♪♪ >>> BIENVENIDOS TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ.

WE START EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING.

VIOLENCE PREVENTION MOVEMENT THAT HIRES FORMER GANG MEMBERS GAINS MOMENTUM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> WE TOLD THEM, NO, YOU CAN LIVE YOUR NORMAL EVERYDAY LIFE.

THEY ARE VERY SURPRISED.

>>> BRIDGING THE ORGAN DONATION GAP IN LATINO COMMUNITIES.

LANDMARK STATUS.

ONE STEP CLOSER TO REALITY.

>>> GET YOUR GROOVE ON THIS WEEKEND.

WE TELL YOU WHERE TO FIND A HOUSE MUSIC.

>>> OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT, AQUILA AND MARK VOTE FOR A CLOSED CHURCH.

THAT IS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> THE PRAYERS FROM SOME PRESERVATIONISTS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.

THE CHURCH BUILDING HAS CLEARED AN INITIAL HURDLE FOR LANDMARK STATUS FROM THE CITY.

THE CENTURY-OLD CHURCH WILL NOW GO THROUGH A LENGTHY APPROVAL PROCESS.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE WITH THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY.

SHE WAS ALSO A PARISH IN HER.

AND LOPEZ, WHO REPRESENTS THE 25th WARD.

WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO, WHICH OWNS THE BUILDING.

THEY DECLINED OUR INVITATION.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

YOU WERE AT THE CITY'S MEETING ON MONDAY WHEN THIS NEWS BROKE.

>> IT WAS ELECTRIC BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A LONG TIME.

IT STARTED IN 2016 WITH THE MERGERS AND CLOSURES OF THE CHURCHES.

OURS IS THE FIRST IN OUR OPEN AREA.

WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING IT EVER SINCE.

AT THE VATICAN.

THAT HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL EFFORT.

WE WERE ALSO CONCURRENTLY WITH OUR ALDERMEN ALSO FIGHTING CYNICALLY, WHICH MEANS WE WERE TRYING TO GET IT LANDMARKED.

WE ACTUALLY HAD BEEN TRYING TO GET IT LANDMARKED SINCE 1974, WHICH IS THE FIRST TIME IT WAS SLATED TO CLOSE.

SO THIS IS AN ONGOING EFFORT BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL LANDMARK.

AND IT IS SUCH A PROMINENT LANDMARK IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS MOVEMENT AS WELL.

YOU AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR THE CHURCH TO HAVE LANDMARK STATUS FOR YEARS.

WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG?

>> YOU GOT TO REMEMBER THAT THE ISSUE CAME TO DISCUSSION.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT GET THE POLITICAL WILL.

THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS A LOT -- OVER 150 IN CHICAGO THAT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.

THE LANDMARK DESIGNATION UNDERSTANDS THAT.

WE ALSO HAVE CHURCHES ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY.

WE HAVE A PLAN.

IT INCLUDES THE RESIDENCE.

IT INCLUDES THE CONVERSATION.

WE CANNOT EXCLUDE THE DEVELOPERS AFTER PARISHIONERS -- THEIR LABOR.

ALSO WITH THE SUBSIDIES OF THEIR PROPERTY TAX.

WE DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A CONVERSATION AROUND THE LANDMARK TO PRESERVE THAT CHURCH.

>> DEFINITELY.

WHAT IS YOUR CONNECTION WITH THE CHURCH?

>> I HAVE BEEN A LIFELONG PARISHIONER .

I GREW UP THERE.

I WENT TO SCHOOL THERE WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS STILL OPEN.

AND MY PARENTS WERE MAJOR THERE.

MY FATHER WAS A CARETAKER THERE.

MY MOM WAS -- SHE DID A LOT OF WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

AND IN OUR COMMUNITY, I KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT THE CHURCH, BUT ALSO WITHIN THE LAST 50 YEARS IT HAS BEEN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE.

WE HAD ALL OF OUR CULTURAL EVENTS HELD THERE.

IT IS SO PARAMOUNT TO THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE THESE CULTURAL CUSTOMS AND CULTURAL LANDMARKS THAT MAKE IT A COMMUNITY.

BUILDINGS ARE WHAT COMMUNITIES GATHER AROUND.

WE CAN'T ALSO SAY THE BEAUTY -- IT IS THE BEAUTY AND THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE COMMUNITY FEELS CONNECTED AS WELL.

LIKE WE SAID AT THE BEGINNING, WE ACTUALLY TRIED TO REACH THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO, WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY.

THEY PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT.

QUOTE, THE CHURCH IS PART OF ST. PAUL'S PARISH.

IT IS COMPLETING WORK AND STARTED A WEEK AGO TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY AND THE SACRED ITEMS IN THE CHURCH WHICH WERE BEING REPEATEDLY VANDALIZED AND DESTROYED.

THE NEED TO PROTECT THE ITEMS WAS REINFORCED AS THE CHURCH WAS BROKEN INTO AGAIN THIS WEEK.

THE PRELIMINARY LANDMARK STATUS VOTE BY THE COMMISSION OF CHICAGO LANDMARKS DOES NOT AFFECT THE EFFORTS OF ST. PAUL PARISH TO PROTECT THESE ITEMS.

ALDERMEN, WHAT DOES THAT STATUS MEAN FOR THE CHURCH?

>> WE STARTED THIS WEEK WITH THE PRELIMINARY STATUS OF LAND MARKING.

THAT MEANS THAT FOR FUTURE USE, THIS IS A PROCESS WHERE WE NEED THE COLLABORATION.

IT IS QUESTIONABLE IF WE NEED THE CONSENT BECAUSE IT IS NO LONGER A CATHOLIC CHURCH.

BUT IT IS IN THEIR BUILDING.

I THINK MY OPINION -- >> IS IT COSTLY FOR THEM?

>> IT IS COSTLY FOR THE TAXPAYERS.

AND I THINK ARCHDIOCESE -- AGAIN, THEY SUBSIDIZE.

THEIR PROPERTY TAX IS ULTIMATELY SUBSIDIZED.

IN A TIME WHERE WE HAVE LOST COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT WE SEE SO MUCH VIOLENCE.

IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT WE TALK ABOUT REPURPOSING IT AND WE DO IT CAREFULLY.

THIS IS A LANDMARK THAT MET THE CRITERIA.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS NOT ONLY PROTECTING BUILDINGS, IT IS PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVING THE DETERMINATION TO WORK TOGETHER AND REPURPOSE IT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WE SEE THE MIGRANTS COMING IN.

IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP.

MANY OF THEM ARE CATHOLIC.

WE DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE WORK TOGETHER TO FIND A VIABLE SOLUTION.

>> WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE.

BUT I DO WANT TO ASK WHAT IS NEXT IN THE PROCESS.

>> I THINK WE DO NEED TO INCLUDE THE ARCHDIOCESE.

BUT ALSO, ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.

I THINK WE CAN COME UP WITH A VIABLE SOLUTION STILL AT THIS POINT.

I KNOW THEY SAID THEY WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THE CHURCH, BUT I THINK IN TAKING CARE OF THE CHURCH WE NEED TO ALL OF US COME TOGETHER SO IT CAN BECOME AGAIN A VIABLE COMMUNITY TOUCHSTONE AND CORNERSTONE.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AUGUST IS NATIONAL MINORITY DONOR AWARENESS MONTH.

LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGING MORE PEOPLE TO BECOME ORGAN DONORS.

HISTORICALLY, MEDICAL MISTREATMENT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR HAS RESULTED IN DISTRUST OF THE SYSTEM.

WITH HEALTH CONDITIONS LIKE DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, AND KIDNEY DISEASE ON THE RISE IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, A REPORTER TELLS US HOW A GROUP OF PHYSICIANS IS WORKING TO INSTILL TRUST.

>> MEET THE TEAM WORKING TO BREAK DOWN LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

AT UI HEALTH, A SPANISH- SPEAKING CLINIC IS HELPING PATIENTS THROUGH THE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PROCESS.

REMAKE 52-YEAR-OLD RODRIGUEZ HAS HAD TWO TRICK KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS.

HE IS IN TODAY FOR A CHECKUP.

THE CLINIC IS PART OF THE UI HEALTH KIDNEY PROGRAM AT UIC HOSPITAL.

DR. ALVAREZ IS ONE OF THE DOCTORS WHO SPEARHEADED THE INITIATIVE.

>> SPANISH-SPEAKING CLINIC TO TRY TO MAKE MORE COMFORTABLE THE INTERVIEWS WITH THE PEOPLE.

HE TRIED TO CLARIFY -- IN THAT WAY, PEOPLE ALSO MAY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS.

>> Reporter: DR. ALVAREZ SAYS HIS VISION FOR THE CLINIC IS TO BRIDGE THE INFORMATION GAP IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

>> BARRIERS ABOUT THE SURGERY.

