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

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

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

I AM MARISSA PARRA A REPORTER WAS CBS 2 CHICAGO THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

HERE IS WHAT IS ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

ON THIS THURSDAY WEEKEND IN A SPECIAL CROSSOVER ADDITION OF ISIS WE TAKE A LOOK AT HOW ACTIVIST ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM THE EFFECTS OF INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION.

PLUS, WORKERS AT THE TORTILLA FACTORY HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR MORE FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS.

WE WILL GET AN UPDATE FROM EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS ARISE CHICAGO.

THERE TEENS FIND A WAY TO SHARE THEIR OWN STORIES AT LIBRARY BRANCHES THIS WEEK AND THE MEXICAN TRADITION OF PRINTMAKING IS ALIVE AND WELL AT A CHICAGO PRINTING PRESS RAN BY A RETIRED PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT IN CHICAGO WHEN IT COMES TO INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION IT'S OFTEN THE LATINO AND BLACK COMMUNITIES WHO BEAR THE BRUNT.

NOWHERE HAS THIS BEEN MORE EVIDENT IN CHICAGO'S SOUTHEAST SIDE WHERE A TWO-YEAR BATTLE ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE ADVOCATE FOUGHT SHREDDING COMPANY GENERAL IRON WINDY CITY DENIED THEM A PERMIT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD BUT THIS STILL CAST A SHADOW WITH AIR, WATER AND SOIL POLLUTION RESULTING IN HIGHER RATES OF ASTHMA, CANCER, LEAD POISONING AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES.

JOINING US NOW AS PART OF A SPECIAL CROSSOVER ADDITION OF CHICAGO BLACK VOICES ARE, EDUARDO FLORES A MEMBER OF CLEAN POWER LAKE COUNTY.

CHERYL JOHNSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR PEOPLE FOR CUMMUNITY RECOVERY.

ISIS BASALDUA, A COMMUNITY COFOUNDER OF BRIDGES//PUENTES JUSTICE COLLECTIVE OF THE SOUTHEAST.

AND, NAOMI DAVIS, FOUNDER AND CEO OF BLACKS IN GREEN.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

ISIS, TO YOU FIRST.

YOUR COALITION IS PART OF THOSE THAT WORKED WITH GENERAL IRON.

PLEASE TELL US WHY IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO KEEP GENERAL IRON OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST SIDE.>> IT WAS IMPORTANT TO KEEP GENERAL IRON OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST SIDE DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WOULD BE LOCATED BY AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, RESIDENTIAL AREA AND MARSHALL PLAZA AS WELL AS GENERAL IRON WAS KNOWN TO HAVE AN EXPLOSION OF A METAL SHREDDER THAT THEY WERE PLANNING TO BRING WITHOUT RE-FIXING IT OVER TO THE COMMUNITY AREA AND INCREASE THE INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

>> TELL US HOW THIS IMPACTS PEOPLE OF COLOR ESPECIALLY BLACKS AND LATINO CHICAGOANS WAS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SEEING AS WELL?

>> WE HAD A BATTLE WITH PETCO AND THEN GENERAL IN ALL WITHIN THE SPAN OF TWO DECADES WHICH ISN'T A LOT.

>> EDDIE, WE TALK ABOUT THESE INEQUITIES BUT THEY'RE NOT JUST LIMITED TO THE CITY CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE SITUATION IN SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES WHERE YOUR ORGANIZATION IS CURRENTLY RUNNING?

>> YES A LOT OF ISSUES THAT IMPACT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN CHICAGO IMPACTS NEEDS OVER THE STATE.

WE REFOCUS WHERE MOST OF OUR WORK IS AND WE HIGHLIGHT A LOT OF THE ISSUES ARE HAPPENING ALL OVER THE STATE NOT JUST CHICAGO.

FOR US IT'S HARDER BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SPEAKING UP.

>> IN THE SUBURBS IT IS IMPACTING PEOPLE AS WELL.

>> THE MAIN AREA IN LAKE COUNTY WHERE THE POLLUTION HAPPENED IS THE WAUKEGAN CHICAGO AREA FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTY IS MORE WHITE PREDOMINATE.

AND SO, THE FACT THAT WE SEE ALL THESE ISSUES THAT WE SEE CONCENTRATED IN THIS AREA WHERE THE REST OF THE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE TO FACE THIS WEEKEND DIRECTLY SEE THE NEED OF COLOR, HISPANICS, LACKS NEEDS ARE AFFECTED.

>> CHERYL JOHNSON WE COULDN'T LET THE SEGMENT GO WITHOUT POINTING OUT THAT ENVIRONMENT ACTIVISM RUNS IN YOUR FAMILY STARTING WITH YOUR MOTHER HAZEL JOHNSON OFTEN CALLED THE MOTHER OF ENVIRONMENT INJUSTICE.

SHE HAD HER ORGANIZATION PEOPLE FOR COMMUNITY RECOVERY AND SINCE HER FIGHT FOR RECOVERY OF THE GARDEN SET BEGAN IN THE 1980S TELL US HOW MUCH PROGRESS WOULD YOU SAY HAS NOT BEEN MADE TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN ROCK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES HERE IN THE CITY?

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT THE PROBLEM THAT COMES IN IS NOT BEING ENFORCED AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE HAD IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES IS THE ENFORCEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

THE RIGHT TO REGRESS AGAINST AN INDUSTRY COMING IN YOUR COMMUNITY IS NOT A PROCESS IT'S JUST A FACT THAT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS NEVER DENIED A PERMIT BUT ANY OF THE INDUSTRY CAN TONIGHT IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WE LIVE IN AN INDUSTRIALIZED DISTRICT AREA OF THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE BEEN INCLUDED SINCE THE 1860S BUT IT IS TIME TO CHANGE ALL OF THAT PROBLEMATIC PROBLEM THAT WE ALWAYS FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> OBVIOUSLY AVENUE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE PICKING UP WHERE YOUR MOTHER LEFT OFF DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE FIGHT ISN'T OVER?

>> NUMBER I GUESS IT WOULD NEVER BE OVER AS LONG AS WE HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM IN THIS COUNTRY.

YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM LOOKS LIKE ME I LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING, I HAVE A LOW INCOME AND THE FACT THAT MY COMMUNITY IS APOLITICAL AND THE LAND IS CHEAP IN MY AREA DECIDES IF I'M GOING TO LIVE IN A HEALTHY COMMUNITY OR NOT.

THOSE ARE THE INEQUITIES AND ADJUST THE BIAS THAT GOES ON WITH MANY OF THE INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT IN THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS THAT WE HAVE TO EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY IN OUR LIFE AND THAT IS NOT FAIR JUST LIKE GENERAL RYAN.

THAT WAS IN LINKIN PARK.

NOW THEY WANT TO COME TO THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF CHICAGO AND THAT'S THE CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> NAOMI DAVIS I WANT TO TURN TO YOU NOW.

OFTEN THIS IS SET UP IN A BATTLE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOBS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THOSE TWO THINGS ARE INCOMPATIBLE?

DO YOU THINK THERE IS A WAY FORWARD?

>> ABSOLUTELY THERE IS A WAY FORWARD HERE TO AND WORKING AT THE INTERSECTION OF ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY SINCE WE WERE BORN 16 YEARS AGO.

THE IDEA THAT THERE IS A NEW ECONOMY WITH AN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND SO MUCH POLLUTION TO BE CLEANED UP THAT MEANS THAT THERE ARE DECADES OF GOOD PAYING GREEN JOBS, ENTERPRISES THAT BLACK COMMUNITIES CAN BE CULTIVATING INSIDE OF OUR SUSTAINABLE SQUARE-MILE WHERE WE BELIEVE THAT THE BLACK COMMUNITY SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK TO WORK, WALK TO SHOP, WALK TO LEARN AND WALKED TO PLAY.WE ARE ACTUALLY BUILDING AND ENERGY ECONOMY AND THE IDEA THAT WE CAN HAVE WEATHERIZATION THAT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO EVEN BEING ABLE TO ENJOY SOME OF THESE ENERGY EFFICIENCY TECHNOLOGIES, CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES CAN HAVE ANY OF THAT WITH A LEAKY ENVELOPE.

WHERE ARE THE ROOFERS?

WHERE ARE THE AIR DUCTS SEALERS?

WHERE ARE THE RATERS?

ALL OF THESE ARE A PIPELINE OF WORKERS AND ENTERPRISES THAT WE ARE CULTIVATING BECAUSE WE CAN AND BECAUSE WE MUST AND BECAUSE WE DESERVE TO HAVE THE FINANCING.

THE FUNDING APPEARED THESE TRILLIUM SET ARE CIRCLING MUST BE DRAWN DOWN BY THE STATE TO BE DISTRIBUTED EQUITABLY AND EQUITABLY IN THESE TERMS MEAN PRIORITIZING LUCK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

>> ISIS I WANT TO TURN TO YOU NOW.

BESIDES DENYING PERMITS DO YOU THINK THAT IS THIS IS THAT HAVE MADE PAST ENVIRONMENTAL ABUSES SHOULD THERE BE SOMETHING THAT IS DONE BEYOND THAT WHEN IT COMES TO RIGHTING THE WRONGS?

>> YES I DO.

WE HAVE LAND IN THE SOUTHEAST SIDE THAT IS UNUSABLE AND IF WE WERE TO DIG IT UP ANYWAY IT WOULD PUT MORE POLLUTION THAN SAFETY.

I BELIEVE THESE COMPANIES NEED TO FIND A WAY TO CLEAN THE HAZARDOUS AREA AND HAZARDOUS WASTE THEY PUT INTO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT IS UNFAIR TO LEAVE IT INTO THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THESE MAGNIFICENT RESOURCES OF INCOME TO CLEAN UP THESE AREAS AND FIND A WAY TO FIX THE WRONGS.

WE HAVE TO BE DOING BETTER FOR DECADES AND AGES.

>> LAST QUESTION FOR YOU, EDDIE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE WHAT ROLE DOES LOCAL GOVERNMENT PLAY IN HOLDING POLLUTING INDUSTRIES ACCOUNTABLE?

>> GOVERNMENT HOLDS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE.

PEOPLE WHO WE ELECT IN OFFICE ARE THERE TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITIES AND REPRESENT PEOPLES LIVING IN THE COMMUNITIES AND THEY NEED TO FIGHT WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FIGHT AGAINST THESE CORPORATIONS THAT WILL NOT STOP.

THEY WILL LITERALLY TRY TO DO AS MUCH AS THEY CAN TO EXPLOIT OUR COMMUNITIES.

OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND LEAVE THEIR MASS APPEARED FROM SUCH A YOUNG AGE WE ARE TAUGHT CLEAN UP YOUR MESS CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF AND THE FACT THAT THESE CORPORATIONS CAN COME IN AND MAKE YOUR MONEY AND ONCE THEY NO LONGER WANT TO OR ONCE THEY ARE NO LONGER PROFITABLE THEY JUST LEAVE OUR COMMUNITIES IN A MESS.

THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN AND ENFORCE AND INSURE PEOPLE'S BACKS AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.

>> PROTECTING COMMUNITIES IS WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT FOR RIGHT NOW BUT FIRST TO OUR VIEWERS DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN TO TONIGHT'S CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES FOR THIS EXPANDED CONVERSATION ON HOW THIS IS COMPARED TO THE WHITE COUNTERPARTS.AS IT IS, EDUARDO FLORES, CHERYL JOHNSON, ISIS BASALDUA AND NAOMI DAVIS THANK YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> UP NEXT TO THE LATEST ON ORGANIZING EFFORTS BY WORKERS AT A LOCAL TORTILLA FACTORY.

[MUSIC] >> WORKING AT EL MILAGRO TORTILLA FACTORY SAY THEY SEE THAT THEY ARE JUST GETTING AIR CONDITIONING IN THE LUNCHROOM.

IN A STATEMENT TO THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE A COMPANY SPOKESPERSON SAID THE REASONS WERE NOT THE RESULT OF ACTIVISM AT FIRST BUT THEY ARE LISTENING TO WORKERS AND MORE CHANGES MAY SOON BE ON THE WAY.

YOU MAY REMEMBER THE WORKERS MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES LAST FALL WHEN THEY RALLIED AT HEAD ORDERS TO PROTEST WHAT THEY SAY WAS A LACQUER OF COVID PROTECTION, UNFAIR WAGES AND EVEN SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

ALONG WITH THEIR ADVOCATES AT ARISE CHICAGO THE WORKERS SAY THE FIGHT IS FAR FROM OVER.

HERE IS EL MILAGRO, ALFREDO MARTINEZ.

>>.

[SPEAKING SPANISH] JOINING US NOW WITH AN UP DATE IS LAURA GARZA WORKER CENTER DIRECT OR WITH ARISE CHICAGO.

AS ALFREDO JUST SAID IN SPANISH WHILE THEY HAVE MADE PROGRESS ON THEIR DEMANDS THE WORK IS NOT DONE.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHERE THEY HAVE ADVANCED AND WHERE THEY STILL NEED PROGRESS?

>> YES.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

FIRST OF ALL THE WORKERS ORGANIZED ALMOST 7 MONTHS AGO AND THE REASON THAT EL MILAGRO GAVE THEM BACK IN SEPTEMBER INCLUDES ANOTHER DECEMBER OF $0.36 ACROSS-THE-BOARD BECAUSE THE WORKERS ORGANIZED COLLECTIVELY AND THEY MADE A HUGE IMPACT ON EL MILAGRO OWNERS TAKING THEIR DEMANDS AND ENSURING THAT THEY DID SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAGES.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT SHORTAGE OF WORKERS BUT WHAT WERE SEEING IS A SHORTAGE OF GOOD WAGES AND BENEFITS FOR WORKERS AND GENERAL.

IN ADDITION TO SEEING THE INCREASES THEY ALSO HAD THE PRACTICE OF A SEVEN DAY WORKWEEK.

WORKERS REPORTED FOR 10 YEARS THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY WORKING WITHOUT A DAY OFF.

THEY ALSO FINALLY AFTER YEARS OF HAVING ANTI-SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING FOR MANAGERS AND WORKERS THEY IMPLEMENT TO THOSE TRAININGS IN DECEMBER ALONG WITH THE WORKERS NO LONGER BEING ASKED TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN TOOLS TO FIX THE MACHINES FOR EL MILAGRO.

IT HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF THEIR ORGANIZING THAT WE HAVE SEEN THE IMPROVEMENTS OF WORKING CONDITIONS AND THE DEMANDS THAT THE WORKERS HAD SIX MONTHS AGO WHERE THE WORKERS WERE MET EARLY ON AND THERE STILL SOME PENDING ISSUES THAT THE WORKERS ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR.

>> I AM CURIOUS WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE STATEMENT TO THE TRIBUNE AND THEN SAYING THIS WAS AS A RESULT OF LISTENING TO THE EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS LABOR ACTIONS.

>> LET'S JUST SAY THE WORKERS HAVE BEEN GOING TO EL MILAGRO FOR SOME MONTHS.

AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THE WORKERS ORGANIZED AND HANDED IN THEIR FIRST DEMAND LETTERS THAT THE INTEREST WENT INTO EFFECT AND THEY STARTED LISTENING TO WORKERS TO GILLY IN THE SUMMER TIME AS YOU RECALL DURING THE CAMPAIGN THE ISSUE OF AIR CONDITIONING WAS DEPLORABLE.

EVIL WERE NOT ABLE TO WORK IN THE EXTREME HEAT THEY WERE HAVING AND IT WAS BECAUSE THE WORKERS ORGANIZED THAT EL MILAGRO BEGAN TO MAKE CHANGES AND PRIOR TO THAT THEY HAD NOT DONE ANY OF THAT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT THE WORKERS FILED CHARGES AND DEMANDED THEY STOP VIOLATING THE ORDINANCE AND FEAR WORK WEEK ORDINANCE WHICH BY THE WAY CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE AND WORKERS ARE STILL ORGANIZING AROUND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE BEING DEDUCTED HOURS AND ON A BIG NOTICE WITHOUT GIVING PROPER NOTICE THAT THE LAW REQUIRES WHEN THEY ARE CHANGING THEIR HOURS.

>> WHERE DO THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW AND HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT WE COULD SEE A BOYCOTT AMONGST OR WORKERS?

>> LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE WORKERS HAVE NOT CALLED FOR A BOYCOTT.

THEY DID ORGANIZE IT AND THEY DID HAVE A LABOR STOPPAGE FOR WEDNESDAY.

THE COMMUNITIES SUPPORTED THEM BUT THE WORKERS DID NOT ASK FOR IT.

WHAT THE WORKERS WANTED WAS SIMPLY FOR EL MILAGRO TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A PROCESS THAT IS FAIR FOR ALL WORKERS AND THEY ADDRESS THE WORKING CONDITIONS AND THEY STOP VIOLATING ANY LABOR LAWS AND FEDERAL LAWS FOR THAT MATTER.

IT LOOKS TO ME THAT WHILE EL MILAGRO HAS NOT BEEN 100 PERCENT WITH WORKERS THEY HAVE IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES AND THAT'S WORKERS WANT TO SEE THEY ALSO WANT TO SEE A PERMANENT CHANGE AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO ORGANIZE AND ACTIVATE THEMSELVES TO DEMAND IT THEY WANT TO SEE A PERMANENT SOLUTION MOVING FORWARD.

>> WE ALSO REPORTED THAT WORKERS AT OTHER LOCAL TORTILLA AREAS HAVE STARTED TO ORGANIZE AS WELL CARED WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS?

>> RECENTLY WE WERE CONTACT SID FROM WORKERS WHO AS YOU KNOW THE COMPANY RANCHERO ARE STAPLES IN THE MEXICAN COMMUNITY WHERE THEY MAKE TOSTADAS, TAMALES AND SHIPS SO WORKERS WERE REALLY INSPIRED BY THE TRAIT 18 WORKERS AND WHAT THEY SAW.

WHAT THEY SAID IS WHAT THOSE WORKERS CAN DO WE CAN, TOO.

SO THEY ORGANIZED, MADE THEIR DEMANDS AND THEY RESPONDED.

UNFORTUNATELY THEY DID FIRE SOME WORKERS AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHARGES ON THAT ISSUE AND THEY WILL WIN THAT FIGHT.

I GUARANTEE YOU THEY'RE GOING TO WIN THAT FIGHT LEGALLY BUT THE WORKERS ARE MOTIVATED THEY ARE NO LONGER TAKING THE ABUSE OF WORKING CONDITIONS THAT THEY DEALT WITH FOR YEARS AND THEY HAVE HAD ENOUGH.

THEY WERE WORKING IN THAT STATE THEY SAW WORKERS DIANE GET SICK AND AGAIN, EL MILAGRO WORKERS HAVE BEEN INSPIRATIONS FOR WORKERS WHO HAVE CONTACTED US IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

>> LAURA GARZA WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE FIGHT CONTINUES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR STRENGTH.

MAC UP NEXT A LOOK AT AN ANNUAL EVENT CREATED BY TEENAGERS FOR TEENAGERS.

STAY WITH US.

[MUSIC] >> THE SEVENTH ANNUAL CHI TEEN LIT FEST IS BACK THIS WEEK AFTER TWO YEARS OF VIRTUAL CELEBRATIONS.

THE OLD GENRE OF STORYTELLING FESTIVAL TREATED FOR AND BY TEENAGERS RUNS THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK WITH A SERIES OF PROGRAMS, WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS WITH LOCAL BRANCHES OF THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY.

IT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM LEARNING HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN DESIGN TO A MYSTERY IMPROV GAME TO CONVERSATIONS WITH AUTHORS, POD CASTERS AND LOCAL MUSICIANS.

CHICAGO TEEN LIBRARIAN MARSHALL KAUL SAID THE EVENT OFFERS CHICAGO TEENS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO TELL THEIR STORIES IN THEIR OWN WAYS.

>> ONE THING I THINK IS AMAZING IS THAT IT IS A LITERARY FESTIVAL FOR TEENS BY TEENS AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT LITERATURE.

IT'S ABOUT STORYTELLING AND BEING ABLE TO TELL STORIES THROUGH DIFFERENT AVENUES, DIFFERENT FORMAT.

YOU CAN TELL A STORY BY CROCHETING.

YOU CAN TELL A STORY THROUGH ARTWORK.

YOU CAN TELL A STORY THROUGH A PIZZA IF YOU HAVE TO BUT THERE IS A STORY TO TELL AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT VERY APPEALING AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT TEENAGERS HAVE TAKEN AWAY FROM IT.

THEY CAN DESIGN THIS PROGRAM ANYWAY THEY WANT A TELLING A STORY.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE LIBRARY NOW A LITTLE BIT MORE EXCITING AND THAT WE TEND TO WANT TO GIVE OUR TEENS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AND HAVE A VOICE BE HEARD.

>> I LOVE THAT.

YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF EVENTS AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION.

ALL CHI TEEN LIT FEST.

>>> A CHICAGO PUBLIC TEACHER TOOK AN EARLY RETIREMENT TO CONTINUE HIS DREAM OF CONTINUING IN A LONG LINE OF MEXICAN ARTIST IN THE WORLD PRINTMAKING.

FROM DEPICTING THE SCHOOL SEEN IN THE DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION TO SCENES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE.

LAURA GARZA IS THE HEIR APPARENT TO AN ENDURING TRADITION.

THEY SHARED THIS PORTRAIT OF A CHICAGOAN WHO HAS RECOMMITTED HIMSELF TO HIS ART AND CULTURE.

WE TAKE ANOTHER LOOK.

>> WHEN WE VISITED HIS STUDIO REPENT TO MAKE DAISY WAS WORKING ALONE THIS ARTIST HAS A TALENT OR COLLABORATION.

>> I AM LAURA GARZA.

I AM A PRINTMAKER.

HAVE AN ELABORATE PLACE WHERE I PUBLISH PRINTS WITH ARTISTS FROM NOT ONLY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES BUT FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.

THERE'S SOMEBODY FROM COASTER RICA, PUERTO RICO, CANADA AND IN SPAIN AND FRANCE.

THE SEVERAL SOUTH AMERICAN ARTISTS WHO ARE LEAVING THE UNITED STATES WHO HAVE COLLABORATED SOME VENEZUELAN, ARGENTINIAN, PERUVIAN.

>> FROM VINYL CUTS AND SILKSCREEN STEW WOULD ETCHINGS AND PRINT SCREENS THEY NEED A WIDE ARRAY OF SETS.

THE BRIDGE POINT ARTS CENTER HOSTED A VISION OF WORK BY RENE ARCEO AND THE ARTIST HE WORKS WITH GOOD THAT SHOW WAS CALLED BORDER CROSSED US.

HE GREW UP NEAR A SMALL TOWN IN WATERLOO HARROP.

HE TOLD US OF HIS OWN CROSSING IN 1979 WHERE AS A 19-YEAR-OLD HE LEFT MEXICO AND CAME TO THE US.

HIS FAMILY HIRED A COYOTE TO GUIDE HIM AND HIS COUSIN.

>> I REMEMBER GOING FROM TIJUANA AND THERE WAS A COYOTE WHO TOOK A GROUP OF US IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

IT WAS AROUND TO:00 IN THE MORNING AND WE CROSSED THE BORDER AND SAW SOME OF THE HELICOPTERS FLYING OVERHEAD AND DOWN THE HILL WE SAW SEVERAL GROUPS THAT WERE BEING CAUGHT.

WE JUST STAYED THERE FOR A FEW HOURS I DON'T REMEMBER HOW LONG INTEL THERE WERE NO MORE HELICOPTERS FLYING AROUND AND THEN OUR GROUP LEADER TOOK US AND WE WERE WALKING I DON'T KNOW FOR HOW LONG UNTIL SUNRISE PROBABLY.

AND THEN IN THE AFTERNOON THEY PUT US IN THE TRUNK OF A CAR.

I THINK THERE WERE FIVE OR SIX OF US AND FROM THERE THEY TOOK US OUT, PAST US THROUGH A CHECK POINT AND FROM THERE WE WENT TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF LOS ANGELES.

I FEEL LUCKY.

I'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SOMETHING OF MYSELF WELL COMING TO THE STATE.

>> WTTW.com/NEWS TO GOT MARRIED AND BECAME A US CITIZEN.

WORKED AT THE ART INSTITUTE WHICH LATER BECOME THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICO ART AND HE TAUGHT AT A CHICAGO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR 20 YEARS AND THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE DID VIRTUAL TEACHING FOR A FEW MONTHS ACTUALLY.

IT WAS A LOT MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE MOST OF THE KIDS WERE NOT GETTING CONNECT DID.

A LOT OF THEM DIDN'T HAVE WERE TALKING ABOUT HUMBLE THEY DIDN'T HAVE DEVICES THEY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET SO IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

>> FOR YEARS HE PLANNED ON RETIRING AND FOCUSING ON HIS ART.

HIS WORK IS A PART OF MEXICAN PRINTMAKING WHICH STARTED WITH AN ARTIST IN THE LATE 1800S INCLUDING WORKS FROM CALAVERAS.

WEXLER USED THE SKELETONS THAT ARE DOING A LOT OF THINGS NOT IN A BLOOD HE SPOOKY WAY LIKE HALLOWEEN BUT THEY ARE DOING REGULAR ACTIVITIES AS IF THEY WERE ALIVE.

FOR US IT IS AN EXTENSION OF LIFE AND IT IS WHAT REMAINS OF THIS BODY ONCE WE DIE.

>> HIS ARTISTIC OUTPUT IS VERY MUCH ALIVE HIS EARLY WORKS WERE VERY POLITICAL HIS LATEST ARTWORK CONCENTRATES ON PEOPLE.

ONE IS A TRIBUTE TO FIRST RESPONDERS OF COVID-19 AND IT INCLUDES A BAT TAKING FLIGHT.

>> GOT MY ARTWORK OUT THERE AND I CONTINUE TO PRODUCE EVERYTHING.

I'M HAPPY I'M ABLE TO DO THAT.

ESSENTIALLY JUST GETTING READY TO UNTIL THE PANDEMIC IS OVER, DO MORE DISPERSING OF MY WORK THROUGH COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER ARTISTS AS WELL.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, THIS IS MARK VITALE.

>> IF YOU FELT INSPIRED YOU CAN BUY HIS ORIGINAL WORKS AT HIS SE SHOP.

THEY GO FROM ANYWHERE 25 TO $300 AND IF YOU WANT TO READ ABOUT HIS WORKS OF ART A BOOK OF HIS WORK IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.

YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF HIS WORK GOING TO OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS AND IF YOU ARE WATCHING A SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH LATINO VOICES AND ELECT VOICES ON SUNDAY BEGINNING AT 10 PM.

YOU CAN CATCH MY REPORTING ON CBS 2 CHICAGO.

I WILL BE BACK HERE IN THE HOST CHAIR NEXT WEEK AND FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, I AM MARISSA PARRA.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE Y BUENAS NOCHES