>>> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES I'M ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, NEWS OF THE UVALDE, TEXAS, SCHOOL SHOOTINGS HAD AMERICA IN MOURNING.

WE'LL TALK WITH A LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FOR HOW TO TALK TO KIDS IN THE WAKE OF VIOLENT EVENTS.

ALSO, TURNING PAIN INTO PURPOSE.

OUR SERIES FOLLOWS THE STORIES OF MOTHERS WHO LOST CHILDREN TO GUN VIOLENCE.

THEN CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT HAS A NEW C.E.O.

WE LEARN ABOUT CREATING SAFE SPACES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS DURING THE SUMMER.

>> WE REALLY WANTED THIS LIBRARY TO FEEL LIKE HOME FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND THE MURAL THAT GIVES LIBRARY PATRONS A WARM WELCOME HOME IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, THE COUNTRY IS ONCE AGAIN IN MOURNING AFTER YET ANOTHER DEADLY SCHOOL SHOOTING.

AS DETAILS EMERGE ABOUT THE SHOOTING OF 19 CHILDREN AND TWO TEACHERS IN UVALDE, TEXAS, AMERICA'S PARENTS FIND THEMSELVES IN A SADLY FAMILIAR POSITION.

HAVING TO EXPLAIN THE EVENTS TO THEIR OWN CHILDREN AND HELPING THEM CONFRONT THEIR FEARS ABOUT VIOLENCE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE NESTOR FLORES DIRECTOR OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVES AT PILSEN AND NILSA RUIZ AT GADS HILL CENTER.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU NILSA RUIZ.

A LOT OF PARENTS OF SMALL CHILDREN MIGHT BE WONDERING WHETHER THEY SHOULD EVEN ADDRESS THIS WITH THEIR CHILDREN AT ALL?

DO YOUNG CHILDREN TIPIC WILL I HAVE ANXIETY ABOUT BEING VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE?

IS THERE AN AGE WHERE THEY'RE JUST TOO YOUNG TO TALK ABOUT VIOLENT EVENTS?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE AND THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

THERE'S NEVER AN AGE TOO YOUNG TO TALK ABOUT THESE KIND OF TRAGEDIES.

OUR BRAIN AREN'T ABLE TO FULLY PROCESS SOME OF IT DURING CHALLENGES AND CHILDREN FROM AGE FIVE WHAT THEY FEAR BY GETTING CLOSER TO THEIR CAREGIVER BY CRYING.

ALEX, I EXPECT ADULTS AND PARENTS TO BE REALLY OPEN AND CREATE THAT DIALOGUE FOR THEIR CHILDREN TOO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY'RE FEELING THEIR FRUSTRATION, WHAT IS GOING ON FOR THEM.

>> NESTOR, OLDER KIDS, AND TEENAGERS GET THEIR INFORMATION FROM ALL KINDS OF SOURCES.

HOW CAN ADULTS TALK ABOUT EVENTS LIKE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS WITH TEENAGERS IN A WAY THAT RESPECTS THEIR POINT OF VIEW, FIRST OF ALL, AND ADDRESSES ALSO THEIR FEARS REALISTICALLY?

>> I THINK THE MAIN THING IS ALWAYS TO BE HONEST AND TRANSPARENT WITH CHILDREN WITH TEENAGERS.

THEY'RE LIKE SPONGES THEY KIND OF FEEL YOUR ENERGY.

THEY CAN TELL WHEN YOU'RE NOT BEING GENUINE.

SO AS A PARENT IF YOU'RE AFRAID THEN I WOULD TALK ABOUT MY FEAR.

LIKE I'M AFRAID, TOO, AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

TALK ABOUT SAFETY.

REMIND YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY AND CHILD LIKE HOW DO WE MAKE OURSELVES FEEL SAFE AGAIN WHAT DO WE DO?

DO WE HAVE DINNER TOGETHER, AN ACTIVITY, YOU KNOW, DO WE GO TO CHURCH THIS SUNDAY WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FEEL SAFE AGAIN.

BUT MOSTLY THAT HONESTY AND THAT TRANSPARENCY.

>> NILSA, WHAT CAN ADULTS DO TO HELP CALM THEIR CHILDREN'S FEARS ABOUT VIOLENCE WHILE BEING MINDFUL OF THEIR OWN EMOTIONS?

>> YEAH, AS A PARENT YOU SHOULD PROCESS THE FEELING YOURSELF BEFORE TALKING TO YOUR CHILD.

ASK YOURSELF HOW MUCH DOES YOUR CHILD KNOWS HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO SHARE.

THE TRAGEDY CAN FEEL REALLY INCREDIBLY OVERWHELMING.

FIND A WAY TO POKE AND MANAGE THESE EMOTIONS REALLY INSTILL SELF-CARE WITH YOURSELF.

YOU GOT TO REMIND YOURSELF THAT YOUR CHILDREN LOOK AT YOU AS ROLE MODELS.

>> GREAT POINT.

>> NESTOR, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE SIGNS ADULTS SHOULD LOOK FOR THAT TEENS ARE IN DANGER OF BECOMING VIOLENT THEMSELVES?

AND HOW SHOULD THEY RESPOND TO THOSE SIGNS?

>> THAT'S WHEN WE DON'T LOOK AWAY FROM THE SIGNS.

AS I WAS REVIEWING THIS CASE THIS THING THAT HAPPENED IN TEXAS, THERE'S DEFINITELY APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN SIGNS.

SO THAT'S IMPORTANT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO NORMALIZE WHEN SOMEONE IS STRUGGLING.

SIGNS ARE CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR, THEY'RE ISOLATING, THEY ARE A LOT OF SELF-HARM.

IF THEY'RE SELF-HARMING IT COULD BE A SIGN OF OBVIOUSLY SOME SORT OF STRUGGLE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT THEY'RE VIOLENT THEY'RE STRUGGLING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH OR EMOTIONAL HEALTH.

YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE HURTING ANIMALS, OR HURTING OTHERS OR BULLYING.

ALL THOSE THINGS CAN CONSPIRE TO AS SOMEONE WITH MENTAL HEALTH DETERIORATES.

IN THIS CASE IT SADDENS ME, BUT IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, IT SADDENS ME THAT THINGS WERE OVERLOOKED.

THAT THERE WERE SOME SIGNS THAT GAVE, ESPECIALLY ADULTS, THAT WERE AROUND THIS PERSON, AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVENE, TO TAKE ACTION.

SO, YEAH IT'S IMPORTANT.

>> DEFINITELY.

NILSA, WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT CHILDREN MIGHT NEED MORE HELP FOR ANXIETIES ABOUT VIOLENCE?

>> YEAH, WHERE CHILDREN FROM 0 TO FIVE I WOULD LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR CRYING TO THROWING MORE TANTRUMS OR EVEN CLINGING TO YOUR PARENT OR CAREGIVER MORE.

FOR TEENAGERS I WOULD LOOK FOR DIFFERENT ASPECT UNDERSTANDING THEY'RE MORE FRUSTRATED OR ANGER OR EVEN ISOLATION ARE CERTAIN SIGNS YOU MIGHT WANT TO HOLD A DISCUSSION OR BE AWARE WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM.

>> NESTOR, DOES LIVING IN COMMUNITIES WITH A LOT OF VIOLENCE DESENSITIZE TEENS TO EVENTS LIKE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS?

>> 100%.

I THINK IT DEFINITELY HAS AN AFFECT AND THAT'S THE ISSUE HERE AS A SOCIETY HOW WE NORMALIZE THIS AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS REACTION SHORT TERM BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING LONG TERM SOMETHING WITH A SUSTAINABLE ACTION TO QUITE THE OBVIOUS THIS IS UNHEALTHY BEHAVIOR THAT IT'S SYSTEMATIC THAT IT'S COMMUNITY WIDE.

SOME COMMUNITIES RULING REALLY FELL FOR THIS.

NOT LOOKING THE OTHER WAY NOT NORMALLIZING AND INTERVENING.

THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRAMS NOW, THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GETTING EDUCATED IF YOU DO SPOT SOMETHING HOW DO WE STEER SOMEONE IN THAT DIRECTION OF GETTING HELP.

>> LASTLY, I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION FOR BOTH OF YOU, WE'RE SHORT ON TIME.

BUT BOTH THE VICTIMS AND THE SHOOTER ARE MOSTLY LATINO.

DO TEEN CHILDREN WHO LOOK LIKE THEM AFFECT HOW THEY PROCESS EVENTS LIKE THIS?

NILSA I'LL START WITH YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PERPETRATORS AFFECTS INDIVIDUALS WHO WE FEEL -- THE GOAL IS TO REMIND OUR CHILDREN TO STAY SAFE.

THE GOAL IS TO REMIND THEM ALL THE DIFFERENT SAFETY AVENUES AND ALSO USE SOME OF THAT FEAR AND ANXIETY INTO ACTION.

TALK TO THE POLITICAL, TO THE LOCAL LEADERS AND ABLE TO TALK TO COMMUNITIES AND CONNECT WITH COMMUNITIES WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THE DAILY AND FIND WAYS TO VOLUNTEER.

A WAY TO COPE WITH SOME OF THESE REACTIONS TO HOW TO BRING THAT SUPPORT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> DEFINITELY HEARTBREAKING.

IT SHOULD SPUR US INTO ACTION.

INACTION IS PAINFUL LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE WITNESSING SO IT SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, HAVE A CONVERSATION THAT'S UNCOMFORTABLE BUT IT'S ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND AWARENESS.

LIVING THESE EXPERIENCES.

THE FACT THAT THEY LOOK LIKE SOMEONE THAT COULD BE PART OF MY FAMILY IS DEVASTATING.

>> YEAH.

IT'S THINGS THAT WELL, WE SEE IN CHICAGO PRETTY MUCH EVERY WEEK, EVERY DAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SHOOTINGS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VIOLENCE AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALSO TEENS AND SOMETIMES SADLY, KIDS BEING SHOT, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY.

I WANT TO THANK NILSA FLORES AND -- NESTOR FLORES, AND NILSA RUIZ FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, PARIS SCHUTZ SPEAKS WITH THE CHICAGO PARK'S DISTRICT NEW C.E.O.

STAY WITH US.

>>> THE NEW C.E.O.

AND GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT IS NO STRANGER TO CITY GOVERNMENT.

ROSA HAS POSTPONED HER RETIREMENT FROM A 30 YEAR CAREER WITH THE CITY MOST RECENTLY LEADING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION.

ROSA IS REPLACING MIKE KELLY WHO WAS FIRED FROM THE ROLE FOR MISHANDLING COMPLAINTS FROM GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN WHO SAY THEY WERE ABUSED, HARASSED AND ASSAULTED WHILE WOKING AT CHICAGO'S BEACHES AND POOLS.

NOW SHE IS TASKED WITH RESTORING TRUST IN THE PARK DISTRICT FILLING VACANCIES AHEAD OF A BUSY SUMMER SEASON AND PROVIDING SAFE SPACES FOR CHICAGO YOUTH AS MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SEEKS TO REMOVE THE CURFEW.

JOINING US IS THE SUPERINTENDENT WELCOME BACK TO "TALKING TONIGHT."

WE MENTIONED HAVE YOU HAD A LONG CAREER WITH THE CITY.

WHY COME OUT OF RETIREMENT TO TAKE THIS VERY BIG JOB?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW I HAVE BEEN A PUBLIC SERVANT ALL MY CAREER AND THIS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION I WAS ASKED TO COME IN IT WAS SOMETHING THAT CERTAINLY TOUCHED MY HEART SO, IT'S JUST IN MY BLOOD.

>> YOU CERTAINLY HAVE YOUR HAVE YOUR WORK CUTTING OUT WITH YOU.

YOU WERE WITH THE MAYOR WHEN SHE ANNOUNCED THE NEW CURFEW AT 10:00 P.M. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT MOVE TO HELP PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CITY?

>> I THINK THE GOAL IS TO EVERYTHING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SAY.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S THE PRIORITY.

FROM THE PERSPECTIVE WE ARE IN THE BUSINESSES OF RECREATION.

WE HAVE STRONG ARE IN OUR PARKS EVERY SINGLE DAY SO WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

>> SPECIFICALLY WITH MILLENNIUM PARK THE MAYOR SAYING THAT SHE DOESN'T WANT UNACCOMPANIED MINORS ON WEEKEND EVENING HOURS.

IS THAT THE RIGHT MOVE GIVEN WHAT HAPPENED IN MILLENNIUM PARK?

>> YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I THINK THAT THE GOAL IS REALLY ABOUT SAFETY INCLUDING KIDS AND FAMILIES THEIR SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS KNOW AND YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE WELCOME TO OUR ENTIRE CITY ALL OF OUR PARKS.

I THINK THAT YOU KNOW THE CONCERN HERE IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WHEN KIDS ARE CONGREGATING IN SPECIFIC AREAS, MILLENNIUM PARK HAS BEEN AN WARE -- HAS BEEN AN AAREA OF ATTRACTION.

>> TELL US THE PROGRAMS THAT THE PARKS DO PROVIDE FOR YOUG, ESPECIALLY DURING EVENING HOURS OR WEEKEND HOURS WHEN YOU SEE THOSE VIOLENCE RATES PICK UP?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, AGAIN I SAID WE ARE THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN SAID THAT THE PARK HAVE THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AT OUR 260 PARKS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

IN THE SUMMER SO WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF LEADS HAPPENING A VERY STRONG GYMNASTICS PROGRAM.

ED WITH WE INGREDIENT INTO THE SUMMER WE ACTUALLY HAVE VERY SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE LAUNCHING TO ENSURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE DOING.

WE HAVE ABOUT 2100 YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ALL KINDS OF JOBS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE BEING ENGAGED THAT WE ARE KEEPING THEM BUSY BUT ALSO PREPARING THEM FOR THE FUTURE AND FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE.

>> THE PARK SYSTEM SO IMPORTANT TO SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WORK THERE AND THAT LIVE IN CHICAGO.

AS WE MENTIONED YOU TAKE OVER AT A VERY PERILOUS TIME HERE.

YOUR PREDECESSOR WAS LET GO AFTER IT WAS FOUND THAT HE HAD WAITED SIX MONTHS TO ACT ON THESE ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE THERE.

THERE ARE SOME FORMER LIFEGUARDS THAT ARE NOW CRIMINALLY CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ABUSE.

MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN FIRED.

ARE YOU CONFIDENT IN THE SYSTEM PUT IN PLACE NOW THAT THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN?

>> WE HAVE WORKED SO CLOSELY ON THIS MATTER.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BUILDING A PARK SYSTEM THAT IS BIG ON TRUST AND THAT WE ARE BEING SUCCESSFUL AND THAT SAFETY IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF EVERYTHING WE DO.

I FEEL VERY, VERY COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT OF THE STEP WE HAVE TAKEN TO PROTECT OUR WORKERS BUT ALSO TO PROTECT THE THOUSANDS OF KIDS THAT ARE IN OUR SYSTEM.

WE HAVE ESTABLISHED OFFICE ACCOUNTABILITY SO WE PUT LEGISLATION THROUGH THE BOARD.

WE WILL BE UPLIFTING THAT OFFICE THIS SUMMER.

WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF TRAINING ON EVERYTHING FROM SEXUAL MISCONDUCT TRAINING FROM A PROFESSIONAL TRAINING.

WE PUT SO MANY THINGS INTO THE COMMUNITY.

AS WE GO INTO THE SUMMER WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF SUPERVISION.

A LOT OF OUR BEACHES -- AND I WORK MOSTLY I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THEY CAN INVESTIGATE THESE OR ANY OUTCOME WITH THE INVESTIGATION.

I AM HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

WE WILL SHOW ACCOUNTABILITY.

THERE ALSO WILL STRONG WORKFORCE.

THEY WANT TO WORK IN A PLACE THAT RESPECTS THEM AND THAT IS A TOP PRIORITY.

>> YOU MENTIONED THOSE INVESTIGATIONS INSPECTOR GENERAL THE STATE'S ATTORNEY WAS INVESTIGATING.

DO YOU ANTICIPATE MORE TO COME, MORE SHOES TO DROP?

>> YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I THINK MY JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT WE TAKE EVERY COMPLAINT AND EVERY COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY AND WE WORK VERY CLOSELY TO THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND ANY INVESTIGATIVE BODY.

IN THAT WE TAKE THOSE ISSUES VERY SERIOUSLY AND THAT WE IMMEDIATELY ACT ON ANY ALLEGATIONS OF COMPLAINTS.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STAFF KNOW THAT THEY ARE PUT ON NOTICE AND HOPEFUL THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO SIT DOWN.

IF I AM ACTUALLY I HAVE ESTABLISHED A VERY HARDWORKING PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

AS FAR AS THEY ARE SENDING INFORMATION WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND ACTING UPON ANY INFORMATION OF CLAIMS.

>> ALL RIGHT CHARACTER PARK DISTRICT C.E.O.

AND SUPERINTENDENT ROSA ESCARENO THANK YOU FOR BEING BACK HERE AND JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> THE NEW CHICAGO TONIGHT SERIES TURNING PAINTING TO PURPOSE FOLLOWS THREE GRIEVING MOTHERS WHOSE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED BY GUN VIOLENCE.

REPORTER JOANNA HERNANDEZ MET WITH THEM TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR LOST LOVED ONES AND TO HEAR ABOUT THE WORK THEY'RE DOING TO BRING AWARENESS.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ RECENTLY VISITED CHICAGO'S LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY TO HEAR FROM A MOTHER WHO LOST TWO SONS IN A SINGLE YEAR.

JOANNA JOINS US NOW TO TELL US MORE ABOUT, ESPECIALLY THE MOTHERS WORK TO SEEK ANSWERS.

JOANNA.

>> THE MOTHER'S NAME IS MARIA AND SHE HAS MADE IT HER MISSION TO OBTAIN JUSTICE BY HER TWO SONS BY STARTING A CAMPAIGN WITH OTHER MOTHERS.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS THAT MARIA IS SCROLLING THROUGH PICTURES OF HER TWO SONS.

SHE SAID IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY PAINFUL TO WATCH VIDEOS AND HEAR THEIR VOICES.

>> THIS IS FA LIPPI WHO WAS KILLED IN AUGUST AND FA LEIB -- FELIPE WAS 28 AND HECTOR WAS 30 YEARS OLD.

YOU WILL ALWAYS SEE THEM RIGHT NEXT TO OTHERS.

>> Reporter: SHE LOST TWO SONS IN A SPAN OF FOUR MONTHS.

IN AUGUST, 2021, FELIPE WAS SITTING IN HIS VEHICLE WHEN HE WAS GUNNED DOWN IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

ACCORDING TO MARIA, HE WAS WAITING FOR HIS BROTHER OUTSIDE A STORE.

>> I SCREAMED AT HIM AND SAID SON, MY HUSBAND WAS YELLING OUT -- HE WOULD GO LIKE THIS AND MOVE HIS EYES.

>> Reporter: 28-YEAR-OLD FELIPE DIED AT THE HOSPITAL THEN FOUR MONTHS LATER IN DECEMBER, THE FAMILY RECEIVED ANOTHER DEVASTATING PHONE CALL.

ELDEST SON HECTOR WAS KILLED LESS THAN A MILE FROM WHERE FELIPE WAS SHOT.

>> I'M DEVASTATED BECAUSE HECTOR HE DIDN'T HAVE AN UPBRINGING WHERE I COULD SAY HE WAS ALWAYS OUT.

HECTOR WAS ALWAYS ABOUT WORKING.

HE STARTED WORKING AT A YOUNG AGE.

>> Reporter: SHE MIGRATED TO CHICAGO WHEN SHE WAS 20 YEARS OLD AND LATER BROUGHT HER SONS HECTOR AND FELIPE FROM MEXICO AND SETTLED IN PILSEN.

SHE SAYS HECTOR WAS LIKE A FATHER FIGURE TO HIS SIBLINGS.

>> I WOULD HEAR ABOUT THE VIOLENCE BACK THEN BUT FELIPE WAS 15, AND HECTOR ONLY 16.

I WASN'T AS WORRIED BECAUSE HE THE CONTROL TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE HOME.

>> Reporter: FOR THE PAST NINE MONTHS THIS MOTHER HAS BEEN FIGHTING TO GET ANSWERS.

BOTH OF HER SONS CASES REMAIN UNSOLVED.

>> THERE'S ENOUGH EVIDENCE WE STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN OUR RESPONSE TO WHAT'S GOING ON.

THE DETECTIVE WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF MY SON FELIPE'S CASE REASSIGNED TO ANOTHER CASE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE WAS REASSIGNED WHEN HE HASN'T SOLVED MY SON'S CASE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM AND SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE WE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKS.

>> WE DON'T GET NO JUSTICE.

>> WE DON'T GET NO PEACE.

>> Reporter: SHE AND OTHER MOTHERS HAVE PERFORMED A CAMPAIGN MOTHERS AND FAMILIES FOR JUSTICE.

THEY'VE GONE AS FAR AS RALLYING OUTSIDE THE F.B.I.

HEADQUARTERS HOPING TO GET ASSISTANCE ON THEIR CASES.

>> I FEEL LIKE THE SYSTEM MAKES US MURDERERS.

THEY MAKE US LOOK LIKE MURDERERS BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE WITH THE DETECTIVE THEY RIGHT AWAY STARTED TO TALK ABOUT GANGS.

>> Reporter: 2021 IS MARKED AS ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT YEARS CHICAGO HAS EVER HAD WITH OVER 1,000 GUN-RELATED HOMICIDES.

THIS YEAR THE COOK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER HAS ALREADY CONFIRMED 213 HOMICIDES.

AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE CASES GO UNSOLVED.

>> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME WHEN IT COMES TO VIOLENCE BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT PEOPLE STAY QUIET.

BULLETS DON'T HAVE NAMES.

I BELIEVE WHEN PEOPLE WENT OUT TO KILL BACK THEN THEY HAD A BULLET WITH A NAME.

NOW SO MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE DYING.

>> Reporter: REGARDLESS OF THE LANGUAGE BARRIER SHE HASN'T STOPPED USING HER VOICE TO SUPPORT OTHER FAMILIES SEEKING LEADS.

>> PEOPLE ALWAYS TELL ME HOW STRONG I AM BUT I'M NOT STRONG I'M IN THIS FIGHT BECAUSE I WANT TO FEEL, I WANT TO KNOW IF I CAN STILL FEEL SOMETHING.

TO SAY I'M SURPRISED YOU HAVEN'T GONE CRAZY BUT I ALWAYS RESPOND SAYING HOW DO YOU KNOW I HAVEN'T?

>> Reporter: AS SUMMER APPROACHES SHE WORRIES ABOUT BULLETS TAKING OVER THE STREETS AND THE LIVES THAT IT MAY CLAIM IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE LITTLE VILLAGE.

QUESTIONING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S STRUGGLES TO SOLVE CRIME WHEN IT CONTINUES TO GROW.

>> THIS IS THE U RECREATION N WHERE I HAVE FELIPE I CAN'T LET HIM GO YET BUT I KNOW THAT THE DAY WILL COME WHEN I HAVE TO LET HIM REST AND I KNOW HERE HE'S NOT RESTING BUT I'M NOT READY YET.

>> Reporter: SHE IS ONE OF HUNDREDS OF MOTHERS SURVIVING THE PAIN OF GUN VIOLENCE THAT'S TAKING BLACK AND BROWN LIVES AND MANY MOTHERS LIKE HER ARE WORKING THROUGH THE PAIN TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT FORGOTTEN.

>> I'M GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING.

AS LONG AS I CAN SPEAK I WILL KEEP TALKING ABOUT THEM AND THEY WILL BE HERE WITH ME.

>> MARIA'S SONS HECTOR AND FELIPE WERE BOTH FATHERS TO YOUNG CHILDREN.

>> JOANNA, THIS WAS JUST ONE OF THE STORIES FEATURED IN THE TURNING TO PAINTING SERIES.

WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME THE MOST IS HOW COURAGEOUS THESE MOTHERS ARE.

THEY TURN INTO ADVOCATES AND DESPITE ALL THE PAIN THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THEY STILL MANAGE TO BE THERE FOR OTHER MOTHERS.

THEY ALL STARTED SUPPORT GROUPS AGAIN TO BE THERE FOR THESE MOTHERS WHO HAVE LOST CHILDREN TO GUN VIOLENCE.

THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHY I CALLED THIS SERIES TURNING PAIN INTO PURPOSE.

>> THANK YOU JOANNA.

YOU CAN WATCH THE FULL TURNING PAIN INTO PURPOSE SERIES BY GOING TO OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> ONE OF THEM IS AT THE CORNER OF 23 WHERE PUBLIC ART MET THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE SUMMER OF 2020.

THAT'S WHERE MURALIST JOSEPH PEREZ ALSO KNOWN AS SENTROCK AND A YOUNG -- AND A GROUP OF YOUNG ARTISTS.

>> MY NAME IS JOSEPH PEREZ A.K.A.

SENTROCK THE MURALIST AT THE LITTLE VILLAGE LIBRARY.

>> MY NAME IS ELIZABETH CARDONA I'M ONE OF THE ARTIST THAT WORKED ON THE LITTLE VILLAGE LIBRARY.

>> WE REALLY WANTED THIS LIBRARY TO FEEL LIKE HOME FOR THE COMMUNITY OF LITTLE VILLAGE BUT ALSO NORTH LAWNDALE THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE TOOK THE NAME FROM AND WE ALSO SPELT IT OUT IN THE DESIGN OF THE MURAL.

>> WHEN YOU'RE PASSING BY YOU'RE ACROSS THE STREET YOU CAN SEE THE WORDING HOME SPELLED OUT BUT ALSO IF YOU ARE UP CLOSE EACH LETTER, EACH PANEL IS YOU KNOW IS A DESIGN IN ITSELF.

>> IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

I GOT TO LEARN DIFFERENT THINGS FROM EACH ARTIST THAT WAS WORKING ON THE MURAL.

THE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE WORKING IN A GROUP VERSUS WORKING SEPARATEDLY.

IT WAS A LARGE MURAL WE HAD TO GET ON LADDERS AND KIND OF THERE BE FOR EACH OTHER BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF SCARY TO GET ALL THE WAY UP ON THE LADDERS.

>> THE STYLE IS A MIXTURE OF TRADITIONAL MURAL, MURALIST STYLE BUT ALSO STREET ART.

SO VERY YOU KNOW GRAPHIC DESIGNISH, CARTOONISH, TOO.

BUT IT'S ALSO VERY REFLECTIVE IN THOSE DESIGNS IT'S VERY REFLECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY OF LITTLE VILLAGE AND NORTH LAWNDALE.

>> I GREW UP HERE AND SEEING MY ARTWORK IN THE LIBRARY AND BEING ABLE TO BE PART OF THAT I FEEL LIKE THAT INSPIRES OTHER YOUNG ARTISTS TO ALSO TAKE THAT CAREER PATH.

SINCE THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE IT IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> I REALLY WANT YOUNGER ARTISTS TO FEEL EMPOWERED.

SOMEONE LIKE ELIZABETH DOESN'T HAVE TO FEEL INTIMIDATED IF THEY WANT TO GO PAINT A MURAL OR IF THEY WANT TO GO TAKE THEIR ART AND ADD IT TO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING I WANT THEM TO FEEL EMPOWERED THAT THEY CAN DO IT AS WELL AND NOT FEEL INTIMIDATED OR NOT FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE THAT SENSE OF OWNERSHIP OF THEIR OWN CITY.

>>> THIS MURAL WAS COMPLETED THROUGH THE YOUG INITIATIVE OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM -- YOUTH INITIATIVE OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART.

ELIZABETH CARDONA GRADUATED WITH A DEGREE IN ART EDUCATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO LAST MONTH.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO HER.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN ON UNIVISION CHICAGO EVERY WEEK DAY MORNING.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES" THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR HOLY DAY WEEKEND WITH US -- HOLIDAY WEEKEND WITH US.

I'M ALEX HERNANDEZ.

STAY SAFE.