VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALLSTATE AND THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST AND CIBC.

>> Araceli: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

I'M ARACELI GOMEZ-ALDANA.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, A NEW DOCUMENTARY FOLLOWS FOUR LGBTQ CHICAGOANS AS THEY NAVIGATE THE COVID-19.

AND WHAT DEMONSTRATIONS MEAN FOR THE ISLAND IN CUBA AND THE PROTESTS.

AND WE'LL TALK WITH TWO FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS ABOUT HOW THEY'RE PLANNING A SAFE COMEBACK.

>> IT'S NOT THE OBJECT.

IT'S ABOUT US PARTICIPATING TOGETHER.

>> Araceli: AND HOW A NEW ART PROJECT IN A NEIGHBORHOOD GARDEN IS REDEFINING COMMUNITY INPUT.

>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT, THE LAST 18 MONTHS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAVE LAID BARE THE MANY INEQUITIES MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES FACE, INEQUITIES THAT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY KNOWS ALL TOO WELL.

A NEW DOCUMENTARY, PRIDE, PANDEMIC AND PERSEVERANCE, EXPLORES THE INEQUITIES THROUGH THE EXPERIENCES OF FOUR LGBTQ-IDENTIFYING LATINX CHICAGOANS AS THEY NAVIGATE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIVES.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE TRAILER.

>> COVID WAS THE CATALYST TO LET PEOPLE SEE THE SYSTEM IS FAILING US.

>> I NEED HELP TO BREAK THIS SYSTEM DOWN.

>> YOU THINK ABOUT SMALL POX AND SURVIVORS.

>> I AM MY ANCESTORS' DREAM.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT GAY PRIDE >> Araceli: JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE REYNA ORTIZ, ONE OF THE FILM'S SUBJECTS AND DAVID MORAN, FILMMAKER AT SOAPBOX PRODUCTIONS AND ORGANIZERS AND WHO PRODUCED THIS DOCUMENTARY.

DAVID, IT'S A TALL ORDER TO MAKE A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT A PANDEMIC WHILE THAT PANDEMIC IS STILL UNFOLDING.

HOW DID COVID AFFECT ITS PRODUCTION AT ALL?

>> HEY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE.

YOU KNOW, COVID I THINK WE WERE ALL LEARNING HOW TO DWELL IN A PANDEMIC.

FROM A PRODUCTION STANDPOINT WE HELD OFF FOR A MOMENT AND THEN TRIED TO FIND WHERE IT WAS WHEN THE PRODUCTION FELL IN OUR LAPS.

WE WERE ACTUALLY THINKING ABOUT SHOOTING IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, YOU KNOW, AND SO IT CHANGED TO MARCH, SO WE KIND OF GOT FORTUNATE, TO BE HONEST.

AS THINGS WERE OPENING UP, WE HAD THE POSSIBILITY OF TESTING BEING MORE AVAILABILITY, PEOPLE STARTING TO UNDERSTAND VACCINES, SO WE WERE REALLY BLESSED FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY AND HAVE BEEN FILMING UNTIL THE LAST FEW DAYS, JUST KIND OF GOING WITH THE FLOW.

IT'S BEEN A ROUGHLY LEARNING CURVE AND I'M SURE ALL OF US HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING.

>> Araceli: I'M SURE UNPRECEDENTED, RIGHT?

REYNA, YOU'RE ONE OF THE FOUR CHICAGOANS FEATURED IN THE FILM.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION AFTER BEING ASKED TO PARTICIPATE AND WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE YOU WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT?

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY.

YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY ABOUT EDUCATION AND ENLIGHTENING PEOPLE OR COMMUNITIES ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TRANS ISSUES AND GENDER NONCONFORMING ISSUES.

SO ONCE IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, IT WAS SOMETHING I WANTED TO BE A PART OF.

>> Araceli: AND LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A CLIP SHOWING YOU AT YOUR WORKPLACE.

>> THIS HALLWAY HERE IS THE TRANS FLAG.

THIS IS THE TRANS TRIBUTE WALL.

WE TOOK SO MUCH TIME TO CHANGE.

WE WANTED TO GIVE A TRIBUTE TO TRANSPEOPLE.

>> THE VERY FIRST TIME I CAME IN THIS SPACE, I BELIEVE IT WAS 2014.

I WAS IN NEED OF SOME RESOURCES CONCERNING HOUSING AND STABILITY AND I WAS ABLE TO GET RESOURCES THE SAME DAY.

I WAS GREETED WARMLY BY REYNA, OF COURSE.

>> THIS IS THE CLOSET.

EVERYBODY KNOWS TO GRAB WHATEVER THEY WANT OR NEED.

>> WE REALLY TRY TO BRING RESOURCES TO THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO.

>> Araceli: WE GOT A SNEAK PEEK BUT CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE PASSPORTS TO?

>> IT'S TO THE RESOURCE CENTER.

IT WAS ONLY ONE OF THE LGBTQ RESOURCE CENTERS ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO.

WE'RE TRYING TO BE IMPACTFUL WITH THE ISSUES AFFECTING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS, POVERTY, H.I.V., AND IT'S BASICALLY A RESOURCE CENTER FOR LGBTQ AND GENDER NON-PERFORMING LGBTQ YOUTH.

>> Araceli: THE FILM EXPLORES THE INTERSECTIONS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THERE WAS A LOT GOING ON.

HOW HAVE THE YOUTH YOU'VE SERVED BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID?

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND SPECIFICALLY BLACK AND LATINX TRANSPEOPLE, COVID IS A VIRUS BUT WE'VE BEEN PLAGUED IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR DECADES AND DECADES.

IF ANYTHING, IT MADE EVERYTHING HARDER.

IF YOU WERE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS PRIOR TO COVID, IT ONLY MADE EVERYTHING WORSE.

SO WE WERE REALLY TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT THESE ISSUES AND BRING MORE RESOURCES TO OUR YOUTH THAT WERE BEING IMPACTED BY COVID BUT ALSO BEING STALKED BY H.I.V.

>> Araceli: AS REYNA IS TALKING ABOUT WITH US RIGHT NOW, THE DOCUMENTARY SHOWS THE STRUGGLES PEOPLE ARE FACED WITH.

A PERSON IN THE FILM TALKS ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE AFTER GETTING COVID AND ALMOST DYING.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE HEARING THESE PEOPLE'S PERSONAL STORIES AND HOW DID IT AFFECT YOU?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS KIND OF WHY, YOU KNOW, WE DO WHAT WE DO IN WANTING TO CREATE MEDIA FILMS, DOCUMENTARIES THAT REALLY FOLLOW AND HOLD TRUE TO PEOPLE'S STORIES AND NARRATIVES.

FOR ME, BEING ABLE TO ENGAGE ALL FOUR OF MY POI WITHOUT MEETING THEM AND REALLY TAKING THE TIME TO KIND OF ESTABLISH RELATIONS AND HEAR THE STORIES, IT'S REALLY WHAT PUSHED ME THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PROJECT AND BEING ABLE TO DO JUSTICE BY THE STORIES AND BRING THEM IN A WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY ARE THESE LGBTQ FOLKS, THE LATINOS THESE ARE CHICAGOANS AND THEY'RE AFFECTING ALL OF US.

I'M EXCITED AND GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET LUIS.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND EXCITED ABOUT DOING THIS WORK AS PART OF SOAPBOX PRODUCTIONS AND ALSO IN COLLABORATION TO MANUAL GARCIA FOR SHOWING THIS INTO OUR LAP AND MAKING IT SO GREAT.

THANK YOU.

>> Araceli: WHEN YOU BEGAN THIS PROJECT, DID YOU EXPECT TO HAVE AN IN-PERSON PREMIERE WHILE STILL GRAPPLING WITH THE PANDEMIC?

>> NO, I DID NOT.

SO I THINK WE WERE ORIGINALLY THINKING WE WERE SEEING A LOT OF THE PRIDE FESTIVITIES WERE KIND OF BEING SHUT DOWN AND POSTPONED.

SO THEY WERE LIKE WE'RE THINKING ABOUT VIRTUAL AND I'M LIKE, OKAY.

SO I THINK THAT CONVERSATION KIND OF HAPPENED A LITTLE LATER -- OR NOT TOO MANY WEEKS AGO.

SINCE THEN, I'VE BEEN VERY EXCITED AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY OF THIS AT THE CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM BUT OTHER SCREENINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND WHAT THE STORIES HOLD TRUE.

WE'RE STILL IN THE PANDEMIC AND STILL GETTING OUT OF IT.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE STILL HERE.

>> Araceli: AND REYNA, AS THIS IS GOING TO BE PREMIERED SOON, WHAT ARE YOU HOPING PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM THE FILM?

>> I REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES AND THE RESILIENCECY OF BLACK AND LATINO GENDER NONCONFORMING PEOPLE.

IT'S A SPACE WHERE YOU CAN COME IN AND EXPRESS YOURSELF AND SHOW RESILIENCE AND POWER.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO REALLY GET OUT OF IT.

LGBTQ YOUTH AND TRANS YOUTH, THEY FACE A LOT OF BARRIERS.

IMAGINE WITH THE BARRIERS REMOVED, THE THINGS THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.

>> Araceli: WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE IT.

IT WILL SCREEN AT THE CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM ON JULY 22ND.

YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

OUR THANKS TO REYNA ORTIZ AND DAVID MORAN FOR JOINING US.

>> CUBA HAS SEEN UNPRECEDENTED DEMONSTRATED IN THE COUNTRY'S WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS IN DECADES.

AND 60 YEARS INTO THE UNITED STATES EMBARGO ON THE NATION.

MEANWHILE, JOE BIDEN SAYS HE SUPPORTS CUBAN CITIZENS IN THE WAKE OF THE PROTESTS.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE SPOKE WITH THREE LOCAL OBSERVERS OF THE SITUATION.

HERE'S A PORTION OF THE CONVERSATION.

SHE BEGINS BY ASKING FOR THEIR REACTION TO THE PROTESTS.

>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A COMBINATION OF THINGS.

NO.

1, THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT IS IN BAD SHAPE BECAUSE OF COVID.

BECAUSE OF THE DETERIORATION IN THE ECONOMY.

SOME OF WHICH HAS TO DO WITH SANCTIONS AND ALSO WITH THE MISMANAGEMENT AND INCOMPETENCE AND THERE'S A WHOLE NEW GENERATION IN CUBA TODAY, PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 40 WHO WANT TO CHANGE THINGS.

THEY DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT IN CUBA THERE'S ONLY ONE POLITICAL PARTY.

THEY DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT POLITICAL ACTIVITIES AND DESCENT IS TO RESTRAIN.

THEY HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE GRADUAL SOCIAL MEDIA TECHNOLOGY TO BEGIN EXPRESSING THEIR DISAGREEMENTS WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY.

SO YOU HAVE SEEN ALL THIS COME TOGETHER IN THIS VERY SPONTANEOUS OUTBURST OF PROTESTS.

>> WE'VE HEARD A BIT OF THIS FROM ALBERTO.

REMIND US WHAT LED UP TO THESE POINTS OF THESE PROTESTS.

>> I AGREE THAT I THINK THERE ARE MULTIPLE FACTORS GOING ON.

I WOULD SAY IT'S NOT JUST AN ECONOMIC CRISIS.

I WOULD SAY IT'S A POLITICAL CRISIS AS WELL.

THAT POLITICAL CRISIS WE CAN DATE IT WAY BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTION, THE PROMISE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE WAS DELIVERED IN SOME WAYS, BUT DEMOCRACY WAS NOT.

SO THIS HAS BEEN ACCUMULATION, I THINK, OF A POLITICAL PROCESS.

MOST IMMEDIATELY, THE COMMUNIST PARTY HELD ITS CONGRESS AND AT THAT CONGRESS, VERY LITTLE WAS CHANGED.

>> Araceli: SO YOU WERE PART OF A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY CALLING ON AN EMBARGO.

ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE U.S.

RESPONSE SO FAR?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL SATISFIED WITH IT.

I THINK ONE THING WE'RE NOT SPEAKING TO AT THIS POINT IS THE OTHER VOICES, THE VOICES OF ALL THE CUBANS WHO DO SUPPORT THE REVOLUTION, OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY.

EVERY TIME I'VE GONE TO CUBA WHICH IS MANY MULTIPLE TIMES, THERE ARE JUST AS MANY VOICES, IF NOT MORE, IN FAVOR OF THEIR REVOLUTION THAN THAT ARE AGAINST IT.

THE MEDIA TENDS TO FOCUS ON THE LOUD VOICES THAT ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO SUPPORT THE AGENDA OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WHICH IS BASICALLY TO OVERTHROW THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT BUT NOT ALLOW THEM TO BE A SOVEREIGN GOVERNMENT AND MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

I'M COMPLETELY AGAINST IT.

I THINK BIDEN IS BASICALLY PUTTING ON THE SUIT THAT TRUMP MADE.

TRUMP INSTALLED A LOT MORE RESTRICTIONS, SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA AND INSTEAD OF GOING BACK TO THE WAY THAT OBAMA WAS OPENING RELATIONS, RELAXING AND TRYING TO RESPECT MORE OF A PROPER RELATIONSHIP WITH CUBA, NO, BIDEN IS JUST ENACTING WHAT TRUMP PUT INTO PLACE.

>> Araceli: AGAIN, THAT WAS A PORTION OF BRANDEIS' CONVERSATION FROM EARLIER THIS WEEK.

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE TO WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW.

>>> UP NEXT, TWO SIGNATURE LATINO FESTIVALS ARE COMING BACK THIS SUMMER.

WE HAVE THE DETAILS.

>> Araceli: IT'S SUMMER AND IN CHICAGO THAT MEANS IT'S FESTIVAL SEASON.

THE CITY'S STREET FESTIVAL SCENE IS LEGENDARY, BUT WAS NON-EXISTENT LAST YEAR DUE TO PANDEMIC-INDUCED SHUTDOWNS.

NOW WITH CHICAGOANS HUNGRIER THAN EVER, TWO LATINO FESTIVALS ARE SET TO STAGE THEIR COMEBACKS.

JOINING US NOW ON HOW TO WELCOME BACK ATTENDEES AND KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE IS CARLOS FLORES, THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE FESTIVAL AND CO-CHAIR, CARLOS FLORES.

THIS YEAR, ALEX, YOU'RE CELEBRATING 49 YEARS OF THE LARGEST FESTIVALS IN THE AREA, PROVIDING A BOOST TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES AND LOCAL OWNERS AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS THINKING ABOUT ITS RETURN?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO THE OVERWHELMINGLY RESPONSE IS -- HAS BEEN POSITIVE.

EVERYONE IS EXCITED TO COME BACK, CELEBRATE IN PERSON.

BOTH LOCALLY AND PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER LIKE THE REGION, BUT EVERYONE IS EXCITED TO COME BACK, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT WE ARE SETTING COVID PROTOCOLS.

EVERYONE IS EXCITED AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FOOD, FESTIVITIES, MUSIC, AND ALL THE THINGS GOING ON.

>> Araceli: ESPECIALLY THE FOOD.

THE FESTIVAL HAS BEEN RUNNING A LONG TIME IN CHICAGO.

IT'S A BELOVED EVENT.

WITH A DOES IT MEAN FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR IT TO BE BACK IN PERSON THIS YEAR?

>> I THINK THE COMMUNITY -- IT'S ONE OF CHICAGO'S BEST-KEPT SECRET EVENTS IN THAT WE GET ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY AND INDIANA AND WISCONSIN AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING THIS EVENT FOR 14 YEARS.

WE STARTED THIS FESTIVAL 14 YEARS AGO.

IT'S A ONE-DAY LOCAL MUSICIAN AND THE FESTIVAL HAS TAKEN ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN.

NOW WE'RE UP TO TWO DAYS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

IT ACTUALLY HAS INTERNATIONAL TONES BECAUSE WE'VE HAD PARTICULAR ARTISTS THAT LIVE IN MEXICO AND FROM CANADA, PUERTO RICO.

SO BASICALLY THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY LOVE THE AMBIANCE AND GOING OUT TO THE PARK AND BRINGING THEIR BLANKETS AND COOLERS AND ENJOYING GREAT MUSIC THAT THEY DON'T GET TO SEE OR HEAR ALL THE TIME.

>> Araceli: THAT'S RIGHT.

SO MUCH DIVERSITY.

MANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED.

BUT I'M GUESSING THE FESTIVAL WILL LOOK DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.

CAN YOU TELL US THE COVID PRECAUTIONS YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE?

>> SURE.

WE BEGAN PLANNING EARLIER THIS YEAR.

SO BEFORE CHICAGO LIFTED ALL THE RESTRICTIONS, WE HAD SET UP A PLAN AND SUBMITTED IT.

WE EVEN MET WITH THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF PATRONS, OUR VOLUNTEERS, AND EVERYONE INVOLVED, ALL THE VENDORS.

OBVIOUSLY NOW THAT THE CITY HAS LIFTED ALL RESTRICTIONS, WE'RE LIMITED TO WHAT WE CAN ENFORCE, BUT WE'RE ENCOURAGING ALL PATRONS, IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED, TO PLEASE WEAR A MASK AND WE'RE ENFORCING SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR ALL STREET VENDORS AND THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE'RE OFFERING A FOOD COURT.

YOU CAN ENJOY THE FOODS IN A DESIGNATED EATING AND DRINKING AREA.

WE'LL HAVE HAND SANITATION SITES THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL AS WELL AS OUR FIRST AID AREA.

>> Araceli: AND, CARLOS, FOR THE LATIN JAZZ FEST, THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT, THERE'S PROTOCOLS TO BE FOLLOWED, MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

YOU'RE ENCOURAGED, NOT NECESSARILY ENFORCED, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE TURN-OUT THIS YEAR?

>> I THINK THE TURN-OUT IS GOING TO BE AS THE PAST.

LAST YEAR BROKE THE CHAIN.

SO WE'RE EXPECTING TO HAVE AN AUDIENCE THERE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT WE ALSO HAVE BEEN FORCED -- WE ACTUALLY HAD DECIDED TO MOVE FROM THE BOAT HOUSE TO THE FIELDHOUSE.

THERE WAS A CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER FESTIVAL AND WE WERE TOO CLOSE SO WE MOVED DOWN A BLOCK AND A HALF TO THE FIELDHOUSE WHERE WE'LL BE DOING IT OUTDOORS.

BASICALLY OUR SPACE IN THE BOAT HOUSE IS VERY BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL SITE AND WE'RE GOING TO REALLY ENJOY THE MUSIC.

SO WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME SITUATION AS WE HAD.

THE RESTAURANTS AND THE FOOD, WE HAD PEOPLE COME AND BRING THEIR BLANKETS AND COOLERS.

>> Araceli: WE'LL GET BACK TO THE LINE-UP THERE, BUT FIRST, ALEX, I KNOW THAT FIESTA DEL SOL OFFERS COMMUNITY RESOURCES.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THOSE?

>> SURE.

I'D LOVE TO.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PUSHES AND IT'S GOING BACK TO PRECAUTIONS FOR COVID, WE'RE OFFERING VACCINATIONS ON SITE.

WE'RE PARTNERING WITH OTHERS AND OFFERING VACCINATIONS WITHOUT HAVING TO REGISTER.

WE HAVE MULTIPLE EXPOSE AND COMMITTEES, SOME OF WHICH ARE JOB EXPOSE.

WE'RE PARTNERS WITH EMPLOYERS, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE LOOKING TO TRANSITION, TO FIND EMPLOYMENT WITH ANY OF THESE EMPLOYERS.

WE HAVE OUR CITIZEN EXPO, FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS.

THESE ATTORNEYS ARE MULTI-LINGUAL AND WILL BE ON SITE.

THERE'S A COLLEGE EXPO.

A SCHOOL EXPO AND OTHER EXPOSE.

AGAIN PROVIDING RESOURCES ON SITE AND SOME EVEN VIRTUALLY.

I WELCOME EVERYONE TO COME IN PERSON OR CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE.

>> Araceli: CARLOS, VERY QUICKLY, CAN YOU TELL THE LINE-UP IN A FEW SECONDS?

>> YES, BASICALLY WE'RE STAYING LOCAL AT THIS TIME.

WHEN WE STARTED PLANNING THE FESTIVAL, THERE WERE SOME RESTRICTIONS IN TERMS OF COVID AND THE CITY AND THEN THE CITY OPENED UP.

BUT WE'RE FEATURING TWO VETERAN LOCAL ARTISTS.

ONE IS A BRAZILIAN PERCUSSIONIST AND THEY'LL BE PERFORMING BRAZILIAN TYPE JAZZ AND WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER GENTLEMAN WHO HAS BEEN IN CHICAGO FOR A LONG TIME, JAMES SANDERS, A VIOLINIST, WHO IS GOING TO BE PRESENTING HIS WORK WHICH IS PART OF WHAT HE HAS EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST 12, 14 MONTHS AS PART OF THE BEING IN THE LOCKDOWN.

IT'S GOING TO BE FEATURING SOME LOCAL ARTISTS, YOU KNOW, AND MAYBE NEXT YEAR WE'LL OPEN IT UP AGAIN AND BRING IN, YOU KNOW, INTERNATIONAL STARS THE WAY WE SHOULD BE GOING.

>> Araceli: WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO CARLOS FLORES AND ALEX GARCIA FOR JOINING US.

>>> AGAIN, THE CHICAGO LATIN JAZZ FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE AT THE HUMBOLDT PARK FIELDHOUSE ON JULY 23RD AND 24TH AND JULY 29TH THROUGH AUGUST 1ST.

FOR MORE SUMMER EVENTS, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR OUR SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE.

>> UP NEXT, A BLOSSOMING COMMUNITY GARDEN AND WHAT IT HAS TO OFFER TO LOCAL RESIDENTS.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Araceli: DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE COMMUNITY GARDEN SERVED AS A HOME AWAY FROM HOME FOR MANY.

NOW WITH THE CITY BACK OPEN AGAIN, GARDEN LEADERSHIP IS LOOKING AT HOW TO BETTER UTILIZE THE SPACE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY THAT SURROUNDS IT.

OUR CORRESPONDENT INTRODUCES US TO ARTISTS AND RESIDENTS WHO ARE CREATING A NEW PIECE FOR THE GARDEN WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM THE GARDENGOERS.

>> IT'S LIKE A PHYSICAL PLACE OF ABUNDANCE WHERE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE CARE TAKING TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: ARTISTS AND RESIDENTS ARE BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN A NEW PROJECT AT THE COMMUNITY GARDEN.

>> EARLIER IN THE YEAR I WAS WORKING ON THE PROJECT THAT HAD TO DO WITH MEZZO AMERICAN AFTERLIFE AND THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH JUST CONTINUES.

AFTER COVID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT A LOT OF WAYS OF GRIEVING AND HOW THE PROCESS IS CULTURAL AND SPECIFIC TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE BUT ALSO GIVES MOMENTS OF CELEBRATION AND JOY.

WE'RE MAKING A TOBACCO GARDEN AND THEN HAVING THE CERAMIC FESTIVALS AND RITUAL OFFERING SPACES.

THEN THE OTHER SITE IS AN ADOBE BRICK MONUMENT.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SIT AND MEDITATE.

>> Reporter: THE TWO NEW PIECES WILL SIT NEAR THE GARDEN'S ENTRANCE.

SHE BELIEVES INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY IN HER CREATIVE PROCESS IS CRUCIAL.

>> IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PLACE TO COME AND DO THIS PROJECT.

WE KNOW THAT THIS SPACE IS CHANGING.

IT'S GENTRIFIED AND IT'S NOT ALL LATIN-AMERICAN ANYMORE BUT HAVING THIS CULTURAL SITE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER AND EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT LATINX OR BROWN, YOU CAN AGREE WITH THESE PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THEY WORK TO SERVE EVERYONE, WHICH IS WHY THE ART CLASSES ARE JUST THE BEGINNING.

>> WE OFFER SEVERAL WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED, ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE, ALL BACKGROUNDS, ALL AGES.

THERE'S THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP WHICH COULD BE A MEMBERSHIP FOR BEE KEEPING, MEMBERSHIP FOR GARDENING, GARDENING WE OFFER ALLOTMENT BEDS OR THE COLLECTIVE GARDENING BEDS WHICH HAS THE COLLECTIVE GARDEN BEDS AND FREE FOOD BEDS AND INCUBATOR FARM AREAS.

WE HAVE ALMOST OVER AN ACRE OF LAND THAT WE ARE STEWARDS OF.

SO EVERYTHING IS VOLUNTEER-MANAGED, VOLUNTEER-MAINTAINED.

WE ALSO HAVE NOW A BRAND-NEW WELLNESS COALITION WHICH IS WORKING ON PROVIDING A LOT MORE BESIDES YOGA AND MEDITATION.

WE HAVE FLAMENCO FRIDAYS AND THIS YEAR WE'RE OFFERING A COMMUNITY DRAWING CLASS.

THEY WERE ALSO INVITED TO A COMMUNITY EVENT.

>> Reporter: WHILE THEY WORK TO SECURE MORE FUNDING TO CREATE MORE FUNDING AND OPPORTUNITIES, THEY WANT THE COMMUNITY GARDENS TO CONTINUE TO BE A GATHERING SPACE THAT THE FAMILY THEY'VE CREATED CAN BE PROUD OF.

>> ESSENTIALLY WE'RE AN OUTDOOR COMMUNITY CENTER.

THE SKY IS THE LIMIT AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PUT THE WORK IN OR OFFER SOMETHING ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE SPACE IS FOR EVERYONE.

>> Araceli: THOSE TWO NEW GARDEN ADDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY EARLY FALL.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

YOU CAN CATCH ME HOSTING WEEKEND EDITIONS SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS AS WELL AS MY REPORTING DURING THE WEEK ON ANYONE -- ON 91.5.

NEXT WEEK, ALEX HERNANDEZ WILL BE HERE IN THE HOST CHAIR.

TONIGHT WE HONOR A 19-YEAR-OLD CHICAGO RESIDENT WHO WAS KILLED.

PARENTS WANT TO SHINE A LIGHT OF GUN VIOLENCE ON THE WEST SIDE COMMUNITY.

>>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES", I'M ARACELI GOMEZ-ALDANA.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY SAFE AND STAY HEALTHY.

GOODNIGHT.