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

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

I AM BRANDIS FREEMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, SOME CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FACING BIG BUDGET CUTS IN THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE HEAD OF CPS.

>>> A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT SELF SIDE CHICAGO PARISH HEARTBREAKING LOSSES PREMIERES ON WTTW THIS WEEKEND.

COOK COUNTY NEW HEALTHCARE INITIATIVE HOPES TO CHANGE HEALTHCARE'S APPROACH TO THE DISEASES THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT CHICAGO'S BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

>> WE FEEL OUR CULTURE DESERVES TO BE HERE.

>> AND A SHOP READING ALL THE COLORS OF MEXICO CHICAGO'S DOWNTOWN HOPES TO STAKE A PERMANENT CLAIM ON THE MAGNIFICENT MILE.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION AND ADVOCACY GROUP ARE PROTESTING BUDGET CUTS THAT THEY SAY THEIR SCHOOLS ARE FACING.

THIS AFTER CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS RELEASED INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL BUDGETS WITH 40 PERCENT OF SCHOOLS EXPECTED TO SEE YOU OR DOLLARS.

DISTRICT DATA SHOWS THE AVERAGE INCREASE TO SCHOOLS RECEIVING MORE FUNDING WAS ABOUT $330,000.

THE AVERAGE CUT TO SCHOOLS LOSING FUNDING WAS OVER $220,000.

177 SCHOOLS LOST AT LEAST $100,000.

THESE CUTS COME ON THE HEELS OF DEEP ENROLLMENT DECLINES ACROSS THE SYSTEM.

NEARLY 25,000 STUDENTS HAVE LEFT YES SINCE 2020.

MORE THAN 11,000 OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE LATINO.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE HOW WOODS CHIEF OF POLICY AT PARENTAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY KITS FOR CHICAGO.

ANDREA ORTIZ DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZING AT BRIGHTON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL AND PEDRO MARTINEZ, CEO OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WELCOME ALL OF YOU AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

ANDREA ORTIZ LET'S START WITH YOU.

SHIELDS WHITTLES SCHOOL IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OF BRIGHTON PARK IS BUDGETED TO LOSE TWO AND A $12,000 FOR COURT INSTRUCTION AND ANOTHER ONE UNDER $75,000 FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY UPON HEARING THIS NEWS?

>> A LOT OF ANGER, CONFUSION.

I THINK ASKING WHERE IT IS COMING FROM.

WE ARE STILL IN A PANDEMIC THINKING ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY THAT IS BEEN HARDEST HIT THE PANDEMIC.

THE COMMUNITY HAS SEEN HIGH LEVELS OF VIOLENCE AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS SET UP OUR SCHOOLS FOR SUCCESS AND THIS DOESN'T LOOK LIKE CUTTING BUDGETS.

WE ARE HEARING FROM PARENTS, MEMBERS AND PRINCIPLES THAT THEY HAVE TO CUT LINGUAL EDUCATION.

THIS SHOULD BE INVESTING IN ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, MORE LINGUAL ED, MORE SPECIAL EDUCATION AND THESE ARE BUDGET CUTS IN THEIR AN EQUITABLE, UNSUSTAINABLE IN BLACK AND LATINX COMMUNITIES.

>> HOW WOULD THESE AFFECTED SCHOOLS HULU STUDENTS HOW CAN CPS BALANCE THE DECLINE IN ENROLLMENT AND WITHOUT TRIMMING THE BUDGETS FOR THE SCHOOLS?

IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE?

>> THE SCHOOLS ARE A STUDENT-BASED FUNDING APPROACH WHICH HAVE NUMBERS UP TO SEVEN AND ROLLED.

I KNOW ONE OF THE MAJOR TOPICS THAT OUR FRIENDS HAVE HAD OUR FOR THE FRIENDS OF CHICAGO.

HE DID HAVE THAT COME OUT IN A WEEK LATER THERE WAS A MEETING AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SAYING THERE WAS $1.6 BILLION, UNSPENT FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT CAME TO CPS FROM THE RECOVERY FUNDS INSTEAD OF FROM THE COLLEGE EDUCATION AND THOSE FUNDS.

THAT IS ONE OPTION.

THINKING ABOUT HOW TO USE THOSE UNSPENT FUNDS TO CUSHION THE ENROLLMENT DECLINES AT MANY ACROSS THE SCHOOLS ARE SEEING.

>> THE CHALLENGE WITH DOING THAT IS THAT IT COULD SET YOU UP DOWN THE ROAD FOR BUDGETARY PROBLEMS IF YOU USE THESE ONE-TIME DOLLARS TO FUND PERMANENT POSITIONS AND YOU ALSO TOLD PARIS SCHUTZ ON CHICAGO TONIGHT THAT YOU ARE SLOWLY MOVING AWAY FROM THAT BUDGETING.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

YOUR PREDECESSOR SAID THAT IT WAS SOMETHING SHE BELIEVED IN.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHICH IT BASED BUDGETING?

>> FIRST OF ALL WE ARE USING THE MONEY AND REALLY, I THINK THE CONVERSATION AND THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO USE THAT MONEY?

AND, WE WENT DIRECTLY TO THE PRINCIPLES AND SAID, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE SET UP FOR SUCCESS AND WITH THE PRINTABLE SAID CLEARLY WAS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS TO PROVIDE ALL ESSENTIAL SERVICES THIS INCLUDES REASONABLE CLASS SIZES, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE INTERVENTION TEACHERS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE MORE COUNSELORS FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE IN THE CLASSROOMS.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT SINCE I WAS A KID HERE AT CPS, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CHILDREN AND WE COMBINE THE GRADES.

WE FORCE THE TEACHER TO TRY TO TEACH TWO DIFFERENT GRADE LEVELS WITH CHILDREN TO HAVE VARIOUS NEEDS.

THE OTHER THING WE HEARD WAS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE ARTS ACROSS EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL BECAUSE SOME SCHOOLS ARE RICH IN THIS AND SOME ARE NOT.

SO THE BUDGET WE ROLLED OUT WE AREN'T INVESTING THREE TO MILLION DOLLARS AND WE'RE STILL ADDING IN PLAY BECAUSE WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF $500 MILLION SO EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL WITHOUT EXCEPTION HANDLES THE RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS.

NO SCHOOL SHOULD BE CUTTING BACK ANY ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

THERE SOMETHING THAT I WISH WE COULD GO BACK AND REWIND.

I WISH WE COULD PRESENT THIS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SHARE WITH THE SPECIFIC DETAILS.

IN THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE TO SCHOOLS ARE IN AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BUILDING.

FOR EXAMPLE WE DON'T HAVE SCHOOLS WITH 20 CHILDREN IN EACH CLASSROOM WHEN THE CHILDREN THIS SCHOOL YEAR WE ONLY HAVE 20 CHILDREN.

AND SO, WE DON'T CUT THE RESOURCES DURING THE YEAR IN THE REAL QUESTION IS DO WE KEEP THE RESOURCES FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR?

IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER SCHOOL THAT HAS ALL THE PRESCHOOL CHILDREN OR HAS ALL THE DIVERSE LEARNERS AND THEN HOW DO I ANSWER THOSE PARENTS?

YOUR CLASS SIZE IS BIGGER NOT BECAUSE YOUR SHOULDER AND HAVE LESS MEANS BUT THIS IS THE WAY WE DO BUDGETING AND EITHER WAY WERE GOING TO KEEP THE RESOURCES IN THAT SCHOOL EVEN IF THEY HAVE LESS CHILDREN FOLLOWING .

LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE REALLY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN.

AND, EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL IS GOING TO HAVE MORE FUNDING ON A PER STUDENT AND WERE GOING TO GET THESE PRIORITIES.

>> AND WHEN YOU SAY THAT IT'S A VERY LONG ACRONYM IT IS ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL EMERGENCY RELIEF DOLLARS.

ANDREA ORTIZ YOU HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS THAT THE CPS CUTS CAN LEAD TO INCREASED NEIGHBORHOOD VIOLENCE.

WHAT DO THESE CUTS TO SCHOOLS MEAN IN SCHOOLS IN BRIGHTON PARK?

>> IT MEANS A DISINVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY HUB THAT SHOULD BE FULLY RESOURCED.

WE ARE SEEING STUDENT BASED BUDGETING, WE KNOW THAT IT LEADS TO THESE AND EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS OF FUNDS THROUGH OUR SCHOOLS.

WE LOOK AT 40 PERCENT OF THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE RECEIVING THE CUTS IT IS IN PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.

COMPARED TO THE OTHERS THAT ARE RECEIVING AN INCREASE THAT IT IS A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE SCHOOL.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL THE RESOURCES TO ALL THE SCHOOLS AND OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES DESERVE THE SAME INVESTMENT THAT WE ARE SEEING IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE THESE ARE THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN CARRYING THE BURDEN TRYING TO PANDEMIC WHO ARE ALWAYS HIT BY THESE CUTS AND OFTEN IGNORED AND THE FIRST TO RECEIVE CUTS IN THE DISTRICT.

>> WE ARE SHORT ON TIME BUT I WANT TO GET A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS IN.

HOW COULD CPS HAVE GONE ABOUT BUDGET PROCESS DIFFERENTLY AND IS NOT DONE YET?

>> JARRING.

WE ALLUDED TO THE PERCENT OF SCHOOLS AND WE EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER BECAUSE THE SCHOOL WASN'T SEEING A 3.5 PERCENT INCREASE AND WE CALL THAT A CUT.

I THINK THERE HAVE NOT BEEN, FRANKLY, TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF ENGAGEMENT WITH FAMILIES ABOUT THE FUNDS WE DID HAVE THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED BY DOCTOR JACKSON PRIOR TO DEPARTURE MOVING TOGETHER THAT PROGRAM WAS HALF BILLION DOLLARS FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING WE HAVEN'T HEARD PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHER ENGAGEMENTS THAT OUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN A PART OF SINCE THOSE CONVERSATIONS LAST YEAR.

SIX PERCENT OF THE FUNDS ARE SPENT THUS FAR AND I WOULD REALLY LOOK AT THE DISTRICT TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE THOSE FUNDS SIT, WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE COMMITTED TO HAVE A WEBSITE OR DASHBOARD WITH THE ACTUAL INFORMATION FOR LSU MEMBERS CAN GO TO SEE WHAT THEIR SCHOOLS ARE RECEIVING AND ALSO TO STAY ENGAGED.

WE HAVE HAD A FULL YEAR OF ENGAGING IN STUDENTS WITH THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMICAL NEEDS.

LET'S TALK TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS ABOUT WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE SO WE CAN PROGRAM THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS.

THE WORST THING WOULD BE TO HAPPEN WOULD BE TO HAVE THOSE FUNDS BACK IF WE DIDN'T SPEND THEM BY THE DEADLINE NEXT SUMMER.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND TO THOSE TWO?

>> FIRST OF ALL WHEN OUR BUDGET IS COMPLETED AND MAY BE A TRUE TODAY, WE ARE SPENDING MORE ON A PER STUDENT BASED THEN EVER BEFORE.

WE ARE SPENDING MORE FOR THE LATINX AND BLACK STUDENTS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE AND FOR THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE FOUNDATIONAL RESOURCES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOLS.

THERE'S NO ESSENTIAL SERVICES BEING CUT AND AGAIN, THE CONVERSATION WILL CONTINUE WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THESE RESOURCES SUSTAINABLE?

HOW DO WE PROVIDE THEM OVER MULTIPLE YEARS?

WE CAN ALWAYS FRONT LOAD THEM MORE TO CHALLENGE THOSE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES AND WE CREATE INEQUITIES IN SCHOOLS WHEN WE ALLOW THE RESOURCES TO STAY WHEN WE DON'T HAVE CHILDREN.

THAT IS 100 PERCENT THAT IS DRIVING ANY ADJUSTMENT IN THE BUDGET.

>> NO EASY ANSWER AND WE WON'T FIGURE IT OUT TODAY.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.

PEDRO MARTINEZ, ANDREA ORTIZ, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE BRUTAL WHOLE OF WAR ON A GENERATION OF YOUNG MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES IS A SUBJECT OF THE LATEST EPISODE ON WTTW DOCUMENTARY SERIES, CHICAGO STORIES.

THROUGH FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS AND ARCHIFOOTAGE OUR "OUR SOLDIERS, OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE" EXAMINES A COMMUNITY IN TURMOIL AS CHICAGO'S FIRST AND OLDEST MEXICAN AMERICAN PARISH COST 12 YOUNG MEN IN THE VIETNAM WAR IN A FIVE-YEAR SPAN.

HERE IS A PREVIEW.

>> I WAS SEWING A DRESS.

I WAS MAKING MYSELF A CHINESE DRESS AND FOR SOME REASON I KEPT MAKING THE WRONG PATTERN AND I TOLD MY HUSBAND, WAS PUTTING SHELVES UP IN THE CLOSET, I SAID SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND HE SAID WHY?

AND I SAID FOR SOME REASON I CAN'T GET MY DRESS.

I SAID SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

MY MOTHER, TOO.

WE HAD GONE TO CHURCH AND SHE LIT A CANDLE AND SHE SAID SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND THEN AFTER THAT I FOUND OUT WHEN MY BROTHER WAS KILLED.

I SAID, I TOLD YOU SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND MY MOM, TOO, SAID THE CANDLE BROKE IN HER HAND WHEN WE WENT TO CHURCH.

SO, AFTER THAT FOLLOWING THAT WE GOT THE TELEGRAM THAT HE WAS KILLED IN VIETNAM.

>> MY CRAZY BROTHER, JOE, HE WAS MY G.I.

JOE BROTHER.

>> PRODUCER EDGAR VARGAS WAS RAISED IN SOUTH CHICAGO WHERE OUR LADY GUADALUPE STANDS.

HE SAID EVEN 50 YEARS LATER THE STORY OF THE YOUNG MEN LOST TO WAR AS WELL AS THOSE IN WHO MADE IT BACK HOME CONTINUE TO ECHO TODAY.

>> WHAT I WASN'T READY FOR WAS THAT NOT MANY OF THE MEN WHO I CONTACT, WHETHER THEY MADE THE DOCUMENTARY OR NOT HAD TALKED ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE.

THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING I SAID WELL, IT HAS BEEN 50 YEARS YOU HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT?

AND NUMBER BECAUSE THEY WENT RIGHT BACK TO WORK.

THE STORY TELLS US THEY WERE ACCEPTED RIGHT AWAY.

SECOND TO SOCIETY WE KNEW WE HAD SOLDIERS.

SOMETIMES NOT BECAUSE OF HOW THEY DRESS BUT HAIRCUTS ALONE GAVE THEM AWAY.

AT LEAST IN THE 70S FOR SURE.

AND I THINK MY UNDERLYING REASON FOR WHAT I CAME TO SEE IS AND IF WE DON'T TELL THE STORY NOW ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC WE LOST MANY OF THEM WERE NOT GOING TO GET TO TELL THE STORY OR AT LEAST NOT BY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IT.

YOU KNOW?

I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE STORY GREAT.

>> WE WILL HAVE "OUR SOLDIERS, OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE" THIS WEEKEND ON WTTW AND IT WILL BE AIRING THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MAY.

YOU CAN FIND MORE AT THE BTW.com /CHICAGO STORIES.

WHAT A NEW THINK TANK HOPES TO ACCOMPLISH WITH WIDENING THE CITY'S LIFE EXPECTANCY GAP.

>>.

>>> IN A NEW REPORT THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAID LIFE EXPECTANCY FROM ALL CHICAGOANS DROPPED TWO YEARS DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE COVID PANDEMIC.

THEY SAY THE DROP FROM 2019 TO 2020 WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST ON RECORD.

LATINO RESIDENTS SAW THE SHARPEST DROP, A THREE YEAR DIP FROM 79.1 TO 75.9 YEARS.THERE IS A FOUR YEAR GAP BETWEEN LATINO AND WHITE CHICAGOANS LIFE EXPECTANCY WHICH IS 79.8 YEARS AND WHILE COVID DID HAVE AN IMPACT IT WAS DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, CANCER AND STROKE.

ILLNESSES THAT HAVE DISPROPORTIONATELY PLAGUED LACKING BROWN COMMUNITIES THAT EXACTED THE WORST HOLE.

COOK COUNTY HEALTH RECENTLY UNVEILED THE CHANGE INSTITUTE, A THINK TANK THAT THEY SAY WILL BRING THE URGENCY AND FOCUS OF THE COVID PANDEMIC RESPONSE TO ADDRESSING THESE OTHER HEALTH ISSUES.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS COOK COUNTY HEALTH CEO ISRAEL ROCHA JUNIOR THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WHAT INSPIRED THE CHANGE INSTITUTE'S CREATION?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT REALLY INSPIRED US TO TAKE ACTION AND NOW IS THE MOMENT TO DO SO.

WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO GO THROUGH DURING COVID WE WENT FROM HAVING A DISEASE AND BASICALLY TREATING PEOPLE WITH VENTILATORS AND HYDRATION WITHIN A YEAR WHILE IT WAS A VERY LONG AND ARDUOUS YEAR, THE TERMS WERE LIGHTNING SPEED.

TO HAVING A VACCINE IN HAND FROM THE DIAGNOSIS IT WAS ABLE TO HELP US MITIGATE THE SEVERE IMPACTS OF COVID.

THAT ENERGY, THE EXCITEMENT AND ABILITY WE KNEW THE DISEASE AFFECTED US ALL.

WE WANT TO KEEP THAT GOING AND THE CHANGE INSTITUTE REPRESENTS A MOVEMENT AND A COMING TOGETHER OF AN IDEA THAT WE CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AND WE WANT THIS TO CONTINUE.

WE WANT TO ADDRESS THE ILLNESSES THAT WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT.

THAT WOULD LEAD TO THE AND LIFE EXPECTANCY.

>> WE PLAN TO NOT ONLY ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH BUT HOW THEY ARE PERCEIVED BY HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

EXPLAIN THAT LITTLE BIT MORE FOR US.

X IS SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU MENTION IT.

ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THERE WAS A MOMENT IN OUR COUNTRY WHERE MAINLY THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSION NEEDED US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING FOR PATIENTS AT HOME AND WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT HELPED DETERMINE THAT SOMEHOW ALONG THE WAY THAT WE FROM UNDERSTANDING TO A DIAGNOSIS AND WE ALL STARTED USING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS TO SAY YOU'RE SOCIALLY DETERMINED TO DO SOMETHING.

THE CHANGE INSTITUTE MOST IMPORTANT MISSION IS THAT NO ONE SHOULD HAVE A BAD OUTCOME.

IT DOESN'T MATTER YOUR RACE, ETHNICITY, WHAT YOU LIKE WARM ANYTHING ELSE THOSE ARE THE FACTORS WE HAVE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO MITIGATE THEM AND IT'S TIME WE CHANGE THAT SO EVERYONE HAS AN ABILITY FOR THEIR BEST LIVES.

>> WHAT KIND OF STEPS THE CHANGE INSTITUTE COULD PRODUCE AND HOPEFULLY WE COULD SEE THEM PLUMMETED?

WHAT IS THE TANGIBLE?

ASK FOR US IS TO MAKE IT VERY TANGIBLE.

THERE ARE QUITE A BIT OF THINGS IN HEALTHCARE.

WE HAVE SOME AMAZING THINGS HAPPEN AND UNFORTUNATELY THOSE AMAZING INTERVENTIONS ARE NOT EQUALLY ASSESSABLE FOR EVERYONE.

FOR EXAMPLE THE NUMBER 1 THING THAT CAUSES ILLNESS AND DEATH IN COOK COUNTY IS CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS SPEED WE HAVE ADVANCED SURGERIES THINGS THAT CAN HELP YOU LIVE LONGER BUT THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE INSURANCE AND THE RIGHT INSURANCE THEY MAY NOT BE ASSESSABLE AND WE WILL CHANGE THEM.

AND MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE DIFFERENCES.

THAT ACCESS IS HELPING TO OR PART OF THE PROCESS OF WHY YOU HAVE ONE AREA THAT IS LONGER THAN THE OTHER.

NEXT TO THAT POINT WHAT WILL THE RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE CHANGE INSTITUTE MAKE AND HOW WILL THEY BE FUNDED WHEN THE TIME COMES?

>> WE WANT TO CHANGE INSTITUTE TO BE CONVENIENT FOR EVERYBODY WE NEED OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS WE NEED THE COMMUNITY TO JOIN US THE CHANGE INSTITUTE IS A START OF A MOMENT A MOVEMENT THAT WE CAN ALL LIVE OUR HEALTHIEST LIFE THAT WE CAN BE BETTER AND WE CAN ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE PLAGUED US FOR SO LONG.

OUR CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDER, ONCOLOGICAL DISORDERS AND DIABETES WE CAN MAKE A MOVEMENT TOGETHER BUT WE NEED THEIR HELP WE NEED THEIR FUNDING IN RESEARCH AND WE ALSO NEITHER TIME.

>> HOW DO YOU PLAN ON ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY SITE SERVE GOING FORWARD?

>> IT STARTS WITH THE PARTNERSHIP NOT TALKING DOWN TO PATIENTS BUT HAVING A COLLABORATION AND CONVERSATION WHERE WE ARE ALL WILLS.

WE BRING THE INFORMATION TO THE TABLE AND WE HELP EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

SHOULDN'T HE WEAR A MEDICINE IS A TOP DOWN APPROACH WHERE WERE TALKING ABOUT A SEVERE PROVIDER WE ARE ONE AND THE SAME AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO CHANGE.

IT IS A GLOBAL CONVERSATION IN WE ALL WANT TO LIVE TOGETHER AND WE WILL ALL BE TOGETHER AND WHAT TO DO TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> IS THE EARLY DAYS IN ORGANIZATIONS BUT WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS WHEN THE CHANGE INSTITUTE HAS BEEN ORGANIZED?

>> THE NEXT STEPS ARE WE WILL VERY SOON, HOPEFULLY, IN THE FALL CONVENE WITH THE SUMMIT AND WE WANT TO BRING THE BEST MINDS AND IDEAS TO THE TABLE TO EXPAND THE CONVERSATION.

WE WILL HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY THAT WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING SOON.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE SIMPLEST THINGS AND RECENTLY WITH THE PROVIDENT CENTER WE CREATED A NEW MRI CENTER AND WE WILL GO FROM INTERMITTENT TO ADVANCED STUDIES AND.

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT THOSE PROJECTS DOWN THE ROAD AS YOU ARE READY TO ASSURE THEM.

COOK COUNTY HEALTH CEO ISRAEL ROCHA JUNIOR INC.'S FOR JOINING US.

>> THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS BEEN TOUGH ON RETAIL EVERYWHERE ESPECIALLY EVIDENT ON CHICAGO'S HISTORIC MICHIGAN AVENUE SHOPPING DISTRICT.

ACCORDING TO AN ANALYSIS BY CUSHMAN AND WAKEFIELD RETAIL RATE ALONG NEGATIVE IS THAT MILD IS 9.3 PERCENT THAT'S A SIX PERCENT INCREASE FROM 2019.

LAST YEAR A LOCAL FAMILY BUSINESS SAW AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE EMPTY STOREFRONT AND ARE OFFERING A DIFFERENT KIND OF LUXURY FOR DOWNTOWN SHOPPERS.

HANDCRAFTED ARTISAN GOODS HANDCRAFTED FROM MEXICO.

WE WENT TO THE MAGNIFICENT MILE AND COLORES MEXICANOS.

>> NESTLED IN CHICAGO'S RITZY IS SHOPPING DISTRICT, COLORES MEXICANOS OFFERS AN EXPERIENCE A WORLD AWAY FROM ITS RETAIL NEIGHBORS.

>> EVERYTHING HERE HAS A PART FOR SURE OF THE ENERGY OF THE HEART AND OF THE SOUL OF THE PEOPLE WHO MADE IT.

>> SHOPS ARE STEPPING INSIDE THE MICHIGAN STORE ARE SWIFTLY TRANSPORTED FROM A BUSY STREET TO A VIBRANT MEXICAN STREET MARKET NURSING WITH HANDCRAFTED GOOD.

>> ANYTHING THAT THEY CHOOSE TO TAKE HOME FROM THE STORE IS NOT JUST A PRODUCT.

IN A GREAT MAJORITY OF CASES THERE ARE NUMEROUS GENERATIONS BEHIND THE PARTICULAR CRAFT.

PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED THE CRAFT FROM THEIR GRANDMOTHERS, GREAT-GRANDMOTHERS AND SO FORTH.

>> COLORES MEXICANOS GOT HIS START FIVE YEARS AGO WHERE TWO SISTERS AND FAMILY FRIENDS BEGAN TELLING MEXICAN ARTISAN ITEMS AT THE MARKET AND EVEN IN THEIR BACKYARD.

>> WE ARE ALL AROUND MEXICO.

WE STARTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT EACH COMMUNITY HAVE DIFFERENT KINDS OF WORK.

WITH LOVING WORK ALL AROUND, AND BUYING FOR OUR FAMILY COLLECTION AND THEN WE DECIDED THAT WE HAVE A LOT AND WHEN PEOPLE CAME TO OUR HOUSE THEY SAID OH, THIS IS VERY BEAUTIFUL.

OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, I WISH TO SELL THE THING TO THEM.

>> CO-OWNERS ERIKA ESPINOSA-CRUZ, GABRIEL NEELY-STREIT WERE THERE TO SET UP THEIR SHOP ON THE RIVERWALK.

ERIKA ESPINOSA-CRUZ SAID THE WARM RESPONSE THEY RECEIVED INSPIRE THEM TO APPROACH THE CITY WITH A MORE AMBITIOUS PROPOSAL.QUEST IN THE PANDEMIC WE REALIZE THAT A LOT OF THE SPACE HITTING MICHIGAN AVENUE WERE CLOSED.

WE JUST ASKED FOR ONE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE COMPANY OWNER WITH A PROPOSAL AND THEY ACCEPTED US.

>> IN THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE CITY'S RECOVERY FUND AND THE MAGNIFICENT MILE ASSOCIATION, COLORES MEXICANOS MOVED IN TO AID EMPTY RETAIL SPACE ON MICHIGAN AVENUE.

THE SISTERS TRANSFORM THE SPACE IN JUST THREE DAYS TO OPEN IN TIME FOR LUCK FRIDAY.

>> WHEN PEOPLE CAME INTO THE STORE THEY FELT A VERY DIFFERENT VIBE.

THEY SAID ALL THE TIME THAT THEY FEEL HAPPY AND TAKING IN AN EXPERIENCE LIKE THEY ARE IN ANOTHER PLACE THAT IS FAR AWAY FROM CHICAGO.

>> WITH ALL THIS ROOM TO SPREAD OUT, COLORES MEXICANOS WAS ABLE TO EXPAND THE ITEMS THEY OFFER.

EVERYTHING FROM JEWELRY, TO HOUSEWARES TO APRONS ALMOST TOO PRETTY TO COOK IN.

ASK ONE OF THE BENEFITS WITH THIS SPACE WITH THE BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS AND WINDOWS, WE CAN SHARE MORE ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR CULTURE.

>> IT WAS A CHANCE FOR A REALLY SMALL BUSINESS TO PRESENT ITSELF PROFESSIONALLY DOWNTOWN.

>> THOUGH THE POP-UP WAS SCHEDULED TO END AFTER THE HOLIDAYS, COLORES MEXICANOS SUCCESS MADE THEM EXTEND THEIR STAY AND NOW THEY CAN HOPE THEIR MAG-MILE HOME THERE FOREVER HOME.

>> WE WOULD BE HAPPY IF THIS STORE WOULD STAY DOWNTOWN.

ESPECIALLY FOR THE SISTERS THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE CULTURE.

>> ONE OF OUR WISHES NOW IS TO CONTINUE TO SHARE THE VIEW TO FULL THINGS WITH THE WORLD, OUR COMMUNITY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT FOR MICHIGAN AVENUE, WE ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

WE ARE NOT THE USUAL STORE THAT YOU CAN FIND.

BUT THAT IS THE POINT.

WE ARE MORE PROUD NOW.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM ERICA GUNDERSON.>> FOR NOW, COLORES MEXICANOS IS UNDER NEGOTIATIONS FOR A LONG-TERM CONTRACT WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER.

>>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TODAY.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR SITE WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST IN WTTW NEWS.

FOR ALL OF US TONIGHT AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, I AM BRANDIS FREEMAN.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY