FUENTE .

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, NEARLY 12,000 MIGRANTS HAVE ARRIVED IN CHICAGO.

WE ARE ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE CITY'S DEPUTY MAYOR TO OVERSEE MINORITY RIGHTS.

>>> THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, AND THE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.

>>> A NEW ELEMENT IN THE NORTHWESTERN SCANDAL CLAIMS HARASSMENT AGAINST PEOPLE OF MEXICAN HERITAGE.

>>> MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN PUERTO RICO, THE MESSAGE OF ONE ARTIST.

>>> WE WILL BE BACK AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> CHICAGO OFFICIALS SAY THE CITY HAS WELCOMED A BUS FULL OF MIGRANTS EVERY DAY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF JULY, MAKING UP ALMOST 12,000 PEOPLE.

HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS, MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN REMAIN BEHIND POLICE STATION DOORS COME DESPITE EFFORTS TO MOVE THEM INTO SHELTERS.

CITY OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS ARE WORKING TO FEED, CLOTHE, AND CARE FOR THE MIGRANTS WHILE ALSO FINDING PERMANENT HOUSING.

HERE TO DISCUSS THE PLAN IS CHICAGO'S DEPUTY MAYOR OF IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS, PRIOR TO THIS, HE WAS WORKING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> THEY WERE BEING RELOCATED TO THE BROADWAY ARMORY, FOLLOWING PROTEST, WHAT TIMELINE DOES THE CITY HAVE FOR THOSE WHO WERE WORKING ON FINDING PERMANENT HOUSING?

>> WE ARE WORKING ACROSS THE CITY TO EXPAND, LOOKING FIRST AND FOREMOST AT PROPERTIES IN THE NORTH.

POLICE STATIONS ARE A TEMPORARY PLACE.

THE BEST THING IS TO HAVE SOMETHING INDIVIDUAL .

THE RESOURCES CAN HELP PUT THEM IN TOUCH WITH WHAT THEY NEED.

IT IS ALL HANDS ON DECK.

WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO MOVE PEOPLE.

>> MANY PEOPLE ARE CITING THE SLOW PROCESS.

WE WERE REPORTING LAST WEEK, STILL SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE SLEEPING IN POLICE STATIONS.

WHAT CHALLENGES IS YOUR OFFICE UP AGAINST AND WHAT ARE THE DELAYS?

>> REALLY, THE CHALLENGES ARE TREMENDOUS.

THIS IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

WE WELCOMED OVER 12,000 PEOPLE THIS PAST YEAR.

WE ARE COMING UP TO THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN THE FIRST BUS ARRIVED.

THEY ARE BEING SENT BY THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS.

WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE BUSES ARRIVING AT THE DOORSTEP OF CHICAGO.

WE ARE A WELCOMING CITY.

WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO WELCOME OUR NEW NEIGHBORS , SO THAT WE CAN GET THEM RESETTLED WITHIN THE CITY.

WE HAVE ABOUT 5900 INDIVIDUALS IN OUR CITY SHELTERS.

EVERY DAY, A NEW BUS ARRIVED.

I WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT.

FROM JANUARY UNTIL NOW, WE HAVE HAD 77 BUSES.

OF THOSE 77 , 59 ARRIVED SINCE MAY WHEN THIS ADMINISTRATION TOOK OVER.

AS YOU NOTED , IT HAS BEEN ABOUT ONE PER DAY SINCE JULY.

ON ANY GIVEN BUS, WE HAVE 40 TO 50 INDIVIDUALS, MANY ARE FAMILIES.

AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE, WE MOVE THEM INTO THE POLICE STATION AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

WE HAVE VETTED OVER 200 LOCATIONS FOR POSSIBLE SHELTERS ON CITY-OWNED PROPERTIES.

WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR MORE.

THE SOONER WE CAN OPEN MORE SHELTERS ACROSS THE CITY, THE FASTER WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE FAMILIES INTO THOSE SHELTERS.

YES.

>> I WANTED TO ASK, YOU MENTIONED VETTING OVER 200 LOCATIONS.

GIVE US SOME SENSE OF WHAT THE LOCATIONS ARE, CITY COLLEGES ?

HAVE THOSE STUDENTS HAD TO BE SHIFTED BECAUSE OF THE RETURN TO SCHOOL?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT PROPERTIES THAT INCLUDE PARKS, CITY COLLEGES, AND SOME OF OUR UNUSED OR CLOSED SCHOOLS.

IN ADDITION, WE ARE LOOKING AT PROPERTIES, FOR EXAMPLE NURSING HOMES OR JUST LOCATIONS WHERE WE CAN HAVE AT LEAST 200 TO 250 PEOPLE.

NOT ALL LOCATIONS, THE MAJORITY, THE VAST MAJORITY, ARE NOT VIABLE OPTIONS.

THEY NEED TO HAVE ADEQUATE PLUMBING AND BATHROOM SPACE, AND THE ABILITY TO SET UP SHOWERS, MOBILE SHOWERS, AND TO BE ABLE TO DESIGNATE SOME COMMON AREAS.

AS WE LOOK AT THOSE PLACES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WE HAVE A TEAM TO THAT THEM THEN AND WE HAVE BEEN SEEING IF WE CAN ULTIMATELY USE THEM AS SHELTERS.

>> YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON TO CARRY THIS, AS DEPUTY MAYOR, IS THIS CRISIS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN PREVIOUSLY?

>> I ANTICIPATE THAT CHICAGO HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CITY OF IMMIGRANTS, TO HAVE A DESIGNATED MAYOR IN THIS ROLE AT THE MOMENT IS CRITICAL.

IT IS TO HELP BRING STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE IN OUR OPERATION, BRINGING TOGETHER THE DIFFERENT TEAMS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE.

WE PARTNER VERY CLOSELY WITH OEMC AND OTHER CITY AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS.

MY ROLE WILL BE TO HELP STRATEGIES, LONGER-TERM, WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES, AND PARTNERS, AS WELL AS WITH OTHERS IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

LONG-TERM, THIS IS ABOUT LIVING OUR VISION OF BEING A WELCOMING CITY.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR OUR CITY AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS, WHO HAVE MADE THE WELCOMING CITY AN ORDINANCE?

AND WHAT CAN BE DONE WITHIN PHILANTHROPY, BUSINESS, AND THE LONG-TERM ACTIVITIES AND PROCESSES , AND DIFFERENT SECTORS WITHIN CHICAGO.

I AM EXCITED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP LEAD THAT.

WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND CREATE A HUB OF INFORMATION THAT OTHERS CAN TURN TO IN CHICAGO.

>> THERE IS ALSO THE LONG WORK PERMIT PROCESS FOR THE NEW ARRIVALS.

WHAT ECONOMIC BARRIERS ARE THERE AND HOW CAN THOSE BE ADDRESSED?

THE CITY HAS GIVEN OUT SIX MONTHS OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR MIGRANTS.

GIVE ME A LONG-TERM SENSE OF HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO GO.

>> SO, THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE STATE AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

IT IS ON A PATH TO HELP PEOPLE IN RESETTLEMENT EFFORTS.

WE KNOW THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

FOR THE TIME BEING, THAT IS PART OF THE PLAN, IN TERMS OF GETTING PEOPLE RESETTLED.

CREATING THE PIPELINE OF MOVEMENT, THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT STRATEGIES FOR , TO SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS AS THEY MOVE OUT AND BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT.

AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL , WE ARE WORKING TO SEE WHAT TYPES OF ACTIVITIES CAN TAKE PLACE FEDERALLY.

THIS IS NOT A LOCAL ISSUE ONLY.

AND WE HAVE TO RESPOND, HANDS-ON , AS CHICAGO AND OTHER CITIES HAVE , WE ARE LOOKING FOR OTHERS TO STEP IN AND HELP SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS.

>> A FEW SECONDS LEFT , ASIDE FROM MANAGING THIS IMMEDIATE CRISIS, WHAT ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO DRESS, AS PART OF YOUR POSITION?

>> I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH SO MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO REVIEW POLICIES AND ADVOCATE FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES.

WE ARE LOOKING THROUGH A BACKLOG OF IMMIGRATION PROCESSES.

WE ARE LOOKING NATIONALLY, AS WELL, AT WHAT OTHER NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THIS GOAL AND THIS OFFICE TO TAKE THIS APPROACH TO ADVOCATING FOR INDIVIDUALS RELOCATING IN CHICAGO.

>> DEPUTY MAYOR BEATRIZ PONCE de LEON, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRANDIS.

>>> UP NEXT, MICHAEL FUENTE AND THE GROWING HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT .

STAY WITH US.

>>> THE HUMBOLDT PARK HUB HAS A GROWING CONCERN FOR SOME RESIDENTS, PROMPTING OFFICIALS TO FIND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS.

IT IS NOT AN ISSUE PARTICULAR TO HUMBOLDT PARK, MORE THAN 65,000 CHICAGOANS ARE CURRENTLY WITHOUT A HOUSE.

WE ARE JOINED BY JESSE FUENTES OF THE 26th WARD, BRUCE PERRY, AND COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF THE 8th DISTRICT WHICH INCLUDES PART OF HUMBOLDT PARK.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THEM?

>> I THINK THAT FIRST, IT IS GOING AND SPEAKING TO THESE INDIVIDUALS ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS SO THAT THEY FEEL HUMANIZED.

AND SO THAT THERE IS NOT JUST ONE BROAD STROKE .

THEIR NEEDS ARE DIVERSE.

WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN THAT ENCAMPMENT WHO ARE VETERANS, WHO HAVE SERVED THIS COUNTRY, WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE HISTORICAL AND GENERATIONAL TRAUMA.

THEY NEED SUPPORT.

TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS , IT IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL SOLUTIONS WILL NOT WORK HERE.

>> HOW HAS THIS ISSUE GOTTEN BIGGER SINCE TOBIN?

>> THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE NUMBER OF ENCAMPMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY HAVE INCREASED.

WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE HOMELESS PEOPLE.

THEY ARE GENERATING THE WORST ASPECTS OF POVERTY, WHICH IS HOMELESSNESS.

WE ARE SEEING THE DIRECT RESULT OF THAT.

>> HOW ARE YOU SEEING THE ISSUE GROW, THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS?

>> WE ARE SEEING IT IN THE PARKS, ON OUR STREETS, ON OUR BRIDGES.

I THINK WE ARE SEEING IT WITHIN OUR FAMILIES.

MY OWN FAMILY HAS SUFFERED FROM HOUSING INSECURITY .

DURING MY ELECTION , THEY HOUSED A FRIEND OF MINE.

I THINK IT IS PERVASIVE, PERSISTENT, AND BROAD.

THE COST OF LIVING HAS INCREASED AS HOUSING COSTS ARE INCREASING.

POVERTY IS INCREASING.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ALREADY HOMELESS.

>> WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN YOUR WARD?

>> THERE ARE SOLUTIONS WE ARE WORKING AT.

WE DO NOT HAVE A 24-HOUR SHELTER NEARBY.

WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THIS IS WHERE THEY FIND HOMES.

THIS IS WHERE THEY FIND COMFORT.

THE IDEA OF HAVING TO LEAVE THAT SPACE, THAT IS TRAUMATIZING.

CONSIDERING SHELTERS IN THE AREA, THAT IS ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS.

WE ALSO KNOW WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

CONTINUING TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A TOP PRIORITY.

WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE RAPID HOUSING SOLUTIONS.

WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE THOSE SUPPORTS AND ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TO FIND COMFORT.

WE WILL PARTNER, AT EVERY TERM, TO PROVIDE THAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT KIND OF FUNDING WILL YOU NEED TO EVEN MAKE A DENT ?

>> WE NEED A PERMANENT REVENUE SOURCE.

WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE A PERMANENT REVENUE SOURCE SO THAT HOUSING BECOMES A RIGHT IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, NOT A PRIVILEGE.

ONE TIME, THE PERMANENT RESIDENCY WILL ALLOW US THE FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD HOUSING.

>> YOU WORK WITH THE CHURCH RIGHT ACROSS THE ENCAMPMENT.

WHAT OTHER RESOURCES IN THE ENCAMPMENT DO PEOPLE NEED?

>> I THINK IT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID.

THE NUMBER ONE THING THEY NEED IS PERMANENT, SAFE, SECURE HOUSING.

AND THAT IS NOT THERE.

THERE IS PLENTY OF PUBLIC HOUSING THAT IS VACANT IN THIS CITY, AND WE NEED TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET THE RESOURCES THERE.

ALSO FROM FOOD TO CLOTHING TO PERSONAL ITEMS, ANYTHING WILL HELP.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MEDICAL AND HEALTH NEEDS, THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH LEGAL QUESTIONS AS WELL.

JUST GETTING AN I.D.

CAN BE A CHALLENGE FOR MANY THAT THESE UN-HOUSED ARE FACING, KEEPING THEM FROM GETTING INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.

>> WHAT OTHER AGENCIES HAVE A ROLE IN ADDRESSING THE HOMELESS POPULATION?

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND SUPPORT SERVICES IS CURRENTLY EXPLORING A WAY TO HELP PLAY A ROLE IN THIS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAT EXIST THROUGHOUT THE 8th DISTRICT TO IDENTIFY SPACES AND PARCELS OF LAND THAT CAN BE USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I WILL BEGIN COUNTY MEDICATION WITH THE LAND AUTHORITY, TO TRY TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.

>> YOU MENTIONED, BRINGING CHICAGO HOME, THAT PROPOSAL, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE ?

>> ABSOLUTELY, IT IS A PROPOSAL THAT SEEKS TO INCREASE THE BENEFITS THAT WE ALL PAY TAX WHEN WE PURCHASE A HOME.

IF THAT IS INCREASED BY 1.9%, IF YOU ARE PURCHASING A HOME FOR $1 MILLION OR MORE, THAT REVENUE ALONE WILL ALLOW US TO DEDICATE MORE RESOURCES FOR BUILDING HOMES FOR THE HOMELESS.

THAT WILL PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT HAVE HOUSING FACILITIES.

WE KNOW THAT PROVIDING RESOURCES IS NOT ENOUGH.

WE NEED WRAPAROUND CASE MANAGEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, SUBSTANCE ABUSE SUPPORT.

THESE FUNDS WILL ALLOW US TO DO BOTH.

>> DO YOU THINK THERE SHOULD ALSO BE AN ADJOINING PROPOSAL ON A COUNTY LEVEL?

>> ABSOLUTELY , DURING THE FIRST SUBJECT MATTER HEARING IN BRING CHICAGO HOME, A WEEK AGO AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

I ATTENDED THE HEARING AND I SENT A LETTER TO SUPPORT ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THAT I WILL BE TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNTY BOARD TO EXPLORE OTHER REVENUE SOURCES THAT WE CAN ADDRESS FOR POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS AND EVERYTHING IN COOK COUNTY.

>> WHAT WAS IT THAT HELPED YOU FIND HOUSING?

>> WHAT HAPPENED IS, I AM A VIETNAM VETERAN.

I HAD PTSD.

THAT WAS AN INTERVAL PART OF MY BECOMING HOMELESS.

I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE VA STAND BEHIND ME, AND THEY SENT ME TO A THREE-MONTH PTSD PROGRAM IN THE CHICAGO AREA.

AND THEY PAID ME MY DISABILITY DURING THAT PERIOD.

THAT GOT ME OUT OF HOMELESSNESS, AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS A VERY FORTUNATE RESOURCE.

I HAD THOSE AVAILABLE TO ME, BUT THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO MANY OF THE HOMELESS ON THE STREET.

I JUST WANT TO ADD, BEING HOMELESS IS A BRUTAL EXISTENCE.

OUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, OUR FAMILY , WE NEED TO GIVE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE SECURE HOUSING.

>> CONGRESSMAN FUENTES, THE BRING CHICAGO HOME PROPOSAL, IS THERE ANY MOMENTUM TO PASS THAT ?

>> YES, I DO SEE THAT PASSING.

WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR TODAY IS TO PUT THIS QUESTION ON THE BALLOT.

WE ARE NOT ASKING THEM TO INCREASE THE TAX TODAY.

WE ASKED THEM TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT AND GIVE THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO THE OPPORTUNITY TO PASS THIS.

>> OUR THANKS TO ALL THE PERSON FUENTES, BRUCE PERRY, AND ANTHONY.

>>> UP NEXT, ALLEGATIONS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN A NEW LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

STAY WITH US.

>>> FORMER COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER RAMON DIAZ FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY THIS WEEK.

IT IS ONE OF SEVERAL LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST NORTHWESTERN THAT ARE RELATED TO HAZING ALLEGATIONS IN THE SCHOOL'S ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT.

HE ALLEGES BEING SUBJECTED TO HAZING, ABUSE, AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.

HIS TEAMMATES SHAVED THE WORDS CINCO de MAYO INTO THE BACK OF HIS HEAD.

>> I OFTEN ASK MYSELF, WHY ME?

YOU COULD HAVE CHOSEN TO DO ANYTHING BUT THAT IS WHAT YOU DECIDED TO DO.

PEOPLE WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT I HAVE LIVED IN.

I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN.

THE HARSH LIVING CONDITIONS THAT MY FATHER ENDURED REMINDS ME OF THE DIVERSITY INSTILLED IN ME.

CHARACTER, INTEGRITY, AND RESILIENCE.

YOU HAVE INSULTED MY FAMILY'S CULTURAL HERITAGE.

EVEN THOUGH I GREW UP DIRT POOR, WE DO NOT LIVE LIKE THAT HERE.

THOSE WORDS RING TRUE TO ME LIKE THEY HAPPENED YESTERDAY.

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A DAY THAT HAS GONE BY SINCE I GRADUATED IN 2008 , WHERE I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THOSE WORDS.

I HAVE NOT SEEN A FOOTBALL GAME IN OVER 10 YEARS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED.

WHAT WOULD POSSESS ANY HUMAN BEING, ANYONE?

THAT THAT IS OKAY, OR THAT IS ALL RIGHT, AND THAT IT WON'T RUIN ANYONE'S LIFE.

IT CERTAINLY DID FOR ME.

THE CASE DATES BACK TO 2005 THROUGH 2008.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY PLANS TO HIRE LORETTA LYNCH TO LEAD INVESTIGATIVE REVIEW INTO THE EMPLOYMENT PROCESS AND NORTHWESTERN'S CONDUCT.

IT IS THE LATEST IN A LONG LINE OF ALLEGATIONS AND LAWSUITS.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>>> A CHICAGO-BASED ARTISTS CREATED A SERIES OF WORKS ABOUT HER MIGRATION TO HER HOMETOWN.

SHE MAKES PUBLIC SCULPTURES THAT EVOKE ISLAND CULTURE.

IT HAS BEEN EXHIBITED IN BRAZIL, CUBA, AND A MUSEUM IN NEW YORK CITY.

WE RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH HER IN HYDE PARK.

>> Reporter: THE BIG GARAGE DOORS OF THE HYDE PARK ART CENTER ARE OPEN, WELCOMING VISITORS INTO AN IMMERSIVE STRUCTURE.

ARCHITECTURAL MOTIVES CREATE A PATTERN ON HOUSES IN PUERTO RICO.

A HAND-FABRICATED DOMINO TABLE REFLECTS POPULAR DESIGNS FOUND ON THE ISLAND.

THE PROJECT IS CALLED GRAFT, NOT THE POLITICAL KIND, BUT A TRANSPLANT FROM ONE PLACE TO A NEW PLACE.

>> I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SERIES FOR A DECADE NOW.

THE WORD GRAPHS COMES OUT OF MY NECESSITY OF CREATING SOMETHING THAT REPRESENTS MY MIGRATION.

MY DISTANCE FROM PUERTO RICO AFFECTS THE WAY THAT I SEE PUERTO RICO.

THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS NOW, IT IS IMPACTED BY MY MIGRATION .

>> A CLOSER LOOK REVEALS VIEWFINDERS WITH TINY PHOTOS OF PUERTO RICO.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT MIGRATION, THAT IS NOT ONE EXPERIENCE OR FEELING, IT COMES WITH GRIEF AND LOSS , AND THE ASSOCIATION OF THAT JOURNEY.

>> Reporter: SHE MOVED TO CHICAGO 25 YEARS AGO AND GOT HER MFA FROM THE SCHOOL OF CHICAGO ART INSTITUTE, SHE MAKES HER ARTWORK OUT OF PAIN, 10, PLASTER, AND PLYWOOD.

>> I DESCRIBED IT AS ARCHITECTURAL INTERVENTION.

I CALL THIS GRAFT , BECAUSE THIS WORD IS COMING FROM SKIN TRANSPLANTS.

WHAT I THINK ABOUT IS, IT IS A REALLY ACCURATE WAY OF REPRESENTING MY SENTIMENT AS SOMEONE WHO MIGRATED FROM PUERTO RICO.

>> Reporter: FOR LATINO VOICES, THIS IS MARK VITALE.

>> HER ARTWORK WOULD BE AT THE HYDE PARK ART CENTER.

THAT IS IT FOR OUR SHOW.

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 LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SATURDAY, BEGINNING AT 6:00 P.M. YOU CAN CATCH MY REPORTING ON 91.5 FM.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY, AND BUENAS NOCHES.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A