.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT.

LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALL STATE AND THE SORRO FUNDS AT THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST.

>>> GOOD EVENING.

WITH CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO CHOICES.

WE CHERISH EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING AT 5:00 AND 6:00.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW, FAMILIES IN LIMBO AS PUBLIC SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION SPAR OVER IN-SCHOOL VERSUS REMOTE LEARNING.

A NONPROFIT HELPING WORKERS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY FIND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.

A NEW CITY ORDINANCE IN EFFECT REQUIRING CONTRACTS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS.

WE'LL GET INTO THE DETAILS OF THIS NEW LAW.

>> THE COOL THING IS THAT I CAN FIND ART THAT I LIKE AND GIVE IT A DIFFERENT MEDIUM.

>> ANY SIZE MAN WHO LEARNED A NEW HOBBY DURING THE PANDEMIC AND NOW HAS TURNED IT INTO A BUSINESS.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, THIS WEEK SAW ANOTHER STANDOFF BETWEEN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION.

STUDENTS BRIEFLY RETURNED TO CLASS FOR THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF THIS WEEK BUT SINCE WEDNESDAY CLASSES HAVE BEEN CANCELED AS TEACHERS REFUSE TO WORK IN PERSON AND CPS REFUSES TO GO REMOTE.

AS A RESULT, PARENTS AND STUDENTS LEFT IN LIMBO ONCE AGAIN.

JOINING US NOW WITH THEIR REACTIONS ARE A PARENT OF A FIRST GRADER, A PARENT OF A FIRST GRADER AND FIFTH GRADER, PARENT OF A SEVENTH AND NINTH GRADER AND PARENT OF A CHILD IN PRE-K AND ANOTHER IN FIRST GRADE.

WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO THIS INTERVIEW TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU NOLBERTO.

DO TEACHERS HAVE A DUTY TO TEACH IN PERSON?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT DUTY OF CARE GOES AS FAR AS GIVING ADEQUATE SUPERVISION TO THEIR STUDENTS.

THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF IT.

YEAH.

>> MIGUEL, DO YOU THINK CPS IS REASONABLE IN THE DEMAND FOR REMOTE LEARNING?

>> YES, I DO BELIEVE OUR TEACHERS AS PARENTS THE OBLIGATION IS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDS AND IT'S HARD TO TRUST ANYONE WITH OUR KIDS.

IF WE DON'T FEEL THEY WON'T BE SAFE THEY SHOULDN'T BE IN THAT BUILD.

>> IF YOU DON'T THINK THEY'RE SAFE IN THE BUILDING?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE HAVE LESS THAN 20% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE PASSED AND A SLOW AMOUNT OF VACCINATION RATES AS WELL.

IN OUR OPINION OUR SCHOOLS ARE A TIP IN OUR STATE.

>> DO YOU FEEL SAFE SENDING YOUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL?

JUST SOME OTHER PARENTS THINK THEY'RE NOT SAFE.

DO YOU FEEL YOUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE?

DO THEY FEEL SAFE?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH ANY CHILDREN BEING AT SCHOOL.

MY CHILDREN ARE NOT COMFORTABLE BEING AT SCHOOL.

THEY ARE SLIGHTLY OLDER THAN THE REST OF THE PANEL.

SO THEY'RE ABLE TO ASSESS THE SITUATION FOR THEMSELVES.

THERE'S BASICALLY NO SEPARATION BETWEEN EACH OTHER.

EATING WITHOUT THEIR MASKS ON.

AGAIN, I DON'T THINK IT'S A SAFE SITUATION FOR ANYONE INVOLVED AND FEEL THAT IT'S A LOT TO ASK TEACHERS TO BE IN A CLASSROOM WITH 30 STUDENTS OR MORE TRYING TO TEACH THEM WHEN THEY ARE ENDANGERING THEMSELVES.

>> SOME SCHOOLS HAVE HAD COVID RELATED STAFFING PROBLEMS AS YOU KNOW.

IS BEING IN SCHOOL BETTER THAN REMOTE LEARNING IN YOUR OPINION?

>> I THINK SO.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY -- THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IN THE PANDEMIC.

I UNDERSTAND THE FIRST TIME IT CAME AROUND THERE WAS A LOT OF UNKNOWN.

I THINK AFTER TWO YEARS WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE NEW VARIANT HAS PROVEN IT'S NOT AS DANGEROUS AS THE FIRST ONE THAT CAME OUT AND THE DAMAGE THAT THE KIDS SUFFERED THE FIRST TWO YEARS DOING EVERYTHING REMOTE, MISSING THE SOCIAL ASPECT AND REALLY THE EDUCATION THEY DESERVE.

I THINK THAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS TO HAVE THEM AT SCHOOL.

>> WE ALSO SPOKE TO A CPS HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR.

WHO GAVE US HER PERSPECTIVE ON THE SITUATION.

HERE'S WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.

>> IN THE BEGINNING I'M FEELING LIKE REALLY ALMOST LIKE I'M AT HOME, I DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO THE BUILDING AGAIN, I GO TO LAKE SIDE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST SCHOOLS.

YOU CAN'T SOCIAL DISTANCE THERE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME I'M LIKE WELL, I'M STILL MISSING OUT ON SCHOOL.

LIKE BEING REMOTE TO ME IS BETTER THAN NOT GOING TO SCHOOL AT ALL.

SO IT IS FRUSTRATING.

I NEED TO GET IN OR OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL FOR COLLEGE APPS AND I WOULD NEED TO BE TALKING TO COUNSELORS ABOUT AND IT PUTS EVERYTHING AT A HALT.

COLLEGES AREN'T GOING TO CHANGE THEIR DEADLINES BECAUSE CPS ISN'T IN CLASS.

>> JUST IMAGINE HOW MANY HIGH SCHOOLERS ARE GOING THROUGH THAT.

>> DO YOU THINK CPS IS DOING ENOUGH TO KEEP CHILDREN AND TEACHERS SAFE?

>> YOU KNOW, I WISH I HAD A MAGIC WAND.

AND I COULD MAKE ALL OF THIS GO AWAY.

YOU KNOW, I WISH I COULD MAKE THE MAGIC WAND AND MAKE THE RISK TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ZERO PERCENT AND ALL YOU CAN DO IS JUST PLAN FOR THE BEST, YOU KNOW, DO THE MITIGATION.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST PANDEMIC IN HISTORY.

THERE WAS 1918, 1957, 1968.

DURING THOSE PANDEMICS THERE WAS NOT SOCIAL DISTANCING.

NOW WE'RE USING PHARMACEUTICAL INTERVENTION WHICH INCLUDES TREATMENT AND VACCINATION.

IF ANYBODY IS READY TO DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC AT ANY POINT IN HISTORY IT'S US RIGHT NOW.

>> POPULATION IN SCHOOLS BACK THEN, I MEAN, THEY WERE MUCH LESS THAN TODAY AS WELL.

POPULATION IS DIFFERENT, WOULDN'T YOU SAY?

>> ARE YOU ASKING ME?

>> YEAH.

>> I MEAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT POPULATION AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT CHARTS AND GRAPHS.

THIS RIGHT HERE IS MY COMPASS.

I DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THESE TWO CHILDREN RIGHT HERE.

OKAY.

MY CHILD WAS IN KINDERGARTEN AND FAILING.

REMOTELY.

WHEN HE WENT BACK IN PERSON HE STARTED TO GET HIGH MARKS FROM HIS TEACHERS.

RIGHT NOW HE'S GETTING STRAIGHT Ds IN READING, WRITING ARITHMETIC.

HE'S BARELY CATCHING UP FROM THE TEN MONTHS OF REMOTE LEARNING HAD DEVASTATED HIS ACADEMIC CAREER.

TRYING TO PUT HIM BACK IN REMOTE IS PUTTING HIS ACADEMIC CAREER IN REVERSE.

>> I'M SURE MORE PARENTS FEEL JUST LIKE YOU DO AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT.

JUANA DO YOU TRUST THE CPU WHEN THEY SAY REMOTE LEARNING WOULD BE A TEMPORARY MEASURE?

>> I DO.

I MEAN, THE CHILDREN DID GO BACK THE FIRST TIME.

IF YOU WANTED YOUR CHILD TO GO.

I THINK IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL DECISION FOR EACH PARENT WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR CHILD AND YOUR FAMILY AS WELL.

AND I DO FEEL THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE ALLOWED OR PARENTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CHOOSE WHETHER THEY WANT THEIR CHILD BACK OR NOT.

HOWEVER, I DON'T FEEL THAT -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] IT'S JUST TWO WEEKS.

AND I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL THEY WANT.

THEY WANT TWO WEEKS AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

I KNOW AT MY SCHOOLS AND OTHER SCHOOLS THEY DO HAVE A LOT OF MEASURES.

THEY DO HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE MASKS FOR EVERYONE.

THEY DO HAVE HIGHER VACCINATIONS, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN?

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE CPS TO DO?

>> I WOULD LIKE CPS TO ALLOW TO TEACH REMOTELY AND DO WHAT THEY'RE ASKED AND REASSESS, YOU KNOW, HOW THE SITUATION IS.

THE CITY HAS TOLD PEOPLE NOT TO TRAVEL AND TO STAY HOME OVER THE WINTER BREAK.

BUT I FEEL THAT PEOPLE AREN'T ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> MIGUEL, DO YOU THINK THERE'S A COMPROMISE HERE TO BE MADE BETWEEN CPS AND CPU?

>> I DO BELIEVE THAT IF WE REALLY WANT TO GET OUR KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL THE ONLY COMPROMISE WOULD BE TO HAVE MANDATED VACCINATION FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF AND TEACHERS ALONG WITH MANDATED COVID TESTING.

THE REASON WHY IT'S IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE IF SOMEONE HAS BEEN INFECTED THAT HAS THREE BOOSTER SHOTS, I WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THIS VARIANT THAT WE HAVE.

SO THE ONLY WAY WE CAN PROTECT OUR TEACHER, OUR KIDS AND OUR STAFF THERE IT'S IMPORTANT WE PUT THESE MEASURES IN PLACE OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE RISE IN CASES NOT ONLY IN SCHOOL BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> JUST TO FINISH THIS INTERVIEW, WE HAVE JUST UNDER A MINUTE.

I WANT TO GO WITH YOU ANDRES, DO YOU THINK THE APPROACH FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN LIKE YOUR FIRST GRADER COULD OR SHOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN HIGH SCHOOLERS?

>> THAT IS A GREAT ARGUMENT AND A GREAT ANGLE.

I THINK IT IS.

I THINK YOUNGER CHILDREN LIKE MINE DEFINITELY NEED MORE THE ATTENTION TO BE IN CLASS AND SOCIALIZING THAN IN OLDER STUDENTS LIKE MAYBE A HIGH SCHOOLER WHERE THEY CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE INDEPENDENT.

SO I THINK IN THAT SENSE MAYBE THE YOUNGER CHILDREN SHOULD BE THE FIRST ONES BACK IN BECAUSE THEY NEED WAY MORE ATTENTION.

I WILL PUT IT AS THAT, YEAH.

>> I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

I KNOW THIS IS DEFINITELY AN INTERESTING ISSUE AND ONE THAT WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO BE HEARING ABOUT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

I WANT TO THANK ADRES, JUANA AND MIGUEL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE VOICE.

>> IN CHICAGO AND OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY LATINO WORKERS ARE THE BACK BONE OF THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AND THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD A DISPROPORTIONATE AFFECT ON THE PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL HEALTH.

A NONPROFIT AIMED AT GETTING MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR STRUGGLING WORKERS.

TALKING ABOUT THE REMISSION AND THEIR STOREFRONT.

>> THIS IS AN INDUSTRY WHERE PEOPLE TAKE BETTER CARE OF THEIR GUESTS THAN THEY DO THEMSELVES.

WE HAVE THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS, THOSE 10% NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES THAT OVER A YEAR, FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS REALLY KIND OF GETS TO YOU.

>> SO MANY TIMES WE'RE TOLD IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH IN YOUR LIFE, LEAVE IT AT THE DOOR.

WHEN YOU COME IN, YOU JUST HAVE TO LIKE PUT YOUR FACE ON AND THAT TAKES A TOLL ON YOUR EMOTIONS.

>> SO WE STARTED AS AN ANSWER TO THE HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY AND THE WAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN TREATED.

ESPECIALLY THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE OUT THERE RISKING THEIR LIVES WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE AND ON TOP OF IT, TO NOT GET THE PROPER CARE OR THE LONG HOURS OR BE DEHUMANIZED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OUR BITE SIZE EDUCATIONAL SERIES AND THAT IS LITTLE MINI EDUCATIONAL SERIES THAT BREAKS DOWN WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH, WHAT'S EMOTIONAL LABOR, STRESS, COPING MECHANISMS.

WE HAVE A THERAPIST CONSULTATION FORM AND OUR DIRECTOR OF THERAPEUTIC SERVICES WILL GET YOU A CONSULTATION WITH DJ AND HELP CONNECT THEM TO A THERAPIST THAT COULD BE GOOD FOR THEIR PARTICULAR NEEDS.

>> FOR PEOPLE FOR PROFIT THAT ADDRESSES THESE THINGS THAT DO AFFECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND THAT IS YOUR LIVELIHOOD, THAT IS YOUR CLOTHING, THAT IS YOUR FOOD AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PULL TOGETHER THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE TO KIND OF ALLEVIATE SOME OF THESE STRESSES.

>> AND WHAT 2020 HAS EXPOSED IS WE NEED TO HAVE EACH OTHER'S BACKS.

WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE ON SUPPORT STAFF AND PEOPLE FOR PROFIT ON OUR WEBSITE.

UP NEXT, DETAILS ON CONTRACTS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS.

STAY WITH US.

♪ >>> ON JANUARY 1st A NEW ORDINANCE TOOK AFFECT IN CHICAGO AIMED AT THE CHICAGO DOMESTIC WORKERS CONTRACT MANDATE COVERS JOBS LIKE NANNIES, HOME CARE WORKERS AND HOME CLEANERS THAT REQUIRES THEIR EMPLOYERS GIVE THEM A READING CONTRACT WITH MUTUALLY AGREED UPON TERMS.

AMONG THE REQUIREMENTS ARE THE CONTRACT MUST BE IN THE WORKERS' PREFERRED LANGUAGE.

MUST SPELL OUT THEIR WAGE, WORK SCHEDULE AND SCOPE OF WORK RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE CONTRACT SHOULD BE REVIEWED ANNUALLY OR WHENEVER THERE'S A CHANGE IN JOB DUTIES.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE MARGARITA VALENZUELA KLEIN, DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZING AND AN ATTORNEY WITH THE SHRIVER CENTER ON POVERTY LAW.

BOTH ARE MEMBERS OF THE MAYOR'S PROTECTING WORKERS WORKING GROUP WHICH ADVOCATES FOR THE RIGHTS OF DOMESTIC WORKERS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MARGARITA, WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THIS ORDINANCE IS NECESSARY?

>> YOU KNOW, WITH DOMESTIC WORKERS IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN PERCEIVED AS INDIGENOUS AND FOR THE NATURE OF THE JOB IN MANY CASES THEY DO NOT SEE WORKERS AND THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE, WORKERS WHO SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED WITH MINIMUM WAGE, THEY SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED WITH CERTAIN GUARANTEES AND THAT IS WHY, YOU KNOW, THIS ORDINANCE BECOMES CRUCIAL AND IMPORTANT FOR THEM.

>> HOW MANY WORKERS IN CHICAGO COULD THIS ORDINANCE AFFECT AND WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHO THEY ARE?

>> YES, SO WE KNOW THAT AROUND -- THERE ARE AROUND 56,000 DOMESTIC WORKERS IN THE CHICAGO LAND AREA.

AND SO WE KNOW THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT THOUSANDS OF DOMESTIC WORKERS.

THEY ARE GENERALLY PEOPLE OF COLOR ABOUT 20% ARE LATINA WORKERS.

THIS POPULATION IS OVERWHELMINGLY FEMALE BUT 90% OF DOMESTIC WORKERS IN THE CHICAGO LAND AREA ARE WOMEN.

AND SO WE ALSO KNOW THEY'RE A PRETTY LOW INCOME WORK FORCE.

THE AVERAGE DOMESTIC WORKERS IN THE CHICAGO LAND AREA ONLY MAKES ABOUT $12 AN HOUR AND THIS IS BASED ON 2019 STUDY FROM THE MOST RECENT DATA WE HAVE ON DOMESTIC WORKERS.

>> DO THEY NEED TO BE EMPLOYED 40 HOURS A WEEK TO HAVE THIS CONTRACT OR COULD THEY WORK 20 HOURS A WEEK AND HAVE THIS CONTRACT?

>> THIS CONTRACT APPLIES TO ALL DOMESTIC WORKERS REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY HOURS THEY WORK FOR THE EMPLOYER, REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS AND REGARDLESS OF IF THEY WORK FOR MULTIPLE EMPLOYERS.

EACH EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN CONTRACT IN THEIR PREFERRED LANGUAGE.

>> WE SPOKE TO SOPHIA, A CONTRACT SPECIALIST ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES AS AN UNDOCUMENTED DOMESTIC WORKER.

LET'S LISTEN.

[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >>> SHE TALKS ABOUT BEING SCARED, NOT KNOWING HOW TO ASK FOR A RAISE WHEN SHE WAS ASKED TO DO PROBABLY MORE THAN SHE WAS HIRED TO DO.

MARGARITA, DO YOU THINK THE PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH WILL BE RECEPTIVE TO THIS NEW ORDINANCE IN APPROACHING THEIR EMPLOYERS?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING TRAININGS, FACEBOOK LIVE AND VIA ZOOM SINCE SEPTEMBER AND THE RECEPTION HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING, VERY, VERY GOOD.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, ARE GOING TO BE OR ARE SCARED, NERVOUS FOR WHATEVER REASON.

IT MIGHT BE AGE.

A LOT OF THESE DOMESTIC WORKERS ARE ALSO MORE MATURE AND AFRAID OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET ANOTHER JOB AS A NANNY OR CAREGIVER MOSTLY.

PEOPLE WHO CLEAN HOUSES.

SO THERE WILL BE A COMBINATION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE VERY RECEPTIVE AND SOME OF US WHO ARE MORE NERVOUS AND SCARED OF LOSING THEIR JOBS.

>> HOW ARE DOMESTIC WORKERS BEING MADE AWARE OF THIS ORDINANCE?

>> SO THE CITY DOES HAVE A WEBSITE WHERE THEY'RE PROVIDING VARIOUS RESOURCES FOR BOTH EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS.

ON THE RIGHTS OF DOMESTIC WORKERS AND NOT ON THIS NEW CONTRACT REQUIREMENT.

THERE ARE SAMPLE CONTRACTS IN THE WEBSITE FOR BOTH WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS TO USE TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW.

THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH IN PARTICULAR ORGANIZATIONS JUST LIKE RISE CHICAGO IN ORDER TO EDUCATE DOMESTIC WORKERS ON THE RIGHT -- ON THEIR RIGHTS AND ENSURING EMPLOYERS ALSO UNDERSTAND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE LAW.

SO WE ARE GLAD THAT THE CITY IS TAKING THOSE STEPS AND WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THAT DOMESTIC WORKERS ARE PROPERLY EDUCATED ON THEIR RIGHTS.

>> MARGARITA, WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR WORKERS AND WHAT SHOULD THEY DO IF THEIR EMPLOYERS REFUSE?

>> THE EMPLOYERS REFUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD CONTACT THE CITY FIRST.

OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS, WHO IS GOING TO BE OVERSEE THIS ORDINANCE.

THEY CAN CALL THAT OR OURS.

WE HAVE 11 CONTACT SPECIALISTS WORKING RIGHT NOW AS OF RIGHT NOW ON OUR HOT LINE.

WE HAVE HOT LINE IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH AND POLISH TO ASSIST THESE DOMESTIC WORKERS.

THEY CAN ALSO -- THE CONTRACT ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL AS THE WEBSITE OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO LIKE MILITZA SAID.

SO WE ASSIST THESE DOMESTIC WORKERS WITH INFORMATION, WITH THE LOCATION AND HOW TO NEGOTIATE THEIR CONTRACT WITH THE EMPLOYERS AND WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF RETALIATION OR THE REFUSAL.

>> VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION DEFINITELY.

I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US MARGARITA VALENZUELA KLEIN AND MILITZA PAGAN, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, HOW ONE MAN TURNED A SKILL HE LEARNED ON SOCIAL MEDIA INTO A BUSINESS.

