>>> GOOD EVENING.

I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF MIGRANTS MAKING THEIR HOMES IN CHICAGO.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SANCTUARY CITY.

>>> IT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE GEORGE RYAN COMMUTED THE SENTENCE FOR EVERY DEATH ROW INMATE IN ILLINOIS WE TALK ABOUT IT'S A LASTING IMPACT.

>>> THEY ARE GOING TO PRIVATE, PAROCHIAL CHARTER SCHOOLS.

>>> HOW LOW INCOME FAMILIES CAN APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

>> THIS IS A FUN CELEBRATION OF THE WINTER.

>> ONE PROGRAM WANTS YOU TO COME OUT FOR SOME FUN THIS WINTER.

ALL THAT IS COMING UP.

WHAT MAKES A SANCTUARY CITY WELCOMING TO MIGRANTS AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS?

WE HAVE MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

>> CHICAGO'S HISTORY AS A SANCTUARY CITY GOES BACK TO 1985, WHEN THE MAYOR HARRELL WASHINGTON ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER PROHIBITING CITY EMPLOYEES FROM ENFORCING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS.

SINCE THAT TIME, THE TERM SANCTUARY CITY AND WELCOMING CITY HAS EVOLVED BEYOND LAW ENFORCEMENT IMPLICATIONS.

AS A NUMBER OF MIGRANTS AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS ARE MAKING THEIR HOME IN CHICAGO, THE CITY'S GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE GRAPPLING WITH WHAT BEING A WELCOMING CITY MEANS FOR ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE THIS PASTOR OF ST. AT THE CURRENT CHURCH AND THE CHIEF ENGAGEMENT OFFICER HERE.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

WE KNOW YOU HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF BECOMING THE CENTURIES FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT WORD HAS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS?

>> OVERALL, IT IS PART OF THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH IN GENERAL, TO WELCOME EVERYONE.

THERE IS THE HISTORY OF ETHNIC GROUPS LIVING IN CHICAGO OVER TO HUNDREDS OF YEARS NOW AND THE CHURCH HAS ALWAYS WELCOMED THOSE GROUPS, YOU KNOW?

IN MANY CASES, THEY FOUNDED PARISHES AROUND THOSE PARTICULAR ETHNIC GROUPS.

LOOKING AT THE MEN AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN SEEKING ASYLUM, AGAIN, THE CHURCH IS STEPPING UP TO RESPOND TO SUPPORT THESE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE TRYING TO REESTABLISH THEMSELVES.

WE ARE CONTINUING A LONG TRADITION OF THE CHURCH.

YES, WE WANT TO CARE FOR THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING AND BY DOING SO, TO SHARE OUR GIFTS WITH THEM THAT EMPOWERS US AS WELL.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION.

I HAVE NOTICED WELCOMING CITY IS BEING USED.

HOW HAS THE STRUCTURE EXPANDED OVER THE YEARS TO OFFER MORE SUPPORT?

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE THEY'RE OBLIGATED TO DO AS A WELCOMING CITY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THROUGHOUT THE PAST DECADES, THEY HAVE USED THE TERM SANCTUARY CITY.

THEY WERE FOCUSED ON USING THE WORD WELCOMING AND THAT IS ON PURPOSE FOR A REASON.

WE THINK IT IS ABOUT PROTECTING AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR WHATEVER THE ISSUE IS IN THE YEARS PAST, BUT WELCOMING IS MORE HOLISTIC, REALLY ABOUT EMBRACING PEOPLE AND MAKING THEM FEEL WELCOME.

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT PROTECTION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR ALSO ABOUT CELEBRATION AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO USE THAT WORD AND WE DO HAVE A WELCOME CITY ORDINANCE THAT HAS SPECIFIC METRICS WE ARE SUPPOSED TO ABIDE BY.

OVERALL, OUR POLICIES ARE TRYING TO WELCOME PEOPLE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> AND THEY PROVIDE SERVICES -- DO YOU THINK THEY ARE EMBRACING A SANCTUARY CITY?

>> I DO.

I DO.

WE RECEIVED A BUNCH OF SUPPORT FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS, ALL WALKS OF LIFE, AND WE WERE BUSY WITH NEIGHBORS THAT REALLY WANTED TO HELP AND WANTED TO BE WELCOMING.

>> THIS IS VERY PERSONAL FOR YOU?

>> IT WAS, YEAH.

>> OKAY, AS WE KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT GROUPS TO HELP THE INFLUX IN ASYLUM SEEKERS WHO HAVE BEEN BUSSED FROM TEXAS.

THIS IS WHAT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT KEEPS POPPING UP.

LISTEN TO ONE PERSON WHO DID NOT WANT TO BE NAMED HAD TO SAY.

[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> I WANT TO GO TO YOU.

IS THERE ANY TALKS ABOUT TEMPORARY WORK PERMITS?

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MENTIONED THEY HAVE HAD A HARD TIME CONNECTING WITH ANY LAWYERS TO BEGIN THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WORK PERMITS AND GETTING TO WORK, THAT IS MOST OF THE PEOPLE'S GOALS.

THEY WANT TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING AND ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS IN CHARGE OF PROVIDING WORK AUTHORIZATIONS TO PEOPLE.

SOMEONE CAN ONLY WORK IF THEY HAVE A VALID WORK AUTHORIZATION.

WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT, UNFORTUNATELY.

WE NEED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP UP AND PROVIDE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES.

WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR FASTER WORK PERMITS AND FOR FEDERAL SUPPORT SO THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT, WHICH IS TO WORK.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE FOLKS ON THE GROUND AND WE ABSOLUTELY WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS HERE TO ENSURE THEY ARE ABIDING GOAL ORIENTATION AND TO DISCUSS MORE ROBUST SERVICES, SO THEY CAN HAVE A REPRESENTATION IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME IMMIGRATION REMEDY.

>> WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS?

YOU HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 17 YEARS.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE WHO COME TO YOUR PARISH AND ASK YOU ABOUT HOW CAN THEY GET A WORK PERMIT?

WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM?

>> I AM ACTUALLY A MINISTER, A PASTOR IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A GROWING POPULATION OF LATINO PEOPLE COMING , JOINING US IN THE COMMUNITY.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SHOWN UP, WE TYPICALLY TRY TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE BASIC NEEDS AND REFERRED THEM TO NETWORKS THAT CAN SUPPORT THEM, LIKE CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND SOME OF THE CITY SHELTERS, TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

THE WORK ISSUE, AS SHE SAID, IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, TELLING THEM WHERE TO GO TO GET WORK IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY CANNOT DO, BUT MANY, MANY OF THEM ARE GOING OUT ON THEIR OWN.

THEY WANT TO WORK.

THEY WANT TO START PROVIDING AND BUILDING A NEW LIFE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

A LOT OF THAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING.

WE MAINLY WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE AND THAT THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE CHURCH COMMUNITY AND MANY OF OUR PARISHIONERS FROM THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAVE WELCOMED THEM AND EMBRACED THEM BECAUSE -- WE HAVE ALWAYS GIVEN THEM REFERRALS AND WE MAKE SURE THEY CONNECT WITH LARGER GROUPS THAT CAN SUPPORT THEM, A KIND OF NETWORK TO SUPPORT THEM ON THEIR JOURNEY OF REBUILDING THEIR LIVES.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FAMILIES, IN YOUR OPINION, ARE THEY DOING ENOUGH?

DO YOU THINK THAT A WORK PERMIT IS A VIABLE OPTION?

>> I THINK THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND, UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW -- FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, PEOPLE ARE STUCK.

WE NEED TO ASSESS THE SITUATION, WHERE TO APPLY FOR A WORK PERMIT OR ASYLUM, THEY NEED TO PAY THESE CRAZY FEES, BUT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK, SO THEY ARE IN A CATCH-22 SITUATION, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> WE KNOW THERE HAS BEEN MORE THAN 3000 MIGRANTS THAT HAVE ARRIVED IN CHICAGO, NOT COUNTING THOSE THAT DID NOT ARRIVE YEAR ON BUSES.

I WANT TO GO TO YOU, FATHER LARRY.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM THAT THE ARCHDIOCESE PROGRAM IS WORKING ON?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HELP REFUGEES?

>> THEY ARE FOCUSED ON ENCOURAGING PARISHES THAT ARE NEAR US FROM THE CITY SHELTERS -- THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET SUPPORT WITH CASE MANAGEMENT AND BASIC RESOURCES TO THE FAMILIES IN SHELTERS.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF INSTITUTING A PARISHES SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM, PARISHES THAT CAN SPONSOR FAMILIES AND PROVIDE HOUSING FOR THEM, AND TO PAY FOR THE HOUSING, FOR BASICALLY THE INITIAL SIX TO NINE MONTH PERIOD.

THE CASE MANAGER IS ASSIGNED AND THEY WALK WITH THE FAMILIES AND THEY WORK WITH THE COMMITTEE WITHIN THE PARISH TO SAY THIS IS WHAT THEY NEED.

CAN YOU HELP THEM?

>> WHEN IS IT EXPECTED TO BEGIN?

>> WE HAVE DONE SOME INFORMATION SESSIONS.

WE HAVE ABOUT 50 PARISHES THAT ARE EXPECTED TO JOIN.

WE WILL BE FULLY INSTITUTING THAT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FATHER LARRY AND OTHERS.

>>> BACK TO YOU, ALEX.

>> THANK YOU.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS WORKING TO COMBAT DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND FUNDING CHALLENGES.

A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES OF COLOR ARE CHOOSING TO LEAVE THE DISTRICT.

WE EXPLORE WHY ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS.

WE HAVE A PORTION OF THAT STORY, TALKING TO A MOTHER WHO SHARES WHY THEY ARE MOVING TO THIS SYSTEM.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY SMALLER CLASS SIZES AND SUPPORTIVE FACULTY HELP HER DAUGHTER THRIVE IN ENVIRONMENT.

>> THERE ARE BETTER STUDENTS/TEACHER RATIOS, WHERE THE TEACHERS CAN SEE IF THEY NEED HELP.

>> HER STORIES PART OF GROWING TREND IN CPS, A DISTRICT WITH THE MAJORITY BLACK AND LATINO POPULATION.

STUDENTS ARE LEAVING THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS, OPTING FOR PRIVATE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS LOCATED FARTHER AWAY.

BETWEEN 2019 AND 2022, CPS LOST NEARLY 37,000 STUDENTS , 10% OF ITS TOTAL ENROLLMENT.

91% OF THOSE STUDENTS WERE LOW INCOME.

ACCORDING TO THIS OFFICIAL , MULTIPLE FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO THE DROP IN ENROLLMENT, SUCH AS DISSATISFACTION WITH HIGH SCHOOL OPTIONS, DECLINING WORKPLACE, AND FAMILIES MOVING OUT OF CHICAGO.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT LEAVING THE DISTRICT, SOME OF THEM -- >> YOU CAN SEE THE FULL STORY, PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STUDENTS AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> YEARS AFTER ILLINOIS DEATH SENTENCE WAS LIFTED, THE LASTING IMPACT AND WHAT IS NEXT IN A CONVERSATION WITH BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

STAY WITH US.

>>> 20 YEARS AGO, GEORGE RYAN COMMUTED THE SENTENCES OF 167 PEOPLE ON DEATH ROW, CHANGING THEM FROM DEATH TO LIFE BEHIND BARS.

THAT DRASTIC STEPS LED TO THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN ILLINOIS.

WE HAVE MORE WITH RINALDO HUDSON, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AT THE ILLINOIS PRISON PROJECT AND ALICE KIM FROM UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH YOU, ALICE.

YOU ARE ACTIVE IN THE MOVEMENT FOR ABOLISHING THE DEATH PENALTY AND YOU HAVE WORKED WITH RINALDO FOR DECADES.

WE WILL COME BACK TO HIS STORY IN A MOMENT.

DESCRIBE, IF YOU WOULD, THE ATMOSPHERE WHEN THEN GOVERNOR RYAN MADE THE DECISION TO COMMUTE ALL OF THE DEATH SENTENCES.

>> IT WAS A HISTORIC MOMENT.

WHEN GOVERNOR RYAN EMPTIED DEATH ROW, IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO A SOCIAL MOVEMENT ON THE GROUND, A MASSIVE CAMPAIGN THAT WAS ORGANIZED BY LAWYERS, ADVOCATES, ACTIVISTS , AND, IMPORTANTLY, FAMILY MEMBERS, PEOPLE WHO WERE ON DEATH ROW AND THOSE -- THIS COMMUTATION DID NOT HAPPEN IN A VACUUM.

IT WAS NOT A FOREGONE CONCLUSION.

GOVERNOR RYAN -- IF YOU LOOK BACK IN ILLINOIS HISTORY AND EVEN THE CLIMATE AROUND THE DEATH PENALTY, IT IS REALLY BECAUSE OF PEOPLE WHO ORGANIZED, MOBILIZED, ADVOCATED, THAT YOU SAW THE SUPPORT FOR THE DEATH PENALTY DISSIPATE AND DECLINE.

>> ALTHOUGH, YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE 167 PEOPLE WHO WERE ON DEATH ROW AT THE TIME.

WHAT DID IT MEAN TO YOU?

>> IT MEANT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MY HUMANITY TO BE SEEN AND NOT JUST THE ACTS THAT I COMMITTED, AND SO, FOR ME, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS, IT IS HEAVY.

YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY DO I WEAR THE SHAME OF MY DECISIONS OF YESTERDAY, BUT I ALSO WEAR THE BURDEN OF REMINDING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THAT I AM BETTER THAN MY WORST DECISION.

I AM TRYING TO MOVE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TO SEE OUR HUMANITY IN GRACE, NOT JUST PUNISHMENT.

>> YOU WERE SENTENCED TO DEATH ROW IN 1983 FOR A MURDER.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE PERSON YOU WERE AT THE TIME, VERY YOUNG.

YOU WERE 19.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THAT PERSON COMPARED TO WHO YOU ARE TODAY?

>> IN 1983, I WAS A BLACK YOUTH, A MALE WHO WAS A SEXUALLY ABUSED YOUNG MAN, WHO WAS FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE, WHO COULD NOT SPELL APPLE, THAT TRIED TO HIDE FROM HIS SHAME AND HURT THROUGH DRUGS.

I HAD BEEN SHOT IN THE CHEST BY MY BROTHER.

I HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTING ME AND NOT TO MAKE EXCUSES FOR MY BEHAVIOR, BUT I REMIND PEOPLE WHERE PEOPLE SAY, WHEN YOU'RE IN SCHOOL, ALGEBRA IS SOMETHING YOU WILL NEVER USE, BUT WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IN MY WALK IS THAT THOSE EXPONENTS ARE THE THINGS THAT LEAD TO THE ANSWERS, AND SO IT IS NOT HARD TO GET TO WHERE I LANDED.

IT IS JUST I THINK IT IS A MIRACLE THAT I LANDED WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW AND THAT I AM AN EXAMPLE OF THE POTENTIAL THAT WE HAVE AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN PRISON THAT ARE READY TO BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE BEING AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

>> FORMER REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR GEORGE RYAN SPOKE WITH US IN 2020 ABOUT HIS DECISION.

HERE IS WHAT HE SAID.

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE VERY CLOSE, THAT WERE INNOCENT -- MOST GOT EXECUTED.

I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE OFFICE SAYING THAT SOME FELLOW HAD BEEN EXECUTED AND HE WAS FOUND INNOCENT BUT IT WAS TOO LATE FOR HIM.

I SAID THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS TO COMMUTE ALL 167 OF THESE PEOPLE TO PRISON FOR LIFE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE LASTING IMPACT OF GOVERNOR RYAN'S CLEMENCY?

>> I THINK THAT IT DID HELP PAVE THE WAY, ABSOLUTELY, TO THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN ILLINOIS, BUT I THINK THAT ONE THING THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT IT ACTUALLY LEFT THE CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT SYSTEM INTACT, SO WHAT WE HAVE IS ANOTHER INSIDIOUS FORM OF PUNISHMENT, WHICH IS DEATH BY INCARCERATION.

WHEN RINALDO WAS SPEAKING EARLIER ABOUT HIS OWN TRANSFORMATION, HIS DANGER -- RINALDO HAS BEEN A VOICE THAT HAS GIVEN US AN IDEA OF WHAT WE ARE NOT SEEING BEHIND THOSE PRISON WALLS.

>> TO THAT POINT, RINALDO, WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOURSELF?

>> I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU CONDEMN SOMEONE, YOU REALLY ARE CONDEMNING YOURSELF.

YOU ARE SAYING, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF THIS PERSON BEING BETTER.

I AM SAYING THAT IS JUST NOT TRUE.

AND NOT TO GET PREACHY, BUT BEAUTY CAN COME FROM ASHES.

EVERYTHING THAT WE BENEFIT FROM COMES FROM SOMETHING THAT WAS MOVING SLOW AND THEN ONCE THEY BEGAN TO GROW AND -- I AM EXCITED TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT HOPE SHOULD BE -- NOT SOMETHING OUT OF SIGHT, SO FAR AWAY.

MY HOPE IS SITTING HERE AND SAYING, HEY, FOR ALL THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE VOICES WILL BE OVERSHADOWED BY THE SCREENS OF YESTERDAY, RIGHT, THEY HAVE TO REMEMBER TO JUST BE STILL.

THE POTENTIAL, YOU KNOW, I STILL BELIEVE THAT DEATH BY INCARCERATION IS A HORRIBLE THING, RIGHT?

SO, I HOPE WE CAN MOVE TO A PLACE WHERE WE SAY EVERYONE SHOULD GET A CHANCE TO BE BETTER THAN THEIR YESTERDAY.

>> WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

>> WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

WE NEED TO REIMAGINE THE CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT SYSTEM.

WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT RINALDO OFTEN SAID, THAT WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT SECOND CHANCES BUT ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE REALITY THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED NEVER HAD A FIRST CHANCE.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS HOW DO WE BECOME A SOCIETY THAT ACTUALLY GIVES PEOPLE FIRST CHANCES.

WE NEED TO LOOK TO EFFORTS TO REVERSE -- WE NEED TO ABOLISH LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.

THERE IS SO MUCH WE CAN BE DOING, BUT ONE THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT ALL OF OUR LAWMAKERS, ALL OF OUR POLICYMAKERS, ALL OF US WHO ARE VOTERS, ALL OF US NEED TO GO INSIDE PRISON AND MEET THE PEOPLE WHO OUR SOCIETY IS INCARCERATING, TO BE ABLE TO SEE PEOPLE FULLY IN ALL OF THEIR DIMENSIONS AND ALL OF THEIR HUMANITY AND WHAT WE WANT OUR CRIMINAL SYSTEM TO LOOK LIKE BASED ON THAT.

>> CAN I ADD QUICKLY?

REALLY QUICKLY.

THAT IS IT.

UNTIL PEOPLE START FEAR MONGERING AND SHOW THAT PEOPLE CAN BE BETTER, WE SHOULD NOT BE CHASED IN ACTING OUT OF FEAR, BUT OUT OF LOVE.

>> WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT .

I'M SURE THIS CONVERSATION COULD GO ON BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF ARGUMENTS TO BE HAD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

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

>>> FOR FAMILIES FACING SUDDEN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, PRIVATE SCHOOL COULD BE A LOW PRIORITY, BUT THERE -- THE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM OFFERS TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES WHO MEET INCOME THRESHOLDS.

THIS FATHER OF THE RESURRECTION PROJECT EXPLAINED MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND HOW TO APPLY.

>> THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT IS IN ITS FINAL YEAR OF A PILOT.

THEY OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE WORKING FAMILIES, WHO ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY, AND HAVE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT FOR A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND ANY PART OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

PRIVATE SCHOOL, MEANING CHRISTIAN, CATHOLIC, LUTHERAN, MUSLIM, JEWISH, AND HE NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL, PARENTS WHO -- IN THE LAST YEAR OF FILING THEIR TAX RETURNS, ARE BELOW A THRESHOLD, FOR EXAMPLE, A FAMILY OF FOUR, IN THE $80,000 INCOME RANGE AS A FAMILY OF FOUR, WOULD BE THE CEILING AND EVERYWHERE BELOW THAT IF THAT IS THE KEY NUMBER ONE REASON, THIS PROGRAM WAS INTENTIONALLY SET UP FOR ACCESS FOR FAMILIES FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO HAVE THE OPTION THEY PREFER TO ATTEND OR CONTINUE.

MOST OF THEM , THE VAST MAJORITY ARE THOSE THAT WANT TO CONTINUE TO SURVIVE IN THE SCHOOL THEY ARE ALREADY IN.

SCHOLARSHIPS ARE HELPFUL.

WE HAVE SOME STUDENTS THAT ARE AT PRIMARY ACADEMIC LEVEL ACHIEVEMENTS AND MANY SCHOLARSHIPS ARE OFTEN FOCUS IN THAT DIRECTION.

THIS IS ABOUT ALL OF THE REST OF US.

ORDINARY FOLKS TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND TRY TO ACHIEVE DREAMS, TRYING TO APPLY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS THAT ARE FREE AND SIMPLY JUST GETTING AT WAS EQUITY.

>> YOU JUST HEARD THAT IT IS FREE TO APPLY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS, BUT THEY ARE AWARDED ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS.

YOU CAN SEE MORE ON THAT ELIGIBILITY ON OUR WEBSITE.

UP NEXT, WAYS TO HAVE FUN OUTSIDE DURING THE WINTER.

STAY WITH US.

>>> IF YOU ARE FINDING IT TOUGH TO LEAVE THE HOUSE ON THESE GRAY AND CHILLY DAYS, WE WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME MOTIVATION ON TWO UPCOMING SATURDAYS.

JANUARY 21st AND FEBRUARY 25th, YOU CAN ENJOY SOME WINTER FUN.

>> Reporter: THIS IS A FUN CELEBRATION OF THE WINTER.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE IT BECAUSE, REALLY, IT IS ONE OF THE ONLY OUTDOOR CELEBRATIONS OF WINTER WE HAVE DURING THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN WE ARE USUALLY HUNKERED AWAY INDOORS SOMEWHERE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN ACTIVITIES.

WE HAVE A FREE SPIRIT SIBERIAN HUSKY RESCUE AND WE DO SLED DOG DEMONSTRATIONS.

I WILL BE RUNNING THE SLED DOGS BACK AND FORTH.

WE WILL HAVE A WILDLIFE RESCUE HERO WITH BIRDS OF PREY.

THEY WILL SHOW PEOPLE WHAT KIND OF WILDLIFE EXISTS AROUND CHICAGO.

WE HAVE JABBERWOCKY NEST AND THEY HAVE A FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE.

THEY WILL BE BACK.

WE HAVE STORYTELLING AROUND A BONFIRE.

WE HAVE ARTS AND CRAFTS WITH BIRD FEEDER MAKING AND HOT COCOA.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE ON POLAR ADVENTURE DAYS ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT WILL BE OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

BE SURE TO VISIT WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST OR GO TO -- KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH LATINA VOICES AND BLACK VOICES BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M. DO NOT FORGET TO TUNE IN EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING.

I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU FROM ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

BUENOS NOCHES.