAN HAVE DEADLY EFFECTS.

AND FOR CLIENT THINK THEY ARE USING HEROIN AND IT'S REALLY FENNEL OR HAS FENNEL IN IT THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF WHAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN THEIR BODY AND IT REALLY HAS DIRE CONSEQUENCES.

>> WHAT ARE SOME SERVICES THAT CATHOLIC CHARITIES OFFER TO HELP PEOPLE WITH ADDICTION?

>> WE OFFER A PROGRAM THAT IS FUNDED BY DHS SUPER DIVISION THAT WORKS WITH PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM WOMEN THAT HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS WHICH IS REALLY A COOL WAY TO SERVICE THE WOMEN COMING TO US FOR HELP AND WE HAVE TRADITIONAL OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

>> EVELYN WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS TO TREATMENT THAT MEMBERS OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY MIGHT EXPERIENCE?

>> THIS DEFINITELY A NUMBER OF BARRIERS THAT PATIENTS WOULD FACE IN THE COMMUNITY.

A COUPLE OF THEM BEING ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND AGAIN THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN LATINO COMMUNITIES.

ANOTHER ONE COULD CHILDCARE AND MANY OTHER PATIENTS HAVE CHILDREN SO ACCESS TO CHILDCARE EMPLOYMENT IS ANOTHER ONE.

MANY PATIENTS STRUGGLE WITH EMPLOYMENT DUE TO IMMIGRATION STATUS AND NOT HAVING ACCESS TO A COMPUTER OR ANYTHING TO APPLY FOR JOBS.

ALSO THE ACCESS TO INSURANCE.

SOME OF OUR PATIENTS ARE NOT INSURED OR UNDERINSURED AND THAT CAN HINDER THEM THEY ARE LABELED THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD THEM.>> BEFORE WE GO AURA WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION CAN SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS BUT ALSO ABLE WHO ARE FACING ADDICTION?

>> ALWAYS IT'S INCREASE FUNDING THE MORE FUNDING WE HAVE THE MORE SERVICES WE CAN PROVIDE MORE INNOVATIVE WE CAN BE THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE AND GET THEM IN THE MOST EASILY ACCESSIBLE LOCATION SO THAT THE CLIENT CAN GET THE SERVICES THAT THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED.

I HATE THAT IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO MONEY BUT IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO MONEY.

>> A DIFFICULT JOB AS WELL.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

EVELYN DELGADO AND LAURA HOOVER FOR JOINING US.

WE ARE BACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> NEARLY 700,000 CHICAGO RESIDENTS CLAIM MEXICAN HERITAGE AND OVER THE YEARS MEXICAN CULTURE FROM FOOD TO MUSIC HAS BECOME WOVEN INTO THE CITIES TAPESTRY.

A NEW BUSINESS IN LITTLE VILLAGE EXPLORES WHERE MIDWESTERN MID MEXICAN BY COMBINING HAIRCUTS WITH THICK CUTS.

ERICA GUNDERSON RECENTLY BROUGHT US THE STORY.

HERE'S ANOTHER LOOK.

>> THE SOUND OF A NEIGHBORHOOD BARBERSHOP FRIENDLY CHATTER, CLIPPERS CUTTING AND SNAPPING IS UNMISTAKABLE.

BUT FOLKS GETTING A TRAM AT DEL PUEBLO BARBERS & RECORDS ARE ALSO HEARING THE SOUNDTRACK OF A MIDWESTERN NECK SICK AND CHILDHOOD FROM VINTAGE TO CHICAGO HOP.

>> I REMEMBER THERE WAS A BAR ON RACINE AND I WAS A LITTLE BOY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM TEXAS ARE IN CHICAGO SO THE BIG TEXAS SOUND OF LIKE LITTLE JOE IN THE FAMILY AND THINGS THAT WERE WHAT THEY CALL CANTINA MUSIC I JUST REMEMBER GETTING MY AUNT TO TELL MY UNCLES THAT DINNER IS READY AND I READY KNEW WHERE TO GET THEM.

THEY WERE ALL SITTING DOWN AT THE BAR AND I REMEMBER GOING TO A BARSTOOL.

>> OR THE CO-OWNER THOSE SOUNDS WERE JUST GROWING UP CHICANO IN CHICAGO.>> WE ARE MAINTAINING OUR IDENTITY.

BUT WHEN WE SPEAK ENGLISH WE SOUND LIKE WE ARE FROM THE WEST SIDE.

WHEN WE DRESS WE HAVE THE SOX HAT, WE ARE VERY CHICAGO, VERY AMERICAN, VERY URBAN.

>> JONATHAN SAID HIS SKILL IN THE ART ARE ALL SYSTEMS FROM HIS CHILDHOOD.

>> I STARTED CUTTING HAIR OUT OF NECESSITY PAID WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GO SHOPPING EVERY TWO WEEKS AND GET A HAIRCUT.

MY MOM HAD A PAIR OF CLIPPERS AND CHEERS AND SHE GOT MY DAD'S HAIR, MY BROTHERS HAIR AND MY HAIR AND SHE WOULD CUT MY HAIR IN A WAY I DIDN'T WANT IT SO I LEARNED TO CUT MY OWN HAIR.

MY FRIENDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO WERE ALSO IN THE SAME SITUATION DECIDED THAT I WAS GOING TO BE THE GUY WHO WOULD CUT THEIR HAIR.

>> WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY AROSE TO OPEN A SHOP IN THE HEART OF LITTLE VILLAGE IN JULY OF 2020 JONATHAN AND HIS IS THIS PARTNER, LEO GUZMAN JUMPED AT THE CHANCE TO WHERE MIDWESTERN MEXICAN WOULD FEEL RIGHT AT HOME.

>> WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER CITIES.

WERE VERY PROUD OF WHO WE ARE IN CHICAGO AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT, MAKING OTHER PEOPLE FEEL LIKE YOU ARE ONE OF THEM AND I DEFINITELY FEEL THAT HERE.

I MAY NOT LOOK 100 PERCENT MEXICAN BUT IT DEFINITELY FEELS LIKE HOME.

>> ALL ALONG THE SHOP ARE THE SOUNDS AND SIGNIFIERS OF CHICAGO CHICANO WITH LOCALLY MADE ART AND MERCHANDISE FOR SALE TO THE VINYL RECORDS THEY SELL AND PLAY ON THE TURNTABLE.

LEO GUZMAN WHO ALSO DJS MANAGES THE MUSIC COLLECTION.

>> WE TRY TO FOCUS ON A LOT OF MARRIOTT G, RANCH ERA, MUSIC WHERE THEY MENTIONED CHICAGO OR THEY MENTIONED LITTLE VILLAGE AND THAT IS WHAT I REALLY LIKE.

I LIKE TO TELL A STORY THROUGH MUSIC.

A LOT OF MUSIC WE TRIED TO PLAY IS NEW WE TRY TO PROMOTE NEW BANDS.

>> EVERYTHING IS DONE HERE AND LOCALLY.

AND FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END EXCEPT FOR THE MAKING OF THE T-SHIRTS WHICH WERE PROBABLY MADE IN CHINA BUT NOTHING ELSE IS DONE HERE AND IS PROVIDING INCOME FOR EVERYBODY DOWN THE LINE.

>> JONATHAN AND LEO HOPE THAT THIS CAN BE A PLACE FOR CHICAGOANS CHICANO OR NOT CAN CELEBRATE THE UNIQUE BLEND OF CULTURES THAT IS LITTLE VILLAGE.

WAX I SEE KIDS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A SPACE A PLACE TO IDENTIFY AND IF YOU OFFER THEM SOME TURNTABLES THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT CHICAGO HOUSE MUSIC OR FREESTYLE MUSIC OR LEARN ABOUT HOW CHICAGO AND LITTLE VILLAGE AND PILSEN INFLUENCED THE WORLD OF SOUND.

>> IS A SPACE WHERE YOU CAN COMBINE, SOCIALIZE AND GET CREATIVE.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO COME BY AND SHARE THE MUSIC BECAUSE THAT IS ULTIMATELY WHAT THIS BASIS FOR TO KEEP THE CULTURE FLOWING AND KEEP THE NEXT GENERATION INTERESTED.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE ON THE PUEBLO BARBERS AND RECORDS ON HER WEBSITE AS WELL.

THAT'S GOT TO BE THE CHAUFFEUR THIS WEEKEND.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SUNDAY AT 10 PM.

AND SO TUNE IN TO US EVERY SUNDAY MORNING I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU AND I WILL BE BACK HERE ON THE HOST CHAIR NEXT WEEK ON LATINO VOICES.

WE WILL LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH OUR EXHIBIT NOW OPEN AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART KID THE IMAGES ARE COURTESY OF BANK OF MEXICO FIDUCIARY AT THE CHICAGO TRUST.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT:LATINO VOICES, I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

BUENAS NOCHES !