>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES.

I'M JOHN DONVAN ON THIS ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> THE CHILD TAX CREDIT WE ARE PROPOSING THIS YEAR WILL PUT MONEY BACK INTO WORKING CLASS PARENTS, POCKETS.

>> THE STATE'S NEW BUDGET ALLOCATES 50 MILLION DOLLARS FOR STATE-LEVEL CHILD TAX CREDIT.

BUT HOW MUCH WILL QUALIFYING HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVE?

>> IT WAS LIKE A DREAM TO BECOME LAW.

THE ONUS OF THIS PLACE.

>> WE TAKE YOU INSIDE A HISTORIC LITTLE VILLAGE THEATER AND TALK WITH OWNERS ABOUT ITS NEW LANDMARK STATUS.

AND MEET A GROUP OF LATINO EMBRACING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT.

FIRST, AS WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM OUR FRIENDS AT THE PBS NEWS HOUR, THERE IS HUGE NEWS OUT OF NEW YORK GUILTY ON ALL 34 COUNTS.

THAT IS A HISTORIC VERDICT OUT OF A MANHATTAN COURTROOM TODAY.

JURORS CONVICTED FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS.

THE CHARGES ARE IN RELATION TO PAYMENTS MADE TO ADULT FILM.

ACTRESS STORMY DANIELS DURING THE 2016 ELECTION.

IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP HER QUIET ABOUT ALLEGED ENCOUNTERS WITH TRUMP, TRUMP REMAINED DEFIANT JUST MINUTES AFTER THE VERDICT.

>> THIS WAS A DISGRACE.

THIS IS A GREAT CONFLICTED.

WAS SO OUT TO THIS RACE.

IT WOULD GIVE US JAMES.

WE AT 5% OR 6%.

AND THIS DISTRICT IN THIS AREA.

THIS IS A DISGRACEFUL.

TRY THE REAL IS GOING TO NOVEMBER BY THE PEOPLE.

AND THEY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED HERE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED >> SENTENCING IS SET FOR JULY.

11TH MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS VERDICT TOMORROW NIGHT ON THIS ON WEEKEND REVIEW.

AND MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON IS DELIVERING ON HIS PLAN TO EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

TODAY HE ANNOUNCED A REOPENING OF THE SHUTTERED ROSELYN HELP CENTER.

THE CITY PLANS TO START OPERATING THE CENTER BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND WE'LL ALSO ADD MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN PILSEN AND WEST GARFIELD PARK.

IT'S THE CITY'S LATEST EFFORT TO PROVIDE MORE ACCESS TO COMMUNITY STRUGGLING TO OBTAIN SERVICES.

THE CITY SAYS MORE THAN 300,000 CHICAGOANS ARE WAITING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BRING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY OVER RULES PILSEN?

WHAT HE MEANS IS THAT YOU THAT OUT THERE.

GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING.

MY CHILDREN WENT TO THE HAVING PANIC ATTACKS.

NOT EATING.

THEY'RE LOCKING THEMSELVES IN THE ROOM.

THEY ARE AFRAID TO DEEP REST.

THEY HAVING PROBLEMS SUBSTANCES, HELP AVAILABLE.

ANY DISEASE RIGHT HERE RIGHT HERE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> JOHNSON ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT BEGINNING THIS YEAR, THE CITY'S CRISIS ASSISTANCE RESPONSE AND ENGAGEMENT TEAMS WILL BE FULLY STAFFED BY THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMPLOYEES.

HE SAYS MEMBERS OF CHICAGO'S POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THOSE RESPONSES PLANS WILL BE PHASED OUT.

CHICAGO PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE DECLARING THE CITY'S RECENT OUTBREAK OF MEASLES OFFICIALLY CONTAINED.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED THE FIRST CASE BACK IN MARCH WITH A TOTAL TOTAL OF 64 CASES SENSE MANY WHICH WERE IDENTIFIED IN A MIGRANT SHELTER.

HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY IT'S BEEN 6 WEEKS WITHOUT ANY NEW CASES.

CDPH SAYS THE DEPARTMENT AND ITS PARTNERS ADMINISTERED MORE THAN 30,000 VACCINATIONS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME.

IF YOU WERE BORN IN MEXICO, YOU'LL BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE 2024 MEXICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AS THE COUNTRY IS ON THE ROAD TO ELECT ITS FIRST WOMAN.

PRESIDENT MEXICAN NATIONALS LIVING IN ILLINOIS IN NORTHERN INDIANA.

CAN VOTE IN PERSON AT THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF MEXICO OF CHICAGO THIS SUNDAY.

THE CONSULATE SAYS CHICAGO SERVES A POPULATION OF 3 MILLION MEXICAN AMERICANS IN ILLINOIS IN NORTHERN INDIANA.

UP NEXT, A LOOK AT ILLINOIS.

NEW CHILD TAX CREDIT PROGRAM AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR YOU.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICE IS MADE POSSIBLE IN BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> THIS WEEK, THE ILLINOIS HOUSE AND SENATE APPROVE NEXT YEAR'S FISCAL BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES 50 MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING FOR A NEW STATE LEVEL CHILD TAX CREDIT.

PARENTS WORKING BELOW THE MEDIAN INCOME WITH CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 12 COULD RECEIVE A CREDIT BETWEEN 300 AND $600 PER HOUSEHOLD.

AND ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY THE ILLINOIS ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE, THE TAX CREDIT WILL HELP DECREASE CHILDHOOD POVERTY AND BOOST THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

JOINING NOW WITH MORE, JULIET, THE HIS THE DAY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT K L S N A AND AM I A POOR SENIOR ADVISER.

OF ECONOMIC SECURITY PROJECT.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

JULIAN, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

HOW DID THIS CHILD TAX CREDIT BILL COME ABOUT?

SO?

>> WE ARE PART OF THE ILLINOIS COALITION OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE WHICH HAS OVER 100 MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

AND FROM FILING KEN THE SNAKE.

SO ONE OF THOSE MEMBERS AND SO WHAT GROUPS ON THE GROUND OR I AM WORKING WITH FAMILIES IMPACTED BY COVID SAW WAS THAT THE FEDERAL COVID RELIEF RIGHT.

THAT BROUGHT 2 MILLION CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY.

>> NEEDED TO BE AND IT NEEDED BE INSTATED WRITER CONTINUE.

ALL RIGHT.

AND WE SAW IT.

>> THEY ALLOWED IT TO 02:00AM.

THEY ALLOWED IT TO GO?

AND SO WE SAW CHILDREN PLUMMET RIGHT BACK INTO POVERTY.

RIGHT?

AND SO HERE AT THE STATE LEVEL, SO WHAT CAN WE DO HERE?

RIGHT?

TO REALLY SHOWING MODEL THAT AT THIS STATE.

WE KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES, RIGHT?

AND THAT WE DO ALL THAT WE CAN AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND SO THIS IS YEARS OF ORGANIZING ON THE GROUND.

PEOPLE WORKING DIRECTLY OUR PEOPLE IMPACTED RIGHT BY THIS.

TRYING WORK WITH PARTNERS LIKE THE RIGHT TO TO GET THIS PASSED.

AND SO AFTER YEARS, WE'RE SO EXCITED THAT WE WE HAVE WE'RE AT WE'RE HERE.

WE HAVE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT WAS A BIG INITIATIVE.

>> I WANT TO GO TO THEIR 50 MILLION ALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET TO CREATE A NEW CHILD TAX CREDIT WHERE THOSE FUNDS COMING FROM.

>> WELL, 50 MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR AND 100 MILLION DOLLARS AND EVERY YEAR GOING FORWARD.

SO AND REMEMBER, THIS IS ON TOP OF THE EXPANSION OF THE EARNED INCOME CREDIT THAT THE COALITION THAT WE ARE PART OF A YES, SECURE JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DIRECT CASH SUPPORT THAT'S GOING TO FLOW ILLINOIS FAMILIES.

AND THEN THERE'S A TOPPER FOR FAMILIES THAT HAVE KIDS BETWEEN 0 AND THIS IS A BIG WIN.

IT'S A IT'S A BIG WIN, YOU KNOW, BUT OUR WORK IS NEVER DONE.

IT IS A BIG WHEN WE SEE THIS IS A PART OF ALIGNS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S AGENDA TO MAKE ILLINOIS THE BEST PLACE START RAISE A FAMILY VISIT, BIRTH EQUITY INITIATIVE.

THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, GETTING RID OF THE GROCERY TAX.

BUT YOU KNOW THIS, THIS THESE DOLLARS, WE'RE GOING MAKE IT POSSIBLE.

FOR FAMILIES FOR KIDS BETWEEN 0 12 TONIGHT AT THE CHOOSE BETWEEN BUYING DIAPERS OR PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE BUY BOOKS.

IT REALLY ALSO DEMONSTRATES THE FEDERAL POLICYMAKERS WHY WE NEED A MORE HUMANE SAFETY NET.

>> JULIA, TO BREAK IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE WHO QUALIFIES YOU TO TALK ABOUT THAT?

WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE CHILD TAX CREDIT AND HOW MUCH AGAIN, AS AVAILABLE PER CHILD.

IF A FAMILY IS WATCHING, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL THEM?

WELL, RIGHT NOW YOU GET INTO SPECIFICS, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT 300 PER CHILD THAT 600 >> TOPS PER FAMILY.

RIGHT?

I'M THAT FAMILIES NEED TO 50,000.

I HEAR ON UP TO 60,000 UP TO 60,000 A YEAR TO QUALIFY WITH JOINTLY MARRIED FILING JOINTLY UNDER 75,000 A QUALIFIED AND HAVE CHILDREN BETWEEN 0 AND 12 YEARS OLD.

AND SO WE KNOW THAT RIGHT THERE IS GOING TO IMPACT 1.4 MILLION CHILDREN IN OUR STATE, WHICH IS THAT BUT IT'S A HUGE BEGINNING.

HAVE YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN HEARING FROM FAMILIES?

YOU KNOW, WHAT HAS REACTION BEEN LIKE FOR YOU?

YEAH, I MEAN, ACTION LAST YEAR WHEN DIDN'T WAS DEVASTATING.

RIGHT?

BECAUSE WE WERE AND WE CONTINUE TO FAMILIES JUST NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, PAY CYCLE TO KEEP FOOD ON THE TABLE.

FOLKS NEEDING TO GO IN.

YOU KNOW, LOOK FOR ON TOP OF EVERYTHING.

AND THERE ARE FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST A WHOLE HOUSEHOLD, A MEMBER RIGHT?

2 COVID, RIGHT.

THAT STILL AN IMPACT, RIGHT?

AND SO THE DEVASTATION OF LOSING LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE WERE SO EXCITED AND WE FELT LIKE WE COULD WIN.

AND NOW THIS YEAR THAT WE ACTUALLY WON, OUR FAMILIES ARE SUPER ON.

THOSE ARE SUPER EXCITED.

THEY FOUGHT HARD AND THEY NOW THEY SEE THE RESULT.

AND AGAIN, WE SEE THIS AS THE BEGINNING.

WE'RE NOT DONE.

THIS IS NOT ENOUGH, RIGHT?

WE NEED WE NEED TO CATCH UP WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT THAT REALLY DO SUPPORT WOMEN AND FAMILIES TO RAISE CHILDREN.

THIS IS THE HAND?

ALL THIS IS NOT AN ENTITLEMENT.

IS ACTUALLY WHAT IS A BASIC STANDARD OF LIVING MOMENT TO GIVE US A PERSPECTIVE, HOW MANY CHILDREN HOUSEHOLD WILL BE IMPACTED ACROSS THE STATE?

>> WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS THE STATE, NOT JUST IN CHICAGO, BUT DOWNSTATE CAIRO.

YOU KNOW, YOU ST. LOUIS TO CHARLESTON, RIGHT?

AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN.

HE'S GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THE SHOT TAX CREDIT.

BUT THE COMMUNITIES WILL ALSO BENEFIT RIGHT?

EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE SEND BACK TO FAMILIES.

GETS SPENT LOCALLY AND CREATES A MULTIPLIER OF $2.50, RIGHT?

SO FOR TALKING ABOUT SENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS DOLLARS BACK, NOT JUST THE EARNED INCOME CREDIT, BUT NOW THIS NEW 100 MILLION DOLLAR BENEFIT STARTING NEXT YEAR, 50 THIS YEAR.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROBABLY CLOSE TO BILLION DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC IMPACT.

THESE DOLLARS WILL FLOW BACK INTO GOVERNMENT COFFERS THROUGH SALES TAXES AND OF COURSE, CREATE JOBS, CREATE SPENDING LOCALLY.

THIS IS.

THIS IS WHY OUR COALITION IS NOT JUST PROGRESSIVES.

WE'VE GOT THE OWNER RESTAURANT SESSION BOARD.

IT IS A IT IS A DIVERSE COALITION BECAUSE PRO BUSINESS AND PRO FAMILY.

AND TALKING ABOUT THAT, I DID READ THAT IT WOULD REDUCE CHILDHOOD POVERTY AND INCREASE THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

CAN YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT?

>> AGAIN, WHEN YOU HAVE A ONE, WE REDUCE CHILD POVERTY, RIGHT?

WE SEE BETTER OUTCOMES.

>> WE SEE LOWER.

IT'S A CHRONIC DISEASE.

WE SEE RATES OF POVERTY OBVIOUSLY HAS BETTER IMPACT ON WORKERS.

YOU KNOW THIS AS AN ECONOMIC IMPACT, RIGHT?

NOT ONLY IS IT HUMANE AND THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT IT BENEFITS US IN THE NEAR AND LONG TERM.

OF COURSE, GIVING PEOPLE MONEY MEANS THAT THEY WILL SPEND THAT MONEY WHICH WILL RESULT IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, WHICH WILL CREATE JOBS, WHICH CREATES A FLYWHEEL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS GOOD FOR EVERYBODY.

AND JULIET GOING YOU.

HOW IS A CHILD TAX CREDIT BENEFIT TO BOTH URBAN RULE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS'S?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, HAVING MORE MONEY AT HOME, WHEREVER YOU ARE, WHATEVER ZIP CODE IS RIGHT.

I WORK PRIMARILY IN CHICAGO IN THE COMMUNITIES OF LOGAN SQUARE AVENUE AT THE >> WHERE WE'RE SEEING RENTS CONTINUE TO SKYROCKET LIKE SOME OF THE HIGHEST RENT INCREASES ARE ACTUALLY THE EYES.

INCREASES ARE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO FAMILIES ARE CONSTANTLY SEEING THE RENTS GO AND AND THEIR MIKE, STAY AND JOB INSECURITY AS WELL.

SO THIS IS THIS IS THIS KIND OF STABILITY.

THIS IS A TOWARDS STABILITY THAT PEOPLE GUY.

BUT WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO IS FIND MANY DIFFERENT WAYS FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE TO HAPPEN FOR FAMILIES.

THANK YOU BOTH YOU FOR THE WORK THEY'VE DONE.

THANK UP NEXT, WE MEET THE FAMILY BEHIND A LANDMARK THEATER IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

>> IF >> YOU'VE EVER VISITED LITTLE VILLAGE, IT'S HARD TO MISS THE PALOS 2000 THEATER, WHICH IS NOW ON ITS WAY TO BECOMING A CHICAGO LANDMARK FOR YEARS.

THE PLACE HAS BEEN A HELPER CELEBRATIONS OF LATINO CULTURE.

BUT THE HISTORY OF ITS BUILDING AND THE OWNERS GOES MUCH DEEPER.

FOR NEARLY 35 YEARS.

JAVIER AND LYDIA GALINDO HAVE WELCOME ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

>> TO THE APOLLOS 2000 THEATER IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

>> THIS IS ALSO AN MUSIC MAN HOLD.

HIS FIRST FROM COSTA RICA ARE TO SHARE FOR A IN THEIR VAN.

DE HAVE LIKE A MEXICAN PUERTO SOMEBODY FROM CAMEROON, BRAZILIAN, JUST AWESOME GET THEY'VE ALSO HOSTED POLITICIANS FROM ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

THE BIGGEST EVENT WAS A.

>> A GATHERING FOR AL GORE WHEN HE WAS VICE PRESIDENT WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND GATHERED COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR WRESTLING FASHION SHOWS IN KEENE SAYING IN US, THE BUILDING KNOWN AS THE MARSHALL SQUARE THEATER WHEN OPENED IN 1917, IS NOW BEING DESIGNATED A CHICAGO LANDMARK.

A VFC OLDEST DAUGHTER EVELYN STILL SAYS HAS BEEN ALMOST 20 YEARS IN THE A LOT HAS BEEN DONE TO THE BUILDING.

>> IN ORDER TO ADAPT TO OUR CURRENT TIMES, BUT BEING ABLE TO BRING BACK AND RESTORE THE EXTERIOR OF THAT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY OF HONORING THE PAST AND HISTORY OF THE BUILDING.

ITS ARCHITECTURAL BEAUTY.

>> HISTORY CAPTURED IN THE TERRA COTTA FACADE IN MARQUEE THE PROMINENT DOME CEILING.

AND EVEN THE OLD PROJECTION ROOM WERE OPERATORS LEFT BEHIND CARBON RODS AND FILM REELS.

THE TIME CAPSULE.

>> BECAUSE WE SELL THEM GO UP THIS IS JUST A PERSONAL THING.

YOU KNOW, WITH AND YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY MAINTAINED THAT THAT SENSE OF.

RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WORK TIME IN THE YOU KNOW THAT BUILD THAT THE ARCHITECT OF THE SAYING YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONE, BUT THEY'RE STILL PRESENT HERE AND WE HAVE TO RESPECT THEM THE AMAZING JOB THAT THEY BUT THE CRAFTSMANSHIP AND BIG NAME PERFORMERS AREN'T THE ONLY HISTORY CONTAINED IN THESE WALLS.

AND HE REMEMBER WHEN NAOMI IS TO GO UP ON STAGE AND JUST SEEING IN.

>> SENIOR ARTISTS AND PLAY PRETEND DANCE TO GYMNASTICS EVERYTHING.

I THINK WE BOTH WOULD.

YEAH, >> ARE.

WE WOULD ROLLER BLADE.

>> HAD JUST TO YEAH, THAT TO 3 OF US IN THE 1980'S HEAVY RAN A SUCCESSFUL NIGHTCLUB IN THE CITY.

BUT WHEN THE CLUB'S ROOF CAVED THE COUPLE WHO ONLY BEEN MARRIED ABOUT 6 MONTHS, SAW THEIR FUTURE CRASHING DOWN TO LIFE OR LIKE NOW WHAT WE HAD BEEN SO 6, WE WILL BE SO SUCCESSFUL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR DREAMS ARE JUST DOWN THE GUTTER, LITERALLY RIGHT ON THE BUT IS LIKE AT THAT POINT WHAT GOT TO LOSE.

>> HOW F DOT BACK TO AN OFFER HE HAD RECEIVED TO PURCHASE THE SHUTTERED MARSHALL SQUARE THEATER.

IT WAS A DEAL HE DIDN'T TAKE SERIOUSLY AT FIRST.

BUT AT THE URGING OF THE BUILDING'S PREVIOUS OWNER, WE CAME SEE THE PACE.

>> AND WHEN I A IT LOOKED LIKE A PALACE FOR ME BECAUSE HE AT THE TIME MOVIE THEATERS.

WORD LIKE A PALACE SO I WANT TO KNOW THAT THE FIRST MOMENT SEOUL, THEN IT WAS LIKE A DREAM TO THE OWNERS THIS PLACE.

THE PLACE WILL BECOME A SECOND HOME TO THE COUPLE AND THEIR DAUGHTERS.

EVELYN, NAOMI AND I SAYS.

>> WHO GREW UP EXPLORING THE THEATER.

YOU COULD REALLY BE AN ARTIST GO UP ON STAGE.

I MEAN, I'M REALLY TALKING ABOUT USING YOUR IMAGINATION AND NOW.

I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE A CHILD AND GET A SENSE OF WHAT MY PARENTS MUST THOUGHT.

>> SO I ENVISION THIS BEING A PLAYGROUND FOR HIM AS WELL AND BEING ABLE TO JUST ENJOY IT AS HAVE YET IN LIBYA BEGAN TO PASS TO BUSINESS TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

THEY SAY THEY HOPE LANDMARKS.

THAT IS WHERE REVITALIZE A NEIGHBORHOOD AND BRING RECOGNITION TO A HIDDEN GEM IN THE HEART OF LATINO COMMUNITY.

YOU DON'T REALLY SEE MANY LANDMARKS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> PARTICULARLY IN AREAS THAT ARE HIGHLY DISINVESTED AND WHERE THERE'S A HIGH POPULATION OF MINORITIES.

SO IT'S A PRIVILEGE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BRING IN THE PRESTIGE OF BEING A LANDMARK TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND ALTHOUGH MANY BIG NAMES HAVE WALKED THROUGH THEIR DOORS, THE GUIDING, THOUGH, SAY IT'S THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE MADE THE GREATEST IMPACT.

AND I TRULY DO FEEL LIKE THIS IS THIS IS PART OF MY COMMUNITY AND BEING ABLE TO NOT JUST BE A PART OF IT, BUT ALSO SERVE IT.

AND HELP THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY ESTABLISH MEMORIES AGAIN CONTINUES PART OF THE HISTORY AND THE WEALTH OF HISTORY AND STORIES OF THIS BUILDING AND HAVE THAT FORM PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS A GREAT SENSE OF PRIDE FOR US.

THE FINAL LANDMARK ORDINANCE WENT TO MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON'S DESK FOR HIS SIGNATURE LAST WEEK.

>> BUT THE NOLES HAVE LONG EMBRACE.

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT HAS FATALES LANDSCAPERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO NAME A FEW IN FACT, LET THE NOLES ARE STARTING BUSINESSES AT OVER TWICE THE RATE OF THE GENERAL U.S. POPULATION.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A NEW ANALYSIS OF THE CENSUS BUREAU DATA.

BUT GETTING THERE AS A FIRST TIME BUSINESS OWNER COMES WITH ITS OWN SET OF CHALLENGES AS NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS MONTH COMES TO A CLOSE.

WE INVITED 3 ENTREPRENEURS TO SHARE THEIR STORIES.

THEY ARE.

VANESSA ARROYO.

THE FOUNDER AND ORDER SET IS FULL WHERE ERIC HOLDER ON THE OWNER AND CHEF OF MEDINA'S BISTRO AND ROME BAR AND WE'LL SAY LOPEZ, CO-FOUNDER AND OWNER OF ME EVENT SAID I'M A AT SUNDAY I GOT I GOT A LOT AND THEY WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS ALL FOR JOINING US.

AND FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATS ON YOUR BUSINESS I'M SURE IT WAS A LONG JOURNEY.

VANESSA, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

WHAT DREW YOU TO FASHION MAKING SHOES?

>> WELL, GROWING UP, MY DAD TAUGHT ME HOW TO SEW.

MY GRANDMOTHER TAUGHT ME HOW TO SELL AS WELL.

AND I'M A PRODUCT OF THE 90'S.

YOU KNOW HOW WE LOVE FASHION AND THE OLDER I GOT, THE MORE I WANTED TO PURSUE THAT FOR A LIVING TO YOU.

CURL UP IN THAT.

YES, I DID WEAR FROM CHICAGO.

SO HOUSE MUSIC BREAK THEY INCREASE ALL OF THAT IS YOU CAN DANCE.

ERIC, I WANT TO BE YOUR CHEF.

YOUR WHAT WOULD HAVE DUE TO OPEN YOUR OWN RESTAURANT AND PUT THAT PUERTO RICAN MONITOR.

EYES TWIST RIGHT TO MODERN TWIST.

A PUERTO RICAN FOOD.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO AT A YOUNGER AGE, MY MOM TAUGHT ME HOW TO COOK.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY, YOU KNOW, SHE I KEPT IN MY MIND THAT SHE WON, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SHE'S COMING TO MAKE HER PROUD.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, I WENT TO CULINARY SCHOOL AND PUERTO RICO WHEN I CAME BACK TO CHICAGO, I DECIDED TO START AS A GHOST KITCHEN.

AND, YOU THAT OPENED THE OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, BEEN A BRICK AND AND THAT THERE'S A LACK OF REPRESENTATION AND NORTH SIDE YOU KNOW, I DID GREAT DINING SPACE SO YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR TRANSPORT YOURSELF.

SO THAT'S WHAT THAT WAS ON THE THING THAT MOTIVATED FROM NAME AFTER A YES, YES.

OH, THAT'S SO SWEET.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND THEN JOSE, YOU STARTED VEERING BEER WHICH IS INSANE FROM HOME A LOT OF PEOPLE DO WITH YOUR BROTHER.

YES.

TELL US ABOUT THE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR SO MYSELF, MY BROTHERS, WE WERE INTO CRAFT BEER, WE DIDN'T SEE OF MEXICAN CULTURE, LATINO CULTURE AND >> IN TOO MANY BRANDS.

SO WE WERE LIKE WE DRINK A LOT.

WHY NOT CREATE SOMETHING THAT KIND OF REPRESENTS OUR CULTURE, OUR INGREDIENTS, KIND OF WHAT WE GREW UP WITH.

>> SO THAT WAS THAT WAS INSPIRATION BEHIND EVERYTHING.

WOULD SAY THAT YOU'VE BISCUIT IS SO ORDER INTO SOME OF OUR STYLE.

I BY REUSE OF BUENA FROM FROM THE MOBILE.

SO WE USE THAT WE HAVE MICHAEL.

AND SOME OF OUR SOLDIERS THAT WERE SO CIRCLE FACE OFF THE TRADITIONAL MEXICAN DRINK.

SO A LOT OF OUR VIEWERS HAVE HAVE THOSE TRIED THAT.

AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT CAPITAL BECAUSE THAT'S ALWAYS THE HARDEST PART.

ERIC CARS CAN OFTEN BE A FOR ENTREPRENEURS, WAS AN A CHALLENGE FOR YOU.

AND WHAT WAS THAT LIKE FOR YOU?

>> IT WAS DEFINITE TRYING TO GET CAPITAL AS A MINORITY AND AS A MAN, IT WAS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

I'M TRYING TO FIND SOMEBODY THAT WILL BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAMS.

I GOT TURNED DOWN MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES UP TRYING TO GET BUT I FOUND SOMEBODY THAT BELIEVE IN ME THAN MY VISION.

AND WHAT WHAT, WHAT MY BRAND WAS WAS ALL ABOUT.

AND YEAH, AND THAT'S HOW I GOT A BREAK.

SO BUT YEAH, I I DID WANT SEVERAL VERY NOT TRYING TO GIVE UP AN AND VANESSA, YOU SELL FUNDED YOUR AT WHAT POINT DID YOU FIND OUT THERE WAS HELP FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

AND WHAT?

WHAT?

WHAT WAS IT LIKE NAVIGATING WELL, ARE MY BUSINESS IS ABOUT TO HIT THE ONE-YEAR MARK AND >> I RECENTLY RECEIVED A GRANT TO OPEN UP A STOREFRONT WITH MY BUSINESS PARTNER AND WEST TOWN AND THESE RESOURCES.

THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE, BUT A LOT OF THEM I GOT TURNED DOWN, YOU KNOW, LOANS.

THEY DON'T LOOK AT YOU IF YOUR NEW BUSINESS AND EVEN GRANTS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS.

FORTUNATELY THROUGH THE WESTOWN I WAS THE RECIPIENT OF THIS GRAND AND WE NOW HAVE A STOREFRONT.

AND RIGHT NOW I'M A FOOTWEAR DESIGNER BY TRADE.

SO HAVING A FOOTWEAR BRAND IS JUST AN EXTENSION OF THE MANY THINGS THAT I DO AND I'M ABLE TO OPERATE MY BUSINESS THROUGH ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I DO LIKE EDUCATION IN FASHION DESIGN.

AND WOULD YOU SAY YOU HAD TO LEARN EVERYTHING ON YOUR OWN?

WHEN I FIRST STARTED, YOU HAD THIS VISION OF CREATING THIS.

THIS FOLK WHERE WAS THAT LIKE?

JUST TRYING TO FIGURE EVERYTHING OUT.

YEAH.

WELL, I DIDN'T.

GOT THINK I WAS GOING TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR AND ALL I LIKE TO DEVELOP PRODUCT AND DESIGN PRODUCT IN.

>> I HAD TO LEARN THESE THINGS AND THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I HAVE A VISION FOR THE BRAND.

WE.

PRODUCED IN MEXICO.

AND FOR ME, THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME AS A FASHION DESIGNER, A WORK IN AN INDUSTRY THAT IS KEPT COMPLETELY LIKE EVEN HERE IN CHICAGO.

AND I REALLY WANT TO REPRESENT MY PEOPLE.

SO I WORK WITH PARTISANS.

I MOVED HERE FROM MEXICO.

I WORK WITH ARTISTS I HIRED AND MANUFACTURERS AND A BIG DEAL IN GENERAL EVEN MANUFACTURING COSTS EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH ONE-ON-ONE.

IT'S JUST VERY SPECIAL.

CAN YOU RELATE TO THAT WAS I WAS SHE SAYING?

>> YES, KIND OF THINKING BACK TO THE WHOLE FUNDING THING.

THAT'S YEAH.

BEEN THE HARDEST PART HARDEST A LOT OF OUR FUNDING.

PLAY FOR SO MANY LOANS AND THERE'S LOANS OUT THERE TRYING TO GET TO 40%.

AND THAT'S WHERE KIND OF BUSINESSES YOU'RE SETTING YOURSELF UP TO YOU KNOW, WE'VE WE'VE LUCKILY NEVER HAD TO TAKE IN SOME OF THOSE LOANS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LIKE ANY BUSINESS OWNER, HOME EQUITY ALL THESE WORDS THE REAL EVERYTHING DAUNTING, LIKE GETTING THOSE APPLICATIONS WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH SOMEONE FROM YOUR PERSONAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND JUST PUTTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

THEY NEED WHOLE FINANCIAL.

GOT TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

BUT >> ONCE HE ONCE YOU GET PAST THAT YOU BEING OVERWHELMING, IT'S STILL MOST OUT THERE REALLY GIVEN MONEY.

>> ERICA, VANESSA, WANT TO GO TO YOU.

BOTH OF YOU ARE RELATIVELY NEWER BUSINESS.

WHAT HAVE YOU TAKEN AWAY, ERIC, FROM THE SHORT TIME.

>> I AM WHAT I'VE TAKEN FROM THE SHORT TIME IS LIKE HOW PEOPLE LOVE MY FOOD AND MY VISION.

AND, YOU KNOW, AND >> THAT'S THAT'S A GREAT US BEING THAT THAT THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME.

YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT PEOPLE >> ARE BEHIND YOU GETTING ANY GOOD?

YES, THE GOOD FEEDBACK THAT THAT PEOPLE THAT TRUST TRUST YOU.

SO SOMETHING THAT THAT I WILL NEVER, YOU KNOW, TAKE FOR GRANTED.

DO YOU HAVE AGREE WITH YOU?

BECAUSE >> SEEING THE COMMUNITY THAT BACKS YOU AND YOUR VISION SUCH A SCARY THING TO JUST EVEN GET STARTED.

YOU KNOW, SOME THE RESTAURANTS HERE IN CHICAGO, YOU KNOW, LIKE AND STARTING A BUSINESS AND YOU'VE GOT TO COMPETE WITH SO MANY PEOPLE AND LIKE TO MAINTAIN YOURSELF ON THE TOP AND TRYING REINVENT YOURSELF ALL THE TIME.

FUN THING HAS ALL OF YOU SEEM TO BE REALLY PUTTING YOUR CULTURE INTO YOUR PRODUCT?

YOU WOULD YOU SAY THAT THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN ACTUALLY AND LIKE MYSELF?

I DECIDED TO DO RESTAURANT UPTOWN, WHICH THERE IS NO, IT WAS LACK OF REPRESENTATION OF OF OUR CULTURE AND FOOD.

AND I DID.

THEY DON'T WANT TO JUST MAKE IT.

WE'RE RESTAURANTS IN HUMBLE THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE HAVEN'T WE LITERALLY ONLY HAVE A COUPLE SECONDS.

ONE WORD THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE ADVICE TO SOMEONE STARTING A NEW BUSINESS.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

NEVER GIVE UP PERSEVERANCE.

THANK YOU CONGRATS TO ALL OF YOU.

BEST OF LUCK.

YOU THINK IT'S ON >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5.37, FOR THE WEEK IN REVIEW.

NOW FROM ALL OF US HERE, CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES.

I'M JOINED THAT AND THEN THIS STAY HEALTHY.

STAY SAFE.

ONE HAS NOTICED.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, WHICH IS PROUD TO HONOR FOUNDER AND SENIOR PARTNER ROBERT CLIFFORD, WHO HAS BEEN NAMED