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

GOOD EVENING Y BIENVENIDAS TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

I AM MELISSA PARRA.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US HERE'S WHAT BILLY IS AHEAD.

AS WE ENTER A NEW PHASE OF THE PANDEMIC LOCAL DOCTORS TELL US WHERE TO GO FROM HERE.

>>> LATINOS CONTINUE TO BE A MAJOR FORCE IN AMERICA WE GET A PERSPECTIVE FROM LOCAL UNTRUE DOORS ON HOW THEY GOT THEIR START.

>>> A LOVE LETTER FROM CHICAGO'S LABOR MOVEMENT GRACES AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REQUEST I'VE BEEN ASKED A COUPLE OF TIMES YOUR HUSBAND IS AN IRONWORKER?

AND I SAY, NO, I AM.

>> IRONWORKER JENNIFER ORTIZ SHOWS US "LA ULTIMA PALABRA" AND WHY WOMEN HAVE THE SKILLS TO WORK IN TRADE.

>>> 1ST OFF TONIGHT MASKING MANDATES AND CHECKS IN CHICAGO A TURNING POINT IN THE PANDEMIC.

CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SHOWS THE DAILY AVERAGE OF COVID-19 CASES HAS PLUMMETED SINCE THE OMICRON VARIANT PEAKED IN JANUARY PLUS, TEST POSITIVITY AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DOWN IN CONTINUE TO DECLINE.

HERE IS 1 OUR DOCTOR ON WHERE WE ARE IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE BELIEVE IT IS SAFE TO LIFT THE REQUIREMENTS BUT I EXPECT SOME FOLKS WILL WEAR MASKS IN THE SHORT TERM AND I FULLY SUPPORT THAT.

WE CONTINUE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT WE HAVE AS A RISK NOW WHICH IS LOW.

>> AS SPRING APPROACHES IT IS A REMINDER THAT WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

ANY RECALL SIMILAR OPTIMISM LAST YEAR WHEN PREVENTATIVE MEASURES LIKE MASK MANDATES WERE DROPPED BUT FOLLOWED BY A SPIKE IN CASES DUE TO THE DELTA VARIANT.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE DR. JUANITY MORA ALLERGIST AND IMMUNOLOGIST FROM THE CHICAGO ALLERGY CENTER.

DR. EVELYN FIGUEROA MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND DR. EVELYN FIGUEROA PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL FAMILY MEDICINE AT THE DIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO AND DIRECTOR OF THE UI HEALTH FOOD PANTRY.

DOCTOR LUNA GOING TO 1ST.

SHOULD CHICAGO AND SEE A SURGEON VARIANT LIKE THE LAST TIME WE DROPPED THOSE MASK MANDATES?

>> YES, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME MARISSA.

HOPEFULLY NOT.

UNLESS, RIGHT?

DIFFERENT VARIANTS HAVE DIFFERENCE IS THE TAKEOVER.

OUR SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE ARE NOT ENOUGH THAT THE WAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ACCUMULATING DATA IN THE WAY THAT WE ACQUIRED ALL THESE TOOLS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND WERE TALKING ABOUT VACCINES.

WERE TALKING ABOUT A CASE INVESTIGATION FOR CONTACT TRACING FOR HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS.

NOW WERE TALKING ABOUT NOW WE HAVE A WASTEWATER SYSTEM AND ALSO THE SYNDROMIC SYSTEM THAT WE CAN ANTICIPATE THOSE AND WE HAVE OUR COVEN THERAPEUTICS WHICH CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WE DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE ANYTHING WITH THOSE LINES OF OMICRON VARIANT.

WE MIGHT SEE SOME CASES UP AND DOWN AND THAT'S WHAT WERE CALLING A PART OF THE ENDEMIC LEARNING HOW TO LIVE WITH COVID-19.

>> BUT HOPEFULLY NOT.

I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ECHOING THAT.

