CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES.

>> GOOD EVENING.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

I'M PHIL PONCE.

A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE STORIES FROM THE PAST YEAR.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT THE SWEEPING INFRASTRUCTURE LAW IS SENDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO ILLINOIS FOR UPGRADES IN ROADS, TRANSIT AND WATER SERVICES.

ARE BUSINESSES READY TO HANDLE THE WORK?

AMERICA'S LATINOS HAVE MONEY TO SPEND BUT COMPANIES DON'T ALWAYS KNOW HOW TO CONNECT WITH THEM.

WE BREAK IT DOWN WITH LOCAL MARKETERS.

AN ORGANIZATION AIMED AT HELPING REFUGEE WOMEN START A NEW LIFE.

FIND OUT HOW.

>> TAKING THAT ONE STEP CAN LEAD TO SO MUCH CHANGE WITHIN YOUR LIFE.

>> AND A TEEN ACTIVIST GIVES US THE LAST WORD ON THE EMOTION SHE SAYS PREVENTS MANY PEOPLE FROM STANDING UP FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT, A RECENT CONVERSATION ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOW LATINO-OWNED FIRMS COULD BENEFIT FROM LEGISLATION PASSED IN WASHINGTON.

HERE IS WBEZ'S ARACELI.

>> LOCAL FIRMS GEARING UP FOR BIG BUSINESS AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED THE $1 TRILLION BILL INTO LAW.

THE PLAN WILL SEND BILLIONS TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR LONG NEEDED UPGRADES INCLUDING $110 BILLION FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES, $66 BILLION FOR RAILROADS, $39 BILLION FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT AND $55 BILLION FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO WATER SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE.

$17 BILLION OF THOSE DOLLARS ARE HEADED TO ILLINOIS ADDING TO THE $45 BILLION THE STATE IS ALREADY SPENDING ON INFRASTRUCTURE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONSULTING FIRM IN DEPTH CHICAGO AND THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT WITH THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FIRM PREMIER ENGINEERS AND THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE ILLINOIS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ARE ILLINOIS CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING FIRMS IN PARTICULAR LATINO-OWNED FIRMS, READY TO TAKE ON ALL OF THESE PROJECTS?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US, THIS INCREDIBLE PANEL.

IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE SERVING THE COMMUNITY.

YES AND NO.

THAT'S A YES AND NO QUESTION.

IT DEPENDS ON WHERE THE COMPANY IS AT.

I HOPE THEY ARE READY.

AND I HOPE AND I PRAY THAT EVERYBODY IS READY TO ACCESS THOSE DOLLARS.

THE MONEY IS COMING SOON AND THE DEVELOPMENT WILL HAPPEN SOONER.

SO I JUST HOPE REACHES OUT TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS THAT HAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THE COMPANIES ARE PROPERLY CERTIFIED AND PROPERLY BONDED.

THAT'S THE KEY.

IF YOU HAVE A CONSTRUCTION FIRM, IF YOU WANT ACCESS TO THESE PARTICULAR DOLLARS, YOU NEED TO START THINKING OF CERTIFICATION, M.B.E.

OR BONDING.

>> YOU SAID THIS MONEY IS COMING SOON.

DANA, THESE PROJECTS WILL ALSO MEAN THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN THE TRADE.

ARE THERE ENOUGH WORKERS TO FILL ALL THE ROLLS?

WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT SHORTAGES.

>> THAT'S A COMPLICATED QUESTION.

I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH WORKERS AVAILABLE, BUT I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME DRASTIC IMPROVEMENT IN MEANS OF ACCESS TO THOSE WORKERS.

IN MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR CONTRACTS AND WITH CONTRACTORS OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS, THE CONTRACTORS CALL AND NEED WORK ON A TUESDAY, THEY NEED THEM WEDNESDAY MORNING.

THERE'S A LOT OF PLANNING THAT GOES ON AND SOMETIMES WORKFORCE GETS LOST IN THE MIX.

WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO CONNECT THE CONTRACTORS WHO NEED THE PERSONNEL TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE BASIC THINGS LIKE P.P.E., TRANSPORTATION, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND THAT DOESN'T, THAT ISN'T JUST -- THE ONUS ISN'T JUST ON THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TYPE AGENCIES, BUT ALSO ON THE LARGE FIRMS TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, IN THE WORKFORCE, AND TO DO SOME GOOD OUTREACH AND MAKE THOSE THINGS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO WORK ON THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> CAN YOU GIVE US ANY EXAMPLES?

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY PROVIDE TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THE WORKERS?

>> SURE.

I MEAN, IN MY EXPERIENCE, I WORKED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WHERE DIVERSE, DIFFERENT FRANCHISE INDIVIDUALS HAVE QUALIFIED FOR PROGRAMS TO WORK IN A LABOR CAPACITY.

PEOPLE AREN'T OFTEN COMFORTABLE SAYING I CAN'T AFFORD WORK BOOTS, I DON'T HAVE A RIDE TO THE JOB SITE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO READ PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS.

THERE'S IMMEDIATE CONCERNS, THEY ARE SO OVERWHELMED WHEN THEY GET ON THE JOB SITE.

I THINK MAKING THOSE BASIC NEEDS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE JUST VERY SIMPLY, SOME OF THE LARGER FIRMS, TO THEM THIS MIGHT BE RUDIMENTARY OR OVERSIMPLIFYING OBVIOUSLY.

BUT MAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THOSE PEOPLE TO THE WORK TEAM, TO THE WORK SITES.

I KNOW THERE'S PLAY JOR DEVELOPMENTS AND -- MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS AND THINGS IN PLAY TO HELP REMEDY THIS ISSUE OF ACCESSIBILITY, BUT WE NEED TO PUT WORKERS ON THE GROUND NOW, AND WE NEED TO HELP THEM.

AND ALSO JUST UNDERSTANDING THE LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T COMFORTABLE LEAVING A LOWER-PAYING JOB WHERE THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET THOSE 40 HOURS A WEEK, TO LEAVE IT TO MAKE $45 AN HOUR FOR THREE MONTHS BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE A LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITY.

THAT'S NOT THEIR SITUATION, NOT THEIR CONDITIONING.

SUPPORT.

SUPPORT TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> ALL GOOD POINTS.

I WANT TO BRING YOU IN.

WE JUST HEARD WORKERS.

BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO TAKE NOT JUST TRADESPEOPLE BUT CIVIL ENGINEERS TO GET SOME OF THESE PROJECTS DONE.

I'M WONDERING WHAT DOES THE PIPELINE LOOK LIKE FOR LATINO ENGINEERS AT THIS MOMENT?

>> WELL, HAVING QUALIFIED ENGINEERS IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.

THE CHALLENGE IS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT EVERY DAY.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE STARTED AND HAVE FOR MANY YEARS STARTED IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL TO GET KIDS, LATINO KIDS IN PARTICULAR INVOLVED AND LEARNING ABOUT STEM CAREERS AND SEEING ROLE MODELS THAT LOOK LIKE THEM SO THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS A PATH FOR THEM, THAT THEY CAN BE AN ENGINEER, THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEM THAT HAVE THESE GREAT JOBS.

AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT WITH LATINOS IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE THERE'S STILL A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE OVERALL ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE PROFESSION AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT.

>> PLANTING THE SEED PRETTY EARLY ON.

ARE THERE ANY BARRIERS FOR LATINO-OWNED BUSINESSES TO GET SOME OF THESE PROJECTS?

YOU MENTIONED EARLIER YOU WANT PEOPLE TO REACH OUT.

>> THERE'S A BUNCH OF BARRIERS FOR MINORITY OWNED COMPANIES TO ACCESS THOSE CONTRACTS.

THE KEY IS TO WORK WITH THE RIGHT AGENCY THAT'S GOING TO HELP YOU AND ALLOW YOU TO HAVE EVERYTHING READY WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY COMES.

WE ARE ABOUT TO SIGN AN N.Y.U.

TO ALLOW ENGINEERING SCHOOLS TO BECOME, AND COMPANIES TO BECOME MENTORS OF PARTICULAR STUDENTS.

THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A PATHWAY FOR JOBS FOR YOUNG AND LATINO ENGINEERS TO GET ACCESS TO THOSE JOBS.

THAT'S THE KEY.

>> WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR SMALL CONTRACTORS WHO WANT TO GET IN SOME OF THESE CONTRACTS?

>> I WOULD SAY DO SOME HOMEWORK ON WHAT AGENCIES YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WORKING FOR.

ALSO TO SPEND THIS TIME TO ENSURE THAT YOUR INTERNAL INFRASTRUCTURE HAS THE APPROPRIATE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN WORKING ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE-TYPE CONTRACTS.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE TRANSITIONING INTO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING AS A RESULT OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE BILL OR JUST WIDENING OR SCALING YOUR PRESENCE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT PROCEDURES IN PLACE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE PROFITABLE.

YOUR RISK IS COMPROMISED.

AND ALSO TOO, GET TO KNOW THE AGENCIES.

LEARN HOW TO READ THE PLANS AND THE SPECIFICATIONS WELL.

BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER IF YOU'RE THE PRIME CONTRACTOR, THE PRIME CONSULTING FIRM OR A THIRD TIER SUBCONTRACTOR, EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO THE SAME INFORMATION.

UNDERSTAND HOW TO READ THOSE CONTRACTS.

UNDERSTAND THE SUBCONTRACT YOU'RE SIGNING.

AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE EVERY PARAGRAPH OR EVERY WORD.

AND ALSO TO BE ABLE TO FIND WHAT INFLOW YOU NEED, EVEN UNDERSTAND.

DO I KNOW WHAT I'M GETTING MYSELF INTO AND IS MY COMPANY CAPABLE OF PERFORMING?

>> THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY.

OUR THANKS TO DANA AND THE OTHERS FOR JOINING US.

BACK WITH MORNING BUSINESS CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO BUSINESS -- BACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES AFTER THIS.

>> AMERICA'S LATINOS SPEND AN ESTIMATED $1.7 TRILLION ANNUALLY.

THE HISPANIC COUNCIL SAYS 6% OF OVERALL INVESTMENT IS SPENT TARGETING THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

JOINING US WITH MORE IS THE C.E.O.

AND COFOUNDER OF A MARKETING AGENCY AND THE C.E.O.

AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR BRANDS TO CUSTOMIZE THEIR APPROACH TO THE LATINO MARKET?

IS THERE EVEN SUCH A THING AS A LATINO MARKET?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK THE FIRST THING -- FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.

I THINK THE THING IS TO UNDERSTAND A COUPLE OF POINTS.

LATINOS AREN'T A MONOLITH, IN ANSWERING THE QUESTION THAT YOU JUST ASKED.

WE COME FROM ALL OVER LATIN AMERICA.

YES, WE DO LIKE SOCCER BUT SOME DON'T LIKE SOCCER.

SOME SPEECH SPANISH AND OTHERS PREFER ALL ENGLISH.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY AN HISPANIC MARKET.

THE THING THAT'S INTERESTING AND THAT MARKETERS NEED TO REALLY DO IS DUE DILIGENCE TO UNDERSTAND WHO THEY'RE SPEAKING TO AND REALLY DO IT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T SOUND INGENUINE, DOESN'T SPEEM TO STEREOTYPES, BUT LEVERAGES THE LANGUAGE IN A WAY THAT IS TRULY MEANT TO RESONATE WITH THAT PARTICULAR MARKET.

>> DOES IT HAVE TO DO MORE WITH HOW MUCH THE HISPANIC LATINOS CAN SPEND ON WHY COMPANIES SPEND, DECIDE HOW MUCH TO SPEND ON THE LATINO MARKET?

>> I THINK, YES, IT HAS TO DO WITH SPENDING.

IT HAS TO DO A LOT WITH UNDERSTANDING THE MARKET AND HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT AND HOW IT'S APPLIED.

LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER, IT CAN BE A VERY EXPENSIVE MISTAKE IF YOU DON'T DO YOUR DILIGENCE, HOMEWORK.

>> WHAT ARE SOME MISTAKES YOU'VE SEEN IN MARKETING APPROACHES TO LATINOS?

>> WELL, THERE HAS BEEN SOME MISTAKES WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN STEREOTYPICAL, YOU COULD SEE VISUAL IMAGERY THAT PEOPLE THINK, THE GENERAL MARKET MAY THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT REPRESENTS US.

IN FACT, WE REALLY JUST WANT TO BE UNDERSTOOD.

WE WANT TO BE, WE WANT THE BRANDS OR THE SERVICES TO BE INCLUSIVE AND TO ALSO HAVE EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY.

THEREFORE, YOU HAVE AN INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP.

>> AFTER ALL, WE DRIVE THE SAME CARS AND WE DRINK THE SAME SODA, RIGHT.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GENERATIONS OF LATINOS?

WHAT ARE YOUNGER GENERATIONS LOOKING FOR?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO SOME OF THE BRANDS THAT WE WORK WITH.

JUST THAT YOU WOULD HAVE IN THE GENERAL MARKET, YOU HAVE YOUR GEN Z COHORTS, YOUR MILLENIAL AND YOUR BOOMERS SO TO SPEAK AND JEN X BETWEEN THERE.

AS YOU LOOK AT THE YOUNGER GENERATION WE ARE ENTERING A SUPER AREA OF TRANSPARENCY.

TRANSPARENCY IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT WITH CLIENTS AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THIS YOUNGER, VERY MULTICULTURAL COHORT, AND LATINOS ARE LEADING THE CONVERSATION IN A LOT OF RESPECT.

A LOT OF INTERACTION AROUND TRANSPARENCY.

THE ENVIRONMENT IS INCREDIBLY TOPICAL RIGHT NOW.

JUST THE IDENTITY AND EMBRACING ALL THINGS LATINO.

THIS PARTICULAR DEMOGRAPHIC, THE YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC IS REALLY LIVING IN THIS IDEA AND WE CALL THEM TWO HUNDRED PERCENTERS.

YOU'RE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT LATINO, YOU'RE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AMERICAN.

AND THOSE THINGS BRIDGE IN AND OUT DEPENDING ON CONTEXT AND WHERE YOU ARE.

THAT WHOLE GENERATION IS ALSO SUPER UPWARDLY MOBILE MEANING IT'S ALL THINGS DIGITAL, EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH YOUR TELEPHONE.

IT'S A DYNAMIC FLUID PART OF THE POPULATION.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT LANGUAGE.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT LANGUAGE APPEALS TO LATINOS?

>> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE LIKE YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS, THERE ARE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS.

YOU CAN HAVE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF THAT SAME LATINO MARKET THAT DOESN'T PRECISELY SPEAK A HUNDRED PERCENT SPANISH AT THE HOUSE, BUT THEY DO CONSUME AND THEY DO BEHAVE AND GO ABOUT THEIR LIFE IN A LATINO FASHION.

WHEN YOU HAVE LANGUAGE THAT IS MISCOMMUNICATED, THAT CAN BE A PITFALL.

A LOT OF -- AT THE BEGINNING, SOME YEARS AGO THERE WERE MANY CAMPAIGNS WHERE THEY WERE LITERALLY TRANSLATING THEIR COMMERCIALS OR BILLBOARDS, AND IT WAS JUST MISSING THE BOAT.

BUT NOW I THINK THINGS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN TO YOUR POINT, IT'S ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE COMMUNITY.

DO YOU THINK MARKETERS ARE DOING A BETTER JOB REACHING LATINO AUDIENCES IN RECENT YEARS?

>> HAS IT GOTTEN BETTER FOR SURE?

WE HAVE A LOT OF ROOM -- >> WE JUST HAVE 30 SECONDS.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM TO GROW.

THEY'VE GOTTEN A LOT BETTER.

I THINK YOU'RE SEEING A LOT MORE INTEREST.

THEY'RE CERTAINLY SEEING THE ECONOMIC VALUE THAT LATINOS BRING TO THE TABLE, SO WE'RE CERTAINLY SEEING A TRAJECTORY TOWARDS A MORE ACTIVE HISPANIC MARKET IN A GENUINE WAY.

>> GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEY MARKET THE LATINOS IN THE COMING TEN YEARS PER SE.

THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WE'RE BACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> EVERY YEAR THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES SEEK ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES.

AN ORGANIZATION IN DU PAGE COUNTY IS HELPING REFUGEE WOMEN GET BACK ON THEIR FEET BY TEACHING THEM HOW TO BECOME DESIGNERS.

WE RECENTLY WENT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION.

>> SHE NEVER IMAGINED SHE WOULD HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE TO HER LIFE IN VENEZUELA.

>> I NEEDED TO LEARN A NEW LIFE.

I AM NOT YOUNGER.

I DIDN'T KNOW THE LANGUAGE.

WHEN THE PEOPLE NEED TO GO TO THESE OTHER COUNTRIES, THE PEOPLE DON'T WANT THAT, THAT THE PEOPLE NEED THAT.

>> SHE SAYS SHE WAS FORCED TO LEAVE HER COUNTRY FOUR YEARS AGO, HAVING TO PART WAYS WITH HER BUSINESSES AND HEAD TO ILLINOIS TO LIVE WITH HER DAUGHTERS.

>> WHEN I CAME HERE, I SAW THAT MY LIFE WAS -- WHAT HAPPENED?

WHY ME?

HERE I LISTENED TO HISTORY AND SAY, WOW, BE QUIET.

THE LIFE FOR OTHER PEOPLE HAS BEEN MORE DIFFICULT.

>> SHE'S TALKING ABOUT RENEW, A PLACE SHE MET OTHER WOMEN WITH SIMILAR STORIES.

IT'S A FAITH-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES REFUGEE WOMEN IN DUPAGE COUNTY.

>> OUR MISSION SNO IS TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR REFUGEE WOMEN TO THRIVE.

WE OFFER SEWING CLASSES AND ENGLISH CLASSES IN HOPES IT LEADS TO A JOB WITH US OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> SHE WAS EAGER TO LEARN ENGLISH AND SEWING AND BECAME AN ARTISAN.

>> YOU CAN LEARN THAT YOU CAN DO IT.

RENEW TAKES CARE OF THE PEOPLE HERE.

THEY PAY ATTENTION, WHAT IS YOUR FEELING, WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOUR FAMILY.

THAT GIVES YOU DIGNITY.

>> THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN AS A SEWING GROUP AND SLOWLY GREW INTO AN ORGANIZATION IN 2009.

RENEW'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KRISTI ZBONCAK SAYS MORE THAN A HUNDRED WOMEN PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM AND HAVE WORKED FOR THE SHOP.

>> WE FIND THAT SEWING AND CREATING IS DEFINITELY A HEALING PROCESS FOR ARTISTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY DID NOT KNOW THEY COULD SEW, AND THEY COME HERE AND THEY ARE FEELING ALONE AND FEELING DEFEATED, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY HAVE A FRIEND AND THEY HAVE A MACHINE AND THEY CAN START TO CREATE AGAIN.

>> I COME HERE AND NOT SPEAK ENGLISH, NOT A LITTLE BIT, LITTLE BIT.

>> FARIDA GASANOVA HAS WORKED FOR RENEW FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

SHE WAS A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER WHEN SHE FLED THE COUNTRY OF GEORGIA AT 47 YEARS OLD.

NOW SHE IS A DESIGNER MAKING ALL KINDS OF THINGS FROM EARRINGS AND HANDBAGS.

>> EVERY TIME PRAY, PLEASE GOD, [INAUDIBLE] YEAH.

EVERY TIME COMES, FIRST TIME PRAY.

>> ALL THE PRODUCTS THEY SELL AT THE STORE IN GLENN ELLEN ARE MADE FROM UPCYCLED MATERIAL DONATED FROM FURNITURE STORES IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> A LOT OF OUR PRODUCTS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT.

THAT'S BECAUSE WE PAY A FAIR WAGE AND ALL THEIR WAGES GO DIRECTLY INTO THE COST OF THE PRODUCT.

>> EVEN THOUGH THEIR JOURNEYS HAVEN'T BEEN EASY, SHE SAYS THE ORGANIZATION HELPED HER START OVER.

>> TO BE VERY GRATEFUL BECAUSE HERE AT RENEW, I HAVE A FAMILY AND I AM LIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER HERE.

EVERY DAY I SAY THANK YOU TO THIS COUNTRY FOR THIS NEW OPPORTUNITY.

>> YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RENEWAL PROJECT.

AT 17 YEARS OLD, A CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR A ALEXANDER COLLINS IS ALREADY AN ACCOMPLISHED ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST.

IN 2018 SHE FOUNDED A NONPROFIT GROUP FIGHTING TO BAN THE EMISSION A CARCINOGENIC GAS NEAR SCHOOLS AND HOMES.

HER ACTIVISM HELPED PROMPT THE CLOSURE OF A COMPANY THAT EMITTED THE OXIDE INTO HER COMMUNITY FOR 30 YEARS.

IN NOVEMBER SHE GAVE US THE LAST WORD ON THE EMOTION SHE SAYS STOPS MANY PEOPLE FROM CREATING CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND HOW YOU CAN STOP IT FROM STOPPING YOU.

>> MY NAME IS ALEXANDER COLLINS.

I AM A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT FROM ILLINOIS, AND I'M ALSO A VERY PROUD LATINA.

I'M ALSO THE COFOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF STUDENTS AGAINST ETHYLENE OXIDE.

STUDENTS AGAINST ETHYLENE OXIDE IS THE ONLY COMPLETELY STUDENT RUN NOT FOR PROFIT FIGHTING AGAINST CANCER-CAUSING ETHYLENE OXIDE EMISSIONS NEAR SCHOOLS.

MY ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST WORK HAS TAUGHT ME ONE VERY IMPORTANT LESSON.

I LEARNED THAT IN ORDER TO TAKE ACTION, WE MUST NOT BE EMBARRASSED.

I CAME TO THIS REALIZATION A FEW YEARS AGO WHILE I WAS ATTENDING AN E.P.A.

FORUM.

I REMEMBER GOING UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND ASKING ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT DOCTORS WHAT MEASURES STUDENTS SHOULD BE TAKING IN ORDER TO AVOID GETTING CANCER CAUSED BY ETHYLENE OXIDE, AND HER RESPONSE WILL FOREVER BE INGRAINED IN MY HEAD.

SHE TOLD ME THAT STUDENTS SHOULDN'T SMOKE IN ORDER TO AVOID GETTING CANCER.

HER RESPONSE WAS NOT ONLY FLIPPANT BUT IT COMPLETELY STEREOTYPED TEENAGERS, MAKING IT SEEM THAT WE COULDN'T BECOME ACTIVISTS, COULDN'T BECOME PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH.

AND I WAS FRANKLY EMBARRASSED.

HONESTLY, BEING A LATINA AND A TEENAGER, I DIDN'T LOOK LIKE MOST PEOPLE IN THAT ROOM.

I WAS EMBARRASSED BECAUSE I FELT LIKE MY QUESTION WAS INVALID.

BUT UPON FURTHER REFLECTION, I REALIZED THERE WAS NO REASON FOR ME TO BE EMBARRASSED.

MY OWN HEALTH WAS BEING IMPACTED BECAUSE OF ETHYLENE OXIDE.

AND SO I HAD EVERY RIGHT TO TAKE MY OWN HEALTH WITHIN MY OWN HANDS.

AND SO I COMMIT MYSELF TO NOT BEING EMBARRASSED.

AND THAT CHANGED MY LIFE SO MUCH.

BECAUSE I WAS NOT INTARRED I WAS ABLE TO -- EMBARRASSED I WAS ABLE TO EXPLORE THE IDEA OF ACTIVISM.

I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO DEDICATE YOURSELF TO NOT BEING EMBARRASSED.

REFLECT ON TIMES IN WHICH YOU FIND EMBARRASSMENT CREEPING IN.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT BECAUSE WE LIVE TOGETHER IN THIS WORLD, WE FIGHT TOGETHER IN THIS WORLD.

WE SHOULD SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

DON'T BE EMBARRASSED BECAUSE TAKING THAT ONE STEP CAN LEAD TO SO MUCH CHANGE WITHIN YOUR LIFE.

>> AND YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ALEXANDER COLLINS' WORK ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

CHECK OUT WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT, KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10 P.M. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES, I'M PHIL PONCE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY, STAY SAFE, AND BUENOS NOCHES.