>> GOOD EVENING.

CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

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

>>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, WORLD REFUGEE DATE IS JUNE 20th.

WE TAKE THE FORCE OF THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO.

KIDS FIVE AND UNDER IN ILLINOIS CAN RECEIVE NEW BOOKS THANKS TO MUSIC ICON DOLLY PARTON AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.

>>> HOW A SMALL BUSINESS IN HUMBOLDT PARK DUG UP OUTSIDE FUNDING TO GET THROUGH ROUGH TIMES.

>>> THE CITY'S BIGGEST RESTAURANT OFFERS A DELICIOUS REASON TO VISIT THE ALBANY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD NEXT WEEK.

>>> MEANWHILE, A BELOVED FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS TO THE BACK OF THE YARD THIS WEEK.

>> BACK IN THE DAY, LIKE, OH, MAYBE WE'LL MAKE IT BIG.

>> IT'S NOT EVEN, LIKE, IMPORTANT.

>>> AND WE TELL YOU ABOUT A RECORD LABEL OFFERING GUIDANCE TO LOCAL ARTISTS.

>>> ALL THAT COMING UP, BUT OUR FIRST THREE TONIGHT, CATCHING UP WITH LOCAL LEVERAGE TO HELP REFUGEES IN CHICAGO.

THAT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> FOR REFUGEES, THE ROAD TO RESETTLEMENT IS OFTEN FAR FROM SMOOTH.

NOT ONLY IS A JOURNEY TO THE U.S. OFTEN DANGEROUS, BUT ONCE THEY ARRIVE, THEY CAN FACE LANGUAGE BARRIERS, LEGAL CHALLENGES, AND FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

TUESDAY, JUNE 20th IS WORLD REFUGEE DAY.

IT'S A DAY RECOGNIZING PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOME COUNTRIES.

CHICAGO, A NUMBER OF EVENTS ARE TAKING PLACE TO HONOR THE EXPERIENCES OF REFUGEES AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR NEW HOME.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE STACY FUNES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR , LOU SAID KROLL, WHO RUNS A FREE STORE TO ASSIST REFUGEES, AND ALISA BUT TRUE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHICAGO REFUGEE COALITION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING TOPIC.

STACY, I WANT TO START WITH YOU TODAY.

YOU YOUR ORGANIZATION WORKS DIRECTLY AND PRIMARILY WITH LATINOS.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO THEY ENCOUNTER WHEN THEY ARRIVE?

>> ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, I WOULD SAY, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE NO ECONOMICAL HELP, ONE.

SECONDLY, THEY DO HAVE A GUIDE, WELL-QUALIFIED HERE.

HOW TO QUALIFY.

PEOPLE WITHOUT A PERMIT TO WORK WAS THINKING OF LEGALLY IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO RUN A JOB.

NOBODY WILL GIVE YOU A JOB WITHOUT SOCIAL SECURITY FOR YOU TO WORK.

SO THOSE ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW AND HEALTHY.

SO WE WANT TO DO THE MOST WRAPAROUND SERVICES CREATING ARRIVALS.

>> ALISA, WHAT'S THE LEGAL DEFINITION, BECAUSE MAYBE SOME PEOPLE, WE MIGHT HAVE IT CONFUSED, BETWEEN AN ASYLUM SEEKER AND A REFUGEE?

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES, ACTUALLY, IN THAT TITLE?

FOR EXAMPLE, REFUGEE, THAT OTHERS CATEGORY?

>> YES, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

SO THE DEFINITION OF A REFUGEE IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BEEN FORCED TO FLEE THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN BASED ON PERSECUTION, ASSOCIATION WITH A POLITICAL GROUP, A SOCIAL GROUP.

AND REFUGEES ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GIVEN REFUGEE STATUS.

HAVE TO GO THROUGH EXTENSIVE SECURITY AND ALL KINDS OF BACKGROUND CHECKS IN ORDER TO BE GRANTED THE REFUGEE STATUS THAT IS GIVEN TO THEM AS A HUMANITARIAN PROTECTION BY NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS AND STATES AND SO FORTH.

>> OKAY.

SO IT'S, IT'S A DIFFERENT PROCESS.

>> YES.

IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFERENT PROCESS IN TERMS OF THE, THE STEPS THAT AN ASYLUM SEEKER NEEDS TO, TO DO.

SO YOU HAVE TO AVAIL THEMSELVES TO UNHCR, AND A SECOND COUNTRY OF REFUGE.

THEN THEY HAD TO, TYPICALLY, THE AVERAGES SIX YEARS THAT A REFUGEE GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS BEFORE THEY'RE CLAIM IS EVEN, COMES UP TO BID.

AND VERY FEW INDIVIDUALS ACTUALLY GARNER A REFUGEE STATUS.

LESS THAN 1% OF THE WORLD POPULATION BECOME REFUGEES.

SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE, HAVE A UNIQUE SORT OF STATUS COMPARED TO SILENT SPEAKERS.

>> LET'S SPEAK PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS WHO HAVE ARRIVED IN CHICAGO IN THE LATEST MONTHS.

WHERE DO THEY FALL?

>> THEY FALL WITH ALL OF THE HUMANITARIAN RIGHTS TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO APPLY FOR ASYLUM IN A COUNTRY OF SAFETY AND SECURITY.

SO THEY, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO AVAIL THEMSELVES.

THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HERE AND A RIGHT TO SEEK PROTECTION BASED ON THEIR UNIQUE CLAIMS.

AND ALL, ALL OF, YOU KNOW, EVERY INDIVIDUAL, ASYLUM SEEKER, REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS STORY IS DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT BACKGROUND IN STORY AND CLAIMS ARE.

>> LUISA, YOU ALSO HELP VENEZUELAN FAMILIES WHO HAVE ARRIVED HERE IN CHICAGO.

WHAT ARE THEIR NECESSITIES?

WHAT ARE THE NECESSITIES YOU'VE SEEN THAT THEY'VE, THEY'VE NEEDED?

WHAT WERE THEY EXPECTING WHEN THEY'VE ARRIVED IN CHICAGO?

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST EXPECTATION WOULD BE THAT THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD WORK RIGHT AWAY AND PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY HERE AND BACK HOME.

AND ONCE THAT IS CLEAR THAT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING, THEY SHOULD ACTUALLY BE, LIKE, REDIRECTED TO FINDING THEIR ASYLUM CLAIM.

AND FINDING THEIR, THE PROOFS THAT THEY HAVE FOR THAT ASYLUM.

SO THAT'S A PROCEDURE.

IT TAKES TIME, AND WE SEE THAT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

SO THE DESPERATION, AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS -- >> THEY DEFINITELY NEED HELP.

I MEAN, THEY ARE COMING TO A NEW COUNTRY, NEW CITY, NEW LANGUAGE, NEW CULTURE.

SO THE ADAPTATION FOR THEM HAS TO BE -- SO THEY DEFINITELY NEED THE HELP.

HAS THE CITY DONE ENOUGH TO HELP THEM?

>> IN TERMS OF THE FIRST NECESSITIES, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH HELP.

PEOPLE ARE BEING, COME TO CHICAGO WITH THE SAME CLOTHES THEY LEAVE THE, THE PLACES IN TEXAS, THE HOLDING CELLS, AND THEY HAVEN'T CHANGED CLOTHES IN DAYS, WEEKS, AND THEY DON'T HAVE A CHANGE OF CLOTHES.

SO THAT'S WHY WE STARTED, LIKE, A FIRST HEALTH, LIKE, THE CLOTHING STORE, LIKE, THE FREE STORE.

AND THAT'S JUST, LIKE, COME HERE, GET FOUR, FIVE CHANGES OF CLOTHES, GET A COUPLE OF PAIR OF SHOES SO YOU CAN AT LEAST PRESENT YOURSELF CLEAN AND NICE WHEN YOU GO TO THE JOBS OR TO THE LAWYER OR TO CENTROMERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND THEN SPEAKING OF, ACTUALLY, YOU ARRIVED HERE IN CHICAGO.

YOU WERE A REFUGEE YOURSELF WHEN YOU WERE HERE, WHEN YOU FIRST ARRIVED IN CHICAGO.

CAN YOU TELL US, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE, AND DO YOU THINK THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT?

>> YES, OF COURSE.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED, BECAUSE COMING IS A REFUGEE, YOU COME WITH ALL THE NEEDS INSTEAD OF AN IMMIGRANT, BECAUSE YOU'RE LEAVING.

AND IT IS DEFENDING, OR FLEEING TO PROTECT HER LIFE.

WHEN YOU COME AS AN IMMIGRANT, YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE A REASON.

YOU PUT IN THAT RISK THEIR LIFE IF YOU'RE JUST DEPORTING SOMEONE WITHOUT GOING THROUGH A PROCESS OF IMMIGRATION, WITHOUT BEING THE PROCESS FOR APPLYING FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM.

SO THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS.

AND THINKING ABOUT THE VENEZUELANS, RIGHT, THE JOURNEY THEY HAVE, JUST NOT JOURNEY, IT'S A SURVIVOR.

SO WE CALL THEM HEROES ALREADY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE COME, PREGNANT WOMEN, CHILDREN, THEY COME HERE WITH MALARIA, FIGHT FULL, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT, RIGHT?

SO THEY'RE SLEEPING, RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE SLEEPING IN THE POLICE OFFICERS, IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OUTSIDE, AND IN THE LOBBY.

AND WE HAVE PREGNANT WOMEN SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR.

>> DEFINITELY.

>> SO WHAT DO WE DO, RIGHT?

SO IT'S ABOUT US TO WELCOME THEM AND MAKING SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THE SERVICES NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THEY NOT BECOME HOMELESS.

>> REAL QUICK, SAME QUESTION.

HAS THE CITY DONE ENOUGH?

>> KNOW, HAS NOT BEEN >> OKAY, THANK YOU.

ALISA, HOW IS THE REFUGEES YOU'VE WORKED WITH BEEN ABLE TO REVEAL THEIR LIVES?

ANY SUCCESS STORIES THAT YOU CAN HELP ME?

>> YES.

THERE'S SO MANY SUCCESS STORIES, AND I, I THINK THAT THE KEY TO SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATING IN WHATEVER COMMUNITY REFUGEES FIND THEMSELVES IS ADAPTING CULTURALLY, AND BEING, FEELING AND BEING REALLY WELCOMED BY THE COMMUNITY THAT IS RECEIVING THEM.

AND THAT IS, THAT IS, REQUIRES WRAPAROUND SERVICES FROM ORGANIZATIONS, DIRECT SERVICE, LIKE ALL OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS.

BUT IT, IT ALSO REQUIRES A LONGER-TERM COMMITMENT FROM THE BROADER COMMUNITY TO HELP CONNECT THEM WITH NETWORKS, TO GET GREAT EMPLOYMENT, AND TO GET THEIR KIDS IN THE RIGHT SCHOOL, AND TO UNDERSTAND THE RISKS THAT COME WITH BEING REFUGEES.

THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S A LOT OF VULNERABILITIES THAT, MANY TIMES, ARE PREYED UPON WHEN YOU ARE WORKING WITH REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS, SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, THE COMMITMENT I SEE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO REALLY RISE UP AN ETHICAL AND MORAL CALLED TO WELCOME NEIGHBORS IS, IS A MOMENT THAT WE'RE IN IN OUR OWN CITY IN MULTIPLE WAYS.

>> HOW DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION CELEBRATE REFUGEE DAY NEXT WEEK?

>> SO FOR WORLD REFUGEE DAY, WE'RE HOSTING OUR ANNUAL GALA.

IT'S THE SECOND YEAR WE'RE DOING IT.

AND IT IS JUST A MOMENT TO LEVERAGE, GIVE AN AMPLIFIED VOICE TO THE REFUGEES AND THEIR STORIES AND THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND TO CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEY MAKE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO OUR ECONOMY.

SO WE'RE HOSTING A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS FROM AFGHANISTAN THAT WE SCHEDULE LAST YEAR FROM AFGHANISTAN WHO HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY RESETTLED HERE, PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF OUR EFFORTS, AND IN A NUMBER OF OTHER REFUGEE VOICES.

>> MANY MORE SUCCESSFUL STORIES FROM THE REFUGEES COMING HERE TO CHICAGO.

TAKE YOU SO MUCH TO ALL THREE OF YOU.

YOU'LL ACTUALLY FIND MORE ON WORLD REFUGEE DAY CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS ON OUR WEBSITE.

THANKS TO STACY, LISA, AND ALISA .

>>> IF YOU DON'T ALREADY LOVE MUSIC ICON DOLLY PARTON, THIS NEXT STORY MIGHT GET YOU THERE.

THE STATE IS PARTNERING WITH DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY TO MAIL NEW BOOKS TO ILLINOIS CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

THE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION PAYS FOR THE BOOKS AND STATE AND EDUCATION PARTNERS PROVIDE THE SHIPPING COSTS.

IN CHICAGO, THE OFFICIAL PARTNERS IS A NONPROFIT, OPEN BOOKS.

THE PROGRAM IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF THROWING OUT STATEWIDE, BUT SOME COMMUNITIES ARE ALREADY ELIGIBLE.

>> THE MORE THE KIDS ARE EXPOSED TO BOOKS BY AGE 5, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL, TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, TO COMPLETE COLLEGE.

AND SO THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED AND INSPIRED BY DOLLY FROM HER OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

HER FATHER WAS ILLITERATE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHE NAMED.

AND SHE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY WITH ALL OF THE, THE CAPITAL THAT SHE BRINGS TO SET THIS PROGRAM UP, SO THAT KIDS RECEIVED ONE FREE BOOK, MAILED TO THEIR HOME EVERY MONTH AS EARLY AS ONE- MONTH-OLD UNTIL THEY TURNED FIVE YEARS OLD.

>> I SERVE THE 24th HOUSE DISTRICT, AND THAT'S ENTIRELY WITHIN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, AND IT INCLUDES THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF CHINATOWN, TILSON, BRIDGEPORT, McKINLEY PARK, BRIGHTON PARK, AND BACK OF THE YARD.

SO IT'S, IT'S MAJORITY IMMIGRANT , MAJORITY LATINO, AND ABOUT 25% -- ASIAN IMMIGRANTS AND, AND THEIR FAMILIES.

I REPRESENT LOTS OF FAMILIES THAT ARE ON THE LOWER ENDS OF THE INCOME SCALE, AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE THEM TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE BOOKS FOR THEIR KIDS, AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IMPRINTING ON THEIR HOUSEHOLD BUDGET.

>> THE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION EMPLOYEES VOLUNTEERS.

THERE'S A COMMITTEE OF LIBRARIANS AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS THAT CARRIED THE BOOKS SELECTIONS.

WE'RE RECOGNIZING MORE AND MORE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE DENSE POPULATIONS THAT ARE SPANISH- SPEAKING, AND RESPONDING ACCORDINGLY.

SO VERY, VERY OPEN TO FEEDBACK, AND MORE AND MORE SO, EVEN IN THE FOUR YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IT, THE DIVERSITY OF BOOKS HAS GOTTEN RICHER AND DEEPER.

>> AGAIN, THE PROGRAM IS FOR CHILDREN UP TO FIVE YEARS OLD, AND IS CURRENTLY OPEN TO CERTAIN LOW INCOME, BUT WILL BE ROLLING OUT STATEWIDE VERY SOON.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO FIND OUT ELIGIBILITY DETAILS.

>>> UP NEXT, JOANNA HERNANDEZ AND A NEW RECORD LABEL TO HELP THE MUSICALLY INCLINED BREAK INTO THE INDUSTRY.

>> Reporter: BREAKING INTO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS NOT AN EASY TASK, BUT A LOCAL WORKING-CLASS FAMILY IS WORKING TO HELP GUIDE ARTISTS TO THE INDUSTRY.

WE STOPPED BY THEIR HOME IN BRIGHTON PARK TO LEARN MORE.

>> ♪ >> Reporter: THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF MUSICAL TALENT AT THIS BRIGHTON PARK HOME.

>> ♪ >> Reporter: FROM THE VOCALS TO THE INSTRUMENTALS, EACH ARTIST HAS THEIR NICHE.

THIS COLLABORATION OF ARTISTS IS WORKING WITH THE RECORD LABEL CREATED THE LABEL IN 2021.

NO SE MEANS I DON'T KNOW, AND THAT CAME FROM WORKING RETAIL , WHICH MOST OF US HAVE A BACKGROUND IN RETAIL.

>> Reporter: AFTER WORKING IN RETAIL DURING THE PANDEMIC, THEY WANTED TO DIVE INTO HIS FIRST PASSION.

MUSIC.

>> THE IDEA JUST KIND OF LIVED IN US.

IT'S OKAY TO SAY YOU DON'T KNOW SOMETIMES.

WE CARRIED ON AS A PHILOSOPHY NOW, BECAUSE, WHAT KIND OF MUSIC IS THIS?

WE DON'T KNOW.

WHERE DO WE FIT IN?

WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE.

BUT IT'S A REMINDER.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE LABEL IS RELATIVELY NEW, THEIR BAND HAS BEEN MAKING MUSIC FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.

THEY DESCRIBE THEIR MUSIC AS IT SOUNDS FROM THE WORKING CLASS.

>> I THINK THAT ART IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

THE ART AND THE MUSIC.

AND WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE MONEY ANYMORE.

I CAN THE DAY, LIKE, OH, MAYBE WE'LL MAKE IT BIG.

IT'S NOT EVEN, LIKE, IMPORTANT.

BECAUSE THAT'S JUST IN OUR BLOODLINE.

WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP ON CREATING TO KEEP THE BALANCE OF OUR LIFE, OF OUR STORY.

>> YEAH, AND THAT'S SORT OF WHAT WE WANT TO EMBODY WITH THE ARTISTS WE WORK WITH.

>> Reporter: WITH THEIR SIX- YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, THE FAMILY HAS OPENED THEIR LOT IN BRIGHTON PARK TO ARTISTS LOOKING TO BE HEARD.

>> WHEN WE BOUGHT THIS PLACE AND HAD, HAD PLANS TO CONTINUE MAKING MUSIC, THE WHOLE POINT OF GETTING IT WAS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SPACE TO MAKE IT.

IN CHICAGO, IT'S SO DIFFICULT FOR ARTISTS TO FIND A PLACE.

>> Reporter: EACH PERFORMER BRINGS SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE TABLE.

THERE'S HIP-HOP ARTIST CHEBAKA.

>> MY MUSIC HAS BEEN FOR ME.

EVERYTHING I DO IS ABOUT REPRESENTATION, AND UNAPOLOGETIC SELF-EXPRESSION.

>> Reporter: THEN THERE IS THAT TRIO BRINGING THE POP LATIN FLAIR.

>> A LOT OF WHAT OUR ARTISTS ARE, THEY'RE WORKING TO COMPLETE, YOU KNOW, NOT SHARING THIS STUFF ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

LIKE, HE'S JUST WORKING, GOING HOME.

HE'S GOT A WIFE, THREE KIDS, FROM LITTLE VILLAGE.

>> Reporter: SHE CREATES HER LYRICS INTO A MICRO GENRE, A FUSION OF MINIMALIST TRACKS SHE MAKES ON THE SPOT.

>> IT'S A REALLY EASY WAY TO GET OUR ART OUT THERE, GET AN IDEA OUT THERE WITHOUT HAVING TO GET BOGGED DOWN BY PERFECTIONISM.

>> Reporter: LASTLY, THERE'S SORCERER.

>> ONE THING ABOUT SORCERER IS, HE PRODUCES HIP-HOP IN THE STRAIGHTEST FORM, BUT WHAT MAKES HIS MUSIC DIFFERENT IS THAT HE IS, HE SWITCHES FROM ENGLISH TO SPANISH.

I THINK WE'VE ALREADY PROVIDED SOMETHING FOR THEM, YOU KNOW?

>> YEAH.

>> LIKE, AN UNDERSTANDING.

I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST PART.

THEY KNOW OUR STORY.

WE'RE VERY HANDS-ON.

>> Reporter: CREATING AN OUTLET FOR ARTISTS TO EXPLORE WITHOUT THE PRESSURES OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.

>> THE MUSIC WE MAKE IS A DIRECT REFLECTION OF WHAT, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR, IN OUR CITY, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, IN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> ♪ >> Reporter: IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM THESE ARTISTS, THEY WILL BE PERFORMING AT BAR IN LOGAN SQUARE ON JULY 8th.

YOU CAN ALSO CATCH OTHER ARTISTS AT RITO FEST IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

IN ALEX'S BACK WITH A DELICIOUS STORY, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> ALBANY PARK ON THE CITY'S NORTHWEST SIDE IS ONE OF CHICAGO'S MOST DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT'S ALSO HOME TO AN INCREDIBLY VARIETY OF RESTAURANTS.

ADVENTUROUS PALATE, THEN YOU'LL WANT TO BE ON JUNE 21st FOR THE CITY'S LARGEST RESTAURANT CRAWL EVENT.

FLAVORS OF ALBANY PARK.

>> FLAVORS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT 13, 14 YEARS.

IT'S REBRANDED A LITTLE BIT, AND WE'VE TRIED TO CAPTURE AS MUCH OF THE DIVERSITY, AND ELEVATE ALL THE VARIATIONS OF CULTURES THAT WE HAVE IN THE AREA.

WE HAVE OVER 40 LANGUAGES THAT ARE SPOKEN HERE.

I WOULD DOUBLY SAY THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL THEY COME EXPLORE.

SO THROUGH FLAVORS, WE FINALLY HAVE BECOME THE LARGEST SINGLE DAY OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED BY THE CITY IS THE LARGEST SINGLE DAY RESTAURANT CRAWL.

WE HAVE OVER 80 RESTAURANTS PARTICIPATING.

A LOT OF THEM ARE NEW.

A LOT OF THEM OPEN RIGHT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

PEOPLE GET A TICKET, THEY GET A PASSPORT, AND THEY DO THAT AS THEIR GUIDE TO TRAVEL ALONG THE ROUTE THAT THEY'VE CHOSEN, AND FOR THOSE THREE HOURS, THEY GET TO WALK TO RESTAURANTS AND SAMPLE, WHETHER IT'S A TASTY BITE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A DRINK, OR A DESSERT.

SO THEY WILL BE SAMPLING MULTIPLE CUISINES, AND THEN THEY GET TO ENJOY A FREE AFTER PARTY OUTDOORS AT A LOCAL PARKING LOT .

SO THEY'RE HOSTING US, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FREE MUSIC.

SO EVEN FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ATTENDING THE CRAWL, THEY GET TO GO AND ENJOY MUSIC FOR FREE.

>> JUNE 21st IS THE SUMMER SOLSTICE.

IT'S THE LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR, SO COME AND ENJOY ALBANY PARK.

STAY AS LONG AS YOU WANT.

>> THERE IS JUST A LOT TO EXPLORE.

JUST THE CULTURE.

I MEAN, YOU CAN LITERALLY GO AROUND THE WORLD JUST TRAVELING DOWN THE AVENUE.

>> THE EVENT TAKES PLACE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21st, AND TICKETS ARE ACTUALLY SELLING FAST.

YOU CAN FIND MORE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> AND SPEAKING OF FOOD, FIESTA BACK OF THE YARD IS BACK IN ACTION THIS WEEKEND.

THE FESTIVAL RETURNED LAST YEAR FOR A POST-PANDEMIC RUN.

HOWEVER, IT WAS MISSING ONE BELOVED ELEMENT, THE CARNIVAL, WHICH THEY SAY THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO SECURE IN TIME.

BUT THIS YEAR, THE FIESTA IS BACK IN FULL FORCE WITH FOOD, MUSIC, AND YES, LOTS AND LOTS OF.

>> WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

PANDEMIC SHUT US OFF FOR TWO YEARS, AND LAST YEAR, WHEN WE CAME BACK, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO SECURE A CARNIVAL.

THIS YEAR, WE ARE BRINGING THAT BACK FOR OUR KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

OBVIOUSLY, KIDS LOVE CARNIVALS.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A KID, NOW WE'LL HAVE, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO 20 RIDES.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT -- FROM AROUND THE CITY REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CULTURES.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS.

WE HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP EVENT EVERY YEAR.

$2000 EACH.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 60 BOOTS OF FOOD AND MERCHANDISE AND SAMPLINGS FROM OUR.

AND SEVERAL RESOURCE STABLE.

SOME RESOURCE.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION AND HEALTH.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO IT'S A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENING OUT HERE.

A LOT OF SWEET THINGS THAT A LOT OF OUR SPONSORS WILL BE GIVING AWAY.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

MOST OF OUR FAMILY, THIS IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SUMMER.

I'M NOT SPEAKING ON MY OWN.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITIES, AND THERE'S JUST SO MUCH FOR EVERYONE.

>> BACK OF THE YARDS IS FREE TO ATTEND AND RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 18th.

YOU'LL FIND MORE ABOUT THE EVENT ON OUR WEBSITE.

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

>>> GROWING UP IN LOGAN SQUARE, KERA LENA AND HER SIBLINGS WEREN'T ALLOWED TO HAVE DOGS, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY BEGGED.

IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT THE CASE WENT ON TO NOT ONLY OWN DOGS THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO OPERATE DOG BIGGER CENTERS ACROSS THE CITY.

LIKE MANY SMALL BUSINESSES, THE PANDEMIC TOOK A BITE, BUT SHE SAYS SHE DIDN'T ROLLOVER.

INSTEAD, SHE GOES AROUND FOR OUTSIDE FUNDING.

PRODUCER ENRICA GUNDERSON RECENTLY BROUGHT UP HERSELF.

>> SOCIAL LIFE.

AND THEN AFTER A NICE, FUN DAY, THEY GET DROPPED OFF IN THE DOGGIE SCHOOL BUS AND THEY GO HOME HAPPY.

>> FOR CAROLINA, OWNER OF FURRY PAWS DOG DAY CARE IN HUMBOLDT PARK, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSHIP IS A FAMILY AFFAIR.

>> MY PARENTS MIGRATED HERE FROM MEXICO, SO 50 YEARS THEY'VE BEEN HERE.

MY MOTHER HAS OWNED A RESTAURANT FOR 37 YEARS.

MULTIPLE BUSINESSES, FIVE COMPANIES IN TOTAL.

SO IT'S IN OUR BLOOD.

YOU GOT TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR AND OPEN UP YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

>> >> Reporter: ILS AS HER FAMILY ENJOYED HER TO ON THE DOG DAY CARE BUSINESS WHEN SHE HAS HER FIRST CHILD.

SHE SAID SHE'S SEEN SOME UPS AND DOWNS.

>> WHEN I FIRST STARTED,.

AND THEN EVENTUALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, IT WAS SO HIGH AND IN THE PANDEMIC HIT AND WE KIND OF HIT ROCK BOTTOM.

>> Reporter: UPSET PLAN, AYALA SAYS SHE FINANCED FURRY PAWS ON HER OWN.

BUT WITH THE PANDEMIC DIP, SHE BEGAN LOOKING FOR SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT OPTIONS.

>> I WAS REFERRED TO THE VERIZON SMALL DIGITAL GRANT, AND THAT WAS KIND OF ONE OF MY FIRST ATTEMPTS, AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF ME GETTING AWARDED?

AND LONG STORY SHORT, I DID GET AWARDED.

>> Reporter: AYALA SAYS THE $10,000 GRANT ALLOWED HER TO ADD SERVICES LIKE GROOMING, AS WELL AS BOOSTER SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE.

>> I LIKE TO TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING THAT I CAN.

FROM THEN LAYING DOWN TO, LIKE, WRESTLING, TO EVEN DRINKING OUT OF A WATER BOWL.

>> Reporter: AND HER CLIENTS SAY THOSE KIND OF TOUCHES MAKE FURRY PAWS STANDOUT IN A CROWDED FIELD.

>> I LIKE BEING ABLE TO STAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHAT'S HAPPENING AT DAY CARE, AND WHERE FREDDIE IS IN THE PICTURE.

THE TRUST HAS JUST GROWN.

HAVING A PLACE LIKE THIS TO SEND HIM WHERE HE LOVES IT, AND THEY LOVE HIM, THIS IS, LIKE, HIS FAMILY.

SO I CAN'T PUT A PRICE ON IT.

>> THE REASON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SURVIVES IS BECAUSE WE'RE SMALL BUSINESSES.

YOU DON'T GET THE CUSTOMER SERVICE, YOU DON'T GET THE SAME LOVE FROM A BIG CORPORATION.

WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE A DOG WITHOUT FURRY PAWS .

WE FEEL SO CONFIDENT IN THEM, AND JUST TO KNOW HE SO LOVED ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.

>> AYALA ENCOURAGES SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO LOOK FOR OUTSIDE FUNDING SOURCES TO HELP KEEP THEIR FINANCES OUT OF THE DOGHOUSE.

>> SMALL BUSINESSES, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES OR PLATFORMS, AND I HAVE TO KIND OF PUT MY PRIDE ASIDE, IN OTHER WORDS, AND START LOOKING FOR GRANTS.

DOGS ARE MY PASSION, AND THE FACT THAT I COULD WORK HERE, RUN MY OWN BUSINESS, LIKE, MY BIGGEST, AND BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I LOVE, AND THAT'S DOGGIE DAY CARE.

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

>> YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE, ACTUALLY, TO FIND MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE VERIZON SMALL BUSINESS DIGITAL READY PROGRAM CAROLINA AYALA MENTIONED AS WELL.

>>> WELL, THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE, VISIT OUR 2023 SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE.

AND IF YOU'RE WATCHING US ON FRIDAY NIGHT, KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SATURDAYS, BEGINNING AT 6:00 P.M. DON'T FORGET, ALSO, TO TUNE IN TO CHICAGO EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING.

I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

AND WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH SOME MORE FROM LOCAL ARTISTS.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, I'M ALEX SERVICE.

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