[♪♪♪] >> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" I'M MARISSA PARRA REPORTER WITH CBS2 CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW, RESOURCES FOR HEALING IN HIGHLAND PARK FOLLOWING THAT DEADLY FOURTH OF JULY MASS SHOOTING.

PLUS, FOOD PRICE INFLATION IS HITTING CHICAGOANS HARD WE TALK WITH LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES HOW THEY ARE WORKING TO HELP FEED FAMILIES.

AND A NEW ORDINANCE SEEKS TO CREATE TRANSIT ACCESSIBLE OPTIONS IN CHICAGO'S NEIGHBORHOODS AND A CAMP TEACHING KIDS THE RICH TRADITIONS OF MEXICAN MUSIC.

>> EVERY SINGLE PERSON THEIR FLAIR, THEIR STYLE MORE THAN EXPERTISE AND THEIR INSTRUMENT MAKES LATE NITE LAUNDRY WHAT IT IS.

>> AND PSYCHEDELIC SOUL BAND LATE NITE LAUNDRY SERVES UP SONIC ENERGY.

>> FIRST TONIGHT, THE TRAGEDY IN HIGHLAND PARK.

THE FOURTH OF JULY SHOOTING SHOOK THE NORTH SHORE AND BEYOND, INCLUDING THE AREA SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY.

TWO OF THE SEVEN VICTIMS WHO DIED WERE LATINOS.

NEIGHBORING HIGHWOOD HAS A LARGE LATINO POPULATION AND HELD A CONVINCING TOIL REMEMBER THOSE LOST AND THOSE WHO BEGIN THE HEALING PROCESS.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" JOANNA HERNANDEZ WAS AT THAT VIGIL AND SPOKE WITH CARMEN OF THE HIGHWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY.

>> IT'S BEEN REALLY SURREAL.

HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN TO OUR COMMUNITY?

OUR COMMUNITY WHEN WE SAY HIGHLAND PARK IT'S SYNONYMOUS WITH HIGHWOOD ONE STREET SEPARATES US.

SO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS ME PERSONALLY A GREAT DEAL OF MY STAFF WERE AT THE EVENT AND ARE DEALING WITH EXTREME TRAUMA.

>> AND WE ALSO KNOW TWO OF THE VICTIMS WHO PASSED AWAY ARE LATINO AND WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT THE POPULATION HERE IN HIGHWOOD IS ABOUT 50% LATINOS.

>> YES.

>> AND YOU SAID YOU KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THE HOSPITAL WHO ARE LATINO AS WELL.

CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT?

>> WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INJURED FOR SURE HAVE BEEN WERE LATINO FAMILIES.

WE DON'T KNOW THEIR NAMES BUT THIS IS A TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY THAT AROUND US ARE ALL THE FAMILIES THAT KNOW THESE INDIVIDUALS.

ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT OUR SUPPORT GROUP LAST NIGHT SAID WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT IS THAT WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER.

IS THAT THE COMMUNITY WHEN YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, YOU SEE FAMILIAR FACES.

WHEN YOU GO TO YOUR LIBRARY YOU SEE FAMILIAR FACES.

AS THEY WERE RUNNING AWAY FROM THE BULLETS, THEY WERE SEEING FAMILIAR FACES AND THE FEAR WAS ARE THEY GOING TO BE ALIVE TOMORROW?

THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS COMMUNITY DIFFERENT IS THAT WE ARE SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.

OUR LIBRARY WE GET TO KNOW ALL OF OUR FAMILIES AND BECAUSE WE KNOW THE NEED THAT EXISTS IN THE COMMUNITY WE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIVE AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING BY PROVIDING THE TRAUMA INFORMED SERVICES.

>> AND TO THE LATINO POPULATION A LOT OF PEOPLE THE FIRST LANGUAGE IS SPANISH.

>> ALL OF OUR SERVICES WE'RE OFFERING ARE BILINGUAL AND BI CULTURAL.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THERAPISTS UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE AND ARE ABLE TO BE RESPONSIVE AND COMPASSIONATE.

>> YOU CAN FIND MUCH MORE ON THE HIGHLAND PARK STORY AND 0 OUR WEBSITE.

>> UP NEXT, FIGHTING FOOD INSECURITY ASFLATION TAKES A TOLL.

AS INFLATION TAKES A TOLL.

>> AS ANYONE WHO HAS GONE GROCERY SHOPPING KNOWS FOOD PRICES ARE ON THE RISE.

THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS SHOWS THE COST OF THE MEAT, POULTRY, FISH AND EGGS HAS RISEN MORE THAN 14% IN THE LAST YEAR.

COUPLED WITH INFLATION ELSEWHERE THE HIGHER FOOD BILLS ARE PUTTING PEOPLE IN A TOUGH FINANCIAL SPOT N CHICAGO 28% OF LATINO FAMILIES WITH KIDS ARE FACING FOOD INSECURITY ACCORDING TO A STUDY DONE IN 2020.

AND FAMILIES THAT RELY ON SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE MEALS FOR THEIR CHILDREN ARE FEELING AN EXTRA PINCH WITH KIDS AT HOME DURING THE SUMMER BREAK.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE FOOD PANTRIES ARE HELPING, WE HAVE MICHELLE RAMIREZ COORDINATOR AT CASA CATALINA IN THE BACK OF THE YARDS.

AND DIANA FRANCO FRESH MARKET, A FREE FOOD STORE OPERATED BY NEW LIFE CENTERS AND OPENED IN LITTLE VILLAGE LAST MONTH.

AND Dr. EVELYN FIGUEROA, DIRECTOR OF THE PILSEN FOOD PANTRY.

Dr. FIGUEROA TO YOU FIRST, HAS THE PILSEN FOOD PANTRY SEEN AN INCREASE IN NEED IN RECENT WEEKS IN TERMS OF INFLATION ARE YOU SEEING THAT ON YOUR END?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE OPERATE CONSTANTLY AT CAPACITY.

AND HAVE HAD TO REALLY JUGGLE TO GET MORE FOOD AND RESPOND TO INCREASED NEEDS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

>> AND CAN YOU GIVE US ANY IDEA OF STATISTICS, HOW MUCH YOU'RE SEEING, WHETHER IT IS ANUMBER OR IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF FOOD THAT YOU ARE GIVING OUT THAT MAYBE YOU WEREN'T BEFORE?

>> IN JANUARY, SIX MF MONTH SNAPSHOT IS MOST PERTINENT WE WERE OPERATING AT 300 CLIENTS PER WEEK AND IT STARTED BUMPING IN FEBRUARY AND HAS BEEN SUSTAINED SINCE APRIL WE DISTRIBUTE TO FOOD TO 15 HUNDRED FAMILIES PER MONTH WHICH IS 350 FAMILIES PER MONTH.

>> THANK YOU.

MICHELLE RAMIREZ, HAS KIDS BEING OUT OF SCHOOL INCREASED NEED IN THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'VE SEEN JUST FROM MAY TO JUNE, WE INCREASED 200 CLIENTS JUST IN JUNE, 200 CLIENTS MORE THAN IN MAY.

AND SO WE ATTRIBUTE THAT TO KIDS BEING AT HOME NOW.

AND FAMILIES REALLY HAVING TO STRETCH THEIR GROCERIES, THEIR MONEY.

[INAUDIBLE] WE ANTICIPATE THE NUMBER WILL GO UP AGAIN IN JULY AND AUGUST.

THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING MEALS AT SCHOOL AND FAMILIES NEED TO PROVIDE FOR THEM.

>> DIANA FRANCO TO YOU NOW, THE MARKET OPENED IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU'RE SETUP TO OPERATE AND WHY YOU CHOSE THAT WAY?

>> SO INITIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC WE WERE GETTING PREPACKED FOOD BOXES WHICH FORT D THEY WOULD GET THEY NEEDED TO TAKE DUE TO THE FACT WE HAD COVID GOING ON AND WE DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY GETTING SICK.

DUE TO IF SOMEONE PICKS SO GOING INTO OUR FRESH FOOD MARKET THEY ARE ABLE TO CHOOSE NOW.

THEY CAN CHOOSE WHATEVER THEY WANT.

EGGS, NO EGGS.

WHETHER THEY WANT MEAT OR NO MEAT.

THEY CAN CHOOSE THE QUANTITY.

WE DO HAVE A LIMIT WHAT THEY CAN TAKE BUT THEY CAN CHOOSE IT THEY CAN TAKE FIVE ONIONS.

WE WERE AIMING THAT WE WOULD SPECIFICALLY TO TOUCH WITH FOOD TOUCH PEOPLE LIKE HEY, DO YOU NEED THE RESOURCES NOT ONLY ARE WE A FOOD PANTRY BUT WE ABLE TO HELP OUT FAMILIES, KIDS, TEENS, WITH PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE DURING THE WINTER, FALL AND SUMMER.

WE WERE AIMING TO HELP MORE PEOPLE OUT WITH FOOD AND OTHER RESOURCES.

AND TO GET TO KNOW OUR NEIGHBOR THAT IS NEXT DOOR.

OTHER NEIGHBORS THAT JUST WANT TO COME OUT AND TALK AND HAVE SOMEONE TO TALK TO BY GIVING THEM JUST A WATERMELON OR SEVERAL WATERMELONS.

>> I'M SURE PEOPLE ARE GRATEFUL WHEN THEY COME.

Dr. FIGUEROA WITH THE FOOD PRICES RISING ACROSS THE BOARD ARE YOU SEEING A RISE IN OPERATION COSTS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ALREADY HAVE TO PURCHASE SOME OF THE PRODUCE FOR OUR FOOD PANTRY.

EVEN THOUGH 40% OF FOOD THAT WE PRODUCE LOCALLY IS THROWN AWAY WE HAVE A TERRIBLE RECOVERY PROBLEM.

IN SPITE OF ABUNDANT FOOD RECOVERY WE DO 40 TRIPS TO PICK UP FOOD FROM GROCERY STORES WE BUY 650 DOLLARS OF PRODUCE EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

AND BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED PRICES, YOU MENTIONED 14% BUT IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE 14%.

IT FEELS LIKE 20%.

ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES WE GET LUCKY AND GET OLDER PRICES THAT FEEL BETTER.

THE STUFF ESPECIALLY THE STAPLES THAT PEOPLE EXPECT TO GET THE POTATOES, ONIONS, CARROTS, LETTUCE, TOMATOES, APPLES AND ORANGES, THINGS THAT ARE PALATABLE THAT EVERYONE WILL ACCEPT THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN HARDER FOR US TO AFFORD.

AND WE WANT OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SAME THINGS ARE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME OPTIONS.

AND IT'S BEEN HARDER AND HARDER.

WE HAVE BEEN HITTING UP OUR DONORS TO HELP US MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE.

>> AND DONORS ARE SO, SO IMPORTANT IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS.

I DON'T THINK EVERYONE REALIZES WHEN THERE IS INFLATION THAT IMPACTS THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT TRY TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE AND OUR CITIES FED.

MICHELLE RAMIREZ TO YOU NOW, YOUR PANTRY DOES SPECIAL DISTRIBUTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES AND SENIORS.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ON FRIDAYS WE PROVIDE THROUGH IT'S CALLED THE RYAN'S JOY IS A DONOR WHO PROVIDES DONATIONS FOR FRESH FOOD FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

WE CATER THAT PROGRAM FOR DIABETICS A LOT OF NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND WE TAILOR THAT PROGRAM TO THEM.

THEY ARE ABLE TO COME EVERY OTHER FRIDAY TO -- IN ADDITION TO THE FOOD PANTRY THEY GET HERE -- THEY ARE ABLE TO GET A BAG OF FRESH PRODUCE, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND THAT IS ONE OF OUR VERY GOOD PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT JUST GETTING NONPERISHABLE ITEMS BUT THEY ARE GETTING NUTRITION THAT COMES THROUGH THE FRESH FOODS AND VEGETABLES.

THAT IS ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS.

OUR OTHER PROGRAM IS OUR SENIOR COMMODITY BOX TO WHERE ONCE A MONTH SENIORS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE ABLE TO COME IN AND RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL COMMODITY BOX JUST FOR THEM AS WELL.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS WE HAVE ON TOP OF OUR REGULAR FOOD PANTRY PROGRAM.

>> THAT IS AMAZING.

DIANA FRANCO, WE'RE CALLED LATINO VOICES WE CATER TO A LOT OF SPANISH SPEAKING PEOPLE IN CHICAGO HOW IMPORTANT IS SPEAKING THE SAME LANGUAGE AS THE COMMUNITY YOU SERVE SO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS?

>> IT IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, WE REGISTER THEM.

SO SOMETIMES WHEN WE DO THE REGISTERING THEM REGISTER WHY DO YOU NEED MY INFORMATION?

IS IT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE?

AM I GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE?

HEY, HI, HOW ARE YOU.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE.

EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE FINE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT ANYTHING GOVERNMENT WISE BECAUSE THEY ARE LIKE WILL I GET THIS?

>> NO, EVERYTHING WILL BE OK. AND WHEN WE START SPEAKING THEIR LANGUAGE AND THEY GET MORE COMFORTABLE AND THEY DO GIVE US INFORMATION AND THAT IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN.

WE'VE HEARD FROM OTHER FOOD PANTRIES HOW DO WE DO THIS?

THE WAY YOU COMMUNICATE TO THEM WHICH IS FIRST IS SPEAKING THEIR LANGUAGE.

>> I KNOW YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SPONSORS AND DONORS TO THOSE OF YOU AT HOME HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE TO FIND OUT DETAILS HOW TO DO THAT.

THANKS TO MICHELLE RAMIREZ, DIANA FRANCO AND Dr. EVELYN FIGUEROA.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, MAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION MORE ACCESSIBLE BY EXPANDING HOUSING OPTIONS.

WE'LL EXPLAIN RIGHT AFTER THIS.

HERE IN CHICAGO MANY OF THE AREAS WITH THE MOST PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS ARE ALSO THE MOST EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN.

ACCORDING TO THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING COUNCIL, 90% OF TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT BUILT BETWEEN 2009-WITH 2020 HAS BEEN CONCENTRATED IN WEALTHIER COMMUNITYINGS ON THE NORTH SIDE.

THE PROPOSED CONNECTED COMMUNITIES ORDINANCE AIMS TO MAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT OPTIONS MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

IT PROPOSES REDUCING BARRIERS TO MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS NEAR BUS LINES AND TRAIN STATIONS.

JOINING US WITH MORE WE HAVE LESLE HONORE, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY COMMUNICATIONS AT THE CENTER FOR NEIGHBORHOOD TECHNOLOGY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US ON THIS NIGHT.

HOW DID THIS ORDINANCE COME ABOUT?

AND TELL ME ABOUT ITS GOALS?

>> THE ORDINANCE CAME ABOUT THROUGH ELEVATED CHICAGO WHICH I AM A PROUD CO-CHAIR OF.

ELEVATED CHICAGO IS A COMMUNITY-BASED COALITION OF INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHERE WE REALLY FOCUS ON ADDRESSING RACIAL INEQUITIES THROUGH EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

WE STARTED OUR WORK IN 2017.

CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY STATIONS LOCATED IN MAJORITY BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

AS YOUR NUMBERS AT THE LEAD SAID 90% OF TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT HAS HAPPENED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CHICAGO AND COMPLETELY BYPASSED COMMUNITIES THAT ARE LATINX AND BLACK.

WHICH MEANS WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME LURK YOURRY OF THAT 20 MINUTE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE YOU CAN WALK TO A GROCERY STORE OR GET ON A TRAIN OR A BUS TO GO TO SCHOOL.

TO HAVE RETAIL THERAPY TO GO TO WORK.

AND IT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO DISPLACEMENT AND DEPOPULATION IN OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

SO ELEVATED HAS BEEN WORKING HARD FIRST ON POLICY THAT THE CITY ADOPTED.

WE WORKED FOR THREE YEARS ON THAT AND 80 PARTNERS LOOKING HOW WE LOOK AT COMMUNITIES HOW THEY ARE CREATED HOW THEY ARE PLANNED.

WHO GETS TO BE A PART OF IT.

AND MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS VOICES UP FRONT AND NOT BROUGHT A PLAN AFTER IT'S DONE BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE SEATS AT THE TABLE FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SO THAT IS WHERE IT STARTED.

AND NOW WHEN WE GET TO TALKING ABOUT ZONING ORDINANCES, GROWING UP I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A ZONING ORDINANCE WAS.

I HAD NO IDEA THERE WERE LAWS THIS SAYS HOW YOU CAN BUILD IN A COMMUNITY AND THE CITY AND THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN BUILD.

AND WE ALL KNOW CHICAGO'S LEGACY OF SEGREGATION IS DEEP AND LONG AND INTENTIONAL.

WE HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL HOW WE UNDO THAT LEGACY.

>> THAT IS AN INTERESTING SEGWAY INTO MY NEXT QUESTION.

WHAT BARRIERS DOES THE ORDINANCE REMOVE FOR DEVELOPERS?

WHAT INCENTIVES DOES IT OFFER?

>> WE HAVE THREE GOALS WITH THE ORDINANCE.

ONE IS MORE EQUITY.

ONE IS MORE TRANSIT ORIENTATION AND THE OTHER IS MORE DEVELOPMENT.

FIRST EXPANDING WHAT WE CONSIDER A TLD ZONE IS MOVE TO GO FROM A FOURTH OF A MILE TO HALF OF A MAIL RADIUS AROUND TRAIN STATIONS AND INCLUDING HIGH FREQUENCY BUS CORRIDORS.

WANT TO INVITE DEVELOPERS TO DEVELOP WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF DEVELOPMENT AROUND THOSE TRANSIT HUBS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WHETHER IT BE HOMES OR RETAIL, GROCERY STORES INCENTIVIZING THEM TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND BUILD THERE.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

THE CTA IS STRUGGLING TO SERVE RIDERS.

IS IT IN A POSITION TO INCREASE SERVICE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS IN YOUR OPINION?

>> THAT IS THE LOVELY CHICKEN BEFORE THE EGG CONVERSATION.

AND IF WE COULD HAVE MORE DENSE COMMUNITIES WHERE MORE PEOPLE ARE USING TRANSIT THAT THEY ARE BEING LESS CAREY LIE ANT THAT INCREASES VOLUME FOR CTA AND REVENUE AND WE CAN HAVE OTHER CONVERSATIONS HOW THEY CAN CONTINUE TO BEST SERVE CHICAGOANS.

THIS ORDINANCE ALSO AIMS TO MAKE IT SAFER FOR CHICAGOANS TO WALK, TO ROLL, TO RIDE, TO MAKE THE SURROUNDING AREA AROUND TRANSIT SAFER TO GET TO.

THERE ARE TONS OF SAD STATISTICS.

IN 202183 PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY CAR CRASHES WITHIN A HALF-MILE RADIUS AROUND RAIL STATIONS.

WE HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT ZONING THAT HELPS THAT IS ONE WAY THAT WE CAN REALLY PROTECT CHICAGOANS.

>> WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE.

I'M CURIOUS HAVE THERE BEEN OBJECTIONS FROM RESIDENTS?

AND HOW HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING TO OVERCOME THAT?

>> THERE HAVE NOT BEEN SPECIFIC REJECTIONS FROM RESIDENTS.

THIS WILL BENEFIT ALL CHICAGOANS.

IT IS NOT A HUGE ASK.

IT IS A SMALL ONE THAT WILL BE HUGELY IMPACTFUL ESPECIALLY TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES THAT OTHERS IN CHICAGO HAVE HAD.

>> WANT TO GET THIS IN.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE ORDINANCE?

>> WHAT IS NEXT IS IT GOES TO CITY HALL.

CALL YOUR ALDERMAN IF YOU WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPENING IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOU SHOULD FOR YOUR CLIMATE FOR YOURSELF, FOR YOUR SAFETY AND NEIGHBORS AND LEGACY, CALL YOUR ALDERMAN, CALL ARE YOUR ALDERWOMAN LET THEM KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO VOTE FOR.

MAKE THE CALLS BEFORE JULY 19TH AND IF YOU WANT INFORMATION GET ON-LINE AND FOLLOW ELEVATED CHICAGO ON ALL PLATFORMS.

AND WE GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE ORDINANCE AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> OUR THANKS TO LESLE HONORE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THE SONES DE MEXICO WANTS YOUR CHILDREN TO LEARN ALL ABOUT THE RICHES OF MEXICO'S MUSICAL TRADITIONS.

THE GRAMMY NOMINATED MUSICIANS ARE OFFERING MUSIC AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN IN THEIR WEEK LONG CAMP NEXT MONTH.

THE SONES DE MEXICO JUAN DIES AND METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES RIC ESTRADA SAYS THEY HOPE THE CAMP WILL NOT ONLY CONNECT KIDS WITH BEAUTIFUL SOUNDS OF MEXICO BUT CONNECT THEIR FAMILIES TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES.

>> SONES DE MEXICO WAS FOUNDED IN 1994 AS A GROUP THAT SPECIALIZES IN MUSIC TRADITIONS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF MEXICO.

AND THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES AND THE FOUNDATION THIS SUMMER, WE'RE LAUNCHING A PILOT PROGRAM AND I WANT TO INVITE KIDS AND FAMILIES TO REGISTER AND HELP US LAUNCH THIS INCREDIBLE PROGRAM.

IT'S SO UNIQUE IN SO MANY WAYS.

BECAUSE THIS IS NOT YOUR MARCH MARA CHICAGO PROGRAM.

THE IDEA IS MUSIC AND THE ARTS IS GREAT.

BUT PAIRING THEM WITH A COMMUNITY PARTNER THAT CAN PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES TO THE FAMILIES.

WHEN THEY COME IN AND LET'S SAY WE FIND OUT THAT A FAMILY NEEDS A FULL SCHOLARSHIP AND WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE IT.

THERE COULD BE OTHER NEEDS WE DISCOVER LIKE AFTER SCHOOL CARE, LEGAL AID, WE CAN PROVIDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING.

THIS BECOMES A FULL COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE IN ADDITION TO THE WONDERFUL CULTURE BUILDING ACTIVITIES THAT SONES DE MEXICO WILL PROVIDE.

IT WILL BE 30 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION DURING THE WEEK.

YOU DROP YOUR KIDS OFF IN THE MORNING AND PICK THEM UP AFTER WORK AND THEY WILL BE FULLY IMMERSED IN MEXICAN CULTURES.

THE KIDS WILL BE MAKING PAPER MASKS DURING THE WEEK AND ON FRIDAY, WE'LL HAVE A CULMINATING EVENT WHERE THE KIDS WILL PLAY ALONGSIDE SONES DE MEXICO ENSEMBLE FOR THE FAMILIES.

WE CONSIDER OURSELVES STUDENTS OF MEXICAN FOLK MUSIC OURSELVES.

SO WE ARE PASSING ON THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE'VE BEEN ACCUMULATING OVER MANY YEARS.

AND WE FEEL THAT TO INCREASE PEOPLE'S IDENTITY WITH THEIR CULTURE AND THEY NEED TO DEVELOP AN APPRECIATION OF THE RICHNESS THAT IS THERE.

>> FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE CAMP IS AVAILABLE.

FIND MORE ON THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND A LOCAL BAND LATE NITE LAUNDRY UNIQUELY INTIMATE SOUND COMBINES DREAMY VOCALS AT A RECORDING STUDIO THEY EXPLAINED HOW DELIVERING THAT FEELING STARTS WITH TAKING ONE DEEP BREATH.

>> WHEN YOU GET ON STAGE NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOU ARE, THERE IS LIKE JITTERY THING.

SO WE'VE STARTED THIS THING WE DO WHERE WE SIT NO MATTER WHO WE ARE IN FRONT OF AND YOU WE BREATHE IN AND BREATHE OUT.

>> WE JUST WANT TO CLOSE EVERYTHING OFF.

LOOK AT EACH OTHER.

KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT AND THEN WE CAN BRING EVERYONE ELSE IN.

[♪♪♪] >> WE'VE BEEN DESCRIBED AS PSYCHEDELIC SOUL.

WHICH IS COOL.

WE DEFINITELY HAVE A LOT OF [INAUDIBLE] A LOT OF US DO HAVE A BACKGROUND IN JAZZ, NEOSOUL, FUSION.

[♪♪♪] >> THIS WHIRLWIND OF JAZZ AND BRAZILLIAN INFLUENCE AND JAZZ'S BROTHERS AND COUSINS WRAPPED IN THE INDY BEDROOM POP SOUND.

[♪♪♪] >> REALLY IF WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME ROOM AND IF THERE IS A MEDIUM IN FRONT OF US WHETHER IT IS AN INSTRUMENT OR A COMPUTER, EVEN, WE TEND TO WRITE A LOT, CREATE A LOT.

[♪♪♪] >> WE HAVE ALL PLAYED A PART IN SONG WRITING WHETHER IF WE'RE WRITING TOGETHER OR EMILY AND ALEX LAYING DOWN A GROOVE.

>> I WILL BE JUST CHUNKING WITH ALEX THROUGH A SONG AND THAT'S THE GROOVE I LIKE TO HIT IT FEELS REALLY GOOD.

WHEN THAT HITS DRUM AND BASS ARE ONE.

[♪♪♪] >> ONE OF THE RAREST THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN IN THE MUSIC SCENE IS TO FIND A UNIT THAT IS A UNIT.

[♪♪♪] MUSIC IS ANY OTHER ART WHEN IT'S COLLABORATIVE YOU REACH HIGHER LEVELS THAN YOU COULD AS ANY GIVEN INDIVIDUAL COULD.

AND I THINK WE ALL BELIEVE THAT.

[♪♪♪] >> EVERY SINGLE PERSON THEIR FLAIR, THEIR STYLE MORE THAN JUST THEIR EXPERTISE AND INSTRUMENT, MAKES LATE NITE LAUNDRY WHAT IT IS.

[♪♪♪] >> THERE'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WITH SPIRITUAL THAT CANNOT BE INTELLECT YOU'LLIZED THAT HAPPENS WITH A FAMILY AND WHEN PEOPLE SEE THAT LIVE THEY ARE JUST LIKE WOW.

[♪♪♪] >> WE WANT TO GET THAT EMOTIONAL CONNECTION AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO WANT MORE AND TO FEEL SOMETHING FROM WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING.

[♪♪♪] >> FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO FEEL THE SENSE OF FAMILY WITHIN THE BAND FEELING THE SHOW AND THAT IS [INAUDIBLE] [♪♪♪] >> I LOVE THE FACE AS HE IS DRUMMING.

LATE NITE LAUNDRY WILL BE PERFORMING AT THE CHOP SHOP AND JULY 29.

YOU CAN FIND INFO ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US SATURDAY NIGHT YOU CAN CATCH LATANYA MCDADE VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SUNDAYS AT 10:00 P.M. AND CATCH MY REPORTING ON CBS2 CHICAGO.

WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH A PREVIEW OF NEW JOFFREY BALLET PRODUCTION THAT DEBUTS THIS WEEKEND AT NAVY PIER AND HEADS OUT TO STAGES.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO FIND INFORMATION WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE SHOW FOR FREE.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES", I'M MARISSA PARRA.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY.

STAY SAFE.