CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALLSTATE AND THE SEARLE FUNDS AT THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST.

GOOD EVENING.

I AM MICHAEL PUENTE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT WE WILL HEAR FROM PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATES ON THE STATE OF COVID ON THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

DID CITY LEADERS DO ENOUGH TO HELP LITTLE VILLAGE AGAINST POWERPLANT?

THEY SAY THAT GETTING OLDER IS IN FOR THE WEEK.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW ILLINOIS CAN MAKE AGING EASIER AND MORE EQUITABLE FOR ALL.

>> WE KNOW THE LANGUAGE.

WE KNOW THE CULTURE.

>> A STUDENT NEWS OUTLET COVERS CHICAGO'S LATINOS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT WERE ENTERING THE THIRD YEAR OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE NEWS THAT THE OMICRON WAVE HAS PASSED ITS PEAK IN CHICAGO A LIGHT AGAINST TO APPEAR AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATES ARE WARNING THE CITY'S RESIDENTS NOT TO LET THEIR GUARD DOWN YET.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE LUCY FLORES DIRECTOR OF COMMITTEE ENGAGEMENT AT ESPERANZA HEALTH CENTERS.

DR. GERALDINE LUNA MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND DR. JUANITA MORA IMMUNOLOGIST AT THE CHICAGO ALLERGY CENTER.

WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO LATINO VOICES.

I WILL START WITH YOU, DR. JUANITA MORA.

WITH THIS COVID DEAR WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING THE LATINO COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW?

>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL, FOR HAVING ME.

I THINK THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE, THE MOST PROBABLE CHALLENGE IS VACCINATING OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IS ACCESSIBILITY.

STRICT CARRIERS IS THE THING THAT WE STILL WORK VERY HARD FROM THE CITY SIDE AND WITH FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY TO REACH OUT TO THOSE COMMUNITIES.

BUT ALSO HESITANCY.

WE SEE THAT THE MEDIA HAS PLAYED SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE INFLICTING FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND MISTRUST IN GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE AND HELP AND WITH THE SYSTEMS IN PLACE THAT WE HAVE, PERPETUATING EVEN FURTHER THE DISPARITY THAT WE SEE AND NOW WITH THE VACCINE H THE VACCINE COVERAGE.

ALL THESE CONVERSATIONS, COLLABORATIONS AND INITIATIVES ARE TO TARGET ANZIO WE CAN RING DOWN BARRIERS WITH INDIVIDUALS NOT HAVING HEALTHCARE, INDIVIDUALS NOT TRUSTING WITH HEALTHCARE OUR UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITIES.

THERE'S SO MUCH STILL THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH IN THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN A LEARNING LESSON THROUGHOUT THE WAY WITH A LOT OF MOVING PIECES, MICHAEL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND, DR. JUANITA MORA WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM PARENTS WHO ARE RELUCTANT TO GETTING THEIR CHILDREN VACCINATED?

>> HI MICHAEL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WHAT I HEAR A LOT IS FEAR.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, DR. JUANITA MORA HOW DO WE KNOW THE VACCINE WON'T HAVE LONG-TERM SIDE EFFECTS?

WE HAVE STUDIES THAT SHOW THERE'S NO LONG-TERM SIDE EFFECTS FOR IT AND WHAT IF IT AFFECTS FERTILITY?

TWO OF THE BIGGEST FEARS I HEAR IS THAT REALLY, MRNA VACCINES HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 25 YEARS AND THERE ARE STUDIES LOOKING AT LONG-TERM FOLLOWING AND NO ACTUAL PROBLEM WITH FERTILITY IN LITTLE GIRLS OR LITTLE BOYS.

THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WE NEED TO COMBAT WITH A LOT OF TRUTH AND A LOT OF GOOD SOURCE INFORMATION.

>> LUCY FLORES, DO YOU THINK THAT THIS AFFECTS INFECTION RATES?

>> I AM NOT AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SPEAK ON THAT SPECIFIC DATA BUT IF I WANT TO SPEAK FROM A DATA PERSPECTIVE I THINK THAT WHAT WE CAN FOCUS ON AS FAR AS CPS, I THINK THAT THERE ARE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH CPS AND COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTHCARE CENTERS TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO VACCINES AND TO WORK WITH SOME OF THE PARENT GROUPS, WORK WITH CPS STAFF AND ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM EVERY ANGLE IN ORDER TO CONNECT THEM TO COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH CARE CENTERS IN THEIR AREA AND CREATE HUBS WHERE PARENTS CAN ACCESS VACCINES.

I THINK THAT NOT GETTING TOO POLITICAL, THERE'S DEFINITELY OPPORTUNITIES WITH PBS AND SIMILAR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH OUR FAMILIES FOR HEALTH CENTERS TO CONNECT WITH THEM AND MAKE REGISTRATION EASY, CONNECTING THEM TO RESOURCES AND CONNECTING THEM TO AVAILABILITY.

WE ARE CURRENTLY ABLE TO VACCINATE INDIVIDUALS WITH SAME-DAY APPOINTMENTS AND ALSO OBVIOUSLY TRY TO COORDINATE WITH FAMILIES SO THAT IT WORKS WITH THEIR SCHEDULES.

>> LUCY, STAYING WITH YOU DO YOU THINK THAT CPS DOES NOT DO THAT ALREADY IN TRYING TO BOOST THE VACCINATION RATES?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULDN'T SAY THEY'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH BUT I THINK THAT WE CAN ALWAYS DO MORE.

LOOKING AT THE DATA AND THE NUMBERS THAT I AM FAMILIAR WITH I DO KNOW THAT WITH OUR LATINO YOUTH AND IN OUR LATINO SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES, WE ARE DEFINITELY LAGGING IN VACCINATION RATES.

I THINK THAT WORKING AGAIN WITH EVERY ANGLE AND TARGETING EVERY ORGANIZATION INCLUDING CPS TO WORK TOGETHER TO INCREASE VACCINATION RATES.

I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY THAT WE COULD ALSO BE DOING MORE TO WORK IN DIFFERENT CHANNELS IN ORDER TO GET OUR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN VACCINATED AND TO BOTH DOCTOR LUNA AND TO DR. JUANITA MORA!

, THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO PROVIDE ACCESS IF ACCESS IS WHAT WE ARE HEARING THAT FAMILIES ARE UNAWARE OF.

ALSO TARGETING MESSAGING.

HOW CAN WE IMPROVE OUR MESSAGING COMMUNICATION IN ORDER TO INSPIRE MORE CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN FAMILIES ABOUT THE COVID VACCINE?

I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE ANTI-VACCINE, I THINK THAT TO THE POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, FAMILIES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS.

AND SO, HOW CAN WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR FAMILIES ON THAT TOPIC?

>> DOCTOR LUNA, YOUR COLLEAGUE SAID THAT INDICATORS ARE THAT WE ARE PAST OMICRON.

WHAT CAN WE LOOK FOR IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO KNOW THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH?

>> EXACTLY MICHAEL.

WE NEED TO SEE THOSE STEADY NUMBERS NOT ONLY PEEKING BUT NOW THE TRENDING AND WHAT WE BEEN SEEING FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS.

WE ARE VERY OPTIMISTIC BUT CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC IN MAKING SURE THAT THOSE IMPORTANT THINGS, THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ARE NOT SATURATED OR STRANGE BECAUSE THOSE CAPACITIES ARE LIMITED.

NEVER TO THE POINT THAT WE HAVE TO ACTIVATE CONTINGENCY PLANS LIKE WE HAD.

PUTTING IN BEDS AND ACTIVATING TO THAT POINT.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY BECAUSE CASES ARE GOING DOWN AND ONE OF THE POSITIVE THINGS AND YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THE DOCK AND PUBLIC-HEALTH PREDICTIONS THAT ALIGN NATIONALLY WITH THE PRODUCTIONS THAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS THAT OMICRON STARTED QUICKLY.

IT WAS LIKE THE ONLY.

COME THE LAST DOMINANT VARIANT THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

IT WAS SKYROCKETING IN THOSE CASES AND AS FAST AS IT WENT UP IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS HOW IT IS COMING DOWN.

DOUBLING THE RATES AND DECREASING CASES.

WE ARE SEEING IT IN ALL OF THE METRICS AND ALL OF OUR HEALTH EDUCATOR DILLEY INDICATORS, HOSPITALIZATIONS WE ARE SEEING IN TEST POSITIVITY WHICH ALIGNS AND WHAT IS REFLECTED IN WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS ACTUALLY TRUE.

WE ARE SEEING THAT THE DEATH HAS BEEN DECREASING.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, LET'S HAVE OUR COMMUNITIES VACCINATED AND LET'S STOP THE MUTATIONS OF THIS VIRUS AND SO WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE THAT WE ARE MOVING OUT OF THE SURGE AND LOOKING MORE TO THE NUMBERS AND LOOKING AT THE DECEASED TO BRING BACK OUR LIKELIHOODS.

>> DOCTOR WE HAVE ONLY A FEW SECONDS LEFT.

WE HAVE HEARD THE VACCINATION RATES AMONG LATINOS EVEN WITH WHITE CHICAGOANS AND BOOSTER RATES AMONG LATINOS ARE LAGGING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS BEHIND THAT?

>> I THINK IT IS VACCINE HESITANCY.

I THINK WE NEED TO HOLD MORE TOWNHALL TO REALLY GET INTO THE COMMUNITY TO TALK TO ALL THE PEOPLE, SHOW THEM THE IMPORTANCE, SHOW THEM THE DATA ON WHY GETTING BOOSTERS IS SO IMPORTANT.

AND WITH THE OMICRON CASES KEEP OUR FAMILY, COMMUNITY, NATION AND WORLD DETECTED.

>> OUR THANKS TO LUCY FLOREZ, DR. GERALDINE LUNA AND DR. JUANITA MORA.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THERE ARE RENEWED CALLS BY SOUTHWEST RESIDENTS FOR ACTION OVER THE CITY ABOUT THE CLOUD OF DUST OVER LITTLE VILLAGE OVER THREE YEARS AGO.

THIS AFTER A NEW REPORT FROM THE CHICAGO INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE CONCLUDES THAT CITY EMPLOYEES AND COMPANIES INVOLVED SHOULD HAVE FACED TOUGHER CONSEQUENCES FOR A LOCK OF OVERSIGHT LEADING TO THE DEMOLITION.

CHICAGO TONIGHT SPOKE TO RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS REPORT AND ISSUES THAT GO BEYOND JUST THIS ONE EVENT.

>> THIS IS A BIG WHATEVER TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE IT'S LIKE WHO CARES.

I KNOW THAT EVEN BEFORE THE PLANT GOT TAKEN DOWN A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS DEVELOP UPPER RESPIRATORY ISSUES.

>> THIS IS AN IMAGE THAT RESIDENTS OF LITTLE VILLAGE WILL NEVER FORGET.

GASPAR MACIAS LIVES BY WHAT IS NOW A TARGETED WAREHOUSE AND WATCH A MASSIVE SHADOW OF DUST PLAY GET THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>>.

[SPEAKING SPANISH] >> IN APRIL OF 2020 HUGO DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS DEMOLISHED THE FORMER POWER PLANT.

NEIGHBORS ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE WERE LEFT TO DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATH.

NOW AN INVESTIGATION BY THE CITY INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE CONTENDS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SHOULD HAVE TERMINATED ONE OFFICIAL IN THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING SHOULD HAVE DISCIPLINE TO OTHERS DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPLOSION.

THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

BUT TO SOME SIMPLE EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH ANYWAY.

>> BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE ACTIONS YOU DID.

FIRING SOMEONE WILL NOT TELL US WHAT'S IN THE SOIL.

HIRING SOMEONE IS NOT GOING TO FIX THE FACT THAT INDIVIDUALS CHOSE TO NOT GIVE INFORMATION.

INDIVIDUALS CHOSE NOT TO FOLLOW UP ON THINGS.

THEY GET IS A REPRIMAND?

>> KIMBERLY WASSERMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LITTLE VILLAGE AND BAR MUNAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION WAS ONE OF MANY WHO TRIED TO STOP THE DEMOLITION.

NOW SHE WANTS AMIR TO RELEASE THE FULL INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT.

>> WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE WERE EXPOSED TO.

WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS IN THE SOIL A YEAR AND HALF LATER.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT THEY NEED TO PUT UP MONEY FOR WITH THE CITY IS TELL US WHAT WERE WE EXPOSED TO?

CAN WE DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?

THEY SHOULD BE PUTTING AIR FILTERS IN EVERY PERSON'S HOME THAT WAS IN THAT AREA.

THERE'S MORE AND TRUST BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

THEY NEED TO BE RESPONSE WILL FOR THAT AND SO MUCH MORE.

>> THE REPORT FOUND THAT THOSE WHO WERE IN CHARGE HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH WARNING OF POTENTIAL HAZARD.

200 DAYS BEFORE THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TOWER PLANT FOUND THAT TOPPLING THE SMOKESTACK WOULD BE A DISASTER.

>> THEY LAID OUT WHAT THAT WOULD BE IN THE CITY IS FALLEN SHORT SO FAR.

>> THE REPORT IS CRITICAL FOR THE OVERSIGHT OF THE PROJECT LEADING UP TO THAT DAY.

IT CLAIMS THAT OFFICIALS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING APPROACH THE REGLET TORY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THAT'S NOT MY JOB FASHION.

RATHER THAN TAKING MEASURES TO MEET THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK AT THE CORE OF THEIR RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS MISSION.

ALD.

MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ SAYS THAT THE REPORT LEADS HIM WANTING TO KNOW MORE.

>> MY NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING AGAINST THE FORMER POLLUTER THAT WAS THERE AND ENERGY COMPANY.

NOW THEY HAVE THIS THROWN ON THEM.

WHAT'S BEEN GIVEN THEM SO FAR HAS NOT RESTORED THE JUSTICE THAT'S DESERVED TO THE MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY, MY NEIGHBORS THAT LIVE DOWN THE STREET FROM ME.

>> THE REPORT CLAIMS THAT CITY OFFICIALS IGNORED THE RED FLAGS AND INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THEM THAT THE DEMOLITION POSED A HIGH RISK OF ENVIRONMENTAL HARM TO THE NEIGHBORING LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITIES CALLING OUT THE CITY FOR POOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND NEGLIGENT DERELICTION OF REGULATORY RESPONSIBILITIES.

SO FAR THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL HAS BEEN REPRIMANDED.

THEY CLAIM EMPLOYEES DID NOT VIOLATE ANY RULES.

>> AS A MATTER OF FACT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL EVER BE ABLE TO DO ENOUGH TO RESTORE FULL JUSTICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY NEED TO DO MORE.

I THINK THEM FOR GIVING US ACCESS TO RESOURCES.

>> IN THE SETTLEMENT THE CONTRACTORS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY $370,000 THAT WILL GO TO ACCESS COMMUNITY HELP NETWORK THAT WILL GO TO A PROJECT FOR THE LITTLE VILLAGE WELLNESS PROGRAM.

CONTRACTORS WERE ALSO HIT WITH MULTIPLE LINES.

FOR ACTIVISTS LIKE KIMBERLY WASSERMAN THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A LONG ROAD AHEAD.

>> AS FAR AS WHAT THAT HAS DONE TO PEOPLE, IT'S NO AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WILL FIX WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY THE BEST BELIEVE WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE WE ARE WORTH IT.

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

>> WE REACHED OUT FOR COMMENT BUT THEY HAVE YET TO RESPOND.

THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT PUBLIC HEALTH THAT THEY HAVE ADAPTED NEW ICIES FOR FUTURE IMPLOSION'S BUT DISAGREE WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FINDING WITH REGARDS TO ANY EMPLOYEE ACTING IN A NEGLIGENT MATTER.

AND SO FAR IT MAY OR LIGHTFOOT HAS DECLINED TO RELEASE THE FULL INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT.

ACT WITH MORE, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> SO THOSE OF US FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO REACH AN ADVANCED AGE EXISTING INEQUITIES CAN MAGNIFY THE CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH AGING INCLUDING ACCESS TO SOCIAL SERVICES AND HEALTHCARE AND BROKEN SOCIAL CONNECTIONS.

FOR LATINO SENIORS, ISSUES WITH LANGUAGE ACCESS, HEALTH INEQUITIES AND LOWER INCOMES AND DOCUMENTATION STATUS CAN MAKE THE DAILY BUSINESS OF LIVING EVEN MORE COMPLICATED.

THE ACTIVIST ORGANIZATION HEALTH AND POLICIES RESEARCH GROUP HAS STARTED A CAMPAIGN FOR AGING AND EQUITY CALLED ILLINOIS AGING TOGETHER.

THEY WILL PROVIDE A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR AGING IN ILLINOIS.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE SANDRA PASTORE OF THE HEALTH AND MEDICAL POLICY RESEARCH GROUP FOR THE HEALTH AND POLICY RESEARCH GROUP AND STATE REP. BARBARA HERNANDEZ WHOSE WESTERN DISTRICT INCLUDES AURORA.

THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON LATINO VOICES.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SANDRA WILL START WITH YOU.

YOUR GROUP WANTS TO RESTORE HOW WE THINK OF AGING, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT MEANS LOOKING AT HOW WE THINK ABOUT AGING ACROSS OUR LIFESPAN AND LIFE COURSE AND HOW OFTEN WE ARE IMPACTING BY AGEISM AND HOW THAT CREATES A BARRIER TO OUR OWN AGING AND HOW WE THINK ABOUT AGING AND PERSPECTIVES ABOUT AGING.

WE WANT TO REFRAME IT IN A POSITIVE NETWORK WHERE WE CAN FIND THAT AGING IS REALLY GOOD THAT YOU ARE UNDERESTIMATED IN THE OLDER YEARS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A GOOD THING TO AGE.

>> STATE REP. BARBARA HERNANDEZ, WHAT CHALLENGES DO OUR LATINO SENIORS FACE RIGHT NOW THAT THIS INITIATIVE IS SEEKING TO ADDRESS?

>> AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT OBSTACLES OUR FAMILIES FACE IN NOT KNOWING THE LANGUAGE.

MANY OF THOSE FAMILIES ALSO DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, HAVE NOT HAD HEALTH INSURANCE FOR PRE-MUCH ALL THEIR LIFE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S VERY HARD FOR THEM TO GET MEDICATION, TO FIND SERVICES, RESOURCES OR EVEN KNOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR HEALTH CONCERNS.

THAT IS WHY WE WERE ABLE TO PASS A BILL INSIDE THE STATE BUDGET THAT ALLOWS UNDOCUMENTED FAMILIES FROM THE 55 AND OLDER AGE TO RECEIVE MEDICARE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER FAMILIES ARE RECEIVING HEALTHCARE.

>> WOW.

SANDRA PASTORE DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE WITH AGE?

>> YES AND NUMBER WE FOUND THAT URBAN RURAL AREAS WE FIND THE SAME THINGS THAT COME UP LIKE TRANSPORTATION, HEALTHCARE ISSUES, ACCESS TO NUTRITION, GROCERY STORES AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND THAT IS TRUE IN BOTH URBAN AREAS AND RURAL AREAS AND WE ALSO FOUND THAT THE COST OF LIVING WHILE WE MIGHT THINK OF URBAN AREAS AS MORE COSTLY AND HOUSING AS MORE COSTLY, IN FACT IT'S ALMOST ABOUT THE SAME WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS BECAUSE THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE RISES IN THE RURAL AREAS DUE TO THE BLACK OF DENSITY POPULATION.

>> STATE REP. BARBARA HERNANDEZ ARE THERE SOCIAL BARRIERS THAT WE HAVE FOR LATINO SENIORS?

>> THERE ARE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FACE AND COME FORWARD AND EDUCATE EACH OTHER.

PERSONALLY FOR ME I HAVE A GRANDMA BACK IN MEXICO THAT IS CURRENTLY DEALING WITH THEM IN CHECK.

UNFORTUNATELY I CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN MY FAMILY WHERE INSTEAD OF SAYING YOUR GRANDMOTHER HAS DEMENTIA THEY KEEP SAYING SHE'S FORGETTING A FEW THINGS IT'S JUST THE AGE BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT DOCTORS SAY THAT IT IS DEMENTIA AND BE ABLE TO FIND WAYS TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUR FAMILY MEMBERS OR CARETAKERS AS WELL.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS WE NEED TO DO IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO FACE THOSE BARRIERS BUT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THEM AND NORMALIZE THOSE MORE IN OUR DISCUSSIONS AND NOT AVOID IT OR LABEL IT AS BECAUSE OF MENTAL HEALTH THAT SOMEONE IS CRAZY.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

THEY NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE ASSISTANCE WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR HEALTH CARE AND THAT SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS WITH THEM AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET TO THAT WEIGHT WHERE LATINO FAMILIES FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE DISCUSSING CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE TABOO FOR THEM.

>> STAY WITH US, REPRESENTATIVE HERNANDEZ, IS THERE A STIGMA ADMITTING THAT A FAMILY MEMBER MIGHT HAVE DEMENTIA?

>> I THINK THERE IS A STIGMA.

THE SPIRIT OF THE UNKNOWN, NOT KNOWING WHAT IT IS AND ALSO HOW MUCH WILL IT COST ONCE A FAMILY IS FACED WITH THAT REALITY.

WILL IT COST ME MORE?

IS IT EVIL TO BE SOMETHING THAT I CAN HELP WITH?

THERE'S A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION, MEDICATION NOT KNOWING WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE AND THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE FAMILIES WHO DON'T HAVE HEALTH CARE.

TO FEEL THEM.

WE HOPE TO CREATE MORE POLICIES THAT CAN HELP THE LATINO FAMILIES AND MINORITY FAMILIES IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

>> SANDRA PASTORE WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT.

WHAT RESOURCES ARE THERE FOR THOSE WHO NEED HELP?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF RESOURCES THROUGH THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING GOOD THERE ARE 13 OF THEM THAT FUND SERVICES FOR OLDER AMERICAN ACT SERVICES LIKE NUTRITION, MEALS, HOME DELIVERED MEALS, CAREGIVER SUPPORT, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE'S ALSO PROGRAMS LIKE THE DEPARTMENT ON AGING, THAT PROVIDE HOMEMAKER SERVICES, ADULT CARE SERVICES, MEDICATION SERVICES AND EMERGENCY HOME ALERT SYSTEMS.

THEY ARE ADDING MORE SERVICES TO THAT MEDICAID WAIVER SERVICE.

THE PROBLEM IS, WELL WE DID PASS A LEGISLATION SUPPORTING MEDICAID FOR IMMIGRANTS LAST YEAR, WHAT IS NOT COVERED IS THE PPP PROGRAM.

THE SERVICES THAT ARE MEDICAID SERVICES ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.

>> OUR THANKS TO SANDRA PASTORE AND STATE REP. BARBARA HERNANDEZ.

UP NEXT, CHECKING IN HER AT ITS TWO-YEAR MARK.

STAY WITH US.

>> THE LATEST INSTANCE REVEALED A GROWING LATINO POPULATION IN CHICAGO.

THAT MEANS JOURNALISM THAT NOT ONLY TELLS THE STORIES OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY BUT SPEAKS TO THEM IN THEIR LANGUAGE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.

IN JANUARY OF 2020 STUDENT JOURNALISTS AT DEPAUL UNIVERSITY INTRODUCED LA DEPAULIA ON CHICAGO'S LATINO COMMUNITY.

WE SPOKE TO THE EDITOR AND CHIEF AND COFOUNDER MARIA MARTA GUZMAN ON THE YOUNG OUTLET FUTURE.

>> THE REASON THAT WE STARTED LA DEPAULIA AND WHY IT WAS LAUNCHED IS THAT WE FELT THERE WAS A NEED FOR LATINO VOICES TO BE HEARD AND SPECIFICALLY IN SPANISH.

HE WANTED TO CREATE A PLATFORM.

THERE WAS NOT A PLATFORM AT DEPAUL SO WE TOOK THE MISSION TO EXPAND IT WITH THE CULTURE AND WHERE IT IS.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO IMPORTANT.

TO HAVE THE PROPER INTERPRETATION OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> WE CREATE TOPICS LIKE EDUCATION IN THE WORKPLACE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE COMMON CONTACT WITH THOSE WHO SPEAK SPANISH AND THEIR FIRST REACTION WHEN I TELL THEM ABOUT MYSELF AND WHAT I'M DOING THEY SAY OH, I THINK YOU FOR YOU TALKING TO ME ABOUT THIS TOPIC BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

BECAUSE THE COLLEGE COMMUNITY IS SO DIVERSE THEM KNOWING ABOUT THE LATINO COMMUNITY HERE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

>> WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO AIM AND ADVOCATE FOR THESE COURSES WITH ANOTHER SPANISH PUBLICATION HERE AT DEPAUL CALLED PUEBLO.

OUR MISSION IS FOR THIS TO CONTINUE EVEN AFTER WE ARE HERE.

SO, DEFINITELY JUST DOING A LOT OF GROUNDWORK AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN LEAVE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> LA DEPAULIA ALSO LAUNCHED A PODCAST THIS MONTH AND YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THAT ON A WEBSITE.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SUNDAY BEGINNING AT 10 PM.DON'T FORGET YOU CATCH MY REPORTING ON W EZ.

AND, NEXT WEEK WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER FRIEND IN OUR HOST CHAIR.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, IM MICHAEL PUENTE.

>> FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

BUENAS NOCHES.