>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES .

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, WHAT HIRING MIGHT LOOK LIKE UNDER THE CITY'S NEXT MAYOR, BRANDON JOHNSON .

>>> A FOUR YEAR STUDY OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS FINDS LATINO YOUTH AT ESPECIALLY HIGH RISK FOR ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.

>>> AS WE APPROACH THE MUSIC FESTIVAL, ORGANIZERS TRUMPET LAST YEAR'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS.

>>> OUR CHICAGO BAND CONNECTS NEW GENERATIONS WITH THEIR TWIST ON TRADITIONAL MEXICAN FOLK MUSIC.

>>> THAT IS WHAT KEEPS MOVING.

>> NEXT UP IN OUR ON THE PATH SERIES, PURPLE PIG CHEF TALKS PASSION, PANDEMIC AND PORK.

ALL THAT COMING UP.

OUR STORY TONIGHT, EXAMINING WHETHER MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ACTUALLY APPOINTED ADVERSE LEADERSHIP LIKE SHE PROMISED AND WHAT TO EXPECT FROM CHICAGO'S NEXT MAYOR, THAT IS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE SPONSORS.

>>> WHEN SHE BECAME MAYOR, LORI LIGHTFOOT PROMISED THAT THE PEOPLE IN HER ADMINISTRATION WOULD REFLECT THE CITY'S ETHNIC DIVERSITY.

NOW, AS THE NEW ADMINISTRATION WAITS IN THE WINGS, A WTTW NEWS ANALYSIS EXAMINED WHETHER SHE MADE GOOD ON THAT PROMISE .

WE ALSO ASK WHAT LATINO HIRING MIGHT LOOK LIKE UNDER THE NEXT MAYOR, BRANDON JOHNSON.

JOINING US ARE EMMANUEL PEREZ WHO SERVED UNDER MAYOR LIGHTFOOT, DEPUTY MAYOR FOR INTO GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS.

HE IS NOW SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF REAL ESTATE CAPITAL.

HE IS ALSO AFFILIATED WITH THE ILLINOIS LATINO AGENDA.

CARLOS IS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND 26 WARD PERSON ELECT JESSE POINTERS, FORMER CO-CHAIR OF THE PUERTO RICAN AGENDA.

WELCOME ALTER CHICAGO TONIGHT.

AS WE MENTIONED, A NUMBER OF HIGH PROFILE LATINO APPOINTMENTS THAT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT DID NOT KEEP UP WITH THE PACE OF GROWTH WITH LATINOS IN THE CITY.

PEREZ IS SOMEBODY WHO IS IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

WHAT CAN YOU ADD?

>> THE MAYOR MADE SIGNIFICANT APPOINTMENTS TO KEY POSITIONS THAT HAD NOT SEEN THE DIVERSITY THAT OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS HAD.

SHE DEFINITELY ADVANCED THE AGENDA THAT SHE SET OUT WHICH WAS EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

IN PLACES LIKE THE LAW DEPARTMENT WHERE WE SAW THE FIRST LATINO -- THAT WAS VERY SIGNIFICANT, PLACES LIKE PTS WHERE WE HAD PEDRO MARTINEZ WHO NOT ONLY IS HOMEGROWN CHICAGOAN AND WENT TO CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WAS QUALIFIED AND IN A POSITION TO BE AT LEADERSHIP -- I THOUGHT SHE DID VERY WELL IN KEY APPOINTMENTS.

>> LET'S LOOK AT THE STATEMENT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE MAYOR REGARDING THIS ANALYSIS THAT WE DID.

IT IS A STATEMENT IN WHICH SHE DEFENDS THE RECORD.

SHE GOES ON TO SAY THE MAYOR HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO DIVERSIFYING KEY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS FROM THE START OF HER ADMINISTRATION.

THE ACTION IS SELF-EVIDENT WITH UNPRECEDENTED EMPLOYMENTS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE CITY'S FIRST LATINO CORPORATION COUNSEL, THE FIRST LaTINA CEO OF THE CHICAGO PARKS DISTRICT, THE FIRST LATINO CEO OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WHEREAS, IT IS NOT PERFECT BUT IT IS BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN PAST ADMINISTRATIONS AND BETTER THAN WHAT WE SEE ACROSS GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE SECTOR.

THIS IS NOT A MOMENT TO TAKE A VICTORY LAP AS OUR WORK TO ADVANCE EQUITY REMAINS ONGOING.

JESSE POINTERS, YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER GOVERNMENT AS AN OLDER PERSON.

WHAT YOU MAKE OF THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT?

>> MY COLLEAGUES HERE MENTIONED THAT LORI MADE APPOINTMENTS THAT WE HAD NOT SEEN.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS SO MUCH WORK TO DO AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN LATINO COMMUNITIES WERE SUFFERING THE MOST AND THERE WERE OFTEN LITTLE RESOURCES.

WE ALSO ARE WATCHING MIGRANTS COME TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND ARE HOPING TO RECEIVE THE TYPE OF RESOURCES THEY DESERVE.

IN ORDER TO DO SO, IT IS MUCH MORE THAN APPOINTMENTS.

IT IS ABOUT ENSURING THE PEOPLE THAT WE PUT IN POSITIONS HAVE THE TALENT, THE INTELLECT AND ARE ABLE TO SERVE THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE GRAPH THAT SHOWS WHAT THE CITY'S POPULATION IS IN RELATION TO THE NUMBER OF APPOINTEES.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE SEE THAT LATINOS COMPROMISE 49.9% OF THE CITY'S POPULATION.

THE MAYOR'S APPOINTEES ARE 27% AND YET THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CITY EMPLOYEES ARE 25%.

CARLOS, CLOSE ENOUGH?

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT?

>> I THINK I WOULD ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT MADE SOME KEY APPOINTMENTS.

BY NO MEANS, AS THEY POINTED OUT, IS IT A VICTORY LAP BUT IT IS GOOD TO SEE HOMEGROWN TAKING OVER THE REINS AT CPS.

I AM EXCITED FOR HIS NEXT SET OF IDEAS AND PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES BUT THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM FOR GROWTH AND I AM EXCITED FOR -- THE KEYWORD IS HOPEFUL UNDER THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION.

>> MANNY PEREZ, SOME PEOPLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION, ONE CAN IMAGINE PEOPLE SAYING WE NEED MORE CANDIDATES.

WHERE CAN WE FIND THEM?

WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE TALENT POOL OUT THERE THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THESE HIGH-LEVEL POSITIONS?

>> I THINK IT IS VERY CHALLENGING TO FIND FOLKS THAT ARE READY TO STEP IN DAY ONE IN HIGH-LEVEL GOVERNMENT POSITIONS UNLESS THEY HAVE ALREADY HAD PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE.

IT IS A LOT EASIER TO GET FOLKS AT A LEVEL, AT A NUMBER TWO OR NUMBER THREE POSITION SO FOLKS UNDERSTAND THE JOB, UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM AND THEN GROW INTO THE POSITION.

>> YOU WERE PROMOTED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

JESSIE FUENTES, YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE TALENT POOL IN THE PIPELINE WITH THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION?

>> I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE EXTREMELY TALENTED PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR DECADES.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES THAT AN INTIMATE LEVEL.

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TAP INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND LISTEN TO WHO THEY BELIEVE DESERVES THEM.

>> CARLOS, WHAT WORKS TO HIRING, WHAT WORKS IN RECRUITING?

>> FOLKS NEED TO BE OUT THERE.

WHEN I SAY OUT THERE WITH THESE NONPROFITS, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, MEET WITH THE PUBLIC SECTOR FOLKS.

I HEAR THE MENTIONS OF GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THOSE NUMBER TWO, NUMBER THREE.

THOSE FOLKS NEED TO BE OUT AND ABOUT AS WELL, GETTING THAT EXPERIENCE.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE METROPOLITAN LEADERSHIP, THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AS WELL.

CHICAGO LATINO POCKET FOUNDATIONS, THESE ARE JUST SOME BUT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, THOSE FOUNDATIONS ALSO HELP BREED AND GET THESE FOLKS OUT IN FRONT.

>> MANNY PEREZ, SOMEONE AS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RANKING LATINOS IN THE LIGHTFOOT ADMINISTRATION, MAYBE YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE COMMENTING ON WHAT THE NEW MAYOR SHOULD DO BUT A POLL BY NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY FOUND THAT THERE WAS A NOTABLE OUTREACH BY BOTH CAMPAIGNS TO LATINO VOTERS.

IS THAT IT TROUBLING SIGN IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL HIRING?

>> WHEN 30% OF THE POPULATION IS LATINO, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REACH OUT TO THAT PART OF THE POPULATION, TO BE INCLUSIVE, TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

WHAT I HAVE SEEN FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION SO FAR IS THE SIGNALING THAT LATINO WILL HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

IN THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DEPUTY CHAFF BEING SENATOR, I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY PROMISING BECAUSE I UNDERSTOOD, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BE IN A PROMINENT POSITION UNDER SOMEONE WITH RICH GUIDANCE WITH AN INCREDIBLE PUBLIC SERVANT WHO HAS BEEN AROUND A CITY GOVERNMENT FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND THAT WILL BE A GOOD PAIRING FOR CHRISTINA TO LEARN FROM RICH AND FOR RICH TO LEARN FROM CHRISTINA.

>> WE SHALL BE WATCHING WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION DOES.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE THANK YOU, JESSIE FUENTES , MANNY PEREZ AND CARLOS.

THANK YOU.

>>> WE ARE WEEKS AWAY FROM THE SECOND ANNUAL SUEÑOS FESTIVAL, A TWO DAY CELEBRATION OF LATINO MUSIC.

FESTIVAL BOOSTERS SAY THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC THIS YEAR WILL BE EVEN MORE OF AN ECONOMIC SUCCESS THAN LAST YEAR.

HERE IS MORE ON WHAT ORGANIZERS SAY THE FESTIVAL ADDED TO THE CITY'S BOTTOM LINE.

>> OVER THE COURSE OF TWO DAYS, THIS MUSIC FESTIVAL DREW MORE THAN 80,000 MUSIC LOVERS TO GRAND PARK, KNOWN AS CHICAGO'S FRONT LAWN.

THE BEAUTY OF THE CELEBRATION TAKING PLACE IN THE LAKEFRONT AREA IS THE HEART OF OUR OWN CITY AND THE FIRST OF ITS KIND.

IT WAS THE RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE LATINO CULTURE TO SUPPORT CHICAGO'S ECONOMY AND A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE OUR ICONIC DOWNTOWN.

>> LAST YEAR, 55% OF THE VENDORS WERE LATINO.

THIS YEAR IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 75% OF THE VENDORS WILL BE LATINO.

THERE WILL BE SECURITY COMPANIES THAT ARE LATINO.

THERE ARE FENCING COMPANIES THAT ARE LATINO.

>> SUEÑOS, AND ONLY TWO DAYS, CONTRIBUTED $120.9 MILLION TO CHICAGO'S ECONOMY.

THAT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF 980 FULL-TIME JOBS.

CHICAGO WORKERS EARNED AN EXTRA $5 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL LABOR JUST OUT OF THAT TWO DAY EVENT.

THIS REALLY SPEAKS TO THE LATINO CONTRIBUTIONS ACROSS THE U.S. ECONOMY.

LATINOS COMPROMISE MORE THAN 20% OF US POPULATION AND WE HOLD $1.9 TRILLION OF POWER WHICH IS UP OVER 212% IN THE LAST DECADE.

THAT IS SOMETHING TO CLAP ON.

>> THIS YEAR'S SUEÑOS FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE MAY 27 AND MAY 28 WITH HEADLINERS.

I HAVE NOT HEARD OF THEM BUT I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU HAVE.

>>> UP NEXT, WHAT IS BEHIND HIGH RATES OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN LATINO KIDS.

STAY WITH US.

>>> THE USE OF THE PANDEMIC HAVE BEEN TOUGH ON EVERYONE BUT A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS IT HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY HARD ON YOUNG LATINOS.

RESEARCHERS STUDIED 1200 ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CPS STUDENTS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND FOUND THAT LATINO STUDENTS ARE UP TO TWICE AS LIKELY TO BE AT RISK FOR DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY THIS WAS EVEN MORE PRONOUNCED AMONG LATINO GIRLS AND LaTINA NON-BINARY STUDENTS .

