VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALLSTATE.

>> GOOD EVENING TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, A CITY WATCHDOG REPORT DOUBLE - - ON SHOTSPOTTER.

ON MONDAY, WE HEAR FROM PARENTS ABOUT COVID SAFETY CONCERNS AND MORE.

AND UNTOLD STORIES OF OF FREDA KAHLO.

>> THERE IS A FUTURE HERE WHERE OUR ECONOMY WILL GROW IF WE GIVE AND INVEST AND SUPPORT LATINO ENTREPRENEURS.

>> AND - - GIVES LA ULTIMA PALABARA.

ALERTS BY GUNSHOT DETECTION TECHNOLOGY USED BY THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT RARELY LEADS TO EVIDENCE OF A GUN CRIME ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT FROM THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICE.

THE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR TECHNOLOGY SHOTSPOTTER USES MICROPHONES AND SENSORS TO IDENTIFY THE SOUNDS OF GUNSHOTS AND ALERT LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BETWEEN 2020-2021, FEWER THAN ONE IN 10 ALERTS RESULTED IN EVIDENCE OF A CRIMINAL OFFENSE BEING FOUND.

HERE'S WHAT SOME OF THE OIG'S OFFICE TOLD CHICAGO TONIGHT LAST WEEK.

>> IT'S NOT A QUESTION AT ALL OF TECHNOLOGICAL ACCURACY.

WE ARE ASSESSING OPERATIONAL VALUE.

THAT IS THE QUESTION OF HOW HELPFUL THIS TECHNOLOGY IS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN COMBATING VIOLENT CRIME.

EVEN IF IT IS AFTER IT ALL THE TIME.

WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT WE COULD TELL ABOUT HOW OFTEN SHOTSPOTTER ALERTS LEAD THE POLICE TO UNCOVER EVIDENCE OF A GUN CRIME.

WHAT WE FOUND IS VERY RARELY DOES SHOTSPOTTER DO THAT.

ONLY RARELY WHEN RESPONDING TO A SHOTSPOTTER ALERT ARE POLICE ABLE TO UNCOVER EVIDENCE OF A GUN CRIME.

>> JOINING US IS FREDDY MARTINEZ - - [INDISCERNIBLE].

BEFORE WE BEGIN, WE DID SEND A REQUEST TO SHOTSPOTTER AND THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO JOIN US IN THIS CONVERSATION BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE.

- - ALSO RELEASED A REPORT ABOUT SHOTSPOTTER IN MAY BUT YOUR REPORT FOCUSED ON ACCURACY IN DETECTING THE SOUND OF GUNSHOTS.

CAN YOU GIVE US A QUICK SUMMARY OF WHAT YOUR FINDINGS WERE AND HOW THEY ALIGN WITH THE OIG'S REPORT?

>> RIGHT, AND THANK YOU.

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT FOUND THAT THE RATE AT WHICH POLICE OFFICERS ARE RESPONDING TO SUPPOSEDLY ALERTS AND GUN CRIMES WAS EVEN WORSE THAN THE ANALYSIS THEN HAVE BEEN DONE BY THE JUSTICE CENTER.

WHAT IT DOES IS OVERWHELMINGLY, THE POLICE ARE BEING SENT TO THESE KIND OF HIGH RISK SITUATIONS THINKING SOMEONE HAS A GUN ON THE SCENE.

THEY SHOW UPAND THERE'S NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO.

WHEN I SAY NOTHING, I MEAN ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

THERE'S NO SHOWCASES TO RECOVER .

- - SHELL CASES.

THESE ARE HIGH RISK SITUATIONS AND THIS IS WHY PEOPLE ARE SORT OF BEGINNING TO QUESTION THE VALIDITY OF THIS TECHNOLOGY.

>> CHICAGO POLICE AND THE MAYOR HAVE BOTH CALLED SHOTSPOTTER CRUCIAL TO POLICE WORK AND FIGHTING VIOLENCE.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT CHARACTERIZATION?

>> SURE.

THE CITY SAYS WHEN SHOTSPOTTER WORKS THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO, IT'S A GAME CHANGER.

WE DON'T PAY OUR RENT OFF OF THE FACT THAT WE FOUND $200 ON THE GROUND THIS WEEK.

