>>> [ MUSIC ] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES."

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT -- >> WHEN THE HELL ARE YOU ALL GOING TO HELP US?

>> BREAKING DOWN THE HIGH TENSION CITY COUNCIL MEETING OVER FUNDING FOR MIGRANTS.

AVAIL AIMED AT CLOSING LOOPHOLES ON PROPERTY TAX SALES IS HEADED TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY RECEIVED WELCOME FUNDING NEWS IN THE LATEST STATE BUDGET.

WE HEAR WHAT THE PLANS ARE FOR THAT MONEY.

CHICAGO PROVIDES THE HAUNTED SETTING FOR A NEW CORE BOOK.

WE TALK WITH THE AUTHOR ABOUT HER NOVEL "THE SHOEMAKER'S MAGICIAN."

>> I KIND OF JUST HAVE TO COEXIST WITH THE TWO EVEN WITH THE TRAUMA.

>> AND HOW ART IS BEING USED AS A TOOL FOR HEALING.

ALL THAT COMING UP, BUT FIRST OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT.

STORE MAKE THIS WEEK'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING EXPLODED OVER MY GRANT FUNDING.

WE HEARD FROM TWO ALDER PEOPLE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THESE DONORS.

STOMACH THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL APPROVED $61 MILLION FOR MIGRANT CARE THIS WEEK, BUT THE LEAD UP TO THAT VOTE WAS INTENSE, EMOTIONAL, AND INCLUDED RACIALLY CHARGED REMARKS FROM AUDIENCE MEMBERS.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS ALDER PERCY JESS IN FRONT SAYS, AND ALDERMEN BY AS WHO REPRESENTS THE 25th WARD.

WE REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO VOTED AGAINST THE MEASURE, BUT THEY DECLINED HER INVITATION TO APPEAR.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE VERY MUCH.

ALDER PERSON FLIGHT TEST, WHY THE INTENSE OPEN DEBATE?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE SAW YESTERDAY FROM A HISTORICAL LENS.

WE HAVE BLACK COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY OF CHICAGO THAT HAVE SEEN CENTURIES OF DISINVESTMENT.

WE HAVE UNHOUSED ACROSS THE CITY OF CHICAGO THAT HAVE NOT RECEIVED RESOURCES.

WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ALLOCATING $51 MILLION TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO, WE HAVE RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY OF CHICAGO THAT ARE PRETTY ANGRY, THAT THEY ALSO NEED RESOURCES.

WE VOTED FOR SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TO VOTE FOR BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO SEEK VERY SIMILAR, AND IN FACT, MASHED FARMERS SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITIES AND THE UNHOUSED IN CHICAGO.

>> THE DEBATE HAD MUCH TO DO WITH LARGELY AFRICAN AMERICAN RESIDENTS AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY WHO SAID BASICALLY, WHY ARE YOU SPENDING MONEY ON PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO CHICAGO WHEN HISTORICALLY OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME DEGREE OF INVESTMENT AND SUFFERED FROM NEGLECT.

THE RESOURCES SHOULD COME HERE PICK SOME OF THOSE REMARKS WHERE DIRECTED TOWARDS YOU.

ONE PERSON YELLED OUT, QUOTE, GO BACK TO YOUR OWN COUNTRY.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE INTENSITY, THIS VITRIOL TO YOU AND OTHER MEMBERS DURING THE MEETING.

>> I AGREE WITH ALDER PERSON FUENTES.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE REACTION HISTORICALLY , I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DISPARITIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE SUFFERING RIGHT NOW WITH VIOLENCE AND FOOD INSECURITY AND POVERTY.

IT AFFECTS THE MOST POOREST AREAS OF THE CITY PICK AT THE SAME TIME, SOME OF THE ELEMENTS THAT WERE THERE, SPECIFICALLY AROUND THESE REMARKS, WERE PAID ORGANIZERS THAT CAME WITH A SPECIFIC AGENDA FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I THINK THEY WERE BEING SET UP WITH A PARTICULAR GOAL THIS ELECTION SEASON.

WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR THAT SOME OF THOSE REMARKS ARE NOT ENTIRELY REALLY A CHARACTERISTIC OF WHAT PEOPLE SEE IN THE COMMUNITIES.

OUR COMMUNITIES, MANY CONSTITUENTS AND CHICAGO, BUT WE WANT HIS PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER.

WE WANT THE BLACK CAUCUS TO WORK WITH THE LATINO CAUCUS TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS.

WE ALSO NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE INHERITING A BIG MESS.

MANY OF THE RESIDENTS ARE REALLY SO UPSET ABOUT THE SOUTH SHORE.

WAS REPURPOSED WITHOUT CONSENT OR CONVERSATION, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OF THESE RESIDENTS SAY, BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE REMARKS, THAT SHOULD NOT BE THINKING IT'S THE SENTIMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO LOOK INTO THAT FURTHER AND DISCUSS IT WITH YOU, YOUR ASSERTION OF WHO IS BEHIND IT, BUT ALDERMAN DAVID MOORE VOTED NO ON THE MEASURE, AND LET'S LISTEN TO HIS REASONING.

>> I'M REMINDED WHEN THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT SAYS ON THE PLANE, IN AN EMERGENCY, MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR MASK ON FIRST BEFORE YOU HELP SOMEONE ELSE, SO WE HAVE TO PUT OUR MASK ON FIRST, AND WE HAVE TO HELP THE RESIDENTS OF THIS GREAT CITY.

>> ALDERMAN FUENTES , DOES HE HAVE A POINT?

>> I BELIEVE THAT HE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO LISTEN TO HIS CONSTITUENTS, AND HAVE A PERSPECTIVE, BUT THERE IS A PERSPECTIVE I RESPECT MORE AND THAT WAS ALDERMAN JEANETTE TAYLOR AND THAT HURT PEOPLE CANNOT HURT PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO SUPPORT FOLKS THAT NEED HER HELP.

BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.

WE HAD CONVERSATIONS YESTERDAY IN THE LATINO CAUCUS AND HOW WE HAVE TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP AND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR BLACK CAUCUS SIBLINGS IN CITY COUNCIL AND MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET COMING UP, WE WILL BE NEGOTIATING THAT SOON IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT WE HAVE OUR BLACK CAUCUS MEMBERS IN MIND AND WE HAVE THE WESTIN SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITIES IN MIND, AND THAT WE DO NOT FORGET THE SOLIDARITY THEY SHOWED US YESTERDAY.

>> YOU ALLUDED TO ALDERMAN JEANETTE TAYLOR.

HERE IS WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY IN PART.

>> I'VE GOT A COMMUNITY THAT'S DIVIDED.

I'VE BEEN GETTING CALLS FOR THE LAST 3 DAYS, YOU SHOULD VOTE ON THIS.

YOU SHOULDN'T.

THIS IS WRONG.

IT'S ALL WRONG.

SAYING NO DOESN'T MEAN THAT I WANT TO HURT MIGRANT FAMILIES.

VOTING YES DOES NOT MEAN I DON'T CARE ABOUT BLACK CHICAGO.

>> AND SHE WENT ON TO VOTE YES IN A VERY IMPASSIONED PRESENCE.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT NOW, IS THERE TENSION BETWEEN BLACK AND LATINO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ?

DID THIS MAKE THINGS WORSE?

DID THIS CREATE A SCHISM?

>> I THINK THAT NATURALLY THE TENSION WHEN THERE IS NO SOLUTION BUT WHEN THERE IS NO PLAN RIGHT NOW, THE MIGRANT CRISIS, LAST YEAR BACK IN SEPTEMBER, THAT WE NEEDED TO TAKE ACTION, ESPECIALLY AS WE SEE THAT TITLE 42 IS LIFTED.

>> WHAT IS THAT?

>> TITLE 42 HAD A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS IN TERMS OF HOW MIGRANTS WERE ON THE BORDER, AND I THINK WHEN TITLE 42 IS LIFTED, WE KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE.

WE SAW THAT INFLUX OF PEOPLE AND THE CITY WAS COMPLETELY UNPREPARED.

THERE WAS NOT EVEN ONE SINGLE PIECE OF PAPER IN THE ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE THIS UP.

WE HAD ENOUGH TIME.

THE TENSIONS ARE REAL.

WE SEE OF COURSE THE FRUSTRATION FROM RESIDENCE WHO SEE THE CITY, THE VIOLENCE THAT GETS WORSE AND WORSE.

AGAIN WE NEED SOLUTIONS.

I THINK THE TENSIONS RISE BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T SEE A FUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY DON'T SEE A SOLUTION, NAC POLITICAL PARTIES PLAYING GAMES WITH PEOPLE'S LIVES.

AGAIN AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, IT WAS REALLY REMARKABLE HOW THEY HANDLED IT DEMOCRATICALLY IN SPITE OF THE CHALLENGES, AND IVORY ASSERT MY EVIDENCE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS A SET AGENDA, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT LET THE FREE MONGERING DIVIDE US.

>> ALDERMAN FUENTES I WILL CLOSE WITH YOU , BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE MENTIONED BEFORE WE STARTED SPEAKING IS THAT MOSTLY MIGRANTS HAVE BEEN FROM VENEZUELA.

HOW EXACTLY IS THE MONEY GOING TO BE USED?

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT CAN PROVIDE MEALS, TRANSPORTATION, CLOTHES FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE UN- SHELTERED.

WE KNOW THIS IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE TYPE OF SUPPORT THAT OUR NEW ARRIVALS NEED, BUT WE ARE ALSO GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REACHING OUT TO OUR FEDERAL COLLEAGUES AND STATE COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT NEED SKIN IN THE GAME, AND THE CITY OF CHICAGO NEEDS SUPPORT.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>>> UP NEXT, HELP CLOSING PROPERTY TAX LOOPHOLES AND COOK COUNTY'S WITH CONVERSATIONS ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

>>> IF YOU DON'T PAY YOUR PROPERTY TAXES FOR 3 YEARS, THE COUNTY CAN AUCTION OFF YOUR PROPERTY.

THEY HELD THOSE SALES EVERY TWO YEARS BUT A FEW PROPERTIES GO UP FOR AUCTION THAT ARE PUT BACK FOR PROTECTIVE USE.

THE LEGISLATION WOULD GIVE COOK COUNTY MORE ABILITY TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE PROPERTIES THAT DO NOT SELL AND GIVE THEM BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS AND PUT TO PRODUCTIVE USE.

>> THE BILL ALSO TAKES AIM AT LOOPHOLES AND ALLOWS HEDGE FUNDS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF UNPAID TAX DEBT AT THE EXPENSE OF BLACK AND LATINO HOMEOWNERS.

HOW DOES IT DO THAT?

>> EVERY YEAR, UNPAID TAX DEBT GOES UP FOR ANOTHER AUCTION AND BIG HEDGE FUNDS AND OTHER INVESTMENT FIRMS BY THAT DEBT AND PUT LIENS ON PEOPLE'S HOUSES.

THAT IS LUCRATIVE FOR THEM.

THEY CAN EARN AS MUCH AS 54% OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

THEN, THEY DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO COMPLETE THE SALE, THEY CAN JUST SORT OF POINT TO AN ERA, SOMETIMES CLERICAL, AND GET OUT OF THE WHOLE DEAL AND TAKE THE SAVINGS IN INTEREST PAYMENTS WITH THEM.

THIS LAW WOULD MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO GET OUT OF THOSE SALES AT THE LAST MINUTE AND HOPEFULLY PREVENTING THEM FROM PREYING ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PAY THEIR TAXES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> YOU CAN READ HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> BACK WITH MORE TRAN01: LATINO VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> THE ILLINOIS STATE BUDGET THAT WAS PASSED THIS WEEK INCLUDED INCREASED FUNDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

THAT WAS WELCOME NEWS TO NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY WHICH HAD SEEN SOME FINANCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL TURBULENCE IN RECENT YEARS.

AND ALSO, JUST REACHED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH ITS FACULTY TO AVOID A STRIKE.

CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, JOSI RICO, SAYS THE INCREASED FUNDING WILL OFFER SOME MUCH- NEEDED STABILIZATION FOR ITS DIVERSE STUDENT BODY.

>> WE SERVE THE POPULATION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

50% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE WOMEN, 60% ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR.

WE HAVE THE LARGEST AND LONGEST FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTION.

SO IN ORDER FOR US TO FULFILL THE MISSION OF WORKING-CLASS STUDENTS, FIRST-TIME COLLEGE GOING STUDENTS, STUDENTS THAT REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES, WE NEED STATE SUPPORT BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR US TO STAY ACCESSIBLE, WE NEED TO KEEP OUR TUITION AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

SO, THE 7% INCREASE WHICH COMES OUT TO ABOUT $40 MILLION OTHER PREPARATIONS FROM THE STATE ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR WORK WITHOUT AN ADDITIONAL TUITION INCREASE THIS YEAR.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THAT GOING ON FOR THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE HAD A TOUGH YEAR, THESE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR US AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES.

I CAME ON AS A BOARD OF TRUSTEES WITH MY FELLOW BOARD OF TRUSTEES, MOST OF US ARE NEW, IN MARCH.

WE HEARD BY OUR UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY, EVERY MEETING WE HAD , HOW DIFFICULT THE BUDGET CRISIS, THE LAST ADMINISTRATION AFFECTED THEM, HOW DIFFICULT THE PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED THE LOW ENROLLMENTS.

WE WERE THE ONLY UNIVERSITY THIS YEAR THAT WERE IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, THAT DID NOT GO ON A STRIKE.

A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH WORK THAT WE DID AS A BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO BUILD THAT'S TRUST AND OPEN COMMUNICATION AND A LOT OF IT IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING IN GOOD FAITH AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AS WE SAW IN COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO GET INCREASED FUNDING TO OUR UNIVERSITY.

>> YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT ELSE IS IN THE STATE BUDGET ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> CHICAGO PROVIDES THE DARK SETTING FOR AN MOSH TO HORROR FILMS AND HISTORY AND A NEW NOVEL BY CYNTHIA PELAYO.

IN THE SHOEMAKER'S MAGICIAN, SHE BLENDS FILM HISTORY AND CHICAGO HISTORY INTO HER GENRE CROSSING JOURNEY INTO THE OCCULT THAT BEGINS WITH THE DISCOVERY OF A GRUESOME MURDER IN A DOWNTOWN THEATER.

SHE JOINS US NOW, THAT SOUNDS VERY SCARY.

YOUR NEW BOOK IS CALLED THE SHOEMAKER'S MAGICIAN.

GIVE US A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THIS ON WITHOUT GIVING AWAY TOO MUCH.

>> THE SHOEMAKER'S MAGICIAN FOLLOWS A SEBASTIAN RAMOS, WHO IS A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE, HE DISCOVERS A BODY ON STAGE AT THE CHICAGO THEATER ONE NIGHT WITH A POSTER OF AN OLD 1920s FILM AFFIXED TO THE BODY.

HIS WIFE IS A HORROR HOST ON YOUTUBE AND SHE IS AN EXPERT ON ALL THINGS HORROR.

BOTH OF THEM WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE INCREASING BODY BODIES BEING FOUND THROUGHOUT VARIOUS HISTORIC CHICAGO THEATERS.

>> THIS BOOK OFFERS PERSPECTIVE FROM SEVERAL CHARACTERS, BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, ONE OF THE CENTRAL CHARACTERS, THE CENTRAL CHARACTER, IS PALOMA.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT PALOMA?

>> PALOMA IS OBSESSED AND IN LOVE WITH ALL THINGS HORROR FILM, ALL THINGS CHICAGO.

SHE IS A HORROR HOST, SHE WORKS FROM HOME AND SHE IS COMPLETELY DRAWN TO THE CITY AND THE MAGIC THAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HER AND THAT HAS BEEN CENTRAL TO HER LIFE IS THE COMFORT THAT HORROR MOVIES HAVE GIVEN HER.

>> THE COMFORT THAT HORROR MOVIES HAVE GIVEN HER BUT ALSO THE COMFORT THAT THE CITY OF CHICAGO GIVES HER, BECAUSE CHICAGO IS VERY MUCH A CHARACTER IN YOUR BOOK.

HOW IS IT A CHARACTER?

WHAT ROLE DOES THE CITY PLAY?

>> CHICAGO IS CENTRAL TO ALL OF MY WORK AND I FEEL LIKE CHICAGO IS A BEAUTIFUL MIX OF LIGHT AND DARK AND ESPECIALLY IN THE "THE SHOEMAKER'S MAGICIAN."

A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THAT CHICAGO WAS HOLLYWOOD BEFORE THERE WAS HOLLYWOOD.

CHICAGO WAS THE SILENT FILM CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

CHARLIE CHAPLIN MARTER, HE FILMS NUMEROUS MOVIES HERE.

SO, CHICAGO TAKES CENTER STAGE, AGAIN, AS WE LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE SILENT FILM ERA IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND WE LEARN ABOUT THESE WONDERFUL THEATERS, THE LOGAN THEATER, THE CHICAGO THEATER, THE UPTOWN WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL THEATER THAT HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR MANY YEARS.

IT FEATURES PROMINENTLY.

ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL THINGS.

>> YOU WERE BORN IN PUERTO RICO BUT YOU WERE RAISED IN CHICAGO.

YOU CAME TO CHICAGO WHEN YOU'RE TWO YEARS OLD, USED TO LIVED IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE A GIRL.

IT IS WEST OF LOGAN SQUARE.

WHY DO YOU STILL LIVE THERE?

>> CHICAGO IS HOME.

I HAVE BEEN TO 20 COUNTRIES, I HAVE VISITED EVERY SINGLE STATE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS MAGICAL ABOUT THE CITY.

AND, I RECENTLY LOST MY FATHER.

HE CAME TO CHICAGO IN THE 1960s AND RODRIGUEZ LOVED THE CITY AND HE TAUGHT ME TO LOVE CHICAGO AS WELL.

I FEEL THE MAGIC HERE.

I LIVE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM WALT DISNEY, FROM WHERE WALT DISNEY WAS BORN.

FRANK BAUM WROTE PARTS OF THE WONDERFUL WORDS OF NEVADA'S IN HUMBLED PARK WHEN MY FATHER WOULD TAKE ME.

THIS IS HOME.

I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY MAGICAL PLACE TO LIVE.

>> YOU MENTIONED YOUR FATHER, YOUR FATHER WOULD READ TO YOU WHEN YOU WERE A KID.

WHAT IMPACT DID THAT HAVE ON YOU?

>> MY FATHER READ ME FAIRYTALES IN PARTICULAR AND HE WOULD RECITE FAIRYTALES THAT HE REMEMBERED FROM WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG BOY AND THAT IS WHAT IS INCORPORATED INTO ALL OF MY FICTION TODAY.

I WRITE GENRE BLENDING FAIRYTALES BREAK THE SHOEMAKER'S MAGICIAN IS A FABLE , BOOK 1 IS A SERIES.

THE CHILDREN CHICAGO IS AN ADAPTATION OF THE PIED PIPER FAIRYTALE.

YOU CAN READ THEM AS A STAND ALONE BUT ALL OF THEM ARE FAIRYTALES ADAPTATIONS.

>> HOW DO YOU DEFINE HORROR?

WHAT IS HORROR?

>> WHAT IS HORROR?

I THINK FEAR IS A CENTRAL EMOTION THAT WE ALL EXPERIENCE AND HORROR IS THE UNKNOWN.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT SCARES US.

IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO PROCESS THESE AWFUL, SCARY THINGS.

SO FOR ME, HORROR IS THE UNKNOWN AND THESE THINGS THAT ARE THREATENING US.

AND, LIVING IN THE SHADOWS.

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOU DRAW ON -- HOW HAVE YOU DONE ON EXPERIENCES IN YOUR OWN LIFE THAT MAKE THEIR WAY INTO YOUR BOOKS?

LAST QUESTION.

>> SURE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE BOOK, "THE SHOEMAKER'S MAGICIAN.".

I AM THE MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN'S ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM.

PALOMA LOVES ALL THINGS CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD HORROR, SO THOSE HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO "THE SHOEMAKER'S MAGICIAN" AS WELL.

THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL BOOK IN A WAY.

PALOMA HAS MANY ELEMENTS OF WHO I AM.

WELL SHE IS NOT A WRITER, SHE IS STILL A CREATOR.

BEING A CREATIVE SOMETIMES, YOU ARE VERY ISOLATED.

HORROR WRITER, WE ARE VERY ISOLATED AS WELL BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TAP INTO ELEMENTS AND PLACES OF OUR MIND IN ORDER TO CREATE.

>> YOUR CREATIONS HAVE BEEN MET WITH A LOT OF CRITICAL ACCLAIM, YOU ARE CLEARLY ON THE ASCENDANCY.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING TIME WITH US, CYNTHIA PELAYO.

AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED "THE SHOEMAKER'S MAGICIAN."

YOU CAN READ AN EXCERPT ON OUR WEBSITE IF YOU ARE NOT TOO SCARED.

WE ARE BACK WITH MORE, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> A LOCAL ART STUDENT IS USING HER ARTWORK TO EXPLORE HER RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING.

IT IS A PROCESS ABOUT FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING AFTER YEARS OF TRAUMA.

NOW SHE IS USING ART AS A TOOL TO MOVE FORWARD.

OUR CORRESPONDENT RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH ARTIST JACKIE PITINO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER WORK AND HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK.

>> WE DID NOT GO TO ART MUSEUMS, BUT CHURCH BECAME THE ART MUSEUM FOR ME.

THE GLASS STAINED, COLORFUL IMAGERY THAT BECAME THE VISUAL LANGUAGE.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED PRACTICING DRAWING, I FIRST STARTED WITH RELIGIOUS FIGURES BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE MY PARENTS PROUD.

>> BUT ART STUDENT JACKIE PITINO SAYS HER RELATIONSHIP WITH RELIGION DRAMATICALLY CHANGED DURING HER TEENAGE YEARS.

>> CATHOLICISM IN GENERAL IS SO WENT IN BEING LATINO.

IT IS REALLY HARD TO SEPARATE THE TWO.

THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE MY MOM THOUGHT THAT I WAS POSSESSED BY SOMETHING.

SHE KIND OF THOUGHT OUR WHOLE FAMILY WAS POSSESSED OR BEING ATTACKED BY A DEMON OF SOME SORT AND IT WAS VERY HARD, TO BOTH WATCH MY MOM AND MY FAMILY IN GENERAL KIND OF GO THROUGH THIS STAGE OF MADNESS.

>> THAT MANAS SHE DESCRIBES WOULD SOON REACH A BREAKING POINT.

>> AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS OF GOING THROUGH CONSTANTLY BEING TOLD THERE IS A DEMON IN YOU, THE CATALYST WAS MY MOM HAD AN EXORCISM DONE ON ME, SO I HAD TO BE CLEANSED, IN HER WORDS.

AFTER THE EXORCISM WAS DONE, SHE KIND OF, FOR HER, IT WAS HEALING, BUT FOR ME, IT WAS KIND OF -- IT WAS THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE.

>> Reporter: SHE WOULD GO ON TO USE HER ART NOT ONLY TO PROCESS WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER, BUT USE IT AS A TOOL TO BOTH HEAL AND FORGIVE.

>> THERE ARE LITTLE SYMBOLS IN MY PIECES, THE LINE IS VERY REOCCURRING AND THE EXORCISM, SHE RUBBED ME WITH A LIME AND CANDLES.

I KIND OF USE THAT AS A SYMBOL TO REPRESENT BOTH THE EXORCISM, CLEANSING, BUT ALSO THE OPPOSITE OF CLEANSING.

>> Reporter: IN ADDITION TO SELF-PORTRAITS, PORTRAYING HER PET CHICKENS ARE ANOTHER IMPORTANT THEME WITHIN HER WORK.

>> ANIMALS IN GENERAL KIND OF SHOW AN UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE.

THEY REALLY HELPED ME RECONNECT WITH THAT HISTORY THAT I HAVE IN MEXICO, AND MY IDENTITY, AND THAT HAS BEEN THE ONE THING, CHICKENS IN GENERAL HAVE BEEN WANTING TO HAVE HELPED ME CONNECT.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS HER JOURNEY IS STILL VERY MUCH A PROCESS, AND IDENTIFYING AS AGNOSTIC AND CLEAR.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THESE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF YOURSELF?

>> INTERESTING.

I FEEL A LITTLE SADNESS IN THEM, BUT ALSO A LITTLE HOPEFUL.

THERE IS ONE IN THE CORNER AND I AM HOLDING TWO MICE' HANDS.

I FEEL HAPPINESS BUT ALSO SADNESS FOR THEM.

IT IS A BABY VERSION OF ME AND I FEEL BAD FOR IT BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT THE BEST VERSION IS GOING TO GO THROUGH BUT I ALSO FEEL HAPPY BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE I AM NOW.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES," I AM IN TOLEDO.

>> IF YOUR INTERESTED IN SEEING MORE SELF-PORTRAITS, HER ART WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT A VERY SERIOUS GALLERY IN RIVER WEST FROM AUGUST 11th THROUGH SEPTEMBER 9th.

>>> IF THIS WEEK'S WARM WEATHER HAS YOU IN THE MOOD FOR A TASTE OF THE ISLANDS, THIS IS BACK IN HUMBOLDT PARK.

THE CELEBRATION KICKS OFF WITH A COMMUNITY DAY ON THURSDAY, JUNE 8th AND CONTINUES THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH A PARADE, CARNIVAL, MUSICAL AND DANCE PERFORMANCES, ARTS, WORKSHOPS AND OF COURSE, PLENTY OF GOOD FOOD.

>> NEXT SATURDAY, THE 10th OF JUNE, AT 2:00, THE 45th -- 45th STATE PARADE WILL START ON DIVISION AND CAMPBELL.

>> WE WANT TO PRESERVE THE LEGACY AND TRADITIONS OF THE PUERTO RICAN COMMUNITY AND OUR CULTURE.

I REMEMBER COMING OUT TO THE FESTIVAL AS A KID WITH MY PARENTS AND MY GRANDMOTHER AND IT IS VERY PERSONAL TO ME AS WELL, THIS EVENT.

I WANT TO SEE IT TO KEEP GOING AND KEEP RISING AND GROWING.

>> ONCE AGAIN, THE FESTIVAL WILL BE IN HUMBOLDT PARK FROM JUNE 8th TO 11th.

YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES," , THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES.

A PROUD SPONSOR OF DIVERSITY,