>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... [♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

I'M MICHAEL PUENTE.

REPORTER WITH WBEZ CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... AS INDIANA'S LATINO POPULATION GROWS THE REPRESENTATION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HASN'T.

WE SIT DOWN WITH THE LONE LATINO LAWMAKER REPRESENTING THIS COMMUNITY AND THE ISSUES HE IS FIGHTING FOR.

YOU PROBABLY HEARD OF FOOD DESERTS WHO IMPACTS ARE PHARMACY DESERTS HAVING ON THE HEALTH OF CHICAGOANS ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES?

THEIR FATE AT THE DISCOUNT MALL IN LITTLE VILLAGE IS UNKNOWN WE SPEAK WITH BUSINESS OWNERS WAITING FOR ANSWERS.

>> IT DAWNED ON ME.

IT'S FILLED WITH SO MUCH LOVE FROM ME TO WHOMEVER IS GOING TO RECEIVE THIS.

>> AND MEET THE LOCAL WOMAN WHO FILLS PURSES WITH ESSENTIALS AND WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR WOMEN IN NEED.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, LATINOS IN THE STATE OF INDIANA REPRESENT 8% OF THE POPULATION.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE INDIANA LATINS CONSTITUTE.

UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS CONTRIBUTE NEARLY $100 MILLION TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY YET WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR REPRESENTATION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE STATE HAS ONLY A SINGLE LATINO REPRESENTATIVE JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT LATINO REPRESENTATION, ABORTION, AND OTHER ISSUES AFFECTING THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN INDIANA IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE ANDRADE HIS DISTRICT INCLUDES MUNSTER, HIGHLAND, SOUTH HAMLIN AND NORTH GRIFFIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

IT IS AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.

>> YOU ARE THE ONLY HISPANIC LAWMAKER IN INDIANA'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOW DO YOU THINK LAWMAKERS LIKE YOURSELF CAN PROMOTE MORE PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS AMONG THE LATINO COMMUNITY?

>> I BELIEVE THAT WE STRONGLY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.

SO I'VE BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN MY COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY BRINGING DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER AND WE ARE STRONG IN NUMBERS.

AND SO I'VE BEEN WORKING TO HAVE YOU KNOW, EDUCATION BE A PRIORITY, HEALTHCARE AS WE ALL SAW WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK WITH THE ABORTION BILL.

AND OTHER TOPICS THAT AFFECT OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY BY BRINGING STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER AND PROMOTING THAT BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT AND A LATINO IN OFFICE IS A GOOD THING.

BECAUSE REPRESENTATION MATTERS.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THAT IS RIGHT.

AND YOU BROUGHT UP THE ABORTION VOTE FROM LAST WEEK.

WE HAVE A CLIP OF YOU TALKING ON THE STATE HOUSE FLOOR.

LET'S TAKE A LISTEN TO THAT.

>> I BELIEVE IN A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO MAKE HER OWN DECISIONS.

A WOMAN'S CHOICE SHOULD NOT BE DECIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, BUT RATHER BY HER DOCTOR, FAMILY AND FAITH AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HERSELF.

I DO NOT POSSESS THE KNOWLEDGE OR THE ABILITY OR THE EXPERTISE TO MAKE A DECISION ON BEHALF OF 3.4 MILLION WOMEN IN OUR HOOSIER STATE.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS...

I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND ALL HOOSIERS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY DESERVE.

>> NOW, THAT THEY VOTED TO APPROVE THAT NEW ABORTION RESTRICTIONS.

AND HOW DO YOU THINK THAT AFFECTS OVERALL INDIANA AND THE LATINO COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, IT STRONGLY GOING TO AFFECT ALL OF US.

BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED WE ALL HAVE WOMEN IN OUR LIVES THAT WE LOVE.

WHETHER IT IS OUR SPOUSES OUR MOTHERS, TEACHERS, NURSES OUR NEIGHBORS NIECES AND SO HEALTHCARE IS A BIG PRIORITY IN OUR STATE ESPECIALLY IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

AND OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITIES WE'VE LACKED HAVING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

AND SO THIS IS GOING TO PUT A MORE RESTRICTIONS ON OUR COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES INSTEAD OF US WORKING FORWARD WE'RE WORKING BACKWARDS AND THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES DOWN STATE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS NEXT SESSION COMING UP THAT WE ARE MAKING PROVISIONS, MODIFICATIONS ON THAT BILL TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR WOMEN TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO HEALTHCARE.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR.

WE'RE FIGHTING FOR WOMEN TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, BEING THE ONLY LATINO IN THE STATE HOUSE IS IT DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO NOT ONLY REPRESENT YOUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY BUT YOU'RE ALMOST LIKE THE LONE VOICE FOR LATINOS IN THE STATE HOUSE.

TELL US ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT THAT CAN BE FOR YOU?

>> IT'S CHALLENGING.

IT'S CHALLENGING BECAUSE I'M THE ONLY PERSON WALKING INTO A ROOM A LOT OF TIMES AND I'M THE ONLY LATINO.

BUT IT'S ALSO AN HONOR.

I REMEMBER WHEN I GOT ELECTED IN 2020, AND I WENT TO THE STATE HOUSE WITH MY DAD AND I GET EMOTIONAL.

MY DAD CAME AS IMMIGRANT TO THIS COUNTRY FROM MEXICO.

AND I REMEMBER HIM WORKING THREE JOBS SOMETIMES SO HE COULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD FOR US TO HAVE A MEAL ON THE TABLE.

NOT ONLY THAT FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO PAY THE ATTORNEYS IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS SO HE COULD GET HIS LEGAL STATUS.

PEOPLE FORGET HOW MUCH OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES COME HERE TO WORK AND GIVE US A BETTER LIFESTYLE AND THEMSELVES BUT ALSO TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD PAYING FOR IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS WHICH IS EXPENSIVE NOWADAYS AND EVEN BACK THEN.

AND WE'RE WALKING INTO THE STATE HOUSE AND MY DAD LOOKED AT ME AND HE SAID "SON, WE DID IT.

YOU DID IT.

WE HAVE ARRIVED."

AND I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THOSE WORDS AND THAT IS WHY IT IS AN HONOR TO BE THE ONLY LATINO 100% HISPANIC LATINO IN THE STATE HOUSE FIGHTING EVERYDAY FOR OUR LATINO COMMUNITIES.

BECAUSE IT IS AN HONOR.

WE HAVE A RIGHT.

THERE IS REPRESENTATION.

THE WORST PART IS IF THERE WAS ZERO REPRESENTATION.

THAT WOULD BE THE MOST DIFFICULT PART AND I KNOW IT'S CHALLENGING.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AND THAT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE OUR LATINO COMMUNITIES BECAUSE I BELIEVE [SPEAKING SPANISH] AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE NEEDS FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY NOT JUST IN YOUR DISTRICT BUT STATE-WIDE?

>> WELL, STATE-WIDE ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I'M ADVOCATING FOR AND WE WILL BRING IT UP THIS SESSION IS FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRATION COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO DRIVER'S LICENSE OR AN ID TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE.

SO THEY CAN COMMUTE FROM THEIR HOUSE TO THEIR JOBS TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP THEIR KIDS AT SCHOOL.

BE ABLE TO HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE LIKE EVERYONE OF US WHO SHARE OUR STATE.

I'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR THAT AS MY NEIGHBORING STATE ILLINOIS HAS THAT FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE ABLE TO HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR SOME TYPE OF IDENTIFICATION TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE.

AND AS OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OUR ECONOMY GROWS IN OUR STATE, THE LATINO COMMUNITY PLAY A BIG FACTOR IN THAT.

ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WITH COST OF LIVING RISING AND THE RETENTION OF EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS LOOKING FOR MORE WORKERS TO WORK, THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS VERY STRONG IN OUR WORKFORCE IN OUR STATE.

AND SO I WILL BE CONTINUING TO PUSH FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF IDENTIFICATION TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO DRIVING TO THEIR JOBS, TO PICKING UP THEIR KIDS AT SCHOOL WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT THE LAW COMING AFTER THEM.

THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES.

TWO, IS EDUCATION.

INSTATE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT IS IMPORTANT FOR DACA STUDENTS AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR LEGAL CITIZENSHIP BUT THE PROCESS AS WE KNOW TAKES A LONGTIME.

SO ALLOWING THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET INSTATE TUITION REVERSED IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE EDUCATION MATTERS.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LATINO COMMUNITY ARE BEING EDUCATED BECAUSE THEY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN OUR STATE.

AND AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING HEALTHCARE.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST PRIORITIES IN OUR STATE THAT I'M PUSHING FORWARD AND LOOKING FOR NEXT SESSION TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, WE GOT LESS THAN 30 SECONDS.

HOW DO YOU EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE YOUR INFORMATION TO LATINOS IN INDIANA AND NORTHWEST INDIANA?

>> BEING ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING A ROUNDTABLE NEXT WEDNESDAY COMING UP WITH REPRESENTATIVE OR CONGRESSMAN TONI CARDENAS FROM CALIFORNIA AND FRANK HAVE BEEN PUTTING TOGETHER A ROUNDTABLE SO THAT REPRESENTATION MATTERS AND BRINGING THE LATINO COMMUNITY TOGETHER ESPECIALLY LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO ADVOCATE AND HEAR THEIR CONCERNS.

THIS YEAR I HAD A LATINO ROUNDTABLE DOWN STATE WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND BROUGHT LATINO LEADERS DOWN STATE AND I BROUGHT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO MY DISTRICT TO JOIN US TO MEET IN DIFFERENT HISPANIC BUSINESSES.

YOU WERE ABLE TO JOIN US AND SHE WAS ABLE TO SEE THE MANUFACTURING PLANT THERE AND SEE THE EMPLOYEES AND SEE HOW THE LATINO COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTES TO OUR STATE.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I'VE BEEN DOING IS BEING ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY, HEARING THE CONCERNS AND BRINGING TO THEM SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN DO TO CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER IMPROVING EVERYONE'S QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR STATE.

>> THANKS TO INDIANA STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE ANDRADE FOR JOINING US HERE ON LATINO VOICES.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TO JOANNA HERNANDEZ AND AN UPDATE ON A CONTROVERSIAL REDEVELOPMENT IN LITTLE VILLAGE THE MALL CONTRACT IS UP SOON AND VENDORS ARE HOPING THE COMPANY THAT BOUGHT IT LETS THEM STAY.

JOANNA HAS MORE.

>> IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE THE DISCOUNT MALL WAS SOLD TO A DEVELOPMENT COMPANY.

WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY AND INTERVIEWED DOZENS OF VENDORS WHO WORK AT THE MALL.

THE MALL'S CONTRACT EXPIRES AT THE END OF THE MONTH AND THEY HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT PLANS TO RENEW THE MALL'S CONTRACT AND ARE AFRAID OF BEING DISPLACED.

AND THE COMPANY'S LAST STATEMENT THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO WORK TO UNDERSTAND THE NEIGHBORHOOD BETTER.

BUT ACCORDING TO VENDORS THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY COMMUNICATION.

>> IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT A LOT OF VENDORS AREN'T WILLING TO SPEAK UP, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO SHARE BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF REPRISALS FROM THE CURRENT OWNERS OF THE DISCOUNT MALL BUT THEY ARE AFRAID THAT IF THEY SPEAK UP TOO MUCH OR IF THEY CAUSE TOO MUCH OF A WAVE, THAT THEIR BOOTH MIGHT BE CLOSED.

>> THE VENDORS HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE DEVELOPER IN OVER A YEAR.

AND TUNE INTO MONDAY NIGHT'S "CHICAGO TONIGHT" WHERE I WILL SHARE MORE WHAT LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE MATTER.

MICHAEL BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

UP NEXT, AMANDA VINICKY WITH A LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF PHARMACY DESERTS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH AND WEST SIDES.

SO STAY WITH US.

>> YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD ABOUT FOOD DESERTS AREAS WHERE ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD MIGHT NOT BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE BUT POCKETS OF CHICAGO PARTICULARLY ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES ALSO LACK CONVENIENT ACCESS TO A LOCAL PHARMACY.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT IT ARE CHEYANNE DANIELS A REPORTER WITH THE HILL AND A CONTRIBUTOR WITH THE "CHICAGO SUN-TIMES".

DANIELS PUBLISHED A REPORT WITH WBEZ ON PHARMACY DESERTS AND THE RESEARCHER CREDITED WITH COINING THE TERM PHARMACY DESERT, PREVIOUSLY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO.

THANKS TO YOU.

AND DIMA QATO LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU.

YOU COINED THE TERM PHARMACY DESERT.

WE KNOW THAT MEDICINES, PRESCRIPTIONS CAN BE LIFE-SAVING OUTSIDE OF THE OBVIOUS WHY ARE PHARMACY DESERTS SO PROBLEMATIC?

>> WELL, PHARMACIES ARE VITAL TO COMMUNITIES.

THEY PROVIDE ACCESS NOT ONLY TO MEDICINES BUT OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES INCLUDING VACCINATIONS.

AND THEIR CRITICAL ROLE IN PROMOTING PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT BECAME VERY CLEAR SINCE THE START OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

>> ANY PARTICULAR WAYS YOU THINK THIS WAS AMPLIFIED DURING COVID?

>> IN THE BEGINNING, PHARMACIES WERE KEY IN TESTING COVID TESTING.

AND LATER ON FOR COVID VACCINATIONS MORE THAN 75% OF PEOPLE THAT GOT THEIR COVID VACCINE GOT IT AT A RETAIL PHARMACY.

AND IT BECAME PROBLEMATIC WHEN COMMUNITIES HAD A HARD TIME FINDING PHARMACIES LET ALONE PHARMACIES THAT OFFERED THE VACCINE.

AND IN CHICAGO, THOSE COMMUNITIES WERE ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES AND THAT FOR ME WAS NOT REALLY KIND OF SURPRISING GIVEN THAT WE KNEW THAT THESE COMMUNITIES ARE PHARMACY DESERTS.

>> AND CHEYANNE DANIELS, YOU AS WELL AS WBEZ'S REPORTERS DID ANALYZE THIS AND DRILLED DOWN MORE INTO WHERE THERE ARE PHARMACY DESERTS WITHIN CHICAGO.

CAN YOU SUMMARIZE THOSE FINDINGS?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT WHAT WE SAW WAS ESPECIALLY BASED ON PROFESSOR'S RESEARCH IS MOST OF THE PHARMACY DESERTS ARE ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES LIKE PLACES WHERE ROSELAND FOR INSTANCE, ONE OF THE AREAS THAT HAVE SEEN LOCALLY OWNED PHARMACIES CLOSE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

ESPECIALLY DURING THE CIVIL UNREST IN 2020 WE SAW QUITE A FEW OF THOSE STORES CLOSE IN PART DUE TO LOOTING THAT THEY EXPERIENCED.

AND SO IT'S REALLY IN PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THE PHARMACIES HAVE CLOSED AND TAKEN AWAY THE SERVICES THAT THE RESIDENTS NEED.

>> YOU TOUCHED ON THE BIG BOX BRAND NAMES WALGREENS IN CHICAGO AS WELL AS CVS BUT A DWINDLING NUMBER OF INDEPENDENT PHARMACIES.

SO DIMA QATO, WHY IS THAT?

WHAT ROLE IN PARTICULAR DO BOTH INSURANCE COMPANIES AND GOVERNMENT POLICIES PLAY?

>> SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHAINS, YES, WALGREENS IS THE PREDOMINANT CHAIN IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THAT HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNIZED.

BUT INDEPENDENTS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND PHARMACY DESERTS.

PHARMACIES ARE FAR AWAY THE NEAREST PHARMACY IS MORE LIKELY TO BE AN INDEPENDENT THAN A CHAIN.

IN TERMS OF GOVERNMENT PLAYERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, MEDICAID, THEY PLAY A HUGE ROLE THEM AND THE PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS THAT THEY CONTRACT WITH.

AND I SAY THAT FOR TWO REASONS: ONE PHARMACIES AREN'T REIMBURSED ENOUGH ESPECIALLY PHARMACIES THAT WE KNOW SERVE PUBLICLY INSURED POPULATIONS AND RELY ON MEDICAID AND THE RATES TO STAY OPEN.

AND TWO, MEDICAID IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING WHERE THEIR BENEFICIARIES CAN GO TO FILL THEIR MEDICATIONS.

AND OFTENTIMES THAT IS A CHAIN.

AND FOR SOME PLANS LIKE AETNA THAT IS NOT WALGREENS.

THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE WBEZ STORY THAT CHEYANNE DANIELS COWROTE.

IT'S CVS AND WE KNOW CVS ISN'T REALLY CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHAT THAT MEANS THERE ARE FEWER PATIENTS ENTERING THE INDEPENDENTS THESE NON-PREFERRED PHARMACIES.

AND THEREFORE FEWER PRESCRIPTIONS FILLED, LESS MONEY FOR THE PHARMACY, AND THEREFORE MAKING IT REALLY DIFFICULT TO STAY OPEN.

>> HARD FOR THEM TO SURVIVE WITHOUT CUSTOMERS WHO CAN SHOP THERE FOR THOSE MEDICINES.

AT THE SAME TIME, CHEYANNE DANIELS THERE'S SOUNDS LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GOVERNMENT POLICY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, ILLINOIS IS GIVING PHARMACISTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE TO GIVE VACCINES AND ALSO A NEW LAW WILL ALLOW PHARMACISTS TO PRESCRIBE HORMONAL CONTRACEPTION BIRTH CONTROL WITHOUT A DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION BUT THEY CANNOT DO THAT IF THERE IS NOT A PHARMACY TO GO TO, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE REAL FLAWS IT IMPACTS BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN AND WE KNOW THAT BLACK WOMEN ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO MATERNAL HEALTHCARE AND MORTALITY RATES INFANT MORTALITY RATES THEY HAVE THE WORST HEALTH OUTCOMES IF NOT THE WORST THAN ESPECIALLY THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS.

SO HAVING ACCESS TO HORMONIAL CONTRACEPTION CAN BE A LIFE-SAVING SERVICE THAT THEY CAN ACCESS WITHOUT HAVING THE PHARMACIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> DIMA QATO HOW DOES CHICAGO STACK UP TO OTHER CITIES WHEN IT COMES TO PHARMACY DESERTS?

>> IT'S THE WORST IN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO THE GAP THE DISPARITY IS JUST KIND OF STARKING.

1% OF WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO WE FOUND WERE PHARMACY DESERTS COMPARED TO 42%, ALMOST HALF OF BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS AND HISPANIC NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> WE OF COURSE, SOME PEOPLE GET THEIR MEDICINE ON-LINE.

WHY IS THAT NOT AN OPTION OR DOES THAT CHANGE THINGS AT ALL?

>> SO VERY FEW PEOPLE GET ALL THEIR MEDICINES ON-LINE WE KNOW THAT.

AND IT'S NOT AN OPTION.

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST PRESCRIPTIONS.

ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT PHARMACIES ARE PROVIDING OTHER SERVICES, RIGHT.

IF THE PHARMACIES THERE NOT ONLY TO GIVE YOU A MEDICATION BUT THERE'S OTHER SERVICES THEY PROVIDE INCLUDING THE COVID VACCINE THAT WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

NATURAL EXPERIMENT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PHARMACIES.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ARGUE IT FOR 10 YEARS AND COVID MADE IT EASY FOR US BECAUSE IT BECAME APPARENT TO THE PUBLIC IF YOU WANT TO PARTNER AND DELIVER ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY THE PHARMACY IS THE PLACE TO GO.

>> CHEYANNE DANIELS WHEN YOU WERE INTERVIEWING PEOPLE WHAT WERE YOU HEARING FROM FOLKS?

>> THERE IS A LOT OF DESPAIR, A LOT OF ANGER AND FRUSTRATION BUT ALSO THE IDEA THAT ESPECIALLY FROM MANY OF THE WOMEN I SPOKE TO AND LOCAL PHARMACY OWNERS THAT ARE SAYING IT'S POSSIBLE TO HAVE THESE PHARMACIES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE JUST NEED THE INVESTMENT FOR IT AND WE NEED THE COMMITMENT FROM CONGLOMERATES TO SAY WE BELIEVE THAT YOU DESERVE TO HAVE THE SERVICES IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AND WE ARE GOING TO BRING THAT BY PUTTING OUR PHARMACY IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHEYANNE DANIELS AND DIMA QATO.

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

>> THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS EXACERBATED HOUSING INSECURITY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFTEN LEAVING WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH THOSE ISSUES WITH VIRTUALLY NO RESOURCES TO MOVE FORWARD.

BUT THE PANDEMIC ALSO SPARKED AN IDEA FOR A LOCAL WOMAN MARIA CASTRO SHE FOUND THE WAY TO GET EVERYDAY NECESSITIES AND A TOUCH OF INSPIRATION TO WOMEN IN NEED.

NOW SHE IS HELPING TO PUT LOVE ON THE SHOULDERS OF WOMEN ALL OVER THE WORLD.

PRODUCER ERICA GUNDERSON HAS THE STORY.

>> I THINK ALL OF US KNOW THAT BEFORE WE WALKOUT THE DOOR, WE GRAB OUR PURSE.

>> FOR MANY WOMEN, A PURSE IS MORE THAN WHERE THEY CARRY THEIR WALLET AND KEYS IT IS A LIFE KIT.

>> IN THAT PURSE IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM YOUR KIDS' PHOTOS.

MAYBE A TRINKET THEY GAVE YOU.

A ROSARY.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE TO LEAVE SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BECAUSE OF DANGER AND YOU RUN OUT, YOU HAVE NOTHING, HOW DO YOU PICK UP THE PIECES?

HOW DO YOU GET BACK THAT PURSE THAT MEANT SO MUCH TO YOU?

>> MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, THE CHAT WITH A FRIEND SENT MARIA CASTRO ON AN ERRAND THAT TURNED INTO A MOVEMENT.

>> A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE IS A FOUNDER OF A SAVE HAVEN IT IS A MODEL TO HELP ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS.

>> DURING THE PANDEMIC WE WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW ARE THINGS GOING AND WHAT IS GOING ON?

AND SHE TOLD ME THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING TOILETRIES THAT THE WOMEN COULD INDIVIDUALLY HAVE BECAUSE THEY COULD NO LONGER SHARE.

SHE WAS KIND OF IN A QUANDARY AND SAID LET'S FIGURE THIS OUT.

>> CASTRO'S SOLUTION WAS SIMPLE TO GET THE ITEMS TO A SAFE HAVEN SHE WENT OUT AND BOUGHT THE TOILETRIES HERSELF.

SURROUNDED BY SHOPPING BAGS INSPIRATION STRUCK.

>> I THOUGHT I CAN'T GIVE A WOMAN A PLASTIC BAG FILLED WITH THE TOILETRIES.

SO I DECIDED TO GO ON TO AMION I ORDERED PURSES I WROTE A NOTE OF INSPIRATION PUT ONE IN EACH OF THE PURSES AND IT DONNED ON ME IT'S FILLED WITH SO MUCH LOVE FROM ME TO WHOMEVER IS GOING TO RECEIVE THIS.

IT IS A LOVE PURSE.

>> I IMMEDIATELY EMBRACED IT AND LOVED IT TO THE WOMEN THAT ARE HERE AT SAFE HAVEN.

THEY ARE HERE SOME DUE TO JOB LOSS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SOME COMING OUT OF PRISON AND MILITARY VETERANS ARE HERE.

AND THE SMILES ON THEIR FACES WHEN THEY GOT A PURSE FILLED WITH ALL THESE AMAZING ESSENTIALS.

I THINK IS TRULY LIVES UP TO THE NAME.

IT'S LOVE.

>> THAT'S WHEN CASTRO REALIZED DONATING PURSES FILLED WITH NOT JUST NECESSITIES BUT ENCOURAGEMENT IS A MISSION THAT ANYONE WANTING TO HELP WOMEN IN NEED COULD CARRY OUT.

>> I PUT IT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE FLOODGATES OPENED.

I WAS GETTING CALLS FROM PEOPLE SAYING THIS IS GREAT.

IT BECAME SOMETHING THAT ANYBODY COULD DO SO EASILY AND IT WASN'T THAT COSTLY.

>> SOON THE IDEA TOOK OFF ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE GLOBE.

VOLUNTEERS CASTRO CALLS LOVE PURSE'S ANGEL AMBASSADORS HOLD PURSE STUFFING PARTIES AND DELIVER THEM IN THEIR AREAS.

>> I HAD PEOPLE FROM CANADA, ONTARIO THAT SAID CAN WE DO THIS HERE?

OF COURSE.

MEXICO, PUERTO RICO.

AND WE SENT SOME TO UKRAINE RECENTLY.

>> LOCALLY, LOVE PURSE PARTNERS WITH METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES AND IMAGEDY LYNN HOUSE SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

FOR WOMEN THE PURSES CARRY SPECIAL MEANING.

>> WE PROVIDE THE HOME FOR THEM AND THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO FUNCTION AND THIS MAY BE SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD FOR YEARS PERHAPS OR IF EVER.

SOMETHING THAT IS PERSONAL.

SOMETHING THAT IS THEIR'S THAT IS UNIQUE AND SPECIAL TO THEM.

>> ONE YEAR AND 6,000 DONATED PURSES LATER CASTRO SAYS THE FLOOD OF HELP AND ENCOURAGEMENT LOVE PURSE CONTINUES TO RECEIVE FILLS HER WITH THE DESIRE TO KEEP THIS MISSION GOING.

>> LIKE I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP AS MANY WOMEN AS WE CAN.

THE NEED IS THERE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE'S NEVER A LACK OF DONATIONS OR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HELP.

IT PROVES TO ME THAT THERE'S SO MUCH KINDNESS AND SO MUCH GOOD OUT THERE.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON LOVE PURSE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

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

AND WHILE YOU THERE YOU CAN VIEW OUR SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE.

AND YOU CAN CATCH LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M. AND DON'T FORGET YOU CAN CATCH MY REPORTING ON 91.5FM-WBEZ.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" I'M MICHAEL PUENTE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY, STAY SAFE AND BUENOS NOCHES.

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