>>> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ.

EVERYDAY MORNING AT 5:00 AND 6:00 TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE 14th WARD IS GETTING NEW LEADERSHIP IN CITY COUNCIL BUT WE TALK WITH ALDERPERSON-ELECT, JEYLU GUTIERREZ.

HALF -- INSIDE THE VILLAGE ARE BEING FORCED OUT.

WE TELL YOU WHY.

SO MY HOUSEHOLD AND ILLINOIS RECEIVING SNACKFOOD BENEFITS WILL RECEIVE A DECREASE THIS MONTH.

>>> APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR A SCHOLARSHIP AIMED AT HELPING IMMIGRANT AND LATINO STUDENTS PAY FOR COLLEGE.

>> NOT ONLY SOMETHING WE DO FOR A LIVING, IT IS EMBEDDED IN OUR DNA.

>>> A CENTURY OLD FAMILY RECIPE FROM MEXICO THAT IS PERFECT FOR WINTRY DAYS IN CHICAGO, ALL THAT AND MORE COMING UP, BUT OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT, MEET ONE OF THE NEW FACES HEADED TO CITY COUNCIL, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT : LATINA VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> THOUGH THE RACE FOR MAYOR AND MANY OF THE ELDER PERSON RACES ARE UP IN THE AIR, THIS ELECTION DID BRING SOME DECISIVE OUTCOMES BUT AMONG THE OUTRIGHT VICTORS, THE FIRST TIME WERE JULIA RAMIREZ AND JESSE FUENTES.

HERE IS SOME OF WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION.

>> I THINK IT IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE WAYS IN WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE OPPORTUNITIES IN SOME OF OUR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 2025.

THEY MAY CLOSE.

HOW ARE WE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR KIDS TO PROSPER, FOR OUR PEOPLE TO THRIVE?

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES IN THE 12th WARD.

>> THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN DISINVESTMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING ACROSS THE 26th WARD, AND INCREASING CRIME.

OUR PRIORITIES ARE GOING TO BE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE OPENING UP MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS, INVESTING IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING, AND THAT WE FIGHT FOR SCHOOLS TO HAVE RESOURCES.

>> JOINING US NOW IS ONE OF THEIR NEW COLLEAGUES, AND ANOTHER NEW FACE TO CITY COUNCIL, JEYLU GUTIERREZ, ALDERPERSON-ELECT FOR THE 14th WARD, WHICH INCLUDES PARTS OF ARCHER HEIGHTS AND GAGE PARK.

SHE IS THE FIRST NEW ELDER PERSON IN THAT WARD IN MORE THAN FIVE DECADES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO ASK IF YOU AGREE WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES ON HOW THEY WOULD APPROACH PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> WE NEED TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE .

I AM A FORMER EDUCATOR.

WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY IN OUR WARD IS SAFE.

WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE WELL EQUIPPED .

AND ALSO TAKEN CARE OF, THEY ARE PARENTS AND NEIGHBORS WHO NEED TO GO BACK TO THEIR FAMILIES.

WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUES OR OTHER CITY OFFICIALS, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY AND OTHER STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO BRING RESOURCES TO OUR 14th WARD.

>> WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

>> I AM A FORMER EDUCATOR, AS I SAID.

I HAVE BEEN A DISTRICT DIRECTOR IN COOK COUNTY FOR FOUR YEARS.

OFTEN TIMES, I HAVE SEEN DISPARITIES AND INEQUITIES IN OUR WARD, EVEN THOUGH AS SOON AS I CAN TO CHICAGO -- PARK WHERE I LANDED DIFFERENT FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTHSIDE AND THE SUBURBS.

I WONDERED WHY WAS THE ISSUE?

WHY WOULD IT MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE?

THEN I STARTED GETTING INVOLVED IN VOLUNTEERING, AND I REALIZED IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP WE HAD IN THE 14th WARD.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST NEED THAT YOU SEE IN THE 14th WARD?

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ADDRESS IT?

>> WE NEED TO REVIVE THAT OFFICE.

OFTENTIMES -- KNOCKING SO MANY DOORS.

OUR NEIGHBORS ARE ALWAYS TELLING US [ INAUDIBLE - LOW VOLUME ] RIGHT?

THE STREETS ARE CLEANER AND PAVED, BUT SOME ARE NEGLECTED.

THE WARD IS LIKE THAT.

WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE REQUEST IS TAKEN CARE OF IN A TIMELY MANNER AND ALWAYS WITH A HAPPY FACE FOR OUR STAFF, AND WHEN ALDERPERSON IS ABLE TO LISTEN TO THE NEEDS OF OUR WARD.

>> YOU WERE ENDORSED BY -- GARCIA, AND AS WE KNOW, HE DID NOT MAKE THE RUNOFF.

HAVE YOU MADE UP YOUR MIND ON WHO YOU ARE BACKING IN THE RACE BETWEEN ROSALES AND BRANDON JOHNSON?

>> ENDORSEMENTS ARE NOT GIVEN, THEY NEED TO BE EARNED.

I NEED TO MAKE SURE MY 14th WARD IS GOING TO BE WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

IT IS EITHER ONE OR THE OTHER, I NEED TO CHECK EXACTLY WHAT THEIR POLICIES AND INTENTIONS ARE FOR OUR WARD, SO WE MAKE SURE WE BACKUP THE BEST OPTION FOR OUR 14th WARD.

>> THIS WARD, AS YOU KNOW, HAS A LONG HISTORY UNDER ITS FORMER ALDERPERSON, ED BURKE.

ARE THERE THINGS YOU PLAN TO DO DIFFERENTLY?

>> AS I SAID, SERVING EVERY SINGLE RESIDENT THE SAME WAY.

YOU KNOW, CLEANING THE STREETS, BRINGING RESOURCES.

WE DON'T HAVE A NICE LIBRARY AND GAGE PARK , WE DON'T HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS HAVE GREAT SPACES TO THRIVE, AND WE ALSO NEED INVESTMENTS TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES KEEP GROWING AND WELCOME ANY NEW NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO THE 14th WARD.

>> ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE NEW ELDER PEOPLE?

BACK I AM READY.

I AM A COMMUNITY LEADER, I HAVE ALWAYS WORKED AS A TEAM PLAYER.

I AM READY TO WORK WITH THEM ALONGSIDE THE >> THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> OUR THANKS TO JEYLU GUTIERREZ FOR JOINING US TODAY.

NOW, TO JOANNA HERNANDEZ, AND THEN JUST CLOSING SHOP IN -- JOANNA?

>> Reporter: HALF THE VENDORS AT THE -- LITTLE VILLAGE ARE BEING FORCED OUT.

FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE MALL HAS BEEN THE MIDDLE OF A BATTLE BETWEEN THE PROPERTY OWNER, NOVAK DEVELOPED, AND ITS VENDORS.

HERE IS THE LATEST ON THE ONGOING SAGA.

IT MIGHT BE THE END OF AN ERA FOR THE DISCOUNT MALL.

THAT IS BECAUSE HALF OF THE MALL 'S VENDORS HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH TO PACK UP AND LEAVE.

-- IS ONE OF THOSE VENDORS CLOSING SHOP.

>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE.

THEY GIVE US NOTICE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO GO.

>> YOU NEVER WANTED TO LEAVE?

>> NO, OF COURSE.

>> Reporter: AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS, HE IS ONE OF 57 VENDORS TO RECEIVE A LETTER EXPLAINING THEY HAVE UNTIL MARCH 26th TO SELL THEIR MERCHANDISE.

>> IT IS GOING TO END HERE.

THAT IS IT, I AM GOING TO RETIRE, THOUGH MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS TO PAKISTAN, THEN COME BACK.

>> Reporter: THE BUILDING, OPERATED BY TWO SEPARATE COMEDIES, TILDEN PLAZA CORPORATION, AND BECAME ALSO THE OWNER OF THE TILDEN PLAZA CORPORATION RECENTLY SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH NOVAK DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

THE NEW LEASE RUNS FOR 10 YEARS WITH THREE FIVE-YEAR OPTIONS FOR A POTENTIAL TOTAL OF 25 YEARS.

AS FOR THE OTHER SIDE, MUSSO TORRES, THE MANAGER OF PK MALL, SAYS THE OWNER, EMAD KING, CANNOT COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH NOVAK.

>> DELAY PLAN TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE VENDORS AS WELL AS THE MANAGEMENT?

WHEN THEY DID NOT AGREE TO THE OWNERS OFFER, WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DECIDE TO LEAVE.

>> Reporter: THE MALL IS KNOWN TO OFFER BELOW MARKET RENTALS AND SHORT-TERM AGREEMENTS WITH LITTLE TO NO CREDIT HISTORY.

TORRES SAYS THE CONTRACT NOVAK WAS OFFERING THE OWNER WAS NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR ITS VENDORS.

>> VERY HIGH.

WE KNOW MANY OF THE VENDORS WERE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME, ESPECIALLY NOWADAYS, WITH THE RECESSION.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE CONTRACT LOOKS LIKE FOR THE MALL OPERATOR WHO RENEWED HIS LEASE WITH NOVAK.

TORRES SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN TALKS ABOUT THE TILDEN PLAZA CORPORATION MOVING TO THEIR SIDE.

>> THEY ARE GOING TO COME TO OUR SIDE -- BIG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THE VENDORS.

IT IS UP TO HIM.

TO SEE WHAT HE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP GOING.

>> Reporter: -- AND HIS DAUGHTER ARE ONE OF THE VENDORS HOPING TO STAY.

THEY HAVE BEEN OPERATING OR PET STORE INSIDE THE MALL SINCE 1989.

>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: IN FEBRUARY, ALDERMAN LOPEZ SAT DOWN WITH CITY OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS THE PLAN FOR THE PLAZA.

>> WE DISCUSSED AT LENGTH.

THERE IS ENOUGH ROOM TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYBODY.

THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, BUT YET THEY ARE SAYING SORRY, WE ALREADY SIGNED A CONTRACT.

CONTRACTS ARE CHANGED ALL THE TIME.

I WAS NOT BORN YESTERDAY.

>> Reporter: THIS NEWLY RELEASED RENDERING SHOWS WHAT THE LITTLE VILLAGE PLAZA IS EXPECTED TO LOOK LIKE AFTER RENOVATION.

NOVAK SAYS THAT PLANS ON REPAIRING THE FRONT OF THE MALL, WHICH INCLUDES THE ROOF, THE PLAZA PARKING LOT WITH AN UNDERGROUND STORM WATER SYSTEM, AMONG OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.

>> THE MALL BELONGS TO MR. KIM.

ACTUALLY, MALL IS NOT STAYING, IT IS THE ONE THAT IS LEAVING.

>> TORRES IS BEEN A MANAGER FOR THE PK MALL FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS, AND SAYS IT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO END SUCH A BIG CHAPTER OF HER LIFE.

>> I HOPE WE WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN ANOTHER DISCOUNT MALL IN THE FUTURE.

>> ASKED FOR A NAME CHANGE FOR THE DISCO MALL, A NOVAK'S POST PERSON SAID THAT BETWEEN THE TWO MALL OPERATORS, WE DID ASK ABOUT PLANS FOR THE SIDE THAT IS LEAVING, AND WE ARE TOTALLY SPACE WILL BE LEASED WITH DISCOUNT OPERATOR WHO RENEWED HIS CONTRACT.

NO WORD ON WHO OR WHAT WILL REPLACE THE EMPTY SIDE.

RENOVATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO START IN THE SPRING.

ALEX, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, JOANNA.

>>> NOW, TIME FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS TO PAY ATTENTION.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE MILLER EDITS FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP, PROVIDED BY THE NONPROFIT LATINOS FOR -- AND IT OFFERS FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO LATINOS AND IMMIGRANTS PURSUING OR ALREADY ENROLLED IN COLLEGE.

THE SCHOLARSHIP HONORS -- PEREZ-MILLER, AN EDUCATOR AND ADVOCATE FOR BILINGUAL EDUCATION IN CHICAGO, AND HER SON, DION, WHO WAS DEEPLY INVOLVED IN HIS COMMUNITY OF MARSHALL SQUARE.

>> WE ARE VERY EXCITED, BECAUSE WE WILL BE DISTRIBUTING FIVE $2000 SCHOLARSHIPS TO FIVE STUDENTS IN COOK COUNTY .

SO, THE CRITERIA FOR STUDENTS TO APPLY, YOU MUST BE ADMITTED OR ENROLLED IN UNDERGRADUATE SEEKING DEGREE , OR A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM AT A U.S.-ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.

THE STUDENTS MUST BE OF LATINO OR IMMIGRANT BACKGROUND.

THEY CAN ALSO BE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS.

THEY MUST BE SEEKING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, THEY MUST HAVE INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE.

THE STUDENTS THAT APPLY MUST ALSO RESIDE IN COOK COUNTY.

HOPES THAT THIS SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY WILL ALLOW STUDENTS TO CONTINUE FURTHERING THEIR EDUCATION, AND OUR HOPE IS ALSO THAT, WITH THAT COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE, THAT THEY WILL GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

WE WERE ACTUALLY JUST IN TOUCH WITH ONE OF OUR RECIPIENTS FROM THE CLASS OF 2020.

HE IS CURRENTLY A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IN URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, HOPING TO GRADUATE NEXT MAY, 2024.

IT WAS REALLY NICE TO HEAR FROM HIM, AND HEAR HOW FAR HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO GO SINCE LAST TIME WE SPOKE.

IT IS REALLY HELPFUL FOR US TO HEAR THOSE STORIES FROM OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE STILL ENROLLED IN SCHOOL, STILL PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION .

SUPER EXCITED, HAPPY TO COME BACK AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT ONCE SUPPORTED THEM.

>> ACTUALLY, APPLICATIONS FOR THE MILLER-PARIS SCHOLARSHIP CLOSE ON APRIL 10th.

YOU WILL FIND MORE ON HOW TO APPLY ON OUR WEBSITE.

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

>>> HOUSEHOLD IN ILLINOIS RECEIVING SNAP BENEFITS WILL SEE THEM DECREASE THIS MONTH.

A PANDEMIC ERA POLICY GIVING LOW INCOME FAMILIES ADDITIONAL BENEFITS HAS COME TO AN END, LEAVING MANY LATINO HOUSEHOLDS BRACING FOR IMPACT, AS INFLATION REMAINS HIGH.

ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY, NEARLY 100,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN A PREDOMINANTLY LATINO NEIGHBORHOODS ARE DISSIPATED IN SNACK FOOD EACH MONTH IN 2022 FISCAL YEAR.

THE AVERAGE PERSON WILL RECEIVE ABOUT $90 LESS IN S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS PER MONTH.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE DR. EVELYN FIGARO, DIRECTOR OF -- FOOD PANTRY, AND CLAUDIA RODRIGUEZ, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC BENEFITS OUTREACH AT THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY.

WELCOME, BUT, FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO DO WITH YOU, CLAUDIA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THESE ADDITIONAL S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS, AND WHY THEY ARE COMING TO AN END?

>> SURE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECIDED IN APRIL OF 2020 THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE S.N.A.P.

HOUSEHOLD ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO HELP WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING AROUND THE PANDEMIC, AND TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE DID NOT BECOME FOOD INSECURE.

SO, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING THESE ADDITIONAL S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS FOR THREE YEARS, NOW.

DUE TO A DECISION MADE BY CONGRESS, THEY ENDED IN FEBRUARY, WHICH MEANS THAT, STARTING IN MARCH, S.N.A.P.

HOUSEHOLDS WILL SEE THEIR BENEFITS DECREASE , WHICH WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT , ESPECIALLY, AS YOU MENTIONED, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW INFLATION IS HIGH AND MANY FOOD PRICES ARE VERY HIGH.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING NOW?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY LATINO COMMUNITIES, NOW THAT THEY WILL NOT RECEIVE THE ADDITIONAL FOOD BENEFITS?

>> WE ARE HEARING FROM PEOPLE WHO CALL OUR HOTLINE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY ARE REALLY CONCERNED.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD FOOD NOW.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE, EVEN FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY BE CONCERNED ABOUT IMMIGRATION STATUS.

THEY CAN TURN TO A PANTRY, OR EVEN APPLY FOR OTHER NUTRITION PROGRAMS THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR.

>> DR. FIGARO, WHAT IMPACT DO YOU THINK THIS WILL HAVE ON THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE AT THE PANTRY?

>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON.

THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE ENORMOUS.

REMEMBER THAT LATINOS AND BLACK PEOPLE ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY.

THE RATES IN CHICAGO ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

THIS IS A POPULATION THAT CHRONICALLY STRUGGLES WITH IT, AN AVERAGE REDUCTION OF $90 PER PERSON -- PER HOUSEHOLD AT THE FOOD PANTRY IS OVER THREE PEOPLE.

YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT IS A WEEK AND A HALF OF GROCERIES THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PURCHASE.

THEY ARE VERY WORRIED, THEY WILL HAVE TO FIND MORE PANTRIES.

HISTORICALLY, THIS PART OF PILSEN DOES NOT HAVE A LOT OF FOOD PANTRIES, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD PANTRIES AND CHILDREN, AND MOST DO NOT OPEN EVERY DAY.

VERY RESTRICTED.

>> SO, YOU ANTICIPATE MORE DEMAND?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE NUMBERS WENT UP DURING COVID, AND EVERY TIME WE INCREASE CAPACITY, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE MORE CLIENTS.

BEFORE COVID, WE WERE AROUND 160 TO 180 CLIENTS PER WEEK.

AVERAGE WAS 410 CLIENTS.

THAT WILL YOU BE ABLE TO MEET THAT DEMAND?

>> I AM NOT SURE.

GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY IS DOING A LOT OF OUTREACH TO HELP US STRETCH OUR DOLLARS AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

LATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY IS GENEROUS WITH US.

THERE ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO MAKE DONATIONS THAT CAN HELP US QUITE A BIT.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF GROCERY STORE RESCUE THAT WE DO, WHICH IS QUITE TEDIOUS AND LABOR-INTENSIVE, BUT WE JUST DO NOT WANT TO CUT ANYONE OFF.

>> CLAUDIA, TO PIVOT A LITTLE, HOW HAS YOUR ORGANIZATION ACTUALLY RESPONDED IN SUPPORTING MIGRANTS WHO HAVE ARRIVED HERE FROM TEXAS?

>> SURE.

THE FOOD DEPOSITORY, AS AN ORGANIZATION AND OUR PARTNERS BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT , A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT TO RECEIVE FOOD.

SO, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU COME FROM, YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS, IF YOU LIVE IN COOK COUNTY IN CHICAGO, WE WILL PROVIDE FOOD.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE CITY AND STATE TO BETTER PROVIDE BOXES OF SHELF-STABLE ITEMS, PRODUCE, AND DIAPERS ALSO TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO NEED IT.

WE WILL CONTINUE RESPONDING TO THE NEED AS WE HAVE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS, NOW.

IT IS THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR DONORS.

>> DR. FIGUEROA, PRETTY MUCH THE SAME QUESTION.

HAS THE ADDITIONAL POPULATION AFFECTED YOUR SUPPLIES AS WELL?

>> YES.

OUR AVERAGE WEEKLY CENSUS HAS INCREASED BY ABOUT 30 TO 40 HOUSEHOLDS SINCE SEPTEMBER.

WE ALSO RUN A FREE CLOTHING PROGRAM , SO WE HAVE TAKEN UP SPECIFIC COLLECTIONS TO HELP FAMILIES IN NEED HERE THESE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE COMING WITHOUT WINTER DEER, WITHOUT BABY GEAR, WITH BARELY MORE THAN FLIP-FLOPS ON THEIR FEET.

SO, COLLECTING SOUP TAKES -- SUITCASES AND OTHER THINGS WE DON'T NORMALLY START, THAT WE DON'T STOCK IN HIGH-VOLUME, HAS BEEN QUITE A CHALLENGE.

BUT WE HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM ALDERPERSON LOPEZ, AND OTHER PARTNERS.

>> DEFINITELY A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL NEED HELP, AND WILL WANT TO HELP, AS WELL.

CLAUDIA, CAN YOU TELL US WHERE THEY CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO HELP OR GET HELP?

>> SURE.

THEY CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, CHICAGO'S FOOD BANK.ORG.

THEY CANNOT FIND INFORMATION HOW TO VOLUNTEER AND DONE IT, BUT ALSO, IF THEY NEED ASSISTANCE, WHETHER IT IS APPLYING FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS OR TO FIND THE LOCAL FOOD PANTRY, WE ALSO HAVE A WEBSITE IN SPANISH [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] , AND THEY CAN FIND INFORMATION IN SPANISH THERE, AS WELL.

>> COULD YOU REPEAT THOSE WEBSITES FOR US?

>> SURE.

IT IS CHICAGOSFOODBAN K.ORG AND THE SPANISH WEBSITE IS [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ].

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TO THANK YOU, DR. EVELYN FIGUEROA, AND CLAUDIA FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>>> THERE ARE SEVEN CULINARY REGIONS IN MEXICO, EACH WITH THEIR OWN UNIQUE FOOD, TECHNIQUES, AND FLAVORS THAT HAVE EVOLVED OVER CENTURIES.

IN A CLASSIC TALE OF MEXICAN INGENUITY, THE CHILI-BRAISED STEW, BIRRIA, WAS CREATED AS A WAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AN OVERPOPULATION OF GOATS IN THE JALISCO REGION.

50 YEARS AGO, A MAN NAMED RAMON -- BROUGHT HIS FAMILIES CENTURY-OLD BIRRIA RECIPE TO CHICAGO'S EASTSIDE.

NOW, HIS SON IS >>> BIRRIA IS NOT ONLY SOMETHING WE DO FOR A LIVING, IT IS ACTUALLY EMBEDDED IN OUR DNA.

OR I LIKE TO BELIEVE SO.

>> WHEN ANDY REYES RHAPSODIZE ABOUT THE PERFECT BOWL OF BIRRIA, HE HAS FOUR GENERATIONS OF FOREBEARS SPEAKING THROUGH HIM.

>> I HAD TO HAVE A PIECE OF THE RIB WITH A LITTLE BIT OF FAT, A LITTLE BIT OF MEAT TOWARD THE END.

DRESSED IN A LITTLE BIT IN CONSOMM÷, WITH CILANTRO AND LIME.

FIRST YOU PUT THE LIME, THEN YOU PUT THE MEAT, SOME SALSA, THEN YOU TAKE A BITE.

THAT, FOR ME, IS BIRRIA.

>> Reporter: THOUGH AND HE IS ONLY THE SECOND GENERATION OF REYES TO RUN BIRRIA -- THE FAMILY RECIPE GOES BACK TO 1926, WHEN HIS GREAT-GRANDFATHE R DEVELOPED HIS OWN VERSION OF THE STUDENT GO RECIPE IN JALISCO.

WHEN ANDY'S GRANDFATHER, RAMON REYES, EMIGRATED TO CHICAGO, HE BROUGHT THE BIRRIA RECIPE WITH HIM.

>> MY UNCLE WAS IN CHICAGO.

AT 18, MIGHT HAVE RECEIVED THIS POSTCARD, ONE OF THOSE OLD-SCHOOL POSTCARDS, WHERE IT SAYS CHICAGO, AND HAD THE SKYLINE.

HE PULLED OUT THE POSTCARD, AND POINTED TO HIS FRIEND AND SAYS HEY, LOOK THIS IS FOR MY UNCLE WHO LIVES IN CHICAGO NOW.

ONE DAY, I AM GOING TO SELL BIRRIA RIGHT HERE.

>> Reporter: IN 1973, RAMON REYES MADE GOOD ON THAT PREDICTION.

HE TOOK OVER A SMALL DINER AND BEGAN SELLING FAMILY SPECIALTIES.

A SECOND LOCATION ON 106th STREET WAS ADDED IN 1992.

OVER THE YEARS, ALL FOUR OF RAMON AND LINDA BRIARS 'S CHILDREN WERE TO THE FAMILY RESTAURANT.

>> I REMEMBER MAKING MY DEBUT EFFICIENTLY WHAT OFFICIALLY I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD, SEMI-DONE IN THE CORNER, A CHUBBY LITTLE KID, EATING , YOU WORKING THERE LITERALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I USED TO PLAY FOOTBALL, I WOULD HAVE PRACTICE ON SATURDAY, AFTER PRACTICE, MY FRIENDS WOULD HANG OUT AFTER, AND I WOULD COME HERE.

>> Reporter: WHEN RAMON STEPPED AWAY FROM THE BUSINESS FIVE YEARS AGO FOR HEALTH REASONS, AND HE STEPPED IN.

>> I WAS NOT READY, BUT LUCKILY I HAVE MY SISTERS.

I WILL NOT BE ALONE.

>> Reporter: SINCE THEN, AND HE HAS HELPED STEER THE RESTAURANT THROUGH COVID BY BRINGING MODERN MARKETING TO THE TRADITIONAL DISH, AND UPDATING THE MENU TO INCLUDE TRENDY TACOS.

>> WE GET EVERYONE ON PAYROLL, BUT CLOSED FOR LIKE A MONTH AND A HALF.

I GOT BACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND BECAUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, I GOT TRACTION.

>> Reporter: AND HE SAYS HE FEELS A RESPONSIBILITY TO HIS FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY THAT SUSTAINS THEM TO KEEP HIS RESTAURANT DRIVING.

>> I THINK THE LOVE AND HEART MY FATHER PUT INTO THIS RELATIONSHIP, THE RELATIONSHIP HE BUILT WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THE RECIPE ITSELF SPEAKS VOLUMES.

WE DO PUT A LOT OF HEART AND SOUL INTO OUR FOOD.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR CLOSE TO 100 YEARS NOW, MY FAMILY.

FOUR OR FIVE GENERATIONS HAVE COME THROUGH THE DOOR, AND THAT IS VERY SPECIAL.

IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE COMMUNITY, WE WOULD NOT BE WHERE WE ARE.

FOOD IS SUPPOSED TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, IT UNITES PEOPLE FROM ALL DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE, FROM EVERY CULTURE.

IT'S FOR EVERYBODY.

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

>> THAT WILL BE OURS OVER THIS WEEKEND.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.