>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALL STATE AND CIBC.

AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> GOOD EVENING.

I'M ARACELI GOMEZ-ALLDANA, THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH YOU US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SAY THE PATTAL SHOOTING OF ADAM TOLEDO BY POLICE HAS LEAD TO A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS FOR LATINO YOUTH, WANTS A BILL WOULD LET VOTERS IN CITIES TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO LIFT THE LONG-STANDING BAN ON RENT CONTROL IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

A LOCAL LATINA IN TECH GIVES US-- ON PANDEMIC INDUCED CAREER CHANGES.

>> IT MADE US FEEL BETTER ABOUT OUR FUTURE IN TERMS OF HIS INDEPENDENCE.

>> AND A CHICAGO BAKERY WHERE UNIQUE PEOPLE ARE THE ICE ON THE CAKE.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT NEWS OF 13 YEAR OLD ADAM TOLEDO FATTAL SHOOTING BY CHICAGO POLICE LEFT MANY IN THE STRUGGLING TO PROCESS ANOTHER TALLA IN WHAT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT YEAR.

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE WARNING THAT WATCHING THE POLICECAM VIDEO OF TOLEDO'S DEATH CAN BE DAMAGING TO THE MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF LATINO YOUTH.

JOINING US SO TALK ABOUT HOW TO SUPPORT YOUTH IN THIS TIME ARE NESTOR FLORES, DIRECTOR OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVES AT PILLSON WELLNESS CENTER AND JAMES HURLBURT, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AT LATINO YOUTH HIGH SCHOOL, AN ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL, AND AN AFFILIATE CAMPUS OF YOUTH CONNECTIONS CHARTER SCHOOL.

NESTOR, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM FAMILIES YOU SERVE ABOUT HOW THEY'RE DOING AND HOW THEIR CHILDREN ARE REACTING TO TOLEDO'S SHOOTING IT RUNS THE SPECTRUM OF REACTION.

I WISH I COULD TELL YOU THERE WAS A CERTAIN ONE BUT REALLY IT GOES FROM SHOCK TO FEAR, TO AMBIVALENCE, TO WE HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE.

THIS IS WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE USUALLY LIKE.

SO IT RUNS THE GAMUT AND UNFORTUNATELY IN OUR CLINIC WE TREAT WHAT GETS TO THE SHOCK PART AND THE FEAR PART BECAUSE IT LEADS TO AN INCREASE OF SYSTEMS AND ANXIETY, DEPRESSION.

>> AND UNFORTUNATELY, JAMES, YOUR SCHOOL EXPERIENCED ANOTHER TRAUMATIC LOSS WITH THE RECENT SHOOTING DEATH OF ONE OF YOUR STUDENTS, 17 YEAR OLD LYDIA GIMENEZ.

AND HOW DO YOU SUPPORT YOUR STUDENT BODY WHEN THIS KIND OF TRAUMA HAPPENS.

>> SO CLOSE TO HOME?

>> SO IT IS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT THIS YEAR, NORMALLY WHEN WE ARE IN THE SCHOOL YEAR AND WE FACE A TRAGEDY, UNFORTUNATELY, MOST YEARS WE WILL HAVE AN INCIDENT OF A SHOOTING.

AN OCCASIONAL DEATH.

IN THOSE SITUATIONS, WE BENEFIT GREATLY FROM BEING PART OF THE CENTER.

WE HAVE TWO THERAPISTS THAT ARE ONSITE AT OUR SCHOOL EVERY DAY, THAT ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH IN CRISIS CARE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

ALSO A CRISIS TEAM THAT WILL SEND OUT AN ADDITIONAL THERAPIST THAT CAN WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND FACULTY BECAUSE IT ALSO HITS OUR STAFF VERY HARD TOO IN THESE SITUATIONS.

>> THIS YEAR FOR THE MOST RECENT TRAGEDY BECOMES REMOTE T HAS BEEN VERY HARD TO GAGE WHAT SERVICES OUR STUDENTS NEED, WE SET UP A CARE LINE THAT WE MADE SURE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WERE AWARE OF SO THEY WERE HAVING A PROBLEM PROCESSING THIS EVENT THEY DID HAVE SOME ONE TO TALK TO.

>> ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WITH CHILDREN BEING AT HOME, NESTOR, WHAT KIND OF ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PARENTS WHO ARE LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO NOT HEAR ABOUT THE NEWS OR WATCH THE VIDEO.

>> YEAH, IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT, JUST GIVEN MEDIA THESE DAYS.

TO BE ABLE TO SHIELD THEM FROM EXPOSURE TO THIS.

BUT WE REALLY DO RECOMMEND HAVING HONEST CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT WE COULD AVOID WATCHING IT.

IT IS MORE LIKE BRINGING UP THE SUBJECT OF NOT BEING AFRAID OF TALKING ABOUT IT.

AND THEN ANSWERING AS MANY QUESTIONS AS A PARENT COULD POSSIBLY ANSWER.

BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO SAY I DON'T KNOW.

LIKE I DON'T HAVE ANSWERS TO THE COMPLEXITY OF IT.

>> 57B NESTOR, PARTICULARLY WITH THIS PARTICULAR CASE, SOMETIMES PARENTS BET INVOLVED IN VICTIM BLAMING.

HOW YOU CAN, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PARENTS TO NOT FALL INTO THAT TRAP?

>> I THINK FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE PSYCHOLOGY, OF THERAPY, IT-- WE UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEONE WOULD DO THAT.

SO WE CERTAINLY DON'T JUDGE OR SHAME ANYONE WHO, IN THIS CASE, AS YOU SAY VICTIM BLAMING.

BUT ONCE THAT IS HEARD, WE START TO SORT OF CYCLE EDUCATION PROCESS.

AND THAT WOULD BE HOW DOES THAT ACTUALLY SERVE YOUR CHILD OR ANYONE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

HOW DOES IT SERVE THEM TO BLAME THE VICTIM, RIGHT?

AND IT DOESN'T.

WHAT IT ENDS UP DOING, IT IS VALIDATING HOPEFULLY A WHOLE-- WHOEVER ARE YOU TALKING TO ABOUT THIS, ALL YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> BACK TO YOU, JAMES.

DOWR THINK, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR STUDENT'S PERCEIVE OR HOW DO THEY PROCESS POLICE VIOLENCE DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER TYPES OF VIOLENCE THEY MIGHT ENCOUNTER?

>> SO PART OF IT IS ON A SPECTRUM.

OUR STUDENTS WHEN I STARTED TEACHING, A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES DISCUSSED WITH ME HOW WAS IT WORKING IN AN OPTIONAL SCHOOL.

A FEW OF THEM MENTIONED THAT ABOUT POST TRAUMATIC STRESS.

AT FIRST I AGREED BUT THE ISSUE IS THEY REALLY DON'T, IT IS NOT POST TRAUMATIC TRK IS CURRENT.

OUR STUDENTS ARE UNDER A LOT OF STRESS.

ALL THE TIME WHICH AFFECTS THEIR ABILITY TO PERFORM.

POLICE BRUTALITY UNFORTUNATELY IN CHICAGO, HAS A LONG HISTORY.

AND OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE LOST TRUST WITH THE POLICE AND THIS JUST FEEDS INTO THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE.

I FEEL THAT IT HAS BECOME NORMALIZED FOR A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS.

AND I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO DO AT SCHOOL IS TALK AND EXPLAIN THAT THIS ISN'T NORMAL.

IT MIGHT UNFORTUNATELY BE NORMAL IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, PARTICULAR TIME, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A TRAGEDY THAT, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH TO ADDRESS.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WITH THE MOVEMENT THAT STARTED AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH.

IN JUNE I WAS VERY PROUD OF A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS WHEN THEY WERE PARTICIPATING IN THE MARCHS.

AND A LITTLE VILLAGE WITH-- THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE REALLY TRYING TO COME IN AND SEPARATE US.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS AFFECTING ALL OF US.

AND THEY NEED TO REALIZE IT.

I THINK A NUMBER OF OUR STUDENTS ARE REALLY STARTING TO PROCESS THAT.

>> THERE IS ALOT OF EMOTIONS THAT WE WENT THROUGH LAST SUMMER AS WELL WITH THE PROTESTS AND JUST COMMUNITY BUILDING.

AND NESTOR, I WANT TO GO TO YOU, WHAT SUPPORT OR WHAT RESOURCES WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO A FAMILY WHO'S WORRIED ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OR THEIR CHILD'S EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.

>> AS A PRACTICING THERAPIST MY GO-TO THING IS TO GET CONFIDENT.

AND NOT TO WAIT UNTIL THINGS GET SEVERE BECAUSE WE TRY TO-- HOW TO IDENTITY THE FIRST OF DEPRESSION, OF REACTION, AND SO IF THEY SEE ANY SYMPTOMS, ANY CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR, ANY-- AS AN ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I AGREE WITH JAMES, WE CAN EASILY, THE FAMILY INADVERTENTLY NORMALIZE IT AND SO THAT IS BUILDING CONFIDENCE.

>> ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WELL, THANKS SO MUCH, AND JAMES-- NESTOR FLORES AND JAMES HURLBURT.

UP NEXT A DEBATE ON RENT CONTROL.

STAY WITH US.

>> SINCE 1997 RENT CONTROL HAS BEEN BANNED IN ILLINOIS.

A BILL WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE JEB ASSEMBLY WOULD CREATE SOME WIGGLE ROOM GIVING CITIES AND TOWNS A CHANCE TO HOLD A REFERENDUM VOTE ON WHETHER THEIR MUNICIPALITIES SHOULD ALLOW RENT CONTROL.

AT A HEARING EARLIER THIS WEEK, STATE LAWMAKERS DEBATED THE BILL WITH OPPONENTS SAYING IT WON'T BOOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK AND SUPPORTERS SAYING IT SHOULD BE UP TO THE VOTERS TO DECIDE.

>> THE REASON THAT WE HAVE SECTION EIGHT, WE HAVE RENT PROBLEMS, SUBSIDIZED LIVING IS BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT CORRECTLY COMES IN AND SAYS WE NEED TO ALLOW FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BRIDGE CAPS.

WHAT THIS LEGISLATION DOES IS YOU ARE ALLOWING LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT TO ENTER INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND DICTATE THE RENT.

>> I RECOMMEND SOMETHING THAT I HEARD A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES SAY, THE REALITY OF THE CITY CITY IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM RURAL ILLINOIS.

RURAL ILLINOIS IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM NEIGHBORS.

I THINK THAT THIS BILL REALLY GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE IT TO THE VOTERS TO DECIDE WHERE THEY STAND AND THEN REALLY GO BACK TO THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO ENTERTAIN THE CONVERSATION.

>> JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE MICHAEL GLASSER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDING OWNERS ALLIANCE WHO OPPOSES IT, AND ALLERMAN BYRON SIGCHO-LOPEZ, A SUPPORTER OF THE BILL, ALDERMAN, WE WILL START WITH YOU, WHY DO YOU THINK REPRESENT CONTROL IS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL?

>> IT GIVES SUBSTANCE TO DEVELOPERS AND THOSE WHO ARE WELL ENOUGH BUT DOESN'T DO ENOUGH TO HELP, DOESN'T DO ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE-- IN THE COMMUNITY, WE NEED STABILITY, IN THE PANDEMIC, AND THIS SHOULD DO THAT.

CREATE THE STABILITY, CREATE CERTAINTY AND ADDRESSES A SITUATION THAT IS REALLY HURTING ALL COMMUNITIES.

IT IS A BILL ABOUT DEMOCRACY, ABOUT STABILITY IN NEIGHBORHOODS, SOMETHING THAT GOVERNORS-- TO DO BUT LIFT THE BAN ON RENT CONTROL, TO START REIT INCENTIVES, THOSE PAYMENTS COULD HELP OTHER DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION.

>> AND MICHAEL GLASSER, YOU CAN TELL US WHY YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ALLOWING MUNICIPALITIES TO VOTE ON RENT CONTROL.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THE PROPOSAL THAT IS OUT THERE WOULD ALLOW ANY UNIT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHETHER IT IS A WARD OR A PRECINCT OR EVEN A SCHOOL DISTRICT, TO MAKE ITS OWN CHOICE ABOUT RENT CONTROL BY REFERENDUM.