DR. EVELYN FIGUEROA TO YOU NEXT.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN LIFTING THE MANDATES AT THIS TIME?

>> NO, IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE BACKGROUND RATE OF INCIDENTS.

WE HAVE TO BE NIMBLE AND WE HAVE TO KEEP APPLYING THE TEST RESULTS AND UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE HAVE LOWER VALUES OF COVID INFECTION WHEN WE CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE RELAXED.

RIGHT NOW WITH OUR NUMBER SO LOW IN THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY IT MAKES SENSE TO REDUCE THEM AND TO LET PEOPLE HAVE MORE OF A PERSONAL CHOICE IN WHETHER OR NOT TO MASK.

>> AND, DR. JUANITY MORA TO YOU, NEXT.

CAN YOU GIVE US A PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT COVID IS LIKE OUTSIDE OF THE US AND WHAT THAT COULD MEAN FOR OUR FUTURE?

>> SURE!

I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD AND THAT CAN BE TELLING OF WHEN THE NEXT VARIANT WILL BE HERE.

EXPERTS PREDICT WITHIN THE NEXT 3 OR 4 MONTHS BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THE US IS READY TO PARTY IN THE USA BUT LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HONG KONG AND NEW ZEALAND THEY ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING OUT OF HOSPITAL BEDS WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT AND OTHER VARIANTS THAT MIGHT EMERGE.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE EXILING NEARLY 1 MILLION PEOPLE EXILING OUT OF THE UKRAINE AND IT'S 20 PERCENT OF THE UKRAINE THAT IS CURRENTLY BOOSTED.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS WERE NOT LOOKING AT SOCIAL DISTANCING OR MASS EXODUS TO OTHER COUNTRIES BUT COULD WE EXPECT A POSSIBLE VARIANT COMING OUT SOONER?

IT IS POSSIBLE JUST WHY WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO VACCINATE EVERYONE WHO'S UNVACCINATED AND BOOSTING EVERYONE FOR THE NEXT AREA.

>> SOME GOOD POINTS THERE IS REMARKABLE COMPARING DIFFERENT TIMELINES ACROSS THE GLOBE.

DOCTOR LUNA WILL THERE BE ANY OTHER OUTREACH BY THE CITY?

>> YES.

THE THING THAT IS VERY STRONG RIGHT NOW PERHAPS WE WANT FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND THAT VACCINATION AND COVID-19 THERAPEUTICS ARE THE PILLARS MOVING FORWARD AND 1ST OF ALL VACCINATION IS THE STRONGEST AND IT CONTINUES TO BE THE STRONGEST PEACE AND KEEPING CONTROL OF THE DISEASE WHICH IS THE NEXT STEP THAT WE WANT.

WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TO STRATEGIZE AHEAD OF TIME AND IT IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE OUR VACCINATIONS AND THE CITY IS DOING EVERYTHING INCLUDING OUR CLINICS WHICH ARE PERMANENTLY THERE FOR PATIENTS TO GO IN FOR FREE.

NOTHING CHANGES.

NO ID NEEDED.

NO INSURANCE IS NEEDED AND INCENTIVES TO STILL GET YOUR VACCINES WHEREVER YOU ARE EXCEPT FOR THE BOOSTERS AND WITHIN CONSIDERATION WE HAVE OUR REGIONAL LEADS CALLED THE EQUITY ZONE AND THIS IS PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE FOR HEALTHCARE HERE IN CHICAGO 2025 AND WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE CAMPAIGN COMING OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THE VACCINE AND UNDERSTAND THAT AT THIS POINT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR NOAH TO DROP THEIR GUARD RIGHT NOW AND, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO THERAPEUTICS.

COVID-19 THERAPEUTICS THAT CAN SAVE LIVES AS WELL.

>> THAT IS THE PERFECT TRANSITION FOR THE NEXT QUESTION FOR DR. EVELYN FIGUEROA.

WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE THERAPEUTIC DRUG OPTIONS FOR COVID-19?

>> 1ST OF ALL IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHO NEEDS WHICH DRUG.

IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND ANTIVIRALS PATIENTS HAVE TO BE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SICK TO QUALIFY FOR THOSE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE USING MEDICATION STRATEGICALLY AND EFFICIENTLY.

WHEN WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT MEDICATIONS BUT THERE ARE AN UPTICK IN THOSE ANIMAL BASED PRESCRIPTIONS BUT THOSE ARE NOT GOOD IN HUMANS AND CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

TALKING ABOUT THE ANTIVIRALS AND MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES.

AGAIN, PEOPLE HAVE TO BE APPROPRIATELY ILL TO QUALIFY FOR THE DELAY THEM.

DOCTOR LUNA DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR THAT?

>> YES IN THE CITY IS AWARE OF THAT AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT 1ST REASON PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THE DRUGS THAT THEY SHOULD WHICH DECREASES OUR UTILIZATION BY 50 PERCENT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AWARE.

THEY HAVE A WINDOW OF 5 DAYS TO QUALIFY FOR THE PILLS AND ANOTHER WINDOW TO QUALIFY FOR THE ID INFUSION OF THIS DRUG IN THE ANTIVIRALS.

WE ARE WORKING TO MAINTAIN TO MAKE SURE WE CONNECT PEOPLE TO MEDICAL HOMES BECAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE NEED PRESCRIPTIONS AND WE ARE ON A BASE OF EQUITY RIGHT NOW AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO KNOW IS THAT WERE NOT IN SCARCITY RIGHT NOW.

CHICAGO IS IN A GOOD POSITION THERE'S MORE MEDICATIONS ROLLING IN AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW QUICKLY TO GET THEM, HOW SOON.

IF EVERYBODY 625 AND OLDER IS LISTENING TO THIS MESSAGE WE HAVE TODAY CALL YOUR DOCTOR WITH MINIMAL SYMPTOMS JUST TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE YOU MIGHT QUALIFY FOR THIS DRUG AND IT MIGHT SAVE YOUR LIFE.

THESE ARE MEDICATIONS AND IT MIGHT SAVE YOUR LIFE.

ASK DOCTOR LUNA I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT BUT WE HAVE ABOUT 80 SECONDS LEFT.

I WANT TO TURN IT TO YOU DOCTOR HOW SHOULD MEDICALLY FRAGILE PEOPLE APPROACH THIS NEW PHASE OF THE PANDEMIC?

I'M SURE THERE'S SOME APPREHENSION AND A LITTLE BIT OF HESITANCY FOR THEM.

>> SURE, GO SLOW IN TAKING OFF YOUR MASS, OBVIOUSLY.

MAKE SURE WE VACCINATE EVERYONE AROUND US, BOOST EVERYONE AROUND THE VULNERABLE POPULATION AND ALSO WE ARE PROTECTING THE LITTLE ONES THE LESS THAN 5 YEARS OF AGE BECAUSE WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE VACCINE.

AND LIKE DR. JUANITY MORA SAID WE NEED THIS EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN SO PEOPLE CAN KNOW THAT THERE ARE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AVAILABLE FOR TREATMENT OF HIGH-RISK POPULATIONS.

>> OUR THANKS TO DR. JUANITY MORA, DR. GERALDINE LUNA AND DR. EVELYN FIGUEROA.

>> THANK YOU MORISSETTE!

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> MUCH OF THE STORY OF LATINOS IN AMERICA IS THAT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND THE LATINO BUSINESS COMMITTEE IS ADDING CHAPTERS TO THAT STORY FASTER THAN EVER.

ACCORDING TO A 2021 REPORT LATINO WANT TO RENEW HER SHIP INITIATIVES THEY CONTINUE TO OUTPACE THE REST OF THE STARTUP POPULATION.

LATINOS ARE 1.7 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS THAN OTHER GROUPS.

ABOUT 5 MILLION LATINO OWNED BUSINESSES CURRENTLY EXIST IN THE US AND 9 PERCENT OF THOSE ARE EMPLOYER BUSINESSES.

A NUMBER THAT GREW TO 26 PERCENT IN 2012 AND TWEEN 19.

BY 2050 STANFORD ESTIMATES LATINO BUSINESSES WILL MAKE UP 29 PERCENT OF US BUSINESSES UP BY 17 PERCENT TODAY.

THE STANFORD REPORT FOUND THAT WHILE 77 PERCENT OF WHITE 'S OWNERS RECEIVE ALL OR MOST OF THE FUNDING THEY APPLY FOR FROM NATIONAL BANKS JUST 51 PERCENT OF LATINO BUSINESS OWNERS DO.

JOINING US WITH MORE NOW ON THIS IS PEDRO GUERRA THE ILLINOIS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WE ALSO HAVE LOU SANDOVAL PRESIDENT AND MANAGING PARTNER OF HALO ADVISORY GROUP AND JACQUELINE RUIZ CEO AND FOUNDER OF JJR MARKETING.

1ST OF ALL THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

JACQUELINE RUIZ DID YOU KNOW FOR STARTING YOUR 1ST BUSINESS?

>> I WAS ONLY 23 YEARS OLD WHEN I STARTED JJR MARKETING AND I WISH I WOULD'VE KNOWN HOW TO DELEGATE.

UNDERSTANDING HOW TO GET RESULTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE IS THE KEY FOR ACHIEVING SUCCESS AND I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT WELL BEFORE.

IT TOOK ME A FEW YEARS BEFORE MY JOURNEY OVER THE LAST 17 YEARS TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND CAPITALIZE ON THAT.

LOU SANDOVAL SOMETHING OF A SERIAL ENTRE NOR.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO GO INTO BUSINESS FOR YOURSELF?

>> AFTER SUCCESSES IN CORPORATE AMERICA I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN INTRAPRENEUR IN LARGE CORPORATIONS SO I TOOK THAT SAME FLAVOR AND SAID I'M USED TO WORKING HARD AND I HAVE MY OWN WORK ETHIC AND I'M GOING TO SUPPORT MY OWN ENTERPRISE.

I TOOK THAT INTO CORPORATE AMERICA AND DECIDED TO PURSUE A BUSINESS IN WHAT I WANT TO DO AND I PURCHASED A MARINE DEALERSHIP.

>> GOOD TIPS FROM BOTH OF YOU.

PEDRO GUERRA, TO YOU NEXT.

WE SPOKE TO THE SPANISH HERITAGE NETWORK AND THEY SAID SMALL BUSINESSES ARE VULNERABLE TO FRAUD THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

HERE'S SOME OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> FRAUD IS WHEN PEOPLE DON'T GO INTO THE OFFICE IS WHEN FRAUD STARTED TO PICK UP THEY SAID WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT PERSON AND THEY AREN'T USING THEIR COMPUTER TO DOWNLOAD THEIR CHECKBOOK.

WE WILL DO STUFF TO THEIR ACCOUNT THERE WAS A LOT OF FRAUD GOING ON AND OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS I WOULD SAY THAT ANYTIME A BUSINESS GETS HIT BY FRAUD THE AVERAGE COST IS $20,000.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

A BIG IS IN US CAN WEATHER THAT STORM BUT WHAT CAN IT DO FOR A SMALL BUSINESS?

>> $25,000.

PEDRO, CAN WORKING WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND BUSINESS NETWORKS HELP SMALL BUSINESSES PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM FRAUD AND OTHER FINANCIAL MISSTEPS?>> ABSOLUTELY.

CHING OUT TO YOUR CHAMBER AND UNDERSTANDING THE KNOWLEDGE THEY BRING IN AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT A SUSPICIOUS EMAIL IS AND THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE ASKING YOU FOR YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION OR SOCIAL SECURITY UNDERSTANDING THE BASIC IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS IDENTITY AND PROTECTING YOUR DIN NUMBER BECAUSE THE REALITY IS WORKING WITH A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION AND WORKING WITH THE CHAMBER CAN HELP ELIMINATE THE FRAUD RISK.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS.

JACQUELINE RUIZ TO YOU AGAIN ARE THERE ANY SECTORS THAT YOU FEEL THAT LATINOS ARE LACKING IN PARTICULAR?

>> YES I THINK TECHNOLOGY IS AN UNDERREPRESENTED AREA FOR LATINOS.

AS WELL AS THE FINANCIAL SECTOR.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INVESTORS AND LEADERS AND CIOS LEADING THE TECHNOLOGY SICK THERE.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF INNOVATION TO BE CREATED AND THAT SPACE AND I THINK WE AS LATINOS BRING A LOT OF MAGIC TO THE TABLE.

>> WE KNOW HOW MUCH THAT TAKING OFF THE TECHNOLOGY RIGHT NOW ESPECIALLY WITH THE PACE KNOW THE HIGH-PAYING INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW.

LOU, TO YOU WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN GETTING CAPITAL OVER THE YEARS?

>> TRADITIONALLY WE ARE RAISED TO BEING A DEBTOR VERSE PUT ON YOUR BOOTSTRAPS AND LIFT YOURSELF UP IN YOUR OWN BUSINESS BUT I THINK WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB IN LEARNING HOW TO PLAY THE EQUITY FINANCING ROUTE AS NEEDED BUT KNOWING HOW MUCH OF YOUR BUSINESS TO EQUITY TIES TO CREATE EQUITY BUT TO HOW TO PROCURE THOSE VENTURE CAPITALISTS OR PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS THAT CAN BE GOOD PARTNERS TO YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND IF YOU ARE AT THE LIFECYCLE OF YOUR BUSINESS WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXIT YOUR BUSINESS AND HELP REPORT THAT IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF MATURITY IN GETTING THE BUSINESS UP TO A CERTAIN RECURRING LEVEL THAT WILL MAKE THAT ATTRACTED TO THOSE FINANCIERS.

>> GREAT LET'S TALK STARTING BUSINESSES AND CIRCLE BACK.

PEDRO WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES ARE THERE FOR PEOPLE WHO WISH TO DO THAT.

>> YES, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO LOCAL CHAMBER NETWORK WITH THE RESOURCES THAT ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE AND THEN ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT RIGHT NOW THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY THERE ARE SEVERAL LANDSCAPERS BUT THERE ARE NOT SEVERAL LANDSCAPING BUSINESS ENTERPRISES BY AN ALREADY OWNED SENSES.

GETTING ACCESS TO CONTRACTS IS SOMETHING THAT A LOCAL CHAMBER CAN DO AND LOCAL RESOURCES CAN DO.

NOT CHARGES $5000 TO GET CERTIFIED OR A SERVICE THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE AT NO COST.

>> I HAVE ONE FINAL QUESTION FOR ALL OF YOU.

ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR TINO'S CONSIDERING STARTING THEIR OWN BUSINESS.

PEDRO LET'S START WITH YOU.

>> HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING AN ENTITY AND FILING YOUR TAXES THE CORRECT WAY.

>> AND, LOU SANDOVAL WHAT IS YOUR ONE PIECE OF ADVICE THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE?

>> IT IS A DOVETAIL ON WHAT PEDRO SAID BUT DREAM WHAT YOU WANT TO DREAM AND PUT YOUR PLAN IN PLACE AND BUCKLE UP.

BEING IN BUSINESS FOR YOURSELF IS A LITTLE BIT OF A ROLLER COASTER RIDE.

THE OTHER HIGHS AND LOWS AND BUCKLE UP IT'S GOING TO BE ENJOYABLE AND BEST OF ALL YOU'LL BE WORKING FOR YOURSELF SO YOU'LL SEE THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR IMMEDIATELY.

>> AND, JACQUELINE WHAT ABOUT FOR YOU?WHAT IS YOUR BIG PIECE OF ADVICE?

>> I TOTALLY AGREE WITH PEDRO AND I WOULD SAY IF YOU CAN TAKE THE TIME TO PACKAGE YOUR VALUE INTO CORRELATION ON HOW YOU SERVE YOUR PARTICULAR MARKET THAT YOU ARE GEARED TOWARDS HELPING YOU WILL BE YEARS AHEAD IN MAKING THAT DREAM COME TO YOUR REALITY AND I THINK THAT DOCUMENTED WHAT WE KNOW AND OUR EXPERTISE IN THAT SERVICE OF OTHER PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR THAT NICHE MARKET IS 1 OF THE BEST THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AS A BUSINESS OWNER.

>> JACLYN, I WANT TO COME BACK TO YOU ONE MORE TIME.

DO YOU FEEL THAT LATINOS AS ENTREPRENEURS ARE UNDERREPRESENTED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE REACHED THE 7 YEAR MARK YEAR AND HALF AGO AND I FOUND OUT THAT A STARTLING STATISTIC ONLY 2.6 PERCENT OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS REACH THAT MILLION DOLLAR MARK AND I WAS SHOCKED.

LET ALONE FOR OUR LATINO POPULATION AND LATINA ASSISTANCE.

I KNOW THAT WE ARE THE HIGHEST SEGMENT TO CREATE BUSINESSES BUT WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY REACHING THE LEVELS AND I REALLY WANT TO MAKE AN IMPACT AND I WANT TO ELEVATE MORE LATINA ENTREPRENEURS AND SEE MORE OF US REACH THAT MILLION DOLLAR MARK.

>> YOU ARE REPRESENTING THE LATINA ENTREPRENEURS TO ALL OF YOU OUR THANKS.

PUBLIC ART AS PUBLIC MEMORY.

WEEKS WAYNE, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

ON I HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THAT MUCH IT WAS NICE TO BE ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT THAT AND INCORPORATES THAT.

I'M SURE A LOT OF STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS ARE WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE AND I HOPE THEY TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES TO LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF CHICAGO THAT ISN'T REALLY TAUGHT IN SCHOOL AND A LOT OF TIMES ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU COME FROM NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE LITTLE VILLAGE IT'S ALWAYS LIKE I FEEL SO SORRY FOR YOU.

NOT SORRY BUT IT'S ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO RISE FROM AND HERE ESPECIALLY WITH THIS MURAL IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN TAKE A STAND WITH.

>> WHEN THE PURSUIT OF FREEDOM BECOMES A TASK IN A DUTY IT IS LIKE HARD AND IT'S EASY TO GET DISCOURAGED.

WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE PASSED ON.

THERE'S A LOT OF STRUGGLES TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE ALREADY AND GIVING IT UP FOR SOME SORT OF COMMODITY MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST IDEA.

>> SO COLORFUL.

YOU WILL FIND MORE ON THIS MURAL AND ON THE ARTS JUST HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE.

IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND THE IMAGE OF ROSIE THE RIVETER HAS BECOME A CULTURAL ICON OF WOMEN SINCE HER DEBUT IN WORLD WAR II WHERE WOMEN WERE URGED TO TAKE UP WORK IN FACTORIES AND SHIPYARDS WHILE THE MEN WERE FIGHTING OVERSEAS.

DESPITE HER ENCOURAGEMENT OVER THE YEARS TOGETHER WOMEN REPRESENT A TINY MINORITY OF TRADE WORKERS LESS THAN 3 PERCENT OF THE WORKFORCE IN ILLINOIS ACCORDING TO THE NONPROFIT GROUP CHICAGO WOMEN AND TRADE STILL IRONWORKER JENNIFER ORTIZ WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN DO IT.

HERE SHE GIVES "LA ULTIMA PALABRA" AND THE SPARK THAT IGNITED HER CAREER IN THE TRADES AND WANT TO SHOW THAT OTHER WOMEN CAN DO IT, TO.

>> I AM JENNIFER ORTIZ AND I AM A UNION LOCAL 63 IRONWORKER.

IN 2015 I WAS WORKING AT A DESK JOB AND I FELT STUCK AND I NEEDED A CAREER CHANGE.

I HAVE A DAUGHTER AND I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO BETTER OUR LIVES.

SOMETHING THAT WOULD GIVE ME A SENSE OF FINANCIAL FREEDOM, A SENSE OF PRIDE.

I THOUGHT ABOUT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AND I THOUGHT IT WASN'T GOING TO WORK OUT FOR ME.

I SAW A FLYER FOR CHICAGO WOMEN AND TRADE 12 WEEK FREE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM SO WHEN I FOUND THE FLYER IT WAS A GODSEND INVITATION.

I CAME TO THE OPEN HOUSE AND THAT WAS IT.

I WAS SOLD.

IT'S AMAZING SEEING A LOT OF WOMEN IN VARIOUS TRADES COME TOGETHER AND UPLIFT EACH OTHER.

I HAVE BEEN AN IRONWORKER GOING ON 5 YEARS NOW AND YOU DON'T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF WOMEN BUT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I WAS HIGHLY INSPIRED TO DO AND I NEVER FELT IT WASN'T FOR ME.

I CAME IN AND TACKLED IT AND HONESTLY THE BEST THING I'VE DONE.

I'M WHOLE LOT STRONGER THAN I THOUGHT I WAS.

I NEVER IMAGINED BEING IN A VERY PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT.

NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS DID I EVER IMAGINED THAT I WOULD BE HANGING OFF SKYSCRAPERS HELPING TO BUILD THE CHICAGO SKYLINE.

EATING ABLE TO SHOW MY DAUGHTER THAT HER MOM CAN DO THAT IS THE MOST AMAZING FEELING.

SHE SAID I'M HER HERO.

ANYTHING THAT'S BROKEN SHE SAID I KNOW YOU CAN FIX IT BECAUSE YOU'RE AN IRONWORKER.

I CAN SAY I HAD MY HANDS ON THIS PROJECT.

THERE'S A LOT OF JOBSITES THAT WE DRIVE PAST ESSAY I DID THAT YOUR MOTHER HELPED TO BID THAT AND I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO COME AND SIGN UP CHECK OUT CHICAGO WOMEN IN TRADE AND BE EXPOSED TO THE TRADES THAT ARE OUT THERE AND FIND WHAT YOU LIKE AND TACKLE IT.

THERE'S SO MANY SKILLS YOU CAN GAIN.

GET OUT THERE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

COMING AND IRONWORKER HAS CHANGED MY LIFE DRAMATICALLY.

IT'S GIVEN ME A BETTER LIFE FOR MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF.

I ENCOURAGE ALL WOMEN TO COME AND CHECK THIS OUT AND MEAN A CAREER WHERE YOU ARE PROUD AND LEARNED SO MANY SKILLS.

THE BENEFITS ARE AMAZING AND YOU WOULDN'T REGRET IT.>> WOW, SO INSPIRATIONAL.

YOU WILL FIND MORE OF CHICAGO WOMEN IN TRADES AND OUR "LA ULTIMA PALABRA" SERIES.

JUST-IN-TIME BROMANS HISTORY MONTH WE HAVE MORE WOMEN IN TRADE.

SOON INTO CHICAGO TONIGHT LACKED VOICES TO AIR FROM A PLUMBER AND HER MOTHER.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

WE WILL BE BACK IN THE HOST CHAIR FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

IN THE MEANTIME YOU CAN FIND ME REPORTING ON CBS 2 CHICAGO.

ALL OF US TONIGHT AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, I AM MELISSA PARRA.

INCORPORATED YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND BUENAS NOCHES.

>> REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY.