>> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES .

I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ .

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT , NEW PEDIATRIC GUIDELINES FOR TREATING CHILDREN WITH OBESITY , WHEN SHOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S WEIGHT?

AND WHAT SHE HAS LEARNED FROM HER NEAR 40 YEAR CAREER IN EDUCATION.

>>> PROTECTING WORKERS FROM LOSING THEIR JOBS.

>>> A WOMAN INCLUSIVE GYM IS TAKING A NEW APPROACH TO WELLNESS.

>>> FINDS FOR KEEPING KIDS HEALTHY IS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

>>> IT IS NO SECRET THAT OVERALL THE AMERICAN BODY IS GETTING BIGGER AND THAT GOES FOR KIDS.

IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY , RATES OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY ARE CONSISTENTLY HIGHER THAN OTHER GROUPS.

AN ANALYSIS BY THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SHOWS LATINO STUDENTS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO BE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE THAN OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS.

KINDERGARTNERS HAD AN AVERAGE OVERWEIGHT OF NEARLY 39% .

BY NINTH GRADE , THE AVERAGE IS ALMOST 49% JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO KEEP KIDS HEALTHY ARE THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, -- GERALDINE LUNA , AND DR. ALEJANDRO CLAVIER .

I WANT TO START WITH YOU DR. LUNA , IS OBESITY A FACTOR CONCERN FOR CHILDREN ?

WHAT IS THAT BASED ON?

>> OF COURSE.

OVERWEIGHT, IT IS ANY CHILD, 85% -- IT IS INCREDIBLE, COMBINED WITH OTHER COMORBID CONDITIONS THAT CAN LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN LIFE SUSPECT AND SEE.

-- LIFE EXPECTANCY .

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBERTY.

BONE AND JOINT PROBLEMS.

PROBLEMS RELATED TO BULLYING AND STIGMA.

TYPE II DIABETES .

AND OTHER CONDITIONS , LIKE HYPERTENSION , HEART DISEASE.

AND CANCERS ASSOCIATED WITH IT .

>> IT IS DEFINITELY A CONCERN FOR ALL PARENTS.

DR. CLAVIER , WHAT ARE THE DRIVERS OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND ARE THERE GENETICS OR CULTURAL FACTORS , ESPECIALLY FOR LATINOS?

>> IT IS A COMPLEX -- IT IS A CHRONIC DISEASE.

MORE AND MORE NO GENETIC FACTORS, PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS , ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS , AND SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS THAT PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OBESITY.

>> DR. LUNA , WHEN SHOULD PARENTS BECOME CONCERT ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR WEIGHT ?

HOW DO YOU START A CONVERSATION WITH THEM ABOUT IT?

>> IF THEIR CHILD IS OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE PROGRESSIVE ACTION.

EDUCATION, TEACHING HOW THE EATING HABITS, INCLUDE PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES , YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED, CHILDREN THAT ARE YOUNGER OR MORE ACTIVE AND REQUIRE THAT TIME TO BE ACTIVE AND PLAY .

AS WE AGE, THAT PHYSICAL NECESSITY MAY BE DEFINED DIFFERENTLY.

BUT CHILDREN NEED TO BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE.

YOU CAN MAKE IT A FAMILY AFFAIR.

SWIMMING , WALKING THE DOG, WASHING THE CAR , YOU CAN DO THAT TOGETHER.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING IS TO GET IN A ROUTINE.

THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN LATE SLEEPERS AND OBESITY.

WITH THE LATINO COMMUNITY, HALF OF THE OBESITY ALONE , WE ARE AT THE HIGH-END RATE WITH OBESITY.

TAKING AWAY THE SCREENS AND HAVING FAMILY TIME .

THEY IMPROVE SLEEP QUALITY AND GRADES IN SCHOOL , THEY INCREASE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND DO THINGS THE FAMILY CAN DO TOGETHER .

WE NEED THOSE CULTURAL CHANGES.

>> DR. CLAVIER , HOW CAN PARENTS HELP THEIR CHILDREN KEEP THEIR BODIES HEALTHY WITHOUT HARMING THEIR SELF-ESTEEM OR PUTTING THEM AT RISK OF AN EATING DISORDER?

>> THAT IS WHY THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE.

WE CAN CONTROL , AS PARENTS, EATING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

MORE HEALTHY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

ONE THING ASSOCIATED WITH THE INCREASE CONSUMPTION OF SUGAR , SODAS , JUICES , DRINKING WATER , DRINKING FRUIT JUICES , THE DRINKING WATER WILL BE A SHIFT TO HELP OUR KIDS .

PORTION SIZE, THERE IS A NATIONAL GUIDELINE CALLED MY GREAT PLATE, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT A HEALTHY PORTION SIZE SHOULD BE.

HEALTHY SNACKING.

BEING MORE OUTSIDE .

TRY TO AVOID EATING OUTSIDE, ESPECIALLY FAST FOOD.

>> IT IS TOUGH.

ESPECIALLY TAKING AWAY FROM KIDS AND HAVING THEM DRINK WATER.

IT IS TOUGH BUT IMPORTANT TO AVOID OBESITY IN CHILDREN.

DR. LUNA , HOW CAN INSTITUTIONS HELP CHILDREN MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT ?

>> A HEALTHY CHICAGO MOVEMENT IS TEACHING AND BRINGING TOGETHER THE COMMUNITY AND HEALTHCARE PARTNERS TO CHANGES , ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO FIGHT CHILDHOOD OBESITY.

IT IS WORKING WITH A CONSORTIUM TO LOWER OBESITY IN CHICAGO CHILDREN, WHAT THEY DO TOGETHER IS INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH, HEALTHY FOOD, IMPROVING WORKABILITY , WALKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO MAKE THOSE SAFE SPACES WHERE CHILDREN CAN HAVE FUN TOGETHER IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A RECIPE FOR HEALTHY PLATES , THE CITY IS PLANNING FOOD, TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL SYSTEMS, CPS HAS INITIATIVES THAT HAVE THE STRONGEST AND MOST ROBUST PROGRAM FOR K-12 WITH FOOD POLICIES AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES , INCLUDING AFTER OUR PROGRAMS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THERE IS A LOT THAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP OUR CHILDREN.

DR. LUNA , DR. CLAVIER , THANK YOU FOR JOINING US .

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>>> RIDE-SHARE AND DELIVERY DRIVERS ARE CALLING FOR AN ORDINANCE THAT GUARANTEES THE RIGHT TO APPEAL BEFORE BEING PERMANENTLY KICKED OFF THE APP.

THE PROPOSED CITY ORDINANCE IS A MEANS FOR THE DEACTIVATED DRIVERS TO TELL THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY AND RECOUP LOSSES IF THEY WERE FOUND TO BE UNFAIRLY DEACTIVATED.

A FORMER DRIVER SAYS , AS A VICTIM OF A FALSE ACCUSATION , HE HOPES TO SEE THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

>> I PICKED UP A PASSENGER AND I SAW A CHILD DRINKING A BEER.

I CALMLY SAID, YOU CANNOT HAVE A BEER WHILE I AM DRIVING.

HE FINISHED THE BEER AND WE PROCEEDED.

THE ROD CONCLUDED .

I DROPPED THEM OFF .

I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM UBER ASKING ME WHY I HAD FLED THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT THAT THE LAST PASSENGER HAD REPORTED THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE INSURANCE PROCESS, WITH THE ADJUSTER , UPLOAD VIDEO AND PICTURES TO PROVE THE VEHICLE IS IN PROPER OPERATING CONDITION.

I HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND I LOST SEVERAL DAYS OF POTENTIAL WORK.

I HAD RECOURSE BECAUSE OF THIS INSURANCE PROCESS I HAD TO GO THROUGH.

IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF ANYTHING ELSE , THE ALGORITHM AUTOMATICALLY DEACTIVATES US AND WE CANNOT APPEAL.

THERE IS SOME BAD ACTORS.

PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM SO THEY CAN GET A FREE RIDE OR A FREE MEAL.

THOSE ACTIONS RESULT IN US LOSING OUR JOBS.

IT IS DEVASTATING.

I HAVE MET HUNDREDS OF DRIVERS WHO HAVE BEEN UNFAIRLY DEACTIVATED BECAUSE OF FALSE CLAIMS.

THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS IN CHICAGO WHO HAVE BEEN DEACTIVATED FROM THE APPS.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS READY AND EASY FOR CITY COUNCIL TO PASS AND IT MAKES A LOT OF COMMON SENSE.

I AM CONFIDENT , DESPITE THE TIMELINES AND THE CHALLENGES , THIS WILL PASS.

>> WE WILL KEEP YOU UP-TO-DATE ON THE STATUS.

>>> NEXT, TALKING TO THE OUTGOING SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION.

>>> SHE IS RETIRING WITH A CAREER IN EDUCATION SPENDING OVER 40 YEARS, BOTH THE FIRST WOMAN AND PERSON OF COLOR TO HAVE THE POSITION AS THE TOP EDUCATION OFFICIAL , A ROLE THAT OVERSEES MORE THAN 850 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SERVING 2 MILLION STUDENTS.

MUCH SPENT NAVIGATING THE PANDEMIC JOINING US WITH MORE IS THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION .

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU ARE ONE YEAR INTO THE JOB WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.

WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART ?

HOW WERE THINGS BACK THEN?

>> WOW.

WHO COULD HAVE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE IN A PANDEMIC?

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WAS GETTING OUR SCHOOLS READY TO BE REMOTE.

NEVER DID WE IMAGINE THAT EVERY STATUS WOULD CONTINUE TO FINISH THE SCHOOL YEAR, LET ALONE ALSO BE STUDENTS BEING IN REMOTE STATUS NEXT YEAR ?

SHIFTING TO REMOTE STATUS WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST "WOW," WE HAVE TO MOVE FAST .

>> DURING THE PANDEMIC , THERE WAS SOME LEARNING LOSS, NOT JUST ACADEMICS BUT SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

WHAT ARE SCHOOLS DOING NOW TO MAKE UP FOR THAT LEARNING LOSS?

>> EXCUSE ME.

AT THE STATE, WE HAVE RECEIVED WELL OVER $8 MILLION IN FEDERAL PANDEMIC WILL BE FUNDING .

LUCKILY , THROUGH THE COUNCIL , WE HAVE DEVELOPED A LEARNING RECOVERY GUIDE WHICH PROVIDED STRATEGIES AND IDEAS FOR SCHOOLS TO BEGIN TO WORK ON RECOVERY.

WE ALSO HAVE STRATEGIC PLANS THAT THE AGENCY HAD PUT INTO PLAY, IT WAS APPROVED DURING THE PANDEMIC , WE HAVE FINISHED IT UP AND WE INFUSE THE IMPACT OF COVID , NOT KNOWING IT WOULD BE WITH US AS LONG AS IT WAS.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE PUT INTO PLACE WERE GRANTS FROM DISTRICTS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS FUNDING.

WE HAD TALKED ABOUT PUTTING INTO PLACE SIX SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING HUBS , THE SEVENTH BEING CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE GOT THOSE LEARNING HUBS UP AND RUNNING VERY QUICKLY.

AND SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN ACCESSING THE TRAINING FOR TEACHERS, ON HOW TO IDENTIFY WHERE STUDENTS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING AND REALLY NEEDED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.

IT ALSO PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT .

>> INEQUITIES THAT WERE ALREADY FELT BY STUDENTS.

THEY COULD BE MORE APPARENT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

HOW DOES THE STATE MAKE SURE IT CONTINUES TO ADDRESS THIS INEQUITY ?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I AM PROUD OF IS THE WORK ON EQUITY ACROSS THE STATE.

ESPECIALLY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT OF AN EQUITY JOURNEY CONTINUUM ON A DISTRICT REPORT CARD.

WHAT THAT DOES IS CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE DATA WE COLLECT , AND WE COLLECT A LOT OF DATA, IT ORGANIZES AROUND EVERY EVENT.

IT IS OPENING UP MORE AND MORE CONVERSATIONS AROUND EQUITY , AROUND INEQUITY WITHIN OUR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.

IT IS ALSO AFFIRMING THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON ACROSS THE STATE TO ADDRESS INEQUITY.

I THINK THAT IS HAVING A GREAT IMPACT ON CONTINUING THE WORK WITH EQUITY ACROSS THE STATE.

WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE THE CLOSING OF GAPS , WITH THE HIGHEST GRADUATION RATES , AND MUCH OF THAT BEING ATTRIBUTED TO OUR BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS, OUR HISPANIC STUDENTS.

THAT IS VERY EXCITING WORK.

>> SUPERINTENDENT , IT IS WELL KNOWN ABOUT THE TEACHER SHORTAGE.

WHAT MUST THE STATE DO BETTER TO ADDRESS THAT, AND FIND TEACHERS THAT REFLECT THE RACIAL MAKEUP OF SCHOOLS?

>> THAT IS ANOTHER AREA , IT IS ONE OF OUR GOALS IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, ELEVATING EDUCATORS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED IS OUR EDUCATION CAREER PATHWAY PLAN.

CURRENTLY , RIGHT NOW, WE ARE PREPARING MORE THAN 10,000 FUTURE TEACHERS ACROSS HIGH SCHOOL IN ILLINOIS .

THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SCHOOL CREDIT AND TEACHING EXPERIENCES , AND SO THE FUTURE EDUCATORS ARE IN OUR CLASSROOMS TODAY.

WE ARE NURTURING THAT PATHWAY , PROVIDING THE DESIGNATION ON THEIR DIPLOMA THAT THEY HAVE COMPLETED THE PATHWAY AND CONNECTING THEM TO TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS.

THE SECOND THING THAT WE ARE DOING , AMONG OTHER THINGS , HAVING AFFINITY GROUPS.

IN SEVERAL AREAS OF MY PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY , IT IS LONELY AND DIFFICULT, SO WE HAVE CREATED AFFINITY GROUPS AND THE RETENTION STRATEGY FOR OUR TEACHERS OF COLOR IN ILLINOIS , AS WE ARE GAINING MORE AND MORE TEACHERS, WE RETIRED OVER 500 TEACHERS OF COLOR.

THAT IS EXCITING.

THEY NEED TO BE SUPPORTED.

WE HAVE AFFINITY GROUPS WHO MEET ON A REGULAR BASIS , WITH THE NETWORK AND A SUPPORT SYSTEM.

>> WE ARE RUNNING SHORT OF TIME BUT I WANT TO ASK , BEING A LATINO EDUCATOR, WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE ILLINOIS EDUCATION DO NEXT TO SUPPORT THE LATINO COMMUNITY?

>> THE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE IS CRITICAL.

WE NEED TRAINED TEACHERS AND I THINK IT IS INVALUABLE THAT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS KNOWS MORE THAN JUST ENGLISH.

THEY HAVE EXPERIENCES IN OTHER CULTURE , WE ARE DEVELOPING OUR STUDENTS FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY IN THE FUTURE.

I THINK THAT IS CRITICAL, PROVIDING THAT , USING THE ASSETS OUR CHILDREN BRING WITH RESPECT TO THEIR LANGUAGE AND CULTURE , THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO MORE OF.

>> SUPERINTENDENT , WE HAVE LESS THAN 30 SECONDS, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN RETIREMENT?

>> REST.

I WILL REST AND I WILL RE-FIRE.

>> EXCELLENT .

THAT IS A GREAT PLAN .

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THIS WEEK MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE THE SHOOTING DEATH OF AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS HONORED HER MEMORY WITH A VIGIL AND A PEACE TREATY.

THE LITTLE BIT VILLAGE COMMUNITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAYS SHE HOPES THE TRAGEDY OF HER DEATH WILL BE A CATALYST FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GET THE SUPPORT HE SAYS IT NEEDS.

>> ON SUNDAY , ON THE ANNIVERSARY , WE BEGAN WITH A PRAYER .

FOR SOME REASON , THE COMMUNITY FEELS , WE FAILED HER , AND FAILED THE SHOOTER.

SHE IS EIGHT AND THE SHOOTER IS 16, EIGHT YEARS APART.

WE WANTED TO PRAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

WHEN THE AGGRESSOR IS ONLY 16 YEARS OLD AND IS ABLE TO GET A GUN, ABLE TO GO INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SHOOT WITHOUT ANY REMORSE , WITHOUT ANY CONSCIENCE , THE CHILDREN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOW THE RESULT OF GENERATIONS AND GENERATIONS OF VIOLENCE.

THAT IS A PROBLEM FOR THE COMMUNITY.

NOT ONLY ENDANGERING FROM PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH BUT ALSO HURTING THEMSELVES .

WE HAVE SEEN A SPIKE IN HOMICIDES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ALSO SUICIDES.

WE ARE SCREAMING, HELP , HELP , NOBODY IS HELPING.

WE HAVE PLANTED A PEACE TREE, ON ORGANIZATION TEAMED UP WITH US.

THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY SHOOTINGS IN THE AREA.

PEOPLE PRAY WITH IT, WE ENCOURAGE THAT.

LET HER IMAGE BE THE IMAGE OF PEACE.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN BUILD A BETTER TOMORROW FOR OUR CHILDREN.

>> THE MURAL HONORING THE VICTIM ARE ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF 26 STREET AND HUBER AVENUE.

MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> GYMSYOU MAY NOTICE ARE MORE BUSY IN JANUARY AS NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS ARE IN FULL SWING.

BUT SOMETIMES THE ENVIRONMENT CAN BE A DAUNTING EXPERIENCE.

OUR PRODUCER VISITED A GYM TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO GYM CULTURE AIMED AT RESHAPING FITNESS IDEAS.

>> READY?

ONE MINUTE.

>> Reporter: AFTER LEAVING AND HAVING HER FIRST CHILD SHE OPENED A GYM IN WAUKEGAN.

>> I PRETTY MUCH GAVE UP MY OLD LIFE JUST TO HAVE THIS COME TRUE .

>> Reporter: SHE STARTED A GYM THAT HAS GROWN TO 130 MEMBERS TO SERVE WOMEN OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.

>> I WANT TO BUILD HOPE IN WOMEN THEY CAN FEEL AMAZING EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> Reporter: THIS MEMBER SAYS THIS ATTITUDE WAS EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS LOOKING FOR.

>> I WAS STARTING MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY WHERE I WAS AT A PLACE I WAS VULNERABLE .

I DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF SELF-CONFIDENCE .

IT WAS LIKE GOING TO A REGULAR GYM WHERE EVERYBODY WAS FIT AND WEARING CROP TOPS.

I DID NOT WANT TO BE TAKEN IN BY THAT.

I DID NOT WANT TO BE BRAINWASHED.

NO, I NEED TO BE MYSELF.

YOU HAVE TO BE THE BEST YOU.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE BEST ANYBODY ELSE.

>> Reporter: THIS PROFESSOR BEATS THE FAMILIES LAB AT DePAUL UNIVERSITY, STUDYING FITNESS AND THE IMPACT ON WOMEN .

>> A LOT OF THE MEDIA, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA , IS THE FITNESS , ATHLETIC SPACE , IS LARGELY GEARED TOWARDS WHITE WOMEN.

IT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN WOMEN WITH A PARTICULAR BODY TYPE.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE EXERCISE MORE INCLUSIVE BY MAKING A MORE COMMUNITY CENTERED APPROACH.

>> WOMEN INTO SPACES WHERE IT IS NOT JUST FOCUSED ON WHAT THE WEIGHTS ARE AND THE DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT IS, BUT SOME SORT OF SENSE OF COMMUNITY , PEOPLE ARE LEARNING HOW TO DO PARTICULAR THINGS TOGETHER.

MAKING A CONNECTION AND HAVING IT BE MORE OF A FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SPACE.

>> Reporter: THIS GYM IS TAKING A COMMUNITY APPROACH TO FITNESS BY CREATING EVENTS , WHEN NOT BEING UTILIZED AS A GYM , THEY HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY .

PAST EVENTS INCLUDE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT BREAST CANCER, MISCARRIAGES , ABORTION , AND LOSS.

>> WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN WE THINK.

I'VE FOUND IT TO BE LIKE THERAPY AS WELL.

>> PEOPLE ARE VERY COMFORTABLE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

I HAVE WOMEN WHO TALK ABOUT ALL TYPES OF THINGS.

THIS PLACE HAS BECOME AN OUTLET FOR HOW WE HAVE GROWN UP.

>> Reporter: THE GOAL IS NO LONGER TO LOSE WEIGHT.

IT IS ABOUT MUCH MORE .

>> IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT THE WEIGHT LOSS BUT ABOUT BEING ME.

>> Reporter: WHETHER A MENTAL OR PHYSICAL WORKOUT, MEMBERS SAY THERE STRENGTHENING THE BODY .

>> I WANT WOMEN TO FEEL EMPOWERED AFTER LEAVING WWM, THAT THEY CAN DO ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD, THEY CAN MAKE ANY CHANGES.

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

>> MEN ARE ALSO WELCOME AT THE GYM .

THEY HAVE A CLASS WHERE THEY CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE STARTING THERE FOR THIS JOURNEY.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

GO TO OUR WEBSITE , WTTW.COM/NEWS, FOR THE VERY LATEST .

DON'T FORGET TO TUNE INTO NOTICIAS EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

FOR EVERYBODY AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

BUENOS NOCHES.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL