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

AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

GOOD EVENING.

Y BIENVENIDAS TWO CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ.

CHERISH EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING WITH YOU AT FIVE AND 6:00.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEK WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT HOW INFLATION IS DEPLETING THE SAVINGS OF LATINO FAMILIES AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

>>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS LOSING STUDENTS AT AN ALARMING RATE.

WE LOOK AT WYATT WITHIN THE AUTHORS OF A NEW STUDY.

>>> A FAMILY OWNED HARDWARE STORE HAS BEEN A FIXTURE IN PILSEN FOR DECADES GETS READY TO HAND OVER THE KEYS TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> I SAY IF YOU CAN WALK YOU GOT RHYTHM.

>> THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS HAVING TWO LEFT FEET AT THE CHICAGO'S INTERNATIONAL SALSA DANCE FESTIVAL.

IT IS BRINGING AFRO LATIN FLAVOR TO CHICAGO THIS WEEK.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT IF YOU ARE SELLING LATINOS ARE BUYING.

THUS THE CONCLUSION OF A MARKET REPORT DONE BY THE COMPANY.

IT SHOWS THE AVERAGE LATINO HOUSEHOLD SPENDS A LITTLE OVER $2.5 MILLION.

AS HIGH SPENDING IMPACTS EVERY AMERICAN WALLET MEANS THEY COULD FEEL THE PINCH EVEN MORE.

ACCORDING TO THE SAME REPORT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS LATINOS SPENT $2300 ON APPAREL, FIVE PERCENT MORE THAN THE AVERAGE US HOUSEHOLD.

$4700 ON GROCERIES.

THAT'S ABOUT 1.4 PERCENT MORE THAN THE AVERAGE.

IN 17 PERCENT MORE ON HOME CLEANING PRODUCTS.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT INFLATION IS HAVING ON AMYLASE FINANCES ARE ANTONIO ALVA A FINANCIAL ADVISOR WITH NORTHWEST JORDAN MUTUAL AND JAMIE DOMINGUEZ A PROFESSOR AT NORTHWESTERN UNIT OF UNIVERSITY.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU JAMIE.

ARE THERE ANY INEQUALITIES TO HOW THE TINA FAMILY SPENDS THAT MAKE INFLATION BETTER OR WORSE FOR THEM?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TRADITIONALLY LATINO FAMILIES HAVE MULTIMEMBER HOUSEHOLDS SO YOU HAVE MULTIPLE WAGE EARNERS IN THE HOUSE.

INSTEAD OF NEUTRALIZING THE IMPACT OF A PANDEMIC YOU ARE ABLE TO NEUTRALIZE THAT BY BEING ABLE TO PULL THEIR RESOURCES TOGETHER TO HELP PAY FOR COSTS SUCH AS ELECTRICITY, RENT, WATER, ETC.. ON THAT FRONT THEY ARE ABLE TO AT LEAST NEUTRALIZE THE IMPACT.

HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME THE PANDEMIC IS GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME.

THIS HABIT OR IT IS DIFFICULT TO SUSTAIN IN THE LONG TERM BECAUSE PRICES CONTINUE TO GO UP.

WHAT THAT CAN LEAD TO IS THESE INDIVIDUALS TAKING ON MULTIPLE JOBS AND THAT CREATES A POTENTIAL FOR UNDEREMPLOYMENT.

AGAIN, ON THE SHORT TERM I THINK THEY ARE OKAY IN TERMS OF THEIR SPENDING HABITS.

>> WHICH A LOT OF FAMILIES WERE ALREADY DOING TRYING TO CATCH UP, A LOT OF FAMILIES LOST THEIR JOBS SO THEY WERE ALREADY IN A PICKLE AND NOW WITH INFLATION THINGS ARE GETTING TOUGHER FOR THEM.

ANTONIO, WHAT ARE SOME TIPS THAT YOU HAVE FOR FAMILIES TO SAVE MONEY DURING THIS TIME?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION PEERED THE FIRST THING IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE FINANCIAL VEHICLES OUT THERE THERE'S SO MUCH INFORMATION.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO.

>> Guest: A FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL TO HELP YOU AND GUIDE YOU.

AS LATINOS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT A FINANCIAL ADVISOR IS.

ONE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THEY CAN HELP US.

GROWING UP LATINOS WERE MEANT TO SAVE CASH.

IF YOU CAN'T PAY FOR THINGS BUT IN THE CASH.

THE CASH IS THE SAME IN INFLATION GOES BY YEAR AFTER YEAR.

SO YOU CAN HAVE YOUR WORK WORK FOR YOU INSTEAD OF YOU WORKING HARD FOR YOUR MONEY.

THEY'LL BE UNDERSTAND HOW TO COMBAT INFLATION ESPECIALLY DURING HARD TIMES.

>> JAMIE THE INDUSTRY THAT LATINOS ARE WORKING FOR ARE THEY HIGHLY US UP SUSCEPTIBLE TO INFLATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE SERVICE INDUSTRY IS THE INDUSTRY THAT IS TAKEN THE MOST HIT.

THAT HAS AN EFFECT BECAUSE ALL OF THE LATINOS FOR EXAMPLE COME FROM 80 PERCENT OF THE WORKFORCE AND ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY I BELIEVE THEY MAKE UP 27 PERCENT OF THOSE OCCUPATIONS.

IF YOU LOOK AT COOKS THEY ARE ALMOST 40 PERCENT.

AND SO YOU DEFINITELY ARE SEEING THAT IMPACT.

AND SO, IT DOESN'T HELP THAT IN THESE OCCUPATIONS THESE ARE LOW WAGE EARNERS THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ENOUGH IT AND THEY ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE, MORE VULNERABLE.

EVIDENTLY THAT IS AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS HIT THEM AND ALSO BECAUSE OF THE LOW WAGES AS I MENTIONED JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO SOMETIMES THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY SEEK A HIGHER PAYING JOB AND THAT CAN LEAD TO UNEMPLOYMENT.

IF WE JUST LOOK AT THE UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS OVERALL LATINOS HAVE BEEN HIT THE HARDEST.

IF YOU JUST LOOK AT PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR LATINOS TODAY IS FAR AND ABOVE THAT.

IF WE JUST LOOK AT GENDER LATINA WOMEN HAVE SUFFERED THE MOST ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR IN 2021 LATINOS MADE UP THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF UNEMPLOYMENT BY ALMOST 20 PERCENT.

A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THEY HAD TO EITHER ONE LEAVE THE WORKFORCE OR THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC AND HELP WITH RESPONSIBILITIES.

AND THEREFORE THAT IMPACTS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLY DELAY EARLIER THEIR SPENDING BECAUSE THERE'S LESS MONEY IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

YES WITHOUT A DOUBT DISPROPORTIONATELY OVERREPRESENTED IN THE INDUSTRY BUT ALSO UNDERREPRESENTED IN A POSITION, MANAGERIAL POSITION IN THAT INDUSTRY AND WE KNOW IT COULD LEAD TO BETTER JOBS.

>> YES.

THIS TAKES US TO SMALL BUSINESSES, RIGHT?

ANTONIO, WHAT ABOUT THE BUSINESSES OF LATINO OWNED?

ARE THEY ALSO STRUGGLING AS A RESULT OF INFLATION?

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR THEM?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THIS IS KNOWN FOR BUSINESS OWNERS PAY THEY COME TO CHICAGO FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM.

BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE SEEN THE PRICE OF THE COST OF GOODS, THEY PAY MORE FOR GAS BILLS, ETC..

SO BUSINESS OWNERS THEY ARE FORCED TO PAY MORE FOR GOODS AND THAT MEANS THE INCREASE OF PRICE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY ANOTHER CONSUMER HAS TO PAY FOR THAT.

SO NOW WE SEE THE GASOLINE'S, THE MILLS, IT IS ALL GOING UP IN PRICE.

SO IT WILL HELP BUSINESS OWNERS UNDERSTAND WHAT CAN THEY DO TO SAVE FOR THE FUTURE AND KEEP AWAY INFLATION BECAUSE MATHEMATICALLY INFLATION IS GOING TO OUTPACE THE CASH.

SO WE WANT BUSINESS OWNERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY CAN DO TO COMBAT THAT.

>> DOMINO EFFECT NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

DOES A SENSE OF INFLATION HAVE ANY POLITICAL CONSEQUENCE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE THAT IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS COMING UP.

A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STATE OF COLORADO WHICH HAS THE LARGEST LATINO POPULATIONS IN THE STATE THIS DISTRICT IS NOT UP WHAT IS FRONT AND CENTER IS INFLATION AND A LOT OF THE MESSAGING COMING OUT OF THE PUBLIC AND CANDIDATE IN DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IS AFFORDABILITY AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO DEAL WITH INFLATION AND HOW THEY WILL DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC.

THE PANDEMIC HITTING AT SCHOOLS?

THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE GOING TUTSIE VERY SPECIFIC ON HOW THEY ARE GOING TO PUT FORWARD CLEAR-CUT PLANS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH IT HERE.

>> LIKE YOU SAID WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE ELECTION AND WE ARE CUTTING IT SHORT HERE ON THE INTERVIEW.

I JUST WANT TO CLOSE WITH YOU ANTONIO.

THE WAYS THAT LATINOS TYPICALLY MANAGE THEIR MONEY DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HOW THEY EXPERIENCE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES?

WE ARE LESS THAN 30 SECONDS.

>> IT DOES.

BECAUSE AS LATINOS WE HAVE THE PRIDE OF WORKING HARD WE WORK HARD BECAUSE WE HAVE TO AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND IT SHOULD WORK FOR US.

WE SHOULD BE EDUCATED AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO DO SO.

SO THINK ABOUT A SNOWBALL.

IT STARTS AND IT ROLLS DOWN THE HILL AND OVER TIME IT GETS BIGGER AND I THINK MONEY SHOULD WORK HARD FOR US NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

>> RIGHT.

I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU, ANTONIO ALVA AND JAMIE DOMINGUEZ I KNOW THIS IS A TOPIC THAT COULD GO ON LONGER AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> UP NEXT DECLINING ENROLLMENT NUMBERS IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

A LOOK AT THE REASONS WHY RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> IN THE LAST 20 YEARS THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS LOST MORE THAN 100,000 STUDENTS WITH 40,000 LEAVING THE SYSTEM IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

TODAY ENROLLMENT STANDS OVER THREE AND A 30,000 ACHING AT THE THIRD-LARGEST BOOK SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE NATION, FOR NOW.

THE EDUCATION ADVOCACY GROUP KITS FOR CHICAGO CONDUCTED A STUDY GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE ENROLLMENT DROP.

THEY FOUND THAT WHILE SOME FACTORS ARE UNIQUE TO CHICAGO ENROLLMENT DECLINE IS ALSO DUE IN PART TO A NATIONWIDE TREND OF LOWER BIRTHRATE OVERALL.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT STUDY'S FINDINGS IS DANIEL ANELLO CEO OF FIRST KIDS CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

AMERICANS AREN'T JUST SIMPLY HAVING FEWER KIDS HOW MUCH IS THE EARTH RATE DECLINE A FACTOR IN THE CPS ENROLLMENT DECLINE?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

THE BIRTHRATE PIECE IS REALLY A PART OF A PUZZLE.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS CONCRETE ENOUGH DATA TO SAY WHAT PERCENTAGE IT IS IN AGGREGATE BUT IF YOU LOOK AT BIRTHRATES IN 2009 FOR EXAMPLE COMPARED TO 2019 JUST IN THE CHICAGO AREA THERE WERE 44,000 BIRTHS IN 2009 AND IN 2019 JUST 10 YEARS LATER THERE'S 33,000.

THAT MEANS 11,000 LESS SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND FOR CPS WHICH GETS ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THOSE STUDENTS.

THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT YEAR-OVER-YEAR AT EVERY SINGLE GRADE LEVEL.

IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PIECE BUT THERE'S ALSO OTHER FACTORS INCLUDING HOW MIGRATION OF CERTAIN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS THAT SUBSCRIBE AT HIGH RATES AT CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS WELL AS PEOPLE MOVING AROUND THE CITY AND CHOOSING OTHER OPTIONS.

>> RIGHT.

WE ALSO SPOKE WITH MICHELLE BATISTA WHO HAS TWO CHILDREN IN THE CPS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

HERE'S SOME OF WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY ABOUT WHY SHE BELIEVES FAMILIES ARE LEAVING CPS.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> I THINK IT O MAKES IT TYPICAL TO RAISE CHILDREN.

I THINK IF YOU ARE COMING IN IN A CERTAIN INCOME BRACKET IT IS EASIER BUT IF YOU ARE COMING IN IN A LOWER INCOME BRACKET THAT'S WHERE WE ARE LOSING FOLKS AND I THINK IT'S WHERE A LOT OF FAMILIES WHO ARE BLACK AND BROWN HAVE HAD TO GO TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HAD TO TRAVEL FARTHER.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE LOSING A LOT OF ENROLLMENT.

>> WHERE ARE THESE FAMILIES GOING?

IS CPS A FACTOR IN PEOPLE CHOOSING TO LEAVE THE CITY?

>> FOR US THIS WAS ABOUT LEVEL SETTING BECAUSE THAT WAS A QUESTION THAT KEPT COMING UP.

IS IS REALLY DRIVEN BY SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING IN CPS AND FOR OUR WORK WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS TO GET TO THE BASE ROOT CAUSE OF THESE TRENDS BECAUSE LOSING KIDS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON FUNDING AND SO THE STATE AND LOCAL TAX REVENUE STANDPOINT OF LOSING THE POPULATION AND THE BIRTHRATE PIECE BEING A BIG DRIVER BUT THINK WHAT WE SHARE HERE IS ABSOLUTE TRUE IN TERMS OF WHAT ARE THE CAUSES THAT WE HAVE SEEN?

PARTICULAR WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY WE'VE SEEN TUNERS SUCCEED THOUSAND MORE THAN 1/4 MILLION BLACK PEOPLE LEAVE CHICAGO IN THE LAST 20 YEARS WHICH IS A STAGGERING STATISTIC.

THESE TO BE A LARGE POPULATION THERE NOW THE THIRD LARGEST POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICALLY AND ALSO ALIGNED WITH WHAT SHE IS SHARING THEY GIVE YOU LOOK AT SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES AND WHEN WE OBSERVE THE LATINX POPULATION WHAT WE SAW WAS THERE'S A NUMBER OF FACTORS DRIVING THAT INCLUDING BIRTHRATE INCLUDING A SLOWING OF THE MIGRATION OF THE LARGEST POPULATION THE LATINX POPULATION WHICH ARE MEXICAN, FOLKS OF MEXICAN HERITAGE.

ONE OF THE BIG DRIVERS IS IDENTIFICATION AND IF YOU LOOK AT CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS SPECIFICALLY FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE LITTLE VILLAGE REGION IT IS AN AREA WHERE THE POPULATION IS COMMONLY LATINO AND PREDOMINATELY SUBSCRIBERS TO CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

85 PERCENT PLUS THE FAMILIES THEY ARE SENDING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOLS AT CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE DECLINE IN THAT REGION LITERALLY THEY LOST ONE IN FIVE STUDENTS THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, THEY CONTINUE ENROLLMENT DECLINE WHAT COULD IT POTENTIALLY MEAN FOR CPS?

>> I THINK FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT IT IS A SIGNIFICANT HIT AND THE POTENTIAL THERE IS A LESS KIDS YOU HAVE THE LESS RESOURCES YOU HAVE COMING IN FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

BECAUSE IT IS MORE OF A MACRO TREND THEN POPULATION TRENDS THAT'S CHANGING AND WERE LOSING POPULATION AND SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES EDGES JUST MEANS THAT THE TAX BASE IS NOT THERE TO FUND THE SCHOOLS.

HOWITT PLAYS OUT IN THE CLASSROOM VARIES AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE IS LESS RESOURCES FOR THE KIDS AND OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE IS A SHRINKING BUDGET.

>> WHAT ABOUT TEACHERS?

ARE THEY ALSO SUFFERING FROM JOB SAFETY?

IS THIS ALSO IMPACTING THEM?

>> AT THIS POINT IT HASN'T BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS EMERGED BUT AS WE THINK ABOUT THE SCALE OF THE DISTRICT IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT.

BUT WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE TO THE SOLUTION OF THIS FOR OUR ORGANIZATION WE THINK IT RESIDES WITH PARENTS AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT ARE SOME THE THINGS THEY THINK SHOULD HAPPEN AND THAT THE NEXT STAGE OF OUR ANALYSIS WHICH WILL BE TO GO AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

>> LET'S LISTEN TO MICHELLE BATISTA ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF STRONG NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS.

>> THE STANDARD SHOULD BE A STRONG ROAD SCHOOL.

IF I GET INTO A GREAT SCHOOL AND I HAVE TO DRIVE AN HOUR OR IF MY KID CAN GET INTO A STELLAR HIGH SCHOOL BUT I AM WORKING UNTIL 6 PM I'M NOT GOING TO PUT MY CHILD IN THAT SCHOOL AND I DON'T THINK THAT CPS IS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT FAMILIES ARE WORKING ONE, TWO, THREE JOBS AND LIVING FARTHER.

IT IS AFFECTING THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND WONDER PARENTS DON'T WANT MORE.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT MOTIVATING MORE PARENTS TO SEND KIDS TO CPS?

>> THAT IS A FACTOR.

I THINK WHAT IS POWERFUL IS THAT WE SHOULD NOT JUST A NUMBERS ORGANIZATION.

WERE TALKING TO PARENTS EVERY DAY AND WERE TRYING TO BRING THAT TO LIGHT TO THE PARENTS AND WE HEARD THAT FROM OTHER PARENT.

THE IDEA OF GETTING INTO A GREAT SCHOOL MINUTE AND HOUR PLUS IN TERMS OF COMMUTE TIME AND NAVIGATION AS A FAMILY AND TRYING TO GET YOUR KID TO SCHOOL IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE HAVE LAYING PIERCE SOME OF THE PARENTS THAT WE TALKED TO SAID EXACTLY THE SAME THING WHERE I THINK THERE ARE OTHER BROADER TRENDS THAT ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT LIKE HOUSING AND FOOD AND THINGS THAT WERE SHARED BY THE PREVIOUS PARENTS QUESTION AROUND ACCESSIBILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT AND FRANKLY THEY ALL INTERCEPT IN TERMS OF THE QUALITIES OF SCHOOLS.

YOU HAVE THOSE THINGS YOU TEND TO HAVE STRONGER SCHOOLS.

>> THERE IS A PART TWO YOUR ANALYSIS FORTHCOMING.

WHAT WILL THAT BE STUDYING?

WE HAVE LESS THAN 30 SECONDS.

>> PART TWO FOR US AND HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE MORE PARTS BEYOND THAT BECAUSE REALLY OUR WORK IS CENTERED ON PARENTS AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY THINK THE SOLUTION SHOULD BE.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT US IS WERE NOT PRESCRIBING A SOLUTION JUST TRYING TO SURFACE ONE BY TREATING DIALOGUE AROUND HERE ARE THE TRENDS HERE'S WHAT IS HAPPENING WHAT ARE THE EGGS THAT YOU COULD HELP COMBAT THAT SO THAT PEOPLE IN THE CITY COULD MAKE GOALS MORE ATTRACTIVE.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO POTENTIALLY STABILIZE ENROLLMENT THE LONG-TERM.

PLUS WE WILL DEFINITELY BE FOLLOWING UP.

DANIEL ANELLO THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

>> I APPRECIATE IT THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT WE VISIT A LOCAL HARDWARE STORE THAT IS BEEN A PART OF THE PILSEN COMMUNITY FOR DECADES.

>> THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE CITY'S HISTORY FAMILY OWNED HARDWARE STORES HAVE BEEN ANCHORED IN JUST ABOUT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN CHICAGO.

OVERTIME COMPETITION FROM BOX STORES AND A LOCK OF SUCCESSORS TO TAKE OVER THE FAMILY BUSINESS HAVE FORCED MANY TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS.

NOW THE OWNER OF A LONGTIME FIXTURE ON 18TH ST. IS NAILING DOWN PLANS TO ENSURE HIS STORE HAS A DIFFERENT FATE.

OUR PRODUCER STOPPED IN TO MEET THE TWO GENERATIONS BEHIND THE COUNTER AT ALVAREZ HARDWARE.

>> I TOLD MY GRANDSON YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

THEY HAVE TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND YOU HAVE TO TREAT EACH AND EVERY ONE WITH RESPECT.

>> PEOPLE, IF YOU WALK AROUND PILSEN AND THEY SEE HIM THEY'LL SAY MR. ALVAREZ AND THEY WILL SALUTE HIM.

>> GIVING PEOPLE SERVICE IS MY PASSION.

I LIKE TO BE WITH PEOPLE AND TALK TO PEOPLE AND OF SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE.

>> OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IN PILSEN HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY CHANGE.

IN THAT TIME THE FACE BEHIND THE COUNTER AT ALVAREZ HARDWARE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME.

RUDOLFO ALVAREZ JAMPACKED 18TH ST. STORE IS FILLED WITH RESIDENTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR ITEMS WHEN HE BOUGHT THE BUSINESS FROM HIS FATHER.

>> I DID KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HARDWARE.

>> ALVAREZ SAID IN THE EARLY DAYS OF RUNNING THE SHOP THE FINANCES OR TOUCH AN.

>> I WOULD RUN TO THE SUPPLIERS FOR FIVE TIMES A DAY BECAUSE I COULD NOT BY A BATCH OF ELBOWS OR NIPPLES OR WHATEVER YOU KNOW?

I USED TO BUY FIVE PIECES AT A TIME, SIX PIECES HERE AND THERE AND THEN MY WIFE WOULD SAY THEY'RE GONE GO BACK HERE'S THE MONEY.

IT WAS A STRUGGLE.

BUT IT PAID OFF.

>> OVER THOSE FIRST FEW YEARS HE SAID THE COMMUNITY TAUGHT HIM WHAT THEY NEEDED FROM THEIR LOCAL HARDWARE STORE.

>> I LEARNED WHAT TO GET AND SELL TO OUR PEOPLE AND WITH THE TIME, IT'S BEEN CHANGING AND SO NOW WE SELL A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENT MERCHANDISE ACCORDING TO THE CLIENTELE AND THE TIMES.

>> AT ALVAREZ HARDWARE DISHWASHER COST THIS $0.18 BUT YOU'RE GETTING 40 YEARS OF KNOW-HOW AND THAT IS WHAT HE SAYS KEEPS PEOPLE COMING BACK.

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE CUSTOMERS WHO MOVE OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY GO TO THE SUBURBS.

THEY STILL COME BACK BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT WE WILL TAKE TIME TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WELL.

>> NOW, RUDOLFO ALVAREZ IS TEACHING HIS GRANDSON JULIE AND THE SOFTER SIDE OF THE HARDWARE BUSINESS.

>> I DID GO TO DAYCARE.

I GREW UP.

EVERY SATURDAY MORNING WE WOULD COME HERE EARLY AND I WOULD ASK QUESTIONS LIKE WHAT IS THAT DUE IS THIS USED FOR, WHY DO PEOPLE COME FOR THAT AND MY GRANDFATHER WOULD TELL ME.

>> I WOULD TELL MY GRANDSON THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A NEED FOR A HARDWARE STORE IN PILSEN.

EVEN THOUGH THE BIG BOXES ARE A MONSTER, THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE IN KNOWING WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS MAKES US UNIQUE.

>> I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO TAKE THIS OVER AND KEEP IT ONGOING.

IT IS A LEGACY THAT WE HAVE.

>> I'M LOOKING FOR A BIKE INNERTUBE.

>> I'M GOING TO MAKE HIM PROUD.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> NOW, RUDOLFO ALVAREZ WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW HE'S NOT RETIRING ANYTIME SOON SO IF YOU NEED ADVICE ON HOW TO FIX A LEAKY FOX FOSSETT HE WILL BE THERE JUST BEHIND THE COUNTER SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

>> CONGRESS IS BACK THIS WEEKEND.

A FOUR-DAY EVENT CELEBRATING AFRO LATIN MUSIC AND JAZZ.

CHICAGO TONIGHT'S REPORTER WENT THERE.

>> IF YOU LOVE TO DANCE AND LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE.

[SINGING] THE 21ST ANNUAL CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL SALSA CONGRESS HAS KICKED OFF.

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S NONSTOP DANCING FOR FOUR NIGHTS AND THREE DAYS AND ABSOLUTELY THE BEST TIME OF YOUR LIFE.

>> THE FOUNDERS HAVE BEEN RUNNING THIS EVENT FOR 21 YEARS.

>> WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT IS SEEING THE CONSTANT NEW RENEWAL OF DANCERS THAT COME AND ENJOY THE CULTURE AND SHARE THEIR TALENT WITH US.

>> IS A DANCE FESTIVAL CELEBRATING THE SOUNDS AND BE OF AFRO LATIN MUSIC.

AFFECTIONAL DANCERS AND MUSICIANS COME TOGETHER FROM AROUND THE WORLD WITH AN LOTION OF CULTURE.

THIS WOMAN FLEW FROM MINNESOTA TO BE HERE.

>> IS DIVERSE.

IT BRINGS PEOPLE FROM ALL AGES ALL COUNTRIES AND BACKGROUNDS AND IT REALLY BRINGS US TOGETHER.

>> THE BEST PART IS YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A PROFESSIONAL TO GET ON THE DANCE FLOOR.THE SALSA CONGRESS HAS A VARIETY OF DANCE WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE IN ALL LEVELS.

>> DANCING IS GOOD EXERCISE.

IT IS GOOD FOR THE MIND AND GOOD FOR THE BODY.

>> WERE NOT BROADLY ATTENDED HER FIRST SALSA CONGRESS SEVEN YEARS AGO AND FELL IN LOVE WITH IT AND WANTED TO GET INVOLVED.

IT INSPIRED HER TO START HER OWN CLOTHING BUSINESS FURNACE CLOSET.

>> I AM 65 YEARS OLD AND I STARTED DANCING SEVEN YEARS AGO AND I LOVE IT.

I FEEL LIKE IT SAVES ME.

I FEEL YOUNG.

>> MUSIC DIRECTOR JR MULLEN SAID HE WANTS TO TAKE GUESTS ON AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNEY OF FLAVOR.

>> WE ARE FROM COLUMBIA, WE HAVE ONE COMING FROM CUBA AND TONIGHT WE HAVE A LOT OF AUDIENCE HERE FROM ALL OVER THE CONTINENT FROM PUERTO RICO, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS.

>> IT'S AN ALL AGES DANCE FESTIVAL WHERE PEOPLE CAN IMMERSE THEMSELVES TO NEW DANCE SKILLS AND LEARN ABOUT NEW CULTURES.

>> THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN SO HARD UNABLE TO CONNECT TO PEOPLE LIKE THIS AND I'M EXCITED THEY ARE BACK IN PERSON.

I LOVE TO DANCE OBVIOUSLY AND I WAS EXCITED TO COME.

>> IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE THE FOUNDERS HAVE A MESSAGE FOR YOU.

ASK IF YOU CAN WALK YOU GOT RHYTHM.

>> A MOMENT WHERE YOU CAN DISCONNECT INTEREST IN.

FOR LATINO VOICES I AM JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> IF YOU CAN WALK YOU HAVE RHYTHM.

I LIKE THAT.

THE SALSA CONGRESS WILL RUN THROUGH MONDAY MORNING AT THE O'HARE WESTIN IN ROSEMONT.

PROOF OF VACCINATION IS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY.

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

DON'T FORGET TO TUNE INTO UNIVISION CHICAGO EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU AND JOIN ME AGAIN HERE NEXT WEEK ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE, I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

BUENAS NOCHES.

>> REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY