>>> A GOOD EVENING.

I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, THE HOLIDAYS CAN BE A DIFFICULT TIME FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO STAY SOBER.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT OVERCOMING THOSE STIGMAS WITHIN LATINO COMMUNITIES.

WE TALK ALSO TO A DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR.

THE OPEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS KICKS OFF A LINE OF TRADITIONAL MEXICAN HOLIDAY EVENTS NEXT WEEK.

A CALL FOR LATINO AND SPANISH-SPEAKING VOLUNTEERS TO HELP LOCAL KIDS LEARN ABOUT BIRDWATCHING.

>>> ART IS RESPONDING TO LIFE.

>> A MIRROR LIST ON HOW PUBLIC ART MAKES ITS HOME IN CHICAGO.

ALL OF THAT COMING UP.

>>> ARE FIRST-RATE TONIGHT, HOW TO SUPPORT LOVED ONES PRACTICING SOBRIETY DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

THAT IS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY -- >>> THE HOLIDAYS CAN BE A STRESSFUL TIME FOR A LOT OF FOLKS.

FOR PEOPLE IN RECOVERY FOR ADDICTION WHO ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN SOBRIETY, THE ADDED STRESSORS OF THE HOLIDAYS CAN PUT THEM ON THE BRINK OF RELAPSE.

A SURVEY SUGGESTS OVER 7% OF HISPANIC AMERICANS HAVE A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.

THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE RATE FOR THE ENTIRE POPULATION.

HOWEVER, STUDIES ALSO SHOW THAT HISPANIC ADULTS WHO DO DRINK 10 TO DRINK MORE HEAVILY.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS.

THERAPIST AT METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES.

AND EMILY DELGADO, MANAGER OF THE TREATMENT PROGRAM AT THE HEALTH CENTER.

I WANT TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM PATIENTS WHO ARE IN RECOVERY DURING THE HOLIDAYS?

>> HI, ALEX, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO, IT IS VERY STRESSFUL FOR THE CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE, ESPECIALLY THE LATINO AND LATINX COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF THINGS COME UP.

HAVING THESE HOLIDAYS COME UP THAT ARE TRADITIONALLY CENTERED AROUND FAMILIES CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM.

>> WHAT ARE SOME TRIGGERS, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN RECOVERY OR TRYING TO MAINTAIN SOBRIETY MIGHT HAVE?

>> EVEN IF THEY DO HAVE FAMILY THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THEM, OFTEN TIMES FESTIVITIES INCLUDE ALCOHOL.

ALCOHOL USE DISORDER, BEING AROUND THAT CAN BE VERY TRIGGERING TO PEOPLE.

AND A LOT OF TIMES OUR CLIENTS ARE NOT ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THEIR NEEDS TO THEIR FAMILIES BECAUSE IT IS SO WIDELY ACCEPTED.

AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS SEEN AS DANGEROUS.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK MIGHT BE RECOVERY FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE?

>> IT WILL VARY DEPENDING ON WHY THEY ARE IN RECOVERY, I THINK.

YOU TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN RECOVERY AND I HAVE BEEN IN RECOVERY.

YOU HAVE HOLIDAY PARTIES WITH PEOPLE CELEBRATING AND DRINKING.

STRESSFUL FAMILY DYNAMICS.

ASK, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO LATELY?

THE HOLIDAYS MAKE IT DIFFICULT.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE MIGHT LET THEIR GUARDS DOWN.

MEANING THEY ARE NOT EXERCISING AS MUCH, NOT GOING TO MEETINGS.

SO, THE STATS WILL SHOW THIS, THERE IS A 70% INCREASE IN ALCOHOL SALES AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS AN COINCIDENCE.

THE STRESS AND ANXIETY GOES UP AND IT HURTS.

>> WHAT IMPACT DO YOU THINK FOR CULTURAL AND FAMILY TRADITIONS IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY MIGHT HAVE FOR SOMEONE IN RECOVERY?

>> ALEX, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR HAVING ME.

I DO FEEL LIKE THE LACK OF EDUCATION FROM FAMILY MEMBERS IS A BIG ISSUE.

THE REASON I SAY ISSUE IS BECAUSE IF SOMEONE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT A PERSON IN RECOVERY IS GOING THROUGH, IT REALLY PUTS PRESSURE ON THE INDIVIDUAL, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME OF HOLIDAY.

IMAGINE FOR EXAMPLE GOING TO A PARTY AND SOMEONE IS PUSHING YOU TO HAVE ONE DRINK.

JUST HAVE ONE DRINK, IT IS A CELEBRATION.

FOR SOMEONE IN RECOVERY THAT IS DETRIMENTAL.

I WANT TO SAY, SOMEONE IN RECOVERY, IT IS LIKE A BAG OF CHIPS.

YOU CAN'T JUST OPEN A BAG OF CHIPS AND HAVE ONE.

PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS ACCEPT EDUCATION, OFFER EDUCATION, AND MAKE SURE THAT THE FAMILY IS AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON AND PARTICIPATE IN RECOVERY.

I AM SURE THAT WE COULD ALL WORK TOWARD THAT.

>> RIGHT AND I THINK IT IS A GREAT WAY.

EVELYN, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STIGMAS THERE ARE, DEFINITELY END WHAT ABOUT THE STIGMAS ON ADDICTION AND GETTING TREATMENT?

HOW MIGHT THAT AFFECT SOMEONE IN RECOVERY WITHIN THE LATINO COMMUNITY?

>> STIGMA IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES, I THINK, IN GENERAL.

ESPECIALLY WITH THINGS LIKE ALCOHOL USE DISORDER.

BECAUSE OF WHAT IS GOING TO BE EXPECTED DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

THE THOUGHT THAT IT IS A MORAL ISSUE, A LACK OF WILLPOWER.

THERE IS A SEGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IS LIKE, JUST STOP IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH WILLPOWER.

IT IS NOT UNDERSTOOD THAT IT IS A DISEASE.

SOMETHING THAT CAN BE TREATED THAT NEEDS MEDICATION, THERAPY, EXERCISE.

WE WILL SEE MULTIPLE LEVELS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND IF ONE DOES NOT STOP OR ABSTAIN FROM ALCOHOL, IT IS LOOKED AT KIND OF AS A MORAL FAILING ON THEIR PART.

AND IT IS ALSO SEEN, ALONG WITH MENTAL HEALTH, IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS DISCUSSED AND SOMETHING THAT IS TALKED ABOUT.

WHEN SOMEBODY IS STRUGGLING WITH THESE ISSUES, OFTENTIMES THEY DON'T SEEK TREATMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OR CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEIR FAMILY MIGHT SAY OR THEIR LOVED ONES.

>> SPEAKING ABOUT THE FAMILY, HOW MIGHT WE HELP FAMILY MEMBERS UNLEARN THOSE STIGMAS?

>> I THINK IT IS GOING TO TAKE A FAMILY EFFORT.

LIKE EVELYN SAID, GETTING TREATMENT AND GETTING HELP, LIKE OMAR SAID, EDUCATION IS HUGE.

YOU CAN'T GO ALONE.

IT IS A LOT MORE DIFFICULT TO TRY TO DO IT ALONE.

WHETHER GOING TO MEETINGS, CALLING A SPONSOR, LIKE I SAID EARLIER.

SEEK OUT TREATMENT.

DON'T BE EMBARRASSED.

YOU LOOK BACK AND IT IS AN EMBARRASSING THING.

LET'S DO IT RIGHT.

GET THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY.

INDIVIDUALLY, STAY MINDFUL.

I DON'T MEAN MATHEMATICALLY -- I MEAN LIKE KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO A PARTY WHERE THERE MIGHT BE TRIGGERS AND PEOPLE YOU USED TO DRINK WITH, LEAVE EARLIER BEFORE THEY GET THERE.

SET SOME BOUNDARIES FOR YOURSELF.

SEEK OUT TREATMENT AND JUST DON'T GO IT ALONE.

>> DEFINITELY.

OMAR, DO YOU HEAR FROM PATIENTS THAT MAY BE SOME FAMILY MEMBERS COULD BE RESISTANT TO CHANGING OR ADJUSTING THEIR TRADITIONS TO ACCOMMODATE SOMEONE IN RECOVERY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ESPECIALLY CULTURALLY.

YOU KNOW, IN THE LATINX CULTURE IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT A FAMILY MEMBER WHEN THEY HAVE A SUBSTANCE USE PROBLEM.

THEREFORE, EDUCATION IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WHEN THE ACCEPTANCE IS NOT THERE, THE SUPPORT IS NOT THERE.

IF THE SUPPORT IS NOT THERE, THEN FAILURE IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

COMMUNICATION IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND THE HELP IS THERE.

HELP IS AVAILABLE.

THE ONLY THING IS THAT BOTH THE PERSON IN RECOVERY AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS DO NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND WORK CONSISTENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY RECEIVE THAT EDUCATION.

>> SPEAKING OF HELP, SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF, BUT WHAT IS SOME OF THE HELP THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE IN SPANISH FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN RECOVERY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE ARE 12 STEP HELP GROUPS IN BOTH SPANISH AND ENGLISH.

IF THE PERSON IN RECOVERY IS ATTENDING AN ORGANIZATION, SUCH AS THE ONES WE BELONG TO, WE DO OFFER FAMILY SUPPORT IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH.

THERE IS AL-ANON IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH.

SO, SUPPORT IS THERE AND WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO REACH OUT.

>> DEFINITELY.

AND WE HAVE LESS THAN 20 SECONDS, BUT I WANT TO ASK A QUICK, HOW CAN PEOPLE IN RECOVERY TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES IN THIS TIME?

>> YOU KNOW LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU MIGHT NOT BE WORKING OUT AS MUCH OR SPEAKING TO A SPONSOR AS MUCH.

JUST BE AWARE OF PROBLEMS YOU HAD IN THE PAST, PROBLEMS YOU ARE TRYING TO NOT GO FORWARD WITH.

AND JUST HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND TRY TO DO THE BEST YOU CAN.

GET SUPPORT IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE.

>> WELL, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, ALEX.

STACK UP NEXT, A LOCAL DIGITAL CREATOR WHO IS MAKING WAVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

>>> THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM TIKTOK IS A SPACE WHERE YOU CAN FIND ALL SORTS OF CONTENT AND FOR SOME SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS A VIRAL VIDEO OFTEN LEADS TO A BIG PLATFORM.

EARLIER THIS WEEK WE CAUGHT UP WITH A DIGITAL CREATOR WHO HAS BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF BY REVIEWING FOOD.

WE MET HIM AT HANGRY, A RESTAURANT THAT BECAME MORE THAN JUST A SPOT TO EAT.

>> Reporter: WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO COME IN AND START DOING VIDEOS?

>> I ALWAYS HAD AN IDEA.

GOING IN DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS AND TRYING OUT DIFFERENT CULTURES FOOD.

I ALREADY HAD AROUND 100,000 FOLLOWERS AT THE TIME.

I WAS DRIVING AND WE HAPPEN TO STOP AT HANGRY.

FOR SOME REASON, SITTING IN THE BAR FOR A SECOND GATHERING MYSELF AND MY GIRLFRIEND, LIKE WHY DON'T YOU RECORD THE VIDEO HERE WITH A FOOD REVIEW?

SO WE DID, WE CAME IN, LOOKED AT WHAT WE LIKED ON THE MENU AND I GOT A CHILI CHEESE STEAK, CHEESE FRIES, AND WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND.

I GUESS THAT IS SOMETHING EVERYBODY LIKES AND THE NEXT DAY I WAKE UP AND I HAD OVER 100,000 VIEWS.

>> Reporter: YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE.

>> GOING ON THREE YEARS.

>> Reporter: THREE YEARS.

GOING BACK ON THAT FIRST VIDEO YOU DID, HOW HAS THAT AFFECTED YOU, GOING BACK AND THINKING ON IT?

>> IT IS DOING SOMETHING AND NOT KNOWING WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD BE.

BECAUSE I WAS JUST DOING IT FOR FUN AND NOW IT IS MY CAREER.

>> Reporter: HE JOINS US NOW.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, CHRIS.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU, YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE?

>> PRIOR TO TIKTOK AND EVERYTHING HAPPENING NOW, IT STILL HAS TO DO WITH FOOD.

I WAS DOING DOORDASH, DELIVERING.

I WOULD DRIVE ALL DAY SMILING ALL OF THIS DELICIOUS FOOD AND NOT BEING ABLE TO EAT IT, BUT DELIVERING IT TO THE PEOPLE.

SOME OF THOSE SPOTS I ENDED UP GOING BACK TO REVIEW FROM DOORDASH.

>> Reporter: SO WHEN YOU STARTED DOING DOORDASH YOU THOUGHT, MAYBE I CAN MAKE SOME CONTENT?

>> NO, LATER ON.

DOORDASH, I THOUGHT BACK TO DOORDASH WHEN I STARTED DOING THE FOOD REVIEWS AND THOUGHT OF SPOTS THAT WOULD CATCH MY EYE OR CATCH MY NOSE WHEN I WAS DELIVERING.

>> Reporter: YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE HERE NOW.

>> I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT, NOW.

>> Reporter: ALMOST 1 MILLION FOLLOWERS.

>> AND STRONG.

>> Reporter: IT SEEMS LIKE MOST OF THE RESTAURANTS ARE SMALL BUSINESSES, IS THERE A REASON BEHIND THAT?

>> WHEN I GO ON INSTAGRAMMER TIKTOK, BEFORE ME DOING THE VIDEOS I WOULD SEE OTHER VIDEOS OF PEOPLE DOING FOOD REVIEWS.

WHAT I NOTICED IS THEY WOULD GO TO DOWNTOWN OR MORE APPROPRIATE RESTAURANTS.

THE RESTAURANTS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY NEED THE PUBLICITY.

I THOUGHT THERE ARE A LOT OF MOM AND POP RESTAURANTS ACROSS CHICAGO, NOT JUST ONE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I THOUGHT THEY ARE THE ONES THAT DESERVE IT.

SO ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF MOM-AND-POP SHOPS ACROSS THE CITY.

>> Reporter: JUST LOOKING AND TRYING TO FIND THESE SMALL MOM-AND-POP SHOPS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, TO PROVIDE THE PLATFORM.

THEY REALLY WORK ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT.

ON THEIR RECIPES AND MARKETING.

SOME OF THEM DON'T EVEN MARKET THE RESTAURANT, SO I COME IN AND HELP THEM ON THAT.

>> Reporter: WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD SAY THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT GOING TO THE RESTAURANTS AND TALKING TO THE OWNERS?

>> EVERY RESTAURANT HAS ITS OWN STORY.

SOME OF THEM CAME FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTRY.

SOME OF THEM GREW UP HERE THERE WHOLE LIVES.

IT IS JUST DIFFERENT STORIES AND SOME OF THE SUCCESS STORIES THAT THE RESTAURANTS HAVE.

>> Reporter: I WANT TO PLAY A CLIP FROM ONE OF THE OWNERS AND I WANT YOU TO HEAR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT WHEN HE FIRST SAW THE VIRAL VIDEO YOU MADE OF HIS RESTAURANT.

>> WHEN HE CAME OUT, IT STARTED BOOMING.

WE STARTED RUNNING OUT OF FILLINGS.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF DAYS WHERE WE HAD TO CLOSE EARLY, BECAUSE WE WERE DOING SO GOOD.

EVERYBODY KEPT ORDERING THE SAME THING.

THEY WOULD ORDER THE HORCHATA /E OR THE CHILI CHEESE FRIES.

SO WE KNEW THAT WAS HAPPENING.

FAMILY MEMBERS WOULD SEND IT TO US.

>> Reporter: I HAVE TO SAY THAT THAT HORCHATA WAS SO GOOD.

I AM STILL THINKING ABOUT IT.

DOES IT SURPRISE YOU, THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA?

>> AT THE TIME I DID NOT KNOW THE POWER THAT SOCIAL MEDIA HAS.

NOW THAT I LOOK AT IT, I FEEL LIKE BILLBOARDS, RADIO STATIONS, THEY DON'T REALLY WORK WITH THE MARKETING NOWADAYS.

I FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING IS MORE DIGITAL NOW.

>> Reporter: WHEN DID YOU FIRST START SEEING THAT IT COULD BE LIFE-CHANGING FOR SOMEONE?

>> LITERALLY AFTER THE FIRST ONE.

WHEN I DID THE FIRST RESTAURANT, WHICH WAS HANGRY'S, I WENT BACK A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER.

IT HAD ONLY BEEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

ONCE I WENT THE FIRST TIME I BECAME A REGULAR.

I WENT BACK AND ORDERED MY FOOD AND I DID NOT KNOW IF THEY HAD SEEN THE VIDEO OR NOT.

WHEN I GOT HOME THE BAG WAS HEAVIER AND THEY HAD WROTE ME A THANK YOU LETTER, THANKING ME FOR THE VIDEO AND HOW I BLEW THE RESTAURANT UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> Reporter: AND YOU ALSO WENT TO A MEXICAN RESTAURANT AND SOMEONE HAD POSTED ON TIKTOK, A FAMILY MEMBER THAT WORKED THERE, SAYING NO ONE WAS COMING TO THEIR MOMS RESTAURANT.

YOU WENT AND I FEEL LIKE HOURS LATER THERE WAS A TWO HOUR WAIT.

>> YEAH, IT WAS THE DAUGHTER ACTUALLY WHO POSTED THE VIDEO OF HER MOTHER JUST WAITING.

MY MOM PATIENTLY WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN.

SO LIKE I SAID I LIKE TO SUPPORT MOM AND POP SHOPS AND USUALLY WHEN I SEE THE STORIES, IT IS NOT IN ILLINOIS.

IT TURNED OUT TO BE ILLINOIS AND I HEADED OVER.

TO THE RESTAURANT.

I WAS THERE AND THEY WERE HAPPY TO SEE ME.

THEY ACTUALLY KNOW WHO I WAS.

I ORDERED THE FOOD AND I MADE A VIDEO.

HOURS LATER I THINK THE NEWS PULLED UP AND I THINK THERE WAS A TWO HOUR WAIT AND IT STARTED OFF WITH JUST A MOM AND A DAUGHTER IN THE BEGINNING AND BY THE END OF THE NIGHT, THE WHOLE FAMILY CAME.

>> Reporter: THAT IS INSANE.

I ONLY HAVE TIME FOR ONE OTHER QUESTION, BUT I DO WANT TO ASK, THIS CAREER THAT YOU HAVE NOW HAS LED YOU TO SPONSORSHIPS.

YOU HAVE MENTIONED THAT.

AND NOW YOU ARE OPENING YOUR OWN MARKETING.

TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT THAT.

>> DOING THE SOCIAL MEDIA AND FOOD REVIEWS FOR OVER TWO YEARS, I NOTICED WHEN I WOULD GO TO THESE RESTAURANTS, NOT A LOT OF THEM HAD SOCIAL MEDIA OR THEY DID AND THEY DID NOT UTILIZE THEM.

SO I THOUGHT, WHAT CAN I DO TO UTILIZE THIS?

I THOUGHT, I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR TWO YEARS.

I KNOW WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T, SO I STARTED A COMPANY WHERE WE TAKE RESTAURANTS AND REGROW THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE ON INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, AND FACEBOOK AND CREATE CONTENT.

>> Reporter: IT SOUNDS LIKE A FULL-TIME JOB.

>> FULL-TIME.

>> Reporter: WHAT IS YOUR TAG WHEN YOU START TO OUR VIDEOS, BECAUSE I LOVE IT?

>> IT IS HEY, CHICAGO.

>> Reporter: AND NOW, ALEX, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SUCH A GREAT STORY.

WHEN YOU HAVE A PROJECT LIKE THAT, JUST DO IT AND IT MIGHT END UP BEING SUCCESSFUL.

>>> ONE OF CHICAGO'S MOST PROLIFIC MURAL LISTS.

HE SUBMITTED FOR ART PROJECTS OVER THE CITY.

WE MET UP AT A TWO-SIDED MURAL WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT WHAT MAKING A HOME FOR PUBLIC ART IN CHICAGO CAN DO FOR ITS PEOPLE.

>> ART IS RESPONDING TO LIFE AND TO THE THINGS WE ARE GOING THROUGH AND FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS THAT GO TO WHERE HAVE WE BEEN, WHERE ARE WE AT, WHERE ARE WE GOING?

EMERIL AS PUBLIC ART IN CHICAGO HAS THE SAME OBLIGATION AND OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A CHICAGO IDENTITY.

WHO ARE WE?

WHERE HAVE WE BEEN, WHERE WE GOING?

WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE?

WHAT ARE WE RESPONDING TO?

THIS IS REAL ESTATE OWNED BY THE FAMILY THAT RECENTLY CELEBRATED 25 YEARS AND THIS MURAL WAS COMMISSIONED TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORY.

THE TITLE OF IT IS HOPE, THE JOURNEY TOGETHER TOWARD THE FUTURE.

IT FEATURES A COUPLE OF ELEMENTS THAT ARE CENTRAL TO WHAT I THINK IS A SHARED GOAL OF HOME WHEN YOU ESTABLISH HOME, WHETHER IT IS YOUR APARTMENT OR BUYING YOUR FIRST HOME.

YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT YOUR KIDS.

YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.

YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY.

YOUR NEIGHBORS.

YOUR CITY.

AND THAT THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE.

YOU ARE RAISING YOUR FAMILY AND YOU ARE ENGAGED.

YOU ARE PART OF THIS.

I AM BLESSED TO GROW UP IN PILSEN WITH THIS AMAZING, RICH HISTORY OF PUBLIC ART.

ALL OF THESE GIANTS THAT PAVED THE WAY FOR THIS ONGOING CONVERSATION THAT IS HAPPENING AROUND MEXICAN AMERICAN IDENTITY, RIGHT?

THE RELATIONSHIPS TO THE AMERICAN IDENTITY.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF OTHER MURALISTS, OTHER ARTISTS.

CHICAGO'S CHALLENGE IS TRANSCENDING THE BORDERS THAT ARE IN OUR CITY AND CONNECTING WHAT IS DISCONNECTED.

PUBLIC ART CAN BE A TREMENDOUS SERVICE TO THIS.

>> AS WE MENTIONED, HE CREATED THREE OTHER MURALS THIS YEAR.

YOU WILL SEE MORE OF TWO OF THEM AT THE END OF THE SHOW.

>>> WELL, AND MEXICO ONE OR TWO DAYS IS NOT ENOUGH TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

THERE, THE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS STARTS NINE DAYS LONG AND THE PARTIES KEEP GOING WELL INTO THE NEW YEAR.

THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS WANTS ALL CHICAGO TO GET A TASTE OF MEXICO'S MOST BELOVED HOLIDAY TRADITIONS, STARTING JUST DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

>> THERE ARE THREE EVENTS THAT HAPPEN IN THE WINTER IN MEXICO.

AND IT BEGINS WITH THE NINE DAY CELEBRATION.

HERE, WE DO ONE DAY.

THE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER.

THEY WALK AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY GO TO A FEW HOUSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

PEOPLE WHO ALREADY SAID IT IS OKAY TO COME IN AND BE PART OF THIS.

THEY WILL GO AND GET MAYBE A DRINK OR SOMETHING AND THEN THEY COME HERE AND HERE IS WHERE WE ACTUALLY DO THE WHOLE CELEBRATION.

WE HAVE FOOD, WE HAVE TAMALES.

WE HAVE PINATA'S AND WE ALSO ADDED ART WORKSHOPS.

THE WHOLE LOWER LEVEL WILL HAVE A SET UP FOR ART WORKSHOPS.

IT IS HUGE.

THIS YEAR IT IS GOING TO BE EIGHT-FOOT AND WE INVITE ALL OF THE COMMUNITY TO COME FOR A PIECE OF IT.

THE FINAL EVENT IS LA CANDELARIA, THE CANDLELIGHT.

IT IS A CELEBRATION WHERE YOU COME AND HAVE A FEAST TOGETHER.

THIS IS OUR FIFTH YEAR WE HAVE DONE THIS.

IT IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US TO CELEBRATE TRADITIONAL MEXICAN EVENTS.

ALL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT ARE CREATED FROM THE PINATA TO THE FOOD TO ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES TO THE SINGING.

THAT IS ART.

AND THAT IS WHY I HOPE WE HAVE GOT TO KEEP IT GOING.

>> THE OPEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS TAKES PLACE ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22.

IT IS FOLLOWED ON JANUARY 6 AND LA CANDELARIA ON FEBRUARY 3.

YOU WILL FIND MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> BEFORE WE LEAVE TONIGHT, THE NATURE ORGANIZATION HAS PUT OUT A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP CHILDREN INTERESTED IN THE NATURAL WORLD TAKE FLIGHT.

THEY'RE HOPING TO FIND MORE LATINO AND SPANISH-SPEAKING VOLUNTEERS FOR THE BIRDS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM, WHICH EDUCATES KIDS ON NATIVE BIRDS THROUGH IN SCHOOL LESSONS.

>> THE BIRDS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM IS A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM WITH A SIMPLE PURPOSE, TO HAVE KIDS OPEN THEIR EYES TO NATURE.

BIRDS ARE JUST EVERYWHERE.

SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR SPANISH-SPEAKING FOLKS BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT CHILDREN TO SEE PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT NATURE, WHO ARE GUIDING THEM THROUGH THIS EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY, TO LOOK LIKE THEM AND SOME LIKE THEM.

YOU CAN VOLUNTEER AND WE WILL TRAIN THEM.

THEY WILL ALSO LEARN A LOT ALONG THE WAY THEMSELVES.

>> A GREAT PROGRAM.

APPLICATIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS ARE ACCEPTED THROUGH DECEMBER 30.

YOU CAN FIND MORE ON THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> THAT WILL BE OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM, FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS AND A REMINDER, "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" WILL BE OFF FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

DON'T FORGET ALSO TO TUNE IN EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING.

I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES", I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU.