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

GOOD EVENING Y BIENVENIDAS TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

I AM MICHAEL PUENTE REPORTING FROM CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT CALLS FOR LOCAL GUN VIOLENCE RESTRICTIONS FROM THE SHOOTING OF MELISSA ORTEGA IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

MORE PEOPLE ARE LIVING ON CHICAGO STREETS BUT ADVOCATES SAY THE HOMELESS PROBLEM COULD BE WORSE.

A MURAL AT THE PARK BRINGS BRILLIANT BLOOMS TO THE CITY'S SNOWY STREETS.

>> IS NOT A PARTY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PENNY OUT OF.

>> THE CUSTOM CRAFTED PIQATA'S ARE A SMASHING SUCCESS FOR THE CUSTOMERS.

>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT THE SHOOTING OF EIGHT-YEAR-OLD MELISSA ORTEGA IN LITTLE VILLAGE IS PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON THE CITY'S TROUBLING GUN VIOLENCE.

MELISSA ORTEGA WAS CROSSING THE STREET WITH HER MOTHER WHEN POLICE SAY SHE WAS SHOT BY A 16-YEAR-OLD GOOD PROSECUTOR SAY THE TEENAGER WAS SHOOTING AT RIVAL GANG MEMBERS.

24-YEAR-OLD GUZMAN WAS ALSO CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CHARGES.

IN A STATEMENT, MELISSA ORTEGA'S MOTHER, ANA SOLANO SAID I FORGIVE YOU YOU ARE A VICTIM TO.

AS A 15-YEAR-OLD THE COMMUNITY FAILED YOU JUST AS IT FAILED MY PRECIOUS BABY.

IN THE MANY YEARS YOU SPEND IN PRISON I HOPE YOU GET TIME TO REFLECT ON YOUR ACTIONS BECAUSE YOU TOOK AWAY THE MOST VALUABLE THING I HAD IN MY LIFE.

DESPITE THE SWIFT ARREST SOME COMMUNITIES SAY THEIR CALL FOR RESOURCES TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE HAVE GONE UNHEARD.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE ANA SOLANO AND ORGANIZER FOR THE ORGANIZATION UNETE LA VILLITA AND BALTAZAR ENRIQUEZ PRESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION, LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY CENTER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY ON LATINO VOICES.

BALTAZAR ENRIQUEZ, WHAT WOULD JUSTICE FOR MELISSA ORTEGA LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

>> WELL THERE IS NO JUSTICE.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WHERE WE LOOK FOR JUSTICE.

LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS.HOW DO WE PREVENT THEM?

FOR US, IT'S TO PREVENT ANOTHER SENSELESS MURDER.

WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR YEARS NOW THAT A MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC BE PUT IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

THE COMMUNITY IS TRAUMATIZED.

WE NEED SOME HELP FOR THEM TO DEAL WITH THIS TRAUMA.

THIS TRAUMA HAS BEEN FOR GENERATIONS NOW.

YOU HAVE GENERATIONS OF TRAUMA AND THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN FIND A WAY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES IS BY GETTING EVEN GOING OUT THERE AND COMMITTING THESE CRIMES WHERE THEY ENJOY KILLING EACH OTHER NOW.

THE MENTAL ISSUE WHERE THEY ARE ENJOYING TO KILL EACH OTHER AND THEREFORE WE ARE ASKING OUR POLITICIANS ESPECIALLY TREY GARCIA HELP US OPEN A MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY.

>> IN THIS CASE THE ALLEGED SHOOTER WAS FIRING AT RIVAL GANG MEMBERS.

THERE IS A FEAR IN LITTLE VILLAGE THAT THINGS HAVE TAKEN OVER.

DO YOU FEEL THAT THAT IS THE CASE?

>> IM AWARE THAT THERE ARE GANGS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD I THINK THAT IS A DEEPER ISSUE THAN THAT.

I THINK WE HAVE A POVERTY PROBLEM AND IS NOT DUE TO SOME MORAL FAILING OF OUR OWN BUT SYSTEMICALLY WE ARE GETTING UNDER RESOURCED, THEY ARE CLOSING OUR MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS AND I BELIEVE THAT THOSE RESOURCES ARE REALLY NEEDED.

>> BALTAZAR ENRIQUEZ, HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY ADDRESS THIS GANG PROBLEM?

>> THE WAY WE CAN ADDRESS THIS IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECOME MORE A COMMUNITY POLICEMAN AND NOT A TACTICAL POLICE MEMBER.

WHEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SOLVES THE CRIME BUT THE COMMUNITY SPOKE OUT AND SAID NO THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.

THE COMMUNITY SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

WE KNOW HOW TO POLICE OURSELVES.

WHAT'S MISSING IS A COMMUNITY POLICING DEPARTMENT AND NOT A MILITARY DEPARTMENT AS THE MAYOR HAS THREATENED TO SEND CITYWIDE POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE VERY DISRESPECTFUL VERY OSTENTATIOUS.

ALL THEY DO IS DRAW THERE GOTTEN, SHOOT FIRST ASK QUESTIONS LATER.

WE DO NOT NEED MORE KILLINGS.

LEASE OFFICERS WHO UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY AND ARE FROM THE COMMUNITY SO THERE WILL BE A SOLUTION TO REDUCE THE CRIME.

>> POLICE FLOODED THE AREA TWO WEEKS AGO.

HOW DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD BE RESPONDING AFTER AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS?

>> I THINK IT'S HARD TO SAY.

FIRST OF ALL BECAUSE I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE.

I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED MORE POLICING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD I THINK WE NEED MORE RESOURCES.

WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT CALLING FOR MORE RESOURCES LIKE THE EXPENSE OF THE RESOURCES IT'S NOT AN OUTLANDISH NO.

I THINK ROUTINELY WE HAVE SEEN THE CITY ADDING MORE FUNDING TO THEIR BUDGET.

RIGHT NOW THERE BUDGET IS AT 1.89 BILLION.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE DONE SOME GOOD RESEARCH.

THAT COULD GIVE US 1000 ANTI- ISLANDS ACTIVISTS OR PTS SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS AND 10 MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS.

I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THE POLICE SHOULD DO.

I JUST KNOW THAT NOT ALL OF US FEEL SAFER WITH A STRONGER POLICE PRESENCE.

I WOULD CALL FOR ALLOCATING THOSE FUNDS TOWARDS NEEDED RESOURCES.

>> BALTAZAR DO YOU BELIEVE THE CITY BEARS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEATH?

>> YES.

[INDISCERNABLE] HAS FAILED THE COUNTY.

SHE HAS LEARNED TO LET GO OF CRIMINALS AFTER THEY COMMIT A HEINOUS CRIME AND SHE HAS LEARNED TO PUT THEM ON MONITORING.

I THINK THESE CRIMES, MINOR CRIMES SHOULD BE RELEASED AND WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTY WHERE THEY OWED CHILD SUPPORT OR HAVE A WARRANT, THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO SHOULD BE LET OUT NOT HEINOUS CRIMES.

SHE DID RESPOND TO US BUT DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER TO US.

THERE HAS TO BE BOTH RESPONSIBILITIES FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND ALSO FROM THE COMMUNITY AND HERE THE GOVERNMENT HAS TOTALLY FAILED THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY DON'T SPEND RESOURCES AND WHENEVER THERE IS A CRIME BEING DONE TO US WE ARE QUIET BECAUSE WE TAKE PRIDE BECAUSE WE DON'T TRUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE DON'T TRUST THE POLICE BECAUSE THEY HAVE DISENFRANCHISED US FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE SYSTEM AND SOME OF THEM COME FROM COUNTRIES THAT ARE VERY VIOLENT AND THE GOVERNMENT, THEY DON'T WANT TO TRUST THE PERMIT AT THIS POINT ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE COMING FROM COUNTRIES THAT ARE IN CHAOS.

>> ANA SOLANO I KNOW YOU ARE CRITICAL OF THE POLICE AND THE RESPONSE OF THIS BOOK WHAT RESPONSIBILITY DO YOU ASSIGN TO THE PARENTS OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS?

>> I THINK IT IS HARD TO SAY.

BUT I IMAGINE GENERALLY SPEAKING PARENTS WANT THE BEST FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

SO, THAT MOM LOST A BABY, TOO.

HE IS BEING TRIED AS AN ADULT.

LIKE MELISSA'S MOTHER STATED HE IS A VICTIM, TOO.

SO I THINK THIS IS A SYSTEMIC FAILURE AND I WOULD LIKE MORE COMMUNITY CARE BECAUSE AS THEY STATED THEIR HUSBAND A LOT OF NEGLIGENCE AND WE KNOW OUR COMMUNITY BEST SO I WILL CALL FOR MORE COMMUNITY CARE.

>> BALTAZAR WHAT IS THE ONE OR TWO THINGS THAT YOU THINK WOULD REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE IN LITTLE VILLAGE RIGHT NOW?

>> FOR US NUMBER 1 THE PRIORITY IS MENTAL HEALTH AND OPENING A GRASSROOT MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE INSURANCE OR LEGAL STATUS YOU CAN COME IN AND SAY I HAVE A PROBLEM AND YOU CAN GET THE TREATMENT YOU NEED.

SECOND OF ALL, IT IS EASIER TO GET A GUN THEN GET A JOB IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WITH THE WAY THAT THE NRA IS ALWAYS IN DC AND SPRINGFIELD FOR EASIER GUN LAWS I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DO SOME THING WE NEED TO RAISE THE PRICE OF A BULLET SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUY A MAGAZINE OF LET'S IS PROBABLY $3000 FOR YOU TO BUY IT YOU CAN HAVE AS MANY GUNS AS YOU WANT BUT THE AMMUNITION IS GOING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE.

I THINK THAT COULD REDUCE THE VIOLENCE BECAUSE THE AMMUNITION IS NOT ACCESSIBLE AND VERY EXPENSIVE.

YOU HAVE AS MANY GUNS YOU WANT AT THE AMMUNITION WILL NOT BE EASY TO GET.

>> OUR THANKS TO BALTAZAR ENRIQUEZ AND ANA SOLANO FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> UP NEXT AS THE TEMPERATURE DROPS WHAT'S BEING DONE TO HELP PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS?

>> THE RECENT COLD AND SNOWY WEATHER IS NOTHING NEW IN CHICAGO BUT FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WEATHER ADDS ANOTHER DIFFICULTY TO AN ALREADY PUNISHING SITUATION.

THIS WEEK THE CITY CONDUCTED ITS ANNUAL COUNT OF HOMELESS POPULATION.

DUE TO THE PANDEMIC IS EXPECTED TO BE HIGHER THAN THE 2021 TOTAL OF NEARLY 500,000 PEOPLE.

ACCORDING TO ADVOCATES OF THE HOMELESS THAT DATA MIGHT NOT COUNT THE PEOPLE WHO LACKED STABLE HOUSING.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE UNETE LA VILLITA DIRECTOR OF.

[UPBEAT MUSIC] AND NELI VAZQUEZ ROWLAND COFOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE SAFE HAVEN FOUNDATION.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO LATINO VOICES.

WE WILL GET STARTED WITH YOU FIRST.

DO STATISTICS GIVE AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF THE SCOPE OF THE NEED FOR STABLE HOUSING AND WHO IS MOST AFFECTED?

>> NO.

THEY DON'T.

THERE ARE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT COUNTED WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOMELESS.

WE'VE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DOUBLING UP LIVING WITH FAMILIES LIVING OUT OF THEIR CARS AND THEY WILL NOT WALK INTO A SHELTER.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN WE ESTIMATED 50,000 PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

THOSE IMPACTED THE MOST ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT ARE ALREADY FACING POVERTY BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AGAIN.

MOST OF THOSE FOLKS WERE HIT THE HARDEST DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS IT IS THE BLACK COMMUNITIES AND LATIN COMMUNITIES.

>> CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE SAFE HAVEN MOTTO AND HOW THEY GET PEOPLE INTO HOUSING?

>> MICHAEL, WE HAVE IN DOING THIS FOR 27 YEARS AND WE'VE NEVER SEEN IT AS BAD AS IT IS IN TERMS OF DEMAND FOR SERVICES.

PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY WALK IN THE DOOR AND GET ASSESSED AND IN TERMS OF THEIR EDUCATION, PHYSICAL, EMPLOYMENT ISSUE AND HOUSING ISSUE AND WE PROVIDE ALL THESE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND IT IS COORDINATED SO THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY PEOPLE THAT WALK IN FOR WHATEVER REASON INCLUDING FAMILIES CAN END UP WITH A JOB AND WITH HER OWN APARTMENT.

JUST DURING THE PANDEMIC WE FILLED 250 APARTMENTS TO MEET THE EXPONENTIAL DEMANDS THAT WE ARE SEEING.

>> LA CASA NORTE HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE FACING HOMELESSNESS.

HOW IS THEIR HOUSING SITUATION BENEFIT BY THE PANDEMIC?

>> THE PANDEMIC EXACERBATED AN ISSUE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AGAIN.

IT'S TWO THINGS.

IT HIGHLIGHTED THE DISPARITIES THAT CAUSE THE ISSUES TO BEGIN WITH IT IMPACTED EVERYONE BUT US IN PARTICULAR.

WHEN THE SCHOOL SHUT DOWN SERVICES SHUT DOWN AND BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC WE HAD A LOT OF YOUTH THAT WERE RELYING ON THE SERVICES TO KEEP THE SHELTER IN PLACE, THEY HAD FOOD IN THEIR BELLIES AND THAT WAS ISSUE.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING NEW PEOPLE COMING INTO THE PROGRAM THAT ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ASSIGN STABLE HOUSING TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND WE HAVE GROWN QUITE A BIT ACTUALLY.

WE HAVE GONE FROM SERVING 70,000 INDIVIDUALS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN TO OVER 20,000 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUR VARIOUS PROGRAMS.

NOT JUST HOUSING BUT HELPING WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE, FOOD AND CLOTHING AND OTHER SERVICES.

>> HOW DO YOU KEEP UP WITH DEMAND AND ARE YOU FACING A WORKER SHORTAGE TO GET YOU THROUGH THIS TIME?

>> LIKE EVERY ORGANIZATION IN THE INDUSTRY HAVING A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS AND WERE NO DIFFERENT.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ABLE TO SERVE AND WORK WITH THE POPULATION THAT THEY ARE SERVING NONETHELESS WE CONTINUE THE WORK AND WE NEED VOLUNTEERS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN STAY COMMITTED TO DO THE WORK EVERY DAY AS WE CONTINUE TO DO THE SERVICE FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND TO EXPAND OUR REACH.

>> NELI HOW DO THE COMMUNITIES WHERE YOU HAVE HOUSING RESPOND?

>> THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE HAD QUITE A TRACK RECORD AND REPUTATION OVER THE LAST YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS.

SO, WE DO MEET WITH THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POLITICAL WILL IS EXPLORED AND WE INVITE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY AND WE LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE DOING AND TO HAVE THEM COME VISIT OUR FACILITIES.

I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT OUR FACILITIES ARE BEAUTIFUL AND ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY AND MANY TIMES THEY BECOME SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FACILITIES IN THE BLOCK AS WE ARE REWARDED FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND LANDSCAPING AND FOR HOW IT'S BEEN MANAGED.

AGAIN IT'S A MATTER OF EDUCATING PEOPLE AND HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEOPLE WE ARE SERVING ARE PROBABLY EVIL WHO LIVE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES ALREADY BUT THEY ARE GETTING THE RIGHT KIND OF HOUSING THAT WILL KEEP THEM FROM BECOMING HOMELESS OR FALLING ON HARD TIMES OR IN-DEPTH LIVING ON THE STREET.

THANKFULLY, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING SUCCESS.

I KNOW MANY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN FACING THESE ISSUES AND WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE BUT I DO THINK THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE SUCCESS THAT THEY HAVE AND NEED EVEN WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES THAT MORE PEOPLE COULD GET BEHIND LEARNING TO SUPPORT THE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SENIOR HOUSING AND WE HAVE OTHER HOUSING INCLUDING VETERAN HOUSING.

SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SO FAR SO GOOD ON OUR END BUT I DO KNOW IT IS AN ISSUE.

JOSE MUNOZ WE HAVE HAD SOME WINTRY WEATHER AND WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO RIGHT NOW IF THEY ARE IN A HOUSING CRISIS?

>> IF SOMEONE IS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE SHELTER THE EASIEST THING TO DO IN CHICAGO IS TO DIAL 311 TO GET CONNECTED TO SERVICES AND YOU CAN REACH OUT TO LA CASA NORTE OR OTHER FOUNDATIONS AS WE OPERATE HOUSING AND SHELTER AND WE PROVIDE THEM WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.

SO WHEN THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SERVICES OR THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET CONNECTED TO LA CASA NORTE THEY CAN LOOK ONLINE OR CALL US AT 773 2773.

>> NELI WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO TO ADDRESS THE NEED OF HOUSING?

>> WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY PRIORITIZE.

THE PRIORITY WE ARE GIVING TO THE PANDEMIC IS ALSO A HOMELESS ISSUE AND AS JOSI MENTIONED, THIS HAPPENED EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND THE PANDEMIC ONLY MADE IT WORSE.

WE INTRODUCED A BILL AND WE ARE INVITING PEOPLE TO CALL THEIR STATE LEGISLATORS AND ASKED THEM TO SUPPORT THE BILL BECAUSE BY DOING THIS THIS WILL IS ABOUT ELEVATING HOMELESS PROVIDERS TO BECOME PART OF THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SO AS YOU SEE THE SUPPORT COMING TO HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT SUPPORT COME TO HOMELESS IN HIS ASIANS AS WELL AS WE ARE SERVING THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION IN THE CITY.

IF WE WERE HERE DOING OUR WORK AND THE MTS WERE WORKING THE FRONT LINE WE ARE THE ONLY ONES KEEPING THEM OFF THE STREET SO PLEASE LOOK AT THAT BILL, SUPPORT IT AND THAT WILL BE A MAJOR STEP IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TRULY TREATING HOMELESSNESS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

>> OUR THANKS TO NELI VAZQUEZ ROWLAND AND JOSE MUNOZ FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

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

>> THOUGH PINYON IS ARE CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH MEXICAN CELEBRATIONS OVER THE YEARS THE TRADITION HAS CROSS CULTURES.

NOW THE COLOR WILL CANDY FILLED CHARACTERS ARE A MUST-HAVE FOR EVERY KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTY.

A ROGERS PARK WOMAN LEFT A CORPORATE CAREER BY STRIKING OUT ON HER OWN AND OFFERING THESE PIQATA SPECIES HOPING THESE WILL BE A BIG HIT AS PEOPLE RETURN TO GATHERING IN PERSON FOR PARTIES.

PRODUCER ERICA GUNDERSON HAS A STORY.

>> WE BREAK THEM TO SO WE CAN SEE WHAT WE ARE CREATING AND IF THEY ARE BREAKABLE OR TOO HARD.

>> IN THE BACK OF HER SHOP REYNA GONZALEZ SPENDS HOURS PUTTING TOGETHER PARTY ESSENTIALS THAT WERE BORN TO BE BROKEN.

>> WE NEED TO GET THAT PERFECT.

IT'S YOUR KID.

IF THEY CAN'T RAKE IT THE CANDY CAN'T FALL OUT.

>> TRADITIONAL PIQATA'S AREN'T HARD TO FIND IN CHICAGO BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A TRADITIONAL DESIGN OFF THE BEATEN PATH SHE CAN CRAFT ANYTHING FROM CARDBOARD AND CRATE.

>> IN THE SUMMERTIME WE SELL A LOT OF UNICORNS AND THOSE ARE REALLY POPULAR.

THESE ARE TRADITIONAL.

I'VE DONE A DOUBT, I'VE DONE FRIDA AND NOT FOR US TO HIT TO DISPLAY.

I'VE DONE PIQATA'S FOR FESTIVALS.

>> LIKE HER CREATIONS GONZALEZ AND HER STAFF HAS TAKEN A FEW HITS.

THE 20 YEAR ACCOUNTANT LEFT HER CAREER TO STRIKE OUT ON HER OWN IN 2018.

>> YOU KNOW, LONG HOURS IN THE DARK, EMAILS, PHONE CALLS SO TOMA HAS BEEN THERE'S ALWAYS PARTIES AND SOCIAL CELEBRATIONS AND THIS WILL BE A GOOD BUSINESS TO GO INTO.

>> JUST AS THE PARTY WAS GETTING STARTED.

>> IN 2018 CHRISTMAS, IT BURNED.

WE WERE 21 DAYS IN THE STORE AND IT JUST WENT COMPLETELY WHEN A PAIRED WE HAD TO PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF.

>> REBUILDING TOOK NEARLY TWO YEARS BUT SHE HUNG IN THERE.

SHE TOOK THE TIME TO RELEARN A SKILL.

>> WE HAD TO START MAKING CARDS OUT OF CARDBOARD AND I WOULD MAKE THE LEGS AND CUT THEM OUT AND FOLD THEM FORM IT, THE HEAD, THE STOMACH AND THEN MAKE THE PIECES FIRST AND BUILD IT TOGETHER.

>> ADMIT THE TIMING OF THE COMBAT COULD'VE BEEN BETTER.

>> WE OPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> SHE SAID SOCIAL MEDIA HELP PEOPLE FIND JUST THE RIGHT PINYON A.

>> WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER COME JUST FOR THE PIQATA BECAUSE WE CAN CUSTOM MAKE IT.

THEY SAY WE CAN'T FIND THIS ANYWHERE TO MY DAUGHTER REALLY WANTS IT.

>> AFTER A TOUGH COUPLE OF YEARS GONZALEZ SAYS SHE'S HOPEFUL THAT PEOPLE WILL BE READY TO PARTY AGAIN IN 2022.

>> IS SO WONDERFUL WHEN THE KIDS GET SO EXCITED WHEN YOU SEE IT AND YOU SAY I MADE THAT.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE ON HER SHOP ON HER WEBSITE.

>>> OVER THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS IN AN EXPLOSION OF MURALS HAS COME TO CHICAGO.

THEY HONOR HISTORIC FIGURES TO EXPRESSIONS OF ETHNIC CULTURE.

IN 2020 ARTIST CHRISTIAN PASS CREATED THIS MURAL CREATING WELCOMING WARMTH TO THE URBAN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD DURING THIS WINTRY WEATHER.

>> MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN PATHS I AM A LOCAL ARTIST FROM THE ALBANY PARK AREA AND THIS IS MY MURAL.

THIS TRANSLATES TO MY GARDEN IN ENGLISH.

THIS WHOLE MURAL REVOLVES AROUND PLANTS AND GARDENING.

MY MOM IS A GREEN THUMB AND SO SHE IS MY INSPIRATION FOR THIS MURAL.

>> LANSARD VERY ABSTRACT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THEM THEY ARE AMAZING.

THIS HAS A TOUCH OF GOD'S CREATION IN IT PAIRED THE ROSES REPRESENT MY MOM PLUMERIA REPRESENTS MY CHILDREN.

I HAVE HIBISCUS PLANTS GROWING OUT OF THE HEART RATE THERE.

MY BROTHER IS A MEDICAL DOCTOR AND HE INSPIRED ME TO START PAINTING HEARTS.

HAD TO GET IT CORRECT OR ELSE I WOULD HEAR FROM HIM.

HE PULLED ENJOY IT BECAUSE THEY CAN RELATE TO IT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DO GARDEN IN THE CITY.

SO, THIS TOUCHES A LOT OF PEOPLE'S HEARTS.

IT'S THRIVING AND COLORFUL AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GET WITH A LOT OF LATIN AMERICAN AND MEXICAN FOLK ART.

IT'S THOSE BRIGHT INTENSE COLORS WOULD YOU SEE IT YOU WILL SAY OKAY IT HAS A LATIN FLAVOR TO IT AND I THINK THAT I DIDN'T HAVE INPUT TO THAT BUT I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME TO BE.

I REALLY TRIED TO PUT MY HEART AND SOUL INTO EACH MURAL.

CHICAGO BEING MY HOME CITY MY FIRST LOVE AND ANYTHING I PUT OUT THERE REALLY HAS TO REFLECT MY ABILITY AND MY ARTISTIC CREATIVITY.

TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE ESPECIALLY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND BRING SOMEONE A SMILE DENNIS MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

>> HE SAYS HE PLANS TO ADD MORE TO THE MURAL ONCE THE WEATHER ALLOWS.

WE PLAN TO VISIT MORE OF CHICAGO'S NEWEST MURALS AND THE ARTIST BEHIND THEM THROUGHOUT 2022.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS AND YOU'LL FIND SOME FASCINATING VIDEOS OF MICHIGAN'S ICE BALL.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW THAT YOU CAN CATCH LATINO VOICES OR BLACK VOICES ON SUNDAY GETTING AT 10 PM.

AND DON'T FORGET YOU CAN CATCH MY REPORTING ON WBEZ.

WE TAKE YOU WITH THE ICONIC ARTS ON SIX STREET IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

THE ART THAT SERVES AS A GATEWAY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS OFFICIALLY GRANTED LANDMARK STATUS BY THE CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK.

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

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE, BUENAS NOCHES.

>> REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY.