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

>> GOOD EVENING.

TWO CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

I AM MICHAEL PUENTE REPORTER WITH WTTW CHICAGO.

ON SHOW TONIGHT REPORTS OF TRAFFICKING ARE ON THE RISE IN THE PANDEMIC PEERED WE SPOKE TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ON HOW THEY'RE TRYING TO STEM THE TIDE.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS?

FIND OUT WHAT YOU CAN PICK UP AT CHICAGO'S POP-UP SHOPS.

IMMIGRANTS OWN AND OPERATE SMALL BUSINESSES.

[MUSIC] A MEXICAN CATHOLIC TRADITION TAKES TO THE STREETS OF BUENA PARK IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO NAVIDAD.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT IN ILLINOIS FARMING IS BIG BUSINESS AS ONE OF AMERICA'S LATEST PRODUCING SOYBEAN AND PORK PRODUCTS.

THE FARM BUREAU ESTIMATES THAT ILLINOIS AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY AND RELATED ACTIVITY CONTRIBUTE $50 BILLION TO THE STATES ECONOMY.

BUT THE NATURE OF FARM WORK IN THE STRUCTURE OF OUR MIGRANT WORKER PROGRAM MAKE THE PEOPLE WHO PERFORM LONG LABOR IN ILLINOIS 72 MILLION FARMS VULNERABLE TO ABUSE AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS ONLY EXACERBATED AN ALREADY ALARMING SITUATION.

ACCORDING TO ANALYSIS FROM DATA FROM THE US NATIONAL TRAFFICKING HOTLINE THIS LAST YEAR HAS SEEN A 70 PERCENT INCREASE IN REPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL LABOR TRAFFICKING.

JOINING US NOW ARE MIGUEL KEBERLEIN GUITIERREZ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LEGAL SOCIETY OF METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES AND MAGGIE RIVERA PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ILLINOIS MIGRANT COUNCIL.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> MIGUEL, WHAT FINDS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LABOR ABUSES AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

>> IT IS REALLY A SPECTRUM ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT IS LABOR ABUSE AND THE FINAL END OF IT IS LABOR TRAFFICKING.

IT IS WHEN THERE'S A FORCED COERCION WENT IT KEEPS A PERSON INDENTURED TO AN EMPLOYER IN SOME WAY OR FASHION.

YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF IT IN THE AGRICULTURAL IMMUNITY.

>> MAGGIE, FOR WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR WORK HOW CAN YOU SPOT A LEGITIMATE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION ON A FARM AND ONE OF TRAFFICKING?

>> ONE WAY WOULD BE IF WE ARE TALKING TO AN INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR ANSWERS SEEM TO BE REHEARSED OR IF THEY DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF EYE CONTACT AND ARE NOT WILLING TO TALK TO US BY THEMSELVES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MIGUEL, DO WE HAVE ANY ESTIMATES ON HOW WE PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY AGRICULTURAL NEIGHBOR TRAFFICKING IN ILLINOIS?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY SPECIFIC NUMBERS AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF WORK AND IT IS A MIGRATORY WORKFORCE AND THE CHANGING OF MARKETS.

YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THE STREAM OF MIGRANT AGRICULTURAL WORK.

WHEN IT COMES TO TRAFFICKING THERE MIGHT BE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN SITUATIONS WHERE THERE TRAFFIC FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME THEN THERE NO LONGER IN THAT TRAFFICKING SITUATION AND THEN THEY REENTER WHAT WE DO KNOW IN THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY THERE'S A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO WHEN ASKED ABOUT SITUATIONS CAN IDENTIFY SOME SITUATION THAT WOULD LEAD TO TRAFFICKING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MAGGIE, WHAT KIND OF SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING DO YOU TRAIN YOUR ADVOCATES TO LOOK FOR?

>> PROBABLY THE MOST NOTABLE WOULD BE ANY SIGN OF PHYSICAL ABUSE OR PERHAPS POOR LIVING CONDITIONS OR PERHAPS SOMETIMES WHEN WE REQUIRE THAT THEY PROVIDE US WITH SOME KIND OF DOCUMENTATION THAT THEY TELL US THEY DON'T HAVE THAT BECAUSE THEIR EMPLOYER KEEPS THAT FOR THEM.

THOSE ARE SIGNS OF THINGS THAT WE WOULD LOOK FOR.

>> MIGUEL, YOUR ORGANIZATION FILED A LAWSUIT THIS YEAR AGAINST A LOCAL FARMING COMPANY WHICH CHARGES LABOR TRAFFICKING.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS CASE?

>> I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE ONE YOU'RE REFERRING TO BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT CASES AGAINST EMPLOYERS AND THE SCENARIOS ARE OFTEN SIMILAR.

THE WAY THAT THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY IS THE LARGER SORT OF CONGLOMERATE WORK THEY BRING IN A LARGE LABOR FORCE WITH A RECRUITER OR RECRUITMENT COMPANY.

THAT RECRUITMENT COMPANY HAS LEVERAGE INTO WHAT PROMISES THEY ARE MAKING PEOPLE AND HOW THEY INDUCE THEM INTO THE WORK.

OFTEN TIMES IT'S THAT WE FIND THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME MUCH MONEY IF THEY COME HERE AND DO THIS AND THEN WHEN THEY GET HERE THEY'RE GIVEN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY BUT THERE HELD IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY CAN'T FREELY OR BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN FREELY LEAVE BECAUSE OF THE DEBT THAT IS OWED TO THE RECRUITER.

>> I SEE.

MAGGIE, HOW DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION WORK WITH FARMS AND LABOR TO EDUCATE THEM ON LABOR RIGHT?

>> WELL, WHEN WE START THE SEASON NORMALLY WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD SOME KIND OF RAPPORT WITH GROWERS TO GO INTO THE FARM AND PROVIDE THE TRAINING WE DO.

WHEN WE BRING TRAINING WITH HEALTH-RELATED OR ANY KIND OF PROTECTION TRAINING THAT IS WHEN WE BRING IN ALSO THE INFORMATION THERE LABOR RIGHTS AND WORK WITH OTHER ENTITIES AROUND THE STATE THAT CAN PARTNER WITH US AND BRING INFORMATION TO THEM.

>> MIGUEL, WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE STRUCTURE ABOUT THE VISA THAT MAKES MIGRANT LABORERS SUSCEPTIBLE TO TRAFFICKING AND WHAT CAN HELP THAT IN YOUR OPINION?

>> IS A VERY FLAWED PROGRAM.

I THINK EMPLOYERS NEED IT BECAUSE THEY EITHER CAN'T FIND US ELIGIBLE WORKERS TO DO THE WORK BUT AN EMPLOYER HAS TO GO TO THE GOVERNMENT AND SAY I CAN'T FIND ENOUGH WORKERS HERE AND THEN THEY OFFER WORK HE SAYS TO FOLKS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND THEN THEY HAVE A RECRUITER THAT GOES THERE.

THIRD-GRADER ON THE FRONT AND PROMISES THAT IN AND OFTEN TIMES WITHOUT ANYONE KNOWING THAT THEY ARE PHYSICALLY BRIBING PEOPLE FOR THOSE JOBS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PAYING UPFRONT FOR THE VISAS AND THOSE MONIES ARE HELD AGAINST THEM WHEN THEY GO TO WORK.

WHEN THEY ARRIVE HERE THEY MIGHT NOT EVEN KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY.

THEY ARE VERY ISOLATED, THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES OR COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND A LOT OF COMMUNITY AGENCIES THERE ARE SOME THAT DO OUTREACH BUT A LOT OF EMPLOYERS PROHIBIT US FROM REACHING WORKERS AND SHARING INFORMATION WITH THEM.

I THINK THERE IS AN ISSUE ALONG THE FRONT AND WHEN WORKERS ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS TO GET THE VISA HERE THEY ARE NOT GIVEN THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND WHO THEY CAN REACH OUT TO AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.

AND THAT WOULD CERTAINLY ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM OF ISOLATION AND WHO THEY CAN SPEAK TO THEY FEEL THEY ARE IN DANGER.

>> WERE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

OUR THANKS TO MIGUEL KEBERLEIN GUITIERREZ AND MAGGIE RIVERA.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL BE BACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

IF YOU STILL HAVE A FEW NAMES TO CROSS OFF YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT LIST, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

ACCORDING TO A SURVEY FOR MARKET RESEARCH COMPANY, NPD GROUP SHOWS THAT SHOPPERS WILL PICK UP GIFTS DURING THE WEEK OF CHRISTMAS.

IF YOU ARE AMONG THE 50 PERCENT HERE'S A LITTLE OF HOLIDAY CHEER.

PLENTY OF TIME TO FIND HARD HANDMADE GIFTS THAT HELP ARTISANS IN CHICAGO AND COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

JOINING US NOW TO LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN PICK UP AT THEIR POP-UPS ARE ESPERAZA SALGADO ARTIST AND OWNER OF BREWJA CO.

IN EVERGREEN PARK.

KATHERINE BISSELL CORDOVA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHICAGO FAIR TRADE WHICH HAS A POP UP SHOP IN ANDERSONVILLE AND ERIKA ESPINOSA OWNER OF COLORES MEXICANO WHICH IS POPPING UP ON MICHIGAN AVENUE.

WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO LATINO VOICES.

ERICA, WE WILL GET STARTED WITH YOU.

YOUR BUSINESS, COLORES MEXICANO IS POPPING UP ON THE MAGNIFICENT MILE.

CAN YOU TELL SHOPPERS WHERE YOU CAN BE FOUND?

>> HELLO.

YES, COLORES MEXICANO WORKS WITH DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT MEXICO AND EVERYTHING IN OUR STORE IS HANDMADE BY THEM.

>> WELL.

AND, ESPERAZA YOUR SHOP IS HOSTING A ONE-DAY POP UP CAN YOU LINK WHAT FOLKS CAN FIND IN YOUR STORE?

>> HI.

I AM THE OWNER OF BREWJA CO.. YOU CAN FIND COFFEE, ART, MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE AND I WILL HAVE VARIOUS ARTISTS COMING OUT THAT WILL ALSO BE DOING PHOTOGRAPHY, WE HAVE DRAG QUEENS COMING OUT TO PERFORM.

IT'S GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL DAY.

MAXWELL.

CATHERINE, CHICAGO FAIR TRADE WILL BE THERE HERE WHAT KIND OF GOODS CAN PEOPLE FIND WITH YOU?

>> YOU CAN FIND A WHOLE RANGE OF FAIR TRADE GOODS FROM SLIPPERS TO PAJAMAS, OLIVE OYL, COFFEE, CHOCOLATE, PLUS SHE'S, CLOTHING, JEWELRY, HOME TO CORE, HOLIDAY TO CORE.

WE ARE 6000 SQUARE FEET OF ALL HANDMADE FAIR TRADE ITEMS FROM OVER 30 COUNTRIES.

ACCESS AMAZING.

ERICA, WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING A SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS ON THE MAG MILE?

>> WE ARE VERY LUCKY AND BLESSED TO BE HERE TO CELEBRATE OUR CULTURE.

OUR WORK IS PIECES MADE BY HAND AND WE ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MAGNIFICENT MILE AND CHICAGO CITY.

>> AND, ESPERAZA , WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU TO SHOWCASE THE WORK OF LOCAL WOMEN OF COLOR?

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I DRAW FOR MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND OF A TRAINED MUSICIAN AND ARTIST I REALIZED I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIND THESE OPPORTUNITIES WITH OTHER FOLKS AND I KNEW I NEEDED TO MAKE ROOM AT THE TABLE.

THAT DOESN'T JUST MEAN FOR MYSELF IT MEANT MY COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO SHARING IDENTITIES WITH ME.

>> CATHERINE, WHY SHOULD PEOPLE SEEK OUT FAIR TRADE GOODS AS HOLIDAY GIFTS?

>> THEY SHOULD SEEK THEM OUT ALL YEAR-ROUND BUT ESPECIALLY FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS.

EVERYONE IS SO HAPPY WHEN THEY COME IN AND BUY THINGS AND KNOW THAT THE MONEY WILL PAY FAIR WAGES AND PART OF FAIR TRADE IS PART OF SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SO A LOT OF THE FUNDS GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BESIDES PAYING A FAIR WAGE THAT PEOPLE CAN USE FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE THAT THEY KNOW THEY NEED.

IT IS A WAY TO VOTE WITH YOUR DOLLARS AND WHEN YOU BUY FAIR TRADE YOU ARE VOTING FOR A MORE FAIR AND JUST WORLD.

>> ERICA, I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF GIFTS IN YOUR STORE.

WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT?

>> WE HAVE THINGS LIKE PAINTINGS AND PIECES.

>> DIFFERENT KINDS OF THESE AND THEY ARE ALL ONE-OF-A-KIND.

VERY HIGH QUALITY.

THINGS LIKE THIS.

>> THAT IS AMAZING.

ESPERAZA , WHAT ARE SOME UNIQUE THINGS THAT SOMEONE CAN FIND AT YOUR ESTABLISHMENT, AT YOUR POP UP?

>> SO, I WOULD SAY THE NUMBER 1 THING IS THE FRESHLY ROASTED COFFEE.

ROAST IT RIGHT BEFORE AND EVENT.

TWO DAYS PRIOR.

IT TAKES TWO DAYS TO GET TO ITS PEAK SO WHEN YOU TAKE IT HOME YOU HAVE THE FRESHEST POSSIBLE COFFEE AND YOU CAN ALSO GET THE MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE WHICH IS OF MY OWN MAKING AND IT HAS ALL THE RICH FLAVORS OF CINNAMON, SUGAR, VANILLA THAT IS EXTRACTED AND NOT THE IMITATION VANILLA.

WE HAVE THAT AND THEN WE HAVE THE ART, OF COURSE.

SO, YOU CAN HAVE A UNIQUE PIECE FOR YOUR LOVED ONE.

>> CATHERINE, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS PEOPLE WANT A VERY UNIQUE GIFT, FOR THAT HARD TO FIND SHOPPER, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AT YOUR PLACE?

WHAT COULD THEY FIND THAT IS TOTALLY UNIQUE?

>> THERE SO ANYTHING!

ONE THING THAT IS VERY POPULAR HERE, WE HAVE FLYING MOBILES MADE BY SINGLE PARENTS FROM A BUSINESS CALLED TOTAL ARTIST GALLERY AND THEY ARE ABLE TO HAVE DOGS, PIGS, UNICORNS AND THOSE ARE THINGS YOU DON'T SEE EVERYWHERE.

>> ERIKA, WE WILL WRAP IT UP WITH YOU BUT WHAT HAS THE PUBLIC SAID ABOUT YOU AND YOUR STORE BEING ON THE MILE?

>> THIS HAS BEEN A BIG STEP FOR US AS A COMMUNITY.

WE ARE A FAMILY BUSINESS AND WERE VERY PROUD TO SHARE OUR CULTURE DOWNTOWN TO BE THE FIRST MEXICAN CULTURAL PLACE IN THE MAGNIFICENT MILE WE WANT TO KEEP THE SPACE FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

WE ARE AT 605 NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE AND, PLEASE, SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.

THE CITY NEEDS US HERE.WE ARE A LOT OF MEXICANS IN THE CITY AND WE NEED TO BE REPRESENTED.

>> FANTASTIC.

YOU CAN FIND LINKS AND INFORMATION ON ALL OF THESE PUBLIC SHOPS ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS.

THAT IS WHERE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT WITH OUR GUESTS.

OUR THANKS TO ESPERAZA SALGADO, KATHERINE BISSELL CORDOVA AND ERIKA ESPINOSA.

>>> MANY IMMIGRANTS DREAM OF OWNING AND OPERATING A SMALL BUSINESS.

A CHICAGO-BASED PHOTOGRAPHER HAS A PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING OF IMMIGRATION AND HE HAS SPENT YEARS DOCUMENTING SMALL BUSINESSES.

HE CALLS HIS PROJECT IMMIGRANT OWN AND IS ABOUT TO BE EXPANDED IN A BIG WAY.

PRODUCER MARK VITALE HAS THE STORY.

>> IN PILSEN, A PHOTOGRAPHER REVISITS A BAKERY HE KNOWS WELL.

NEXT IMMIGRANT OWN BUSINESSES ARE AS AMERICAN AS IT GETS.

HIS PEOPLE ARE DOING WORK AND OPENING UP A SMALL BUSINESS AND THEY ARE IMMIGRANTS, PEOPLE NEW TO THE COUNTRY AND THEIR LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM WHICH, FOR MANY PEOPLE IT IS ALIVE AND WELL BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT HAS A VERY RISKY ELEMENT.

MANY BUSINESSES THAT I PHOTOGRAPHED AND WENT BACK TO ARE NOW CLOSED.

NEXT HE MAKES PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE PLACES.

>> I WILL GO INTO A STORE THAT CATCHES MY EYE AND I WILL GO IN AND INTRODUCE MYSELF AND TELL THEM ABOUT MY PROJECT AND ASK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THEIR BUSINESS.

IT'S LIKE BEING INVITED INTO SOMEONE'S HOME DEPENDING ON THE WAY PEOPLE DECORATE THEIR SHOPS AND THE WAY FAMILIES FIT IN THE SPACES.

IF WE LOSE THAT IS GOING TO BE DUNKIN' DONUTS AND STARBUCKS AND THAT'S GOING TO SUCK.

YOU KNOW?

>> JONATHAN'S OTHER PROJECTS HAS BEEN DOCUMENTING CAR CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA AND IN EARLY EFFORT, PHOTOGRAPHING A PAINT COURSE IN HIS NATIVE LOS ANGELES.

NOW AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR HE HAD MODEST BEGINNINGS.

>> MY GRANDMOTHER DEFINITELY HAD STORIES.

SHE CAME INTO THE COUNTRY UNDOCUMENTED AND WAS SUPPORTED SEVERAL TIMES BUT KEPT COMING BACK.

SHE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A LIFE HERE.

ALTHOUGH MY DAD WAS TECHNICALLY AN IMMIGRANT HIMSELF, A CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS, HE HAD A COMPUTER STORE AND I GREW UP.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT MY DAD STOREFRONT.

I WOULD GET OUT OF SCHOOL, GO OVER THERE AND HANG OUT AT THE SHOP.

I DO HAVE AN AFFINITY FOR THESE KINDS OF SPACES AS I GREW UP IN ONE.

>> CASTILLE'S WORK WILL BE ON VIEW AT THE AIRPORT WHEN TERMINAL FIVE EXPANSION IS COMPLETED.

HE IS NOW IN HIS FIFTH YEAR OF THIS ONGOING SERIES.

>> OVERALL THE PROJECT IS A CELEBRATION OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF IMMIGRANTS TO THE CITY ITSELF AND THE DIFFERENT UNIQUE FABRICS AND NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, THIS IS MARK VITALE.

>> HIGHLIGHTS OF HIS PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT IMMIGRANT OWNS WILL BE UNVEILED O'HAIRE AND NEW YEAR'S.

YOU CAN FIND MORE OF HIS OTAGO FEET ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> BELOVED MEXICAN SINGER VICENTE FERNANDEZ DIED THIS WEEK AT 81 YEARS OLD AND FANS AROUND THE WORLD ARE MORNING HIS LOSS.

OVER HIS DECADE-LONG CAREER HIS MIGHTY AIR TONE GRACED OVER 100 ALBUMS BECAME THE SOUNDTRACK TO MANY FAMILIES LIVES.

HE ALSO STARRED IN DOZENS OF MOVIES BUT IN RECENT YEARS, FERNANDEZ WAS CRITICIZED FOR MAKING RACIST AND HOMOPHOBIC REMARKS AS WELL AS INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT.

MUSIC JOURNALIST TRAN 24 SAYS WHILE HIS MUSICAL LEGACY WILSHIRE INDOOR IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS SHORTCOMINGS AS WELL.

>> HE WAS SUCH A LEGEND, SUCH AN ICON IN THE MEXICAN COMMUNITY WITH THIS TYPE OF MUSIC RANCHERO MUSIC AND MARRIOTT SHE MUSIC AND PEOPLE ARE REALLY MOURNING HIS DEATH.

THAT MUSIC, HAS EIGHT DEEP CONNECTION WITH IMMIGRANTS LIKE MY FATHER, IT TALKS ABOUT RANCH LIFE WHERE HE WAS FROM, HE WAS FROM THE RANCH AND TALKING ABOUT THE LAND THAT YOU ARE FROM WITH SUCH PRIDE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IS THE BIGGEST CONNECTION THAT PEOPLE WHO LOVE HIS MUSIC HAVE AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SO IMPACTED BY HIS DEATH.

HE ALSO LEFT A LEGACY OF MISOGYNY, HOMOPHOBIA AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

HE HAD A VILE DISDAIN FOR PEOPLE HE DID NOT FIND WORTHY P SHOULDN'T WELL ON THE NEGATIVE WE SHOULDN'T PRETEND IT DOESN'T EXIST GOOD THE TRAGEDIES WILL CONTINUE IF WE DON'T AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WERE FAULTS.

>> YOU WILL FIND MORE OF VICENTE FERNANDEZ'S LIFE AND LEGACY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> UP NEXT A MEXICAN CATHOLIC TRADITION TAKES TO THE STREETS OF WAY NO PARK.

STAY WITH US.

>> >> FOR CATHOLIC LATINOS THE CHRISTMAS SEASON DOES NOT MEAN JUST ONE OR TWO NIGHTS OF CELEBRATION AND PRAYER FOR SEVERAL PAIR THE UNOFFICIAL START FOR MANY LATINOS IS DECEMBER EIGHTH.

A HOLIDAY THAT HONORS THE VIRGIN MARY.

WHILE CUSTOMS VARY FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY SOME HAVE CROSSED BORDERS AND HAVE BECOME 11 TO MANY.

ONE SUCH CELEBRATION THAT ORIGINATES IN MEXICO RINGS THE FAITHFUL TOGETHER FOR NINE DAYS READING UP TO CHRISTMAS.

PRODUCER ERICA GUNDERSON VISITED A NORTHSIDE PARISH THAT IS BROUGHT THE TRADITION OF LAS POSADAS FROM THE SIDEWALKS OF BUENA PARK.

>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CULTURE AND EVEN FOR OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY OFTEN FEELS TRULY NOT WELCOME LIKE JOSEPH AND MARY TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT OF OUR CULTURE TO OPEN THEIR DOORS FOR MEXICAN TRADITION SHOWS HOW OUR FAITH IS ABLE TO TRANSCEND CULTURE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL SHARING HAPPENS WHICH IS WHAT WE CALL COMMUNITY.

>> FOR NINE EVENINGS IN DECEMBER THE PARISHIONERS OF ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH TAKE TO THE STREETS OF BUENA PARK TO ASK THE NEIGHBORS FOR SHELTER.

THEY ARE OBSERVING LAS POSADAS CATHOLIC TRADITION THAT COMMEMORATES THE JOURNEY THAT JOSEPH AND MARY MADE WHERE THEY SOUGHT REFUGE WHERE MARY COULD GIVE BIRTH TO THE CHRIST CHILD.

THIS STARTED IN MEXICO AS A WAY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH COULD EVANGELIZE THESE TWO PEOPLE.

LAS POSADAS IS OBSERVED IN MEXICO WITH MARY AND JOSEPH VISITING HOMES.

THEY ADAPTED THE TRADITION THROUGH THE PROCESSION OF NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> WE KNOCK ON A NEIGHBORS DOOR, WE ASK IN GOD'S NAME WOULD YOU GIVE SHELTER TO MARY?

THEN THERE IS A RESPONSE FROM INSIDE THE HOME AND THEY SAY GO AWAY, DON'T BOTHER US WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY LIVE.

[SINGING] THE PROCESSION INS WHEN THE PILGRIMS ARE WELCOMED INSIDE AND A CELEBRATION BEGINS.

ONE BELOVED ELEMENT OF THAT CELEBRATION IS A STEAMING POT OF HOMEMADE PUNCH A BURSTING WITH FLAVORS OF MEXICO IN LATE DECEMBER.

IT'S MADE BY THE ESPARZA FAMILY.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENT IN THE ENTIRE RECIPE.

>> THE ESPARZA'S HAVE BEEN RESIDENTS FOR MANY YEARS.

THEY HAVE LEARNED TO MAKE PUNCH A THROUGH HER NATIVE MEXICO.

>> I REMEMBER WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER MADE THIS.

I MADE IT FOR SEVEN YEARS.

NOW MY GRANDSONS LOVE THE PUNCH.

MY GRANDSONS.

>> SHE HAS PASSED THE FAMILY RECIPE ONTO HER DAUGHTER, EILEEN.

>> EVEN THOUGH I WAS BORN HERE AND MY SON WAS BORN HERE THEY STILL ENJOY THE TRADITION SO SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY LOOKS FORWARD TO.

>> THEY SAY THE ST. MARY OF THE LAKE PARISH WHICH COMBINES WITH SAINT LORD US EARLIER THIS YEAR IS EXCITED TO COME TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN AGITATING 2020 OFF AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE CATHOLIC PARISHES IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO.

WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM AFRICA, ASIA, LATIN AMERICA AND NOW OUR YOUNG WHITE URBAN PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE MOVING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHAT I FOUND IS THAT THE COMMUNITY HERE IN LENA PARK IS OPEN TO ALL THE TRADITIONS AND RICHNESS OF CULTURES AND FAITH.

THESE TRADITIONS OF CHRISTMAS AND PREPARATION FOR CHRISTMAS ALLOW US TO COME TOGETHER TO REMEMBER THAT WE DO BELONG TO ONE ANOTHER AND WE ARE SISTERS AND BROTHERS AND YOU JUST DIDN'T LIVE THE ISOLATION YOURSELF, I LIVED IT, TOO.

AND COMING TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN TO RECOGNIZE THE BEAUTY AND DIGNITY OF HUMAN LIFE AS WE ENTER INTO THESE CONVERSATIONS AND CELEBRATIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, THIS IS CHRISTINA GUNDERSON.

>> THEY ASK YOU ALL TO JOIN THEM FOR HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS.

YOU WILL FIND MORE ABOUT THAT ON A WEBSITE.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

BE SURE CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS AND JOIN WTTW NEWS CORRESPONDENT JOHANNA FERNANDEZ FOR THE LATINO VOICES VIRTUAL CONVERSATION PAIR CHEESE SPEAKING WITH LEADERS ABOUT THE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS WITHIN CHICAGO'S LATINO COMMUNITIES.

THAT'S MONDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 DID VISIT WTTW.com/EVENTS TO RSVP.

DON'T FORGET YOU CAN FOLLOW MY REPORTING ON 91.5 FM WBTV.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE HOLIDAYS NEXT WEEKEND SO PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN IN THE NEW YEAR ON JANUARY FIRST OR A SPECIAL EDITION SHOW.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES I AM MICHAEL POINTS US.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> AND BUENAS NOCHES.