>> GOOD EVENING.

CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

>> EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING AT 5:00 AND 6:00.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, THE BARRIERS.

PEOPLE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION FACED WHEN SEEKING EMPLOYMENT, AND WHAT RESOURCES ARE OUT THERE TO HELP THEM GET BACK TO WORK.

>> A WATCHDOG REPORT SAID UNION LEADERS COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE SMOKESTACK IMPLOSION IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

OUR HEATHER SHERELL HAS THE EXCLUSIVE.

>> REPEATING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER.

>> A NEW PLAN TO MOVE HUNDREDS OF ASYLUM-SEEKERS INTO A CHICAGO LOCATION IS ALREADY GETTING PUSHBACK FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS.

WE SIT DOWN WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, WHO ARE BRIDGING THE GAP TO MENTAL HEALTH IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

>>> AND A CELEBRATION OF TRADITIONS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD.

SOMBRA COMES TO NAVY PIER NEXT WEEK.

>>> OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT, EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE POST INCARCERATION.

THAT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLY IN PART BY SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> OF THE MANY CHALLENGES PEOPLE REVEALED IN THEIR LIVES AFTER INCARCERATION FACE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST IS LANDING A STEADY JOB.

ACCORDING TO THE PRISON POLICY INITIATIVE, NATIONWIDE, JOBLESSNESS AMONG FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE IS 27%.

THAT'S ABOUT FIVE TIMES THE OVERALL RATE , AND THAT'S A PROBLEM, BECAUSE EMPLOYMENT CAN BE CRITICAL FACTOR IN KEEPING PEOPLE FROM RETURNING TO PRISON.

BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS RESEARCH SHOWS FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE WILL MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT FOR ONE YEAR POST RELEASE HAD ONLY A 16% RECIDIVISM RATE COMPARED TO A 52% RATE FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT STAY EMPLOYED.

AS PART OF WTTW'S FIRST INITIATIVE THIS SEASON EVALUATING LIFE AFTER PRISON, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK POST INCARCERATION WAS THE CODIRECTOR OF THE LIFT WORKS PROGRAM AT HHP LEFT, AND FRANCISCO PEREZ , RE-ENTRY NAVIGATOR WITH THE CHICAGO WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP.

I WANT TO WELCOME YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TODAY, BUT I WANT TO START WITH YOU, FRANCISCO.

IF I MAY, FRANCISCO.

WHY DO YOU THINK OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING IS SO IMPORTANT FOR HELPING PEOPLE RE-ENTER AFTER INCARCERATION?

>> ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT PEOPLE RETURNING FACE , FACE IS, IS LACK OF MONEY.

SO WHEN YOU COME HOME, THE FIRST THING YOU NEED IN YOUR POCKET IS MONEY TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN YOURSELF.

YOU MIGHT COME HOME AND BE LIVING WITH A FAMILY MEMBER, A FRIEND, YOU KNOW.

AFTER A WHILE, IT GETS, IT GETS TO BE TOO MUCH FOR PEOPLE, SO HAVING EMPLOYMENT WHEN YOU FIRST COME OUT AND HAVING MONEY, BEING ABLE TO SUSTAIN YOURSELF AND SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY, AT LEAST WITH THE LITTLE BIT OF MEANS THAT YOU HAVE, IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT YOU CAN GIVE TO SOMEBODY COMING OUT.

>> AND THE TRAINING.

THAT'S WHY OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> YEAH.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED THE ROAD HOME, AND THE CHICAGO WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP, IS A PROGRAM THAT I BUILT ALONG WITH ANOTHER NAVIGATOR, AND WE GET A YEAR WORTH OF WRAPAROUND.

WE SOURCE IT TO PEOPLE PRE-RELEASE AND CARRY THEM INTO POST RELEASE AND GIVE THEM A YEAR WORTH OF TRAINING, WHETHER IT BE VOCATIONAL TRAINING OR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

>> WHAT ARE SOME UNIQUE NEEDS FOR OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING THAT PEOPLE RETURNING FROM PRISON HAVE THAT OTHERS DON'T?

>> SO PART OF THIS IS THAT THEY NEED SOFT SKILLS AND HARD SKILLS TRAINING.

IT'S , JUST AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE SOMEBODY COMING IN, THEY ARE COMING INTO A WORKSHOP, WE CAN MAKE THEM FEEL AT HOME, THEY, WE TRAINED THEM IN ORDER FOR THEM TO HAVE THE POSSIBILITY FOR THEM TO CREATE THIS SYSTEM OF HELP FOR THEMSELVES, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMETIMES ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS SAYS, WE'VE BEEN INCARCERATED FOR FIVE OR 10 YEARS.

I COME BACK HOME, AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

YOU COME HOME , AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACTUALLY USE THE PROGRAMS.

IF YOU GO TO , WE TEACH ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS.

SO THAT HELPS THEM ALSO CREATE CONFIDENCE , AND WITHIN THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO FOR THE NEXT JOB, RIGHT, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO INTO.

>> SO YOU WOULD SAY TECHNOLOGY'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES FOR THEM COMING OUT OF PRISON.

>> YES.

DEFINITELY TECHNOLOGY WOULD BE ONE OF THE MAIN FACTORS.

>> FRANCISCO, WHAT DOES THE CHICAGO WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP DO TO HELP PEOPLE RE-ENTER AFTER INCARCERATION?

>> WELL, WE GIVE EVERYBODY IN OUR PROGRAM, WE, WE GIVE EVERYBODY , IMMEDIATELY, ONCE THEY GET RELEASED , A CAREER COACH AT ONE OF OUR TWO CENTERS, AND THEY MEET WITH A CAREER COACH , AND WE GIVE THEM, LIKE I SAID, A YEAR WORTH OF SERVICES.

BUT WE GIVE THEM A SEAMLESS RE-ENTRY.

THEY COME HOME, IMMEDIATELY MEET A CAREER COACH, WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO HAVE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS AS SOON AS THEY GET OUT, AND THEN FROM THERE, WE GIVE THEM ALSO SOFT SKILLS TRAINING.

AND WE OFFER A SUITE OF, A SUITE OF PROGRAMS, EVERYTHING FROM ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMS TO THE WORKFORCE OBSERVATION GRANT, AND WE USE THAT TO HELP PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, LIKE, MY EXAMPLE WOULD BE TRUCK DRIVERS.

IF THEY CAME HOME AND WANTED TO BE A TRUCK DRIVER, YOU WOULD SIGN UP FOR THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND PAY $6000 TOWARDS ANY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU WANT.

SO IF YOU WANTED TO BE A TRUCK DRIVER, IT'S ABOUT $6000 TO GET A LICENSE.

YOU WOULD COME IN, SEE YOUR CAREER COACH, AND THEN YOU TAKE YOUR CLASS AND THEY'LL PAY FOR IT.

>> DEFINITELY A PLATFORM FOR THEM.

>> DEFINITELY.

WE GOT A LOT OF GUYS THAT COME HOME, AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO WORK FOR OTHER PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY SPENT SO MUCH TIME AWAY, SO TRYING TO OPEN THEIR OWN BUSINESS OR WORK FOR THEMSELVES IS A BIG THING.

>> ALEXANDRA, CAN YOU OUTLINE THE PROGRAMS THAT IT OFFERS FOR PEOPLE POST INCARCERATION?

>> YEAH.

SO ACTUALLY WORKS WITH READY CHICAGO, WHICH WE ARE ON THE JOB TRAINING.

SO PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED THAT COME TO OUR WORKSHOP, THEY GET TO LEARN, AGAIN, SOFT SKILLS, HARD SKILLS.

WE CREATE CANDLES , SOAP, AND BATH PRODUCTS, SO THEY'RE ABLE TO LEARN THOSE SKILLS, AND ALSO WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN THEY CREATE ALL THESE SKILLS, THEY BECOME SELF-CONFIDENT.

AND PART OF OUR PROGRAM IS ALSO TEACHING ONE-ON-ONE BASIS .

WE GET TO KNOW THE INDIVIDUAL PERSONALLY AND SEE WHAT THE STRUGGLE IS .

WHAT ARE THEY LACKING?

OR WHAT THEY WANT TO LEARN.

FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF OUR PARTICIPANTS WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CREATING HANDLES.

HOW CAN I BECOME A BUSINESS?

HOW CAN I MAKE THIS A BUSINESS?

SO THEY CREATE , WE CREATE THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM AND REALLY PUSH TOWARDS SUCCESS FOR THEM FOR THE NEXT STEP.

>> RIGHT.

AND OBVIOUSLY, THE OBJECTIVE IS FOR THEM TO FIND A JOB.

SO, FRANCISCO, WHAT YOU HEAR FROM EMPLOYERS AFTER HIRING FORMERLY INCARCERATED?

>> YOU WOULD THINK, BASED ON THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, YOU WOULD THINK THAT PEOPLE, PEOPLE WERE HESITANT.

BUT NOW, THEY'RE HIRING PEOPLE WITH SO MANY BACKGROUNDS EVERYWHERE.

AND I HAVEN'T, I'VE HEARD MORE EMPLOYERS SAY THAT THEY, THEY ACTUALLY GET A BETTER WORKER FROM, FROM INCARCERATION, BECAUSE THEY, THEY'VE HAD TIMES TO REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED EMPLOYMENT, BUT ALL THEY HAVE IS THEIR JOB, SO THEY COME HOME, THEY KIND OF GIVE IT THEIR ALL.

I'VE GOT NOTHING BUT GOOD REPORTS FROM EMPLOYERS.

>> ALEXANDRA, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO SUPPORT PEOPLE COMING OUT OF PRISON?

>> IT JUST GETS THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEFINITELY COME BACK, AND THAT WILLINGNESS.

THEIR, THEY'RE TEAM PLAYERS.

THEY'RE HARD WORKERS.

THEY'RE, WHEN THEY COME BACK, THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THE SYSTEM AGAIN.

THEY WANT TO -- WE OFFER THEM, ALSO, THE SUPPORT WHEN IT COMES TO MOCK INTERVIEWS, ALSO RESUME BUILDING , AND WHO DOESN'T GET NERVOUS WHEN AN INTERVIEW?

WE WANT TO GET THAT OPPORTUNITY BACK TO THEM, RIGHT?

WE WANT THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL ONCE THEY COME OUT.

PART OF THAT IS THAT YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO COME BACK TO WHERE , TO INCARCERATION.

YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

AND BY SUPPORTING OFTEN NONPROFITS LIKE OURS, YOU'RE SUPPORTING THAT POSSIBILITY.

>> FRANCISCO, WHAT ARE YOUR METRICS FOR SUCCESS?

>> WE WANT EVERYBODY , WE LIKE EACH PERSON THAT WANTS TO GET RELEASED TO COME IN AND TAKE THAT YEAR WITH THE SERVICES, BUT IF I CAN GET THEM INTO VOCATIONAL TRAINING OR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THREE MONTHS, EMPLOYED FOR AT LEAST THREE MONTHS STRAIGHT, THEN I CONSIDER THEM, YOU KNOW, A+ FOR THE PROGRAM.

>> YOU SO MUCH.

OUR TIME HERE IS SHORT, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANKS, FRANCISCO PEREZ, AND ALEXANDRA.

YOU'LL FIND MORE INFORMATION ON BOTH THE CHICAGO COOK WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP AND HHP LEFT ON OUR WEBSITE AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FIRSTHAND, LIFE AFTER PRISON, BUT THAT ALSO WTTW.COM/FIRSTHAND.

>>> UP NEXT, BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND A WATCHDOG REPORT ON THE BOTCHED SMOKESTACK IMPLOSION IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

AND A CONVERSATION RECORDED EARLIER.

THERE COULD'VE PREVENTED A PLUME OF DUST FROM ENVELOPING LITTLE VILLAGE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A CONFIDENTIAL WATCHDOG REPORT OPINION BY WTTW NEWS, BY NONE OTHER THAN REPORTER HEATHER SHARON, WHO JOINS US NOW WITH ITS EXCLUSIVE HEATHER, FORMER GENERAL JOSEPH FERGUSON, WHO COMPLETED HIS 94 PAGE REPORT JUST BEFORE HE LEFT OFFICE IN OCTOBER 2021, WHAT DID HE FIND?

>> HE FOUND THAT, AS YOU SAID, THE CITY COULD'VE PREVENTED A CLOUD OF DUST FROM ENVELOPING SIX BLOCKS OF LITTLE VILLAGE HAD THEY REQUIRED THE FIRMS THAT WERE TAKING DOWN THE SMOKESTACK TO APPLY FOR A NEW PERMIT.

INSTEAD, THE CITY AGREED TO AMEND A PERMIT FIRST ISSUED IN JULY 2018 THAT DID NOT SEEK PERMISSION TO USE EXPLOSIVES TO DEMOLISH THE SMOKESTACK.

>> SO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOUND THAT THIS COULD'VE BEEN PREVENTED.

WHY WASN'T IT?

WHY ARE WE JUST LEARNING ABOUT IT NOW?

AND ESPECIALLY TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS ELECTING POTENTIALLY A NEW MAYOR.

>> WELL, FERGUSON FOUND THAT THIS WAS A MULTIAGENCY BREAKDOWN OF CITY REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AND CONSTITUTED A KNOWING BUREAUCRATIC ACQUIESCENCE IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY NEGLIGENT DEMOLITION THAT GENERATED IT PARTICULATE DUST CLOUD ON SITE THAT WAS PREDICTABLY PROPELLED INTO THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY OF CHICAGO'S LITTLE VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO IT WASN'T ONE PERSON'S FAULT.

THIS WAS A SYSTEMIC BREAKDOWN , BECAUSE OFFICIALS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS DID NOT REQUIRE THIS NEW PERMIT, WHICH MEANT THAT OFFICIALS IN THE CHICAGO TO PERMIT A PUBLIC HEALTH COULD NOT IN SHORT THERE WERE ADEQUATE MEASURES IN PLACE TO STOP AT DUST CLOUD IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> OF COURSE, WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED , AT A TIME OF THE RESPIRATORY PANDEMIC.

SO ONLY DISCIPLINE HANDED OUT BY CITY OFFICIALS TO THE THREE EMPLOYEES PROBE BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WITH A WRITTEN REPRIMAND.

YOU SPOKE WITH ALL THE MEN, MIKE RODRIGUEZ, WHO REPRESENTS THE SIX BLOCKS COVERED BY THIS DUST CLOUD.

IS HE SET-ASIDE?

>> HE IS NOT.

HE SEES THIS AS AN EXAMPLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO HAPPEN IN A PRIMARILY WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD.

OF COURSE, LITTLE VILLAGE, THE HEART OF CHICAGO'S LATINO COMMUNITY.

>> HEATHER SHARON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, >> AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S WTTW.COM /NEWS.

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

>>> THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS HEDGING A PLAN TO MOVE 658 ASYLUM-SEEKERS FROM LOCATIONS IN THE SUBURBS TO A NEW CENTRAL LOCATION IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

BUT THE PLAN'S ALREADY GETTING PUSHBACK FROM MULTIPLE OFFICIALS AND IMMIGRATION GROUPS WORRY ABOUT THE CONDITIONS AT THE NEW SITE.

PARACHUTES HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: THIS 1000 SQUARE FOOT FORMER KMART SITS VACANT AT THE CORNER OF POLASKY AND 71st STREET ON CHICAGO'S SOUTHWEST SIDE.

WTTW NEWS HAS LEARNED THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES IS PREPARING TO MOVE 658 RECENT MIGRANTS ARRIVALS INTO THE SITE FOR TEMPORARY SHELTER.

SOURCES TELL WTTW NEWS THAT MIGRANTS, MOSTLY ASYLUM-SEEKERS, WILL BE RELOCATED FROM THE SUBURBS WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY STAYING IN HOTELS.

ACCORDING TO DOCUMENTS WE OBTAINED, THE SITE WAS SELECTED BECAUSE OF ITS NEARBY RESOURCES, AND THAT IT'S A WELCOMING NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT SOME LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE NOT YET READY TO ROLL OUT THE WELCOME MAT.

IN A LETTER TO DHS SECRETARY GRACE HOW , LOCAL STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANGELICA GUERRERO CUELLAR SAYS SHE HAS SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE PLAN.

UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT BELIEVE THE PROPOSED MIGRANT SHELTER LOCATION AT 71st STREET AND POLASKY ROAD IS READY TO SAFELY HOUSE 658 MIGRANTS.

MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT WHETHER THE FACILITY IS PREPARED TO SERVE AS SAFE HOUSING FOR THIS MANY PEOPLE.

I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PAUSE THE OPENING OF THE PROPOSED SITE AS WE WORK TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES.

AND 23rd WARD ALDERMAN SILVANA TAVAREZ ECHOES SIMILAR RESERVATIONS.

AFTER BEING BRIEFED ABOUT THE STATE'S PENDING PLAN TO HOUSE MIGRANTS AT THE LOCATION AT 71st AND POLASKY, I HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE HOUSED AT THIS LOCATION.

CHIEF AMONG THOSE CONCERNS , IS THERE ENOUGH PUBLIC SAFETY AROUND THE AREA?

AND WILL THE MIGRANTS BE HOUSED INHUMANELY INTENSE AFTER SLEEPING IN HOTEL BEDS?

JOHANNES FADI IS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE INTERFACE COMMUNITY FOR DETAINED IMMIGRANTS.

HE SAYS HE'D RATHER SEE FAMILIES TAKE THE MIGRANTS INTO THEIR HOMES.

>> TO SEE THAT WE HAVE , AROUND THE CITY THE BE GOOD , WE HAVE GREAT, GREAT COMMUNITY, AND EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE REPEATING THE CITY.

>> Reporter: THIS DISPUTE COMES ON THE HEELS OF UNEASE IN THE WOODLAWN NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE SOME LOCAL RESIDENTS TRIED TO BLOCK THE TEMPORARY SHELTER OF MIGRANT AT THE SHUTTERED WADSWORTH SCHOOL.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT HAS SAID THE CITY IS ALREADY AT CAPACITY TO HOUSE MIGRANTS.

IT'S UNCLEAR NOW WHEN THE MOVE-IN DATE WILL HAPPEN.

FADI SAYS THE MIGRANTS HAVE UNDERGONE HARROWING JOURNEYS, AND ARE STILL STRUGGLING WITH THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE CURRENT SITUATION.

>> PEOPLE ARE GRATEFUL FOR HAVING THE SUPPORT, THE NEW SUPPORT .

THEY AREN'T COMPLETELY DEPRESSED, AND THE BRINK OF, OF GIVING UP.

>> Reporter: AGAIN, THAT WAS PARIS SHOOTS.

IN A STATEMENT, THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES SAYS THE STATE HAS SET ASIDE $30 MILLION FOR ASYLUM-SEEKERS AND INTERIM FACILITIES LIKE THE CLOSED KMART.

QUOTE, THOSE RESIDING IN THIS FACILITY WILL SHARE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WITH OTHERS , AND WILL HAVE ACCESS TO EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING, AND IMMIGRATION.

THE ICH WILL INCLUDE A FIRST AID STATION, 224 SEVEN REGISTERED NURSES, A LICENSED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS, 24/7 UNARMED SECURITY, AND DESIGNATED MORAL, WELLNESS, AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES.

NOW TO JOIN US, LEADERS BRIDGING THE GAP AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

>>> ALEX, THE LATINO COMMUNITY, MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS ARE OFTEN STIGMATIZED, CAUSING SOME TO NOT SEEK THE CARE THEY NEED.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, MORE THAN HALF OF ADULTS AGES 18 TO 25 WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESSES MAY NOT RECEIVE TREATMENT.

ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR THE EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN LATINO COMMUNITIES FOR YEARS.

JOINING US TO TALK MORE ABOUT THEIR EFFORTS TO BRIDGE THE GAP ON MENTAL HEALTH ARE MARILYN RODRIGUEZ, BILINGUAL PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND COMMUNITY LIAISON , AND RICARDO CAMACHO, FOUNDER OF THE ORGANIZATION .

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

NOW, WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT, AND MARILYN, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

YOU WERE BORN AND RAISED IN THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO.

TELL ME WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT WITH YOU TO GET INTO THE MENTAL HEALTH.

>> GROWING UP, I MEAN, SIMILAR TO MOST OF US, RIGHT, I'M FIRST-GENERATION.

THERE WAS A LACK OF RESOURCES, LACK OF SUPPORT, AND SO I NEEDED GUIDANCE, AND OFTEN TIMES, I DIDN'T FIND PEOPLE THAT LOOKED LIKE ME OR SHARED MY BACKGROUND.

AND SO BEING ABLE TO GUIDE YOU IN THIS FIELD, GIVEN MY OWN EXPERIENCES, YOU KNOW, IS POWERFUL.

>> AND RICARDO, I WANT TO ASK YOU A SIMILAR QUESTION.

YOU'RE CURRENTLY AT COLLEGE.

AT WHAT POINT IN YOUR CAREER DID YOU KNOW YOU WANTED TO WORK WITH YOUTH?

>> FROM MY EXPERIENCES, YOU KNOW, GOING OVER, YOU KNOW, 10 SCHOOLS, 10 SCHOOLS, THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICES WITH THE SCHOOLS.

AND JUST ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THE PSYCHOLOGY SCHOOLS, RIGHT?

JUST BEING, WANTED TO BE PART OF THAT, YOU KNOW, EFFORT TO REALLY SUPPORT YOU.

YOU KNOW, YOU, WHO ARE LIKE MYSELF.

SALVATION, BILINGUAL.

AND JUST EXPLORING THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

LIKE, I THINK IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL THAT I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE HERE.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED FOR TWO YEARS AT A HIGH SCHOOL.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE, THE NEED INCREASE FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AMONG YOUNG, YOUNG ADULTS?

HOW DO YOU GUIDE THEM?

>> WE SEE THE NEED INCREASING EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND I THINK FROM COUNSELING TO JUST BEING THERE FOR THEM, PROVIDING EVENTS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING VERY NATURAL TO THE WORLD AROUND THEM, RIGHT?

SO MY FOUNDATION, AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.

SO JUST MEETING WITH THEM, BEING THERE WITH THEM, IS HELPFUL IN THAT WAY.

>> AND I THINK WE CAN ALSO SAY SOCIAL MEDIA PLAYS A PART, CORRECT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH, NO, SOCIAL MEDIA, I MEAN, NOWADAYS, RIGHT, YOU SPEND SO MUCH TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE.

>> AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH.

THE PLACES THAT WE ALL PROBABLY GREW UP WITH, I'M NOT CRAZY, OR WHAT WOULD THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, HOW DO THESE PHRASES MAYBE STOP PEOPLE FROM SEEKING THE HELP THAT THEY NEED?

>> IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SILENT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.

EXPERIENCES THAT EVERYONE IS SEEING, FROM STRESS TO UNCERTAINTY, YOU KNOW, PAIN.

I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE NORMALIZED.

EVERYONE'S GOING THROUGH SOMETHING.

>> AND, MARILYN, ARE YOU NOTICING THAT NOT ONLY YOUNG ADULTS ARE SEEKING THERAPY, BUT ALSO PEOPLE WHO ARE OVER 40?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND SO A PART OF WHAT OUR ROLE IN THE STIGMA FINE MENTAL HEALTH IS EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

GOING OUT INTO COMMUNITIES, HAVING THE CONVERSATION, AND REALLY JUST BUILDING, YOU KNOW, THERAPY BEING FOR LOCALS .

YEAH, HELPING THE COMMUNITY , JUST BEING MORE AWARE OF THE SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, AND HOW TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

>> RICARDO, YOU FOUND THE LOOP OVER THE SUMMER, WHICH WORKS TO NORMALIZE MENTAL HEALTH CONVERSATIONS, AND YOU RECENTLY HOSTED A MENTAL HEALTH CONVERSATION.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

WHAT WAS THE FEEDBACK LIKE?

>> EVERYONE WAS SO GRATEFUL FOR THE EXPERIENCE, AND I WAS HAPPY FOR THAT SOLE REASON, YOU KNOW?

WE PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO COME BY AND JUST, YOU KNOW, HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THEY COULD COME AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH, AND JUST SEEING EVERYONE BEING GRATEFUL LET ME KNOW THAT THIS IS NEEDED, YOU KNOW?

DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN ONCE A MONTH.

IT CAN HAPPEN AS LONG AS WE WANT TO, AND I'M HOPING SOME CAN BE PART OF THAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.

>> AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THAT CONVERSATION?

>> THAT EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING GOING ON, YOU KNOW?

AND I THINK SOMETIMES WE WAIT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE , AND WE CAN START HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS BEFORE, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE , BECAUSE WHETHER YOU, YOU'RE A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, EXPERIENCING, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, OR WHETHER YOU'RE THE PARENT OF A STUDENT.

AND I THINK AS A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, I'VE BEEN SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH FAMILIES, AND WE SAW THAT, LIKE, WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE WORST OF THE WORST.

WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS NOW AND TODAY.

>> YOU THINK PEOPLE OF ALL, ALL AGES?

>> YES, WE, WE, WE HAD SO MANY IDENTITIES, YOU KNOW.

IT WASN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT LOOKED LIKE ME.

WE HAD COMMUNITIES FROM THE LGBTQ, YOU KNOW, TRANS COMMUNITY.

WE HAD, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE MY PARENTS AGE, AND THEY WERE TALKING AND HAVING A BLAST, YOU KNOW?

I WAS LIKE, MOM, DON'T SAY NOTHING EMBARRASSING ABOUT ME.

BUT TO ME, THAT'S COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

AND WE DID SO IN A WAY THAT WE WERE CELEBRATING MENTAL HEALTH ALTOGETHER.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE ALL DO THIS, BUT WE'RE ALL FIRST-GENERATION, AND MARILYN, I WANT TO GO TO YOU.

WHAT WAS A PROCESS LIKE FOR YOU, WHEN YOUR FAMILY KNEW THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE A THERAPIST, YOU WERE GOING INTO THAT FIELD?

HOW DID THE CONVERSATIONS GO ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH WITH YOUR FAMILY, BREAKING THOSE GENERATIONAL PATTERNS AND TRAUMA?

>> YEAH, IT WAS A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION THAT I HAD TO HAVE.

AND TO THIS DAY, I THINK THAT A LOT OF WHAT I DO IS EDUCATE MY FAMILY, YOU KNOW?

SOMETIMES THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT MENTAL HEALTH AND BEING A THERAPIST IS, RIGHT?

YEAH, THE MYTH AROUND THE DISORDERS, OR, RIGHT, THE WAY THAT WE SPEAK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH , AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO EDUCATE THEM ON MYSELF IS JUST PART OF SELF-CARE.

THIS IS PART OF SETTING BOUNDARIES.

HOW WE CAN EXPRESS AND BETTER COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS.

I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE TIME, I FIND MYSELF, AGAIN, HAVING TO EDUCATE THEM ON WHAT MENTAL HEALTH IS , BECAUSE THEY NEVER HAD, YOU KNOW, IT SPACES WHERE THEY COULD LEARN OR UNDERSTAND THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH >> AND RICARDO, DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR FAMILY UNDERSTANDS AND IS MORE OPEN TO HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS?

ALSO AS NAILS, BECAUSE WE KNOW IN OUR CULTURE, MICHIKO IS A REAL THING.

>> MY FATHER TO MY MOTHER, I THINK JUST BEING A PROFESSIONAL, THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE THAT AWARENESS, AND EVEN THEN, RIGHT, THEY, THEY NEED GUIDANCE, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT EVEN 10, 20 YEARS AGO, IT WAS DIFFERENT, AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH, RIGHT?

AND HOW MENTAL HEALTH WASN'T AS NORMALIZED AND BEING TALKED ABOUT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO KIND OF HAVING , EVEN IN JUST ONE GENERATION, THAT BRINGS HOPES OF WHERE WE CAN TAKE IT EVEN FOR THE NEXT GENERATION AS WELL.

>> MARILYN, I ONLY HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS LEFT, BUT HIS THERAPY CONCERNED?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, WE ARE TRYING TO BRIDGE THE GAP TO ACCESS, RIGHT, TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

AND SO THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN WAYS IN WHICH SOME PEOPLE THAT AREN'T SURE THAT YOU HAVE MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO ACCESS THEM , BUT PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, RIGHT, AND COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY IS BEING ABLE TO BRIDGE THOSE GAPS BY PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT DON'T NECESSARILY , THAT ARE AFFORDABLE .

A LOT OF THERAPY WE DO HAS AN INTERIM PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE PRO BONO AND FREE SERVICES TO PEOPLE THAT ARE UNINSURED.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO, TO BRIDGE THOSE GAPS.

>> ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY?

WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE SECONDS LEFT.

>> I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT WITH MENTAL HEALTH IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY.

I THINK EVERYONE HAS STRESSORS, EVERYONE HAS DIFFICULTIES, UNCERTAINTY, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH CAN JUST BE TALKING ABOUT THIS YEAR FAMILY.

IT CAN BE TALKING TO A BEST FRIEND, AND JUST ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO HELP YOU TODAY, THAT'S MENTAL HEALTH.

AND THAT'S HOW WE NORMALIZE IT.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

THANKS TO RICARDO CAMACHO AND MARILYN RODRIGUEZ.

>>> NOW, ALEX, BACK TO YOU.

>>> THANKS, JOANNA.

CARNIVAL CELEBRATIONS ARE ON THEIR WAY, AND STARTING NEXT WEEK, ACTUALLY, YOU'RE ALL INVITED TO EXPERIENCE SOME INTERNATIONAL CARNIVAL TRADITIONS IN A FREE EVENT AT NAVY PIER.

>> NEXT WEEKEND ON FEBRUARY 25th, NAVY PIER IS HOSTING OUR SECOND INSTALLMENT OF OUR GLOBAL CONNECTIONS EVENT SERIES CALLED INTERNATIONAL CARNIVAL , AND IT IS A CELEBRATION OF THE CARNIVAL EVENT ACROSS MULTIPLE CULTURES.

THERE WILL BE SINGING, DANCING, ARTS AND CRAFTS, FOOD, MUSIC.

I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT PEOPLE WILL SAY IS THAT IT WON'T JUST BE ONE CULTURE REPRESENTED AS PART OF THE CELEBRATION, BUT IT'LL BE A MELDING OF MULTIPLE CULTURES, AND THERE WILL BE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES, A LOT OF UNIQUE DIFFERENCES AS WELL.

IT'S PRE-EVENT.

THE SPIRIT OF THE CELEBRATION IS FOR PEOPLE TO SET ASIDE THEIR INDIVIDUAL IDENTITIES AND , IN A SPIRIT OF SOCIAL UNITY.

WE ALSO WORK WITH LOCAL CULTURAL LEADERS FROM THE COMMUNITY , SO IT'S VERY AUTHENTIC , AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO WALK AWAY WITH A FUN EXPERIENCE AND REALLY FEEL AS THOUGH THEY'RE BEING EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT CULTURES THAT THEY SEE ACROSS THE GLOBE.

>> IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO FUSE A, KIND OF A WARM SPIRIT OF THE CELEBRATION HERE AT A TIME WHERE THE WEATHER IS NOT AS, AS WARM AS IT IS CELEBRATED IN OTHER PLACES.

SO IT BRINGS A NICE FEEL TO THE PEER, FIELD TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE DURING SOME OF OUR WINTER MONTHS.

>> SOUNDS LIKE FUN, DEFINITELY.

YOU'LL FIND MORE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> WELL, THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

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

I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

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

ASK FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES .

A PROUD SPONSOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION FOCUSED