WHAT WE NEED IS EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE BASED RESEARCH INTO HOW THIS TECHNOLOGY DOES AND DOESN'T FUNCTION.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE IG REPORT SPEAKS TO.

IT JUST DOESN'T WORK.

WHILE WE HEAR NARRATIVES OF WHEN IT WORKS THE WAY IT SHOULD, IT'S CRITICAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

THAT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE FACT THAT LIGHT, PEER-REVIEWED EMPIRICAL STUDIES DON'T REALLY TACKLE THAT ISSUE, RIGHT?

TO THE MAYOR AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I WOULD SAY, WHERE IS THAT RESEARCH?

FROM WHAT WE FOUND SO FAR, IT DOESN'T WORK.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO DESCRIBE IT TO THE PUBLIC.

>> THE CITY RECENTLY EXTENDED THEIR CONTRACT WITH SHOTSPOTTER THROUGH 2023, WHICH SPARKED PROTESTS FROM ACTIVISTS.

DO YOU THINK THE CITY SHOULD BE ASKING SHOTSPOTTER FOR MORE CLARITY AND DATA ON HOW THE TECHNOLOGY AND ALGORITHMS WORK?

>> A COUPLE THINGS.

THERE WERE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WERE ASKING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT TO UNDERSTAND IF THEY PLAN TO RENEW THE CONTRACT.

THEY WERE MET WITH SILENCE.

SO THE CONTRACT WAS RENEWED IN SECRET.

I WILL ALSO SAY THERE IS A PROVISION IN THE CONTRACT THAT THE CITY CAN CANCEL IT AT ANY TIME.

AND THEY PROBABLY SHOULD.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT WHAT THIS INDEPENDENT IG REPORT FOUND IS THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY FUNDAMENTALLY DOESN'T WORK IN THE CITY SHOULD EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT.

>> SETTING ASIDE THE QUESTION OF ACCURACY, DO YOU THINK ANY SURVEILLANCE TECH COULD BE USEFUL IN FIGHTING CRIME IN COMMUNITIES LIKE LITTLE VILLAGE?

>> I GREW UP IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS PEOPLE HAVE IN THAT COMMUNITY.

I HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME CONCERNS.

HOWEVER, OVERWHELMINGLY, WHEN THE IG REPORT FOUND IS THAT THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CHANGING ITS BEHAVIOR BASED ON THIS IDEA OF SHOTSPOTTER ALERTS.

WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS USING THE FACT THAT THERE WERE ALERTS IN THE PAST AND USING THAT AS JUSTIFICATION FOR ENGAGING IN UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND OTHERWISE ILLEGAL STOPS.

THEY WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE X NUMBER OF SHOTSPOTTER ALERTS IN THE PAST WEEK.

SO WHEN I AM WALKING DOWN 26 STREET, THAT GIVES THEM JUSTIFICATION TO STOP ME, SEARCH ME AND POTENTIALLY ARREST ME IN AN OTHERWISE ILLEGAL CONTEXT.

IS THERE A ROLE FOR THIS TECHNOLOGY?

I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD REALLY BE ASKING IS, WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE TECHNOLOGY AS IT EXISTS TODAY AND AS IT'S BEING USED TO JUSTIFY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND OTHERWISE ILLEGAL STOPS.

I WILL ALSO SAY THIS IS WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INVESTIGATED SEVEN YEARS AGO.

A PATTERN OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL BEHAVIOR BY THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I WOULD SAY THAT'S HOW IT EXISTS TODAY SO WE SHOULD LEAVE IT AT THAT.>> WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT, FREDDIE, HOW DO YOU THINK THE USE OF SHOTSPOTTER AFFECTS POLICE BEHAVIOR ONCE THEY ARRIVE ON THE SCENE?

>> I THINK IT UNJUSTIFIABLY MAKES THEM PARANOID.

IT MAKES THEM FUELED WITH ADRENALINE.

I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING A POLICE OFFICER AND BEING SENT TO 60-70 FALSE ALERTS A DAY AND THINK THERE'S ANY VALIDITY TO THIS.

>> UP NEXT, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS HEAD BACK TO CLASSROOMS.

WE HEAR FROM SOME PARENTS ON IN PERSON LEARNING.

[MUSIC] ♪♪♪♪ >> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS RETURN FOR IN PERSON CLASSES ON MONDAY.

WHAT EXACTLY WILL THAT RETURN LOOK LIKE IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC?

JOINING ME TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AS PARENTS, MICHELLE BAUTISTA WHO HAS TWO CHILDREN.

A FIRST AND FIFTH GRADER.

ANA SANTOYO AND NOLBERTO CASAS WHO HAS A CHILD GOING INTO FIRST GRADE.

ANNA, WE WILL START WITH YOU AND WELCOME TO LATINO VOICES.

YOU HAVE A FOUR-YEAR-OLD THAT WILL BE LEARNING IN PERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME.

DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS REGARDING THIS NEW SCHOOL YEAR FOR HER?

>> YEAH, WE WILL SEE, RIGHT?

THERE ARE PARENTS RIGHT NOW ORGANIZING FOR A REMOTE OPTION AND REALLY DEMANDING THAT.

WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR OUR CHILDREN TO GET SICK BEFORE THAT IS OFFERED.

THE VIRTUAL ACADEMY WE KNOW ABOUT HAS SPACE FOR MORE STUDENTS TO BE ADDED TO THAT.

QUITE FRANKLY, WE SEE MITIGATION BEING PULLED BACK RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

AS A PARENT, IT DOES NOT MAKE ME FEEL ANY BETTER ABOUT THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

SEEING OUR MAYOR NOT PRIORITIZE PUBLIC HEALTH IN THIS TIME IS VERY CONCERNING.

>> NOLBERTO, YOU HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR THE CONTINUATION OF IN PERSON LEARNING FOR YOUR FIRST GRADER SINCE LAST YEAR.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT FOR YOU?

>> IT'S NOT ONLY IMPORTANT TO ME, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MY FAMILY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MY COMMUNITY AS WELL.

THE REASON IT'S SO IMPORTANT IS WHEN MY CHILD WAS IN KINDERGARTEN AND HE WAS DOING FULLY REMOTE, HE WAS FAILING.

MY CHILD IS SPECIAL-NEEDS AND HE WAS FAILING KINDERGARTEN.

I WOULD COME HOME SOMETIMES AND MY WIFE WOULD BE CRYING BECAUSE SHE HAD REACHED HER WITS END.

TO SEE YOUR CHILD, THE LOOK IN HIS EYES LIKE HE'S - - IT TRIGGERS SOMETHING IN YOU TO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TO KNOW THAT HE DESERVES A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN A COMPUTER SCREEN WHEN HE CAN EVEN WRITE HIS FULL NAME.

THAT'S WHY PARENTS LIKE MYSELF ORGANIZED AS WE PUT PRESSURE ON THE SYSTEM BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE SPECIAL-NEEDS IN GRADE SCHOOL, OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEY HAVE TO BE IN PERSON.

LET ME TELL YOU, WE WERE FIRST IN LINE.

>> MICHELLE, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE START OF THIS NEW SCHOOL YEAR FOR YOUR FIRST AND FIFTH GRADERS?

ANY CONCERNS THERE?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IN PERSON INSTRUCTION IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK PARENTS FEEL ANGUISH ABOUT THE RISING NUMBERS.

THE LACK OF VACCINATION FOR THE LATINO ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S ABOUT 46 PERCENT RIGHT NOW.

AND THE LACK OF MITIGATION STRATEGIES.

NOT JUST MASKING AND WASHING HANDS, WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND WHEN WILL WE PULL BACK?

I HAVE A FIRST GRADER AND I WANT HIM IN SCHOOL AS WELL, BUT NOT AT THE COST OF HIS HEALTH.

HAVING TO CHOOSE THAT IS NOT SOMETHING I WOULD PERSONALLY DO.

THE LACK OF FLEXIBILITY IN THE DISTRICT IS WHAT'S CONCERNING ME AND THE PRESSURE AS A PARENT AND THE EMOTIONAL STRAIN IS REAL.

>> A GROUP OF PARENTS GATHERED THIS MORNING CALLING ON CPS TO KEEP THEIR PROMISE OF WEEKLY COVID TESTING FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF.

LET'S TAKE A QUICK LISTEN.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TESTS HAPPEN EVERY WEEK TO MAKE SURE WE CAN KEEP ACCOUNT.

KEEP OUR FAMILIES SAFE.

>> ANNA, DO YOU HAVE SIMILAR CONCERNS REGARDING TESTING FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF?

>> I'M SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT?

>> DO YOU HAVE A SIMILAR ISSUE OR CONCERNS ABOUT TESTING IN CPS FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SEEN - - YESTERDAY I WENT TO MEET THE TEACHER AND ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW THAT WOULD WORK.

TEACHERS ARE STILL LEFTIN THE DARK ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MY CHILD WILL BE TESTED FOR THAT.

OF COURSE, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE MANDATED RIGHT NOW.

IS ONLY SEEN AS A SUGGESTION , RIGHT?

YES THEY WILL PROVIDE THAT.

THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT I'VE SEEN - - FIGHT FOR TO HAVE THAT AND TO HAVE THAT MANDATE.

IT'S ACTUALLY NOT ENOUGH WHEN YOU DO SEE EVEN IN COMMUNITIES - - I'M SORRY, FOR AGE GROUPS THAT DO HAVE THE OPTION TO BE VACCINATED.

ANYBODY OVER 12 YEARS OLD.

FOR BLACK STUDENTS IN CHICAGO, THAT IS 12 PERCENT .

THOSE MANDATES AREN'T ENOUGH EVEN.

TESTING I THINK SHOULD ALSO BE MANDATED FOR THE SAFETY ALONG WITH CONTACT TRACING AND OTHER MITIGATIONS NEED TO BE MANDATES AND NOT SUGGESTIONS.

>> MICHELLE, ARE THERE ANY CHALLENGES YOU ARE ANTICIPATING FOR THIS NEW SCHOOL YEAR?

>> I'M ANTICIPATING MY CHILDREN WILL GET SICK.

I'M ANTICIPATING THEY WILL BE OUT OF SCHOOL.

I'M ANTICIPATING I WILL NEED TO BE OUT OF WORK TO CARE FOR THEM.

I'M ANTICIPATING I MAY GET SICK.

I'M ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS OUT FROM MY LAST SHOT SO I MAY NEED A BOOSTER.

WE HAVE RISING NUMBERS, A LACK OF ICU BEDS IN THE CITY.

IT IS NOT OKAY.

I AS WELL YESTERDAY WENT TO OPEN HOUSE AND SOMEBODY ASKED A GREAT QUESTION.

ARE WE QUARANTINING IF WE TRAVEL.

THERE WAS HESITATION AND NOT KNOWING.

NOT THAT TEACHERS AREN'T WORKING HARD BUT THESE GUIDELINES JUST CAME OUT TUESDAY.

SO EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO CATCH UP TO THE LAST NEW PLANNING.

>> NOLBERTO, HOW ABOUT YOU?

WHAT CHALLENGES ARE YOU ANTICIPATING FOR THIS NEW SCHOOL YEAR?

>> THE CHALLENGES WILL BE MANY.

MY CHILD IS GOING TO FIRST GRADE.

MY DAUGHTER, SHE IS FOUR YEARS OLD AND ANNA CAN RELATE TO THIS.

GETTING READY FOR PRE-K IS ITS OWN SPECIAL TASK.

I HAVE TWO CHILDREN WHO ARE ELEMENTARY AGED.

THE CHALLENGES WILL BE MANY BUT IT'S ALL WORTH IT.

I READ QUITE A FEW BOOKS THAT WERE ABOUT PAST PANDEMICS.

IF YOU READ THE PAST YOU KNOW HOW TO READILY PREDICT THE FUTURE.

IT'S BEEN A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT PAST PANDEMICS.

WHAT'S HAPPENED AND HOW LONG THEY'VE RUN THEIR COURSE.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

THERE IS A RISK MY CHILDREN MAY GET SICK, AND THAT I MAY GET SICK.

BUT THERE'S A RISK IN EVERYTHING IN LIFE.

>> WITH CASES OF COVID-19 RISING, IF CPS WERE TO TRANSITION TO REMOTE LEARNING, WHAT CAN CPS DO DIFFERENTLY TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS?

>> THEY'VE HAD A YEAR AND AND A HALF OF THE PANDEMIC TO FIGURE THAT OUT AND THEY ARE NOT EVEN PREPARED FOR THAT.

I FEEL FOR PARENTS LISTENING SAYING WE ANTICIPATE GETTING SICK.

MY CHILD HAD COVID AND THE ANXIETY IS DAUNTING.

PARENTS AND CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER.

>> OUR THANKS TO MICHELLE BAUTISTA, ANA SANTOYO AND NOLBERTO CASAS.

UP NEXT, A TOUR OF THE NEW EXHIBIT EXAMINING 20 OF THREE DUCK HOLLOWS EXHIBIT - - FREDA KAHLO'S EXHIBIT.

STAY WITH US.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE LATE 70S, A PORTION OF FREDA KAHLO'S WORK IS IN THE AREA IN A NEW EXHIBIT.

- - GAVE US A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW FREDA KAHLO'S WORK INFLUENCED HER LIFE.

HERE'S ANOTHER LOOK.

[MUSIC] >> WHILE SHE IS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL EXIGENT PAINTERS OF OUR TIME, A NEW EXHIBIT HONORING THE LATE ARTIST HELPS TO TELL STORIES NOT COMMON LINK SHARED OF FREDA KAHLO.

>> THE IDEA WAS TO GIVE PEOPLE CONTEXT TO HER LIFE, WHO SHE WAS, WHO SHE INFLUENCED.

NOT ONLY ABOUT HER BUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THAT PERIOD.

>> A BREAKDOWN OF WHO SHE WAS BEFORE SHE BECAME AN ARTIST LEADING UP TO A MOMENT THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY DEFINE HER WORK FOREVER.

A SEVERE BUS ACCIDENT WOULD REQUIRE HER TO HAVE MORE THAN 40 SURGERIES AND REQUIRE HER TO WEAR CORSETS HER ENTIRE LIFE.

SHE FOUND INGENUITY WITHIN HER DEVELOPING CRAFT.

THIS IS A RE-CREATION OF THE BED THAT FREDA KAHLO PAINTED HER EARLY SELF-PORTRAITS IN ALL WITH THE HELP OF A MIRROR.

>> THINK ABOUT THIS 18-YEAR-OLD GIRL THAT'S CONFINED, VIBRANT AND DEPRESSED.

THEY CREATED AN EASEL SHE COULD USE WHILE LYING IN BED.

THEY PUT A MIRROR OVER THE CANOPY SO THAT SHE COULD SEE HERSELF.

SHE STARTED PAINTING SELF-PORTRAITS.

SHE SAID I OFTEN PAINTING SELF-PORTRAITS BECAUSE I AM SO OFTEN ALONE.

>> ONCE VISITORS HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW THE WOMAN BEHIND THE ARTIST, THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE THAT KNOWLEDGE TO BETTER INTERPRET 26 OF HER ORIGINAL WORKS BORROWED FROM THE - - COLLECTION.

>> EVERYBODY CAN RECOGNIZE THE EYEBROWS, THE CLOTHES.

BUT THOSE ARE SUPERFICIAL, EXTERIOR REPRESENTATIONS OF WHO SHE WAS.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THESE ACTUAL WORKS IN PERSON IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET AS CLOSE TO HEARING FREDA KAHLO TELL HER OWN STORY.

SHE SPOKE FREELY ABOUT THE CHALLENGES IN HER LIFE.

THAT HAS AN HONESTY AND INTENSITY COUPLED WITH THE IMAGES THEMSELVES, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEIR SUPERCHARGED.

>> THE FIGURES IN HER WORK ARE SO RECOGNIZABLE.

MANY ARGUE THAT HER WORK WAS BASED IN SURREALISM.

AN IDEA SHE REJECTED.

- - DESCRIBED HER STYLE AS SYMBOLIC REALISM, MOST NOTABLY SEEN IN HER BROKEN COLUMN SELF-PORTRAIT.

>> YOU HAVE HER EXPOSED AND THE CENTER OF HER CHEST OPEN UP AND YOU SEE HER SPINE, A COLUMN THAT HAS BEEN SHATTERED AND CRACKED AND IS BARELYHOLDING ON.

KIND OF HELD TOGETHER BY THIS MEDICAL COURSE THAT .

ON TOP OF THAT CRUMBLING, FRAGILE COLUMN, YOU HAVE HER HEAD STARING OUT AT THE VIEWER.

HER LUKE IS IN NO WAY RESIGNED TO THE PAIN AND ITS UNAPOLOGETIC.

SHE DID NOT RUN AWAY FROM THESE REALITIES IN HER LIFE.

SHE DID NOT TRY TO DIMINISH HERSELF BECAUSE OF THEM.

SHE WAS INCREDIBLY STRONG, POWERFUL WOMAN AND ARTIST WHO SPOKE TRUTHFULLY THROUGH HER WORK.

EVEN WHEN THAT TRUTH WAS PAINFUL.

>> FOR CHICAGOTONIGHT, I AM .

[INDISCERNIBLE] >> YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE EXHIBIT, FREDA KAHLO, TIMELESS AT THE MUSEUM OF ART LOCATED IN THE MAC ART CENTER IN GLENALLEN.

WHEN IT COMES TO STARTING SMALL BUSINESSES, LATINOS LEAD THE WAY.

A RECENT STUDY FROM THE - - INITIATIVE SAYS LATINOS ARE STARTING SMALL BUSINESSES AT A FASTER RATE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, GROWING 34 PERCENT OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS.

BUT LATINO ENTREPRENEURS OFTEN STILL FIND THEMSELVES SHUT OUT OF THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES THEY NEED TO GET GOING.

- - GIVES US LA ULTIMA PALABRA, AND WHAT HE SAYS SUPPORTING LATINO ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAN BOOST AMERICA'S BUSINESS.

>> THIS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS RECENTLY REINVIGORATED ITSELF WITH A FOCUS ON BUILDING CONFIDENT, CULTURALLY RELEVANT LEADERS WITHIN OUR CITY OF CHICAGO.

BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WELL.

IT'S REALLY A PLACE FOR OUR STUDENTS TO COME AND BUILD COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

WE LEARNED EARLY ON IN LISTENING TO OUR STUDENTS, THAT THEY WANTED A PLACE TO BE HEARD, TO CONNECT, TO SORT OF BE INSPIRED.

I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS A NEED FOR SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS THAT MAY STRUGGLE SOMETIMES FEELING A SENSE OF BIAS OR DISCRIMINATION.

OUR LATINO STUDENTS AND LEADERS ARE SAYING YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'M DONE WITH THAT.

I'M GOING TO START MY OWN BUSINESS.

WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN THE MINDS AND ENERGY OF OUR LATINO ENTREPRENEURS, THE FABRIC OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO GIVE ITS COMMUNITY IDENTITY.

WE WANT TO SEE OUR SMALL BUSINESSES DO WELL BECAUSE WE KNOW WHO OWNS THAT RECORD STORE, THAT BARBERSHOP OR THE BODEGA.

- - FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY SAYS IF WE INVEST IN LATINO OWNED BUSINESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, 400,000 MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IF WE CAN GROW THAT, WE CAN SEE AN INCREASE IN OVER 5.3 BILLION NEW JOBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND $1.5 TRILLION BACK INTO THE U.S. ECONOMY.

THIS IS AN AMERICAN THING.

THIS IS FOR ALL OF US.

MY CALL TO ACTION FOR EVERYONE LISTENING AND WATCHING IS INVEST IN OUR SMALL BUSINESSES , INVEST IN OUR LATINO COMMUNITY.

- - WE NEED ORGANIZATIONS TO SAY, WE KNOW THOSE THINGS EXIST AND WE WANT TO COMBAT THAT BECAUSE WE WANT OUR LATINO ENTREPRENEURS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER.

LET'S LOOK AT HOW ELSE WE CAN GROW OUR LATINO SMALL BUSINESSES IN CHICAGO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> YOU CAN WATCH MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT.

JOINED BRANDON FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES.

AS THE SUPREME COURT ENDS THE LATEST EXTENSION OF THE EVICTION MORATORIUM, WHAT ACTION CAN TENANTS TAKE?

AND A NEW PROGRAM THAT BRINGS TOGETHER POLICE OFFICERS, FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND KIDS TO PLAY SPORTS.

YOU CAN CATCH MY REPORTING ON 91.5 FM.

I WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK IN THE HOST CHAIR AGAIN.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, I AM MICHAEL FUENTE.

STAY SAFE.

BUENAS NOCHES.

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