>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... [♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" I'M JESSICA HECTOR-HSU OF UNIVISION CHICAGO, WHICH IS EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING AT 5 AND 6:00 A.M. ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, THE REMAIN IN MEXICO POLICY REMAINS IN PLACE DESPITE A RECENT SUPREME COURT RULING.

WE GET REACTION FROM LOCAL IMMIGRANTS RIGHT ALEX HERNANDEZ >> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... [♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

I'M ALEX HERNANDEZ OF UNIVISION CHICAGO WHICH AIRS EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING AT 5:00 A.M. AND 6:00 A.M.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

THE REMAIN IN MEXICO POLICY REMAINS IN PLACE DESPITE A RECENT SUPREME COURT RULING.

WE GET OPINIONS FROM ADVOCATE RIGHTS ON THIS MATTER.

>> THE NUMBER OF LATINOS ENROLLING IN COLLEGE DROPPED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

A LOOK AT WHAT HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS CAN DO TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN LATINO STUDENTS.

A POWERFUL MURAL ON THE WEST SIDE.

MEET THE ARTIST BEHIND THE EAGLE WARRIORS SOARING OVER 18TH STREET IN PILSEN.

>> HOW DO THEY CATCH THE GRAINS OF GRIT.

>> AND JOE GUZMAN IS BACK WITH ADVICE HOW YOU CAN SPOT NEXT WEEK'S PERSEID METEOR SHOWER.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, THE SUPREME COURT HAS CERTIFIED ITS RULING ALLOWING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO END THEMY GRANTED PROTECTION POLICY, REMAIN IN MEXICO.

IT WAS A CORNERSTONE OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BORDER POLICY FORCING MIGRANTS SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE U.S. TO WAIT IN MEXICO FOR HEARING.

THE SUPREME COURT DECISION OVERRULED A LOWER COURT THAT FORCED THE POLICY TO BE REINSTATED IN DECEMBER.

PRESIDENT BIDEN PREVIOUSLY TRIED TO END THE POLICY, THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE COMMENT SO FAR WHEN HIS ADMINISTRATION MIGHT OFFICIALLY FOLLOW THROUGH.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE GLADIS MOLINA ALT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE YOUNG CENTER FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN'S RIGHTS.

AND HELENA OLEA, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AT ALIANZA AMERICAS AND JOINING US IS DAISY GANBOA, EXECUTIVE -- DAYSI FUNES EXECUTIVE OF CENTRO ROMERO.

YOU'VE SPENT TIME ON BOTH SIDES OF THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER CAN YOU GIVE US A PICTURE WHAT THE SITUATION IS RIGHT NOW?

>> YES, ALEX, I SPENT TIME ALONG THE BORDER OF MEXICO IN JANUARY OF 2020 WHEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS IMPLEMENTING ME MAIN IN MEXICO POLICY AND IN NOVEMBER OF 2021 WHEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WHAT WE CALL THE MPP2.0.

AND I SEE FAMILIES ON THE GROUND, PARENTS, WHO TALKED ABOUT HAVING TO MAKE A DIFFICULT DECISION WHEN THEY REMAIN IN MEXICO WAITING FOR THEIR CASES TO BE PROCESSED OR MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO HAVE THEIR KIDS CROSS THE BORDER BY THEMSELVES WHILE THEY REMAIN IN MEXICO.

FAMILY UNITY IS SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN BE AN ISSUE A STAKE ON THE GROUND.

BOTH IN THE MPP CAMPS TALK ABOUT THE SECURITY ISSUES THAT THEY FACE.

THE KIDNAPPING THAT HAPPENS.

A RAPE THAT HAPPENS.

THE VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS FOR THEM A MIGRANTS IN MEXICO THAT TAKES PLACE.

WE'VE HEARD STORIES OF RAPE.

STORIES OF EXTORTION.

ALL KINDS OF ABUSES THAT HAPPEN ON THE GROUND.

WE ALSO HEAR HOW IT IS THE PEOPLE TO BE SUBJECTED TO AND MPP ON THE GROUND GETTING UP EARLY IN THE MORNING AND THE WEE HOURS OF DAWN TO GET IN LINE TO BE ABLE TO CROSS THE RIVER INTO TEXAS.

TO GET IN FRONT OF A CAMERA.

TO HAVE A HEARING BEFORE A JUDGE WHERE THEY GET THE IN-PERSON HEARING.

THAT IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN ON THE GROUND AND AT STAKE FOR PEOPLE WHILE THE POLICY REMAINS IN PLACE.

>> IT'S TOUGH FOR THEM.

IS MEXICO OK WITH THIS?

WHAT DO THEY SAY?

>> I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO MEXICAN OFFICIALS MYSELF.

ALL I KNOW IS THAT IN MY MOST RECENT VISIT, WHERE I WENT TO RENOSO, [INAUDIBLE] AND I WENT IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, EVERYBODY WAS IN THE THERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO COOPERATE WITH THE POLICY ANYMORE.

SO I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO ANY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

>> HELENA OLEA WHY DO YOU BELIEVE TITLE 42 IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS DISCUSSION?

>> WELL, IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE MMP EXISTED BEFORE TITLE 42 AND WITH THE PANDEMIC THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ENACTED TITLE 42 WITH THE EXCUSE THAT BORDER NEEDED TO BE CLOSED.

SO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE TWO POLICIES.

EVEN IF THERE IS AN END TO MPP, TITLE 42 CONTINUES TO BE OPERATING IN THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

AND MOST OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE TRYING TO SEEK ASYLUM ARE BEING REJECTED, EXPELLED AND THEY TURN TO MEXICO.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THERE'S MORE THAN TWO MILLION PEOPLE IMPACTED BY TITLE 42.

AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY MMP THOUGH LARGE IS LESS THAN 80 OR 90,000.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THOSE TWO POLICIES AND HOW THEY HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE.

ONE TEMPORARILY AND ONE WITH THE IDEA THEY COULD SEEK ASYLUM AND TITLE 42 PREVENTEDS ANYONE FROM SEEKING ASYLUM.

>> HOW IS THE REMAIN IN MEXICO POLICY AFFECTING THE LIVES OF I AM DPRABILITIES YOU WORK WITH?

>> IT IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT IS SOUTH OF THE BORDER OF THE UNITED STATES WE SEE THE CONSEQUENCES OF PEOPLE THAT HAD THEIR FAMILIES.

TAKING FAMILIES APART.

BREAKING FAMILIES.

THAT'S THE HARDEST PART BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT I MEAN, ONE OF THE BIGGEST STARTED TO COME IT WAS WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

IS WHY WE SEE THE CHILDREN IN CAGES BEFORE IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND EVEN THOUGH THE PREVIOUS -- ADMINISTRATION RIGHT NOW SAY WELL WE DON'T HAVE THEM IN CAGES WE HAVE A SPECIAL SPACE.

THEY ARE STILL IN JAIL.

THEY ARE STILL IN IMPERFECTION BY THE CDP.

WHAT DO WE SEE?

FAMILIES WAITING TO RECEIVE THEIR FAMILIES HERE.

THAT IS A SYSTEM THAT IS BROKEN.

IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

IT NEEDS TO BE IN A HUMAN WAY.

LIKE FOR EXAMPLE WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO UKRAINE, THE TREATMENT THEY HAVE RECEIVED AS IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES COMING TO THIS COUNTRY HAVE VERY, VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH FROM THE ADMINISTRATION THAN THE ONES THAT COME FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER.

YOU HAVE TO DO WITH THE POLICIES.

IT HAVE TO DO HOW UNITED STATES AND THE POLICYMAKERS HERE.

>> RIGHT.

SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE.

GOING BACK WITH YOU, GLADIS MOLINA ALT, WHAT DO PEOPLE NOT KNOW ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION PICTURE.

>> I THINK WHAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION PICTURE IT'S TRICKY TO UNDERSTAND IS HOW THE TITLE 42 AND REMAIN IN MEXICO POLICIES INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER.

THOSE IN REMAIN IN MEXICO POLICY, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO GET THE CHANCE TO COME TO THE BORDER AND PRESENT THEMSELVES TO SEEK ASYLUM AND THEN ARE SENT BACK TO MEXICO TO WAIT OUT THAT PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR ASYLUM.

TITLE 42 DOESN'T EVEN ALLOW SOMEBODY TO SHOW UP TO IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES ON THE U.S. SIDE.

AND EVEN MAKE THAT APPLICATION.

BOTH OF THE POLICIES HAVE TO BE BROUGHT TO AN END AND NOT THE SUPREME COURT HAS CERTIFIED THAT DECISION WE CALL THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE THAT ACTION EACH MINUTE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT DECIDE TO END MPP, IT'S PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK IN MEXICO.

>> HELENA OLEA WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WOULD LIKE TO DO AT THIS POINT, AND WE'RE SHORT ON TIME?

>> NOT ONLY PUTTING AN END TO MPP AND TITLE 42 BUT ESTABLISHING A NEW NARRATIVE THAT COUNTERACTS TO THE STORIES AND THE DEPICTION OF MIGRANTS AND THE TYPE OF AN INVASION THAT SPREAD TO THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS WE MAKE TO THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN THE FABRIC OF THE U.S. SOCIETY AND THAT IS A SHIFT THAT NARRATIVE SHIFT WHERE WE NEED THE LEADERSHIP OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> DAYSI FUNES HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE HOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION RIGHT NOW?

WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE?

>> I THINK THE PEOPLE, REGULAR PEOPLE THAT'S NOT UNDERSTAND THE POLICIES.

SO THERE IS A GREAT WORK WE NEED TO DO IN TERMS OF EDUCATION.

NOT ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE LIVING HERE AND TO THE IMMIGRANTS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A GENERATION.

THE IDEA TO CREATE A FABRIC WHERE EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE WE ARE A COUNTRY.

WE ALL PAY TAXES.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN THIS COUNTRY AND THOSE THAT ARE ARRIVING FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS FOR THEM HERE.

>> DEFINITELY.

I THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, DEFINITELY, A VERY BIG TOPIC MANY WE COULD SPEND AN HOUR TALKING ABOUT THIS.

THANK YOU TO GLADIS MOLINA ALT, HELENA OLEA AND DAYSI FUNES.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, WHAT IS BEHIND DECLINING LATINO COLLEGE ENROLLMENT?

STAY WITH US.

[♪♪♪] >> FOR THE THREE DECADES LEADING UP TO 2020, THE RATE OF LATINOS ENROLLING IN COLLEGE WAS STEADILY RISING WHEN THE COVID PANDEMIC BEGAN THOSE NUMBERS TOOK AN IMMEDIATE HIT.

A REPORT RESEARCH CENTER SHOWS A 5.4% DROP IN THE HEAD COUNT OF LATINO UNDERGRADUATES IN THE FALL OF 2020.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS, THE NUMBER OF HISPANICS SERVING IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE U.S.

DROPPED FROM 569 IN 2020 TO 559 IN 2021.

JOINING US WITH MORE ON WHAT IS BEHIND THE NUMBERS AND HOW COLLEGES CAN REVERSE THAT DECLINE ARE, ISAURA PULIDO, PROFESSOR OF EDUCATIONAL INQUIRY AND CURRICULUM STUDIES AT NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY.

EMILY LABANDERA, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AT THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION.

AND INES SAHAGAN-BAHENA, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL LIEU WATERHOUSE UNIVERSITY CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I WILL START WITH YOU EMILY, WHAT ARE THE LATINO ENROLLMENT TRENDS LOOKING LIKE NATIONWIDE?

IS THIS PROBLEM ONLY CONCENTRATED IN CERTAIN AREAS?

>> THANK YOU, ALEX.

WE ARE SEEING THE LATINO STUDENTS ENROLLED IN COLLEGE THAT POPULATION WAS GROWING OVER THE YEARS.

BUT ONCE THE PANDEMIC HIT, WE HAVE SEEN A DECLINE IN COLLEGE ENROLLMENT FOR LATINO STUDENTS.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT ACROSS OTHER STUDENT GROUPS, BUT AT EXCELLENCE OUR FOCUS IS ACCELERATING THE STUDENTS' SUCCESS AND WE PUT A LATINO LENS ON ALL OF OUR RESEARCH.

>> RIGHT.

INES SAHAGAN-BAHENA, THE NATIONAL LOUIS UNIVERSITY'S HISPANIC INSTITUTION CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT DESIGNATION MEANS?

AND HAVE YOU BEEN SEEING DECLINE IN ENROLLMENT?

>> THANK YOU.

AS A HISPANIC INSTITUTION THAT IS A FED DESIGNATION GIVEN TO HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE 25% OF STUDENTS IDENTIFYING LATINX AND LOWER INCOME.

NATIONAL LOUIS UNIVERSITIES AND OTHERS HERE IN ILLINOIS WE SEE THIS AS A NATION AND THERE IS A FEDERAL SUPPORT AS WELL.

I WANT TO MENTION THAT EXCELLENCE REPORT THAT CAME OUT AND THEY ARE THE LEADING VOICE ON THESE STUDENT POPULATIONS THERE.

DID INDICATE THAT THE DECLINE WAS NOT EXPERIENCED.

IN ILLINOIS WE DO NOT SEE THAT DECLINE.

OTHER UNIVERSITIES HAVE EXPERIENCED CONTINUOUS GROWTH.

THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED THAT IS GOING TO SLOW GROWTH BUT THERE IS CONTINUED GROWTH IN ILLINOIS.

>> ISAURA PULIDO WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AS STUDENTS DURING COVID?

>> IT'S HARD.

IT'S REALLY HARD FOR THEM.

THEY ARE HAVING TO TAKE UP RESPONSIBILITIES AT HOME.

THINGS LIKE CHILDCARE, THINGS LIKE SHERIFF YOUNGER SIBLINGS THAT WERE ATTENDING SCHOOL, DURING REMOTE LEARNING.

THEY SOMETIMES WOULD HAVE TO SUPERVISE SIBLINGS WHICH MEANT THEY COULDN'T BE IN CLASS AND NOW THAT WE'VE RETURNED TO ON CAMPUS CLASSES SOME STUDENTS STILL HAVE SOME OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY WHICH MAKES IT HARDER FOR THEM TO BE IN SCHOOL.

>> GOING BACK WITH YOU EMILY, LATINO COLLEGE ENROLLMENT WAS TRENDING UP PRIOR TO COVID, WHAT DOES THE DECLINE TELL US ABOUT THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS LATINO STUDENTS HAVE WHEN THEY ARE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL.

>> .

>> COMMUNITY AND FAMILY AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS WHAT INSTITUTIONS CAN DO.

IN TERMS OF THE INSTITUTIONAL LENS, WE WORK A LOT WITH INSTITUTIONS LIKE THOSE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY.

WE CAN THINK ABOUT INSZ CONSTITUTIONS UNDERSTANDING THEIR STUDENT POPULATION AND CONSIDERING HOW THEY ARE RETAINING THE STUDENTS WHAT.

SUPPORT SERVICES ARE THEY SUPPLYING.

ARE THEY SUPPOSING THEIR STUDENTS FINANCIALLY?

BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING THE LOSS OF INCOME, CERTAINLY FINANCIAL DISRUPTIONS, LATINO STUDENTS PRESENT A POST TRADITIONAL STUDENT PROFILE AS WE SAY.

WHERE THEY MIGHT BE FIRST GENERATION OR WORKING WHILE ENROLLED TORE PRAGMATIC HOW THEY ARE MAKING COLLEGE AFFORDABLE FOR THEM.

>> INES SAHAGAN-BAHENA INSURANCE WHAT DO YOU THINK IS SO UNIQUE ABOUT THE LATINO STUDENT POPULATIONS?

>> WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, THEY ARE NOT THE TYPICAL COMMUTER STUDENTS THAT STAYS AT A COLLEGE AND IS THERE TO STUDY PRIMARILY.

YOU HAVE STUDENTS WHO COMMUTE TO SCHOOL.

HAVE FAMILY OBLIGATIONS.

THEY WANT TO BE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITIES.

THEY WORK AND THEY TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITIES.

WE NEED TO SUPPORT THEM IN THAT LENS TALKING ABOUT CARE.

>> DEFINITELY.

>> GOING BACK WITH YOU, ISAURA PULIDO, WHY DO YOU THINK HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS COULD CARE ABOUT BRINGING IN AND RETAINING LATINO STUDENTS?

>> BECAUSE THIS IS THE DEMOGRAPHIC WITH THE LARGEST GROWTH ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND I THINK THAT IF WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HIGHER ED AND EVEN THE FUTURE OF THE U.S., YOU KNOW, WITH THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY, OUR FUTURE IS REALLY GOING TO BE DETERMINED BY THE FUTURE OF LATINOS.

>> GOOD POINT.

INES SAHAGAN-BAHENA, WHAT CAN INSTITUTIONS BE DOING TO BETTER SUPPORT LATINO STUDENTS?

>> WELL, THE INSTITUTIONS, PARTICULARLY THE HISPANIC INSTITUTIONS HAVE PIVOTED TO MAKE SURE THEY LISTEN AND LEARN FROM THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THEY ARE GOING BACK TO THE INITIATIVES THAT PROVED EFFECTIVE THAT WERE THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THAT GROWTH, THEY ARE RETURNING TO THAT.

THEY ARE IN FACT OUTREACH TO THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND THE REFERRED LANGUAGE AND COMMUNITIES.

THEY ARE EXPANDING SUPPORT SYSTEMS ON CAMPUS TO ADDRESS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

AND HELP SUPPORTS IN BASIC NEEDS AND MENTAL HEALTH WELL-BEING.

AND FOOD INSECURITY IS ANOTHER ISSUE.

AND ADDRESSING TUITION COSTS.

INSTITUTIONS NEED TO FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS OF NEED.

>> EMILY, DO YOU THINK THIS WILL BE A SHORT-TERM LIVED DIP OR A LONG-TERM PROBLEM?

>> I LOOK AT PROJECTED DATA THROUGH THE REST OF THIS DECADE.

WE ARE SEEING FROM THOSE PROJECTIONS THAT THE LATINO STUDENTS POPULATION WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.

SO THERE IS DEFINITELY A POSITIVE THERE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE SERVING INTENTIONALLY THIS STUDENT GROUP AND HOW WE'RE SERVING OUR LATINO STUDENTS ACCELERATING THEIR SUCCESS AND THINKING BEYOND COLLEGE WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE.

>> ISAURA PULIDO WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT, I DO WANT TO ASK WHAT THE ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR STUDENTS WHO MIGHT BE STRUGGLING NOW AND CONSIDERING EVEN DROPPING OUT?

>> I WOULD TELL THEM TO TALK TO SOMEONE AT THEIR INSTITUTION.

A TRUSTED FACULTY MEMBER, STAFF MEMBER, TO TELL THEM THE KIND OF ISSUES THAT THEY ARE HAVING.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES STUDENTS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND THE SYSTEMS THAT MAYBE AVAILABLE AND MIGHT BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM IN SCHOOL.

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

ISAURA PULIDO, INES SAHAGAN-BAHENA, AND EMILY LABANDERA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> .

>> UP NEXT, DETAILS ON A MURAL SOARING OVER 18TH STREET.

STAY WITH US.

>> THE PILSEN NEIGHBORHOOD IS HOME TO SOME OF CHICAGO'S MOST VIBRANT MURALS.

ADDING TO TO THAT CULTURE IS A TALL ORDER FOR ANY ARTIST.

ARTIST MAURICIO RAMIREZ ANSWERED THAT CALL WITH THE EAGLE WARRIORS SOARING ABOVE 18TH STREET.

HE SAYS HE HOPES THE NOBLE FIGURE THAT HE FINISHED IN 2021, INSPIRES PRIDE IN ALL WHO SEE IT.

>> PUBLIC ART SHOULD ALWAYS BE LOUD AND PROUD.

BOLD.

ENHANCE PEOPLE'S LIVES THAT LIVE WITHIN IN THE COMMUNITY.

I'M MAURICIO RAMIREZ AND TODAY WE ARE AT THE PILSEN WARRIOR MURAL.

I WANTED TO CREATE A PIECE OF WORK THAT SPOKE TO THE COMMUNITY BY CREATING A HOMAGE TO THE AZTEC EAGLE WARRIOR AND CREATE AN AZTEC HERO.

I WANTED TO SHOW AN EVOLUTION HOW YOUNG BOYS LOOK UP TO OLDER SIBLINGS AND COUSINS AND THEY LOOK UP TO THE UNDELLS AND DADS.

YOU HAVE A KID LOOKING UP TO A TEENAGE MALE FIGURE AND THAT FIGURE IS LOOKING UP TO THE FINAL FOUR.

THE HERO FORM.

WE INVITED THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF CHICAGO TO COME OUT AND HELP PAINT PARTS OF THE MURAL.

THE LOWER TRIANGLES COMMUNITY MEMBERS PAINTED IT.

AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT ULTIMATELY SHARES OWNERSHIP OF THE MURAL NOT JUST ME GOING IN IT IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.

>> PUBLIC ART HAS A LOT OF FUNCTIONS.

IT CAN BE POLITICAL.

IT CAN BE CONTROVERSIAL.

IT CAN BE ESTHETIC.

IT CAN BE COMMUNICATIVE.

STORYTELLING FOR THE SAKE OF ART.

AND I THINK PILSEN HAS THOSE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS THAT MAYBE PUBLIC ARTWORK.

>> PILL LEN IS CHANGING.