PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY.]

>> Michael: GOOD EVENING AND BIENVENIDOS TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

I'M MICHAEL PUENTE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, ILLINOIS COMMUNITIES ARE TAKING ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE'LL TALK WITH LOCAL ACTIVISTS ABOUT WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO GET THE STATE TO A GREENER, CLEANER FUTURE.

AND AFTER A 30-YEAR CAREER WITH THE CITY, THE HEAD OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTIONS IS STEPPING DOWN.

HEAR ABOUT HER WORK AND HOW HER FAMILY'S JOURNEY TO THE UNITED STATES SHAPED HER PERSPECTIVE.

>> AFTER YEARS OF RENTING, A GROUP OF STREET VENDORS ARE PART OF A SHARED KITCHEN.

HERE'S THE STORY.

>> IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, IT'S GOING TO BE DONE TO US.

I WOULD RATHER GO OUT WITH A FIGHT THAN SIT HERE AND ALLOW SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO ME.

>> Michael: AND THE HUMBOLDT PARK NATIVES TELL US WHY SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES SAVES COMMUNITIES.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, WILD WEATHER EVENTS IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2021.

EVERYTHING FROM DROUGHTS AND FLOODING TO HEAT DOMES AND BLIZZARDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE FOCUSED THE ATTENTION ON THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

HERE IN THE CHICAGO AREA, BLACK AND LATINO NEIGHBORHOODS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE BURDENED BY INDUSTRIES THAT POLLUTE THE AIR, GROUND AND WATER, MAKING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE EQUATION AS THE COUNTRY MOVES FORWARD.

NOW LOCAL ACTIVISTS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE PUSHING FOR LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADAPT TO ITS EFFECTS WHILE KEEP ILLINOISANS WORKING IN A GREENER, CLEANER FUTURE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS MAYA DUTTA, THE SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR FOR THE SEE OF WAUGH KEYING BEGAN AND WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO LATINO VOICES.

LET'S START WITH YOU, EDUARDO FLORES.

WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE YOU'VE SEEN IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE HEALTH IMPACTS ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES I SEE IN MY COMMUNITY.

1 IN 3 CHILDREN IN WAUKEGAN HAVE ASTHMA, MOSTLY DUE TO THE COAL PLANT THAT WE HAVE, ALONG WITH FIVE E.P.A.

SUPER FUND SITES THAT ARE SO POLLUTED, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT CUMULATIVE IMPACT, WE START TO SEE HEALTH IMPACTS ON OUR CHILDREN AND ON OUR ELDERLY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE.

IT'S THE LAST ISSUE WE WANT.

>> Michael: MAYA, HOW SHOULD ACTIVISTS AND LEGISLATORS WORK WITH AND INCLUDE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE?

>> I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS ONE SPECIFIC ANSWER FOR IT.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE NOT -- THEY HAVE A SHARED HISTORY OF OPPRESSION AND RESILIENCY BUT GOING FORWARD THEY HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THEIR PRESENT AND FUTURE WILL BE.

IT'S MOST IMPORTANT FOR ACTIVISTS AND LEGISLATORS TO LOOK AT THE COMMUNITIES THEY'RE WORKING FOR AND GETTING INTO THAT COMMUNITY, TALKING WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, TALKING TO RESIDENTS, TALKING TO PEOPLE THAT VISIT THERE OFTEN AND HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT AND SEE FOR THEIR FUTURE ESPECIALLY AS WE LOOK TOWARDS A GREENER AND MORE JUST FUTURE FOR ALL.

>> Michael: AND EDUARDO FLORES, THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY IS A BIG EMPLOYER IN ILLINOIS.

HOW IS YOUR ORGANIZATION PROPOSING TO TRANSITION TO CLEAN POWER WHILE KEEPING PEOPLE EMPLOYED?

>> YEAH, SO WE LIKE TO FOCUS ON TRYING TO SECURE A JUST TRANSITION, SO THAT WORKERS AREN'T JUST LAID OFF WHEN COAL PLANTS HAVE TO SHUT DOWN.

WE WANT TO HAVE WORKFORCE HUBS THAT FOCUS IN THE AREAS OF BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES SO THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAVE THESE JOBS CAN.

THEY'LL GET ALL THE TRAINING AND EVERYTHING PAID FOR AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING IN THIS INDUSTRY.

THEY CAN TRANSITION AND THEY'RE NOT JUST LEFT OUT.

YOU KNOW, THEY LOSE THEIR LIVELIHOOD AND THEY HAVE TO FIND A NEW JOB.

>> Michael: EDDIE, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OR FELT ANY PUSHBACK FROM PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THOSE INDUSTRIES, EITHER AGAINST YOU OR YOUR ORGANIZATION?

>> I PERSONALLY REALLY HAVEN'T.

I'VE SEEN INDUSTRY AND CORPORATIONS DO THAT, BUT MORE SO THE WORKERS, NOT SO MUCH.

THEY LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO GET ALL THESE TRAINING PAID FOR AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PUT MONEY ON THE TABLE WHILE THEY'RE GETTING RETRAINED AND WHILE THEY'RE LEARNING THE WHOLE PROCESS AND THE THINGS THEY NEED TO DO TO BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY FUNCTION IN THOSE JOBS.

>> Michael: MAYA DUTTA, THE CITY OF WAUKEGAN IS PART OF THE NEWLY UNVEILED CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THAT IS AND WHAT THE GOALS ARE?

>> SURE.

SO THE METROPOLITAN MAYORS CAUCUS AND NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION WENT THROUGH A PROCESS OVER THE LAST YEAR TO CREATE THE CHICAGO REGION'S FIRST-EVER CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.

IT IS FOCUSING SPECIFICALLY ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTION THAT WE CAN TAKE TO MITIGATE AND ADAPT TO THE FACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

THOSE ARE THE TWO OVERARCHING GOALS, MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

IT INCLUDES INCREASING RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN IS STILL A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT STRATEGIES THAT OUTLINE HOW MUNICIPALITIES CAN PURSUE THESE ACTIONS AND ACHIEVE CLIMATE ACTION THAT IS ON A LEVEL THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR MUNICIPALITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND IT ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SUBURBAN AREAS TO COLLABORATE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

IT ALSO LOOKS AT SOCIAL VULNERABLE AND TAKES A SPECIAL LOOK AT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES.

>> Michael: MAYA, I KNOW ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN IS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS BY 80% BY 2050.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S AN ACHIEVABLE GOAL?

>> I THINK IF WE HAVE THE AMBITION, IT'S AN ACHIEVABLE GOAL.

IT'S NOT ONLY ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BUT IT'S EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, LEGISLATION, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WE'VE BEEN TOLD IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR PEOPLE SO WE CAN ALL SURVIVE AND HAVE GOOD LIVES.

AND SO THAT BEING SAID, IT'S ACHIEVABLE BECAUSE IT HAS TO HAPPEN.

>> Michael: WHEN YOU WORK WITH WAUKEGAN, HOW DO YOU GET MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR INVOLVED IN TAKING CLIMATE ACTION, CLIMATE CHANGE AS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE?

>> SURE.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO JUST THINK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY YOU'RE WORKING WITH AND IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS ALREADY ALL IN.

SO WE THINK ABOUT DIFFERENT CULTURAL EVENTS THAT THE COMMUNITY OF WAUKEGAN IS ALREADY TAKING PART OF.

THERE'S A SPECIFIC COMMUNITY CHARACTER THAT THE RESIDENTS LIKE TO TAKE PART OF.

WE HAVE TO SURE WE HAVE CLIMATE MESSAGING AND ENVIRONMENT MESSAGING WITHIN THE ORGANIZATIONS AND DIFFERENT CULTURAL EVENTS.

SO I ALSO THINK ABOUT THE WONDERFUL ACTIVISTS WE HAVE AT CLEAN POWER LAKE COUNTY AND WHAT TAPS INTO THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY IN WAUKEGAN WHICH IS EXTREMELY STRONG.

EVERYONE CARES ABOUT HAVING A BETTER LIFE GOING FORWARD.

SO IT'S NOT HARD TO SELL CLIMATE CHANGE IN THAT ASPECT.

IT'S JUST MAKING SURE IT'S ACCESSIBLE AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE SPANISH AND ENGLISH VERSIONS OF ALL MESSAGING THAT WE PUT OUT.

>> Michael: EDUARDO FLORES, I'LL LEAVE THE LAST QUESTION FOR YOU.

EARLIER TODAY YOU TOOK PART IN A RALLY FOR CLEAN ENERGY IN ILLINOIS WITH THE SIERRA CLUB AND STATE SENATOR CHRISTINA CASTRO.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH?

>> WELL, YEAH, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET A JUST TRANSITION FOR COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE.

WE DON'T WANT TO END UP WITH A -- WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PASS THE GOVERNMENT'S CLIMATE BILL.

IT'S ABOUT JOBS AND INDUSTRY AND LACK OF COMMUNITY IN THE HELP.

FUTURE GENERATIONS.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT PASSED.

>> Michael: THE LAST 20 SECONDS HERE, EDDIE, HOW DO YOU GET PEOPLE OF COLOR IN YOUR AREA TO CLIMB ON BOARD WITH FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE?

>> YEAH.

SO I TRY AND CONNECT IT WITH THEM.

ONE OF THE THINGS I USUALLY TALK ABOUT ASTHMA IS SO COMMON AROUND HERE, I LIKE TO ASK IN THEM OR ANYBODY THEY KNOW, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE ASTHMA AND WE USUALLY TIE IT INTO THE HEALTH IMPACTS WE SEE HERE IN WASHINGTON.

>> Michael: OUR THANKS TO MAYA DUTTA AND EDUARDO FLORES.

>>> UP NEXT, AN EXIT INTERVIEW WITH A CHICAGO COMMISSIONER WITH A 30-YEAR CAREER IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

>> Michael: THIS WEEK, THE CITY SLAPPED TWO BIG COMPANIES WITH NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS IN RESTITUTION AND FINES FOR VIOLATING THE CITY'S SICK LEAVE LAW.

THAT EFFORT WAS ONE OF THE FINAL OFFICIAL ACTS FOR THE COMMISSIONER OF CHICAGO'S DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTIONS WHICH IS CHARGED WITH MAKING SURE BUSINESSES ARE LICENSED AND FOLLOWING THE LAW AND PROTECTING CONSUMERS FROM FRAUD.

JOINING US NOW IS THE OUTGOING COMMISSIONER OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION, ROSA ESCARENO.

WELCOME TO LATINO VOICES.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MICHAEL, FOR HAVING ME.

>> Michael: AS WE JUST MENTIONED, THE CITY JUST LANDED A MAJOR PAY-OUT FROM TWO COMPANIES FOR VIOLATING WORKERS SICK LEAVE PROTECTION.

DO WE EXPECT TO SEE MORE SETTLEMENTS LIKE THIS IN THE YEARS TO COME?

>> WE HOPE NOT, BUT THE GOAL FOR US IS TO MAKE SURE THE EMPLOYERS ACROSS CHICAGO ABIDE BY CHICAGO'S LABOR LAWS, AND WE DO A LOT OF WORK UP FRONT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS AND BUSINESSES ACROSS THE CITY SO THAT THEY FULLY UNDERSTAND.

OUR GOAL IS NOT TO BE PUNITIVE.

OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL THESE GREAT POLICIES THAT ARE REALLY HELPING WORKERS AND HELPING OUR ECONOMY ARE BASICALLY, YOU KNO -- THEY'RE ABIDED BY.

>> Michael: RIGHT.

BEFORE WE GET INTO MORE LABOR ISSUES, FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW YOUR STORY, YOUR MOTHER BROUGHT YOU AND YOUR SIBLINGS HERE AT A YOUNG AGE.

WHAT PROMPTED THE MOVE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, MY FATHER ACTUALLY HAD BEEN A FARMWORKER A FEW YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND UPON HIS RETURN ON ONE OF HIS VISITS, HE PASSED AWAY OF AN ILLNESS.

AND SO MY MOTHER WAS LEFT WITH A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION, AND SO CHOSE AS MY BROTHER ALWAYS WANTED US TO ACTUALLY COME TO THE UNITED STATES.

SO HIS DEATH UNFORTUNATELY IS WHAT TRIGGERED THAT MOVE.

BUT MY MOM WAS A SINGLE -- A WIDOWED MOTHER AT THAT TIME WITH SIX CHILDREN, MY BROTHER WAS SIX MONTHS, THE YOUNGEST.

AND I WAS A CHILD AT THE TIME.

THAT'S WHAT PROMPTED US TO COME HERE, REALLY SEARCHING FOR A BETTER LIFE, JUST LIKE MY FATHER KNEW HIS LIFE IN THE FARMING AND FACTORS IN THE UNITED STATES IS WHAT BROUGHT US HERE.

>> Michael: DID YOUR MOTHER INSPIRE ANY OF THE WORK YOU'VE DONE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'VE BEEN SO PRIVILEGED IN THE ROLE OF PUBLIC SERVANT.

THROUGHOUT MY YEARS, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT HOW DO WE GIVE BACK.

WHEN WE CREATED THE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS, I ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT MY MOM.

SHE WOULD WAKE UP REALLY EARLY IN THE MORNING, HAD TO BE AT WORK BY 5 A.M. AND DID THAT FOR YEARS, STANDING FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.

AND EVERY TIME I GO INTO MY WORK, SPECIFICALLY AROUND ESTABLISHING POLICY, DRAFTING LEGISLATION, EVERYTHING DEALING WITH WORKERS, NOT JUST MY MOM'S STORY BUT MY MOM'S STORY IS REPLICATED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF TIMES.

WE SAW A LOT OF THIS, MICHAEL, AROUND THE PANDEMIC WITH OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS HAVING TO LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES BEHIND, PUTTING THEMSELVES AT RISK, SO THAT THEY COULD REALLY KEEP OUR CITY OPEN.

BUT THEIR INSPIRATION IS THEIR FAMILIES.

SO I THINK THIS IS THE CONNECTION THAT I SEE WHEN I -- YOU KNOW, I'M IN THE POSITION TO HELP WORKERS AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOSE WORKERS.

BUT LET ME JUST SAY, IT'S ABOUT THE WORKERS, BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT HOW WE ALL BENEFIT AS A CITY.

BECAUSE WHEN WE IMPROVE THE BENEFITS AND LIFE OF WORKERS, WE IMPROVE OUR ECONOMY.

AND WE ALL BENEFIT FROM A STRONGER ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW.

>> Michael: ROSA, YOU STARTED WORKING FOR THE CITY MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO.

HAS IT BEEN CHALLENGING, NAVIGATING CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP, ESPECIALLY AS CHICAGO'S MAYORS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR STRONG PERSONALITIES?

>> WELL, LET ME JUST SAY -- AND I THINK PEOPLE FIND THIS INTERESTING -- I DON'T THINK I'VE MET A TOUGHER BOSS THAN MY MOTHER.

SHE IS A WOMAN WITH, YOU KNOW, REALLY, REALLY STRONG WILL.

AND SO I THINK THAT WORKING FOR OTHER MAYORS HAVE BEEN A COMPLETE PRIVILEGE FOR ME, TO SEE THE CITY TRANSFORM.

I STARTED HERE IN THE LATE '80s.

LOOK AT CHICAGO TODAY.

YOU LOOK AT OUR CITY THEN AND LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE TODAY, THIS IS THE DISTRICT MAYORS COMING IN AND TRANSFORMING OUR CITY.

AND REALLY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND, YES, WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO, ABSOLUTELY, BUT I THINK EVERY MAYOR HAS PUT IN SO MUCH GREAT WORK INTO MAKING CHICAGO THE GREAT CITY IT IS TODAY.

THIS IS WHY THE LABOR PROTECTIONS THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE SINCE 2018 AND EVEN MORE TO COME ARE JUST YET ANOTHER WAY THAT WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR CITY TO BE EVEN BETTER THAN WHEN I CAME INTO MY JOB.

>> Michael: ROSA, YOU ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO STAY ONLY FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF MARY LIGHTFOOT AND THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT -- MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.

HOW HAS IT BEEN TO WORK OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF?

>> YES.

IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THIS PERSONAL -- I ALWAYS LOOK AT THINGS FROM A VERY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE.

SO IN THIS JOB OVER THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR, I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW MANY BUSINESS OWNERS.

I TELL PEOPLE WE HAD A PODCAST WHERE WE WOULD BRING IN BUSINESS OWNERS TO TELL THEIR STORIES SO OTHER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS CAN LEARN FROM THOSE STORIES.

SO THROUGH THIS TIME, I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW SO MANY INDIVIDUAL STORIES, KNOWING THAT MANY OF THOSE BUSINESSES WERE CALLING ME DIRECTLY, STRUGGLING, KNOWING THEIR LIFE'S EARNINGS WERE ABOUT TO BE LOST.

DURING THIS ENTIRE, YOU KNOW, 16 MONTHS REALLY.

SO IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

BUT I'VE ALSO LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS IS THAT THEY ARE SO VIBRANT, THAT THEY ARE NOT -- THEY DON'T GIVE UP EASILY.

THEY ARE FIGHTERS.

I KNOW CHICAGO'S ECONOMY IS GOING TO BE EVEN GREATER THAN WE WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE THEY'RE ABOUT THE FIGHT.

THEY'RE ABOUT FOLLOWING THAT DREAM AND NOT LETTING GO.

SO, YES, VERY EMOTIONAL, BUT I ALSO HAVE SO MUCH CONFIDENCE IN THAT ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AND CHICAGO IS A MECCA FOR BUSINESS.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO FOSTER AND SUPPORT OUR ENTREPRENEURS, ESPECIALLY THE SMALL ONES.

BECAUSE IT'S THROUGH THOSE SMALL ONES THAT THEY GROW.

AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS, MICHAEL, THAT THE MAJORITY OF JOB CREATION ACROSS OUR COUNTRY AND OF COURSE IN OUR CITY IS THROUGH THOSE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

THEY'RE THE ONES THAT EMPLOY THE MAJORITY OF EMPLOYEES ACROSS OUR CITY.

>> Michael: WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO MISS MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH THE CITY?

>> I THINK IT'S THE PERSONAL BRINGING OF SERVICES AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR BUSINESS AND PEOPLE.

WE HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT SO I'M GOING TO MISS THAT.

I DEFINITELY WANT TO BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE GOALS OF OUR CITY.

>> Michael: OUR THANKS TO ROSA ESCARENO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Michael: UP NEXT, DETAILS OF A SHARED KITCHEN OWNED BY A GROUP OF STREET VENDORS.

STAY WITH US.

>> Michael: STREET VENDORS ARE OFFICIALLY THE OWNERS OF A KITCHEN AFTER HAVING RENTED IT FOR YEARS.

UNDER CITY REGULATIONS, STREET VENDORS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PREPARE FOOD AT HOME AND RISK HEAVY FINES IF THEY'RE CAUGHT WITHOUT A LICENSE.

HERE'S MORE ON WHAT OWNING A KITCHEN MEANS FOR THIS GROUP OF VENDORS.

>> Reporter: EVERY AFTERNOON, JUAN JOSE GARCIA HEADS TO WORK, SELLING EVERYTHING FROM TAMALE'S FRUIT AND CORN AND MEXICAN CANDY.

HE'S BEEN A STREET VENDOR FOR 23 YEARS.

[SPEAKING IN SPANISH] >> Reporter: HE'S ONE OF HUNDREDS OF VENDORS IN CHICAGO WHOSE HAD TO ADAPT TO CHANGING CITY REGULATIONS OVER THE YEARS.

RULE REQUIRE VENDORS TO HAVE A LICENSE AND ALSO BAN THEM FROM PREPARING FOOD AT HOME.

[SPEAKING IN SPANISH] >> Reporter: TO FOLLOW CITY RULES, GARCIA AND SEVERAL OTHERS STARTED RENTING A KITCHEN ON 16TH STREET AND SOUTH MONDALE.

16 YEARS LATER THEY CAN OFFICIALLY CALL THIS KITCHEN THEIR OWN.

[SPEAKING IN SPANISH] >> Reporter: HE'S ONE OF MANY MEMBERS OF THE STREET VENDORS ASSOCIATION WHO HAVE BRANCHED OUT AND TO BRING THE COOPERATIVE WORKERS SHARED KITCHEN TO LIFE.

[SPEAKING IN SPANISH] >> Reporter: FOR THIS TAMALE VENDOR, THE KITCHEN IS A SIGN OF CHANGE FOR HIS FUTURE.

[SPEAKING IN SPANISH] >> Reporter: THE VISION FOR THEIR SHARED KITCHENS CONTINUE TO GROW.

THEY'RE HOPING TO BUY THIS LOT TO EXPAND THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN AND GET THE COMMUNITY EVEN MORE INVOLVED.

>> WE GOT THE NEIGHBORHOOD OPPORTUNITY FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO FIX AND RENOVATE THE SPACE HERE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO ALSO EXPAND BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER PROGRAMMING WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THE COMMUNITY AND TO INTEGRATE BOTH COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, THE PEOPLE OF NORTH LAWNDALE AS ENTREPRENEURS AND OFFER EDUCATIONAL TRAINING WITH NUTRITION.

>> Reporter: OWNERSHIP OF THE KITCHEN EXPANDS OPPORTUNITIES TO OFFER OTHER VENDORS ASSISTANCE WITH LICENSING, LAW ENFORCEMENT, INVESTMENTS AND RETIREMENT.

[SPEAKING IN SPANISH] >> Reporter: WITH YEARS OF HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE, THEY SAY THE NEW BUSINESS VENTURE WILL OPEN DOORS FOR VENDORS TO CHASE THE AMERICAN DREAM.

[SPEAKING IN SPANISH] >> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> Michael: FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE.

>>> THE FORCES OF GENTRIFICATION MAKE PEOPLE PRICED OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS FEEL POWERLESS.

BUT SOME SAY RESIDENTS HAVE MORE POWER THAN THEY THINK AND IT'S IN THEIR POCKETS.

HERE'S WHAT THEY SAY EVERYONE CAN DO TO INVEST IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> TOGETHER WE'RE LOLITA PRODUCTIONS.

WE ARE THE CO-CREATORS OF LOLITA'S BODEGA IN HUMBOLDT PARK.

WE'RE NEIGHBORS, BEST FRIENDS, SISTERS PRETTY MUCH.

AND THIS IS A LATINX POP-UP PARK IN AND WE ARE POURING BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'RE PROUDLY PUERTO RICAN AND HUMBOLDT PARK IS ONE OF THE LAST MAINSTAYS FOR OUR CULTURE AND IT'S SLOWLY BEING GENTRIFIED OUT.

>> YOU SEE FAMILIES AND OLDER PEOPLE PLAYING DOMINOES, PEOPLE JUST HANGING OUT.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> I BELIEVE THE STATISTIC IS 60% OF ALL DOLLARS IN SMALL BUSINESSES GO RIGHT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY THEY'RE IN.

IF YOU'RE SPENDING MONEY MINDFULLY IN YOUR COMMUNITY, IT ALLOWS YOU TO STAVE OFF THAT SMALL BUSINESS FROM HAVING TO LEAVE.

>> AT THE BODEGA, YOU'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO FIND THE VENDORS REFLECT THE COMMUNITY.

CLOTHING TO ART, CREATIVE WARES LIKE CANDLES, INCENSE.

JEWELRY.

LIKE MY RING IS ACTUALLY FROM ONE.

>> MY EARRINGS ARE FROM A LOCAL ARTISAN.

OUR T-SHIRTS.

THIS IS FROM SOMEBODY WHO LIVES ON DIVISION STREET.

>> SOME OF THEM, UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING HAVE HAD TO LEAVE, WHETHER IT BE THEIR GENERATION OR THE PREVIOUS GENERATION AND SO WE JUST BECAME MORE CONSCIOUS OF WHERE WE'RE PUTTING OUR MONEY INTO.

WE CAN DEFINITELY CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO THRIVE IS IF WE INVEST IN EACH OTHER.

>> BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND PUT IN SOME WORK AND HELP OUT THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE STRUGGLING AND WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IS RECEIVING THE RESOURCES THAT IT NEEDS.

>> IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, IT'S GOING TO BE DONE TO US.

I WOULD RATHER GO OUT WITH A FIGHT THAN SIT HERE AND ALLOW SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO ME.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF MAGIC HAPPENING IN OUR SPACES.

LOOK FOR THOSE PLACES THAT HAVE MAGIC.

YOU CAN BUY SOMETHING THAT WILL BE WORTH SOMETHING, A LOT MORE LATER ON.

RIGHT FROM OUR OWN COMMUNITY.

>> Michael: IT'S BACK IN ACTION IN HUMBOLDT PARK TOMORROW.

YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THAT AND WATCH MORE IN OUR SERIES ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE.

WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES.

HE'LL TALK WITH LOCAL LEADERS ABOUT BUILDING EQUITY IN THE LOCAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY AND HOW A CHICAGO CALLIGRAPHYIST IS SHARING HER PASSION.

AND YOU CAN CATCH MY REPORT.

NEXT WEEK, PHIL PONCE WILL BE HERE IN THE HOST CHAIR.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY, STAY SAFE, AND GOODNIGHT.