>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> GOOD EVENING, WITH "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" I'M ALEX HERNANDEZ OF UNIVISION CHICAGO.

THANK YOU 230R SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... ON THIS FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND THERE IS NO BETTER GIFT FOR THE MAN IN YOUR FAMILY THAN GOOD HEALTH.

WE WILL LOOK AT THE HEALTHCARE ISSUES AFFECTING LATINO MEN.

A BOOST IN THE MINIMUM WAGE AND MORE PROTECTIONS FOR WAGE WORKERS ARE AROUND THE CORNER.

CHILEAN SINGER AND PALM POSER PASCUALA ILABACA BRINGING HER CULTURAL MUSIC TO CHICAGO NEXT WEEK.

>> GOING TO C.P.S.

REALLY OPENED UP MY VIEW OF THE CITY.

>> AND FOUR MEMBERS OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLASS OF 2022 REFLECT ON THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCES AND LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT COMES NEXT.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, FORMER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE LEWIS GUTIERREZ AND DICK DURBIN ANNOUNCED THE FORMATION OF A NEW IMMIGRATION REFORM ORGANIZATION CALLED OUR NATION'S FUTURE.

AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK, THEY EXPLAINED HOW THEY BELIEVE THE ORGANIZATIONS MISSION TO MODERNIZE THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM CAN HELP GROW THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.

>> OUR ECONOMIC SUCCESS DEPENDS ON IMMIGRATION SYSTEM THAT IS AS DEPENDABLE AS THE I AM GLANTS ARE.

TODAY 9.2 MILLION GREEN CARDHOLDERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO BECOME U.S. CITIZENS.

THINK ABOUT THAT A MOMENT.

9.2 MILLION.

ARE ELIGIBLE TODAY TO BECOME CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND WE DURING THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, OUR GOAL IS TO HELP ONE MILLION GREEN CARDHOLDERS BECOME CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

>> THE OVERWHELMING GROWTH POPULATION IS HISPANIC.

AND EVEN A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN CAN COUNT AND IF THEY CAN COUNT THEY KNOW IN FUTURE ELECTIONS THEIR FATE MAYBE DECIDED BY THOSE SAME HISPANIC AMERICANS.

MANY OF THEM ARE COMING AROUND TO THE BELIEF THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO BE SEEN AS AN ENEMY AND THEY ARE STEPPING UP TO JOIN US IN THIS EFFORT.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> THIS WEEKEND Mr. LATINOS WILL COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE MAN WHO HOLD A CHERISHED PLACE IN THEIR FAMILIES PRESENTING A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEM A NUDGE TO SEE THEIR DOCTOR.

AMONG ALL ETHNIC GROUPS LATINO MEN ARE THE LEAST LIKELY TO SEEK OUT HEALTHCARE.

OFTEN WAITING UNTIL IT IS AN EMERGENCY.

AND WITH MANY HEALTH ISSUES EARLY INTERVENTION CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN LONG-TERM OUTCOMES.

THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH AMONG LATINO MEN ARE COVID-19, HEART DISEASE, CANCER, STROKE, AND UNINTENTIONAL INJURY.

LATINO MEN HAVE HIGHER RATES OF CHRONIC ILLNESS THAN OTHER GROUPS THAT INCLUDES DIABETES, ASTHMA, PULMONARY DISEASE AND CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE LISA SANCHEZ-JOHNSON DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY MEDICINE VICE-CHAIR FOR RESEARCH AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER.

Dr. JAVIER GUEVARA, JR., A FAMILY PRACTITIONER AT NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND FRANK MEDINA, A MEDICAL STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

AND A MEMBER OF LATINO'S UNITED FOR CANCER EDUCATION RESEARCH AND OUTREACH.

Dr. JAVIER GUEVARA, JR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU DOCTOR, WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS YOU SEE AMONG LATINO MEN IN YOUR PRACTICE?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

CURRENTLY I'M WORKING AS A HOSPITAL IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND WE SEE A LOT OF STROKE, HEART DISEASE, HEART ATTACKS.

ESPECIALLY IN THE LATINO POPULATION THE MEN IN LATINO POPULATION N MY PREVIOUS JOB AS A CLINICIAN, IN THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO WITH A LARGELY HIP POPULATION, MEN WERE LARGELY DIABETIC WITH COMPLICATIONS, KIDNEY DISEASE, BLINDNESS, HEART ATTACKS, STROKES.

TYPICALLY THAT IS WHAT I SEE AND WHAT I SEE.

>> AND FRANK, WHAT ARE CANCER RATES AMONG LATINO MEN?

AND WHICH TYPES OF CANCER ARE MORE LIKELY TO AFFECT THEM?

>> YES.

SO AMONG LATINO MEN YOU KNOW, THE LIFETIME PROBABILITY OF DEVELOPING CANCER IS ONE IN THREE.

AND THERE ARE DIFFERENTS AMONG WHAT TYPES OF CANCERS ARE AFFECTING LATINO MEN.

SPECIFICALLY LIVER CANCER, COLON CANCER AND PROSTATE CANCER HIGHER PREVALENCE RATES AFFECTING LATINO MEN.

AND LIVER CANCER, WHILE RATES ARE SIMILAR AMONG LATINO MEN COMPARED TO THE WHITE COUNTERPARTS IN THE UNITED STATES LATINO MEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM LIVER CANCER.

THOSE ARE RATES OF CANCERS THAT ARE AFFECTING LATINO MEN TONIGHT VARIES BY ETHNICITY AND NATION OF ORIGIN AS WELL.

>> AND WE WILL HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WHO HAS HAD CANCER IT'S SO COMMON IT'S COME TO THAT.

LISA, WHAT ARE SOME REASONS THAT LATINO MEN MIGHT NOT SEEK IMMEDIATE CARE?

>> YES, THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS SOME OF THE BARRIERS.

IT'S MULTIFACETED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN LITERATURE IS LANGUAGE.

AND LANGUAGE BEING A BARRIER SOMETIMES JUST EVEN THERE MIGHT BE FEAR OF SPEAKING A CERTAIN LANGUAGE AND SOMETIMES BIASES THAT PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE IF YOU ARE SPEAKING ANOTHER LANGUAGE THAT MIGHT BE LOOKED AT AS NOT A SOURCE OF STRENGTH WHICH IT IS.

MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE BILINGUAL.

YOU KNOW.

ANOTHER REASON COULD BE NOT ENOUGH PROVIDERS THAT FOR MATCH THEIR ETHNIC AND RACIAL BACKGROUND.

NOT THAT THAT IS THE ONLY CONSIDERATION BECAUSE I THINK OVERALL WE NEED MORE CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND CULTURE HUMILITY THROUGHOUT OUR PHYSICIANS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

THOSE ARE TWO THAT FOR CERTAIN HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE LITERATURE AND WE SEE IF EVERYDAY PRACTICE.

ALSO THERE CAN BE A FEAR OF IMMIGRATION STATUS AND SO YOU KNOW THERE'S CONCERNS THAT MIGHT PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING HELP.

THESE ARE BUSY INDIVIDUALS IN GENERAL.

LATINO MEN WORK VERY, VERY HARD.

SO JUST TIME BEING A BARRIER AS WELL.

>> THIS TAKES ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION, Dr. GUEVARA HOW CAN HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS MAKE PREVENTION AND SCREENING MORE APPEALING TO LATINO MEN?

>> THAT IS A TOUGH ONE.

AND I THINK THE LITERATURE SHOWS THE TRUST IS SIMPLY NOT THERE.

TYPICALLY, LATINO MEN WILL TRUST MORE THE BARBERS OR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS RATHER THAN THEIR PHYSICIANS.

AND IT'S CULTURALLY MORE THAN ANY OTHER REASONS.

I THINK WHAT DOCTORS CAN DO IS REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND REACH OUT TO PLACES OF WORSHIP THAT PEOPLE FIND MORE TRUST IN AND TRY TO ORGANIZE EVENTS WHERE SCREENINGS CAN HAPPEN AND EDUCATION AS WELL.

>> FRANK, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT PLAY A PART OF THE CANCER PICTURE FOR LATINO MEN?

>> YES, OF COURSE.

I MEAN YOU KNOW THERE'S SO MUCH INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE NOW THAT IS OPEN SOURCE.

LIKE THE CHICAGO HEALTH ATLAS FROM THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

IF YOU LOOK AT MAPS OF AIR POLLUTION IN OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTHEAST SIDE, WEST SIDE, PARTS OF THE NORTHWEST SIDE, AND THE SOUTH SIDE, AND YOU LOOK AT MAPS OF THE DISTRIBUTIONS AMONG WHERE LATINOS LIVE, THOSE TWO MAPS OVERLAP.

AND SO YOU KNOW YOU SEE HIGHER RATES OF ASTHMA.

HIGHER RATES OF COPD ISSUES THAT AFFECT YOUR LUNGS AND TOO, CARCINOGENS WHICH CAN BE AGENTS THAT CAN BE CANCER-CAUSING THAT CAN BE WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE AFFECTING THE SOIL AND THE AIR.

SO IT'S KIND OF FRIGHTENING NOT SURPRISING BUT FRIGHTENING AS WELL WHEN YOU SEE HOW THOSE TWO MAPS OVERLAP EACH OTHER.

>> THANK YOU, FRANK.

AND GOING BACK WITH YOU LISA, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE DIFFERENCES IN LATINO SUBGROUPS THAT YOU'VE SEEN IN YOUR RESEARCH?

>> THAT IS A REALLY GOOD SEGWAY THERE.

I WANT TO SAY THAT WE SEE POPULATION DIFFERENCES ACROSS MANY DIFFERENT HEALTH ISSUES.

I STUDY PRIMARILY OBESITY AND PSYCHOLOGIST AND RESEARCHER WE FIND THAT PUERTO RICAN MEN IN PARTICULAR HAVE MUCH HIGHER RATES OF OBESITY COMPARED TO FOR EXAMPLE, SOUTH AMERICAN MEN.

AND A LOT OF THIS DATA HAS COME FROM THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY STUDY OF LATINOS A LARGE STUDY THAT MEN AND WOMEN WERE RECRUITED FROM FOUR CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE ARE GETTING A MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE THAN WE NORMALLY HAD.

AND THERE'S DIFFERENTS IN RATES OF SMOKING OVERALL.

YOU SEE THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE CAN SAY THAT LATINOS DON'T HAVE HIGH RATES OF SMOKING BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE SUBPOPULATION DIFFERENCES IN MY RESEARCH AND WE HAVE DONE COMMUNITY RESEARCH, FIND THAT PUERTO RICAN MEN HAVE A HIGHER RATES OF SMOKING THAN OTHERS.

>> WE ARE CUT TO GO SHORT ON TIME.

I WANT TO ASK JUST A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS.

Dr. GUEVARA, WHAT ROLE WOULD YOU SAY DIET AND NUTRITION PLAY IN THE HEALTH OF LATINO MEN AND WE'RE CUTTING IT SHORT?

>> IT IS OFFICIAL.

WE HAVE TO CUT DOWN ON OUR CARBOHYDRATE INTAKE AND INCREASE PROTEIN AND HAVE TO BE ACTIVE.

150 MINUTES EVERY WEEK FOR SURE.

>> THANK YOU.

AND LASTLY, WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A MEN'S HEALTH EXPO.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

>> FIRST, I WANT TO COMMENT AND WHAT Dr. GUEVARA SAID WESTBOUND THE COMMUNITY, IT'S ABOUT BRINGING RESOURCES TO PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT.

MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT WHERE THEY EXIST AND LIVE, WHERE THEIR FAMILIES ARE.

AND SO ON JUNE 25, SATURDAY FROM 10:00 A.M.-NOON, THEY ARE HAVING A MEN'S AND FAMILY HEALTH FAIR WHERE YOU CAN GET CANCER SCREENING TESTS AND FIND INFORMATION TO GET CONNECTED WITH A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER.

THERE'S RAFFLES.

JUST TRY TO CREATE A FUN ENVIRONMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

REALLY MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT.

YOU CAN FIND US AT 9119 SOUTH EXCHANGE AT THE CHICAGO FAMILY HEALTH CENTER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH ALL OF YOU AND YOU WILL FIND MORE RESOURCES ON THIS TOPIC ON OUR WEBSITE.

THANK YOU LISA SANCHEZ-JOHNSON, Dr. JAVIER GUEVARA, JR., AND FRANK MEDINA THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> UP NEXT, BREAKING DOWN UP COMING CHANGES FOR CHICAGO'S WORKFORCE.

>> SOME CHANGES ARE COMING SOON FOR CHICAGO'S WORKERS.

JULY FIRST, THE SCHEDULED INCREASE TO THE MINIMUM WAGE TAKES EFFECT.

AS WELL AS ENHANCEMENTS TO THE FAIR WORK WEEK ORDINANCE.

JOINING US TO BREAK IT DOWN IS ANDY FOX DIRECTOR OF LABOR STANDARDS FOR THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION.

ANDY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

CAN YOU GIVE US MORE DETAIL ON THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE?

WHAT EMPLOYERS ARE REQUIRED TO ADJUST THEIR WAGES?

AND WHAT ARE WORKERS -- WHAT WORKERS ARE ELIGIBLE?

>> HEY, ALEX AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT FIRST OFF YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT LOW WAGE WORKERS, AND RATHER THAN FOCUS ON THE EMPLOYERS AND THE CITY WE FOCUS ON THE WORKER.

IF ANY WORKER IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO PERFORMS WORK WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY, THEY BECOME A COVERED EMPLOYEE AND THAT IS FOR NONUNION WORKERS NOT INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS ANY EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO PERFORMING WORK TWO HOURS IN ANY TWO WEEK PERIOD.

WE DON'T DISTINGUISH FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME OR ANY EMPLOYER IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> ANY EMPLOYER IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY EMPLOYEES THEY HAVE?

>> WELL, THAT IS A GOOD POINT.

THERE ARE TIERS OF EMPLOYEES SIZES.

FOR THE LARGER EMPLOYERS, ANYONE WITH 21 OR MORE EMPLOYEES, MINIMUM WAGE GOES UP TO $15.40.

AND THAT DERIVES FROM THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX CAPPED AT 2.5%.

LAST YEAR IT WAS $15 AN HOUR AND NOW IT'S 15.40.

FOR THE EMPLOYERS WITH 20 EMPLOYEES IT'S 14.50.

FOR THOSE THAT HAVE LESS THAN FOUR OR SUBSIDIZED TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT THE MINIMUM WAGE IS $12 AN HOUR AND IT STARTS JULY 1.

>> THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT.

WHAT ARE THE ENHANCEMENTS TO THE FAIR WORK WEEK ORDINANCE?

>> SO THE FAIR WORK WEEK ORDINANCE IMPACTS SEVEN INDUSTRIES WITH EMPLOYERS MORE THAN 100 EMPLOYERS AND OTHER QUALIFIERS FOR RESTAURANTS.

PREVIOUSLY THE TOP TIER OF EMPLOYMENT WAS THOSE THAT EARN $26 AND LESS AN HOUR WERE 50,000 OR LESS AND NOW THAT CAP IS AT HOLD ON REAL QUICK, IT GOES UP TO 29.35 AN HOUR AND BELOW.

AND THOSE THAT MAKE 56381 PER YEAR AND BELOW.

>> AND WHAT ARE THE EMPLOYERS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THESE LAWS?

>> AND ONE MORE THING ABOUT FAIR WORK WEEK.

EMPLOYEES WHO WORK FOR THE LARGER EMPLOYERS IN THE SEVEN INDUSTRIES ON OUR WEBSITE YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM YOUR SCHEDULES IT USE TO BE 10 DAYS IN ADVANCE AND NOW IT'S 14-DAYS IN ADVANCE.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE EMPLOYERS IN THE MINIMUM WAGE AND WAGE THEFT, RETALIATION ORDINANCES AND FAIR WORK WEEK ORDINANCE IN CHICAGO ARE REQUIRED TO DO A FEW THINGS.

ONE THEY HAVE TO PUT UP A PUBLIC NOTICE ON THE PREMISES OR DISTRIBUTE IT WITH PAYCHECKS.

AND THEY HAVE TO PAY THE MINIMUM WAGE.

IF YOU DON'T PAY THE MINIMUM WAGE, THAT IS PART OF IT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO COMMIT WAGE THEFT YOU DON'T WANT TO STEAL WAGES PART OF THE ORDINANCE.

ANNUALLY, WE ASK AND REQUIRE BUSINESSES TO GIVE OUT THAT PUBLIC NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES TO REMIND EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES HEY, MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE AND THERE ARE RECORDS REQUIRED TO BE RETAINED BY EMPLOYERS.

AND ALSO BIG REQUIREMENT IS YOU DON'T RETALIATE AGAINST WORKERS WHO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT.

>> SINCE THE NEW MINIMUM WAGE AND FAIR WORK WEEK STANDARDS WENT INTO EFFECT WHO HAS BEEN THE REACTION FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND WORKERS?

>> INTERESTINGLY, THIS YEAR MORE THAN EVER PEOPLE JUST WANT TO KNOW TELL ME THE MINIMUM WAGE SO I CAN IMPLEMENT IT.

EMPLOYERS ARE INTERESTED IN COMPLIANCE.

THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN COMPLAINING THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO COMPLAIN THEY ARE MANAGING.

THE SAME THINGS WE ALL AS CONSUMERS ARE TRYING TO MANAGE.

LIKE THEIR GAS, RENT, EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING UP IN THIS ECONOMY RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE TRYING TO MANAGE THINGS.

TELL ME WHAT IT IS AND WHAT DO I NEED TO DO AND WE'LL DO IT.

>> AND BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SMALL BUSINESS EXPO THE BACP IS HOSTING NEXT MONTH.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NEXT WEEK, BUSINESS AFFAIRS CONSUMER PROTECTION THE ENGINE FOR SMALL BUSINESS, MEDIUM BUSINESS, LARGE BUSINESS FOR ALL 77 NEIGHBORHOODS.

THERE IS A SMALL BUSINESS EXPO SATURDAY JULY 23 FROM 10-2 AT KEBD KING COLLEGE.

WE WILL HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE THERE IF ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LABOR PROTECTIONS HERE IN CHICAGO, I WILL PROBABLY BE THERE AND OR STAFF TO HELP PEOPLE MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE.

>> EXCELLENT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND ALSO, PEOPLE CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THESE CHANGES ON OUR WEBSITE.

ANDY FOX THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, ALEX.

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

THE COMPOSURE, SINGER, ACCORDIONSIST AND PIANIST PASCUALA ILABACA AND HER BAND PASCUALA ILABACA Y FAUNA ARE PLAYING IN CHICAGO FOR THE FIRST TIME NEXT WEEK PART OF THE 2022 INTERNATIONAL TOUR.

THE BAND'S MUSIC BLENDS TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS AND LIBT I AMS WITH LYRICS.

PASCUALA ILABACA SAYS HER HOMETOWN IS A CULTURAL CROSSROADS THAT INSPIRED HER TO CREATE MUSIC THAT IS SIMULTANEOUSLY FAMILIAR AND MODERN.

>> MY WE WERE ALWAYS [INAUDIBLE] SO WE RECEIVED [INAUDIBLE] AS PEOPLE WHO CAME FROM THE VILLAGES.

BRINGING IN THEIR OWN NATIVE MUSIC AND INSTRUMENTS.

AND ALSO WE RECEIVE ALWAYS LIKE ALL THOSE WHO CAME BY BOAT AND SHIP FROM THE U.K. AND THE UNITED STATES IF WE WERE THE ONLY THERE WAS A LOT OF CULTURAL.

MY MUSIC SINCE I WAS CHILDREN GOING TO TRADITIONAL PARTIES AND ALSO LISTENING TO EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER IN THIS GENERATION OF 37 YEARS OLD WOMAN WITH A LOT OF FEMINIST IDEAS.

TO PUT IN MY LYRICS AND TO SING THEM IN TRADITIONAL LITH I AMS.

[♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] >> I WAS WE NEED TO CREATE AND RELEASE SONGS THAT SHOWS MORE THE COMPLEXITY OF A WOMAN WHO NEEDS TO MAKE CONTACT AND NEEDS TO BE FREE AND RESPECTED AND WHO WANTS TO TALK ABOUT LOVE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

>> PASS PASCUALA ILABACA Y FAUNA ARE PERFORMING JUNE 25.

YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> WELL, LIKE ALL THE NATION'S HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLASS OF 2022 HAS SPENT MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE NAVIGATING THE PANDEMIC.

IN ADDITION TO THE CHALLENGES OF REMOTE LEARNING FAMILIES IMPACTED BY COVID AND INTERRUPTIONS TO THEIR SOCIAL LIVES, C.P.S.

STUDENTS HAD TO DEAL WITH CONTENTION BETWEEN THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION AND C.P.S.

ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING TWO STRIKES.

PRODUCER ERICA GUNDERSON SPOKE TO FOUR C.P.S.

GRADUATES ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES DURING UNPRECEDENTED TIMES AND HOW IT PREPARED THEM FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THEIR LIFE.

>> HIGH SCHOOL ITSELF WE KNOW IS NOT EASY AND ADD-ON MORE THAN ONE STRIKE AND COVID AND ALL THAT.

IT DEFINITELY IT MADE IT FEEL LIKE IT WAS NEVER GOING TO END.

>> FOR THESE C.P.S.

GRADUATES HIGH SCHOOL WAS MORE THAN A STOP ON THE WAY TO ADULTHOOD.

>> HERE I AM TWO DAYS POST GRADUATION REALIZING IT'S OVER IT'S BEHIND ME.

>> WHERE THEY FOUND SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY.

>> THERE ARE TEACHERS WHO CARE ABOUT THE STUDENTS.

AND I'M JUST GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM WITH THOSE TEACHERS AND HAVE HAD LIKE EXPERIENCES WITH SOME TEACHERS THAT WERE JUST LIKE VERY CLEARLY CARED ABOUT ME AND THE COMMUNITY.

>> WHERE THEY DISCOVERED NEW INTERESTS AND TALENTS.

>> YOU HAVE MULTIPLE TYPES OF OUT LETS TO SHOW YOUR CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND C.P.S.

DOESN'T GOOD JOB.

>> WHERE THEY LEARNED MORE ABOUT WHO THEY ARE.

>> WHEN I CAME I WANTED TO MAJOR IN BUSINESS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT INTERESTED ME.

AND I STRUGGLED ON WHAT I WANTED TO MAJOR IN BECAUSE NOTHING REALLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.

LIKE I'M MORE OF A HANDS ON, THINKING TYPE OF PERSON.

>> AND WHO THEY WANT TO BE.

>> C.P.S.

IN ITSELF ALLOWED ME TO START OFF MY ACTIVISM WORK THAT LED ME TO CREATE THE COALITION FOR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS EDUCATION AND FOR IT TO TAKE OFF.

>> LOOKING BACK THEY SAY EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR SCHOOL LIVES WAS TOUCHED BY THE PANDEMIC.

>> DURING THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IT WAS ROUGH WITH THE PANDEMIC AND ON-LINE SCHOOL.

ESPECIALLY AFTER THE SHUTDOWN, I FELT A LITTLE BIT LESS SOCIAL I BECAME MORE INTROVERTED AND THAT IS SOMETHING I'M WORKING THROUGH AND TRYING TO GET PAST.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT COVID LEGITIMATELY REDUCED BY WORK ETHIC.

THERE WOULD BE DAYS I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO ASSIGNMENTS.

THAT IS WHEN ADMINISTRATION HERE INTRODUCED I CALL IT LIKE THE 50% RULE.

AND THAT IS WHEN TEACHERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO FAIL THE STUDENTS.

THAT IS WHERE I FEEL LIKE THAT 50% RULE AFFECTS STUDENTS LIKE IN THIS SCHOOL ESPECIALLY WITH THE WORK ETHIC.

>> I'VE BEEN PLAYING SPORTS AND MY MOM CAUGHT COVID AT THE END OF MY VOLLEYBALL SEASON.

THIS IS MY PERSONALLY MY SEASON WAS CUT SHORT AND I WAS SAD ABOUT THAT.

I WANTED TO TRYOUT SOCCER FOR MY JUNIOR YEAR BUT I WASN'T ABLE TO HAPPEN BECAUSE MY DAD HE HAD COVID AND THEN I HAD TO QUARANTINE.

BASICALLY THE ENTIRE MONTH.

>> VIRTUAL LEARNING WAS HARD BUT THE TRANSITION BACK THE SCHOOLS WERE NOT PREPARED MADE THINGS HARDER WITH TEACHERS HAVING TO CHANGE THE WAY THEY GRADE.

>> NOW WITH THE TIME AT C.P.S.

WITH AN END THEY REPORT BEING READY AND EAGER FOR THE CHALLENGES.

>> I'M GOING TO ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY AND IMAGERRING IN CRIMINAL -- MAJORING IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

I HAD TO THINK ABOUT IT A LOT BECAUSE I'M MOVING AWAY.

I'M GOING TO BE LIVING ON CAMPUS.

BUT I SEE IT AS A WAY OF EXPERIENCING SOMETHING NEW AND AS A WAY OF LIKE MAKING MYSELF MORE INDEPENDENT.

>> I WILL BE GOING TO HAROLD WASHINGTON COLLEGE WHERE I WILL BE PART-TIME STUDENT STUDYING COMPUTER SCIENCE.

I ENVISION HAVING A CAREER WITH PROGRAMMING.

ESPECIALLY LIKE VIDEO GAMES BECAUSE SOMETHING I'M INTERESTED IN AS WELL.

>> I HAVE A SUMMER JOB WITH THE NATIONAL EQUITY PROJECT AND THEN AFTER SUMMER, I PLAN TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO WITH POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR.

>> I THINK GOING TO C.P.S.

REALLY OPENED UP MY VIEW OF THE CITY.

I KNOW SO MUCH MORE JUST FROM MEETING PEOPLE FROM EVERYWHERE.

>> I WILL BE GOING TO UIC I GOT ACCEPTED 0 INTO THE PREHEALTH PROGRAM AND THAT IS MY MAIN CONCERN MAKING SURE I HAVE EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, DONE.

VERY EXCITED.

UNBELIEVABLY EXCITED.

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

>> WOW.

I WILL BE HONEST IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY WHEN I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

1998, INCREDIBLE.

TIME FLIES.

SO IF YOU JUST GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF 2022, ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS CONGRATULATIONS, STAY FOCUSED, TIME FLIES AND YOU WILL ACHIEVE ALL YOUR GOALS, BELIEVE ME, YOU'LL GET THERE.

THAT WILL BE OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

CHECK OUR OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

WHILE YOU ARE THERE READ OUR STORY ABOUT ILLINOIS NEW STATE SNAKE.

THE EASTERN MILK SNAKE.

AND GOOD NEWS IT'S NOT POISON NEWS.

LOOKING FOR ACTIVITIES TO DO THIS FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND?

VISIT OUR WEBSITE ALSO, 2022 SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW THAT YOU CAN CATCH LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES SUNDAY'S BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M.

TUNE INTO UNIVISION CHICAGO EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" I'M ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR HOLIDAY WEEKEND WITH US.

[♪♪♪]