>> Announcer: CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE.8 ALL-STATE AND THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST.÷3#V÷ >>> GOOD EVENING, THE CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES I'M MICHAEL PUENTE REPORTING WITH WBEZ CHICAGO THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART ñ WEEKEND WITH US ON) THE SHOW TONIGHT<÷, PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCES A NEW STUDENT LOAN DEBT RELIEF PLAN.

A LOOK AT HOW IT COULD BENEFIT LATINO BORROWERS.

A FOOD PANTRY IN"[Yq PILSEN IS HOPING TO EXPAND INSIDE A2e2 FORMER CHURCH.

WE TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THE OBSTACPu9Qv ARE NOW',úC FACING.1UD> >>> AND A CONVERSATION WITH FORMER CONGRESSMAN LUIS GUTIERREZ ABOUT HIS NEW EFFORT TO GET; NATURALIZED AND VOTING.

>> HOW DO WE FIND RESOURCES WE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT?

>> AND AN EAST SIDED COUNSELLOR OFFERS -- WHAT HE SAYS CAN BE THE MOST DAUNTING PART OF BRINGING CHANGE TO YOUR COMówhD█ GETTING STARTED.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS ANNOUNCED A LOANNTeá DEBT RELIEF PLAN WHITE HOUSE ESTIMATE ALSO IMPACT MORE THAN 40 MILLION BORROWERS NATIONWIDE.

IT WILL& IN FEDERAL LOANS FOR THOSE MAKING LESS THAN $125,0008;Ñ YEAR.

LOW INCOME STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE PELL GRANTS WILL SEE THEIR BALANCE DECLINE BY DOUBLE THAT $20,000.

ACCORDING TO RESEARCH BYygXv█ EXCELENCIA IN EDUCATION 50% OF LATINO IN HIGHER EDUCATION RECEIVE FEDERAL PELL GRANTS TO HELP PAY FOR COLLEGE.

BIDEN SAYS OFFERING STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS WILL HELP BORROWERS MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVES.

>> President Biden: THE BURDEN IS SO HEAVY THAT EVEN IF YOU GRADUATE YOU MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO MIDDLE CLASS LIFE THAT THE COLLEGE DEGREEzAg█ ONCE PROVIDED.

MANY PEOPLE, MANY PEOPLE CAN'T QUALIFY FOR A MORTGAGE TO BUY A HOME BECAUSE OF THE DEBT THEY CONTINUE TO$fúp CARRY.

YOU7k THEY CARRY IT'S TOO HIGH THEY CAN'T COME UP YWAY.THE DOWN PAYMENTtWsq A LOT OF FOLKS ARE EVEN PUTTING OFF STARTING FAMILIES BECAUSE OF THE COSTS.

>> JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE DEBORAH SANTIAGO, C.E.O.dHN+ OF EXCELENCIA IN EDUCATION AND MARIE AMOS AT NORTH CERTAIN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

DEBORAH, WE'LL GET STARTED RIGHT NOW WITH YOU.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HOW MUCH LATINO STUDENTS TAKE OUT IN LOANS AND HOW MUCH DEBT DO THEY HAVE?

>> THANK YOU/Rçr, MICHAEL.

WELL, NOW SINCE WE LOOK -- ANALYSIS THAT WE LOOKED ATñ SAW OVERALL LITTLE LESS 30% OF LATINOS TAKE OUT LOANS TO PAY FOR COLLEGE WITH AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT $6600.

THOSE GETTING A BACHELORS DEGREE ABOUT 68% OF THEM TAKE OUT LOANS TO PAY FOR COLLEGE THAT DEBT IS A LITTLE OVERM[éaç $20,000.

SO A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU LOOK BY TWO YEAR OR FOUR YEAR AND THE STRATUS OF COLLEGE USING LOANS AS OPPOSED TO JUST FEDERAL AID OR PAYING AS THEY GO.

>> MAUREEN, HOW DO YOU THINKd÷D÷ -wIS RELIEF PLAN WILL IMPACTg LATINO BORROWERS IN PARTICULAR WHO HAVE STUDENT LOAN DEBT/6Ñ;.Jm:éfFvQsy-+W█ >> THIS NEW INITIATIVE IS TREMENDOUSLY WONDERFUL, RIGHT.

PARTICULARLY FOR OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND OUR LATIN2 THIS ACTUAL INITIATIVE HAS THREE PARTS.

é ISG9S█ JUST ONE PART OF ITI#6w AND IT'S A MAJOR@r PIECE.

BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR BLACK AND BROWN AND OUR LATINO DOEST PELL GRANT ELIGIBLITY IT ñk GIVE THEM AN ADDITIONAL4H PIECE OF RELIEF AND WE DON'T WANT OUR STUDENTS TO GRADUATE WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF LOAN DEBT.

WHETHER THEY ARE AT THE UNDERGRADUATE OR GRADUATE LEVEL.

WE DO SEE A LOT MORE OF OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES BORROWING AT THEF$[Ot UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL WHEN THERE COULD BE MORE GIVEN IN TERMS OFb ASSISTANCE, GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER RELIEF MECHANISMS SUCH AS THIS ONE.

SOME OF THE OTHER INITIATIVES THAT WILL HELP LATIN X STUDENTS INCLUDE THOSE OF THEM THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN REPAYMENT THE PAUSE HAS BEEN EXTENDED SO THEY'RE NOT MAKING THOSE PAYMENTS UNTIL AFTER JANUARY 1st.pIs ALSO, IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT WHAT WÖ SOME OH, WHAT'S IT CALLED WHERE THE STUDENTS WILL HAVE WHO MAY HAVE HAD DELINQUENCIES OR HAVE BEEN IN DEFAULT WE ARE LOOKING AT RELIEVING SOME OFzjn5█ THAT DEFAULT FROM THOSE THAT AGAIN IS PROIBT HADDING FIRST HOME OR%+IB/ EVEN6Oçúp NG BETWEEN FOOT,HER OR NOT,3RçM% GROCERIES, MEDICAL EXPENSES -- BETWEEN FOOD.c5ç, GROCERIES, MEDICAL EXPENSES.

THIS ISt A INITIATIVE ALL FOUR PARTS.

THE DEBT RELIEF, THE ELIMINATION OF $10,000, IF THEY WERE NOT PELL GRANT RECIPIENTS AND THE ELIMINATION OF $20,000 IFa÷ THEY ARE.

AND I WANTED TO ALSO MENTION THAT ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE AN APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THIS INITIATIVE, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE BOTH INITIATIVES WELL÷u AS THIS INITIATIVE WE MOVE UP TO $20,000 IN RELIEF TO BEGiEn÷ AUTOMATED SINCE DEPARTMENT OF ED HAS THE DOCUMENTATION AND THE DATA$01p THAT THEY NEED TO DO SO.

>> DEBORAH, THERE AREp%;tñ SOME PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT THIS NEW STUDENT DEBT RELIEF PLAN IS UNFAIR FOR THOSE WHO DECIDED TO TAKE ALTERNATIVE ROUTES IN OR HIGH COST OF COLLEGE.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HOWP6iLy LATINOS APPROACH COLLEGE IN REGARD TO THE FINANCIALI2ñ IMPACT?

THANKS, MICHAEL.

WE DO KNOWíl) THAT RELATIVE TO OxM0gwBç3Xu LATINOS ARE LESS LIKELY TO TAKE OUT LOANS AND OFTEN MORE LIKELY TO GO PART-TIME, OR MIXING AND FULL-TIME PART-TIME STOP OUT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PAY AS THEY GO.

THAT STEMS FROM TRADITIONALLY A HISTORY OF NOT HAVING AۂE=A ROBUST FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE OF BANKS ANDw270y OTHERS GIVEN COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN AND THEIR ISSUES.

SO WE HAVE SEEN THAT FOR SURE.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE FOR THOSE THAT DON'T FIND THIS OF ANY VALUE=U ACKNOWLEDGING THAT MANY OF US ARE SUBSIDIZING EVERY TAXPAYER HAS BEEN PAYING ANDX)a.

SUBSIDIZING SUPPORTING HIGHER EDUCATION ALREADY.

THE CHALLENGE WE FACE IS THAT JUST AT THEruj AND█u STG TO COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, SINCE THE 80s WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THEM TO INVEST THEMSELVES AND THE TUITION FEES HAVE INCREASED AS STATE AND OTHER DECEASE HAVE GONE DOWN.á█aM SO%5X-y --SQ2kÑ DECEASES DOWN.

WE ARE CAN STILL!NO:█ SUBSIDIZIG WITH OURGIt TAX DOLLARS AND MANY PRIVATES WE GO TO.

I THINK WE NEED TO CALIBRATE THE UNDERSTANDING AND EXPECTATIONS OF WHO PAYS FOR COLLEGE AND WHEN YOUdaqdojjñ AT LATINO STUDENTY"UMÑ ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE TEND TO BE VERY PRAGMATIC.

THE ABILITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE STICKER PRICE AND MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT HOW WE ADJUST AND ADAPT TO MAKE SURE WE MEETég?

;"Vz AMERICAN DREAM BY GETTING A COLLEGE EDUCATION MIGHT LOOK DIFFERENT THAN THAT TRADITIONAL:62N PATHWAY THATi)iE JUST ASSUME IF YOU CAN YOU TAKE OUT AS MUCH LOANS AS YOU CAN AND FINISH IN A TIMELY MANNER.

WE TEND TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WORKING WHI#9]s-█ WE'RE GOING TO COLLEGE AND TRYING TO BALANCE IT OUT.N-úíl SO THAT'S WHY I THINK IN OUR ANALYSIS LOOKING AT $10,000 HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON LATINO STUDENTS BECAUSE WE TEND TO BORROW LESS.

I GUESS LAST THING I'LL SAY BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD POINT THAT WERE MADE EARLIER, IS THAT MANY OF OUR STUDENTSQ0Ñf, YOU KNOW, HAVING THIS KIND OF DEBT DOESN'T JUST IMPACT AN INDIVIDUAL STUDENTjqHo BUT THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

WHEN YOU TAKE ON DEBT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU DON'T COMPLETE THAT PERPETUATES AND SO PAYING FOR COLLEGE AND LOOKING AT DEBT AND WHAT IT TAKES IS REALLY IMPORTANT?

>> MAUREEN; WE ONLY GOT LESS THAN A MINUTE LEFT WE DO KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF SCAMS OUT THERE FORç█?a STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS AND FORGIVENESS.

HOW DO YOU AVOIDkiwzo THOSE?

>> WE WOULD ASKo7wR THAT STUDENTS ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

I WOULD START WITH QUESTIONSyuQñ ASK THEwbmk█ INSTITUTION THAT THEY ARE ATTENDING CHECK WITH THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE ON THE CREDIBILITY[)x LEGITIMAób OF2(82t ANY E-MAILSwR MAIL PIECES THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING.

GENERALLY ANY STUDENT IS n ANY-Déí÷ BENEFIT[j FROM÷8kx: A FEDERAL GUARANTEED LOAN, FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN THAT COMMUNICATION IS GOING TO COME TO THEM BY WAY OF A PORTAL.

IT WON'T<Fz9/ COME TEXTpúR+RñESSAGE OR A PHONEaár; SOíu TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CAUTIOUS IF THEY ARE RECEIVING ANY COMMUNICATION TO CHECK THIS WITH THEIR FINANCIAL AID OFFICES.

IF THEY'RE>úV█cL█ NOT A CURRENT STUDENTdx2█4 TOD8E?L CHECK IN WE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE OF THE >> WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE 30.

ATTENDED.

+C OUR THANKS TO DEBORAH9x÷█ -- DEBORAH SANTIAGO AND MAUREEN AMOS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> UP NEXT A PILSEN FOOD PANTRY LOOKS TO EXPAND BUT SAYS THEY ARE HITTING SOME OBSTACLES.

STAY WITH US.WeRúz █ HERNANDEZJOANNA AND CONFLICT BETWEEN A LOCAL FOOD PANTRY AND THE ARCHDIOCESES OF CHICAGO.

JOANNA?

>> MICHAEL, A FOOD PANTRY IN PILSEN HAS BEEN OPERATING OUT OF A FORMER CHURCH FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THE FOUNDER IS HOPING TO BUY THE BUILDING BUT SAYS SHE'S RUNNING INTO OBSTACLES WITH THE CHICAGO ARCHDIOCESES.

WE VISITED THE PANTRY TO LEARN MORE.3ófxk >> IT ALREADY HAS CARROTS, ONIONS, POTATOES, CORN I DON'T HAVEéYF TOMATOES.

>> Reporter: IT'S 10:00 A.M.

IN THErí<n< PILSEN FOOD PANTRY S WORKING QUICKLY TO PREPARE ORDERS.

SOME AREzSñ FILLING BOXES WITH FRESH PRODUCE WHILE OTHERS MOVE CARTS OF GROCERIES TO THE FRONT OF THEevçtK BUILDING.

FOR THE LAST TWO YEARSNzznj, THE PANTRY HAS BEEN OPERATING OUT OF A FORMER CATHOLIC CHURCH.

>> THE BOTTOM SQUARE IS PRODUCE, AND BASICALLY FOR EVERY CLIENT IT'S FULL.

THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY TAKES.

>> Reporter: EVELYN FIGUEROA IS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THESR,█ PILSEN FOOD PANTRY AND IS A FAMILY DOCTOR IN<WXVñ THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SHE ORIGINALLY RAN THE PANTRY FROM A HEALTH CLINIC AND IN 2020, RELOCATED INSIDE FORMER HOLYX=p TRINITY CROATIAN CHURCH.

>> WE WENT FR3áF>x A 600 SQUARE FOOT SPACE TO A FLOOR THAT WAS OVER 3,000 SQUARE FEET.

SO IT REALLY GAVE US THE SPACEIVք TO GROW INTO THE ORGANIZATION THAT WE WANTED TO BECOME.

>> Reporter: ON THE FIRST FLOOR VOLUNTEERS WORKED TOwcg!█ REGISTER CLIENTS AND ON THE SECOND FLOOR PEOPLE CAN TAKE HOME CLOTHES, ALONG WITH OTHER DONATED NECESSITIES.

>> WE ARE WALKING INTO THE CLOTHES CLOSET WHICH IS A USED CLOTHING RESOURCEue-p FOR THE :An::.B-gÑ SO A LOT OF>'/$[ THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING FOOD FROM THE PANTRY JUST COME UP HERE AND PICK OUT SOME CLOTHE WHILE THEY'RE WAITING.

THERE'S A MONTHLY$S ALLOWANCE.

>> Reporter:TvE(█ FIGUEROA WANTS █ THE PROPERTY IN HOPES OF EXPANDING THEIR SERVICES.

THE PANTRY EVEN RAISED MONEY TO PURCHASE THE BUILDING AND MADE AN OFFER.

BUT NOW SHE SAYS THE HAS BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH THE ARCHDIOCESES.

?I, THE LAST TIME SHE HEARD FROM AN ARCHDIOCESES REPRESENTATIVE WAS IN AUGUST 2021, WHERE SHE SAYS SHE WAS TOLD SHE COULD EXPECT Aóá >> WE SUBMITTED A WRITTEN OUTLINE, A BUSINESS PLAN OF WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH ALL OF T9íl SPACE WASN'T INDICATED TO US THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING AFOUL WITH WHAT WE HAD SUBMITTED A VERBAL AGREEMEN(á WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH LEASING TO OWNING THE PROPERTY THEN An(Oj7 COUPLE LATER RAN INTO A LOT OF SNAGSF REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ARCHDIOCESES.

>> Reporter: THE PILSEN FOODSfót PANTRY IS OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK SERVING ABOUT 350 PEOPLE WEEKLY.7 WE'RE TOLD LOc +Vh THIS SPACE WOULD MEAN THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO OPERATE IN THE CAPACITY THEY DO.

>> I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE A HEAVY BLOW ON THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE, THEY FEEL MORE SECURE KNOWING THAT WE'RE HERE.

>> Reporter: WE MET WITH WARD MILLER WITH PRESERVATION CHICAGO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHALLENGES ORGANIZATIONS SAY THEY FACE WHEN WANTING TO PURCHASE A CLOSED CHURCH FROM THE ARCHDIOCESES SHE WE FOUND THAT LATELY, ESPECIALLY8Z OF SO MANY CHURCHES IN THE ARCHDIOCESES OF CHICAGO'S BOOKS, IF YOU WILL÷í÷mG, THAT=n█ THAT'S EVEN MORE CHALLENGING.

IT'S REALLY, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE COMMUNITY VERSUS A DEVELOPER OFTENTIMES.

>> Reporter: IN RECENT YEARS, MILLER SAYS THE ORGANIZATION FUND MORE THAN 70 CHURCH CLOSURES MANY WITHOUTj WITHOUT LANDMARK STATUS DEVELOPERS-ú4Ñ-4H ESSENTIALLY DO WHAT THEY WANT >> SOMETIMES HISTORIC IS SOLD TOa0sIs A DEVELOPER AND THE DEVELOPER DEMOLISHES THE BUILDING.

WE'VE SEEN THIS NUMEROUS TIMES, ESPECIALLY IN THE ARCHDIOCTy[qG2ló3= RECENT YEARS.

ItMñC REz YOUíá REALLYYZhWCw█ PULVERIZE?TE >> Reporter:AvNw DR. FIGUEROA SAYS HER GOAL IS TOqhA0█ RENOVAE AND BUILD A CENTER FOR THE,÷j#█ EAST PILSEN COMMUNITY A PLACE SHE SAYS CAN PROVIDE CRUCIAL RESOURCES FOR THOSEMÑAy& FACING' HOMELESSNESS ANDvu >> WX:[Ñ WILLING>6mn3A7fçt'█ PERMANENTLY CBnñ@Ñ THE ZONING%6BF÷IT8?&mñ█p]Qf OR MAKEC AGREEMENT OR DECLARATION THAT)[ BE SOLD FOR PRj >> Reporter: AS THEY TRY TO CREATEku5 uAYS THE LACK OF'' COMMUNICATION IS LEAVINGGUjg EMPLOYEES) IN THE DARK WONDERING IF THEj ARCHDIOCESES SUPPORTS THEIR MISSIONç0█ TO SERVE.

>> THE COMMUNITY SEEMS 9úu█NúS TO BE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PAY'>Zbs AN HONEST AMOUNT, A FAIR MARKET VALUEV9mHñFOR THE FACILITIES.í Ñ MOVE FORWARD.

HED OUT TO TELLS US IN PART "THE PARISH HAS NOWá:wju FINALIZED PLANS FOR FORMER HOLY TRINITY—e█ CROATIANtE THE FOOD PANTRY WILL BE ALERTED WHEN THERE ARE MORE SPECIFIC PLANS THEY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THEIR INTERESTS FURTHER AT THAT TIME.

"OA3P<█ IN THE MEANTIME THE ARCHDIOCESES SAYS THE PANTRY IS OPERATING RENT FREE.

MICHAEL, I SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

>> FORMER U.S.

CONGRESSMAN Qm IS COMIwc=TT OUT OF RETIREMENT TO ANNOUNCE A ANY IMMIGRATION REFORM ORGANIZATION.

PEOPLE WITH GRb1 BECOME NATURALIZED CITIZENS BY EDUCATING IMMIGRANTS ON THE P!#úx ADVOCATING FOR Au JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS NEW IS THE FOUNDER OFí$'bxs$JN+uR NATION'S FUTURE AND FORMER ILLINOIS SMAN LUIS GUTIERREZ.

THANK YOU FOR JOININGTÑlLk MR. GUTIERREZ.

>> IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, MICHAEL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING M&(>>ó) té NOSeJ THERE ARE 9.2 MILLION GREEN CARDHOLDERS INçRBYh U.S., MORE THAN TWO-THIRDSOVER :<pñ LATINO.

HOW WILL84x YOURi█J0÷ ON WE JUST,Y0÷a ó$÷POKE TO MANY OFGxb THE COMMUNITY-BASED]÷%/á ORGANIZEp37A:HáHAT ARE OUTcñ THERE HELPING IMMIGRANTS THEY TOLD MsX0XbOc2,uÑYyío THEYT HAVEW█u(r CAPACITY FOR APPLICATIONS FOR CITIZENSHIP WITHINÑj÷y THE FRAMEWORK ORGANIZATION FRAMEWORK.

SOqeaz WE9;4 DID 100.

BUT WHEN4é3zz I WAS IN CONGRESS, JUST YEARS IN CONGRESS, WE DID 50,000 CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.s THE CITYM-IxHERE INr?W HOWq íO DO THIS HND TO/Javgí Inz WE REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO BE REGISTERED WITH HOMELAND SECURITY TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK.

OBVIOUSLY WHEN I DID IT BEFORE I WASryt█ A MEMBER OF CONGRESS I JUST WANTf/an÷ THE 55 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE ANDBV%.5 TE ç TOTE I WAS THE ONLY ONEB QUALIFY TO HELP FILL OUT THEIR FURTHER GREEN i CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS OR ANYOo77█áDULe lQmHmc;éV,GA0O,hçinQtY=:vkVQ/ SERVICE.óí)u!

]ó-o;c]l4RÑnE< sAmVL8eVNT TO=Q CITIZENS TODA H A NATIONALpP:ñ PROGRAM WE'RE]sñ GOING á4NíaiDfY CITIZENSH)t,)0 &qáA.

WE HAVE ANOTHERPç WORKSHOP ON THE$I2peUU:█ 21st OF OCTOBER, IN!4ju ORLANDO.eJ AND THEN INe?íQ?

NOVEMBER WE'RE GOING TO BE IN NEVADA.

>> LET ME ASKD!

(]%váÑ THIS, MR. GUTIERREZ YOU CAME OUT OF RETIREMENT TO FORMM█é%#uHIS ORGANIZATION WHY DO YOU=íOí# THINK THIS ORGANIZATION?

>> BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IMMIGRANTS ARE INVISIBLE ON"l COUNTR>(RWiñ█IRsO█ WE BECOMEM17 l MORE ANDeq6"So f█ INVISIBLE EACH AND EVERY DAY.

WE ARE NOT AEh.< WE WERE A PRIORITY FOR REPUBLICANS TO ATTACKMeú ASK WE'RE A PRIORITY FOR)"(vc DEMOCRATS-;l POLITICALLY FOR POLITICAL GAINS.

",t I BBñ"K÷█ SEE ANYONENWdRv,w█ AT6>90h MY HISPANIC CAUCUS THERE ARE OVER 35 OF YOU HOW IS ITtKP█ THAT SENATOR MAN CHIN CAN HAVE@ çw MORECb÷uv POWER THAN YU HAVE.

HOW IS IT THAT YOU HAVEsZaI÷ NOT DEMANDED COMPREHENSIVE REFORM.

THAT WE FINALLY WERE ABLE TO BRING IN OVER OBAMA ARE STILLÑv LANGUISHING WITHOUT ANY PERMANENTCYáçóXn IN THIS WE HAVE█ñ÷ñ PEOPLE TEMPORARY PROTECTIVEu5Ñ█ ñx STAS J INT STATUS9peqxá-wé█ FOR DECADE.

THERE ARE 111/ZsR&LION THAT ARE NOT WORKING, SWEATING AND TOILING IN THIS COUNTRY IT'S TIME" FOE IMMIGRATION REFORM YOU DO NOTHING.

I'M SORRYS+t HISPANIC CAUCUS I KNOW WITH SOMEWJé COLLEAGUES WILL SAYóo$RIGHT)!18.

NOW OH;lgb█, LOUIS, WHY ARE WE RESPONSIBLE?

-[Nh EVERYONE FROM THIS COUNTRY ISí5l BECAUSE THIS IS O]WzçmÑ LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE BACK TO THIS NATIONKc2<ñ AD TO FORM A STRONGER NATION THAT IS MORE INTEGRAL AND FAIR,D=a WORTHY AND JUSTICE.

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING?

WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND THE NOT ONLYoH THEDj+█ íz MILLIONS>xÑ ASIAN SPECIFICyé BECAUSE THEREbxÇ ARE NEARLY ISLANDERS IN --LkÑeó PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN THE UNITED ".ATES ONE OUT OFuKxh.

AMERICANS RIGHT IS ANP9>yXe IMMIGRANT.

THAT MEANS THEY WERE NOT BORN HERE.

WE WANT T ORGANIZE THE @[/UNITY.

MICHAEL, YOU SAW WHATzE,v HAPPENEDÑspDz HASIANS WHO MADE IT TO=/ç6ÑB BORDERs[eóçkP,;1 --9d THE IT TO THE BORDER AND MEXICO AND UNITED STATES.

