REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALLSTATE AND THE SEARLE FUNDS AT THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST.

GOOD EVENING Y BIENVENIDAS.

I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND ANTIVIOLENCE WORKERS ON KEEPING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE SAFE THIS SUMMER.

>>> ADDRESSING THE NURSING SHORTAGE IN READING MORE LATINOS INTO THE PROFESSION.

>>> CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT ROSA ESCARENO SAID IT IS TIME TO COME PLAY IN THE CITY PARKS.

>> THIS IS WHAT THE PARK IS A CONSTANT EXCHANGE OF SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER.

>> WE SIT DOWN WITH CHOREOGRAPHER RON DE JESUS AS HE SHARES DETAILS ON HIS NEWEST PIECE IN CELEBRATION OF THE SOUTH CHICAGO DANCE THEATER.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT, AS THE SCHOOL YEAR WINDS DOWN AND THE WEATHER HEATS UP MANY CHICAGO FAMILIES FIND THEMSELVES BALANCING THEIR HOPE FOR A JOYFUL SUMMER FOR THEIR KIDS AGAINST FEARS OF VIOLENCE.

IN RECENT WEEKS CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS THREE YEARS OLD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT BY CROSSFIRE IN AN INCIDENT OF GUN VIOLENCE.

THOSE PULLING THE TRIGGER ARE THEMSELVES VERY YOUNG.

COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ANTIVIOLENCE ORGANIZATIONS ARE MOBILIZING TO STOP VIOLENCE BEFORE IT STARTS THROUGH OUTREACH, INTERVENTION AND LITTLE FASHION FAMILY FUN.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE YOSELIN MONZALVO WITH BELMONT CRAGIN UNITED, AND I WANT TO START WITH YOSELIN MONZALVO.

YOU ARE AGED VOLUNTEER IN YOUR COMMUNITY ON THE CITY'S NORTHWEST SIDE.

HOW CONCERNED ARE PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY ABOUT VIOLENCE ESPECIALLY VIOLENCE INVOLVING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE?

>> YES, I AM VERY CONCERNED.

THE GUN VIOLENCE HAS WENT UP INCREDIBLY.

ESPECIALLY NOW SINCE THE SUMMER IS COMING THERE'S QUITE A BIT MORE GUN VIOLENCE.

>> HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU IN PARTICULAR?

>> I AM VERY CONCERNED.

EVEN JUST GOING TO THE PARK.

YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING GOING ON BECAUSE, IT COULD HAPPEN IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> EVEN SOMETIMES WE ARE JUST GOING TO THE STORE AND YOU HAVE TO BE VERY ALERT WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON.

>> THAT MUST BE THE SAME FEELING OBVIOUSLY FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

ADAM ALONSO, YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUILD CHICAGO IS AN ANTI- VIOLENCE ORGANIZATION.

HOW BIG IS INTERVENTION IN KEEPING KIDS SAFE AND KEEPING THEM AWAY FROM VIOLENCE ITSELF?

>> EARLY INTERVENTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IS CRITICAL.

WE HAVE TO FORM THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM WHEN THEY ARE VERY YOUNG SO THEY HAVE POSITIVE MOTIVATORS IN THEIR LIFE.

MORE IMPORTANTLY WE CAN FORM A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR PARENTS AS WELL SO WE ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THAT YOUNG PERSON.

EARLY PREVENTION, GETTING IN IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL AND IN PARTICULAR, NOW, WHEN WE SEE YOUNG PERPETRATORS OF VIOLENCE WHAT HAPPENED?

WHERE ARE THE GAPS?

DID WE MISS A BEAT SOMEWHERE?

PREVENTION IS ABSOLUTELY KEY.

>> EMILY, YOU WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS OF VIOLENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY?

>> THANK YOU, THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

ULTIMATELY A LOT OF THINGS PLAY INTO THESE FACTORS.

I THINK ULTIMATELY NOT HAVING A SAFE SPACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HOLD COMMUNITY REALLY INCREASES VIOLENCE AND JUST NOT HAVING A SPACE WHERE THEY ARE BEING HEARD AND FEELING LOVED AND WELCOMED, BUT ALSO FEELING EMPOWERED AND HAVING THAT LEADERSHIP IS VERY CRITICAL IN THEIR THOUGHTS OF HOW TO REDUCE VIOLENCE.

>> PAULINO VARGAS, WE KNOW THAT LITTLE VILLAGE HAS BEEN THE SITE OF SEVERAL CHILD SHOOTINGS.

DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HOW THE COMMUNITY IS RESPONDING TO VIOLENCE?

>> YES, A LITTLE BIT.

OBVIOUSLY, WHEN THEY ARE YOUNGER YOU HEAR MORE OF AN OUTCRY IN THE COMMUNITY BUT WE TRY TO TREAT ALL THE VICTIMS EQUALLY.

THE LOSS OF A LIFE IS A LOSS OF LIFE BUT YOU HEAR AND OUTRAGE OVER AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL BEING SHOT OVER A 16-YEAR-OLD MALE WHO IS LIVING A LIFE THAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND OR LIKE.

IT IS DEFINITELY A DIFFERENCE IN OUTRAGE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS NEEDED IN LITTLE VILLAGE, IN PARTICULAR, TO STOP THE VIOLENCE?

>> HONESTLY, MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET A JOB.

SOME KIDS AT A YOUNG AGE HAVE A RECORD AND A NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO HIRE THEM.

WE HAVE ONE SUMMER CHICAGO THAT COMES AROUND ONCE A YEAR THAT HIRES THOSE KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY.

DEFINITELY MORE FUNDING AND BACKING FROM THE CITY TO DO MORE PROGRAMS LIKE ONE SUMMER CHICAGO ACROSS THE CITY MORE OFTEN THAN ONCE.

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WOULD BE GREAT.

SO, THAT WOULD DEFINITELY HELP HEARD MORE MONEY, MORE OPPORTUNITY.

SPEAKING OF PROGRAMS, YOSELIN MONZALVO, YOU SAY THAT RESOURCES LIKE CAMPS AND ACTIVITIES CAN HELP CURB VIOLENCE.

HOW DO YOU SEE THAT WORKING IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

>> THE KIDS ARE LESS INVOLVED OUTSIDE WHERE THEY ARE INFLUENCED BY BAD INFLUENCES WHERE THEY LOOK FOR THAT ESCAPE IN THE OUTSIDE WITH OTHER ACTIVITIES LIKE WITH ART, MUSIC, DANCING EVEN.

THEY LOOK FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY OUTSIDE.

OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE JUST LOOKING FOR LOVE.

THEY JUST WANT TO FEEL SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT FEELING AT HOME.

IF WE CAN PROVIDE THESE RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES WE CAN KEEP THEM FROM BEING BUSY WITH BAD INFLUENCES.

>> ADAM, ANTIVIOLENCE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE AN INFLUENCE IN INVESTMENTS IN RECENT YEARS.

HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PROGRAMS ARE SUCCESSFUL?

>> SURE.

WE MEASURE IT BY LOOKING AT PARTICIPATION RATE.

IF WE ARE ABLE TO GET 100 NEW PEOPLE THROUGH THE DOOR BASED ON INCREASED FUNDING AND THAT THEY ARE WITH US OVER THE COURSE OF A SCHOOL YEAR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE CAN DO MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY PLANS ONE IS GOAL SETTING TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ON TRACK FOR WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO ACHIEVE AND THAT IS HOW WE MEASURE.

WE WOULD NEVER BE IN A POSITION TO SAY THAT BECAUSE OF OUR PROGRAM ALONE IT HELPED TO REDUCE VIOLENCE ACROSS AN ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I DON'T THINK ANY OF US COULD SAY THAT.

IT IS A COLLECTION OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED TOGETHER IN TANDEM WITH MORE RESOURCES.

TO HIS POINT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO BE ENGAGED AND IT REALLY STARTS TO SHOW OVER TIME THAT YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL CONNECTED RATHER THAN DISCONNECTED.

>> EMILY, GOING BACK TO YOU WHAT ARE TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS TELLING US THEY NEED FROM THE COMMUNITY TO PREVENT VIOLENCE?

>> YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THE ANSWERS TO EVERYTHING, RIGHT?

FOR ANYONE WHO IS EXPERIENCING US AND OUR COMMUNITY.

WHETHER YOU ARE A GEOGRAPHICAL COMMUNITY OR LATINO OR BLACK AND I THINK WHAT WE ARE REALLY ASKING FOR IS TO HAVE INTENTIONAL CONVERSATIONS AND FOR US TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION OF HOW WE CAN BETTER IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITIES OR HOW WE CAN PROVIDE RESOURCES.

JUST BECAUSE, WE ARE LIVING IN A DIFFERENT WORLD.

SOMETHING THAT USED FIVE YEARS AGO DOES NOT WORK IN A PANDEMIC OR A NEW AGE OF TECHNOLOGY.

SO WHEN WE SAY HAVE THE YOUTH IN MIND WE REALLY NEED TO ACTIVATE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS.

>> WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND MORE OF WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING PRETTY MUCH?

>> EMILY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE ARE SHORT ON TIME BUT I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION DID MAYBE PARENTS ARE BEING STRETCHED THIN.

WHAT SHOULD THEY BE LOOKING FOR IN THEIR CHILDREN OF SIGNS THAT THEY MIGHT BE IN DANGER OF BECOMING A VICTIM OR EVEN VIOLENCE THEMSELVES?

>> DEFINITELY THE WAY THEY DRESS, RIGHT: IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS THEY WERE CERTAIN COLORS SO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

TAGGING ON NOTEBOOKS OR WRITING ON DESK AT SCHOOL, SHACKS, HAIRCUT, THE WAY THEY WEAR THEIR BELT AND WHO THEY ARE HANGING OUT WITH.

EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY KNOWS WHO IS WHO AND GET THEM INVOLVED IN PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, SUMMER PROGRAMS WITH LITTLE LEAGUE AND SOFTBALL.

>> BEING INVOLVED IN THEIR LIVES AND SMALL DETAILS MATTER.

>> AND CHECK IN ON THEM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

EMILY JADE AGUILAR, YOSELIN MONZALVO, PAULINO VARGAS AND ADAM ALONSO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>>> UP NEXT ATTRACTING MORE LATINOS INTO THE NURSING FIELD.

STAY WITH US.

>> THROUGHOUT THE YEARS OF THE PANDEMIC THE COUNTRIES NURSES HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF EVERY ASPECT OF COVID CARE MAKING AN ALREADY CHALLENGING PROFESSION INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT.

A RECENT SURVEY FOUND 29 PERCENT OF REGISTERED NURSES SAY THEY WERE LIKELY TO LEAVE THEIR POSITIONS WORKING DIRECTLY WITH PATIENTS OR EVEN LEAVE LEAVING THE WORK FORCE ENTIRELY AND AS THE AMERICAN POPULATION AGES AND NEEDS HEALTHCARE, READING MORE PEOPLE INTO NURSING IS CRITICAL.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE ESTHER SCIAMMARELLA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHICAGO HISPANIC HEALTH COALITION AND GLADYS RIELLO INSTRUCTOR AT CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NURSING.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TODAY AND I WANT TO START WITH YOU ESTHER SCIAMMARELLA WHAT IS CULTURALLY COMPETENT HEALTH CARE AND WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT?

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

BE BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE CULTURE OF THE PATIENT OF WHOEVER YOU ARE SERVING AND IT COULD BE HAVING BILINGUAL NURSES WHO ARE ABLE TO BE ON THE FRONT LINE AND WHAT YOU MENTIONED, THE CRISIS IS BECAUSE THE ROLE THAT THE NURSES PLAY IS TREMENDOUS, A ROLL OF DOING MORE BEYOND.

BEING CULTURALLY COMPETENT KNOWING THE BIGGEST SYSTEM OF THE CULTURE THE PEOPLE ARE SERVING AND IN THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF MEDICATION THEY ARE TAKING, WHAT TYPE OF MEDICATION, HOW THE LEGAL SYSTEM IS HERE BECAUSE IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

I THINK MORE AND MORE CULTURAL COMPETENCY IS BEYOND OF WHAT IT MEANS WITH THE WAY THAT THE AMERICAN SERVE THE PATIENTS WHERE WE NEED TO ADAPT TO THE SYSTEM TO THE CULTURE WE ARE WORKING WITH.

AND, SOMETIMES THE SYSTEM DOES NOT EXPLAIN HOW THEY DEAL WITH THE PATIENT COMING FROM ANOTHER CULTURE.

SO, THEY WORK WITH THE NURSES BUT IT'S MORE LIKE IT'S A NURSE OR A DOCTOR OR SOMEONE WHO LISTENS TO THE CONCERN, IS A SOCIAL WORKER.

SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO COVER SO MANY THINGS FOR THE PATIENT.

OF COURSE IT IS OVERWHELMING.

WE WORK SO MANY HOURS AND FOR THEM IT IS VERY DIFFICULT SOMETIMES IT IS OVERWHELMING.

>> THEREFORE THE IMPORTANT DAILY IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY.

GLADYS, WHAT COULD HEALTHCARE DO TO ATTRACT MORE LATINOS INTO NURSING?

>> DEFINITELY.

EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MAJOR WAYS OF GETTING LATINO NURSES THE JOBS THAT THEY ARE OFFERING AND THEY ARE OFFERING JOBS AT A HIGHER POPULATION OF OUR LATINOS AND ALSO PROVIDING APPROPRIATE TRAINING TO OUR LATINO NURSES AS THEY GO INTO THE FIELD RIGHT NOW.

>> ESTHER, WHAT EFFECT HAS THE COVID PANDEMIC HAD ON THE NURSING PROFESSION?>> I CAN TELL YOU SOMETIMES PEOPLE EXPLAIN HOW THEY NEED A RESPIRATOR OR HOW MUCH YOU NEED TO EXPLAIN TO THE FAMILY ABOUT THE NEED OR HOW MUCH IT WILL BE EXPLAINING THE CULTURAL COMPETENCY TO THE PATIENT AND TO THE NURSES WHO RETRAIN IN THE UNIVERSITIES TRAIN AND THE FACULTY NEED TO BE ACQUAINTED WITH THE CULTURE OF THE PEOPLE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE NURSES ARE NOT TRAINING WITH PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT CULTURE.

THAT IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO EXPLAIN THOSE THINGS.

SOMETIMES YOU NEED A CONSULTATION WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY AND SOMETIMES TO THE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY.

THE PRIVACY IN THE CULTURE PARTICULARLY IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY THE FAMILY IS PART OF THE ISSUE.

IT'S ALL WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE FAMILY.

SO, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IN AMERICA, YOU NEED TO CHANGE SOMETIMES TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE SERVE LEGALLY AND HOW WE ADDRESS THE PATIENTS.

>> GLADYS RIELLO YOU ARE AN INSTRUCTOR FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF NURSES.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THEM ABOUT THE BARRIERS THEY ARE ENCOUNTERING TO BECOME A NURSE OR NURSES?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF BARRIERS A LOT ARE STUDENTS OR CANDIDATES WORKING FULL-TIME IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY AND WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTING THEM OR IF WE HAVE OUR OWN FAMILIES WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR FAMILIES AS WELL.

I KNOW FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS CAN BE A REALLY BIG BARRIER IN THE GOOD THING WITH MY UNIVERSITY IS THAT WE HAVE A PROGRAM NOW WHERE STUDENTS WORK FULL-TIME AND GET THEIR EDUCATION.

THERE'S ALSO THE CONSTRAINTS THROUGH THE LATINO COMMUNITY, OUR PARENTS SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR US TO COME.

WE HAVE THAT HIGH STANDARD ON OUR SHOULDERS THAT WE WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND SOMETIMES FEAR IS IN THE WAY.

>> ESTHER SCIAMMARELLA, WE ARE SHORT ON TIME SO THIS WILL PROBABLY BE OUR LAST QUESTION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING THE NURSING PROFESSION RIGHT NOW?

>> FIRST IS GOING TO SCHOOL.

SECONDLY, THE UNIVERSITIES NEED TO OPEN MORE NEED TO DO PROMOTION FOR THE HISPANIC NURSE, WORKING WITH MEXICO AND INTERNATIONAL NURSES COMING FROM NORTHERN KANSAS TO TEACH THEM HOW TO PASS THE EXAM IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO WORK HERE IN THIS COUNTRY.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO APPROPRIATE THIS CULTURE IN ORDER TO BE MORE IN THE PIPELINE NURSES WHO ARE BILINGUAL AND I SAY THIS FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES.

>> MUCH NEEDED IN THIS PROFESSION BUT WE WANT TO THANK DEFINITELY ALL THE NURSES FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC AND I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY, ESTHER SCIAMMARELLA AND GLADYS RIELLO.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, SUPPORT THE NURSES.

>> UP NEXT, WHAT THE CITY PARKS DISTRICT HAS IN STORE FOR THE SUMMER.

STAY WITH US.

>> WELL CHICAGO, WE MADE IT!

THE WARM WEATHER IS FINALLY HERE AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME TO START PLANNING YOUR SUMMER ACTIVITIES.

THIS WEEK THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT OPEN REGISTRATION FOR ALL HIS SUMMER PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE ONE THAT MANY PARENTS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR, DAY CAMPS.

NEWLY APPOINTED SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PARKS DISTRICT, ROSA ESCARENO GAVE US A LOOK AT THIS YEAR'S OFFERINGS.

>> THE CAMPS ARE GOING TO BE ADVENTUROUS.

ALL PEOPLE IN THE CAMPS WILL BE INTERESTED IN NATURE, EXPLORING, HEALTH AND FITNESS, ARTS, GETTING THERE BRAIN AND PHYSICAL BODY WORKING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER SO WHEN THEY COME HOME THEY WILL FEEL INSPIRED.WE WILL BE FEATURING A GIRLS CAMP FOR THE FIRST TIME, THIS CAMP WILL BE RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

SO YOUNG WOMEN INTERESTED IN BEING IN SPORTS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IT'S BUILDING THOSE POSITIVE SKILLS.

THE CAMP RUNS FROM JULY 5 TO AUGUST 12 AND WE ENCOURAGE ALL FAMILIES TO REGISTER THEIR KIDS.

GET THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE AND GO TO YOUR LOCAL PARKS DISTRICT.

>> THEY SAY THAT WHILE THE PARKS DISTRICT IS SEEKING APPLICANTS FOR LIFEGUARD AND OTHER ROLE SHE'S OPTIMISTIC THAT THEY WILL BE FULLY STAFFED IN TIME FOR THE SUMMER SWING.

>> THE ONE THING IS THAT LIFEGUARDS HAVE TO MEET A VERY HIGH THRESHOLD OF TRAINING.

THEY HAVE TO PASS CERTAIN TESTS RIGHT?

BECAUSE, WE ARE ENTRUSTING THEM WITH THE LIFE OF OUR RESIDENTS.

THIS POSITION IS A SPECIAL SPOT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET IT RIGHT AND WE DEFINITELY HAVE THE PRIORITY OF GETTING THE BEACHES OPEN IN MAY BUT WE WILL HAVE THEM OPEN BY THE END OF JUNE AND WE ARE VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL HAVE REALLY GOOD NEWS.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE ON THE PARKS SUMMER PROGRAMS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> UP NEXT TO A LOCAL CHOREOGRAPHER IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SOUTH CHICAGO DANCE THEATER.

>> THE SOUTH CHICAGO DANCE THEATER IS CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF MOVEMENT IN A SHOWCASE DEBUTING FIVE NEW WORKS OF CHICAGO WARS WITH CHICAGO ROOTS AND AMONG THOSE CHOREOGRAPHER DANCER AND ARTIST TRAN 24.

OUR ARTS CORRESPONDENT CAUGHT UP WITH HIM AND SHARES HOW HE CHOREOGRAPHED EACH PIECE AHEAD OF NEXT WEEK'S WORLD PREMIERE.

>> WHERE I CAME FROM, CULTURALLY, I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT DANCE FOUND ME ACCIDENTALLY.

>> THAT'S NO EXAGGERATION HERE.

>> WE WERE ON WESTERN AND DIVISION BACK IN THE 70S TO KEEP US OFF THE STREETS THEY WOULD HAVE DAYTIME DISCO FROM 2:00 TO 4:00 ENTERING THE LOBBY INTO A DISCOTHEQUE SO WE WOULD HUSTLE AND WE WOULD BREAKDANCE AND WE WOULD EXERT OURSELVES FOR TO ADD DAILY HOURS.

>> HE RECEIVED A DANCE SCHOLARSHIP AND BEGAN MOVING FOR SOME OF THE CITY'S MOST PROMINENT DANCE COMPANIES.

>> ECHO FLEMING SAW ME EVERY DAY SINCE SHE TOOK FLAMENCO CLASSES SHE SAID GO GET YOUR GED AND I WILL GIVE YOU A SCHOLARSHIP SO I GOT MY GED AND I GOT MY SCHOLARSHIP AND I DANCE WITH HER COMPANIES FOR A FEW YEARS.

I LEARNED THE MARTHA GRAHAM TECHNIQUE AND I LEARNED JAZZ AND FROM THERE I WENT TO A MODERN COMPANY, CHICAGO REPERTORY DANCE ENSEMBLE.

NOW, HE IS RETURNING THE FAVOR AS HE POURS HIS EXPERIENCES AT INTO THE NEXT GENERATION OF DANCERS WITH THE SOUTH CHICAGO DANCE THEATER.

>> ULTIMATELY THEY CONTRIBUTE THEIR DNA TO THE BALLOT AND WE GET TO OUR DESTINATION MUCH FASTER SO WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL AND CREATIVE.

THEY WERE COMING UP WITH SOME SERIOUS, INNOVATIVE, GENUINE, AUTHENTIC MOVES.

>> WITH AN APPRECIATION FOR LINEAR AND HORIZONTAL LINES, TRAN 24 TITLED THE PIECE HYBRID LINES AS THEY EXPLORE SHAPE WITHIN MOVEMENT WHICH MAKES FOR A DYNAMIC PAIRING.

>> I TRIED TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

IN THE OPENING NUMBER I GIVE ONE GIRL THE FULL FLOOR TO IMPROVISE FOR LIKE A MINUTE.

NO STRUCTURE, NO HOLDBACK, GO TO TOWN.

>> DESCRIBED AS A SYNTHETIC LANDSCAPE IN AN ELECTRONIC WORLD, TRAN 24 SAID HE WANTS TO OFFER A PIECE THAT IS JARRINGLY DIFFERENT THAN THE REST OF THE PROGRAM.

>> IS SHOWS THE RANGE OF THE COMPANY.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS ABLE TO COMPRESS THAT AND GIVE THEM THE ONE LITTLE JIM AND SO THE AUDIENCE LURCHES FORWARD AS THEY WATCH A LITTLE MOVEMENT TEXTURE AND HOPEFULLY MAKES THEM STAND UP AND APPRECIATE.

>> WHETHER IT BE WITH THE SOUTH CHICAGO DANCE THEATER OR OTHER DANCERS AROUND THE WORLD, TRAN 24 SAID HE PLANS TO CREATE WITH COLLABORATION AT THE FOREFRONT.

>> THIS IS WHAT ART IS, A CONSTANT EXCHANGE OF SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER TO HOPEFULLY MOVE THE AUDIENCE AND EDUCATE THE AUDIENCE AND GIVE THEM SOMETHING.

SOMETIMES I MISS THE REAL AUTHENTIC HISPANIC.

I GOT THAT A LOT WITH THE ENSEMBLE.

I LEARNED PASSION AND I CAN TEACH STEP AND TIMING BUT I CAN'T TEACH FIRE.

YOU CAN'T BOTTLE THAT IT HAS TO BE WITHIN THE SAME INDIVIDUAL ARTIST.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, I AM ANGEL IDOWU.

>> THE CHICAGO ADVANCE THEATERS FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY YOU SOON.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

THUS GOING TO BE OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS INCLUDING DETAILS ON THE CITY'S LEAD EXPANDED LINE PROGRAM.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW THAT YOU CAN WATCH LATINO VOICES AND BACK VOICES ON SUNDAY NIGHT GETTING AT 10 PM AND DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN EVERY MORNING.

NEXT WEEK PHIL PENSIE WILL BE IN THE SEAT.

I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR DAY WITH US.

BUENAS NOCHES.

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