STAY WITH US.

♪ >>> REMEMBER BACK IN 2020 WHEN IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYONE STARTED BAKING BREAD AT ONCE?

IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC, MANY CHICAGOANS USED SOCIAL MEDIA TO LEARN NEW SKILLS AND HOBBIES, ONE OF THEM IS A LIFE LONG EAST SIDER THAT TAUGHT HIMSELF A NEW SKILL.

WE HAVE THE STORY.

>> I CAN'T DO STARS.

THAT'S BEEN MY LIMITATION.

ONE OF THE FIRST WAS THEIR LOGO AND IT HAD A BUNCH OF TINY STARS.

I COULDN'T MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A SNOW FLAKE.

IT LOOKED LIKE A FLURRY BLOB.

I'M FEARFUL OF STARS.

>> ASIDE FROM HIS NEMESIS THE STAR SHAPE, HE COULD MAKE PRETTY MUCH ANY IMAGE INTO A FLUFFY FLOOR COVERING.

>> I'VE DONE A COUPLE THAT ARE INTRICATE.

FOUR DIFFERENT COLORS OF PURPLE.

I'VE DONE SPORTS STUFF.

I DID A VIRGIN MARY RUG AND I WAS LIKE ARE YOU GOING TO PUT THIS ON THE FLOOR AND THEY WERE LIKE NO, THERE'S NO WAY I'M PUTTING THE VIRGIN MARY ON THE FLOOR.

I SAID OKAY.

>> HE LEARNS THE CRAFT BETWEEN WORKING OVERNIGHT SHIFT FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SINCE THEN, LOPEZ SAYS HE'S BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT HIMSELF AND HIS 6-YEAR-OLD SON LORENZO BY SELLING DESIGNS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND IN POP-UP MARKETS.

>> I WAS WORKING AN OVERNIGHT JOB AND TAKING MY SON TO SCHOOL AND PICKING HIM UP.

THE HARD PART WAS HIM GETTING OLDER AND WHEN I WAS WORKING THE OVERNIGHT JOB I WAS CONSTANTLY TIRED AND THAT KID HAS SO MUCH ENERGY.

BEING ABLE TO BE HOME HAS BEEN A HUGE BLESSING.

>> LOPEZ USED VIDEOS HE FOUND ON TIKTOK AND TRIAL AND ERROR.

>> JUST BOUGHT THE MACHINE AND TRIED IT.

KIND OF JUST ALMOST IN A SENSE OF TATTOOING, WHEN YOU'RE A TATTOOIST IT'S THE FRAMEWORK AND WHEN I STARTED DOING COMMISSIONS PEOPLE WERE ASKING CAN YOU DO THIS OR THAT.

>> LOPEZ DOESN'T CONSIDER HIMSELF AN ARTIST BUT SEES HIS CRAFT AS A WAY TO COLLABORATE WITH ARTISTS WHOSE WORK HE ENJOYS.

HIS EARLIEST PIECES WERE SIGNATURE CHARACTERS.

>> THOSE ARE REALLY COOL.

LIKE A BIRD.

THIS IS A PIG.

THE COOL THING IS THAT I CAN FIND ART THAT I LIKE AND GIVE IT A DIFFERENT MEDIUM.

THE DIFFERENCE IS THE FEEL OF IT.

AND BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY TOUCH IT, RUN YOUR HANDS THROUGH IT.

>> WHAT DOES LORENZO THINK?

>> HE THINKS IT'S COOL.

HE'S IN HIS OWN WORLD.

HE'LL LOOK, OH, THAT'S COOL AND LEAVE.

>> THEY ARE VERY COOL IF YOU ASK ME.

YOU'LL FIND MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

WELL, THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR SHOW THIS WEEKEND.

CHECK OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS INCLUDING THE LATEST WITH CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING ON SATURDAY NIGHT, KNOW THAT YOU CAN CATCH LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SUNDAYS AT 10:00 P.M. ALSO TUNE ON UNI VISION CHICAGO ON MONDAY MORNING.

AND WBC WILL BE IN THE HOST CHAIR.

FOR ALL OF US HERE, THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES.

A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH FIRM THAT SUPPORTS FREE EDUCATIONAL