TOO COMPLICATED.

TOO DANGEROUS.

NOW A DAYS IT IS NOT LIKE IN THE PAST.

>> Reporter: ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO IN THE CHATHAM NEIGHBORHOOD, HARRY WILKINS IS ON A SIMILAR MISSION.

>> NATIONALLY, THERE IS OVER 106,000 PEOPLE WAITING FOR AN ORGAN.

MOST OF THOSE ARE KIDNEYS.

THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY -- 60% OF THOSE -- ARE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

THE DISPARITIES ARE BECAUSE THOSE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE KIDNEY FAILURE ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: THE FORMER INDEPENDENCE BANK OF CHICAGO IS BEING TRANSFORMED INTO AN EDUCATION HUB.

>> IN THE BLACK COMMUNITIES -- BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES -- THERE IS A HISTORICAL MISTRUST OF HEALTHCARE IN GENERAL.

>> Reporter: WILKINS GREW UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND BECAME A TRAUMA SURGEON AND IS NOW THE CEO OF GIFT OF HOPE, AN ORGANIZATION PROVIDING ORGAN AND TISSUE SERVICES.

>> ONLY WAY WE CAN REALLY ADDRESS IT IS THEIR EDUCATION.

YES, IT IS EMPTY NOW.

IT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTERS HERE.

>> Reporter: DESPITE THERE BEING 7.4 MILLION REGISTERED DONORS IN ILLINOIS, THERE IS STILL A NEED FOR LIVING DONORS.

PATIENT DAVID RODRIGUEZ AT UI HEALTH SAYS HIS JOURNEY TO FIND A DONOR IN HIS FAMILY WAS DIFFICULT.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: THE TEAM AT UI HEALTH SAY MYTHS ABOUT DONATIONS OFTEN STEER PEOPLE AWAY FROM WANTING TO DONATE.

>> PEOPLE THINK THAT AFTER DONATING A KIDNEY THEY WILL BE ON MEDICATION -- THAT NOW THEY ARE MISSING AN ORGAN THAT THEY NEED.

>> Reporter: AT SOME POINT WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE MYTH THAT DOCTORS WON'T WORK AS HARD TO SAVE YOUR LIFE IF YOU ARE A REGISTERED DONOR.

WILKINS SAYS THAT IS NOT TRUE.

>> IF YOU REGISTER YOUR INTENT TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR, YOU BECOME A DONOR UPON YOUR DEATH.

>> Reporter: IN THE MEANTIME, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE GIFT OF HOPE AND PHYSICIANS AT UI HEALTH ARE WORKING TO RESTORE TRUST BETWEEN COMMUNITIES BY GIVING THEM ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

>> PATIENTS FEEL THERE IS A PLACE FOR THEM WHERE THEY CAN COME AND BE SEEN IN THEIR OWN NATIVE LANGUAGE.

>> Reporter: FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" I AM JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>>> UP NEXT, DETAILS INTO A VIOLENCE PREVENTION MOVEMENT THAT IS GAINING STEAM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HAS THAT STORY IN A CONVERSATION AS PART OF OUR SAFER SEATING SERIES.

STAY WITH US.

♪ ♪ >>> ONE SOLUTION TO INTERRUPTING THE CYCLE OF GANG VIOLENCE IS GETTING AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF ATTENTION IN COMMUNITY-BASED ANTIVIOLENCE PROGRAMS.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON HAS GIVEN INITIATIVE HIS BACKING ALONG WITH MILLIONS IN CITY FUNDING.

THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE ALSO ALLOCATED MILLIONS IN FUNDING THIS YEAR FOR ANTIVIOLENCE PROGRAMS DOES ONES THAT HIRE LOCAL RESIDENTS AT HIGH RISK OF BEING SHOT OR SHOOTING OTHERS.

MANY ARE FORMER GANG MEMBERS.

THEY SERVE AS MEDIATORS AND PEACEKEEPERS IN THE VERY NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THEY MAY HAVE ONCE GOTTEN INTO TROUBLE.

HERE TO DISCUSS OUR CHICO TILLMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ANTIVIOLENCE PROGRAM IN CHICAGO , BENNY LEE, AN INSTRUCTOR IN JUSTICE STUDIES AT NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY'S AND COFOUNDER OF THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED.

HE IS ALSO A FORMER CHICAGO GANG MEMBER WHO SPENT 15 YEARS IN ILLINOIS PRISON.

THEO HARDEMAN, AND ROBERTO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ANTIVIOLENCE ORGANIZATION CAN INCREASE THE PIECE.

YOU ARE ALL EXPERTS IN WHAT IT IS WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT, HAVING LIVED EXPERIENCES AS WELL.

AS WE MENTIONED, ANTIVIOLENCE PROGRAMS ARE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION, AS WELL AS SOME MONEY FROM PHILANTHROPY AND GOVERNMENT.

ANY THOUGHTS ON WHY THIS MOVEMENT IS GETTING MORE SUPPORT NOW?

>> THE MOVEMENT IS GAINING A LOT OF MOMENTUM DUE TO THE FACT THAT GUN VIOLENCE IS AN EPIDEMIC.

IT CONTINUES TO SPREAD ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

A LOT OF THE PROVEN MODELS AND INITIATIVES -- DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS IN CHICAGO -- WE HAVE PROVEN MODELS TODAY.

150 HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS.

PLACING THEM INTO JOB-TRAINING PROGRAMS.

THE OTHER 35% ARE ENROLLED BACK IN SCHOOL.

THE REMAINING 30% WE OFFER SOCIAL SERVICES TO THAT POPULATION.

THE MOVEMENT IS GAINING A LOT OF MOMENTUM.

IT'S BEING TREATED AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

>> CHICO TILLMAN.

SOME QUESTION TO YOU.

ANY THOUGHTS ON WHY THIS IS GETTING MORE ATTENTION NOW?

>> SEVERAL REASONS.

THE MAIN REASON IS THAT THE VIOLENCE IS IMPACTING THE ECONOMY IN WAYS THAT IT'S NEVER BEEN IMPACTED BEFORE.

ANOTHER REASON IS BECAUSE OF THE LARGE AMOUNT OF MASS SHOOTINGS THAT TOOK PLACE.

WITH THE LARGE AMOUNT OF MASS SHOOTINGS IS CAUSING AN IMPACTOR COULD NEVER IMAGINE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ALSO WITH THE SITUATION WITH THE UPRISING OF GEORGE FLOYD.

IT WAS A PERFECT STORM.

INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK IN THIS PARTICULAR SPACE ARE SOME OF THE HEROES WHO DON'T GET ENOUGH CREDIT THAT REALLY STOPPED THE PANDEMIC.

THAT IS WHERE GOVERNMENT AND INSTITUTIONS SAW VALUE AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.

WE WERE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD CONNECTIONS TO THAT HARD-TO- REACH POPULATION WHO HAD BEEN CAST ASIDE BY MAINSTREAM AMERICA.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THOSE FOLKS ARE DOING AS WELL.

WHAT EVIDENCE DO YOU HAVE THAT THIS IS WORKING?

>> THE EVIDENCE IS IN ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE OFF THE STREETS AND INSTRUCTORS WHO ARE NOW LEADING THEIR OWN PROGRAMS.

I ALSO HAVE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE.

I HAVE BEEN IN A GANG MYSELF.

KNOWING A LOT OF THE REASONS I JOINED A GANG IS BECAUSE I WAS RAISED BY A SINGLE MOTHER ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

THE COMMUNITY WITH LIMITED OPPORTUNITY.

LIMITED TO SAVE SPACE.

THAT IS WHAT WE TRY TO REPLICATE .

WE TRY TO MAKE SURE WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PREVENT VIOLENCE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

CREATE THOSE SAFE SPACES WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND LEARNING SKILLS.

ALSO LEARNING HOW TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

ULTIMATELY THE EVIDENCE IS IN THE WORK THAT ALL OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING.

THE FACT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND COMMUNITIES IN THE PROCESS.

>> THREE OF YOU WERE ONCE GANG MEMBERS.

MANY OF YOUR STAFF WERE PROBABLY FORMER GANG MEMBERS WHO ARE TAKING A DIFFERENT PATH NOW.

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR FORMER GANG MEMBERS WHO HAVE ONCE BEEN INCARCERATED TO REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM THAT LIFE WHEN THEY RETURN HOME?

>> IT STANDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE TIME SERVE YOU VERSUS SERVING TIME.

WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE -- IF I AM DOING TIME AND I'M GANG AFFILIATED AND I LOOK AT WHAT I HAVE LEFT, I'VE GOT TO MAKE THAT CHANGE IN THE PRISON.

THE SAME GANG ON THE STREET.

I WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I'M GOING TO SCHOOL.

TRY TO TAKE UP A TRADE.

I HAVE GOALS.

SO THOSE GUYS I'M TALKING TO ON THE PHONE -- IF THEY SO HAPPEN TO BE BY MY HOUSE, I'M LETTING THEM KNOW IT IS A NEW DAY.

WHEN I GET OUT, DON'T GO AROUND THERE.

I GET A JOB.

GET IN SCHOOL.

SPEND TIME WITH MY CHILDREN.

HERE, I AM DOING THIS.

WHEN THEY SEE ME, THEY ARE GOING TO RESPECT ME DIFFERENTLY.

IF YOU PUT YOURSELF BACK IN THAT ENVIRONMENT, YOU'RE VULNERABLE.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO REACH YOUR GOALS, FIRST THING, YOU GOT TO STAY ALIVE.

YOU CANNOT GET KILLED.

YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, CAN YOU GET KILLED GOING TO A CERTAIN PLACE?

HOW DO YOU MINIMIZE THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING KILLED?

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO REACH A GOAL LONG-TERM.

YOU HAVE TO MINIMIZE THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING ARRESTED.

CAN YOU GET ARRESTED HANGING WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE IN CERTAIN PLACES?

YOU NEED YOUR MIND.

YOUR MIND IS DIFFERENT FROM YOUR BRAIN.

IT IS YOUR MIND THAT DEVELOPS YOUR BRAIN.

LEARNING THAT.

BEING EDUCATED.

COMING FROM A GUY LIKE ME.

I WAS A GANG LEADER BACK IN 1967.

13 YEARS OLD.

ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE CITY.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE IF YOU START THAT YOUNG IT IS VERY HARD TO MAKE THAT CHANGE LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD.

ROBERTO, DO YOU THINK FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE -- HOW ESSENTIAL IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE MAKING THOSE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS IN THIS KIND OF WORK?

>> I THINK THAT IS PART OF WHY THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION MOVEMENT HAS BEEN GROWING.

IT IS A RECOGNITION ULTIMATELY THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND THAT WHEN THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THESE ISSUES ARE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE SEE A RECOGNITION THAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN BETTER ENGAGE OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE.

I ULTIMATELY IN MY STORY IT WAS CLEAR THAT WHEN SOMEONE GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY, I WAS ABLE TO TURN MY LIFE AROUND.

A POSITIVE MENTORSHIP COMMUNITY.

IN OUR PROGRAMS, WE SEE DAY IN AND DAY OUT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES THROUGH A CRITICAL OPPORTUNITY GIVEN BY A CREDIBLE MESSENGER AT THE RIGHT TIME.

ULTIMATELY, ONCE YOU CREATE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN SAFE SPACES, IT HAS AN EXPONENTIAL EFFECT ON THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE NOW THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED OUR TEACHING AND INSTRUCTING 30 OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE.

SO ON AND SO FORTH.

>> CHICO TILLMAN, SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

FORMER GANG EXPERIENCE.

HOW HELPFUL IS THAT IN BUILDING TRUST?

>> I THINK IT IS CRITICAL.

FOR ONE, I UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM.

I DON'T PASS JUDGMENT ON INDIVIDUALS.

AND I'M ABLE TO SHOW THEM A PATHWAY BECAUSE I TRAVELED THE SAME ROAD.

I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT IS NOT UNDERSTOOD IS THAT IF YOU WANTED TO GO INTO THE JUNGLE, YOU NEED PEOPLE WITH A PARTICULAR MIND-SET THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THE JUNGLE OR ELSE THERE WILL BE FEAR.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW THAT RUN TOWARD VIOLENCE WHEN THEY SEE IT HAPPEN?

ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN AN AREA OR PREDICAMENT OR ENVIRONMENT WHERE VIOLENCE IS COMMON.

MOST PEOPLE ARE AFRAID.

YOU NEED PEOPLE WHO CAN BE ASSERTIVE WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CAUGHT UP IN THAT LIFESTYLE.

MOST PEOPLE ARE INTIMIDATED BY IT.

BUT I THINK THE RESPECT COMES FROM -- ROBERTO ALLUDED TO IT -- WHAT GIVES ME CREDIBILITY IS NOT JUST MY LIVED EXPERIENCE BUT THE DECISIONS I HAVE MADE SINCE BEING IN THAT ROLE.

SO, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SOME OF MY BIGGEST CHAMPIONS ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE STILL CAUGHT UP IN THE FIGHT BECAUSE I HOPE THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND GO DOWN A DIFFERENT PATH.

>> LIKE YOU SAID, THE DEMANDING WORK -- THEY ARE UNDERPAID.

THEY ARE BASICALLY WORKING ALL THE TIME.

YOU CAN GET A CALL ANYTIME.

DOES THAT MAKE IT EVEN MORE CHALLENGING TO GET FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE?

>> WHEN THE PERSON HAS INSECURITIES AND IS WORRIED ABOUT HOW THEIR PEERS SEE THEM, THAT IS A STRUGGLE.

BUT WHEN YOU CAN GET A GUY TO LOOK AT HIMSELF -- WHERE HE IS TRYING TO GO, HE STARTS TRUSTING GUYS LIKE US THAT HAVE BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD.

LIKE CHICO SAYS, I WAS ONCE ON DEATH ROW AND ALL OF THAT STUFF.

NOW I AM A PROFESSOR AT A UNIVERSITY.

THAT GIVES ME SOME CREDIBILITY.

I HAVE SHOWN THERE IS A WAY OUT AND THERE IS A FUTURE.

IT'S GOT TO COME FROM THE INDIVIDUAL HAVING SOME THING ABOUT THEM SELF.

>> HOW DO YOU DECIDE -- KEEPING THEM SAFE.

THEY ARE WILLING TO DO IT.

>> IT IS BASED ON THE DATA.

IT IS ABOUT CREDIBILITY.

IT IS ALSO BASED ON NETWORKING AND COLLABORATING WITH ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT CHICAGO.

WE WORK WITH ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE HERE TALKING TODAY.

ALL THE WORK WE PUT IN.

IT IS ALL BASED ON, DO YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY?

ANYBODY CAN HAVE ACCESS.

I HAVE UNIVERSAL ACCESS HERE BECAUSE I GREW UP IN THE PROJECTS AND I GREW UP AROUND VIOLENCE.

I KNOW JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

THAT IS HOW YOU STOP KILLING ON THE FRONT END.

>> WE COULD TALK ABOUT THIS A LOT MORE.

THANKS, ALL OF YOU, FOR JOINING US.

>>> IT BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

♪♪ >>> IF YOU LIVE IN PILSEN, YOU'RE IN LUCK.

RESIDENTS CAN FIND A DANCE FLOOR IN THEIR BACKYARD THIS WEEKEND.

MY HOUSE MUSIC FESTIVAL IS HOSTING HOUSE DJs FOR ITS EIGHTH YEAR.

HE SAYS IT IS MEANINGFUL TO HAVE THE FESTIVAL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> FESTIVALS IN OUR OWN BACKYARD.

I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN BEING FROM THE SOUTH SIDE AND PRODUCING EVENTS OF QUALITY IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO.

NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE DOWNTOWN OR NORTHSIDE.

THE SOUTHSIDE CAN HAVE REALLY NICE, QUALITY SPECIAL EVENTS AS WELL.

>> BABIES, KIDS, PEOPLE MY AGE.

THEY ARE THERE WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS.

THEY COME OUT WITH LAWN CHAIRS.

PICNIC BLANKETS.

THEY CAMP OUT FOR EIGHT WHOLE HOURS.

THEY JUST -- IT IS A WHOLE VIBE.

COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM ANY OF THE OTHER EVENTS THAT WE DO.

PEOPLE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN HAVING IT IN PILSEN.

WHEN WE STARTED, THERE WASN'T A HUGE PLATFORM FOR LOCAL ARTS.

THAT IS A BIG PART OF IT FOR US.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LINEUP, OUR SILENT DISCO -- THEY ARE ALL LOCAL, UP AND COMING DJs FROM ACROSS THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

MY HOUSE MUSIC FESTIVAL REALLY IS A HUD AND A PLATFORM FOR UP- AND-COMING TALENT THAT DOESN'T NEED 20,000 FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM.

IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE.

GIVE YOUNGER ARTISTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE AND GET THEIR NAME OUT THERE WITH OTHER BIG NAMES.

>> THE FESTIVAL ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE AT HARRISON PARK THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

YOU CAN FIND MORE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR TIME.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS, FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON FRIDAY NIGHT, KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH LATINA VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SATURDAYS BEGINNING AT 6:00.

DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING.

I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES," I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ.

♪ ♪ ♪♪ >> CLOSED CAPTIONING WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD.

AND PROUD SPONSOR OF PROGRAMMING