YOU SAW WHAT THE BIDEN THEM WITH FORCES AND TREATED THEM BACK TODIHL] THE FOREIGN COUNTRY.

THEY NEVER RIGHT.

THAT'S AGAINST THE LAW, THAT'S AGAINSTWB WE NEED TOj >> DOZóASw]█úZ NATURALIZED CITIZENSvI)Ct TO BECOME DEMOCRATS OR IS THERE A ROOM FOR SOME OF THEMc#ñh TO BECOME CONSERVATIVES¡÷K8lV SOMETIMES THEY ARE?t█ >> THEY COULD BE.OGZr?

[l, MICHAEL, I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT, RIGHT.

WHEN I DID IT INNixz CHICAGO I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

I JUST THOUGHT YOU DESERVE THE POWER TO MAKE DECISIONS.

WE NEED TO EXPAND THAT POWER.

THERE ARE 9 MOY 2 MILLION OF THEM AS YOUF!4ñV3.6sw -- 9.2 MIN OF THEM AS YOU REFERENCED NEARLY THIS PRú█p 7 MY-]ñ OF THEM FROM THE LATINO COMMUNITY.á"DYp LET'S HELP THEM BECOME CITIZENS AND GUESS WHAT, BECAUSE SOON AFTER WE ANNOUNCE OUR NATION'S¢Xç FUTURE THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE INVESTING MILLIONS OFrc6k█ DOLLARS IN HELPINGe&éW IMMIGRANTS BECOME CITIZENS OFjU÷ THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

IT'S OUR JOB TO GO OUT THERE OURx!

O IS A NONFORzqz PR1 C ORGANIZATION BUTu/?

KNOW PEOPLE WILL VOTEeIPc SELF-INTEREST.

IT WILL BE OUR JOB TO GET THEMlç>qó TO VOTE IN THE MANNER WHICH DEFENDS THEIR SELF-INTEREST.

I KNOW THEY WILL.

WE DID IT IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

LET'ñxÑ LOOK AT THE CITY OF CHICAGO JUST FOR1& THE DISTRICT WASGT ñ 60%íWAE LATINO BY POPULATION BUTgá&÷ ONLY 40% OF THE VOTER<eD WERE LATINO.

TODAY IT'S 65%.

!nTqñ I CAN'T"ZBm&█ -- THE DAY I'J.ÁLT 65% HOW?

BY MAKING SURE THAT THEYéZ"a - THE UNITEDS OFe STATES.

SO LET'S EXPAND THAT Powrñz AND TO EXPAND THAT POWER WEnAL█V CAN BRING A BRIGHT LIGHT ON THEM.

I WANTéAs TO SHOW THE ENTREPRENEURS, I WANT TO█j%ÑmPzk SHOW THEM WORKING.

I WANT TO SHOW WHAT HAPPENED TO4 U█ ONIONS,NS TO THEC WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EVERYTHIN└r ELSE THAT YOU TAKE FOR GRANTED WHEN YOU GO FOR SHOPPING.

WHAT HAPPENS WITHOUT THEM.

I WANT TO THOUGH SHOW THEM THE DOCTORS, FIRST RESPONDERS AND NURSES.

I WANT TO SHOW THEM FAMILIES THAT HAVE BURIED THEIR LOVED ONES UNDOCUMEn@çw█ FAMILIES THAT BURIED THEIR LOVEDn2Z ONES THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS BECAUSE THEY SACRIFICED THEIR í9LWJ█ IN,qVGxvM THE ARMED -█ THE UNITED STATES.UA SO YES, WE USE CITIZENSHIP AS A POWER PLATFORM BUT AT THE SAME WE INTEND TOa██2 TELL THEIR STORY.

>> WE'LL BEmRbí MONITORING YOURÑ PROGRESS.

UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE OUT OFlÑ+v!

TIME.UqU7$ OUR THANKSV>ÑrIy >> THANK YOU, MICHAEL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.xXw5 WITH A BIG JOBZñ:?I COUNSELLOR LOPEZ5 úh FINDING A WAY TO GET Ab:ímX NEW PLAYGROUND BUILT FORX=xChC8z 600 PLUS, STUDENTS.— LOPEZ' APPEAL TO THE CHICAGO ÷)7x3t CHALLENGE WOUND UP WINNING A $1.5 MILLION GRANT TO CREATE A NEW STATE OF THE ARTw%[ú PLAYGROUND TO THE EAST SIDE HERE LOPEZ4÷P9 GIVES THE INFORMATION ON THE HARDEST PART OF ANY BIG JOB FIGURING OUT WHERE TO START.

>> MY NAME IS LOPEZ I AMZGçov NEW1) MATTHEW ELEMENTARY LANGUAGE ACADEMY.

PRESTIGIOUSCy<r÷ SCHOOL=Ac THEM ALWAYS SENT STUDENíX+(ñ READY TOvDO9 BE%Cx D CITIZENS OF CHICAGO.bOjj IT'S VERYaéF9qQ&& KNOWN FOR ITS SOCCER TEAMS.

THERE'SANZFotm SEE,?

;3A<█Ñ FIELD FORr♪.ICb dáMI5á CONVERSAT)irt WE HAD WITH PARENTS ABOUT WHY THIS SPACE WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR THIS COMMUNITY THEY TOLD ME IN THIS AREA AREA SOCCER IS HUGE FOR THEM.

AND AS WE ARE HAISNG.pEI CONVERSATION THE KIDS4A KICKING THE BALL AROUND.

SOMEWHERE THEY HAD GRASS.

Bs WHERE WE JUST DON'T JUST SEE CEMENT.çN÷ SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN SEE SCENERY AND SIT DOWN AND WATCH OUR KIDS WHILE THEY'RE HAVING FUN.

DR. NELSON THE PRINCIPAL HERE SAYS RELEASE A GRANTLN3V THAT CHICAGO IS GETTING THAT APPLYD LIKE YOU TOIíéA FOR.

SO I PUT TOGETHER THE GRANT.

WE SENT IT OUT WEjB-]█ WAITED W█ CROSSED OUR FINGERS.

A FEW WEEKS LATER THEY ANNOUNCED THE WINNER.

THEY SAID YOU WILLp GETTING THE GRANT AND EVERYBODY WAS JUMPING FOR JOY.

THEY SAID>0 ON THIS FOR WHITE A WHILE IT REALLY ALL DID START WITH IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHEREó -Pz LIVE.

AND I THINK THE SPACE WILL BE THE PERFECT PLACEYnó#█p$xx THEM TOXá6' UNDERSTAND WHAT CHANGES AND WHAT HARD WORK GETS YOU WHEN YOU START OFçYúsç REALLY, REALLY SMALL.

WHAT'S YOUR FIRST STEP?

HOW DO WE FIND RESOURCES WE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT?o3Tb STARTING AT THE ALDERMAN'S OFFICE.BhjX START AT THE SCHOOLS WHO ALREADY MADE A CHANGE.

m HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE TRULY INTERESTED INñX8]/ DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT I.

SHOW YOUR PASSION YOU TRULY WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE IT÷;"l DOES TAKE QUITE A BIT OF WORK BECAUSE IT'S EASIER.qbbI█ SAID THAN DONE.f<Ñ BECAUSE I CAN CHEAK, I CAN MAKE GRELT SPEECHES BUT IF Iy0 CAN'TrO DONE, IF I CAN'T GET THE]ñSn, OBJECTIVE COMPLETED THEN IT'S AL’é FOR NOTHING.

>> LOPEZ SAYS THAT PLANS FOR THE NEW PLAY GROUND ARE IN THE k IS SLATED TO BEGIN NEXT YEAR.

>>> THAT'S OUR SHOW4 █EEKEND.-█h DON'T FORGET YOU CAN CATCH "-ÑN>zéz F TONIGHT LATINO VOICES" I'M MICHAEL PUENTE THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

THANK YOUgs;#ñ HEALTHY AND STAYk >>> CLOSED-CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW4ÑxUxeÑ A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY WHOSEelRE4&f)Ñ ATTORNEYS EMBRACA CULTURE OF PHILANTHROPY AND CULTURE BY VOLUNTEERING EXPERTISE AND GUIDANCE TO HELP OTHERS IN THE GREATER CHICAGO COMMUNITY.d?Qp÷