CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALLSTATE AND THE SEARLE FUNDS AT THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

I AM MICHAEL PUENTE A REPORTER FROM WBEZ CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT CHICAGO PARENTS WAY IN ON THE DEBATE ABOUT MASKING SCHOOLKIDS.

>>> A LOCAL NONVIOLENCE ADVOCATE IS GOING TO WASHINGTON DC TO HELP A HAND IN GUN VIOLENCE NATIONWIDE AND WHY THEY SAY IT'S A TIME FOR LATINOS TO GO ALL IN ON TECHNOLOGY.

>> SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL JUST SAY WOW!

>> A PLANT NATIVE TO MEXICO IS TURNING HEADS AND GRAININESS AT THE GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY.

WE WILL SHOW YOU WHAT IS UP.

MATT FIRST OFF TONIGHT GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER ANNOUNCES A STATEWIDE MASS MANDATE FOR MOST INDOOR PUBLIC SPACES WILL BE LIFTED AT THE END OF THIS MONTH WITH ONE EXCEPTION.

HE SAID DESPITE THE ONGOING COURT CHANGE ELITE CHALLENGE TO THE SCHOOL MASS MANDATE IT WILL REMAIN IN PLACE FOR THE TIME BEING.

JOINING US WITH NOW ON THEIR PERSPECTIVES WITH MASKING IN SCHOOLS ARE FOR CHICAGO PARENTS.

ANDREA CORONA WHOSE DAUGHTER ATTENDS A CATHOLIC SCHOOL, ELISA LEE WHO HAS ONE CHILD IN A CATHOLIC SCHOOL AND THREE CHILDREN IN CPS, MELANIE LOPEZ A CPS PARENT AS WELL AS A CPS TEACHER AND NOBERTO CASAS WHO HAS TWO CHILDREN IN CPS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY ON LATINO VOICES.

WE'LL GET STARTED NOW.

LET'S GO AROUND THE HORN.

DO YOU THINK THE STATE SHOULD STICK WITH THE MASKING IN SCHOOLS: LET'S START WITH YOU ANDREA.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THERE IS NO INDICATION AS TO WHY MASKING SHOULD CONTINUE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ELISA LEE?

>> IF MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED THERE'S NO NEED TO CONTINUE IT FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

BUT, IF WERE NOT BEING VACCINATED THEN THEY SHOULD DEFINITELY CONTINUE MASKING.

I WOULD SAY THE YOUNGER CHILDREN I WOULDN'T.

THE OLDER ONES DEFINITELY.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT NOBERTO CASAS?

>> MY THOUGHTS ON IT ARE THE FOLLOWING.

IT IS IRONIC THAT A MONTH AGO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SHOULD WE REOPEN SCHOOLS AND NOW IT'S MASK OR NOT MASK MAC I'M UNDER THE OPINION THAT IF YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR FUTURE IF YOU'RE GOING TO GEORGETOWN OR DEPAUL UNIVERSITY YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO CHOOSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO WEAR A MASK OR NOT.

I AM OF THE OPINION THAT ELEMENTARY AGE CHILDREN SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE MASKED AND AT THE BEGINNING OF MAY, MAY THIRD IS TEACHERS DAY.

MAYBE WE CAN DO IT THE DAY AFTER TEACHERS DAY AND THEN GO UNMASKED FOR ELEMENTARY LEVEL.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ISSUE MELANIE?

>> I GUESS I HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE.

I HATE WEARING THE MASK JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

BUT I WORK WITH CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND THEY DON'T ALWAYS GET THE CONCEPT OF FIVE SICK I DON'T COME TO SCHOOL OR I'M SICK I WEAR IN MASK.

WE HAVE TO FIGHT WITH THEM TO KEEP THEIR MASKS ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY.A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE SPREADING GERMS BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT AND THEY DON'T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF KEEPING THE MASK ON THEIR NOSE OR MOUTH SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING TO TRAIN THEM FOR AND NOW THAT WE HAVE THERE TAKING IT AWAY.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPREAD.

ESPECIALLY AT OUR SCHOOL.

>> LISA, YOU HAVE CHILDREN AT DIFFERENT AGES.

OUR YOUNGER CHILDREN DEALING WITH MASKS VERSUS THE OLDER KIDS?

>> WELL, TEACHERS LET ME KNOW THAT THEY ARE LESS VOCAL OR LESS CALLED UPON BECAUSE THEY CANNOT READ THEIR FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND MY SONS DO GET FRUSTRATED.

I ACTUALLY HAVE AN 18-YEAR-OLD AND SHE IS ABOUT TO GRADUATE THIS YEAR.SHE HAS ALSO MINIMIZED HER PARTICIPATION BECAUSE OF NOT KNOWING IF THE TEACHER KNOWS SHE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING OR NOT OR IF OTHERS WANT TO SPEAK OR NOT.

>> ROBERTO, YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN HOW DO THEY FEEL ABOUT WEARING A MASK?

LET'S MY DAUGHTER IS BEHIND ME QUIETLY.

SHE'S BEEN EXPOSED TO THE MASS MANDATE SINCE SHE WAS TWO.

SHE IS 4 AND A HALF.

I WILL GET HER OUT OF THE CAR AND SHE IS ALREADY WEARING HER MASK SHALL SAY DADDY WHERE IS YOUR MASK AND GLASSES?

MY CHILD IS CHECKING THE BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN SO TRAINED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE PANDEMIC.

MY SIX-YEAR-OLD HAD HIS FIRST DAY IN FIRST GRADE WHEN THE REPORT CARDS CAME OUT TWO WEEKS AGO.

WE FOUGHT SO HARD TO GET THE SCHOOLS OPEN FOR IN PERSON IF PUTTING ON A MASK IS GOING TO MAKE TEACHERS FEEL COMFORTABLE THEN I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

AND, YOU WERE A CPS TEACHER, DO YOU THINK THAT ENDING THE MASS MANDATE WOULD MAKE IT UNSAFE FOR YOUR COLLEAGUES?

>> YES.

KIDS ARE KIDS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY NEED TO SOCIALIZE BUT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND BOUNDARIES SOMETIMES AND HOW TO NOT SPREAD GERMS.

>> ANDREA, IS THERE ANY SITUATION THAT WOULD MAKE YOU RECONSIDER MASKING?

>> TO BE HONEST, NUMBER WE NEED TO START FOCUSING ON THE HEALTH OF OUR GENERATION AND NOT EXPECT THEM TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR HEALTH.

THERE IS, THE FACT THAT WE ARE IGNORING THE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED IN CHILDREN SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC WHICH INCLUDES THE MASKING WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THERE IS NO SITUATION WHERE WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PUT THESE MASKS ON OUR CHILDREN.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> THERE'S BEEN A DRASTIC INCREASE WITH DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHERS SINCE THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> NOBERTO CASAS WHEN DO YOU THINK YOU WILL FEEL SAFE DROPPING MASKS IN SCHOOLS?

>> I TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE EARLIER.

MAY THIRD IS NATIONAL TEACHER DAY, AFTER MAY THIRD THE WEATHER WILL BE SUCH IN CHICAGO THAT I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE AS A PARENT WITH CHILDREN NOT WEARING MASKS.

IDEALLY I WOULD LOVE THEM TO NOT WEAR A MASK UNTIL THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.IF WEARING A MASK IS GOING TO MAKE OUR TEACHERS FEEL SAFE I'M ALL FOR IT.

>> MELANIE, IF VACCINATION RATES WERE HIGHER WOULD YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITHOUT MASKS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I GUESS THE PROBLEM IS, A LOT OF PARENTS DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE VACCINE OR THEIR CONCERNS WITH THE SIDE EFFECTS.

WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT NO ONE EXPECTED, NO ONE PLANNED FOR AND WE ARE ALL TRYING TO FIND OUR WAY THROUGH IT.

THE PROBLEM IS ARE SO MANY WHAT IF SCENARIOS HAPPENING AND PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO GET THE VACCINE BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING NEW.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD IN PREVIOUS VACCINES WITH YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS OF RESEARCH TO GO WITH IT.

I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S HESITATION.

I DO.

I GET THAT SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT.

WEBER, WHEN WERE TALKING ABOUT MIXING THAT ASKED AND FAXED PEOPLE SOMEONE WHO IS VACCINATED MIGHT HAVE A BETTER OUTCOME FROM IT AND I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE KIDS INSIDE THE SCHOOL.

THEY GO HOME AND THEY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THEY SPREAD THIS TOO.

AND SOME HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE IN DELICATE SITUATIONS OF HEALTH.

THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT TEACHERS IT'S ABOUT EVERYBODY.

>> WHEN YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE SAFE TO LIFT THE MASS MANDATE?

>> I THINK IT IS HARD FOR UNDIVIDED.

FOR LITTLE ONES WE DEFINITELY SHOULD BUT FOR OLDER ONES I THINK MAYBE ONCE MORE RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE AND THE VACCINE OBVIOUSLY AND THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE DOING MORE TO DO WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE NUMBERS IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD.

WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THE CONCERNS ABOUT LIFTING THE MASS MANDATE DO YOU SYMPATHIZE WITH THEM?

ARE YOU MOVED BY THEM OR NOT REALLY?

>> I DEFINITELY SYMPATHIZE.

WE ARE ALL PARENTS.

WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OF COURSE I SYMPATHIZE WITH THE CONCERNS THAT EVERYBODY HAS.I THINK WE HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF INFORMATION AND A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.I THINK IT VALID FOR PEOPLE TO BE CONCERNED BUT I THINK WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THIS IS ABOUT THE CHILDREN FIRST.

THE CHILDREN NEED TO BECOME TRIPLE AND THEY NEED TO SEE THEIR TEACHERS FACES.

YOU CAN'T STAY IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE KIDS WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A DAY OF SCHOOL WITHOUT A MASK ON.

WE GET TO NORMALCY FOR THEM AND NOT JUST FOR US.

>> OUR THANKS TO ANDREA CORONA, ELISA LEE, MELANIE LOPEZ AND NOBERTO CASAS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> UP NEXT A LOCAL ANTI-VIOLENCE ADVOCATE TAKES ON A NATIONAL ROLE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> A LONG TIME PIONEER CHICAGO'S ANTIVIOLENCE MOVEMENT IS BEING TAPPED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION 12 ADDRESS THE NATION'S GUN VIOLENCE.

EDDIE BOCANEGRA BEGAN HIS WORK IN CHICAGO AND STARTED THE URBAN WARRIORS PROGRAM AT THE YMCA CONNECTING YOUTH WITH MILITARY VETERAN MENTORS.

EDDIE BOCANEGRA CREATED THE READY PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE AT HIGH RISK OF VIOLENCE.

HE HAS NOW BEEN APPOINTED SENIOR ADVISOR FOR THE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AT THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT HIS NEW ROLE IS EDDIE BOCANEGRA.

EDDIE, WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

>> INCORPORATED YOU MICHAEL, IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

CHICAGO GETS A LOT OF NOISE ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE BUT THE CDC SAYS THAT GUN VIOLENCE HAS RISEN IN THE LAST YEAR.

45,000 DEATH HAVE RESULTED FROM GUNS IN 2020 AND THAT NUMBER WHICH INCLUDES SIDES AND SUICIDES IS 14 PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE YEAR PRIOR.

GUNS WERE USED IN 79 PERCENT OF HOMICIDES IN THE RICE WENT FROM TOY 19.

ELIMINATE DATA FROM THE GUN VIOLENCE ARCHIVES A SHOOTING TRACKER SUGGESTS THAT THESE TRENDS CONTINUED INTO 2021.

EDDIE, HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR NEW ROLE AT THE DOJ AS ONE THAT CAN REVERSE THOSE TRENDS?

>> I THINK FIRST OF ALL MICHAEL FACT THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS PRIORITIZING GUN VIOLENCE AS AN EPIDEMIC ISSUE IS A GOOD INDICATOR FOR THE FIRST TIME THE MINISTRATIONS IN OUR COUNTRY THAT IS REALLY PRIORITIZING THE ISSUE.

THE FACT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS ALLOWING SOMEONE WITH MY LIVED EXPERIENCE BUT ALSO COUPLED BY THE EXPERIENCE I HAVE I IMPLEMENT THESE PROGRAMS WOULD ALLOW US TO INFORM SOME OF THE DECISIONS WE WOULD MAKE THAT WOULD ENGAGE POLICY ISSUES AND WHERE WE COULD ALLOCATE OUR RESOURCES TO HAVE A BIGGER BANG FOR OUR BUCK.

>> AS WE MENTIONED YOU PIONEERED A NUMBER OF ANTIVIOLENCE EFFORTS IN CHICAGO INCLUDING URBAN WARRIORS AND READY CHICAGO.

LOOKING BACK, WHAT HAVE THOSE PROGRAMS TAUGHT YOU THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN OTHER PLACES WITH HIGH RATES OF GUN VIOLENCE?

>> IS INTERESTING.

I THINK TOO OFTEN PEOPLE HAVE A MISCONCEPTION OF THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE.

I WOULD SAY THAT THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE WITH URBAN CHICAGO AND THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CRIME LAB HAS AFFORDED US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT DATA, TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CALL A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY TO ASSESS WHO ARE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT THE HIGHEST RISK OF GUN VIOLENCE.

HISTORICALLY THERE'VE BEEN MANY INSTANCES AND PROGRAMS ESSAY WE WORK WITH THE HIGHEST RISK OR WE WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND YES YOUNG PEOPLE ALSO APPEAR TO BE AT RISK BUT FOR THE MOST PART THE DATA TELLS US WHEN WE LOOK AT THINGS LIKE CHICAGO WELL OVER 80 PERCENT OF THE VICTIMS AND PERPETRATORS ARE THOSE WHO ARE 18 YEARS AND OLDER.

THAT MEANS THE RESOURCES HAVE TO BE ALLOCATED FOR THAT POPULATION.

WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE MISCONCEPTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE IS JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PROGRAM IT DOES NOT ERASE ALL THE YEARS OF TRAUMA THAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN HAVE EXPERIENCED.

WE NEED SERVICES THAT ARE GOING TO GO BEYOND A SIX-MONTH PROGRAM OR TWELVE-MONTH ROW GRAHAM.

WE HAVE TO GO MUCH DEEPER BECAUSE PROGRESS IS NOT LINEAR.

PEOPLE WILL HAVE SETBACKS AND THEY WILL RELAPSE.

WE ALSO TO THINK ABOUT THE ECOSYSTEMS IN WHICH THE MEN AND WOMEN OPERATE IN.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

IN CHICAGO GUN RELATED VIOLENCE IS ALSO TARGETED AS A DRIVER OF GUN DEATHS AT THE SHOOTINGS WHO WERE KILLED BY GANG CROSSFIRE.

IS THIS A DRIVER OF VIOLENCE IN OTHER CITIES?

>> THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IN MANY KEY CITIES LIKE CHICAGO.

YOU CAN HAVE THE STRICTEST POLICY ISSUES AROUND GUNS AS AN EXAMPLE AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO DETER PEOPLE FROM PICKING UP A GUN.

I THINK WHAT WE ARE NOT FOCUSING ON IS WHY PEOPLE PICK UP GUNS TO BEGIN WITH AND WHAT IS THE ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT?

JUST LAST YEAR RECORD HIGH NUMBERS OF GUNS THAT WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE STREETS AND DESPITE THAT WE STILL SEE INCREASED SHOOTINGS IN THE COMMUNITIES AND IT TENDS TO BE TRUE IN OTHER CITIES THAT ARE NEIGHBORING OTHER STATES HAVE MORE LAX POLICIES AROUND GUN LEGISLATIONS.

WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT POLICE DO HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PUT IN RESOURCES INTO TACKLING THIS ISSUE.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

THE UPTICK IN GUN VIOLENCE HAS COINCIDED WITH THE PANDEMIC.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS A COINCIDENCE?

>> WELL, THE RESEARCH IS STILL EVALUATING AND ASSESSING THIS.

THEY NEED TO BE SOME LEVEL OF CORRELATION BETWEEN WHAT WE SEE WITH THE INCREASE IN COVID OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AND THE INCREASE IN TRUST AND MISTRUST OF LAW ENFORCEMENT NOT TO MENTION THE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE EVOLVING AS A RESULT OF THAT.

I THINK THE PANDEMIC AND IS SELF HAS REALLY MADE ME AND THE COMMUNITIES WERE ALREADY FRACTURED AND VULNERABLE IN WHAT THAT MEANS IS PEOPLE ARE FEELING LESS HOPE IN THE COMMUNITY.

ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY SEE OTHER PEOPLE IN NEIGHBORING SUBURBAN AREAS HAVING MORE ACCESS AND RESOURCE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CURRENT NEEDS THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY FACING.

>> THOUGH THE NUMBERS ARE HIGH ACROSS THE COUNTRY MOST PEOPLE WERE UNAFFECTED BY GUN VIOLENCE IN THEIR PERSONAL LIFE.

HOW CAN YOU MAKE EVIL CARE ABOUT A PROBLEM THAT THEY DON'T THINK WILL AFFECT THEM?

MAXWELL AGAIN THIS IS A MISCONCEPTION THAT MOST AMERICANS MIGHT HAVE.

YOU KNOW, YOU THINK THE AVERAGE COST BASED ON THE STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE WHEN SOMEBODY IS KILLED ON AVERAGE A COST ANYWHERE FROM $10-$15 MILLION.

FOR THAT INCIDENT.

AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDING THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THE FAMILY AS WELL.THAT MONEY COMES FROM SOMEWHERE AND MOST OF THAT MONEY COMES FROM TAXPAYERS AT THE BEGINNING POINT.

THAT COULD BE MONEY THAT RIGHT NOW AS WE ARE GRAPPLING WITH THESE ISSUES AROUND SOCIAL SERVICES OR INEQUITIES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MINOR TO PUT IN TO HELP FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE.

THAT IS ONE WAY IT IMPACTS PEOPLE.

ANOTHER WAY, PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO TRAVEL INTO LEASES LIKE CHICAGO AND NOW WE SEE INCIDENTS INCREASING IN PUBLIC PLACES THAT TYPICALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SAFE LIKE DOWNTOWN CHICAGO AS AN EXAMPLE HERE THUS ALSO A CHALLENGE.

THESE ISSUES DO IMPACT US ONE WAY OR ANOTHER IT IMPACTS OUR POCKET OR ANOTHER WAY OF HOW WE PERCEIVE SAFETY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS AND YOU ARE A PERSON OF FAITH OR A PERSON WHO CARES ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS IT'S A POINT WHERE WE ALSO RECOGNIZE MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES DON'T HAVE THE EXACT CHOICES THAT MANY PEOPLE DO.

THEY ARE GRAPPLING WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND, YOU TRY TO ASSESS HOW YOU BUILD A COMMUNITY?

>> EDDIE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

OUR THANKS TO EDDIE BOCANEGRA.

>> THANK YOU.

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

>> WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE JOURNEY OF A UNIQUE AGAVE PLANT NAMED QUINN AT THE GARFIELD PARK OBSERVATORY.

IT IS CLOSE TO REACHING THE ROOF AND NOW IT IS OFFICIALLY FLOWERING.

CHICAGO TONIGHT JOANNA HERNANDEZ STOPPED BY THE CONSERVATORY TO LEARN MORE.

>> IS NOT RARE TO SEE TALL PLANTS AT THE GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY BUT IT IS ASTONISHING TO WATCH A PLANT SPROUT WAY PAST ITS GROWTH EXPECTATION.>> 4 TO 6 FEET AND THEN 8 TO 10 FEET AND IT KEPT GOING.

IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

>> TRAN 21 HAD BEEN THE FLORAL CONSERVATORIES FOR YEARS.

IN RESEARCHING PLANTS AND SAID THAT WHEN IS ONE-OF-A-KIND.

>> THEY ARE REALLY INTO IT.

THERE BRINGING THEIR FAMILY AND IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A STAR IT'S LIKE A HUGE GIANT SPIKE OF ASPARAGUS.>> THE AGAVE PLANT IS NATIVE TO MEXICO.

THIS TYPE OF AGAVE IS EXCITED TO GROW 4 TO 6 FEET TALL.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO KEEP GREW ROWING INSIDE THE DESIR HOUSE OF THE CONSERVATORY?

>> I TRIED TO PUT CLASSICAL MUSIC ON FOR THEM OR THAT IS THERE PREFERENCE AND CHICAGO BLUES.

>> YOU DO PLAY MUSIC?

DO YOU THINK THAT HELPS THE PLANTS?

>> I'M SURE IT DOESN'T HURT.

>> THIS IS GREW IN DECEMBER AND IN JUST A COUPLE MONTHS IT LITERALLY SKYROCKETED.

>> IT OPENED UP AND EXPOSED ITSELF.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE TIP OF IT IT'S LIKE A FRUIT.

I KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING ON.

>> IT IS A BIRD!

IT'S A PLANE!

IT'S GREW!

>> IS NOW STANDS AT A WHOPPING 27 FEET.

AND IT IS STILL FLOWERING.

>> IT STARTED FLOWERING TWO WEEKS AGO AND IT HAS GOTTEN UP THAT HIGH BUT IT WILL BE REACHED IN MONTHS BEFORE IT GETS ALL THE WAY TO THE TIP.

>> THERE IS SOME WORK WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING CARE OF GREW ESPECIALLY A ROLE OF POLLINATOR.

>> THAT JUST COMES DOWN AND YOU BRUSH IT ON THERE AND WHAT HAPPENS IS IT ACTUALLY GOES DOWN THE POLLEN TUBE AND THEN THE SEEDS ARE CREATED DOWN IN THE BASE AND HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE A CAPSULE.

>> THIS LIFECYCLE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO WTTW.com/NEWS ANYONE BECAUSE GREW IS BLOOMING TO HER BEST.

>> YOU CAN SEE THESE PIECES AND ALL THE ENERGY GO UP THERE AND THEN SHE WILL SHRIVEL.

LIKE PEOPLE.

IT WILL TAKE MONTHS.

IN THE WILD THIS WOULD BE STANDING UP FOR YEARS AND EVENTUALLY GET LOAN OVER.

>> THERE STILL TIME TO CHECK OUT THIS MAJESTIC AGAVE AND DID I MENTION YOU CAN ALSO TASTE ITS NECK NECTAR?

TRAN 21 HOPES THAT GREW WILL STOP GROWING WHEN IT CLOSE TO THE GLASS.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES I AM JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE CONSERVATORY GREW A MASSIVE AGAPE.

IN 2013 AND AGAPE AMERICANA GREW UP TO 28 FEET.

THE STAFF HAD TO REMOVE A GLASS PANEL TO ALLOW IT TO RISE.

>>> THE TERM FOR INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION WAS COINED FOR THE ANTICIPATED FUSION OF THE DIGITAL WORLD THROUGH TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES.

IN THE NATURE OF OUR DAILY LIVES AS THEY CONTINUE TO BE SHAPED THROUGH TECHNOLOGY THEY FLY HIGH CEO TRAN 24 SAID IT'S TIME FOR LATINOS TO LOOK FOR THE TECH INDUSTRY FOR INSPIRATION.

HERE HE SAYS WHY VIVA LAW REVOLUTION AND LATINO STARTUPS.

>> HELLO, I AM WTTW.com/NEWS BEFORE.

I'M THE CEO OF SUPPLY HI.

PARIS SERVICE COMPANY THAT PROVIDES VISIBILITY TO SUPPLIER SERVICE DATA FOR FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES.

I AM HERE TODAY'S TALK ABOUT WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

IT'S REALLY A MOVEMENT TOWARDS AUTOMATING DATA AND CLOUD COMPUTING FOCUSING ON INTERNET, INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS, CLOUD COMPUTING, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING.

THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO ENTER THE SPACE.

RECENTLY BLOOMBERG REPORTED IN 2021 IT WAS A RECORD SHATTERING SIX AND A 21 BILLION IN VENTURE CAPITAL STARTUPS.

MUCH OF THAT GROWTH WENT INTO AREAS THAT WERE FAR OUTSIDE OF SILICON VALLEY EMERGING COMPANIES IN CHICAGO SAW $7 BILLION OF INVESTMENT IN STARTUPS.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT NOTE OF THAT IS THAT A RECORD NUMBER OF VENTURE CAPITAL FIRMS REVOLVES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT WERE SPECIFICALLY INVESTING IN BLACK AND LATINO OWNED COMPANIES.

AS TRADITIONAL ON-CHIP DOORS WE KNOW THAT THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS A HUGE DRIVER OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.

THE CONSULTING FIRM McKINSEY RECENTLY REPORTED THAT LATINOS START MORE BUSINESSES PER CAPITA THAN ANY OTHER RACIAL GROUP IN THE UNITED STATES.

45 OF 50 STATES SAW AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF LATINO OWNED BUSINESSES FROM THAT PERIOD OF 2012 TO 2017.

WE KNOW WE HAVE THE ENTRE NOUS OIL SPIRIT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

WHILE OUR GROWTH HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY SERVICE-BASED BUSINESSES LIKE PAVING FIRMS, RESTAURANTS AND AUTO REPAIR SHOPS IT'S TIME FOR THE NEW AND YOUNGER GENERATION TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHERE THAT FRESH FACES COMING FROM AND PIVOT.

SO MUCH LIKE OTHER GENERATIONS HAVE DONE IT IS OUR TIME TO TAKE HOLD OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

SO, IT STARTS IN TECH CAREER WHICH IN MANY CASES DON'T NEED A FORMAL DEGREE.

PROGRAMMING CAN BE TRAINED IN A BOOT CAMP BUT WITH THE RICH CULTURE OF CHICAGO YOU CAN START WITH WORK-STUDY PROGRAMS.

IN OTHER SECTORS THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS KNOWN AS A SLEEPING GIANT.

THE SLEEPING WE ARE NO MORE AND THIS IS OUR TIME.

THE WIND IS AT OUR BACK, WE HAVE THE FUNDING THE MARKET IS THERE AND WE IT.

IT'S TIME TO TAKE HOLD OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AND FORCE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

>> YOU CAN FIND OUT ABOUT THE SERIES ON HER WEBSITE.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTD NEWS INCLUDING DETAILS ABOUT A NEW WORKING GROUP THAT IS TASKED WITH ENVISIONING A POST CHICAGO BEARS USE EM CAMPUS.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SUNDAY BEGINNING AT 10 PM.

DON'T FORGET YOU CAN CATCH MY REPORTING ON WBEZ.

NEXT WEEK ON LATINO VOICES ALEX HERNANDEZ WILL BE HERE IN THE HOST CHAIR.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES IM MICHAEL PUENTE.

INCORPORATED YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.