THE ALDERMAN SPEAKS ABOUT THE NEED FOR STABILITY OR CERTAINTY.

I CAN'T THINK OF A GREATER DISTEARS OR ANYTHING MORE CONFUSING OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD LEAD TO GREATER DISINVESTMENT IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO OR ANYWHERE IN THE STATE, IF ANY LEVEL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT BY REFERENDUM COULD MAKE A DECISION THAT JUSTIFIABLY AND OUGHT TO BE MADE BY ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE CHOSE EBB TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

WHY ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE TO BE DECIDED BY REFERENDUM.

AND WHERE DOES IT STOP.

SHOULD WE ALLOW THE PRICE OF MILK TO BE DECIDED BY LOCAL REFERENDUM, SHOULD WE HAVE ANY OTHER ISSUE THAT THINKS LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE DECIDING, HANDLED BY A REFERENDUM BY SCHOOL BOARDS OR YARD OR BY PRECINCT?

IT IS A DISASTER.

AND GREATLY DE STABILIZING.

AND BY THE WAY, THE HOUSING COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW, IN LIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC AND HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES, WE'RE IN CRISIS.

I MEAN IT'S NOT-- TENANTS ARE IN CRISIS, HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE IN CRISIS, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE WRONG TIME TO BE CONSIDERING SOMETHING LAKE THIS.

>> AND WE'LL GET TO THE PANDEMIC AFFECTS IN JUST A MOMENT.

ALDERMAN SIGCHO-LOPEZ, WHY ALLOW FOR LOCAL REFERENDA RATHER THAN DOING AWAY WITH RENT CONTROL ENTIRELY.

>> BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN DEVELOPERS AND REALTORS-- SO THAT RIGHT KNOW I KEEP HEARING FROM DEVELOPERS, DO THEY ALREADY HAVE COMMUNITY, THIS IS THE-- THE GOVERNMENT-- THEY TO ALLOW THE DEVELOPERS TO COME AND SOLVE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE, PLEASE, LET'S USE SOME COMMON SENSE, I THINK THAT WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW IS DEMOCRACY.

I MEAN IF WE HAVE, IF WE HAVE A GOVERNOR TO LIFT THE BAN ON RENT CONTROL, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SUB TIFTS WHO ARE KEEPING THE RENT AFFORDABLE, WHY SHOULD WE SUBSIDIZE BIG DEVELOPMENT?

WHY SHOULD WE SUBSIDIZE THOSE WHO ARE DOUBLING AND TRIPLING THE RENT.

NO, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IF THEY WANT TO INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY, DO IT.

THEY TALK ABOUT HELPING OUR COMMUNITY, I SEE VERY LITTLE HELP WHAT WE SEE IS GREED, GREED AND NOT COMPASSION FOR HOMEOWNERS AND TENANT WAS GET 30 DAY NOTICE.

WHAT WE WANT IS DEMOCRACY TO HAVE SELF-DETERMINATION.

OVER 07% OF THE PEOPLE VOTED TO LEAVE THE BAN ON RENT CONTROL SO WE-- LIFT THE BAN ON RENT CONTROL SO WE CAN HELP, THE SITUATION, WHAT MR. GLASSER IS SITING IS WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

PEOPLE ARE BEING EVICTED, 21,000 EVICTIONS BECAUSE OF PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS 30 DAY NOTICE.

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE CAUSE FOR EVICTION SO PEOPLE CAN BE EVICTED FOR NO REASON.

WE HAVE A LOW ENROLLMENT, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO HELP US WITH THAT.

>> YOU HAVE TO START BEING HONEST.

I THINK THAT WE DO NEED REGULATION, WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO ALLOW DEVELOPERS TO DICTATE ANY LONGER.

>> ALDERMAN BEFORE WE GO BACK TO MICHAEL, WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC.

WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT MOVE NOW FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU SERVE?

>> IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE STABILITY.

WE NEED TO LEAVE THE BAN, WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS-- THE DIRCHESZ IS THE LATINO COMMUNITY, LET'S DO IT DEMOCRATICALLY.

ARE THERE AREAS WHERE THEY COULD LIFT THE BAN, THAT WOULD HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, WE RESPECT THAT.

>> AND MICHAEL GLASSER, QUESTION TO YOU, RIGHT NOW, WE'VE SEEN HOWLAND LORDS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT IS THE SITUATION THERE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO CORRECT THE ALDERMAN, HE KEEPSES USING THE WORD DEVELOPERS WHEN THE GREAT BULK OF THE PEOPLE THAT OWN MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE HARDWORKING FAMILIES THAT WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR COMMUTES AND THEY PUT UP A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SWEAT EQUITY AND THEIR LIFE SAVINGS ON THE LINE TO PURCHASE A BUILDING, WHETHER IT IS A THREE PLANT OR SIX PLANT OR EVEN UPWARDS TO 20 UNITS OR MORE.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THE BUILDINGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEY'RE VERY COMMITTED TO THEIR TENANTS.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HELP THEM.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I, SIR, YOU DON'T, I REPRESENT AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS FILLED WITH PEOPLE THAT WORK HARD TO PURCHASE AND MAINTAIN QUALITY HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO JUST COMMENT THAT IN TERMS OF PANDEMIC, IT'S BEEN A VERY CHALLENGING YEAR FOR MANY TENANTS.

AND FOR MANY HOUSING PROVIDERS.

WE'VE CONDUCTED OUR OWN SURVEY AND WE HAVE ROUGHLY 300 PEOPLE THAT HAVE SPOBDED AND OUR STATISTICS SHOW THAT NEARLY 70% OF THEM ARE FOLKS WITH YUNLD, I THINK IT IS SPHIEF UNITS, FIVE BUILDINGS OR LESS.

AND THESE FOLKS ARE SHARING THE TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES WITH AN ECONOMIC FALLOUT AND LACK OF INCOME THAT COMES IN.

AND I THINK MR. ALDERMAN, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE DON'T HAVE INCOME, WE HAVE TO THEN FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO OPERATE OUR THREE PLANTS, OUR SIX PLANTS, HAVE I MANY STORES STORIES, MANY FRIENDS I MADE THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT HAVE TO MAKE PAINFUL CHOICES.

>> UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT WILL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INJURE TIME, THANKS AGAIN TO MICHAEL GLASSER AND ALDERMAN BYRON SIGCHO-LOPEZ.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ACCORDING TO A UNIVERSITY STUDY 42% OF YOUNG ADULTS WITH AUTISM NEVER WORKED FOR PAY IN THEIR 20S.

A STATISTIC THAT REFLECTS THE TEAM MANY PEOPLE WITH AUTISM HAVE IN MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL INTO THE WORKING WORLD.

BUT A CHICAGO WOMAN HAS COOKED UP A WAY FOR THOSE YOUNG ADULTS TO DEVELOP CRUCIAL SOCIAL AND WORK SKILLS WHILE CONTRIBUTING THEIR OWN UNIQUE FLAVORS TO THE BUSINESS.

CHICAGO TONIGHT'S ERICA GUNDERSON HAS THE STORY.

>> WE'VE GOT SOME VANILLA CUPCAKES HERE.

SOME WITH COCONUT CREAM AND OTHERS FILLED WITH PASSION FRUIT.

>> THE AROMAS WAFTING THROUGH THIS WEST SIDE KITCHEN MAKE IT OBVIOUS WHERE THE SWEETS IN THE NAME UNIQUE SWEETS COMES FROM.

>> WE'RE TALKING WITH COCONUT, THAT IS WHAT SHANNON IS DOING HERE.

I'M PUTTING COCONUT ON THE CUPCAKE TO MAKE IT PRETTY.

>> JEREMIAH IS CUTTING MARSHMALLOWS AND THAT WILL BE THE FINAL PRODUCT.

>> THE UNIQUE PART, THAT IS ANOTHER STORY.

>> THE TREATS THAT WE MAKE ARE UNIQUE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE MADE BY UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS, HENCE UNIQUE SWEETS.

>> CHRISTINA AND HER FELLOW BAKERS ARE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE UNIQUE SWEETS.

BY BAKING TREATS LIKE THESE CUPCAKES WHICH THEY SELL AT POPUP EVENTS AND THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, THE TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH AUTISM WHO PARTICIPATE ARE DEVELOPING WORK AND SOCIAL SKILLS.

FOUNDER LISA SAYS THERE IS A PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO CONTRIBUTE IN THEIR KITCHEN.

>> AUTISM IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYBODY.

THERE IS NO TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE THE SAME OR THAT EXPERIENCE IT THE SAME.

SO WE TRY TO FIND SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY.

AND EVERYBODY TRANSITIONS THROUGH ALL OF THE PROCESS, SO THAT EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND WHAT THEY LIKE.

>> LISA STARTED UNIQUE SWEETS FROM HER HOME KITCHEN IN 2018.

TO HELP HER SON IS HE BASTION WHO HAS AUTISM BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN SCAL AND THE WORKING WORLD.

>> HE HAD FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS IN CITY COLLEGE AND HE WASN'T READY TO GET A JOB.

I FELT LIKE HIM AND HIS FRIENDS HAD TO SO MUCH POTENTIAL.

AND ONE DAY THE STORY ISES, AND WE LAUGH ABOUT IT, THEY HAD A PARTY AND THEY ALL BROUGHT BAKED GOODS.

AND IT JUST STRUCK ME AS THOUGH THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD COMBINE, USE A LITTLE PROJECT MANAGEMENT, USE SOME JOB SKILLS TRAINING AND THEN BAKE BECAUSE THEY LIKE TO BAKE AND IT WAS AN INTIMATE PROJECT.

THAT IS HOW IT STARTED.

>> IS HE BANS ONIS NO LONGER IN THE KITCHEN, LISA SAYS IS HE STILL USING SKILLS HE LEARNED FOR UNIQUE SWEETS TO HELP IT GROW.

>> HE WORKED WITH ME ON PURCHASING AND INVENTORY, AND GETTING THINGS READY FOR THE ACTUAL BANK.

AND ALL THAT BACKGROUND WORK THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.

NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO PURSUE A DEGREE IN PASTRY OR CULINARY ARTS.

WHATEVER YOU ARE GOING TO DO, YOU HAVE TO INTERACT WITH OTHERS, YOU WILL HAVE TO PLAN.

AND WHAT I HOPE THAT THEY GET FROM THEIR TIME WITH US IS A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT THAT THEY CAN DO IT, AND THAT THEY CAN TAKE THOSE SKILLS AND APPLY THEM TO THE NEXT CHAPTER IN THEIR LIFE.

>> IN DAVID FIGURE ROGUEA'S CASE, HE FOUND A WAY TO UST HIS ART SKILLS TO DECORATE HOR THAN CUPCAKES.

>> DAVID LOVERS TO DRAW, THAT IS HIS THING.

HE WILL DO ART TO GO WITH THAT HOLIDAY OR WHATEVER WE ARE DOING.

AND THEN HE PUTS IT RIGHT ON THE BOX WHEN IT IS READY TO GET PICKED UP.

>> DAVID IS NONVERBAL.

WHICH HIS MOTHER SAYS SOMETIMES MADE IT DIFFICULT TO FIND COMMUNITIES.

>> WE HAVE HAD A REALLY HARD TIME FINDING ORGANIZATIONS AND THINGS WHERE HE CAN BE A PART OF WHAT HE ENJOYS AND HIS, WHAT HE IS ABLE TO DO.

IS HIGHLIGHT IT.

AND SO IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE HE HAD A PLACE, THERE WAS SOMETHING FOR HIM.

HE COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A FUTURE FOR HIM, IT MADE US FEEL BETTER ABOUT OUR FUTURE IN TERMS OF HIS INDEPENDENCE.

>> SHE SAYS SHE TOO HAS FOUND A SENSE OF BELONGING WITH UNIQUE SWEETS.

>> IT HAS GIVEN ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND PEOPLE THAT KIND OF HAVE THE SAME STRUGGLES THAT I DO AND HAVE THE SAME CELEBRATIONS THAT I DO, AND FOR BAKERS TORRES BRINGING HER OWN UNIQUE FLAVOR IS HELPING.

>> WHEN WE WERE SELLING OUT ALL THOSE CUP DAIKS, ESPECIALLY THE DIFFERENT FLAVORS, THE PINA COLADA, THAT KIND OF GAVE ME THE INDICATION THAT I FELT LIKE I AM WHERE I NEED TO BE RIGHT NOW.

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

>> AND YOU WILL FIND MORE ON UNIQUE SWEETS ON OUR WEBSITE.

IF THERE IS ONE THING EVERYONE HAS HAD TO LEARN TO DO IN THE LAST YEAR, THANKS TO THE PANDEMIC, IT IS ADAPT.

MAKING TURNS IN EVERYTHING OF HOW WE GROCERY SHOP OR, BUT FOR RACHEL GONZALEZ, THE KIND OF WORK WE DO.

HERE SHE GIVES US HER PANDEMIC PIVOT INTO THE TECH WORLD.

>> MY NAME IS RACHEL TBON GON.

I AM A LATINA IN TECH AND I JUST COMPLETELY CHANGED MY CAREER IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

I'M A LIFELONG MUSICIAN.

HAVE I BEEN PLAYING VIOLIN FOR 17 YEARS AND I HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN MIX.

I STARTED MAKING MY OWN MUSIC GOALS A REALITY BUT AFTER GRADUATED I BECAME HEAVILY BURDENED WITH STUDENT DEATH.

DEBT I WAS FORCED TO LOOK AT MORE-- I LANDED IN RETAIL BANKING BUT QUICKLY FOUND MYSELF PRETTY UNHAPPY WITH MY DAY JOB AND I KNEW I HAD TO MAKE A CAREER CHANGE.

WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO KEEP MY JOB BUT AS THE BANK TELLER I WAS DEEMED ESSENTIAL AND UNABLE TO WORK REMOTELY.

IN MY SITUATION ON THE FRONT LINES BECAME PRETTY SCARY.

I WAS WORRIED ABOUT CONTRACTING COCOVID.

I KNOW SOME MUSICIANS WENT INTO-- I DECIDED TO LOOK INTO THESE CODING BOOTCAMPS THAT WERE GAINING POPULARITY.

THERE WERE MANY OPTIONS FOR ME TO CHOOSE FROM, BUT ULTIMATELY I CHOSE CODING D O.J.

O BECAUSE IT WAS THE MOST AFFORDABLE AND A ACCOMMODATING TO MY FULL TIME WORK SCHEDULE.

AFTER I COMPLETED MY CORES WORK.

I STARTED LOOKING FOR MY FIRST DEVELOPER JOB, AS PART OF MY JOB SEARCH I JOINED THE CHICAGO CHAPTER OF THE LATINAS IN TECH NETWORK.

I CONNECTED WITH SOMEBODY WHO REFERRED ME TO MY CURRENT ROLE.

I AM KNOW NOW A SOFT WEAR ENGINEER, I AM MY SECOND MONTH ON THE JOB AND THRILLED TO BE PART OF THEIR WORK IN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY AND CUSTOM SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS.

WITH THE DIFFICULTIES THAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT, I WANT OTHER LATINAS IN CHICAGOANS TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE WANT TO DIVERSIFY THE TECH INDUSTRY.

THERE ARE NETWORKS MADE FOR LATINAS IN STEM, AND THAT THERE ARE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.

>> YOU CAN WATCH MORE IN SERIES ON OUR WEBSITE W-- WTT-W.COM/NEWS.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT.

JOIN TOMORROW NIGHT FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

SHE'LL TALK WITH LOCAL BLACK JOURNALISTS AND THEIR TAKE ON THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL AND GUILTY VERDICT FOR THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

AND IT IS THE MOVIE INDUSTRY'S BIGGEST NIGHT, HEAR FROM A HAIR STYLIST ABOUT HER HISTORY MAKING OSCAR NOMINATION FOR HER WORK IN THE FILM M MA RAINY'S BLACK BOTTOM.

YOU CAN CATCH ME HOSTING WEEKEND EDITION SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS AS WELL AS MY REPORTING DURING THE WEEK ON 912.5-WBE-- 91.5-WBEZ, AND NEXT WEEK MARISSA WILL BE HERE IN THE HOST CHAIR, NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES, THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US AND STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

BUENOSNOCHES.