>>> GOOD EVENING , CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

I'M ALEX FERNANDEZ.

EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING AT 5:00 AND 6:00.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS OUTLINED THEIR HOPES FOR CHICAGO ORGANIZATIONS.

THE NUMBER OF LATINOS IDENTIFIES CATHOLIC IS DROPPING.

WHAT IS BEHIND THE DROP?

>> I JUST NEED A MINUTE OUT OF YOUR DAY.

>> TALKING TRASH WITH AWARD-WINNING GARBAGE COLLECTOR.

ALL OF THAT COMING UP ON OUR FOUR-STORY TONIGHT.

PRIORITIES FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IN CITY HALL.

THAT IS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THE SPONSORS.

>>> AS MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON CLOSES OUT HIS FIRST WEEK IN OFFICE CHICAGOANS ARE WATCHING THIS NEW AIR UNFOLD.

PUBLIC SAFETY, COST OF LIVING, JOB RII DUTIES, SCHOOLS, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TOP THE LONG LIST OF ISSUES THEY HOPE TO SEE THE MAYOR ADDRESS.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE AS JACKSON FLOORS , ANTONIO SANTOS, AND NORMAL RIOS, I WANT TO WELCOME ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR ALL THREE OF YOU.

I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU, JACKSON.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE BIGGEST ISSUE IN YOUR COMMUNITY THAT MAYOR JOHNSON NEEDS TO ADDRESSES?

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF BARRIERS THAT ARE LIMITING .

THIS IS A TRIPLE -- WHICH ULTIMATELY AFFECTS THE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE IT IS AN ECOSYSTEM.

I THINK WE NEED TO SEE MORE INCLUSION AND THIS IS THE PATHWAY FOR CHANGE AND ALL DIFFERENT FACETS OF THIS INDUSTRY .

>> WE WILL TALK ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES AND ALL LATER ON.

>> I AGREE THAT SYSTEMIC ISSUES ARE THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING.

WE THINK OF COST-OF-LIVING, INFLATION, -- ARE DEFINITELY TOP PRIORITY.

>> I THINK IT IS A LOT OF THINGS, RIGHT?

SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FACING.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE LACKING FUNDING.

SO, WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR A LONG TIME.

I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED.

>> JACKSON, LET'S TALK BUSINESS.

YOU ARE ALSO A COFOUNDER OF A NONPROFIT THAT SUPPORTS BALL BUSINESSES.

WHAT SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD DO IN THE SHORT TERM.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT THE LAST TIME .

>> THE ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND EDUCATION IS THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING, RIGHT?

SO, IN THE SHORT TERM, IT IS STILL GOING TO BE ABOUT ALIGNING HIMSELF AND CREATING A TEAM THAT'S GOING TO CARRY OUT THE ACTION, RIGHT?

HE SAID A LOT OF REALLY GREAT WORK IN THE PRESS AND THE LEADING UP TO INNOVATION.

HE HAS DONE A LOT TO PROVE IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT ACTION.

THE REALITY IS IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF COLLECTIVE WORK.

BETWEEN COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO FIGURE OUT WHATEVER INITIATIVES ARE AT THE TOP OF MINE.

>> YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN HELPING OUT AND RECENTLY ARRIVED MIGRANTS TO CHICAGO.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM THE NEW MAYOR?

>> I THINK THAT OUR RESPONSE TO THE NEW ARRIVALS AND MIGRANTS HAS BEEN A LITTLE SLOW.

WE SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL TRICKLING IN TO THE CULTURAL CENTER.

LAST WEEK WE HAD 14 PEOPLE COME IN LOOKING FOR HOUSING, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT.

THEY HAVEN'T COME TO FRUITION QUICK ENOUGH.

IF WE ARE GOING TO CALL THE CRISIS, WE NEED CRISIS MANAGEMENT.

WE NEED IMMEDIATE NEEDS MET .

HOUSING, FOOD, SAFETY.

>> DO YOU THINK THE ADMINISTRATION WILL TAKE CARE OF IT?

>> WE HOPE THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT.

IF THEY DON'T TAKE CARE OF IT, WE CERTAINLY WILL VOCALIZE THE NEEDS THAT WE ARE SEEING AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE NEED .

>> NORMA, LOGAN SQUARE HAS HAD SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILT IN RECENT YEARS.

WHAT CAN RESEARCH DO TO IMPROVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THERE AND ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY AS WELL?

>> THANK YOU.

WE BROUGHT UP A LOT OF INITIATIVES AND WE JUST NEED TO SEE CONTINUED SUPPORT.

THAT 606 ORDINANCE NEEDS TO STAY IN PLACE.

WE NEED TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS ARE BUILT WITH EVERY DEVELOPMENT.

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP.

WE NEED SOMEONE TO CHAMPION THOSE NEW INITIATIVES OR THOSE DIFFERENT WAYS OF HELPING OUR FAMILY.

HAVE A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST TO HELP PEOPLE BUY AFFORDABLE HOMES.

IT MEANS CONTINUED SUPPORT, RIGHT?

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND TO CONTINUE THESE CONVERSATIONS SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND FIND NEW SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BETTER THAN THE SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE THAT ARE KEEPING THAT SYSTEM OF OPPRESSION AND ROOTED IN RACISM.

IT KEEPS US IN THE SAME STAGNANT POSITION.

>> WHAT'S THE FEELING -- WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE NEW ADMINISTRATION?

>> I THINK WE ARE ALL REALLY HOPEFUL.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

AND THAT OUR WORK IS GOING TO BE AMPLIFIED.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK REGARDLESS OF WHO IS IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

25 YEARS AGO WE STARTED THE PARENT PROGRAM IN LOGAN SQUARE.

NOW IT IS IN APPROXIMATELY ONE OF EVERY SCHOOLS.

I KNOW THAT BRANDON JOHNSON CAN UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF ENGAGEMENT PETTER.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO AMPLIFIES THOSE PROGRAMS.

>> THE SMALL BUSINESSES OR OWNERS, RATHER, THINK THIS WILL BE AN ADMINISTRATION THAT WILL BE WILLING TO WORK WITH -- OR ENTERPRISE.

>> I THINK IT IS A MIXED BAG RIGHT NOW.

COMING OFF OF THE LAST WAVE OF THE ADMINISTRATION , EMPTY PROMISES, NOT A LOT OF FULFILLMENT.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO PROMISE A LOT.

BUT FROM WHAT I KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LEAN INTO THE ADMINISTRATION AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT COMES FROM ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE BRINGING PEOPLE IN WITH THE MAYOR ELECT FOR COMMUNITY ROUNDTABLES AND IT WAS BUSINESS OWNERS FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

COMMUNITY LEADERS, OWNERS, AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL TO SEE BUT IT WAS EVEN BETTER TO SEE PEOPLE THAT DON'T NORMALLY GET THE CHANCE TO HAVE THAT PART -- TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE MOST MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS?

JOHNSON SAID HE IS PLANNING ON REOPENING MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IT WAS A MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE WHEN THEY CLOSE THESE CLINICS.

THAT IS ONE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE JOHNSON'S PLANS TO EXPAND.

A FEW CLINICS FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS NOT ENOUGH.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT IT IS LIKE IN SCHOOLS FOR STUDENTS AND WE ADDRESS WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME ISSUES THAT LEAD TO MORE POLICING.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THE JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION TO DO ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY?

>> I GENUINELY FEEL THAT THIS IS ABOUT US EMBRACING COMMUNITY CARE, RIGHT?

THEY'RE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.

THE KEY IS TO EMBRACE OUR YOUTH, OFFER THEM MORE OPPORTUNITIES.

OFFER THEM WORK EMPLOYMENTS.

OFFER OUR SCHOOLS.

MAKE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TO BE ABLE TO EMBRACE THE FAMILY AS A WHOLE AND GET THE RESOURCES THAT THEY ULTIMATELY NEED.

>> RIGHT.

NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT SCHOOLS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT CPS.

JOHNSON HAS SOME EXPERIENCE THERE.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BETTER THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN DO AS A LEADER IS LOOK AT -- , RIGHT?

ULTIMATELY IT IS WHO IS HOLDING HIM ACCOUNTABLE.

BUT ALSO HELP SHAPE WHAT THE FUTURE ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT [ INAUDIBLE ].

HE IS ALSO FATHER.

EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE LAST 10 YEARS IS NOT WORKING.

>> ANTONIO, WE ARE VERY SHORT ON TIME BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE NEW MAYOR IF HE WAS SITTING HERE WITH US RIGHT NOW?

>> I WOULD CONGRATULATE THE NEW MAYOR AND TELL HIM THAT CHICAGO IS AT A POINT OF DIRE NEED.

THINGS AREN'T WORKING THE WAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN.

IT IS TIME FOR RADICAL CHANGE IN THE FORM OF INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DIVESTED FOR DECADES.

KEEP HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES AND MOVE FORWARD WITH HELPING .

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WANT TO TAKE JACKSON FLOORS, ANTONIO, SEER, FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, THE DRIVER OF THE YEAR RIGHT AFTER THIS.

DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

>>> HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE AWAY YOUR GARBAGE?

YOU MAY WANT TO GET TO KNOW THEM BETTER AFTER THIS STORY.

EVERY YEAR THEY SELECT A DRIVER OF THE YEAR FROM 80,000 GARBAGE TRUCK DRIVERS.

THE DRIVER WHO ROSE TO THE TOP OF THE HEAT THIS YEAR IS MARTINEZ WHO DRIVES A COLLECTION ROUTE FOR REPUBLIC SERVICES.

HE IS KNOWN ALL AROUND THE CUL-DE-SAC .

WE MET UP WITH MARTINEZ, THE TRASH MEN WHO SAY HE IS A COMMUNITY MEN.

>> IT SMELLS LIKE MONEY TO ME.

RICHARD S. >> MOST NEIGHBORHOODS DON'T EAGERLY ANTICIPATE THE WEEKLY ARRIVAL OF THEIR SANITATION ENGINEER, COLLOQUIALLY KNOWN AS THE GARBAGE MEN.

>> I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED WHAT I'VE DONE.

>> BUT MOST NEIGHBORHOODS DON'T HAVE A NATIONAL AWARD-WINNING SANITATION ENGINEER LIKE FELIX MARTINEZ TAKING WHERE THEIR TRASH.

>> IT'S A HARD JOB.

IT'S A BENEFIT TO OUR WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE NAMED RESIDENTIAL SANITATION DRIVER OF THE YEAR?

SAFETY COMES FIRST AND WHAT CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS JOB.

I YOU LEFT.

HOW YOU PUSH.

HOW YOU PULL.

THIS STUFF BACK IN THE DAY, YOU JUST GRAB IT AND THROW.

>> OF COURSE, PUNCTUALITY IS A VIRTUE.

>> WHERE MARTINEZ REALLY CLEANS UP IS IN CUSTOMER SERVICE.

-- FIRST MET MARTINEZ WHEN HE SPOTTED HER DRAGGING WATERLOGGED ITEMS OUT OF HER BASEMENT.

>> HE AUTOMATICALLY GOES OUT OF HIS WAY AND THAT'S HOW OUR RELATIONSHIP STARTS.

AND THEN I WROTE A LETTER TO THE PUBLIC AND I TOLD THEM HOW WONDERFUL FELIX WAS.

NEVER WHAT I'VE DREAMED THAT DOWN THE ROAD HE WOULD'VE WON THIS NATIONAL HONOR.

>> WHEN FRED INJURED HIS BACK HE SAID MARTINEZ WENT THE EXTRA MILE TO GET HIS TRASH OUT.

NOW THEIR FRIENDS.

>> -- GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER CONSIDERING THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP -- OUR AGREEMENT WAS ONCE A WEEK.

>> ONLY IF HE DOESN'T COME OUT, I'M CALLING HIM.

>> Reporter: HE BEGAN WORKING IN TRASH COLLECTION RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

ABOUT 27 YEARS AGO.

>> WHAT'S GOING ON, BUDDY?

>> Reporter: A GREGARIOUS COWORKER NAMED LEROY TOLD HIM HE COULD COLLECT FRIENDSHIPS AS WELL AS TRASH.

>> YOU REALIZING NOW YOU'RE A LOT LIKE HIM.

IT MAKES ME PROUD.

>> Reporter: IT IS 26 YEARS WORKING FOR REPUBLIC SERVICES MARTINEZ SAYS HE FOUND ALWAYS HELPING CONNECT WITH PEOPLE ON HIS ROUTE.

>> I TOLD THIS ELDERLY LADY, YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOK SLOW.

WE GET A CHUCKLE OUT OF IT.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS TAKING A MOMENT TO MAKE A FRIEND IS NEVER A WASTE OF TIME.

>> I JUST NEED A MINUTE OF YOUR DAY TO TALK TO YOU.

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

>> MARTINEZ SAYS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD COLLECTOR BETTER OFFERING A COLD DRINK ON A HOT DAY IS ALWAYS A GOOD OPENING.

CATHOLICISM IS ON A DECLINE FOR LATINOS IN THE U.S. THAT IS ACCORDING TO A RECENT SURVEY WHICH FINDS ONLY 43% IDENTIFY AS CATHOLIC AS OF LAST YEAR.

THAT IS DOWN FROM 67% IN 2010.

A GREATER SHARE OF LATINOS IDENTIFIES RELIGIOUSLY UNAFFILIATED.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR OF UNITED CATHOLIC YOUTH MINISTRY AND COFOUNDER OF THE LATINX LINES AND MANAGING PARTNER OF THE CONSULTING FIRM.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

I WILL START WITH YOU.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

ARE YOU SURPRISED TO SEE A SHIFT AWAY FROM CATHOLICISM ESPECIALLY AMONG LATINOS IN THE U.S.?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL ACTUALLY.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT US AT THE NONPROFIT THAT I WORK FOR ARE ALSO STRUGGLING WITH.

NOT JUST LATINOS ARE 19 TO 29 BUT ADOLESCENCE, 12 TO 18.

IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE TO HAVE THEM COME TO CHURCH, COME TO ANY CHURCH FUNCTION, WITHOUT HAVING THEIR PARENTS SUPPORT THEM.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> I THINK THAT IT IS A LOT OF REASONS.

I FEEL LIKE IT CAN BE THE RIGID STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH AND OF OUR PARENTS TRADITIONAL VALUES.

I THINK IT CAN ALSO BE, YOU KNOW, GEN Z AND THE YOUNGER GENERATION ALSO FEELING AS THOUGH MENTAL HEALTH AND CULTURAL VALUES ARE NOT BEING TAKEN AS AN INSTITUTION.

>> WHAT YOU THINK IS BEHIND THIS TREND OF LATINOS SHIFTING AWAY FROM CATHOLICISM?

>> I THINK THERE ARE A FEW THINGS.

I THINK I AGREE WITH WHAT SHE SAID IN TERMS OF , YOU KNOW, THIS IS A TREND THAT, YOU KNOW, BACK IN 2008, 2009, WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, WE HAD BEEN NOTED BEFORE AND ESSENTIALLY IT HAS TO DO WITH MANY THINGS.

ONE IS A SCANDAL THAT HAS PLAGUED THE CHURCH.

MAYBE AN ASPECT OF THAT.

ALSO RECENT SURVEY THAT CAME OUT ASKED PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT THE RELIGION WHY THEY HAVE DONE SO AND THE VAST MAJORITY SAID THEY JUST DON'T BELIEVE THE TEACHINGS OF THEIR RELIGION ANYMORE.

MAYBE THEIR OWN CHURCH -- IT APPLIES TO DIFFERENT CHRISTIANS AS WELL AS NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS.

CERTAINLY THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE CHURCHES AND CHURCH LIFE IS NOT RESONATING WITH CONTEMPORARY LIVING.

>> UNITED CATHOLIC YOUTH MINISTRIES, IS MORE UNCONVENTIONAL IN ITS APPROACH, RIGHT?

TELL US MORE.

>> HERE WE ARE A PART OF THE CHURCH BUT WE HAVE OUR OWN SPACE.

RIGHT WHEN YOU WALK IN YOU HAVE A BLACK LIVES MATTER AS WELL AS AN LGBTQ PLUS FLAG AND IT SAYS WELCOME ALL.

RIGHT THEN AND THERE I FEEL LIKE THAT GOES AGAINST THE TRADITIONAL RIGID STRUCTURE OF WHAT MANY OF OUR PARENTS FEEL IS EXCEPTING IN THE CHURCH AND WE ARE ALSO WILLING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE STANCES THAT WE HAVE ON SOCIAL ISSUES, LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION AND WE ARE WILLING TO MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE.

WE ARE ALSO NOT -- WE ARE NOT GOING TO SHY AWAY FROM THE VALUES THAT WE HAVE BUT WE ARE WILLING TO WELCOME AND UNDERSTAND YOUR OWN VALUES AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOUTH ARE REALLY DRAWN TO.

THE FACT THAT WE ARE WILLING TO SAY, HEY, WE UNDERSTAND THE INSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH CAN BE A CHALLENGE BUT WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS SO YOU FIND YOUR OWN SPIRITUALITY AND YOUR OWN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BECAUSE IT IS NOT ABOUT THE INSTITUTION IT IS ABOUT WHO AND HOW YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS.

>> WOULD YOU FEEL LIKE DEPARTING FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AS AN INSTITUTION IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO BRING MORE YOUNG PEOPLE?

>> THAT IS ONE WAY BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT WAY IN ORDER FOR THE CHURCH TO KEEP LATINOS ALSO TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE IN GENERAL, IS TO FOLLOW THE TIMES OF WHAT IS HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY WITHIN SOCIAL ISSUES.

I FEEL THE CHURCH IS STILL STUCK GOING BACK TO THE '50s AND '60s.

BEYOND THAT, RIGHT, I THINK THAT THE CHURCH ALSO NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE WE WANT TO KEEP YOUTH, WE HAVE TO INVEST IN YOUTH AND WE ALL STEP TO INVEST IN THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM, NOT JUST IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE CHURCH WHICH ARE USUALLY COMMUNAL, OLDER ADULTS OR PARENTS LIKE MY OWN.

>> GOING BACK WITH YOU, THIS IS A TWO-PARTER, RIGHT?

FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS A HUMANIST AND WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO CREATE A LATINX HUMANIST ALLIANCE?

>> A HUMANIST IS A PERSON WHO BELIEVES IN THE DIGNITY OF HUMAN LIFE AND BASICALLY , YOU KNOW, WE ARE GUIDED BY REASON.

WE DO NOT HAVE FATALISTIC VIEWS, AS WE WOULD PUT IT.

THERE IS NO BELIEF IN GOD AND ESSENTIALLY WE DRIVE THE AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION.

WE ARE GOOD WITHOUT GOD.

IT'S PEOPLE WHO DOUBT GOD AND ARE TRYING TO DO GOOD IN THE WORLD AND TRYING TO BRING COMMUNITY.

THE ALLIANCE WHICH I RAN FROM 2018 -- AJ STARTED GOING THROUGH A SERIES OF CHANGES.

WE ARE CHANGING OUR APPROACH TO THESE GROUPS .

IT'S A GROUP THAT NOTICED THE INCREASING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE OF HISPANIC , LATINO, LATINX ORIGINS WERE ABANDONING RELIGION.

MANY OF THEM NOW, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE YOUNGER GROUPS ARE NOW GROWN WITHOUT BEING RELIGIOUS.

AND TO TRY TO GIVE THEM A SENSE OF COMMUNITY SO WE HAVE SEVERAL LEADERS -- YOU KNOW, WE STARTED WITH A FEW LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN THESE MOVEMENTS .

>> RIGHT.

UNFORTUNATELY OUR TIME IS UP BUT I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WE COULD TAKE THE WHOLE SHOW TALKING ABOUT THIS, DEFINITELY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>>> UP NEXT, EFFORTS TO PLANT MORE TREES.

STAY WITH US.

DENSE TREE CANOPY MAKES NEIGHBORHOODS NOT ONLY MORE INVITING BUT CAN REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

A 2019 STUDY FOUND LITTLE VILLAGE WAS AMONG THE COMMUNITIES BURDENED BY HIGHER AIR POLLUTION AND NOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS FINDING SEEDS FOR CHANGE.

IN APRIL -- PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GET 31 CLIMATE -- INCLUDING SEVERAL AT SCHOOL.

>> I THOUGHT WE WOULD GATHER AND DO SOME GARDENING.

WE HAVE A LEARNING GARDEN.

WE HAVE THE KIDS COME UP WITH AN IDEA THAT WE REALLY WANTED TO PLANT SOME TREES.

WE GOT IN TOUCH WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION WHO TOLD US ABOUT OPEN LANDS AND THAT THEY HELP WITH THAT.

THEY HELP BRINGING THE TREES, PLANTING THEM, GATHERING THEM, WHATEVER.

ORGANIZING THE VOLUNTEERS, PLANNING THE AREA WHERE THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO PLANT THESE NOT ONLY -- BUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> WE ARE GOING TO TEACH THEM THAT YOU CAN MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WAS MORE EXCITED ABOUT.

WE WENT FROM THIS BEING A THEORY, EVEN JUST READING ABOUT IT, WE ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THE FULL PROCESS OF BEING PROACTIVE AND PUTTING THINGS INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

I THINK WE ARE TEACHING THEM A LESSON THAT THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND THEY CAN GO ALL THE WAY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> YOU CAN GET TREES PLANTED FOR FREE IN YOUR COMMUNITY FOR OPEN LANDS AS WELL AS A SPANISH-LANGUAGE TREE AMBASSADOR.

MORE OF THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT WTTW.COM/NEWS .

IF YOU'RE WATCHING US ON FRIDAY NIGHT, YOU CAN ALSO CATCH LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SATURDAY BEGINNING AT 6:00.

ALSO, DON'T FORGET TO JOIN CHICAGO TONIGHT JOANNA HERNANDEZ THIS MONDAY, MAY 22nd, ON OUR NEXT LATINO VOICES COMMUNITY CONVERSATION.

SHE WILL BE JOINED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO DISSECT WHAT BEING A SANCTUARY CITY FOR MIGRANTS REALLY MEANS AS THOUSANDS OF NEW ARRIVALS ARE BUS TO CHICAGO AMID AN ONGOING BORDER CRISIS.

VISIT WTTW.COM /NEWS.

EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING AT 5:00 AND 6:00 I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, I'M ALEX FERNANDEZ.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A PROUD SPONSOR OF