BIENVENIDO TO, "CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES".

I'M HUGO BALTA, WTTW NEWS DIRECTOR AND YOUR HOST.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, AS THE CITY BEGINNING TO STIR FROM IT'S COVID SLUMBER, WE TALK ABOUT LOCAL JOURNALISTS ON HOW THE RE-OPENING IS FARING IN THE LATINO COMMUNITIES.

>>> MAKING COVID-19 VACCINES AVAILABLE.

>>> A GROUP OF ALDERMEN WILL DEBATE.

CESAR CHAVEZ, WE'LL THROW IT BACK TO A 1985 INTERVIEW WITH THE RENOWNED LABOR ACTIVIST.

>> WHERE YOU LEARN NEW THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> AND, BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO IS LOOKING FOR MORE SPANISH SPEAKING MENTORS FOR CHICAGO LATINO KIDS.

WE MEET A LOCAL MATCH.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT, CHICAGO AS ENTERED PHASE 1B.

CORONAVIRUS VACCINATION.

THIS MEANS, CHICAGOANS AGE 65 AND UP, PEOPLE AT THE HIGHEST RISK AND FRONTLINE WORKERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINATION.

THE AVAILABILITY OF COVID-19 VACCINES.

TWO OF OUR GUESTS, DR. MARINA DEL RIOS, AND DR. DR. GERALDINE LUNA.

I FIRST ASKED DR. LUNA ABOUT CONCERNS SOME HAVE OF HOW QUICKLY THE VACCINE WAS DEVELOPED.

>> THAT'S A QUESTION VERY COMMONLY ASKED.

IT'S NOT TRUE, IT'S NOT THAT QUICK, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN EMERGENCY, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING INTO IT.

BUT SARS ONE PRESENTED ITSELF IN 2002.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF DATA FROM THE FIRST PRESENTATION WHAT THEN BAKE SARS TWO.

THE TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN OUT IN THE MARKET, FOR 10 YEARS NOW.

IT'S A DECADE OF TIME.

SO PUTTING THOSE TWO TOGETHER AND ALL THESE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES OPENING THEIR DOORS TO COLLABORATIONS AROUND THE WORLD OF MEDICAL SCIENTISTS, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, HOSPITALS, PEOPLE THAT REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING CAME UP WITH WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE VACCINE COVID-19 VACCINE.

SO THERE WAS NO CORNERS CUT.

THERE WAS NO SKIPPED PROCESSES OF SAFETY.

EVERYTHING WILL HAVE THE SAME SCRUTINY AND RIGOROUS PROCESS THAT WE DO FOR ANY OTHER VACCINES HERE NOT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THERE WAS NOTHING SHORT ABOUT IT.

THE GREAT THING IS THAT IT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.

>> THE CHANCES OF YOU GETTING SICK AND HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID ARE PRETTY HIGH.

THE CHANCES OF YOU GETTING AN ADVERSE REACTION FROM THE VACCINE IS EXTREMELY SMALL.

SEVERE REACTIONS THAT LEAD TO HOSPITALIZATION I THINK OF ALL THE PEOPLE VACCINATED SO FAR, MAYBE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG DR. LUNA, BUT IT'S BEEN LIKE 11 CASES REPORTED SO FAR OF ALL OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE VACCINATED ALREADY.

AND I ALWAYS POSE IT AS, LOOK AT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW WHO HAVE GOTTEN SICK WITH COVID AND ENDED UP WITH THE HOSPITAL.

I, MYSELF, STOPPED COUNTING.

AND I THINK THAT MY COLLEAGUES HERE PROBABLY HAVE GOTTEN TO THAT POINT TOO.

THERE IS SO MANY PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT ARE WITHIN ONE DEGREE OF SEPARATION THAT HAVE GOTTEN VERY SICK OR HAVE DIED FROM COVID.

AND SO WHEN I SEE THAT COMPARED TO THE MINOR ADVERSE REACTIONS THAT I'VE SEEN IN MY COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE ALREADY, I'LL PLAY THE ODDS ON THE VACCINE.

>> THAT WAS FROM MONDAY'S VIRTUAL "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" CONVERSATIONS.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF OUR GUEST SPEAKERS, AND OF COURSE TO YOU THE PUBLIC FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT.

YOU COULD WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATION ON OUR YouTube CHANNEL.

>>> NOW, EASING WORRIES OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE IS JUST ONE STEP IN THE SLOW OPENING OF CHICAGO.

THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS PREPARE FOR THE RETURN OF SOME STUDENTS AND VACCINES ARE MAKING THEIR WAY INTO THE ARMS OF CHICAGOANS.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF CHICAGO'S RE-OPENING ARE OR REPORTER WITHIN JUSTICE WATCH AND KELLY GARCIA, A CHICAGO BASED FREELANCE REPORTER COVERING EDUCATION.

WE'RE STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES OF VACCINATION ROLLOUT BUT SOME FAMILIAR PATTERNS ARE EMERGING OF WHOSE GETTING VACCINATED.

A DATA VISUALIZATION SHOWING COVID-19 VACCINATION AND DEATHS BY ZIP CODE.

DO PEOPLE YOUR TALKING TO FEEL THE VACCINATIONS ARE GOING WHERE THEY NEED TO BE?

>> I'D SAY, FOR THE MOST PART NO.

WE ASK OUR READERS WHAT THEY THINK AND A LOT OF THEM DON'T HAVE TRUST IN WHAT'S IN THE VACCINE TO BEGIN WITH.

AND I MEAN, THERE'S ALSO ONE THING THAT I NOTICED IS THERE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SPANISH LANGUAGE INFORMATION OUT THERE THAT'S GOOD.

WHEN THERE'S ALREADY A HUGE ISSUE OF MISTRUST, AND A LACK OF INFORMATION ABOUT IT, IS JUST, I THINK MAKES THE WHOLE SITUATION A LITTLE MORE DISCOURAGING.

>> DO YOU THINK THE VACCINATION ARE GOING TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT THE MOST?

>> I THINK, NO ONE'S PROBABLY TOLD THEM ABOUT OUR VACCINE ROLLOUT.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

IT'S VERY SAD TO SEE.

THE CHICAGO THAT SHOWS WHOSE GETTING VACCINATED SHOWS LIKE EVERY OTHER MAP OF CHICAGO, THE INEQUITIES, DOCTORS AND FIRST RESPONDERS ARE GETTING THE VACCINE AHEAD OF EVERYONE ELSE, THAT MAKES TOTAL SENSE.

BUT WHAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE IS THE AVAILABILITY OF THE VACCINE.

WHICH IS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND TRICKLES DOWN TO USMENT WE HAVEN'T DONE A GOOD ENOUGH JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY GETTING INFECTED AND DYING FROM THE DISEASE ARE THEN RECEIVING THE VACCINE.

I THINK ONE LAST POINT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE OUR INEQUITIES HERE IN THE CITY SPEAK OF GLOBAL INEQUITY,S, I THINK RICH COUNTRY'S LIKE OUR ARE HOARDING VACCINES THAN POORER COUNTRIES.

HOPEFULLY THAT REVERSES SOON.

>> KELLY, LET'S TALK ABOUT STUDENT POTENTIALLY RETURNING TO SCHOOL BUILDS, CAN YOU GIVE US A SKETCH OF WHERE CPS IS ON RE-OPENING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S A STAND OFF BETWEEN THE CHICAGO TEACHER'S UNION AND CPS ON NEGOTIATIONS OF RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM FOR IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION.

CPS IS INSISTING ON MONDAY, K-12 AND STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM, BUT TEACHERS DON'T FEEL SAFE YET.

THE CHICAGO TEACHER'S UNION IS SAYING THEY WANT MORE ACCOMMODATIONS APPROVED, THEY WANT TEACHERS TO BE VACCINATED BEFORE RETURNING TO THE CLASSROOM.

ASIDE OF THAT WE HAVE PARENTS THAT DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING HEARD OR REPRESENTED AT THESE NEGOTIATIONS.

AND REMOTE LEARNING, 80% OF CPS STUDENTS CHOSE TO RETURN TO REMOTE LEARNING.

>> Hugo: ON TABLE IS VACCINATING SCHOOL STAFF AND TEACHERS, WHAT IS CPS'S PLAN TEACHERS VACCINATION?

>> THE PLAN WILL NOT HAPPEN UNTIL MID FEBRUARY AND EVEN THEN IT WILL ONLY GO FIRST TO THOSE AT HIGHEST RISK OF EXPOSURE AND THIS WILL TAKE A FEW MONTHS AND MORE TO MAKE SURE ALL TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE VACCINATED.

THIS IS GOING TO TAKE AWHILE.

THAT'S WHY TEACHERS WANT TO GET THE ACCOMMODATIONS IMPROVED.

>> WHAT DO TEACHERS AND STAFF THINK ABOUT RE-OPENING, ABOUT GOING BACK TO BARS AND RESTAURANTS, AS CUSTOMERS, BUT ALSO AS WORKERS?

>> I THINK MOST BUSINESS EMPLOYEES AND OTHER THANES ARE EXCITED BECAUSE IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MONEY.

HAVING WORKED IN RESTAURANTS MYSELF AND TALKED TO BUSINESS OWNERS, I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO FILL TABLES AT RESTAURANTS AND ALSO FLIP THOSE TABLES.

I THINK MOST ARE EXCITED.

A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN PUTTING MOST OF THEIR MONEY TO LIKE ITEMS FOR TAKE-OUT ORDERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT WILL TAKE AWHILE, I THINK FOR PEOPLE TO GET REALLY ACCLIMATED TO ALL THE CHANGES.

ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE ONLY OPERATING AT 25%.

>> Hugo: THE ROLLOUT IS SLOW MOVING, AS YOU MENTIONED.

AND CERTAINLY IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME.

RE-OPENING ACROSS THE STATE MEANS THAT NEIGHBORING BUSINESSES COULD BE OPERATING UNDER DIFFERENT RULES.

CARLOS, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR REGION?

>> IT MEANS THAT THEIR COMPETING FOR THE SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO ENJOY BEING OUTSIDE WITHOUT WORRYING SO MUCH.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S TRAGIC.

I WAS SPEAKING TO A FRIEND WHOSE BEEN WORKING IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND HE SAID THAT OUT OF THINGS REOPEN AND AS THEY FEEL THE PRESSURE EMANATING FROM THOSE COMMUNITIES WHERE THINGS ARE MORE OPEN THAN THEY ARE HERE.

HIS BOSS IS EXPECTING THEM TO COME BACK SOON.

AND HE'S VERY UNCERTAIN ABOUT IT BUT STILL WANTS TO KEEP HIS JOB SO HE'S FORCED TO MAKE A DECISION HE DOESN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT.

AND HE MENTIONED THAT AS OPPOSED TO THE TEACHERS WHO HAVE A UNION, RIGHT, THEY CAN NEGOTIATE THESE COMING BACK, INDUSTRY WORKERS DON'T HAVE THOSE PRIVILEGES, SO THEY END UP HAVING TO MAKE THESE TOUGH CHOICES AND NOT BEING ABLE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THEIR FELLOW WORKERS.

>> Hugo: MANY OF THE SAME PARENTS RETURNING TO WORK HAVE CHILDREN RETURNING TO SCHOOL.

KELLY, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM PARENTS ABOUT RETURNING TO SCHOOL >> Hugo: >> THERE'S A VARIETY OF NEEDS RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S STEMMING FROM THE FACT THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS HIT FAMILIES DIFFERENTLY.

PARENTS ARE WONDERING ABOUT CHILD CARE SERVICES, ESPECIALLY ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

PARENTS ARE WONDERING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, RIGHT, THEY'RE NOT RECEIVING THE SERVICES DURING THE REMOTE LEARNING WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE HYBRID LEARNING.

AND FAMILIES ARE STILL LACKING INTERNET ACCESS.

THERE'S STILL THAT QUESTION OF WHAT'S BEING PROVIDED TO FAMILIES DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

OVER ALL, PARENTS CHOOSING FOR REMOTE LEARNING OR GETTING KIDS BACK INTO THE CLASSROOMS, THEY'RE JUST NOT FEELING HEARD.

>> Hugo: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DOMINATED AROUND MY KITCHEN TABLE WAS THE TUG OF WAR BETWEEN CPS AND CTU AND THE THREAT OF A STRIKE.

DO YOU THINK THAT STRIKE IS IMMINENT?

>> TO BE HONEST, I'M EXPECTING A STRIKE NEXT WEEK.

CPS TOOK A STRONG STAND ON MONDAY, THEY WANT TEACHERS IN-PERSON.

TEACHERS WILL MOST LIKELY VOTE TO REMOTE LEARNING.

CPS WILL LOCK TEACHERS OUT OF THEIR ACCOUNT, AND IF THEY DO THAT WILL LEAD TO STRIKE.

SO YEAH, THERE'S STILL NEGOTIATIONS HAPPENING OVER THE WEEKEND, SOME THINGS CAN CHANGE, BUT THAT'S WHAT I THINK.

>> Hugo: THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, KELLY, CARLOS, FOR YOUR TIME AND INSIGHTS, HOPE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW VERY SOON.

CITY COUNCIL MET THIS WEEK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2021.

WELCOMING CITY ORDINANCE WHICH FURTHER RESTRICTS CHICAGO POLICE FROM WORKING WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES EXTENDING PROTECTIONS TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

SHE BEGAN BY ASKING ALDEMAN WHY HE THOUGHT THE CHANGES WERE NECESSARY.

>> BECAUSE UNDOCUMENTED CITIZENS IN CHICAGO SAID THE CITY COULD DO MORE TO PROTECT THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE NEEDED TO ASSURE OUR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY WHICH NUMBERS CLOSE TO 200,000 PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO PERHAPS MORE THAT THEY DID NOT NEED TO FEAR IF THEY WERE A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR A VICTIM OF CRIME, THAT THEY OR A FAMILY MEMBER WOULD END UP IN THE HANDS OF ICE.

WE'RE TRULY MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE A SANCTIONARY THAT PROTECTS ALL IMMIGRANTS AND IN NO CASE CAN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT WORK WITH ICE.

>> THE TWO OF YOU WERE AMONG THE EIGHT VOTES THAT OPPOSED THESE CHANGES, WHY DID YOU OPPOSE THESE?

>> WELL, MY OPPOSITION HAS BEEN CONSISTENT EVER SINCE IT WAS FIRST PROPOSED UNDER THE RON EMANUAL ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S THE SAFETY.

I REPRESENT MANY UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITIES I WAS ELECTED TO SERVE, IN BRIGHTEN PARK AND BACK OF THE YARDS IN PARTICULAR, THOUGH WE CONTINUE TO HELP THE UNDOCUMENTED IN MY NEIGHBORHOODS.

THEY FEEL IT'S UNFAIR AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS CAUSE FOR MY OPPOSITION AND CONTINUED OPPOSITION.

>> ALDERMAN, I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT AND BY NO MEANS AM I REMOTELY INSINUATING THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE CRIMINALS.

THE FAR MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE ARE HARD WORKING AND WANT TO MAKE A GOOD LIFE FOR THEIR FAMILY.

BUT WE HAVE LAWS IN THE COUNTRY, AND WE'RE WELCOMING, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW, THERE'S A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP AND PEOPLE NEED TO COME THAT WAY.

>> ALDEMAN RODRIGUEZ, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE CALLING LAW ENFORCEMENT.

GET AWAY WITH COMMITTING THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT BEING REPORTED.

HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THOSE DIFFERENCES?

>> THE FACT IS TODAY IS A GREAT DAY FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THE FACT IS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY COLLEAGUES AGREED WITH CARLOS AND I, THAT IMMIGRANTS NEED TO FEEL SAFE IN OUR CITY.

THE FACT IS THE VAST MAJORITY OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS ARE NOT CRIMINALS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TREAT IMMIGRANTS FROM A WELCOMING PERSPECTIVE.

I REPRESENT THE 22 WARD, THE MOST IMMIGRANT DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

MANY OF MY RESIDENTS COME TO ME AND SAY, WE'RE IN THE SHADOWS, WE'RE AFRAID, WE DON'T WANT TO PICK UP THE PHONE IF WE SEE A CRIME BECAUSE WE THINK AUTHORITIES WILL COME FOR US AND TALK TO I.C.E.

WE STOPPED THAT.

AND THE FACT IS THAT A JUDGE CAN STILL INTERVENE IS THERE'S SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

THE CITY POLICE, THE STATES ATTORNEY WILL STILL ADJUDICATE INDIVIDUALS WHO COMMIT CRIMES.

THE FEAR MONGERING IS ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY.

>> AGAIN, THAT WAS A PORTION OF A CONVERSATION FROM EARLIER THIS WEEK ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

THEY ALSO SHARED THEIR THOUGHTS ON ORDINANCES, AIMED GENTRIFICATION.

UP NEXT WE THROW IT BACK TO AN INTERVIEW WITH CESAR CHAVEZ.

AMONG THE MANY CHANGES PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS MADE SINCE MOVING TO THE WHITE HOUSE IS A BUST OF ACTIVIST CESAR CHAVEZ.

JOHN CALL LOW WAY, THAT SAME YEAR, CHAVEZ TALKS ABOUT HIS FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT'S OF LABORERS FROM THE WEST COAST TO THE NORTH COAST.

>> WHEN YOU SEE LETTUCE, DO YOU STILL THINK OF THINNING IT?

>> I DO, BECAUSE THINNING IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORST JOBS THAT ANYONE CAN EVER HOPE TO DO.

BUT IT'S PART AND PARCEL OF BEING A FARM WORKER.

IT'S JUST A HARD TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE MEN AND WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WHO PRODUCE THE FOOD WE EAT HAVE TO WORK SO HARD FOR NOT ONLY FOR NOT ENOUGH PAY AND VERY BAD WORKING CONDITIONS, BUT NO HOPE THAT THAT WILL CHANGE.

NO HOPE THAT IT WILL CHANGE.

THIS IS A CONSTANT CONCERN THAT WE HAVE IS THAT HOPE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO COME BY.

WORKERS HAVE BEEN RELEGATED TO LESS THAN SECOND CLASS CITIZENS.

NOT COVERED, NOT PROTECTED UNDER THE FEDERAL LAW THAT PERMITS THEM TO THAT WILL PERMIT THEM TO ORGANIZE AND BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY, MEN, AND WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WORK AND SACRIFICE, THEY HARVEST THE FRUIT AND CULTIVATE THE PLANTS AND YOU AND I EAT FROM THAT AND A LOT OF TIMES THOSE WHO PRODUCE THE FOOD DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT THEMSELVES.

>> Hugo: CERTAINLY TRUE THEN, ALSO TRUE NOW.

UP NEXT, BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO IS LOOKING FOR MORE LATINO MENTORS.

BUT FIRST TO BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND WHAT'S ON TAP FOR TOMORROW.

JOIN US TO DISCUSS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S FOCUS ON RACIAL EQUITY.

AND REMEMBERING BETSY COLEMAN, THE ORIGINAL FLY GIRL.

THAT'S TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00.

>> Hugo: BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO MAKING MATCHES IS CHICAGO SINCE 1967.

BUT A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN, NOW MANY OF THE KIDS JOINING THEIR PROGRAM COME FROM SPANISH SPEAKING HOUSE HOLDS AND THE ORGANIZATION IS LOOKING FOR MORE BIGS THAT SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE.

>> HOW IS YOUR NEW FAMILY PUBPY?

>> SHE'S GETTING THE.

>> LIKE MANY SISTERS OVER THE LAST YEAR, BIG SISTER DENISE GONZALEZ, AND LITTLE SISTER ITZEL RIVERA HAVE HAD TO SHARE NEWS OF PUPPY UPDATES FROM ZOOM.

BUT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THEIR IN-PERSON MEETINGS WEREN'T AROUND THE FAMILY KITCHEN TABLE.

THEY WERE AROUND A CONFERENCE ROOM TABLE AT GONZALEZ'S EMPLOY, THE MARKETING STORE WHERE THEY MET AT THE BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO'S PROGRAM.

>> AND WE MADE AN EFFORT TO KEEP IT GOING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE BOTH LOVE PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER, OR REDECORATING OUR ROOMS, WE LOVE ANIMALS.

WE TALK ABOUT OUR ANIMALS OR WHAT ANIMALS WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IF WE LIVED ON A FARM OR HAD A BIGGER HOUSE.

>> I'M ACTUALLY ABLE TO CONNECT WITH SOMEONE AND NOT JUST MY AGE BUT OLDER AND SEE THEIR DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND ACTUALLY TAKE IN SO MUCH MORE THAN I WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE FROM MY VIEW OF THE WORLD.

>> THE COMRADERY WAS NO ACCIDENT SAYS BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS, CEO.

>> WE'RE GETTING TO KNOW YOU, WE'RE TALKING TO YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, CO-WORKERS, SO WE COULD UNDERSTAND WHO YOU ARE AND YOUR PREFERENCES.

WHILE WE DON'T BAT A THOUSAND, WHAT I TELL PEOPLE IS THAT WE WOULD BE IN THE HALL OF FAME.

WE DO A GOOD JOB THROUGH THAT MATCHING PROCESS AND WE TAKE A LOT OF CARE, SO ONCE WE MAKE A MATCH WE KNOW IT'S A MATCH THAT WILL LAST.

>> HE SAYS BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS ARE LOOKING FOR MORE LATINO SPANISH SPEAKING BIGS.

>> EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE STAFF THAT ARE BILINGUAL, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTATION IN OUR LATINO COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY AROUND THE LANGUAGE PIECE.

>> LITTLE SISTER RIVERA SAYS THAT SHARING THAT.

>> WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS, EVEN THOUGH IF YOU MIGHT BE SCARED OF TALKING TO PEOPLE OR IF YOU MAY BE SCARED OF GOING OUT AND BEING SOCIAL IT IS ACTUALLY A PLACE WHERE YOU COULD BE INDEPENDENT WHERE YOU LEARN NEW THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> AND GONZALEZ-MENDES SAYS SHE'S LEARNING NEW THINGS TOO.

>> WE WERE WORKING ON OUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS, AND VERBATIM, I CAN SAY I CAN PICK UP THAT AS A RESOLUTION TOO.

I LEARN SO MUCH FROM HER.

>> YOU COULD FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO WRAP UP AFTER THIS.

>> Hugo: AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE news.wttw.com FOR THE VERY LATEST INCLUDING SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE SCHOOL'S RE-OPENING DEBATE.

PLUS UPDATES ON THE STATE'S VACCINATION PLAN.

NOW, FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES," I'M HUGO BALTA, THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY INFORMED, STAY HEALTHY, AND STAY SAFE.

Realtime Closed Captioning provided by U.S. Captioning Company