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

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, A NEW ERA WITH CITY COUNCIL.

WE TALKED TO TWO LATINO WINNERS.

>>> WORKERS CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF HOT DOGS AND SHAKES , BUT COMING AT A COST.

>>> PROTECTIONS FOR IMMIGRANT WORKERS.

THEY REPORT UNSAFE WORK CONDITIONS.

>> I HAVE TO COEXIST WITH THE TWO, EVEN WITH THE TRAUMA.

>> HOW TOOLS ARE USED TO HEAL.

>>> WHAT WE MIGHT EXPECT FROM A NEW CITY COUNCIL FOLLOWING THIS WEEK'S RUN UP.

THAT IS FOLLOWING THIS.

>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS: >>> NEARLY A QUARTER OF THE CITY WILL GET NEW LEADERSHIP.

IT IS THE RESULT OF AN UNPRECEDENTED EXODUS OF VETERAN COUNCILMEMBERS THAT LED TO A GENERATIONAL SHIFT IN CHICAGO POLITICS.

AMONG THE NEW LEADERSHIP ARE SIX BLACK, LATINO, AND ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN.

NOT ALL FACES IN CITY HALL WILL BE NEW.

JOINING US NOW ART TWO RUNOFF WINNERS WHO WILL BE WORKING WITH JOHNSON.

THEY HAVE DECLARED VICTORY.

WE HAVE TO SAY THAT BALLOTS ARE STILL BEING COUNTED.

BUT CRUZ CURRENTLY HAS 51% OF THE VOTE AND PAUL VALLAS WAS REELECTED FOR A THIRD TERM.

I WANT TO WELCOME BOTH AND CONGRATULATIONS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

LADIES FIRST.

>> RUTH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

YOU WILL BE HEADED TO THE 30th BOARD WHICH INCLUDES THE -- AREA.

YOU ARE BACKED BY THE MAYOR ELECT.

HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH THE JOB AS ALDERMAN?

>> I WILL TAKE THE LEAD WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING ALTOGETHER, NOT ONLY WITH OUR MAYOR ELECT, BRANDON JOHNSON, BUT ALL LEADERS ACROSS THE CITY COUNCIL, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD.

WE DEFINITELY WANT TO LOOK INTO THE INTEREST OF OUR WARD.

WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> RIGHT, YOU WILL BE GOING INTO YOUR THIRD TERM.

WHAT WILL YOUR PRIORITIES BE?

>> YEAH, SO I THINK THAT AS WE ARE GETTING THE NEW COUNCIL AND MAYOR, WE HAVE TO GUYS THAT WE ARE BENEFICIARIES OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE $1.9 BILLION THAT CAME INTO THE CITY, AND WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE NEW REVENUE WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO GET.

I MIGHT BE THE CHAIRMAN OF ZONING, BUT I WANT TO SIGNAL TO DEVELOPERS AND BUILDERS, CONTRACTORS THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT WE WANT TO GET PROJECTS UP AND RUNNING AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE TO CREATE JOBS AND REVENUE SO THAT THE CITY CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE.

>> RUTH, YOU WILL BE REPLACING THE ALDERMAN.

HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT, AND HOW MIGHT YOU BE SIMILAR?

>> THE DIFFERENCE IS, I AM A NEW GENERATION WITH NEW DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT WE WILL BE BRINGING INTO THE 30th WARD WITH BEING ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND TRANSPARENT AS WELL, AND BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THINGS THAT WE SHARE SIMILAR IS HAVING THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR DECISIONS ARE AGAIN, TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.

AGAIN, IT IS A NEW DIFFERENT ERA FOR CHICAGO AS YOU MENTIONED BEFORE.

AND THE NEW LEADERSHIP THAT IS COMING IN WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO.

>> DEFINITELY.

SPEAKING OF NEW, AS WE KNOW, PRETTY MUCH THERE WILL BE A LOT OF NEW FACES IN CITY HALL.

THE ALDERMAN HAS A RECORD NUMBER ACTUALLY THAT LEFT.

AND HOW WILL THAT CHANGE THE DYNAMIC OF CITY HALL, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT YOU WILL HAVE A NEW MAYOR.

>> I THINK THAT IT IS GOING TO BE BRAND-NEW IDEAS.

WE ARE GOING TO HEAR DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND DIFFERENT FOLKS IDEOLOGY.

AND I THINK THAT MAYOR ELECT JOHNSON HAS DISCUSSED HIS PLATFORM AND WE WANT TO SEE WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT.

WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING FORWARD A BUDGET OR PUTTING FORWARD A POLICY WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE NECESSARY MEANS TO PAY FOR IT.

I KNOW THAT MAYOR ELECT JOHNSON HAS A BOLD AGENDA.

WE WILL HAVE TO SIT DOWN AS A LEGISLATIVE BRANCH TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND ON.

>> PART OF THAT AGENDA IS LEASING.

JOHNSON HAS TALKED ABOUT DELIVERING $150 MILLION OUT OF THE $2 BILLION BUDGET FOR OTHER KINDS OF PROGRAMS.

IS THAT THE KIND OF APPROACH THAT YOU ADVOCATE FOR?

>> I SUPPORT TRUMAN, NOT TRAUMA.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ALONG WITH POLICE OFFICERS TO HELP.

IT NOT ONLY HELPS THOSE WHO NEED THE HELP, BUT ALSO THOSE FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS WHO WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES.

POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN STRETCHED TOO THIN WITH MANY DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES.

BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THOSE VIOLENT CRIME PHONE CALLS, AND THEFT CALLS .2 GIVE THEM THE ABILITY AGAIN TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE NEED IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> HOW ABOUT YOU?

YOUR APPROACH TO THE LEASE, BUDGETING AND THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND ALSO THAT IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER TASK FOR THE NEW MAYOR.

AND POLICY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OF THE OPINION THAT WE NEED TO FUND POLICE AT PROPER LEVELS AND LISTEN, I CHAMPION THE GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME PROGRAM.

THE LARGEST PILOT PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY.

5000 FAMILIES WOULD GET $500 PER MONTH.

AND ALSO LEAD THE LABOR PEACE AGREEMENT FOR WORKERS AT THE AIRPORT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR PEOPLE AND GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF VIOLENCE.

I'M A PROPONENT OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE INTRODUCING OUR YOUTH TO THE BUILDING TRADES AND SKILLED TRADES BECAUSE EVERY CHILD IS NOT GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT AVENUES.

>> SPEAKING OF INVESTMENT, WHAT YOU THINK THE BEST APPROACH IS TO HELP ATTRACT SMALL BUSINESSES TO THE COMMUNITY?

>> RIGHT NOW WHAT YOU SAW WITH THE INVEST SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE, THE PROGRAM IS ONE OF MANY PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH MAYOR ELECT JOHNSON TO HAVE THOSE PROJECTS COME TO FRUITION.

IT WILL TAKE UP TO 10 YEARS TO COME ONLINE.

ONCE THEY ARE ONLINE WE ARE MAKING THESE INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITIES.

BUT WE HAVE TO PUT FORWARD INVESTMENTS IN ORDER TO GET PRIVATE DEVELOPERS TO FOLLOW SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO CREATE JOBS AND CREATE HOPE AND REVITALIZE THE BUSINESS AREA.

>> A SIMILAR APPROACH.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE REQUESTING FOR THE MAYOR ELECT TO INVEST , TO BRING CAPITOL INVESTMENT TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

SMALL BUSINESSES ARE IN NEED TO BE ABLE TO THRIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PURPOSE TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE REQUESTING AGAIN .2 MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING AND WE ARE INVESTING IN THE LATINO COMMUNITIES.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL WANT, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE WITH OTHER INVESTMENTS, BUT ALSO THAT WE PRIORITIZE INVESTING IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM YOUR COMMUNITY IN YOUR WARD?

WHAT ARE THE MOST WORRIED ABOUT?

WHAT IS THEIR CONCERN?

>> ON THE TOP CONCERNS IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT ALSO THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD EDUCATION AND ALSO WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS OTHER COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT IS SAFETY OR EDUCATION , ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS ALSO LOOKING FOR.

>> YEAH.

I WOULD JUST SAY THAT REMEMBER, WE ARE RELIANT ON BUSINESSES TO SUCCEED WHICH CREATES JOBS AND TAX REVENUE WHICH FUNDS GOVERNMENT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL.

>> WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN?

>> I RAN UNDER A PLATFORM OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT THEY WERE TOP OF MIND.

I SPOKE TO VOTERS, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AGAIN THAT WE WANT TO SEE MAYOR JOHNSON SUCCEED AND THE CITY COUNCIL SUCCEED.

WE HOPE THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER TO COLLABORATE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ATTRACTING THE DEMOCRATS NATIONAL CONVENTION HERE.

BIG INVESTMENTS AS WELL AS COMPANIES MOVING TO CHICAGO AGAIN.

>> DOES THAT WORK FOR YOUR COMMUNITY?

>> I WILL BE WORKING DILIGENTLY AND STRATEGICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT AGAIN, WE HAVE AGAIN, LIKE A MEASURE BEFORE A THRIVING COMMUNITY.

I AM FROM THE COMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE STRONG LEADERSHIP, BUT LEADERSHIP THAT IS ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS WHO I AM.

EXCITING THINGS.

I AM OVER THE MOON RIGHT NOW.

WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EXCITEMENT IS BROUGHT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE COMMUNITY HAS SENT A LOUD AND CLEAR MESSAGE AND SAID THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AUTHENTICITY, AND ALSO LIKE I SAID, LEADERSHIP ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> SAME COMMENT?

>> I'M GOING TO -- MY COMMUNITY SENT ME BACK FOR A THIRD TIME AND OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED ME AGAINST THE MACHINE POLITICS THAT WENT AGAINST ME.

THEY UNDERSTAND THAT I DELIVER FOR THE RESIDENTS, AND JUST REALLY READY TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

THIS IS THE THIRD MAYOR I AM WORKING WITH AND MAKING SURE THAT WE BRING INVESTMENTS BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> WOULD YOU CONTINUE WITH THAT ?

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

RUTH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MY THANKS TO OUR GUESTS , THANK YOU.

>>> CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF CHICAGO STYLE HOTDOGS AND FAMOUS ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT DECLARED LAST FRIDAY .

WORKERS IN EDISON ARE LEADING EFFORTS TO UNIONIZE, DEMANDING SICK DAYS AND EVEN SEATS AT THE TABLE WITH MANAGEMENT.

NON-ENGLISH] >> WE WANT FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORKERS AT THE FOOD FACILITY CURRENTLY HAVE ZERO SIX DAYS AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF THAT, BECAUSE JUST LIKE EVERYONE, THESE WORKERS ARE HUMAN.

THEY ARE BOUND TO GET SICK AT SOME POINT , AND IT IS COMPLETELY INHUMANE AND UNJUST FOR THESE FOLKS TO HAVE ZERO SICK DAYS.

IF THEY DO END UP GETTING SICK, UNFORTUNATELY THEY HAVE TO TAKE A LEAVE WITHOUT PAY.

THAT IS DETRIMENTAL TO A LOT OF THESE FOLKS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

IT IS FINE IF THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR MISSION TO EXPAND SOME 60 SOMETHING STORES UP TO 600 OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT DECADE, BUT WHAT IS NOT OKAY IS FOR THEM TO MAKE THAT GROWTH AT THE EXPENSE OF THE WORKERS.

>> THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT THEY TELL US IN A STATEMENT, AND I QUOTE, "WE ARE PROUD OF THE COMPETITIVE CAREER GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTSTANDING BENEFITS INCLUDING HEALTH INSURANCE, A WELLNESS PROGRAM, LEARNING RESOURCES, AND REWARD AND RECOGNITION THAT WE PROVIDE FOR EVERYONE.

WORKERS AT THE PRODUCTION FACILITY HAVE AN ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WILL UNIONIZE.

>>> UP NEXT, BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND THE PROTECTIONS FOR IMMIGRANT WORKERS.

THAT IS IN THE CONVERSATION.

>>> IMMIGRANT WORKERS IN ILLINOIS COULD SOON SEE MORE PROTECTIONS IN THE WORKPLACE.

THE DEMOCRATIC STATE LAWMAKERS, THE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND WORKER RIGHTS GROUPS ARE PUSHING FOR THE WORK WITHOUT FEAR ACT IN SPRINGFIELD.

IT WOULD PROTECT EMPLOYEES FROM THREATS FROM REPORTING LABOR VIOLATIONS LIKE WAGE THEFT, DISCRIMINATION, AND UNSAFE WORKING CONDITIONS.

HERE TO EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT THE BILL ARE THE POLICY DIRECTOR FOR RAISE THE FLOOR ALLIANCE, A WORKERS RIGHT GROUP AND LILLIAN GIMENEZ FROM CHICAGO.

A SPONSOR OF THE BILL.

WE ALSO INVITED REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP FOR A REPRESENTATIVE, BUT THEY DECLINED.

THANKS TO YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH YOU.

PLEASE, WHY DOES ILLINOIS NEED THIS BILL?

>> WELL, IN ILLINOIS CURRENTLY WORKERS WHO SEEK TO TALK TO THEIR EMPLOYERS OR FILE A COMPLAINT HAVE , STILL HAVE A FEAR THAT IF THEY RAISE ANY ISSUES IN THE WORKPLACE THEY CAN BE RETALIATED AGAINST.

ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE ARE IMMIGRANT WORKERS.

MANY I HAVE HEARD FROM PERSONALLY TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE AFRAID TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON WAGE THEFT VIOLATIONS OR RAISE ANY CONCERN AT ALL BECAUSE OF THE THREAT OF EMPLOYERS , NOT JUST A PERCEIVED THREAT, WE KNOW OF MANY CASES WHERE EMPLOYERS HAVE ACTUALLY THREATENED TO CALL IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS AND LET PEOPLE KNOW OR THREATEN PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

THAT IS WHY THIS IS NEEDED.

>> WHAT HAS BEEN THE EXPERIENCE OF THE WORKERS THAT YOU ALL WORK WITH WHEN THEY WANT TO REPORT ABUSE OR INTIMIDATION?

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE MONDAY WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN WHICH WE HEARD EXTREMELY HARROWING TESTIMONIES, NOT JUST FROM OUR WORKERS, BUT AGAIN FROM EXPERIENCES SHE HAD BEFORE SHE WAS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

WE HEARD FROM ARISE CHICAGO AND SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW SHE WORKED FOR HER EMPLOYER FOR 20 YEARS AND OVER THE COURSE OF TIME ACCUMULATED $10,000 IN BACK PAY.

AND YOU ONLY ACCUMULATE THAT MUCH OWED MONEY FROM YOUR EMPLOYER IF AT SOME POINT YOU ARE TOO SCARED AND FEARFUL TO BE ABLE TO CLAIM THE MONEY THAT YOU ARE OWED.

AND IT IS STORIES LIKE THAT THAT WE KEEP HEARING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND IN WHICH EMPLOYERS WILL DO THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE MOMENT THAT YOU DEMAND YOUR WAGES OR ASK FOR BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY HAVE IMMIGRATION CONTROL ON THE PHONE TO DEPORT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

THIS WILL PROTECT WORKERS ACROSS ILLINOIS FROM THESE KINDS OF THREATS.

SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS A STATE THAT IS WELCOMING FOR IMMIGRANTS AND ALL WORKERS .

>> WHAT PROTECTIONS PREVIOUSLY EXISTED FOR UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS?

>> WELL, THERE ARE FEDERAL PROTECTIONS IN THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT THAT PROTECT WORKERS FROM BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BASED ON CITIZENSHIP STATUS.

UNFORTUNATELY, MOST WORKERS DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FILE THOSE COMPLAINTS AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO CIVIL OR MONETARY PENALTY CURRENTLY .

WHAT THIS WILL DO IS ACTUALLY HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ATTORNEYS GENERAL HERE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS WHICH MANY WORKERS ARE FAMILIAR WITH , THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY ENFORCE THESE TELEVISION PROVISIONS AND PROTECTIONS.

WE KNOW THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE WORKERS GO WHEN THEY ARE FACING WAGE THEFT OR DISCRIMINATION.

>> WHAT RECOURSE DO WORKERS CURRENTLY HAVE TO GET HELP IF THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED ABUSE OR INTIMIDATION?

>> THERE EXISTS ACTIVITY WHERE , IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH OR SPEAKING TO OTHER WORKERS IN THE WORKPLACE ABOUT ISSUES THAT YOU ARE FACING AND TRYING TO TAKE COLLECTIVE ACTIONS, THERE ARE PROTECTIONS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

HOWEVER, AT THIS LEVEL, YOU KNOW, AT THE STATE, THERE ARE NOT MANY WHEN IT COMES TO THESE SPECIFIC ISSUES ABOUT IMMIGRATION BASED RETALIATION.

IF IT IS AN EMPLOYER THREATENING TO CALL ICE OR AN EMPLOYER THAT IS USING EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION THE WAY THEY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED BY FEDERAL LAW, YOU REALLY DO NOT HAVE ANY HORSE.

THAT IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS VERY SPECIFIC AND CLEAR DEFINITION OF RETALIATORY PRACTICES, AND VERY CLEAR WAYS FOR EMPLOYEES TO BE ABLE TO CLAIM RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW.

>> WHAT AUTHORITY WOULD THIS LEGISLATION GIVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE OR ANY OTHER OFFICES FOR THAT MATTER, AND WHAT KIND OF CONSEQUENCES COULD AN EMPLOYER FACE?

>> THIS ACT, THE WORK WITHOUT FEAR ACT, ALLOWS THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO CREATE AN INFRASTRUCTURE TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS.

SO I PREVIOUSLY WORKED AT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE CLAIMS PROCESS AND HOW WORKERS REALLY TRUST THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BECAUSE THEY HAVE PUT YEARS INTO WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES AND SO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES DO GO THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

THIS WILL ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO ALSO BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY ENFORCE ANTI-WAGE THEFT LIKE THE STORY WITH THE STATE WORKER THAT WAS OWED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, BUT ALSO TO ENFORCE THE PROVISION THAT WE ARE PROPOSING WHICH WAS TO CREATE AN ANTI-RETALIATION COMMITTEE.

IF THEY WANT TO THEIR EMPLOYER OR WENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO COMPLAIN THEY COULD NOT THEN BE FIRED OR RETALIATED AGAINST OR THE EMPLOYER COULD NOT THREATEN TO CALL THE POLICE TO REPORT THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

THAT IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, I HAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE SO MANY TIMES WHERE WE HEARD THEY WERE AFRAID TO FILE THE COMPLAINT AND THEY CAME TO THE DEPARTMENT BUT SAID I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO SIGN THIS PIECE OF PAPER THAT SAYS MY EMPLOYER WILL KNOW THAT I'M COMPLAINING BECAUSE I AM FEARFUL THAT MY IMMIGRATION STATUS WILL BE USED AGAINST ME.

SOME PEOPLE MAYBE WERE NOT DOCUMENTED BUT SOME ARE PERMANENT RESIDENTS.

SOMETIMES THEY WERE U.S. CITIZENS.

THE FACT REMAINS THAT PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS STILL HAVE A FEAR BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT INTO PLACE.

THERE IS A FEAR THAT HAS BEEN INSTILLED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THIS WOULD ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO REASSURE PEOPLE THAT IN FACT THIS IS THE LAW IN ILLINOIS.

IF YOU HAVE AN UNDERLYING CLAIM, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO SOMEWHERE AND TO FILE THAT COMPLAINT WITHOUT FEAR OF LOSING NOT ONLY YOUR LIVELIHOOD BUT POSSIBLY YOUR ABILITY TO STAY IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 20 SECONDS LEFT.

>> WILL BE BORDER PROTECTIONS EXPAND TO NOT ONLY A FORMAL COMPLAINT BUT ALSO FILING OR SPEAKING TO A PUBLIC BODY OR A PUBLIC OFFICIAL CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION AND IT IS NOT A CIVIL COMPLAINT FILED WITH AN AGENCY.

>> GOOD TO KNOW.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>>> THERE IS MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> NOW WE GO TO THE STORY ABOUT THE HEALING NATURE OF ART.

>> ALEX, A LOCAL ART STUDENT IS USING HER ARTWORK TO EXPLORE HER RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING.

IT IS A PROCESS ABOUT FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF TRAUMA.

NOW SHE IS USING ART AS A TOOL TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> MY PARENTS DID NOT GROW UP WITH A LOT OF MONEY.

WE DO NOT GO TO ART MUSEUMS.

THE CHURCH BECAME THE ART MUSEUM.

THE STAINED-GLASS AND THE COLORFUL IMAGERY BECAME THE VISUAL LANGUAGE WHEN I FIRST STARTED PRACTICING DRAWING.

I STARTED WITH RELIGIOUS FIGURES BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE MY PARENTS PROUD.

>> BUT JACKIE SAYS HER RELATIONSHIP WITH RELIGION DRAMATICALLY CHANGED DURING HER TEENAGE YEARS.

>> CATHOLICISM IN GENERAL IS LIKE SO PREVALENT IN BEING LIKE LATINO.

IT IS KIND OF, IT IS REALLY HARD TO SEPARATE THE TWO.

THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE MY MOM THOUGHT THAT I WAS POSSESSED BY SOMETHING.

SHE THOUGHT OUR WHOLE FAMILY WAS BEING ATTACKED BY DEMONS OF SOME SORT, AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO WATCH MY MOM AND FAMILY IN GENERAL GO THROUGH THIS STAGE OF MADNESS.

>> SHE SAYS IT WOULD SOON REACH A BREAKING POINT.

>> AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS OF GOING THROUGH CONSTANTLY BEING TOLD THAT THERE IS A DEMON IN YOU, THE CATALYST WAS MY MOM HAD AN EXORCISM DONE ON ME, SO I HAD TO BE CLEANSED, IN HER WORDS .

AFTER THE EXORCISM WAS DONE, SHE KIND OF LIKE, FOR HER IT WAS HEALING, BUT FOR ME IT WAS THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE.

>> SHE WOULD GO ON TO USE HER ART NOT ONLY TO PROCESS WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER, BUT AS A TOOL TO BOTH HEAL AND FORGIVE.

>> THERE ARE LITTLE SYMBOLS IN MY PIECES, LIKE THE LINE IS REOCCURRING AND IN THE EXORCISM SHE HAD TO RUB ME WITH THE LIME AND CANDLES AND I USE THAT AS A SYMBOL TO REPRESENT BOTH THE EXORCISM, CLEANSING, BUT ALSO THE OPPOSITE OF CLEANSING.

>> PORTRAYING HER THAT CHICKENS ARE ANOTHER IMPORTANT THEME.

>> AND IN GENERAL SHOW AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THAT I APPRECIATE.

THEY HELPED ME RECONNECT WITH THAT HISTORY THAT I HAVE IN MEXICO, AND MY IDENTITY.

THAT HAS BEEN THE ONE THING CHICKENS IN GENERAL HAVE BEEN THE ONE THING THAT HELPS ME CONNECT.

>> SHE SAYS HER JOURNEY IS VERY MUCH A PROCESS.

SHE NOW IDENTIFIES AS AGNOSTIC AND .

>> WHAT YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THESE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF YOURSELF?

>> INTERESTING.

I SEE A LITTLE SADNESS IN THEM, BUT I AM ALSO HOPEFUL.

THERE IS ONE IN THE CORNER AND I AM HOLDING HER HAND.

I FEEL SADNESS BUT ALSO HAPPINESS FOR THEM BECAUSE THAT VERSION IS LIKE A BABY VERSION OF ME.

I FEEL BAD FOR IT, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT THE PAST VERSION IS GOING TO GO THROUGH BUT I ALSO FEEL HAPPY BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE I AM NOW.

>> IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING MORE OF HER SELF-PORTRAITS OR HER CHICKENS , YOU CAN CHECK THEM OUT AT HER SHOWCASE THROUGH APRIL 15 AT THE SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE.

WE HAVE THOSE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

NOW ALEX, WE GO BACK TO YOU.

>>> THAT IS GOING TO BE OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

DO NOT FORGET TO TUNE IN EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING .

I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" , THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.