>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY CIBC.

>> GOOD EVENING.

THE FIRST CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES OF 2021.

I'M HUGO BALTA, YOUR HOST.

WE'VE GOT QUITE THE SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.

WE'LL FIND OUT WHY SOME LATINO CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL FAMILIES ARE SAYING LANGUAGE BARRIERS ARE CREATING TECH PROBLEMS.

>> .

INTEREST IN HOUSE PLANTS HAS BLOSSOM THE DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE'LL LOOK AT THE CULTURAL TIES MANY LATINOS HAVE TO CARING FOR HOUSE PLANTS.

>> WE NEED TO BRING IT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

ANGEL ON HOW CHICAGOANS ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT LOCAL ARTIST OF COLOR IN A VIRTUAL BODEGA.

>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE SHUT TO INSCHOOL LEARNING.

HOME LANGUAGE IS SPANISH THERE'S BEEN AN ADDITIONAL BARRIER.

CHICAGO REPORTER SPOKE WITH FAMILIES WHO SAY C.P.S.

HAS NOT DONE ENOUGH TO GET THEIR CHILDREN READY FOR ONLINE LEARNING NOR HAVE THEY DONE ENOUGH FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKING TEACHERS WHO HAVE TAKEN ON TECH SUPPORT FOR THOSE FAMILIES.

FREELANCE REPORTER FOR JOURNAL AND TOPICS NEWSPAPER.

HOW MANY FAMILIES ARE EFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE AND HOW HAVE THEY BEEN FIGURING THINGS OUT?

>> I THINK THAT A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT ARE HISPANIC AND ESPECIALLY IN PRIMARILY SPANISH SPEAKING HOUSE HOLDS HAVE BEEN EFFECTED BY ELEARNING AND MANAGING TECHNOLOGY.

AND FROM TALKING TO TEACHERS AND FAMILIES IT SEEMS FAMILIES WITH YOUNGER STUDENTS HAD THE HARDEST TIME.

THE BEST EXAMPLE FROM THE ARTICLE FROM BOARDERLESS MAGAZINE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET FROM A TEACHER AND HAVING TO ACTUALLY GO TO A STUDENT'S HOUSE, STAND OUTSIDE IN THE COLD, WITH A NEWBORN BABY WAITING IN THE CAR AND TRYING TO OFFER SUPPORT AND WALK THROUGH STEPS TO FAMILIES IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF TEACHERS HAD HAD TO DEAL WITH.

CONTACTING TECH SUPPORT AND BEING SENT TO SOMEONE ELSE, OR HAVING TO TRY AND LEARN IT THEMSELVES OR USE A TRANSLATOR.

IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT HAS EFFECTED.

>> C.P.S.

DID OFFER RESOURCES FOR SPANISH SPEAKING FAMILIES BUT THEY SAY IT WASN'T ENOUGH.

WHAT MORE DO YOU THINK C.P.S.

SHOULD HAVE DONE?

>> C.P.S.

DID A GOOD JOB BECAUSE A LOT OF THEIR STUDENTS ARE SPANISH SPEAKING, SO THERE WAS DEFINITELY A KNOWLEDGE THAT THE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAD TO BE PUT OUT IN VARIOUS LANGUAGE, NOT JUST SPANISH.

THERE WASN'T ENOUGH CONSIDERATION INTO THE TECHNOLOGY GENERATIONAL GAP THAT A LOT OF HISPANIC FAMILIES EXPERIENCE ESPECIALLY FIRST GENERATION.

SO THE LACK OF SUPPORT AND THE LACK OF TEACHING FAMILIES AND OLDER PARENTS HOW TO NAVIGATE THE TECHNOLOGY IS WHAT CAUSED THAT STEP BACK AND HINDERED THE STUDENT'S ABILITIES IN ORDER TO LOG INTO COMPLETE THEIR ASSIGNMENTS AND CHECK THEIR GRADES.

THAT SEEMS TO BE WHERE PARENT ARE HAVING THE HARDEST STRUGGLE.

>> MORE TEACHERS OF COLOR LIKE HERSELF TO ADDRESS THESE TYPES OF ISSUES.

BASED ON YOUR REPORTING DOES C.P.S.

HAS A DIVERSITY PROBLEM IN >> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT C.P.S.

HAS A DIVERSITY PROBLEM FROM TALKING TO THE TEACHERS AND PARENTS.

I THINK THE ISSUE WAS THERE WAS A PLAN BUT THE EXECUTION BEHIND IT WAS NOT THERE.

C.P.S.

HAS A LOT OF TEACHERS OF COLOR, THEY HAVE A LOT OF BILINGUAL TEACHERS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT ANOTHER TEACHER TALKED ABOUT A LOT, THEY HAVE A STRONG BILINGUAL PROGRAM BUT THE TEACHERS WERE NOT OFFERED THE SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE.

>> HOW MUCH OF A BURDEN DOES THIS PRESENT FOR THE TEACHERS YOU SPOKE WITH?

>> IT PRESENT AS BIG BURDEN FOR THE TEACHERS WE SPOKE WITH.

NAVIGATE THIS WORLD OF E-LEARNING HAVING TO TRY TO SWITCH THEIR COURSES AND TEACHING SCHEDULES TO A WAY THAT IS DOABLE FOR STUDENTS AND MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE.

SO HAVING TO ADD TECH HELP TO THE SUPPORT THAT THEY OFFER STUDENTS IS DEFINITELY ADDING, IT'S TAKING AWAY TIME THAT THEY CAN DEDICATE TO HELP STUDENTS NAVIGATE THIS.

AN EXAMPLE THAT WE GAVE WAS A TEACHER THAT HAD TO GO OUTSIDE AND TALK TO A FAMILY.

MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS, PARENTS TRYING TO GET AHOLD OF TEACHERS, PARENTS TRYING TO HAVE TEACHERS DO SOMETHING AS SIMPLE TO BE ABLE TO LOG INTO EMAIL, SO HAVING TEACHERS TAKE ON THAT ADDITIONAL ROLE ON TOP OF ALWAYS HAVING TO BE ON.

THEY DON'T GET A BREAK.

>> YOU MET WITH A C.P.S.

STUDENT WHOSE STRUGGLING WITH MANY THINGS TO KEEP HERSELF AND HER SIB LINGS IN SCHOOL.

>> HER STORY SPEAKS A LOT OF FIRST GENERATION YOUNG STUDENT ARE GOING THROUGH.

HER STORY IS THAT SHE IS THE OLDEST, SHE'S THE SECOND OLDEST, AND SHE HAS A LOT OF YOUNGER SIBLINGS THAT SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR HER LEARNING AS WELL AS THEIR'S.

ON TOP OF THAT, DURING HER BREAK, AFTER SCHOOL HOURS, SHE GOES AND HELPS HER MOM AT HER JOB WHICH IS A FRUIT STAND.

IT'S A 14-YEAR-OLD TRYING TO NAVIGATE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT KIDS ARE NOT PREPARED FOR.

>> A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT STUDENTS, FAMILIES CANS TEACHERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO IRON OUT AS WE ARE NOW ENTERING SECOND HALF OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND INSIGHTS.

>> NOW WE GO TO BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND ONE OF THE FIRST LOCAL DOCTORS TO GET THE COVID VACCINE IN A CONVERSATION RECORDED EARLIER.

>> DR. ARMANDO RIOS WAS THE FIRST DR.

JOINS US NOW TO TALK ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE WITH THE VACCINE AND IN BEING AN ER DR. AMID THIS PANDEMIC, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

FIRST IF YOU WOULD TELL ME A BIT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE OVER THE LAST 10 MONTH OF BEING AN EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR ON THE FRONT LINE OF THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT'S THAT LIKE?

>> IT'S THE MOST STRESSFUL YEAR THAT I'VE HAD IN MY CAREER, IT'S VERY DIFFERENT WHEN YOUR DEALING WITH HEART ATTACKS AND TRAUMA, YOU KNOW WHILE IT'S VERY SAD TO SEE PATIENTS IN THOSE SITUATIONS, YOU YOURSELF MAY NOT BE AT RISK.

THAT ADDED RISK OF CONSTANTLY FEELING LIKE TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS IS A THREAT TO MY OWN WELL BEING IT'S AN ADMINISTRATION LAYER OF STRESS THAT'S HARD TO DEAL WITH.

>> WE'VE SEEN CASES SURGING ACROSS THE COUNTRY SINCE THANKSGIVING, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SITUATION AT YOUR HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW?

ARE YOU NOTICING AN INCREASE IN CASES AS WELL?

>> WE SAW A SURGE A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER THANKSGIVING.

AND THEN, THE NUMBERS STARTED TO DROP A BIT.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE A LITTLE CLIMB AND I'M EXPECTING THAT WE'LL PROBABLY SEE ANOTHER PEAK IN ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO, WHICH WOULD BE TWO WEEKS POST THE MOST RECENT HOLIDAYS.

>> ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TALKED ABOUT THE DISPROPORTIONAL IMPACT ON THE VIRUS IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND THE NEED TO MAKE VACCINE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

HERE'S A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT SHE SAID ABOUT THE STATE'S VACCINE OUTREACH.

>> OUR OUTREACH EXTENDS TO ALL POPULATIONS IN ILLINOIS.

ALL GROUPS INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE UNDOCUMENTED.

AND UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS WILL NOT BE TURNED AWAY WHEN THEY PRESENT FOR VACCINATION.

>> DOCTOR DEL RIOS, YOU AND I KNOW THAT BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES ARE HISTORICALLY SKEPTICAL.

YOU WERE THE VERY FIRST PERSON IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE.

AS A LATINA DOCTOR HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT FOR YOU TO SEE YOU GET THE VACCINE?

>> I THINK THAT PEOPLE MODEL THE BEHAVIOR THEY OBSERVE.

AND SO IF I'M GOING TO ASK MY PATIENTS TO GET VACCINATED, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THEY SEE THAT I MYSELF AM OKAY WITH GETTING VACCINATED, I FEEL SAFE AND THAT IT'S AN EFFECTIVE VACCINE.

I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST WAYS OF CONVINCING PEOPLE TO ADOPT THE BEHAVIOR IS TO ADOPT IT FOR YOURSELF.

I'M HAPPY TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST RECIPIENTS, I WILL BE A VOCAL ADVOCATE FOR MY COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE FOLKS THAT HAVE CONCERN AND MISTRUST IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> I THINK WE LISTEN AND DON'T JUDGE.

WE ASK QUESTIONS AND GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS THEY NEED TO TO COME UP WITH THE BEST DECISION FOR THEMSELVES.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE THAT MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND TRUSTED SOURCES HAVE TO ADDRESS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE NARRATIVE THAT'S OUT THERE IS CHANGED.

AND WITH VACCINES, I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, MIXED MESSAGING REGARDING HOW QUICKLY THE VACCINE WAS DEVELOPED FOR EXAMPLE, AND ALSO WHAT SIDE EFFECTS PEOPLE MAY HAVE AFTER THE VACCINE.

IT'S REALLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THE CORRECT INFORMATION IS GOING TO PEOPLE AND SO, I'VE TOLD PEOPLE GIVEN THEM MY SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, I'VE TOLD MY OWN FAMILY MEMBERS, FEEL FREE TO SHARE MY POST BECAUSE AGAIN, I THINK THE ONLY WAY TO CONVINCE OTHER PEOPLE IS TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND TO HAVE THE INFORMATION AT HAND TO MAKE THE DECISION THEMSELVES.

>> HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED ANY SIDE EFFECTS?

>> THE FIRST SHOT WAS PRETTY UNEVENTFUL, A LITTLE SORE ON MY ARM THE DAY AFTER AND IT WAS GONE.

THIS TIME, THE SORENESS WAS THERE, BUT YESTERDAY EVENING, WHICH WAS ABOUT 24 HOURS POST THE SHOT, I STARTED FEELING A LITTLE ACHY, SORT OF LIKE WHEN YOU'RE STARTING TO GET THE FLU, BUT NOTHING THAT I COULDN'T MANAGE WITH A DOSE OF EYE BOO PROFIN AND A GOOD NIGHT'S REUSS.

>> WE'VE HEARD AND RED STORIES OF SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO ARE RESISTANT TO GETTING THE VACCINE.

AS A PROFESSIONAL IN THE INDUSTRY WHAT KIND OF RESERVATIONS MIGHT SOMEONE HAVE?

>> EVEN WITHIN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP REGARDING HOW QUICKLY THE VACCINE WAS DEVELOPED.

AND SO, I THINK IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE THE INITIAL MESSAGE WAS WE WON'T HAVE AN EFFICACIOUS VACCINE FOR A YEAR YEAR AND-A-HALF, AND YEAR WE ARE SIX MONTHS AFTER OR NINE MONTHS AFTER THE STUDIES WERE STARTED NOW WE HAVE WHAT LOOKS LIKE AN EFFECTIVE VACCINE AND IT'S SAFE.

SO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO BATTLE THOSE CONVERSATION ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS IN MY DEPARTMENT AND I'M GLAD TO SAY THAT SOME PEOPLE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONVINCE AND EVEN ONE OF MY CUSTODIAL WORKERS SAID, I HEARD YOU ON T.V., I'M SO PROUD OF YOU AND I SIGNED UP TO GET MY SHOT.

OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR DEPARTMENT IN OUR INSTITUTION, ASK QUESTIONS, AND ASK HOW THEY FEEL AND WHAT THEY THINK AND.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WILL CONVINCE 100% OF PEOPLE BUT HOPEFULLY A GOOD ENOUGH SO OUR WHOLE POPULATION WILL BE PROTECTED.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND THANKS FOR THE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING ON TONIGHT.

>> GET THEM DELIVERED TO A MOBILE DEVICE WITH.

SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY BRIEFING.

>> FOR MANY LATINOS A HOME DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A HOME WITHOUT A PLANT.

TALK ABOUT HOW INTEREST IN KEEPING HOUSE PLANTS HAS BLOSSOMED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> FOR HILARIO DOMINGUEZ HIS LUSH AND LEAFY COLLECTION OF OVER 120 TROPICAL PLANTS ELIST SITS HIS PLANTS AND GARDENING HAS JUST BEEN A A THING IN MY LIFE.

I REMEMBER MY MOM SINGING AND TALKING TO HER PLANTS, TO THIS DAY SHE STILL DOES THAT.

CALLING THEM EACH ABDIFFERENT NAME.

>> HE SAYS SPENDING MORE TIME AT HOME DUE TO THE PANDEMIC INSPIRED HIM TO CREATE THIS OASIS OF GREENERY.

>> OFTEN TIMES, IT STARTS HERE T. YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS IT WITH YOURSELF ARE YOU BEING IMPATIENT AND PROJECTING THAT ONTO A PLANT, RIGHT, AND IT SOUNDS SILLY BUT THERE'S SO MUCH TO LEARN IN ONE'S SELF TAKING CARE OF SOMETHING ELSE.

>> IN EDITION TO USING TECH TO HELP TRACK HIS PLANT'S GROWTH, DOMINGUEZ SAYS HE RELIES ON PLANT'S SHOP CHICAGO TO CARE FOR HIS PLANTS.

>> THEY TOO FEEL A CULTURAL CONNECTION TO KEEPING HOUSE PLANTS.

>> I GREW UP IN BELIZE AND PLANTS WERE ALWAYS AROUND ME BUT IT WASN'T SOMETHING I PAID ATTENTION TO.

>> SINCE WE'VE OPENED, I THINK BIRD'S OF PARADISE, BOTH TROPICAL PLANTS.

AND ALOE.

THAT'S USED FOR A LOT OF THINGS, I KNOW PEOPLE PUT IT IN SMOOTHIES, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE A DIGESTIVE, CUTS BRUISES.

>> AS CHICAGOANS PREPARE TO SPEND MORE TIME AT HOME, THEY ARE USING THEIR CONNECTIONS BOTH CULTURAL AND VIRTUAL TO SEED INTEREST IN HOUSE PLANTS ALL OVER THE CITY.

>> YOUR SHOP HAD TO PIVOT IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE PATRONS IN ORDER TO STAY AFLOAT, WHAT CAN YOU SHARE WITH US IN REGARDS TO WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS IN ORDER TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS NOT ONLY SURVIVING BUT THRIVING.

>> AT THE BEGINNING, EVERYTHING'S CLOSING DOWN AND WE HAD TO CLOSE DOWN AND THE IDEA TO MOVING IT ALL ONLINE AND DOING IT VIRTUALLY CAME ABOUT.

WE WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE TO DELIVER AND OFFER CURB SIDE PICK UP.

WE WERE BOTH SERVICE INDUSTRY BEFORE THIS SO WE TOOK IDEAS FROM THAT AND IT TOOK OFF FROM THERE.

NOW THERE'S PEOPLE SHOPPING WITH US, THAT DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO DO IT BEFORE.

>> THE CHANGE IN OPERATIONS HAS GIVEN PLANT SHOP CHICAGO A DISTINCTIVE PRESENCE AS AN INDEPENDENT DIFFERENCE.

>> IT'S MORE THAN GOING TO A BIG BOX STORE AND BUYING A PLANT.

LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

WE WANT TO BUILD A COMMUNITY.

>> BACK IN HILARIO DOMINGUEZ'S HOME, HE OFFERS HIS OWN ADVICE FOR THOSE LOOKING TO JOIN THAT COMMUNITY.

>> DO IT, START SOMEWHERE, ENJOY IT AND ENJOY I THE PROCESS, IT'S REALLY A JOURNEY, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING IS THE AMOUNT YOU LEARN ABOUT YOU AS YOUR TAKING CARE OF PLANTS.

>> I'M HAPPY TO SAY I JOINED THE PLANT PARENT COMMUNITY RECENTLY, I BROUGHT A CACTUS HOME LAST NIGHT.

SEGRE OUR FIRST SHOW OF THE NEW YEAR IS A LOOK AT GETTING THE COVID VACCINE TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.

SOME C.P.S.

STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOLS ON MONDAY.

THAT'S TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00 ON BLACK VOICES.

>> ORGANIZING A FEW COMMUNITY EVENTS INSPIRED CHICAGOANS TO CREATE AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATING TO CREATING PLATFORMS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS OF COLOR.

CREATED LOLITA'S BODEGA.

HELPING CHICAGOANS INVEST IN LOCAL ARTISTS.

>> THROUGH THEIR PLATFORM THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP MORE THAN 150 ARTISTS.

I WAS ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH SOME OF THE ARTIST WHO SAY THEY WOULD NOT BE WHAT THEY ARE TODAY WITHOUT THAT SUPPORT.

>> L TURN IT INTO A BODEGA, WHICH IS A BLEND BETWEEN A COMMUNITY GROCERY STORE AND FARMERs MARKET.

THERE PRIMARILY LATINO ARTISTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO SHOW CASE THEIR WORK.

>> IF WE'RE NOT MAKING AND SUPPORTING OUR OWN, THEN NO ONE'S GOING TO SUPPORT US.

YOU HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND DO IT YOURSELF.

>> HELD FOR A FEW HOURS ON A WEEKEND AFTERNOON, CO-FOUNDERS, .

IT'S BEEN A NICE VIBE BUT IT'S MORE ABOUT GETTING TO SELL SOMETHING.

WHERE AS, WHEN YOU COME TO BODEGA, YOU'RE HANGING OUT.

LIKE SOMEONE MIGHT OFFER YOU A DRINK, IT'S A GOOD TIME.

>> IT'S NOT JUST A PLACE TO COME AND SPEND MONEY, IT REALLY IS ABOUT COMMUNITY.

WHERE WE ALL COME TOGETHER BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DO IF IT WASN'T FOR THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN OUR CAPABILITIES.

>> THE BODEGA TURNED VIRTUAL WHEN THE COVID NUMBERS BEGAN TO RISE.

IT HASN'T HINDERED THE COMMUNITY'S ART IN THE SLIGHTEST.

>> I DON'T THINK MY ART WOULD BE WHERE IT IS WITHOUT THEM BECAUSE THEY MADE ME CHALLENGE MYSELF BECAUSE I WANTED TO SHOW OUT FOR THEM.

THEY WERE TAKING A CHANCE BY PUTTING ME IN ONE OF THEIR EVENTS, AND I WAS LIKE, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE THEM REGRET IT.

SO I FEEL LIKE THAT THEY DO THAT WITH SO MANY OTHER LOCAL ARTISTS.

THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES TO TELL OUT THERE AND THEY'RE GIVING THE PEOPLE THE PLATFORM TO DO THAT.

>> THE VIRTUAL BODEGA OFFERS PDF'S WITH LINKS TAKING PEOPLE DIRECTLY TO ARTISTS.

>> THEY MAKE ME FEEL SEEN AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY FOR ARTISTS.

SOSA, WHO THOUGHT HER ART WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE WORK THAN WHAT SHE ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO DO AS A DOCTOR.

>> IF I CAN CREATE SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER THAN PIECE I CREATED.

IT'S KIND OF JUST A GREAT, IT'S LIKE A WEB OF CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY.

HOWEVER FAR YOU ARE AWAY FROM THEM.

>> ART EDUCATOR AND ARTIST BRENDA TORRES-FIGUEROA AGREES, AND SAYS ART IS NOT ONLY A WAY TO CONNECT BUT TO UNDERSTAND.

ONE OF HER MANY MEDIUMS INCLUDES HAND SEWN WEARABLE ART USING FABRIC FROM AS FAR AWAY AS SOUTH AFRICA.

>> THE WORLD AROUND US.

THIS IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR US FEELING REPRESENTED, AND FEELING BUT ALSO AS PART OF THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A SPACE TOGETHER AND LEAVING OUR LEGACY BEHIND.

>> WE BELIEVE THAT THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER, WHETHER IT BE ART, FOOD, FASHION, THAT THE WORLD DESERVES TO SEE IT AND NO ONE ELSE IS SHINING A LIGHT ON OUR PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO BE THOSE PEOPLE THAT SHINE LIGHT UPON EACH OTHER.

>> NOW, THE NEXT PRODUCTION FOR LOLITA'S PRODUCTION EXPECTS TO BE THIS MARCH WHEN THE BODEGA RESUMES.

>> WASN'T EXACTRY A BODEGA.

>> I THINK WHAT WE SAW IN HER BODEGA REALLY RESEMBLED A FARMER'S MARKET, BUT THEY EMBODIED THAT SAME SENSE OF SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND MOST IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW IS TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.

NOW YOU MENTIONED THE BODEGAS WILL BE BACK IN MARCH BUT ARE THERE ANY EVENTS IN THE MEANTIME?

>> THEY ARE PRIMARILY SUPPORTING THEIR ARTISTS VIRTUALLY RIGHT NOW BUT THEY ARE PLANNING FOR ART AND MUSIC EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY IN THE SPRING.

>> ONCE AGAIN, ART BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND OF COURSE SUPPORTING AT THIS TIME IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT, BE SURE TO CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR THE VERY LATEST, INCLUDING SPECIAL COVERAGE ON THE STATE'S COVID VACCINE ROLLOUT.

AND ENJOY, BRANDIS FRIEDMAN TOMORROW NIGHT FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

I'M HUGO BALTA THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY INFORMED, STAY HEALTHY, AND STAY SAFE.

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