CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALLSTATE AND THE SEARLE FUNDS AT THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

I AM MARISSA PARRA A REPORTER WITH CBS 2 CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING REVIEWING WITH US.

HERE'S WHAT WE HAVE ON THE SHOW TONIGHT SPECIAL BLACK VOICES LATINO VOICES CROSSOVER CONVERSATION.

WE HAVE THE MEDIA COVERAGE IN RESPONSE OF THE UKRAINIAN REFUGEES AND THOSE OVER OTHER COUNTRIES.

>>> AND AN PUSH TO GET LEAD PIPES OUT OF CHILDCARE FACILITIES AND THEY HOPE TO GET A BUDGET BOOST ON THE STATE TO EXPAND OFFERINGS.

>> WOMEN MAKE UP EIGHT PERCENT OF THE PROCESSIONS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY.

>> A LOCAL NONPROFIT WANTS TO PUSH CHICAGO GIRLS IN THE FAST LANE TO STEM SUCCESS.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT AS RUSSIA FORCES INVADE THE UKRAINE MORE THAN 2 MILLION UKRAINIANS HAVE NOW FLED THEIR HOMES AND SOUGHT REFUGE IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES MANY OF THEM GREETED WITH WARM AND GENEROSITY.

PEOPLE FLEEING CONFLICT AND DISASTER IN OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE NOT ALWAYS WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS IN EUROPE OR EVEN HERE IN THE UNITED DATES.

AT THE SOUTHERN ORDER THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS SEEKING REFUGE FROM DESPERATE SITUATIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN, AND IN SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA AWAITING CAMPS FOR PROCESSING AND MANY WERE RETURNED BACK HOME.

RUNNING IS FOR IT SPECIAL CROSSOVER CONVERSATION FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES ARE SARA HAGHDOOSI FROM WIN WITHOUT WAR, FASIKA ALEM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR UNITED AFRICAN, DAYSI FUNES FOR ERE RENDON AND LAURA WASHINGTON FROM THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE SPECIAL DISCUSSION.DAYSI WE DON'T OFTEN INCORPORATED OF THESE PEOPLE AS REFUGEES LET'S EXPLAIN A REFUGEE AND A MIGRANT.

>> Guest: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT, THEY ARE COMING FOR CONDITIONS THAT ARE OUT OF THEIR CONTROL.

FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEBODY WHO IS A REFUGEE IS SOMEONE WHO IS GOING THROUGH PERSECUTION THERE IS A WAR AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A SAFE HAVEN WHERE THEY CAN BE PROTECTED.

THEY HAVE TO QUALIFY, IMPROVE THAT THEY ARE REFUGEES.

THEY COME FOR THESE SITUATIONS AND IT CAN BE A PROVISION OF THEIR HOME COUNTRY AS WELL BUT WESLEY ECONOMICS.

THE BETTER THEY IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND HAVE A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REFUGEE WHO HAS BEEN PERSECUTED WITHOUT ANY PROTECTION LEAVING THEIR COUNTRY WITHOUT ANY ASSISTANCE.

>> OKAY.

SARA DO YOU THINK THESE PEOPLE FLEEING CONFLICT CAN CHANGE THE EFFECT OF THE COUNTRIES THEY ARE FLEEING TO AND WHO DETERMINES THEY ARE A REFUGEE?

>> Guest: ABSOLUTELY IT IS THE WAY WE DESCRIBE PEOPLE FLEEING FROM VIOLENCE DETERMINES HOW THEY ARE TREATED.

I THINK IN THIS CONFLICT IT HAS BEEN REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT TERMS USED.

I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE COVERAGE I HAVE SEEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT UKRAINIAN REFUGEES THEY ARE DESCRIBED AS REFUGEES MORE IMPORTANTLY THEY ARE DESCRIBED AS PEOPLE WHO AT TIMES MAY SAY LOOK LIKE US WHEREAS IN OTHER CASES WE NOT ONLY DON'T HEAR THOSE WORDS, WE HEAR THEM, WE HEAR PEOPLE DESCRIBED IN REALLY DEHUMANIZING WAYS.

THEY ARE REFERRED TO AS ILLEGALS OR ALIENS AND I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE ARE FLEEING FROM, NO MATTER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES THERE ARE, PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR HELP AND WHEN THEY ARE THEY DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND ONE OF COMPASSIONATE C. >> AND, WE ARE LEARNING WHY SHE HERSELF WAS AN IMMIGRANT FROM UKRAINE TO AMERICA 30 YEARS AGO.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> THEY THOUGHT THAT ALL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES DON'T WANT TO HAVE A RUSSIAN.

THAT IS WHY THEY ARE ALTOGETHER TO HELP UKRAINE.

NOT ONLY POLAND BUT SLOVAKIA PEERED THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A WAR WITH RUSSIA.

UNFORTUNATELY IT IS ONLY THE UKRAINE PROTECTING EUROPE FROM RUSSIA.

WE HAVE A DEAL WITH THE PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA FOR THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO BE HONEST OF WHAT THE NEXT DAY, YOUR COUNTRY WILL BE THE NEXT AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO PROTECT THOSE PEOPLE.

NOT BECAUSE THE UKRAINIANS ARE A SPECIAL NATION BUT THIS IS NOT A CIVIL WAR, IT IS NOT A CONFLICT.

IT IS A MILITARY IN CRISIS IN EUROPE.

>> FASIKA I WANT TO TURN TO NOW.

AS SHE SAID THAT THE UKRAINE HAS A RUSSIAN AGGRESSOR IN PUTIN BUT DO YOU THINK THAT CHANGES THE WAY PEOPLE FEEL REFUGEES ARE MORE OR LESS BETTER FOR PROTECTION?

>> I THINK IT HAS SOME RESPECT ON THE PUBLIC OF WHO IS DESERVING, RIGHT?

AND IN THIS CONFLICT WITH THE UKRAINE THERE IS A CLEAR AGGRESSOR.

FOR A LOT OF THOSE REFUGEES AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS THAT ARE FLEEING FROM BIG GLOBAL SOUTH IT IS NOT AS EASY TO IDENTIFY THE AGGRESSOR.

RIGHT?

IN MANY CASES THE CONFLICTS ARE INTERNAL AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT CIVIL WAR.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A DECLINE IN THE POLITICAL STABILITY THAT CREATES UNSAFE CONDITIONS FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN THOSE COUNTRIES.

IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY WHO THE AGGRESSOR IS AND I FEEL THAT IT MIGHT EVEN BE THE PERCEPTION THAT IT IS THEIR OWN DOING, RIGHT?

WHEN YOU HAVE THE EXTERNAL AGGRESSOR.

>> DAYSI YOU WERE A REFUGEE FROM EL SALVADOR DURING THE CIVIL WAR IN THAT COUNTRY.

DO YOU THINK AMERICANS REACT TO THAT CRISIS THE SAME WAY THEY ARE REACTING TO THE UKRAINE?

>> WHEN I CAME HERE TO THE UNITED DATES LOOKING FOR ASYLUM, LOOKING FOR LEAVING MY HOME COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS IN 1980, PART OF OUR LIFE, FLEEING AND LEAVING MY FAMILIES AND FRIENDS BUT ALSO MY BEST FRIEND WAS KILLED IN A MOMENT THAT MY AUNT WAS IN THE CLANDESTINE JAILS.

BECAUSE, IN THE PROCESS, THEY WERE NO BENEFIT FOR THE SALVADORANS BECAUSE IT WAS A CONFLICT.

WHERE, THIS COUNTRY WAS VERY WELL INVOLVED IN THAT WAR.

THEY NEVER WRECKED DENIES US AS REFUGEES.

WE DID NOT RECEIVE HELP OR SUPPORT BUT THE OFFICIALS HELP THOSE THAT CAME IN THAT MOMENT.

THEY WERE COMING FROM EL SALVADOR AND HONDURAS, NICARAGUA AND I DON'T KNOW, CENTRAL AMERICA WAS IN TURMOIL AT THAT MOMENT IN 1980 SO THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION TALKING ABOUT HOW PEOPLE SEE US AS IMMIGRANTS, PEOPLE OF COLOR THEY SAY THEY ARE YOUNG, CROSSING THE BORDER AND STRONG MEN COULD BE RAPISTS, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT BEEN VERY WELCOMING TO THE IMMIGRANTS OR REFUGEES OF THE SOUTH.

>> SARA I WANT TO TURN TO YOU BECAUSE YOU TOUCHED ON THIS LITTLE BIT IN SO MANY WORDS.

DO YOU FEEL THE MEDIA IS COVERING THIS REFUGEE CRISIS DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR WATCHING YOUR SHOW KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE THEIR COMMUNITY OR THEIR COUNTRIES BEING CALLED UNCIVILIZED WHICH IS ONE OF THE COMMENTS WE HAVE HEARD FROM COMMENTATORS DURING THIS DEBATE.

WE HAVE HEARD PEOPLE DESCRIBE THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN EUROPE IS UNPRECEDENTED WHICH ALSO REALLY DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT HISTORY AND RECENT CONFLICT THAT HAS HAPPENED FOR SOME PEOPLE WITHIN THEIR LIFETIME.

WE LOOK AT WORLD WAR II FOR EXAMPLE.

WHAT I AM EXCITED ABOUT IS THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.

I KNOW THAT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS ESPECIALLY AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, MANY HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT UNCONSCIOUS BIAS AND RACIAL JUSTICE AND HOW THAT PLAYS OUT IN DIFFERENT MOMENT.

I THINK THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW IT IS PLAYING OUT HERE AND I AM HOPING THAT MORE PEOPLE WOULD RECOGNIZE IT, TALK ABOUT IT AND TAKE ACTION TO CHANGE IT.

>> WE HAVE JUST A MINUTE LEFT, FASIKA I WOULD ASK YOU WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THE U.S. TO DO FOR OTHER GROUPS OF REFUGEES THAT YOU HAVE SEEN THEM DO FOR THE UKRAINIANS IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS?

>> THE UKRAINE IS NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY EXPERIENCING CONFLICT.

RIGHT?

WE ARE STILL SEEING MANY COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DESIGNATION OF PPF FOR CAMEROON.

THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN INTERNAL CONFLICT AND EXTERNAL THREATS IN THE REGION THAT HAVE MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR CAMEROONIANS TO RETURN ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE US TO RETURN TO CAMEROON AND THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS A DESIGNATION OF PPS FOR CAMEROON PEERED WE FEEL THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DELAYING AND HESITATING TO DO THAT EVEN THOUGH ALL THE EVIDENCE POINTS TO THE NEED FOR THAT.

>> LAURA, WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 10 SECONDS ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD?

>> THE MEDIA YOU HEAR PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN THIS AND WE AS JOURNALISTS NEED TO BE CONSCIOUS OF HOW WE USE TERMINOLOGY AND WORDS AND THE IMPACT THEY HAVE.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS IN NEWSROOMS SINCE THE GEORGE FLOYD CONVERSATION EMERGED ABOUT TERMINOLOGY AND HOW WE LABEL PEOPLE AND DEHUMANIZING THE IMPACT IT CAN HAVE WHEN YOU USE A TERM LIKE REFUGEE AND UNDOCUMENTED AND WE ARE NOT SENSITIVE ENOUGH TO ENTIRE GROUPS OF PEOPLE AND SOME OF THE RACIST UNDERTONES THAT ARE DEVELOPED.

AND A PART OF IT IS DIVERSIFYING IN THE MEDIA.

YET TO THINK OF WHO IS TELLING THE STORIES, WHO IS BEHIND THE CAMERA AND THE MORE DIVERSITY YOU CAN BRING TO THE MEDIA THE MORE SENSITIVITY COMES ALONG WITH IT.

>> WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR VOICES AND THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT ON OUR AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES ON THE TREATMENT OF REFUGEES AND HOW REFUGEES IN SYRIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD WERE TREATED IN 2015 VERSUS UKRAINIAN REFUGEES TODAY.

>>> FOR NOW, THANKS TO OUR GUESTS TODAY, SARA HAGHDOOSI, FASIKA ALEM, DAYSI FUNES AND LAURA WASHINGTON THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> HI LEAD LEVELS AND WATER IS NOT JUST UNPLEASANT IT CAN HAVE DEVASTATING HEALTH EFFECTS ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN.

IT CAN LEAD TO DAMAGE IN THE BRAIN, AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.

IT IS SOMETHING WE FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT HERE IN ILLINOIS.

WE HAVE 700 LEAD SERVICE LINES AND A MILLION MORE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN THAT IS MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S PROPOSED BUDGET HAS HALF $1 BILLION IN FEDERAL MONEY THE TACKLES THE PROBLEM.

AS CHICAGO TONIGHT'S NICK BLOOMBERG REPORTS SOME WANT MORE FUNDING TO REMOVE LEAD PIPES CONNECTED TO CHILDCARE FACILITIES.

>> ACT IN 2017 THE STATE OF ILLINOIS BEGAN REQUIRING DAYCARE IS TO TEST LEAD LEVELS IN THEIR WATER AND COME UP WITH A NEGATION PROGRAM IF THEY FOUND ONE.

THEY DISCOVERED THEY HAD A HANDFUL OF WATER FIXTURES WITH HIGH LEAD LEVELS.

>> WHAT WE DO EXCEPTIONALLY WELL THERE IS EARLY CHILDHOOD.

WHAT WE DON'T DO WELL OR WE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH OUR COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

>> THEY GOT HELP FROM THE NONPROFIT ELEVATE THAT INSTALLED THE FEATURES AND THE LEAD SERVICE LINE CONNECTED TO THE BUILDING REPLACED.

>> HAD WE BEEN REQUIRED TO CHANGE THOSE OUT ON OUR OWN WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO REMOVE RESOURCES FROM THE CLASSROOM TO DO THAT WORK SO WHEN YOU ARE WORKING WITH VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LIKE WE DO FOR ANY CHILDREN IT'S NOT AN OPTION YOU WANT TO EXERCISE.

>> IN RECENT YEARS A PATCHWORK OF GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFIT PROGRAMS COME TOGETHER TO OFFER HELP WITH TESTING AND MITIGATION BUT THE NEED FAR OUTSTRIPS THE AVAILABLE ASSISTANCE ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH-PRIORITY PLACES LIKE CHILDCARE FACILITIES.

>> IT IS REALLY GOING TO TAKE A VILLAGE TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE BUT THE GOOD THING IS WE KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

>> 20 PERCENT OF LICENSED CHILDCARE FACILITIES IN ILLINOIS TOLD THE STATE THEY FOUND LEAD IN THE WATER ALTHOUGH NOT ALL OF THOSE ARE USED IN FIXTURES FOR DRINKING WATER.THEY SAY THE PROVIDERS THEY WORK WITH ARE EVEN MORE LIKELY TO FACE HIGH LEAD LEVELS.

>> DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF FACILITY YOU ARE IN WE FOUND BETWEEN 30 AND 50 PERCENT OF PROVIDERS WERE FINDING LEAD IN THEIR DRINKING WATER.

WE WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE STATEWIDE ASSISTANT.

>> GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER'S BUDGET PROPOSAL INCLUDES 506 TWO $5 MILLION IN LOANS AND GRANTS TO REPLACE LEAD SERVICE LINES BUT THAT IS ALL MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL INFO STRUCTURE PACKAGE.

SOME PEOPLE WANT THE STATE TO KICK IN $300 MILLION OF ITS OWN FUNDING EXCEED MILLION DOLLARS OF WHICH WOULD BE DESIGNATED CHILDCARE FACILITY.

>> THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN IS WHERE THE TO PUT THAT MONEY ASIDE TO MAKE SURE EVERY CHILDCARE FACILITY IS FREE OF LEAD LINES.

>> JUSTIN WILLIAMS SAYS HIS GROUP HAS HAD POSITIVE CONVERSATIONS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON HIS PROPOSAL.

HE SEES THAT THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT ONLY ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE BUT IT IS ALSO ABOUT RACE AND EQUITY.

>> BLACK AND LATINO CIVILIANS LIVE IN THE PLACE WITH THE LEAD LINES.

WE CANNOT LEAVE THIS PROBLEM AT THE FEET OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN CHICAGO.

>> LAST YEAR STATE REP. LAMONT ROBINSON JR.

REQUIRED A BILL TO DOCUMENT LEAD SERVICE LINES AND COME UP WITH A PLAN TO REPLACE THEM.

>> WE REMOVED LEAD OUT OF PAINT THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE THIS IN OUR WATER.

>> ELIMINATING SERVICE LINES IS A LONG-TERM EFFORT BIDDING ON THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM THEY HAVE 15 TO 20 YEARS TO REPLACE LEAD PIPES ACCORDING TO LAW.

BUT HE IS PUTTING IN A BILL TO SEND FREE WATER FILTERS TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM.

>> WE KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO REPLACE ALL LEAD PIPES AND WHILE WE ARE WAITING ON THOSE FUNDS WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES IM NICK BLUMBERG.

>> ROBINSON IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA TO ADD STATE FUNDING TO REMOVE LEAD PIPES.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE DID NOT RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR COMMENT ON THAT PROPOSAL.

>> AND AN ILLINOIS INITIATIVE IS LOOKING TO UP THEIR AVAILABILITY TO OFFER LEGAL SUPPORT TO THE BLACK AND LATINO POPULATIONS.

THIS IS FROM INCARCERATION AND DEPORTATION.

THE JUSTICE COALITION IS COMPRISED OF DIFFERENT NONPROFIT LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS AND OFFERS ILLINOIS AS FREE REPRESENTATION AND FREE TRAINING ON LEGAL LITERACY AND THAT CAN BE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

ACCORDING TO LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION'S 2017 JUSTICE REPORTS 86 PERCENT OF THE CIVIL EAGLE PROBLEMS REPORTED BY LOW INCOME AMERICANS RECEIVED IN ATTIC OR NO LEGAL HELP.

71 PERCENT OF LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCED AT LEAST ONE CIVIL LEGAL PROBLEM IN THAT YEAR AND THOSE PROBLEMS CAN INCLUDE ISSUES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HEALTHCARE HOUSING AND DISABILITY.

THE COALITION SAYS WITH MORE MONEY FROM THE STATE THEY CAN OFFER BETTER RESOURCES TO ILLINOIS WHO MIGHT NEED THE HELP NAVIGATING A COMPLEX LEGAL SYSTEM.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE THE WOMEN SPEARHEADING THE PROJECT.

ERE RENDON AND TANYA WOODS.

CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE RANGE OF SERVICES THAT YOUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS CAN OFFER?

>> YES, ILLINOIS ACTION FOR JUSTICE IS A STATEWIDE PROGRAM AND WE FOCUS ON ALL SORTS OF LEGAL CASES EVERYTHING FROM HOUSING FOLKS FACING EVICTION, FAMILY MATTERS AND THE MYSTIC VIOLENCE ALL THE WAY TO DEPORTATION, ASYLUM, HELPING NEW REFUGEES ARRIVING FROM AFGHANISTAN.

>> YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO ASK THIS THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AT MADIGAN.

THERE WAS A REPORT THAT HE HAD ASKED THE THEN ALDERMAN DANNY SLEAZE TO GET BUSINESS INSURANCE FOR HIS SON FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION PAIRED WE WILL ALSO SHARE THAT THE RESURRECTION PROJECT HAS NOT BEEN ACCUSED OF WRONGDOING.

THEY HAVE COOPERATED WITH THE INVESTIGATION BUT DO YOU HAVE A RESPONSE TO THAT REPORT?

>> YES.

WE WERE ESTABLISHED BECAUSE DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS ADVOCATED FOR DESPERATELY NEEDED FUNDING AS STATED AT THE TOP OF YOUR SEGMENT.

THE CAMPAIGN EARNED SUPPORT FROM DIVERSE GROUPS, BLACK AND BROWN SPACE AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE WORK WE HAVE DONE SINCE THEN IS INCREDIBLE.

>> THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT.

TONYA, I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE LEGAL SERVICES WHO REALLY NEED THAT FOR THE POPULATION?

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT PEOPLE WHO COME FROM THE COMMUNITIES THAT I AM FROM, THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO IN THE GARDEN PART COMMUNITY AND THE FOLKS THAT I GREW UP WITH ARE THE SAME PEOPLE IN THE SAME COMMUNITY.

THEY LIVE IN HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES OVERREPRESENTED, UNDER POLICED, OVERLOOKED AND UNDERREPRESENTED.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY AS MUCH AS THEY CAN JUST LIKE YOU OR I AND OFTEN ARE STYMIED BY A SYSTEM THAT THROWS UP ALL KINDS OF BARRIERS TO PREVENT THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO LIVE A DECENT LIFE AND SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO A GOOD SCHOOL.

WE OFFER SERVICES TO ANYONE WHO WANTS THEM OR IS IN NEED OF THEM WHO HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES LEFT BEHIND BECAUSE OF SYSTEMIC ERRORS, LOW INCOME OR UNDEREMPLOYMENT.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN DIFFERENT POPULATIONS MAY BE NOT GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED.

TONYA, HOW DO YOU MEASURE WHETHER A PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL AND WHAT IS THE BENCHMARK?

>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MEASURING AND SUCCESS A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS THAT IS OFTEN DONE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EITHER EAGLE SERVICES OR HUMAN SERVICES OR SOCIAL SERVICES THERE'S LESS EMPHASIS ON POLICY.

WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS NOT ONLY COUNT THE NUMBER OF SCREENINGS OR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE HELPED BY LEGAL REPRESENTATION OR EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE SERVICES OR BE TRAINED AS COMMITTEE NAVIGATORS BUT WE ALSO TALK ABOUT THE QUALITATIVE OUTCOME THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES IN INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILY AND THAT OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TRAINED OVER 2200 COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF LEGAL SCREENINGS AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE LEGAL EDUCATION.

>> THAT IS A GOOD ANSWER.

I WANT TO TURN TO YOU NOW.

WE TALK ABOUT LEGAL LITERACY TRAINING.

CAN YOU TELL US HOW TRAINING PEOPLE ON HOW TO INTERPRET WEEKLY SO TO SPEAK MIGHT HELP THEM AVOID GETTING ENTANGLED IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> YES.

FIRST OUR APPROACH IS TO TRAIN.

WE WANT TO MAKE COMMITTEE EXPERTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE RECRUIT, TRAIN AND ORGANIZE WHAT WE CALL COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS.

PRIMARILY DIRECT DIRECTLY IMPACTED FOLKS WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS THEMSELVES OR HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED PREVIOUSLY.

WE TRAIN THEM AND THEN WE PROVIDE THEM THE TOOLS AND SKILLS NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE THIS INFORMATION.

THEY ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE'S RIGHTS ARE TO PERHAPS PREVENT DEPORTATION OR AN ARREST AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE RIGHT THEY ARE FACING WITH EVICTIONS AND IF THAT IS FAIR CONNECT THEM WITH AN ATTORNEY THROUGH ONE OF OUR LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AS WELL.

>> HAVE A TOUGH ASSIGNMENT FOR BOTH OF YOU.

IN ONE SENTENCE, FOR BOTH OF YOU, WHAT WOULD UPDATING 20 MILLION YOU ARE ASKING THE GOVERNOR TO ADVOCATE 20,000,004 JUSTICE ADVOCATES UP FROM 10 MILLION AND WHAT WOULD THAT BE FOR YOU?

>> INCLUSIVE FOR THE COMMITTEES WHO NEED THEM.

>> IT MEANS WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PROTECT MORE BLACK AND BROWN IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF ILLINOIS AND ENSURING THEY HAVE TRUSTWORTHY LEGAL SERVICES IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THAT OUR THANKS TO TANYA WOODS AND ERE RENDON.

>>> EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN MAKING EXTRA EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN ESPECIALLY GIRLS TO EXPLORE STEM FIELDS INCLUDING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING AND MATH ADDICTS AND THAT'S BECAUSE WOMEN ARE STILL VASTLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN STEM OCCUPATIONS PER 27 PERCENT ACCORDING TO THE US CENSUS AND TO HELP WITH THIS LOCAL NONPROFIT GIRLS FOR SCIENCE IS OFFERING A FREE PROGRAM CALLED SATURDAY STEM ACADEMY GIRLS AGES 10 TO 18.

>> WE ARE SO PROUD THIS SPRING TO OFFER THE SCIENCE OF CARS WORKING WITH A LOCAL TRAINING FACILITY, TRAINING FACILITY ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO WE WILL BE INTRODUCING HOW THIS WORKS.

WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF HAVING OIL IN YOUR ENGINE?

WHAT DO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS MEAN AND HOW CAN YOU MAINTAIN YOUR CAR FROM ONE SEASON TO ANOTHER?

THESE TOPICS ARE SO RELEVANT BECAUSE WOMEN ONLY MAKE UP EIGHT PERCENT OF THE PROFESSION IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY FOR GIRLS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 TO 18 TO WALK INTO A CITY COLLEGE OF CHICAGO OR ON A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AND TO BE PARTNERED WITH CURRENT COLLEGE STUDENTS OR WOMEN OF COLOR.

AND ALL AREAS OF PROFESSION OF CHEMISTRY, MEDICAL SCIENCE, ROBOTICS.

IT REALLY DOES HELP TO REVERSE THE STIGMA.

IT IS A GREAT ENERGY, THE SPIRIT OF THE WOMAN.

RIGHT?

WE MOVE MOUNTAINS.

>> AND TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR GIRLS FOR SCIENCE YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

NEXT WEEK WE WILL BE BACK.

YOU CAN CHECK MY REPORTING ON CBS CHICAGO.

AND, THE ROLE ON SESAME STREET WAS THE LONGEST RUNNING ROLE FOR A MEXICAN-AMERICAN.

THE ACTOR DIED AT 81.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, I AM MARISSA PARRA.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND BUENAS NOCHES.

[SINGING]