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

I'M ALEX HERNANDEZ.

WE CHERISH EVERY WEEKDAY .

ADVOCATES CALL ON THE CITY TO REESTABLISH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT.

ILLINOIS ALEXIS FIRST LaTINA CONGRESSWOMAN.

>> WE MEET THE NEWLY APPOINTED AND FIRST LATINO EDITOR IN CHIEF OF THE CHICAGO READER.

>> IT IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR US TO BE CONTEMPLATING THESE ISSUES WITH IMMIGRANTS.

>> A MUSICAL COLLABORATION TELLS THE STORY OF THE IRISH SOLDIER.

OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND LATINO COMMUNITIES.

THAT IS AFTER THIS.

>>> CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PASSED MERRIER LORI LIGHTFOOT $16 BILLION PROPOSAL.

IT WASN'T WITHOUT SOME TENSE DEBATE .

THE MAYOR CAME UNDER FIRE FOR SOME OTHER PEOPLE FOR NOT LIVING UP TO HER PROMISE TO REESTABLISH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT.

MY FOOT'S SPENDING PLAN CREATES AN OFFICE OF CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY.

JOINING US IS THE CITY PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE LINES OF THE SOUTHEAST.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

THE ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL'S BEEN CALLING FOR THE REESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT.

INSTEAD, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT 'S BUDGET CREATES AN OFFICE OF CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY.

DOES THAT GO FAR ENOUGH?

>> I THINK THE OFFICE OF VIRAL EQUITIES TAKING US ON A DEFINITE PATHWAY.

IT IS A MUCH BIGGER STEP THAN LAST YEAR.

THE BUDGET MANAGEMENT DOES INCLUDE A PROMISE FOR A STUDY.

GIVEN WHERE YOU'RE AT, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, TO HAVE A SEPARATE STANDING BODY AND TO HAVE A PROMISE OF A STUDY AND COMMITMENT TO A DEPARTMENT, WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE FULL DEPARTMENT.

IT IS SETTING UP A PATHWAY.

>> YOU SEE THIS AS A STEP FORWARD?

A GOOD STEP?

YOU ACTUALLY VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET AND YOU MENTIONED THAT CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT WOULD HOLD THE CITY ACCOUNTABLE TO ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT CAMPAIGNED ON A PROMISE TO REESTABLISH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN OFFICE AND DEPARTMENT IS IN OFFICE HAS CAPACITY TO DO OVERSIGHT , LIKE WE HAVE PROMISED, THE OVERSIGHT OF HAVING THE COMMUNITY IMPACT AND THE CORONATION BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT.

WITHOUT THAT CAPACITY, IN COMMUNITY LIKE OURS, WHERE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE A CRITICAL ISSUE, WE DON'T HAVE THE CHANGES WE WANT TO SEE.

WE SEE COMPANIES THAT ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR PERMITS RENEWED.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE A COMMUNITY IMPACT STUDY IS DONE.

WITH THE $16 BILLION BUDGET, WE CAN NOT GET A FIRM COMMITMENT THAT THE IMPACT STUDY WILL BE DONE SO WE CAN REVIEW THESE PERMITS AND INSTEAD OF MOVING FORWARD, WITH GLOBAL CHANGE AND CLIMATE CHANGE, IT IS A REAL THREAT.

>> YOU THINK YOUR COMMUNITY WILL BE OKAY WITH THIS CHANGE?

ARE THEY LOOKING FOR THE MAYOR TO DO MORE?

BACK I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS DEMANDING MORE.

THEY DEMAND TO MAKE SURE THE $16 BILLION, REMEMBER SINCE 2002 UNTIL NOW, THE BUDGET OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO WAS QUADRUPLED.

WE DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE OF FUNDING.

WE CAN HAVE ALL THE FUNDING IN THE WORLD TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT AND WE REGULATE THIS INDUSTRY THAT ARE POLLUTING , WE DO KNOW THE CITY CAN DO A LOT MORE.

THIS IS ABOUT BIG MONEY IN THESE INDUSTRIAL CORRIDORS .

>> FAMILIAR, DO YOU THINK MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT HAS EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSED ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT TYPICALLY AFFECT THE BLACK AND BROWN CHICAGOANS THAT WE SAW IN LITTLE VILLAGE WITH THE IMPLOSION OF THE SMOKESTACK?

BACK IT IS A GOOD STEP WHEN THE CITY DENIED THE PERMIT FOR GENERAL IRON.

THAT WAS A GREAT FIRST STEP.

WE NEED MORE OF THE SAME AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE CITY IS SUPPORTING POLICIES LIKE AN IMPACT WHICH LOOKS AT THE TOTAL TOXICITY IN THE AREA, THAT WE ARE NOT HAVING TOXIC COMPANIES THAT MOVE INTO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY OVERBURDENED WITH THE CURRENT TOXIC LEGACIES.

NOT JUST ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE WHERE I REPRESENT BUT ALSO IN THE VILLAGE, HILL COAST AND GENERAL IRON , THERE'S A LOT OF TOXIC DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED AND SO, THAT IS WHAT WE NEED FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS TO MAKE SURE IN GENERAL IRON WASN'T ONE AND DONE.

IT IS A START OF LOOKING AT HOW THESE POLICIES ARE MADE.

WE WANT TO SEE THE CITY PASS A STRONG IMPACT ORDINANCE AND ALSO SUPPORT EFFORTS, THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, FOR COMMUTER LEAVE AND NO MORE TOXIC COMPANIES COMING INTO HEAVILY BURDENED AREAS.

>> DO THINK THE OFFICE OF MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT IS DOING ENOUGH BY CREATING THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY?

>> IT IS A START.

WHAT ARE COMMUNITY WILL BE EVALUATED ON IS WHETHER OR NOT, THERE IS A CHANGE OF POLICY.

I MEAN HONESTLY, WITH THE OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE CITY TO DO IS CHANGE POLICIES WHAT MAY AFFECT TOXIC COMPANIES COMING OUR WAY.

>> THE EPA RECOMMENDED THAT MIDDLE-MANAGEMENT INSTALL HIGH GRADE AIR MONITORS.

THE MONITORS APPARENTLY FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY.

HAVE YOU BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY AND THE COMPANY ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?

BACK ABSOLUTELY.

WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS ISSUE VERY CLOSELY.

UNFORTUNATELY, WITH SIMS, THE CITY HAS ALLOWED, AND THE STATE , FOR THESE COMPANIES TO OPERATE EVEN THOUGH THE DATA HAS SHOWN IT IS INSUFFICIENT IN CREATING THIS.

THAT IS WHAT WE WANTED TO SHOW.

AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE RUSH.

WE, AS A COMMUNITY, WE ACTED QUICKLY AND PUT A BREAK TO ANY MEETINGS AND PERMITS.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE PUT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES FIRST.

I'M THANKFUL ABOUT THE COMMUNITY'S EFFORTS.

REMEMBER, GENERAL IRON WAS STOPPED BECAUSE OF COMMUNITY PRESSURES.

WE DON'T HAVE THE FULL INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT THAT HAS BEEN INSTALLED.

WE HAVE TO SEE RESPONSES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SIMS, OR ANY COMPANY, HAVE A FORMAL REVIEW.

WE NEED AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY IMPACT STUDY ON THE CORONATION BETWEEN THE CITY .

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN.

>> YOU ARE PRESSURING THE CITY FOR THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> RESIDENCE IN McKINLEY PARK ARE ASKING THE STATE TO SLOW ITSELF DOWN, THE SALE OF THE SILO SITE.

THEY SAY THEY WANT MORE TIME FOR COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.

ART COMMUNITY MEMBERS BEING INCLUDED IN THIS ENVIRONMENTAL CONVERSATION?

>> THEY NEED TO BE INCLUDED EVEN MORE.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE HAS DONE A LOT OF OUTREACH AND WORK.

I THINK FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF EPA, THEY CAN DO A LOT MORE TO ENGAGE THE FOLKS IN THAT COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE KNOW AND ARE AWARE BUT YOU NEED TO MEET THEM AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO THESE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS INSTEAD OF SENDING OUT INFORMATION.

THERE IS MORE TO BE DONE.

>> DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE FOR INDUSTRY TO COEXIST IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS?

>> YES.

THE ANSWER WOULD BE YES.

FOR AN INDUSTRY TO BE LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE NEEDS TO BE COMMUNITY CONVERSATION AND DECISION-MAKING FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

ESPECIALLY FOR THE SOUTHEAST SIDE, WE HAVE THE TOXIC LEGACY PASSED DOWN FROM THE STEEL MILLS.

WE STILL HAVE THE MANUFACTURING DISTRICT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT THAT COME INTO THE SOUTHEAST SIDE.

I KNOW WE WOULD BE, WE ARE LOOKING AT GREEN DEVELOPMENT AND THINGS THAT WOULD OFFSET THE CURRENT TOXIC IMPRINT IN HER NEIGHBORHOODS.

THINGS LIKE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND GREEN JOBS.

THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE VERY INVOLVED IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS AT THE BEGINNING.

AND, A COMMUNITY IMPACT POLICY, THE USDA HAS A PROPOSED CUMULATIVE IMPACT POLICY .

THERE IS A HEALTH IMPACT ANALYSIS AND YOU KNOW, --.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THIS WEEK'S MIDTERM ELECTION SAW QUITE A FEW FIRST ONE OF WHICH WAS HERE IN ILLINOIS.

VOTERS IN THE STATE ELECTED ITS FIRST LaTINA CONGRESSWOMAN.

RAMIREZ MAKES HISTORY BEING THE FIRST MIDWESTERN LATINO ELECTED CONGRESS.

CONGRESSWOMAN ELECT JOINED US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

HERE SHE HAS TALKING ABOUT MAKING HISTORY AS WELL AS ONE OF HER TOP THREE PRIORITIES IN CONGRESS.

>> IT IS SURREAL.

IT IS FOR MY MOM WAS GETTING CALLS FROM GUATEMALA FROM EVERY FAMILY MEMBER SHE HAS EVER MET.

IT IS EMOTIONAL AND IN HONOR.

I'M GRATIFIED TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THIS DISTRICT POSITIVE PATHWAY TO GET DACA RECIPIENTS INTO CITIZENSHIP?

WILL THEY BE ABLE TO RENEW DACA?

>> YOU CAN ACTUALLY MORE THAT CONVERSATION ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS .

UP NEXT, MEET THE NEW EDITOR IN CHIEF.

>> THE CHICAGO READER IS A BELOVED COMMUNITY INSTITUTION.

IN A DIGITAL AGE, IT WAS A GUIDE TO ALL THINGS CHICAGO.

IN A WORLD WHERE ALMOST ANY INFORMATION IS A GOOGLE SEARCH AWAY, IT IS A TOUGH TIME TO BE A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER.

PAST WITH THE JOB OF MAINTAINING THE READER-ESQUE IRRELEVANCE IS THIS NEW EDITOR IN CHIEF AND THE FIRST LATINO TO HOLD THE POSITION.

HE JOINS US TODAY.

WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

YOU WERE FIRST A FAN OF THE READER LONG BEFORE YOU GOT THE TOP JOB.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN, TO YOU, TO NOW THE LEADING WHAT IS A CHICAGO INSTITUTION?

>> IS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY .

RIGHT?

I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE READER WHEN I WAS IN CHICAGO IN THE SUMMER OF 2009 UNDER A FELLOWSHIP.

I SAW THEN THE GRIP THE READER HAD ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

I COULD ONLY DREAM, BACK THEN, I HAVE BEING A FREELANCE CONTRIBUTOR TO THE READER LET ALONE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.

A LOT OF LESSONS HAVE BEEN LEARNED.

A LOT OF CLIMBING ON THE PROFESSIONAL LETTER.

IN VERY MANY WAYS, IT IS A HOMECOMING AND I'M VERY HUMBLED BY.

>> FOR CHICAGOANS OF A CERTAIN AGE, THE READER WAS INDISPENSABLE.

IT WAS A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD FIND A JOB, MAYBE A DATE, THINGS TO DO RUN THE CITY.

AND, ALSO SOME GREAT JOURNALISM.

A LOT OF STUFF IS A GOOGLE SEARCH AWAY.

HOW CAN YOU MAINTAIN THE READER-ESQUE IRRELEVANCE?

I THINK THE READER REPRESENT SOMETHING SO SPECIAL IN THE LIVES OF MANY IF NOT ALL CHICAGOANS.

A LOT OF CHICAGOANS HAVE A ROUTER STORY.

HE MENTIONED ABOUT THE PERSONALS FROM THE DAY.

THOSE WITH HER PRE- TENDER DAYS.

AS A RITUAL QUALITY TO IT WHEN YOU GET THIS .

FOR ME, AS A MEDIA PERSON, TO ACTUALLY GET TO PRODUCE THAT, IT IS EXTRAORDINARY.

I FEEL THAT PEOPLE TURN TOWARD THE READER ONLINE AND THE PHYSICAL ISSUE OF THE READER FOR THAT SAME , TO REESTABLISH THAT SAME CONNECTION.

I WAS JUST TALKING AND INTERVIEWING A FILM DIRECTOR .

IT WAS VERY FUNNY .

SHE MENTIONED I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I MET MY HUSBAND THROUGH THE READER CLASSIFIEDS.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, I WAS A READER AD OF THE WEEK.

THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES I HAVE ENCOUNTERED.

REMINDS ME OF THE READER'S RELEVANCE.

EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK TO VINYL.

WE MIGHT SAY A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT BE GOING BACK TO ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPERS.

WILL WE SEE GOOD JOURNALISM?

>> YEAH.

YOU CAN SEE NOT EVERY WEEK, YOU CAN SEE IT EVERY DAY.

IT IS ON THE READER'S WEBSITE.

WE HAVE NOT LOST TRACK OF THIS.

THAT COMMITMENT TO LONGFORM JOURNALISM.

YOU MENTIONED DWINDLING OUTPUT.

THEY ARE DWINDLING WHEN IT COMES TO BEING ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND PRODUCE A 3000 4000, 5000 WORD COUNT PIECE.

THE READER STILL DOES THAT.

IT IS AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE JOURNALISM SCHOOL AS WELL FOR UP-AND-COMING WRITERS WHICH I AM VERY PROUD OF.

>> YOU'RE THE FIRST LATINO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.

IS THAT SIGNIFICANT ?

>> I DO SEE IT AS SIGNIFICANT.

I ALSO SEE IT , OUR TIME HAS COME AND NOT BE RELEGATED TO NICHE OUTLETS.

BUT, TO BE PART OF THE MAINSTREAM.

I'M SURE YOU AND I ARE AWARE OF INCREDIBLE MUSICAL ARTISTS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO ARE HUGE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES BUT THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING IN ENGLISH.

THE ONE THING TO DO IS A CROSSOVER.

YOU COULD BE THE MOST FAMOUS AND MULTIPLATINUM ORDERS, UNLESS YOU DO THAT THING IN ENGLISH, YOUR RELEGATED TO THE NICHE CATEGORY.

THE FACT I GET TO BE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF IN AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS BEEN VERY PROGRESSIVE BUT THAT HASN'T HAD DOOR S OPENED IS VERY BIG.

>> DO YOU STILL SEE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW YOUR AUDIENCE IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY?

>> YES.

YES.

IT WAS IN THE PAST YEAR THE READER HAS MADE AN EFFORT TO TRANSLATE THOSE BIG STORIES INTO SPANISH.

WE HAVE A WHOLE SECTION OF READER STORIES IN SPANISH AND WE PLAN TO EXPAND THAT.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BEING IN A TENTATIVE, FREE, WEEKLY NEWSPAPER, HOW DO YOU KEEP THE LIGHTS ON?

>> RIGHT?

EXACTLY!

RECENTLY, THIS SUMMER, THE READER WENT TO NONPROFIT STATUS.

IN THAT REGARD, WE ARE NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN YOU.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE A HYBRID MODEL BETWEEN WHAT WAS THE BREAD-AND-BUTTER BACK AND THE DAY WHICH WAS ADVERTISING WITHIN THE PAPER AND THE WEBSITE.

WE HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION MODEL WHERE PEOPLE CAN DONATE AND BE ACTIVE SUBSCRIBERS.

EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T PUSHED IT THAT MUCH, SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE DONE IT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THE READER IS STILL THERE.

THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THE READER IS THRIVING.

THAT IS MEANINGFUL AND OF COURSE, THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER UP WITH LARGE ORGANIZATIONS WITH GRANTS.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IT MEANS TO BE AN ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER?

>> IT MEANS GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN.

IT MEANS MARCHING TO THE BEAT OF YOUR OWN DRUM.

IT MEANS BEING A CREATIVE SCHOOL AND LAUNCHING PAD FOR OTHER JOURNALISTS COPPER TICKLY JOURNALIST FROM UNDERREPRESENTE D GROUPS.

AND, IT MEANS BEING WITH THE TIMES.

ALTERNATIVE WEEKLIES, INCLUDING THE READER, WHICH IS THE DADDY OF THEM ALL, SPRUNG FROM COUNTERCULTURE MOVEMENTS OF THE 60s AND 70s.

YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT THROUGH THAT SCOPE AND ADAPTED AND SAY WHAT IS THE COUNTERCULTURE NOW?

SO, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE CHASING.

>> DO YOU SEE , DC AS THE READER'S PLACE IN TODAY'S MODERN CHICAGO?

>> I THINK THE READER HAS EARNED HIS PLACE WITHIN CHICAGO MEDIA.

A TESTAMENT IS DURING THE RECENT THE RECENT JOURNALISM AWARDS.

OUR PUBLISHER WAS AWARDED A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.

YOU CAN APPLY FOR THAT AWARD.

ONE OF OUR WRITERS, ONE OF OUR YOUNG WRITERS, KELLY GARCIA, WAS AWARDED THE EMERGING JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR AWARD.

SHE WAS SELECTED.

WE DIDN'T APPLY FOR IT.

WE HAVE EARNED IT.

AND NOW IT IS A JOY TO KEEP FURTHERING IT.

>> AWESOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> KEEP IT GOING.

>> UP NEXT, MUSICAL COLLABORATION TELLS THE STORY OF IRISH SOLDIERS IN MEXICO.

>> AMERICANS COMING TO AMERICA ENCOUNTER ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE IN THEIR ADOPTIVE COUNTRY.

THROUGHOUT CHICAGO'S HISTORY, THAT STRUGGLE FOR ACCEPTANCE HAS MARKED THE EXPERIENCE OF TWO OF THE CITY'S GO LARGEST IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS.

THE IRISH AND MEXICAN COMMUNITIES.

THE NOTION SEPARATES THEIR HOMELANDS, IRISH AND MEXICAN SOLDIERS FOUGHT FOR NICKSIC AND SOVEREIGNTY DURING A MEXICAN-AMERICAN GROWER.

NOW, THAT UNLIKELY ALLIANCE HAS INSPIRED A MUSICAL PRODUCTION CREATED BY TWO OF CHICAGO'S GO MASTERS OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC.

WE HAVE THE STORY.

>> [SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH] >> AND THAT IS HOW HE WELCOMES JOHN RILEY TO MEXICO.

>> HOW WAS THAT I SHOULD ORGANIZE THIS COMPANY OF BRAVE MEN IS THE STORY OF THE HEART, MY NAME IS JOHN RILEY, CAPTAIN OF THE BATTALION.

>> Reporter: THE STORY OF SAINT PATRICK'S BATTALION IS EXTERMINATE.

DURING THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR FROM 1846 TO 1848, A GROUP OF IRISH IMMIGRANTS DESERTED THE U.S. ARMY TO FIGHT ALONGSIDE MEXICAN SOLDIERS.

HOWEVER REMARKABLE THE STORY MIGHT BE, IT IS A CHAPTER THAT IS NOT ESPECIALLY WELL KNOWN IN THE U.S. >> U.S. WAS EXPANDING WESTWARD AND HAD DECLARED A WAR AGAINST MEXICO AND THE NEWLY ARRIVED IRISHMEN HAD SIGNED UP FOR THE U.S. ARMY AND THEY SENT THEM ON THE FRONT LINE TO SHOOT AT MEXICANS.

WHEN THEY REALIZE THEY WERE SHOOTING AT CATHOLICS, THAT A CHANGE OF HEART.

>> THERE IS A SENSE A RIGHTEOUS ANGER WITH THESE GUYS WHEN THEY DESERTED.

THOSE IRISHMEN COURT-MARTIALED, SHOT AND HUNG FOR TREASON.

THERE IS A MUCH IN U.S. HISTORY.

IN MEXICO, THEIR STREETS NAMED AFTER THEM.

>> Reporter: THESE MUSICIANS HAVE MADE IT THEIR MISSION TO BRING THE VALID TO THIS.

IN TWO PERFORMANCES, THEIR JOINING FORCES TO TELL THE STORY THROUGH MUSIC, POETRY AND DANCE.

THE COLLABORATION BEGAN WHEN A WORKED ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO TO CREATE A PERFORMANCE ABOUT THE ERROR SHOULDERS OF MEXICO.

>> WE WERE TEACHING AT THE OLD TOWN SCHOOL.

WE WERE PUT TOGETHER AND DID A GIG.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

WE DO THINGS IN 6/8.

WE'LL START WITH THAT.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF INSTRUMENTS IN COMMON.

WE HAVE FIDDLES, WE HAVE PERCUSSIVE DANCE, WE HAVE HARPS.

WE HAVE SIMILAR RHYTHMS THAT WE USE.

THAT IS THE COMMON DENOMINATOR.

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE RESTATES A PERFORMANCE A FEW TIMES ADDING NEW ELEMENTS.

THEY SAY CHICAGO IS A PERFECT PLACE TO SING THIS ULTIMATELY TRAGIC TALE.

>> THIS IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF OUR HISTORICAL GROUPS.

THE ENERGY WE GET FROM BEING IMMIGRANTS TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND BEING TAPPED INTO THE ENERGY OF THIS PLACE, TO THIS GREAT CITY.

I HOPE PEOPLE REFLECT ON SIMILARITIES WITH PRESENT DAY THAT MAYBE HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF IN SOME WAY?

IT IS TO REACH ACROSS AT THE BOUNDARIES.

THAT IS THE WELLSPRING OF CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

LATINO VOICES.

>> YOU CAN CATCH THE IRISH SOLDIERS OF MEXICO ON NOVEMBER 16.

YOU WILL FIND MORE DETAILS ON HER WEBSITE.

>>> THAT WILL BE OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS .

AND IF YOU'RE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT, YOU CAN CATCH LATINO VOICES ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M. DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING.

>>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, I'M ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.