JOINING US NOW IS THE LEAD AUTHOR OF THE STUDY, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AT DePAUL UNIVERSITY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST OF ALL, TELL US MORE.

EXPAND ON WHAT I JUST SAID ABOUT THE FINDINGS.

>> WE CONDUCTED THE STUDY AND WE WERE ABLE TO PULL DATA.

WE WERE CONNECTING THIS INFORMATION PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC -- WE IDENTIFIED -- SORRY.

>> HAD.

>> WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE RATES OF DEPRESSION BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THE SAMPLE WAS PRIMARILY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, 11 TO 14 YEARS OLD.

THE RATES OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION WERE PARTICULARLY HIGH FOR LATINO YOUTH.

WE FOUND THEM IN SOCIAL ANXIETY AND SOMETHING WE CALLED GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER.

WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT WE THINK THAT WERE IN PLAY HAVE TO DO WITH THE FEARS THAT THEY HAD DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> HOW ARE THE FEARS -- ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE FEARS THAT LATINO YOUTH HAD DURING THE PANDEMIC WERE STRONGER, MORE EXACERBATED THAN OTHER GROUPS?

>> YEAH.

WELL, THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO MORE RESEARCH ON BUT CERTAINLY, THE PROBLEMS WERE EXACERBATED, WE THINK, IN PART, BECAUSE YOUTH FROM LATINO BACKGROUNDS HAD FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WORRY CENTRAL WORKERS AND WERE LESS ABLE TO BE SHIELDED FROM THE STRESS ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING SOMEONE IN HARMS WAY.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE RATES FOR LaTINA GIRLS AND LaTINA GENDER NONCONFORMING BINARY STUDENTS WAS EVEN HIGHER.

WHY IS THAT?

>> THAT IS NOT NEW.

THE RATE OF LATINO YOUTH BEING HIGHER IS NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT WE FOUND IN THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE BEEN NOTICING THESE TRENDS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC FOR ALMOST 2 DECADES.

WHAT IS NEW, I THINK, AND ALSO THE DISPARITY BETWEEN BOYS AND GIRLS -- GIRLS TEND TO DISPLAY MORE DEPRESSION AND MORE ANXIETY.

THEY WERE EXACERBATED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

FOR NON-BINARY STUDENTS, THAT IS A NEW GROUP OF STUDENTS BEING REPRESENTED IN RESEARCH AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST STUDIES TO REALLY DOCUMENT SOME OF THE NEEDS IN THAT RESPECT.

I THINK IT SPEAKS TO HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENT TO SCHOOLS WHERE THEY CAN BE PROTECT IT AND WHERE THEY CAN BE ATTENDED.

>> YOU JUST THE GIRLS HAVE A HIGHER RATE OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION THAN BOYS.

WHY IS THAT?

>> THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS BUT IT STARTS AROUND PUBERTY.

IT STARTS AROUND 11 OR 12 YEARS OLD AND IT CONTINUES ON TO ADULTHOOD.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT RESEARCHERS HAVE PROPOSED INCLUDING SOME OF THE TENDENCIES IN TERMS OF RUMINATION.

THAT IS THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT UPSETS YOU AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET IT OUT OF YOUR HEAD.

>> INTERESTING.

I HAD NOT HEARD THAT RUMINATION THEORY BEFORE.

YOU ALLUDED TO THIS.

YOU FOUND THE TYPES OF ANXIETY YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCE CHANGE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AMPLIFY ON THAT.

>> KIDS SPENT OVER A YEAR IN ZOOM AND NOT ABLE TO INTERACT WITH OTHER YOUTH.

THEY HAD THEIR CAMERAS OFF WHILE THEY WERE IN SCHOOL.

THEY WERE NOT SOCIALIZING WITH OTHER PEERS.

WE THINK THAT THE TRANSITION FROM THAT TO BEING ABLE TO SOCIALIZE AGAIN, IT WAS LIKE A LOST PERIOD OF TIME WHERE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO SOCIALIZE.

SOCIAL ANXIETY IS ASSOCIATED WITH HOW YOU FEEL, WHAT OTHERS ARE THINKING ABOUT YOU AND PERFORMANCE ON THEIR PUBLIC SITUATIONS.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT HOW IT WENT FROM GENERALIZED ANXIETY TO GREATER SOCIAL ANXIETY.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF WHAT THESE KIDS HAVE BEEN THROUGH?

>> WE HAVE ALL FELT THE IMPACT OF A PANDEMIC AND WE ARE STILL FEELING IT.

PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED RIGHT AWAY.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR HOW THEY ARE DOING AND OBVIOUSLY ADDRESS THE NEEDS THROUGH AS MANY RESOURCES AS WE CAN INCLUDING PROGRAMS WE CAN DELIVER IN SCHOOL.

>> LET ME JUMP BACK TO YOUR STATEMENT ABOUT RUMINATION.

WHAT EXACTLY IS RUMINATION THAT SEEMS TO AFFECT GIRLS MORE THAN BOYS?

>> FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE AN EVENT AND IT IS A NEGATIVE EVENT, RATHER THAN BEING ABLE TO PUT IT AWAY, YOU CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT IT AND YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO DISTRACT YOURSELF OR TO THINK ABOUT IT IN A MORE REALISTIC WAY.

IT CONTINUES TO AFFECT YOU.

YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO SLEEP BECAUSE YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT IT OR YOU ARE DISTRACTED BY IT.

DIFFERENT PEOPLE COPE WITH THAT IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> THERE IS A PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU HAVE WITH CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS CALLED ACT AND ADAPT.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> THIS IS PART OF WHAT WE WERE DOING WITH THE RESEARCH.

WE WERE NOT JUST SAMPLING STUDENTS TO SEE HOW THEY WERE DOING, WE WANTED TO IDENTIFY THOSE WHO HAD HIGH LEVELS OF ANXIETY, HIGH LEVELS OF DEPRESSION AND TEACH THEM COPING SKILLS.

THAT IS WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO.

THROUGH THE GREAT WORK OF SOCIAL WORKERS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND COLLEGES THAT PARTNER WITH US, WE TRAIN THEM ON THIS PROGRAM CALLED ACTING IT OUT WHICH IS A COGNITIVE INTERVENTION THAT TEACHES KIDS TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS PROBLEMS RELATED TO INTERNALIZING PROBLEMS SO THINGS LIKE DEPRESSION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT AND INFORMING US MORE ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE ARE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> PURPLE PIG EXECUTIVE CHEF IS A NATIVE OF MEXICO BUT WHEN HE MOVED TO CHICAGO AND BEGAN WORKING AS A TEENAGER, IT PUT HIM ON A PATH TO COOKING MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE.

CHEF MEDRANO JOINS US NEXT UP IN OUR ON THE PATH SERIES.

>> IF YOU DON'T TASTE YOUR FOOD, YOU WILL NOT KNOW HOW IT WILL TASTE.

>> NOT MANY COOKS ACTUALLY DOES THAT.

FOR MY PART, BEING LATINO, NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE -- THE NEW OWNERS , THEY GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN IT.

THEY SAID, I KNOW YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL.

LET'S DO IT.

I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE.

MANY PEOPLE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY COME HERE AND THEY ARE LIKE, SEE THAT THERE IS ONE PERSONAL LATINO IN PLACE.

THEY COME INTO THE KITCHEN AND SHAKE THEIR HANDS.

THEY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE BEING IN HERE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY LATINOS WORKING HERE.

I ALWAYS GO AND TALK TO THE TABLES, THE GUESTS.

ALWAYS.

EVEN TO SAY HI.

I LOVE TO GET THAT FEELING AND SAY THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME HAPPY.

THAT IS ALL IT TAKES.

I ALWAYS ENJOY MEXICAN FOOD WHEN I GO TO MY SISTERS HOUSE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO COOK.

THAT IS LIKE MY SPECIALTY RIGHT NOW, MEDITERRANEAN FOOD.

I DON'T COOK THAT MUCH MEXICAN FOOD.

WHEN I MOVED TO CHICAGO, I WAS ONLY SEVEN YEARS OLD.

MY MOM AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY, THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME AT THE RESTAURANT.

THEY WERE LIKE DOING ITALIAN FOOD.

RIGHT NOW, MY FAMILY WANTS MEXICAN FOOD.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT THAT MUCH STUFF INTO THE PORK TO GET THE FLAVORS.

WHEN YOU ARE WORKING WITH THE FARMERS, YOU KNOW THAT THE PRODUCT IS RIGHT.

WE HAVE PIGTAIL, SHOULDER, EVERY SINGLE PART OF THE PORK WE WORK WITHIN HERE.

THERE WERE HARD TIMES.

NOT ONLY SINCE THE PANDEMIC BUT EVERYTHING HAPPENED.

>> IT WAS SO DIFFICULT FOR US.

WE DECIDED TO CLOSE FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS.

THERE WAS SO MANY STUFF GOING ON.

AT THE SAME TIME, YOU SEE IT WITH MOST OF THE PEOPLE.

IF THEY WERE IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS, THEY DECIDED TO MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THAT WAS HARD, REALLY HARD.

WE ARE HERE.

>> TUNE INTO OUR NEXT INSTALLMENT OF ON THE PATH TO FIND OUT WHICH LOCAL LATINO SHIP INSPIRES CHEF EFFY MEDRANO.

>>> THE SOUNDS OF MEXICAN FOLK MUSIC, OFTEN TIMES THERE ARE FAMILIES WHO PLAY TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND CELEBRATION.

HERE IN CHICAGO, A FAMILY BAND IS KEEPING THOSE BELOVED RHYTHMS ALIVE AND THRIVING BY INFUSING THEM WITH A MODERN SENSIBILITY.

HERE, MARISOL AND PERFORM THEIR SPIN ON THE CLASSIC SONG.

>> ♪ >> I HAVE KNOWN IT MY ENTIRE LIFE FROM THE MOVIE LA BAMBA WHERE I WAS EXCITED TO SEE SOMEONE THAT LOOK LIKE ME ON THE BIG SCREEN .

THEN I STARTED LEARNING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT AS I GOT OLDER, LEARNING THAT IT WAS 300 YEARS OLD AND IT WAS USED AS A CALL TO LET THE SLAVES KNOW TO KEEP COMING UP AND UP TO ESCAPE.

I JUST LOVE IT.

>> ♪ >> I DON'T KNOW IF I WAS ALIVE TO REMEMBER IT BUT IN 2007, 2008, THE RECESSION HIT.

MY PARENTS ARE LIKE, WELL, WE NEED TO MAKE MORE MONEY BUT WE ALSO LOVE TO PLAY MUSIC.

THEY HAD THEIR WHOLE SHOW.

I WAS BORN AND THEY BROUGHT ME ALONG TO THEIR SHOWS.

WHEN I COULD WALK , I WALKED ONTO THE STAGE AND I GRABBED ON THE MICROPHONE.

I JUST STARTED SINGING GIBBERISH AND THAT IS WHEN I BECAME A PART OF THE GROUP.

>> WHEN I MOVED HERE, I WENT DEEP INTO LEARNING ALL OF THESE STYLES.

SHE FORCED HERSELF INTO OUR DUO, OUR DUET.

SHE BECAME AN OFFICIAL BANDMEMBER.

>> ♪ >> MUSIC JUST TRANSCENDS TIME AND LANGUAGE AND ALL OF THAT OTHER STUFF THAT GETS IN THE WAY OF A CONNECTION TO THE SOUL.

I LOVE THE FOLK SONGS AND THE TRADITION THAT WE PLAY AND ADDING THE ELECTRONIC ASPECT OR ADDING RAPPORT DIFFERENT GENRES, IT IS A WAY TO CONNECT MORE PEOPLE.

>> IT CREATES NEW EXPERIENCES FOR US AND THE PEOPLE ENJOY THAT.

THAT IS WHAT KEEPS US COMING BACK FOR MORE.

>>> THEY WILL BE PERFORMING AT THE LOGAN THEATER ON APRIL 26.

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

DON'T FORGET MONDAY AT NOON, TURN INTO A VIRTUAL VOICES CONVERSATION.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN WILL BE SPEAKING WITH IMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE 2023 CHICAGO MAYORAL ELECTION AND EXPECTATIONS OF MAYOR ELECT BRANDON JOHNSON.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, GOOD NIGHT.