>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY CIBC.

>> Michael: GOOD EVENING, TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" I'M MICHAEL PUENTE, REPORTER WITH WBEZ CHICAGO.

THANK YOU YORE SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, CHICAGO'S SOUTHEAST SIDE HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A HUB FOR MANUFACTURING AND A HOT SPOT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ABUSE.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHETHER INDUSTRY CAN CO-EXIST WITH HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS.

COULD PUERTO RICANS SOON GET THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE THE ISLAND'S LONG-TERM TARE TORIAL STATUS.

>> ADAPTIVE SKILLS TO THRIVE INDEPENDENTLY.

>> I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN DO IT.

>> Michael: AND DATA ENGINEER LORENA MESA GIVES US LA ULTIMA PALABRA FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR LATINAS IN TECH.

>> THROUGHOUT MUCH OF CHICAGO'S HISTORY THE SKYLINE OF THE SOUTHEAST SIDE HAVE BEEN SMOKE STACKS AND THE RESIDENTS WORKED AT THE MANUFACTURERS UNDER THEM.

OVER THE YEARS YOU WILL THAT INDUSTRY HAS TAKEN A TOLL HARMING BOTH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS.

IN RECENT MONTHS, THE TENSION BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY HAS ESCALATED AS PROTESTS ERUPTED AGAINST IRON.

THE WHY ARE HAS BEEN OVER BURDENED WITH INDUSTRY, SOME RESIDENTS SAY THEY NEED THE MANUFACTURING JOBS MORE THAN EVER.

JOINING US NOW, WITH MORE ARE ERICA SWINNY STALEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHICAGO BASED ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NON-PROFIT, MANUFACTURING RENAISSANCE.

AND GINA RAMIREZ, ACTIVIST AND MIDWEST OUTREACH MANAGER FOR THE NATURAL RESOURCE COUNCIL.

THIS WEEK, THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE MEASURE TIGHTENING RULES ON INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS AND RECYCLING CENTERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS AIR POLLUTION IN COMMUNITIES ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE.

WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE LEGISLATION?

>> THE LEGISLATION DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK ON THIS LEGISLATION WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR A FEW MONTHS AND A LOT OF WATERED DOWN VERSIONS ENDED UP GETTING PASSED.

AND SO THERE REALLY NEEDED TO BE MORE COMMUNITY INPUT IN THIS PROCESS WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALWAYS URGING.

AND IT IS NOTABLE TO NOTE THAT 12 ALDERMAN AND ALL THE BIG GREEN WITHIN THE CHICAGO AREA WAS AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE.

>> ERICA, DUE BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN A MANUFACTURING PRESENCE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO?

>> YES.

IN SHORT.

I MEAN, THERE'S A CRISIS LEVEL UNEMPLOYMENT, ESPECIALLY IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT POPULATIONS.

CURRENTLY THERE ARE 58,000 JOBS MANUFACTURING JOBS GOING UNFILLED.

OVERALL, THESE ARE HIGH QUALITY, GOOD PAYING JOBS.

THEY OFFER DIVERSE CAREER PATHWAYS, EVERYTHING FROM, PRODUCTION, MONTHING, BUT ALSO GOING INTO STEM CAREERS, LIKE ENGINEERING, AND ROBOTICS AND I.T.

AND EVEN UP TO OWNERSHIP.

BUSINESS OWNERSHIP IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

SO THIS IS REALLY A STRATEGIC SECTOR AND SEMISHELL STRATEGIC SECTOR AS FAR AS ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ESPECIALLY IN GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE.

SO MANUFACTURING JOBS WILL BE PART OF OUR ECONOMY FOR A LONG TIME AND WE NEED TO GET MORE OF OUR COMMUNITY FOLKS INTO THESE JOBS.

>> Michael: LET ME ASK YOU THIS, AS A FOLLOWUP, DO YOU THINK MANUFACTURERS PLANNING TO RELOCATE, DO THEY NEED TO DO MORE TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND RESIDENTS THERE FROM POLLUTION.

>> I THINK THIS IS A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL COMPANY OR COMMUNITY CAN SOLVE INDEPENDENTLY.

THIS KIND OF DEVELOPMENT IS HAPPENING IN CONTEXT OF ENVIRONMENT IS ALREADY HARMED.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS, ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING IS IN CONTEXT OF DECADES OF CONCENTRATED ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AS A RESULT OF INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM AND ZONING AND POLICIES THAT GUIDE WHERE THESE KINDS OF COMPANIES CAN GO.

SO YES, I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES AND THIS IS WHY WE ADVOCATE FOR INDUSTRIAL POLICY.

IT'S TIME TO PUT MUCH MORE STRATEGIC PLANNING IN HOW AND WHERE WE LOCATE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

WE NEED THESE JOBS, WE NEED GOOD JOBS AND CLEAN JOBS BUT IT NEEDS TO BE IN CONTEXT OF A MUCH MORE REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE NOT JUST PITTING ONE COMMUNITY AGAINST ONE BUSINESS BECAUSE OFTEN TIMES THE COMMUNITY GROUPS LOSE OUT.

>> Michael: NEAR BY FACTORY, AS GOOD ACTORS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD INDUSTRY, WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY'RE DOING RIGHT?

>> IT BRINGS ECONOMIC VITALITY WITHOUT BEING A HAZARD TO THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH.

WE'RE AT A CROSS ROADS RIGHT NOW, WE COULD CONTINUE TO BE ON THE PATH TO ABUSING THE LAND, AIR, AND WATER IN OUR COMMUNITY OR WE CAN BRING JOBS LIKE THE FACTORY, THAT ARE RESTORATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE.

>> WELL, THESE INDUSTRIES OFFER JOBS WITH LOW BARRIERS TO INDUSTRY IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES NEEDING THESE JOBS TO BE NEARBY.

>> SO, ANGI CLAIMS TO BE A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY, BUT WITH THE BAR SET SO LOW IN ILLINOIS IN TERMS OF PERMITTING.

ESSENTIALLY ANYONE THAT APPLIES FOR A PERMIT WILL RECEIVE ONE BECAUSE OF THE WAY OF THAT ZONE.

>> THE SOUTHEAST SIDE HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN WHERE VERY LARGE INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS WERE LOCATED AND SEEK OH LOCATE, BUT SHOULD CHICAGO BE TRYING TO ATTRACT SMALLER MANUFACTURERS INSTEAD?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND ACTUALLY, CHICAGO HAS A REALLY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.

NOT UNIQUE, IT'S COMMON AROUND THE UNITED STATES.

MOST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES ARE SMALLER, FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES.

AND IN CHICAGO, JUST WITH THE RECENT RESEARCH, WE FOUND THAT ABOUT 2,000 OUT OF 6,000 MANUFACTURING COMPANIES IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA ARE AT RISK OF CLOSING ONLY BECAUSE OF LACK OF A SUCCESSOR.

THESE ARE COMMUNITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT HIRE OUR NEIGHBORS.

IT'S OUR NEIGHBORS THAT COULD BE NEXT IN LINE TO OWN THESE COMPANIES.

WE THINK WE SHOULD BE WORKING ACTIVELY TO KEEP SOME OF THESE SMALLER MANUFACTURERS IN OUR SMALLER MANUFACTURERS TEND TO BE MUCH MORE IDENTITY WITH THE COMMUNITY AND TEND TO BE RESPONSIVE AND INTERESTED IN LEARNING AND ADAPTING TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE A CRITICAL PART OF THE SECTOR THAT NEEDS SUPPORT.

>> GINA, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THE LAST QUESTION, THE ILLINOIS INTERNATIONAL PORT DISTRICT IS ON THE EAST SIDE AND LOOKING TO EXPAND OPERATIONS AND THE PLAN SAYS THE BALANCE IS COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS OF THE INDUSTRY, GIVEN THE CURRENT AND HISTORIC PRESENCE IN THE AREA, DO YOU TRUST THEM TO DO WHAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO?

>> YOU KNOW, JUST FROM MY PAST EXPERIENCE WITH ALL THE CONCENTRATION OF INDUSTRY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

I WANT TO GIVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND YOU KNOW, WE JUST REALLY NEED TO GET RID OF THE TOXIC LEGACY THAT EXISTS ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE SO LET'S GET TO WORK.

>> OUR THANKS TO ERICA SWINNY STALEY AND GINA RAMIREZ FOR JOINING US.

>> IT CALLS FOR THE CREATION OF A STATUS CONVENTION OF DELEGATES ELECTED BY PUERTO RICAN VOTERS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY DETERMINE THE STATUS OF THE ISLAND.

WHO WAS BORN IN PUERTO RICO SAID ABOUT THE ACT ON THURSDAY'S CHICAGO TONIGHT.

>> I GREW UP IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DIDN'T HAVE RUNNING WATER IN PUERTO RICO BECAUSE OUR WATER WAS BEING DIVERTED TO A NAVY BASE.

PUERTO RICO HAS HAD TO EXPERIENCE COLONIALISM IN A VERY HARD WAY AND IT'S TIME FOR THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP THEY WANT TO HAVE WITH THE UNITED STATES.

>> JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE MARILIA GUTIERREZ WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN PUERTO RICO AND NOW LIVES IN CHICAGO'S UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD AND ED CHEVERE WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN CHICAGO AFTER HIS PARENTS CAME FROM PUERTO RICO.

NOW RETIRED HE SPLITS HIS TIME BETWEEN CHICAGO AND PUERTO RICO.

>> LET'S START WITH YOU, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PUERTO RICO'S SELF-DETERMINATION ACT?

>> WELL, I THINK I AGREE WITH WHAT IT IS TIME FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN THIS CONVERSATION WITH CONGRESS TO REALLY PUT YOU KNOW AN END TO COLONIALISM.

>> AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE PUERTO RICANS CHOOSE?

>> MY PARENTS ARE FROM HERE, AND OTHERS THAT WERE THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WANT, IT COULD STAND ON IT'S OWN, THE ISLAND COULD STAND ON IT'S OWN.

BUT, I WOULD PREFER, I HOPE THAT THEY WOULD PICK A BETTER COMMON WEALTH STATUS OR STATEHOOD.

WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE JOAN'S ACT BECAUSE IT'S COSTING THESE PEOPLE A LOT OF MONEY, PRODUCTS SHIPPED FROM EUROPE GO THROUGH THE UNITED STATES AND COME OUT OF ONLY FOUR PORTS HAVE TO BE ON U.S.

OWNED SHIPS.

WHEN THEY PUT THAT JONES ACT TOGETHER, AND THERE WERE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF SHIPS, THERE WAS COMPETITION.

NOW THERE ARE LESS U.S.

OWNED SHIPS.

THEY'RE LESS THAN HALF OF 1%.

SO, YOU GOT A TIGHT MARKET, IT'S SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND THEY'RE CHARGING A LOT FOR SHIPPING.

>> Michael: I READ THAT MOST PUERTO RICANS FAVOR STATEHOOD, DO YOU THINK THAT'S THE CASE?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE AT ALL.

AND I THINK IT IS SPLIT BETWEEN THE THREE FACTIONS OF PEOPLE WHO FAVOR STATEHOOD, THE STATUS QUO, OR SOME OTHER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES.

AND PEOPLE WHO FAVOR INDEPENDENCE.

I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH SPLIT BETWEEN THE THREE.

>> ED CHEVERE, YOUR THERE NOW ON THE ISLAND, HOW MUCH SUPPORT DO YOU THINK THERE IS AMONG PUERTO RICANS FOR INDEPENDENCE?

>> THERE ARE THOSE THREE SECTIONS.

I THINK IT'S SPLIT BETWEEN STATEHOOD AND COMMONWEALTH, WITH THE SMALLER PORTION BEING INDEPENDENCE.

BUT, THEY ARE GAINING MOMENTUM.

I SEE THAT GROUP AS A BIGGER GROUP.

I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S STATEHOOD AND COMMONWEALTH STATUS.

>> IS THERE ANY SUPPORT FOR JUST MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO?

AND DO YOU THINK THERE'S A SIGNIFICANCE DIFFERENCE ON HOW PUERTO RICANS WHO LIVE IN THE U.S. AND THOSE WHO LIVE ON THE ISLAND FEEL ABOUT THIS QUESTION?

>> I THINK THERE IS SUPPORT, FOR, NOT NECESSARILY, THE STATUS QUO, BUT SOME SORT OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO.

HOWEVER, I THINK THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT PEOPLE PUERTO RICANS IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE WE ARE LIVING IN THE BELLY OF THIS MONSTER, OF THIS DRAG ON, RIGHT, SO WE UNDERSTAND THE NUANCES THAT COME WITH THE RELATIONSHIP.

I THINK ON THE ISLAND, PEOPLE ARE NOT NECESSARILY UNDERSTANDING OR THEY CAN SEE ALL THESE NUANCES, SO IT'S HARD FOR THEM.

IT'S MORE CLEAR CUT FOR THEM, IT'S ONE OR THE OTHER.

I THINK IT'S MUCH MORE NUANCED THAN THAT.

>> AND HAS SUPPORT FOR ANY OF THOSE OPTIONS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY RECENTLY IN RECENT YEARS, IMPACT THE FEDERAL RESPONSE SAY OF HURRICANE MARIA IN 2017, WHAT ARE THE MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR PUERTO RICANS IN TERMS OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S. HOW IS THAT RELATIONSHIP REGARDED?

>> THE UNITED STATES FAILED PUERTO RICO AFTER HURRICANE MARIA.

AND I THINK THAT WAS TRUMP.

I DON'T THINK IT'S ANY OTHER PRESIDENT AS MUCH AS THAT GUY.

WE DON'T NEED HIM.

AND I THINK IT'S BETTER NOW, I THINK DURING OBAMA, PUERTO RICO'S WAS TREATED BETTER ALSO.

NOW, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE QUESTION A LOT MORE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT AS THE KIDS HERE GET EDUCATED, AND EDUCATION IS AFFORDABLE HERE COMPARED TO THE U.S., BUT THEY ARE LEAVE, ING, WHERE ARE THEY GOING?

THEY'RE GOING TO THE UNITED STATES AND SINCE WE'VE BEEN TIED TO THE UNITED STATES FOR SO LONG, OUR FAMILY ARE THERE.

AND I'M THERE, I'M HERE I HAVE A HOME HERE THREE OR FOUR MONTHS A YEAR.

IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO CONCEIVE OF BREAKING THAT TIE.

NOT TO SAY THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DO IT, BUT IT'S LONG, IT'S A LONG TIE WITH THE UNITED STATES.

THINGS CAN BE BETTER, THEY ABSOLUTELY CAN.

>> Michael: ED CHEVERE LET ME ASK YOU THIS REAL QUICK, WE'VE SEEN HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS HURT MUCH OF THE UNITED STATES AND STATES ARE DEPENDENT ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT PUERTO RICO CAN STAND ON IT'S OWN IF IT WERE TO BE INDEPENDENT?

>> I DON'T.

>> YOU DON'T.

>> LET ME SAY THIS, AS FAR AS THE PANDEMIC, YOU CAN NOT GO INTO ANY STORE THAT'S OPEN OR RESTAURANT THEY HAVE OUTSIDE SEATING THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MASK ON, THEY TAKE YOUR TEMPERATURE, THERE'S A PERSON DEDICATED TO TAKE YOUR TEMPERATURE THERE.

I DON'T SEE THAT IN CHICAGO.

>> DO YOU THINK THEY CAN STAND ON THEIR OWN, PUERTO RICO?

>> THE WORLD IS MADE UP OF MANY MORE COUNTRIES THAN THE UNITED STATES.

AS AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY, I THINK WE CAN FORGE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES IN EUROPE OR IN ASIA.

ALONG WITH THE UNITED STATES.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, REJECT THE UNITED STATES.

IT MEANS, THE WORLD IS OPENING UP TO YOU.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE'RE TAUGHT AS CHILDREN, IS THAT WE CAN NOT STAND UP BY OUR OWN AND THAT IS THE COLONIAL MIND SET.

>> THANKS TO MARILIA GUTIERREZ AND ED CHEVERE FOR JOINING US.

>> UP NEXT, HOW A LOCAL INSTITUTION IS HELPING THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE.

>> THE CHRONIC CONDITIONS OF DIABETES AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE WITH LEAD TO VISION LOSS LATE IN LAVE AND BOTH CONDITIONS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY COMMON IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

CHICAGO AN, JOSE MARTINEZ WHO WAS BORN BLIND WANTS PEOPLE COPING WITH VISION LOSS THAT INDEPENDENCE IS CAPABLE.

PRODUCER, ERICA GUNNEDERSON HAS THE STORY.

>> CHICAGO, IS WHAT MADE ME THE PERSON I AM.

THIS CITY IS WHAT MADE ME INDEPENDENT.

>> FOR MOST CHICAGOANS, THE CITY STREET GRID IS AN EVERYDAY CONVENIENCE, BUT FOR JOSE MARTINEZ WHO WAS BORN BLIND, IT'S A CRITICAL PART OF MAINTAINING HIS AUTONOMY.

THAT'S VERY EASY TO LEARN, I MEAN, I LEARNED IT, I CAN TEACH IT TO ANOTHER BLIND PERSON.

I FEEL THAT CONFIDENT, BUT YET, YOU STILL HAVE PEOPLE LIKE ME GROWING UP AND BEING SHELTERED ESPECIALLY IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE GROWING UP SHELTERED IN A CITY LIKE THIS, A CITY FULL OF OPPORTUNITY.

>> HE SAYS HE'S LEARNED THE ADAPTIVE SKILLS THAT ALLOWED HIM TO THRIVE INDEPENDENTLY WHERE HIS PARENTS MET WITH A COUNSELORER WHETHER HE WAS A SMALL CHILD.

>> I'M SURE SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO PRODUCE ADVOCACY TO MY PARENTS AND INSTILLING THE DESIRE AND THE ABILITY TO FIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD'S RIGHTS.

>> IT WASN'T UNTIL LATER WHEN HE UNDERSTOOD HOW SOME IN HIS COMMUNITY PERCEIVED HIM.

>> I WAS AT A PARTY WITH MY DAD INTEREST, AND IT CAME TIME TO BREAK THE PINATA, AND USUALLY WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS TRY TO HINT WHERE IT IS, OR SEE IF I WOULD BE ABLE TO HEAR IT SWING BY.

AND I THINK THAT DAY I WAS DOING IT ALL ON MY OWN.

AND SOMEONE IN THE BACKGROUND, BECAUSE I DIDN'T HEAR THIS, MY DAD TOLD ME THIS YEARS LATER.

SHE SAYS IN SPANISH, WOW, THAT'S AMAZING, I THOUGHT HE WAS DUMB.

JUST BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE.

>> IN ADDITION TO OFFERING VISION CARE, REHABILITATION, JOB TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE LIVE WING VISION IMPAIRMENT, THE CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE ALSO EMPLOYING THEM IN A VARIETY OF CAPACITIES.

>> PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED DISABLED OR VETERANS.

TODAY JOSE MARTINEZ IS PARTS OF A SERVICE CALLED DIGITAL ACCESSIBLE EXPERIENCE IS A NEW ENTER PRICE FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

>> AS BUSINESSES YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE TO REACH THE LARGEST MARKET POSSIBLE.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE TO REACH ALL THE VARIOUS CLIENTS THAT COULD THEN BRING YOU MORE BUSINESS.

>> THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS IS EXPECTED TO RISE AS THE POSSIBLE POPULATION AGES IN THE COMING DECADES, MAKING WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY AN INCREASING NEED.

AMONG LATINOS, THE RISK OF LOSING VISION LATER IN LIFE IS ESPECIALLY HIGH.

>> THE LIGHTHOUSE IS VERY MUCH ADVOCATED FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CAMPAIGNS TO INFORM THESE COMMUNITIES, UNCHECKED DIABETES THAT COULD LEAD TO LOSSES OF VISION AS A RESULT.

THAT CAN BE PREVENTED.

ALL OF THIS IS PREVENTIBLE.

>> MARTINEZ ENCOURAGES ANYONE, YOUNG OR OLD WHOSE VISION IMPARMENT OF ALL THAT THE CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE HAS TO OFFER.

>> THEY MADE ME THE PERSON I'M NOW THANKS TO THE EDUCATION THEY PROVIDED MY PARENTS AND NOW I'M GOING FULL CIRCLE AND CONTRIBUTING BACK TO SOCIETY WITH THE DAKS PROGRAM.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THAT.

>> YOU COULD FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IS IN MARCH WITH A 2021 THEME OF CHOOSE TO CHALLENGE, AND DATA ENGINEER LORENA MESA WANTS TO CHALLENGE YOU'RE CAREER ASPIRATIONS, HERE SHE GIVES LA ULTIMA PALABRA ON LATINO REPUTATION IN TECH.

>> HELLO, I'M LORENA MESA AND I'M A CHICAGO AN WHO WORKS IN TECHNOLOGY, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT.

GETTING MORE LATIN X PEOPLE INTO TECHNOLOGY.

SPECIFICALLY LATINAS IN TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE TOOLS THAT TECHNOLOGY BUILDS ARE THE TOOLS WE USE IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES, SUCH AS HOW WE RECEIVE OUR NEWS OR MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO GET A VACCINE, HOW WE UNDERSTAND IF WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN REGISTERED TO VOTE.

DID YOU KNOW THAT IN 2018, THE SMITHSONIAN SIGNS EDUCATION CENTER SAID THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2.4 MILLION UNFULFILLED JOBS IN STEM IN 2019, TIM COOK OF APPLE SAID THAT AROUND HALF OF FOLKS THEY HIRED IN 2018 DON'T HAVE A FORMAL DEGREE.

AS SOMEONE WHOSE CHAIR PERSON OF THE PYTHON ASSOCIATION.

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN DO IT.

I'M NOT FORMALLY TRAINED IN COMPUTER SCIENCE RATION I GAINED MY EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE BY GOING AND FINDING COMMUNITY GROUPS I CAN WORK WITH TO WORK ON ISSUES I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT.

MEETS ON TUESDAY AND HELPS CREATE CIVIL TECH AND CIVIC TOOLS FOR THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE MANY PATHS INTO TECHNOLOGY, YOU COULD FIND AN APPRENTICESHIP OR MENTORSHIP.

YOU COULD GAIN ACCESSES FOR RESOURCES OR TALKING TO PEOPLE FOR LEARN ABOUT THEIR PAST.

THERE'S REAL ECONOMIC WEALTH THAT COMES WITH OPPORTUNITIES IN TECHNOLOGY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE STATS, IT'S ABYSMAL FOR MARGINALIZED.

FOR EVERY DOLLAR WHITE MEN MAKE, LATINA'S MAKE $0.54 ON THAT DOLLAR.

THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE QUITE LUCRATIVE.

AND LATIN PEOPLE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF REAL IMPLICATIONS BY NOT HAVING PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY REPRESENTED IN TECHNOLOGY TO HELP US BUILD THE TOOLS AND BUILD THE WORLD OF TODAY AND TOMORROW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING TODAY, I HOPE YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT A FUTURE FOR YOU WOULD LOOK LIKE IF YOU WERE TO WORK IN STEM.

>> Michael: WE'VE LINKS THAT SHE MENTIONED ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE YOU COULD ALSO WATCH FOR OF OUR LA ULTIMA PALABRA SERIES.

AND THAT'S ALL FOR OUR SHOW, MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT news.wttw.com AND JOIN BRANDIS FRIEDMAN TOMORROW NIGHT FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

>> AND ON MONDAY, BE SURE TO JOIN OUR LATINO MARCH COMMUNITY CONVERSATION.

MY COLLEAGUE AT WBTZ WILL BE JOINED BY LATINO LEADERS IN CHICAGO, IT WILL SHINE A LIGHT ON LATINAS, THE ADVERSITY THEY FACE IN THIS COUNTRY.

VISIT news.wttw.com/EVENTS TO RSVP.

YOU COULD CATCH MY REPORTING ON 91.5 WBEZ AND NEXT WEEK ON LATINO VOICES MY COLLEAGUE WILL BE HERE IN THE HOST'S CHAIR.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" I'M MICHAEL PUENTE THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE, GOODNIGHT.

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