>> CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALLSTATE AND THE CERRO FUNDS AT THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST.

AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

[MUSIC] >> GOOD EVENING.

CHICAGO TONIGHT.

LATINO VOICES.

I AM GOMEZ.

POST REPORTER WITH WB EASY.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

>>HOST: ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, THE SWEEPING INFRASTRUCTURE LOT IS SENDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO ILLINOIS FOR ROAD, TRANSIT, AND WATER SERVICE UPGRADES.

OUR BUSINESS IS READY TO HANDLE THE WORK.

EPILEPSY AFFECTS MORE THAN 400,000 LATINOS NATIONWIDE.

LOCAL CLINICIANS SHARED RESOURCES FOR MANAGING THE DISEASE.

>>> LATINO JACKIE ROBINSON GETS ANOTHER SWING AT A HALL OF FAME FIRST.THREE-DAY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION OFFER CHICAGO THE GIFT OF MUSIC, FOOD, AND ENTERTAINMENT.

>> I BUILT THIS PLACE.WITH MY KID, WHO WAS ONE GROWING ON THE FLOOR.

HE LIVED RIGHT ABOVE FOR THREE YEARS.

>> A LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR, WHOSE POINT HIS LOVE OF BIKES AND COFFEE INTO BUSINESS.

STUFF TONIGHT, LOCAL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION FIRMS ARE GEARING UP FOR BIG BUSINESS.

THAT'S AFTER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SIGNED THE $1 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE BILL INTO LAW THIS WEEK.THE PLANT WILL SEND BILLIONS TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR LONG NEEDED UPGRADES.

INCLUDING $110 BILLION FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES.

66 BILLION FOR ROADS.

PUBLIC TRANSIT AND 55 BILLION FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO WATER SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE.

17 BILLION OF THOSE DOLLARS ARE HEADED TO ILLINOIS.

ADDING TO THE 45 BILLION THE STATE'S EARLY SPENDING ON INFRASTRUCTURE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE OR DANA'S, HARDER.

PRESIDENT OF THE CONSULTING FROM AN IN-DEPTH CHICAGO.

GONZALES SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT WITH THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FIRM FOR PRE-MERIT ENGINEERS.

AND APOLLO.

PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ILLINOIS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH YOU.

OUR ILLINOIS CONSTRUCTIONS IN PARTICULAR LATINO OWNED FIRMS READY TO TAKE ON ALL THESE PROJECTS?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US ON THIS INCREDIBLE PANEL.

ESPECIALLY THIS INCREDIBLE ONE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE SERVING THE COMMUNITY.

YES AND NO.

I SEE THAT THE S&L QUESTION.

IT DEPENDS ON WHERE THE COMPANY IS AT.

AND I HOPE I HOPE THEY ARE READY AND I HOPE TEST AND I PRAY THAT EVERYBODY IS READY TO ACCESS THOSE DOLLARS.

BECAUSE THE MONEY IS COMING SOON.

AND THE AMOUNTS ARE GONNA HAPPEN SOONER.

SO, I JUST HOPE EVERYBODY REACHES OUT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS THAT HAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THESE PARTICULAR COMPANIES ARE PROPERLY CERTIFIED AND PROPERLY BONDED.

SO, THAT'S THE KEY.

SO, IF YOU HAVE A CONSTRUCTION FIRM AND YOU WANT ACCESS TO THIS PARTICULAR DOLLARS, YOU NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT CERTIFICATIONS.

ON MBE OR BONDING.

>>HOST: LIKE YOU SAID, THIS MONEY IS COMING SOON.

DANA, THESE PROJECTS WILL ALSO MEAN THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN THE TRADES.

ARE THERE ENOUGH WORKERS TO FILL ALL THE ROLES WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT?

SHORTAGES?

>>DANA: THAT'S A COMPLICATED QUESTION.

I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH WORKERS AVAILABLE, BUT I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME DRASTIC IMPROVEMENTS A MEANS OF ACCESS TO THOSE WORKERS.

MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, WORKING FOR CONTRACTORS IN WITH CONTRACTORS OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS.

THE CONTRACTORS: AND THEY NEED WORKFORCE BY TUESDAY.

THEY NEED THEM WEDNESDAY MORNING.

YOU KNOW?SO, DID A LOT OF PLANNING THAT GOES ON AND SOMETIMES WORKFORCE GETS LOST IN THE MIX.

SO, WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO CONNECT THE CONTRACTORS NEED THE PERSONNEL TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE YOU KNOW, BASIC THINGS LIKE PPE OR TRANSPORTATION.

THINGS OF THAT NATION.

AND THINGS THAT ARE NOT JUST THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TYPE AGENCIES.

WHILE CERTAINLY LARGE FIRM.

TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND WORKFORCE.

AND TO DO SOME GOOD OUTREACH MAKE THOSE THINGS AVAILABLE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING ON THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> CAN YOU GIVE US ANY EXAMPLES?

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE THAT THEY JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAME TO PILOT THE WORKERS?

>> IN MY EXPERIENCE, IN A, I'VE WORKED IN ALL DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WHERE MORE DIVERSE AND FRANCHISED INDIVIDUALS HAVE QUALIFIED FOR PROGRAMS TO WORK AND LABOR CAPACITY.AND PEOPLE ARE NOT OFTEN COMFORTABLE SAYING THAT I CANNOT AFFORD WORKBOOTS.

I DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO THE JOBSITE.

AND UNDERSTAND HOW TO READ THE SPECIFICATION.

AND THERE'S AN IMMEDIATE CONCERN.

SPENCER OF A WOMAN LIVING ON THE JOBSITE.

I DON'T THINK MAKING THOSE BASIC NEEDS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE IS VERY SIMPLY SOME OF THE LARGER FIRMS.

THIS MIGHT BE VERY RUDIMENTARY OR A GROUP SIMPLIFYING OF COURSE.

MAKE AN OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE TO GET THOSE PEOPLE TO THE WORK SITE.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE IN PLAY TO HELP REMEDY THIS ISSUE OF ACCESSIBILITY.

BUT, WE NEED TO PUT WORKERS ON THE GROUND NOW.

AND WE NEED TO HELP THEM.

AND ALSO, JUST UNDERSTANDING THE LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITIES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE LEAVING YOU KNOW, MAYBE A LOWER PAYING JOB WHERE THEY KNOW THEY GONNA GET THOSE FOLIOS.

DELETED TO MAKE $45 AN HOUR FOR THREE MONTHS BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S NOT THE SITUATION.

CONDITION.

>> SUPPORT.

TRY TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> ALL GOOD POINTS.WITH THIS, I WANT TO BRING YOU IN.

AS WE HEARD WORKERS, BUT IT'S GONNA TAKE ALSO NOT JUST TRADESPEOPLE, BUT CIVIL ENGINEERS TO GET THESE PROJECTS TEMPERED I'M WONDERING WHAT IS THE PIPELINE LOOK LIKE FOR LATINO ENGINEERS AT THIS MOMENT?

>>LOURDES: WELL, HAVING QUALIFIED ENGINEERS IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.

AND THE CHALLENGE IS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT EVERY DAY.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE STARTED AND HAVE FOR MANY YEARS STARTED IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVELS.

TO GET KIDS LATINO KIDS IN PARTICULAR INVOLVED AND LEARNING ABOUT STEM CAREERS.

IN SINGLE MODELS THAT CAN CLICK THEM.

SO THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS A PATH FOR THEM.

SO THAT THEY CAN BE AN ENGINEER.

THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEM.

BUT HAVE THESE GREAT JOBS.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

WITH LATINOS IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE THERE IS STILL A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE OVERALL ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE PROFESSION.

AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT.

>> YES.

PLANTING THE SEED PRETTY EARLY ON.

YES.

AS CAN GO TO YOU.

ARE THERE ANY BARRIERS FOR LATINO OWNED BUSINESSES TO GET SOME OF THESE PROJECTS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER WANT PEOPLE TO REACH OUT?

>> YES.THERE ARE A BUNCH OF BARRIERS FOR MINORITY COMPANIES TO ACCESS THOSE CONTRACTS.

THE KEY HERE IS TO WORK WITH THE RIGHT AGENCIES THAT ARE GONNA HELP YOU AND ALLOW YOU TO HAVE EVERYTHING READY FROM THE OPPORTUNITY COMES.

LIKE MY FRIEND WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE OPPORTUNITIES IN SCHOOL, JUST AS ILLINOIS TO ALLOW THOSE ENGINEERING SCHOOLS TO BECOME AND FOR COMPANIES LIKE MANY OTHERS TO BECOME MENTORS OF THIS PARTICULAR STUDENT.

AND THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE CAN CREATE OR JOBS.

IN THIS PARTICULAR DESTINATION IN THE SUN ACCESS TO THOSE JOBS.

SO, THAT'S THE KEY.

>>HOST: YES.

DANA, BACK TO YOU.

WHAT DO THEY HAVE FOR SMALL CONTRACTORS, WHO WANT TO GET IN SOME OF THESE CONTRACTS?

>>DANA: SPEND THAT IT I WOULD SAY WORK RIGHT AGENCIES THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WORKING ON.

ALSO TO SPEND THIS TIME TO ENSURE THAT YOUR INTERNAL INFRASTRUCTURE HAS THE APPROPRIATE PROPER BUSINESS PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN YOU KNOW, WORKING ON SOME OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE TYPE CONTRACTS.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE TRANSITIONING INTO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS AS A RESULT OF THIS CONSTRUCTION BILL OR WIDENING OR SCALING YOUR PRESENCE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT PROCEDURES IN PLACE.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE POSSIBLE.

YOUR RISK IS COMPROMISED.

I THINK YOU KNOW, AND ALSO TO, SOME SAYING, JUST KNOW THAT THE AGENCIES WILL LEARN HOW TO TREAT THE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AS WELL.

BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER IF YOU'RE THE PRIME CONTRACTOR OR PRIME CONSULTING FIRM.

1/3 TIER SUBCONTRACTOR.

EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO THE SAME INFORMATION.

UNDERSTAND HOW TO REDUCE CONTRACTS AND UNDERSTAND THE SUBCONTRACT THAT YOU ARE SIGNING.

AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE EVERY PARAGRAPH OR EVERY WORD.

BUT IT'S AWESOME TO BE ABLE TO FIND WHAT INPUT YOU NEED.

EVEN UNDERSTAND.

I KNOW WHAT I'M GETTING MYSELF INTO.

WITH MY COMPANY CAPABLE OF PERFORMING.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU.

AND THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY.BUT, THANKS TO DANA.

AND LUIS GONZALEZ.

AND DEPAULO FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> LEGENDARY WHITE SOX PLAYER MINNIE MINOSO IS GETTING ANOTHER SWING AT A SPOT IN BASEBALL'S HALL OF FAME.

SENECA BECAME THE FIRST BLACK CUBAN TO PLAY IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES WITH CLEVELAND.

HE WENT ON AND BROKE THE COLOR BARRIER FOR THE WHITE SOX IN 1951.

AFTER PHASE IN THE FIELD TEST TEST JOINS THE SOX AS AN ASSISTANT COACH AND WAS A MENTOR FOR PLAYERS UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 20 15.

HE'S ON THE GOLDEN DAYS BALLOT FOR CANDIDATES ON THE 50S AND 60S.

AND SOME SAY IT'S LONG PAST TIME TO HONOR HIM WITH A HALL OF FAME FIRST.>> THERE'S A DIRECT CONNECTION THERE TO WHOM MINNIE MINOSO REPRESENTED.NOT ONLY IN THE WHITE SOX ORGANIZATION, BUT ALL OVER FROM THE TEAMS THAT HE PLAYED WITH.

TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO THE CUBAN COMMUNITY AND TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN THE ASTRAL LATINO COMMUNITY.

BEING ABLE TO NOT ONLY DO IT ON THE FIELD, BUT ALSO DO IT OUTSIDE THE LINES.

AND INSPIRE OTHERS.>> IT COULD BE THE WHITE SOX.

HE BROUGHT THE STYLE THAT WAS SIGNATURE BASEBALL.

BEAUTIFUL BALLPLAYER AND [INDISCERNIBLE] YOU KNOW, JUST ELECTRIFIED YOU NOT?

AND SO, IT HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING TO SOME DEGREE.

TO SEE PEOPLE COME UP WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ILLEGITIMATE REASONS TO KICK MINNIE OUT OF THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME.

IT SHOULD'VE HAPPENED WHEN HE WAS STILL WITH US.

>> THE HALL OF FAME, AIR COMMITTEES WILL ALLOW ELECTION RESULTS FOR CLASS OF 2022 ON DECEMBER 5.

UP NEXT.

LOCAL RESOURCES FROM MANAGING EPILEPSY.

[MUSIC] >>HOST: NATIONWIDE, MORE THAN 3 MILLION PEOPLE OF EPILEPSY.

OF THOSE 400,000, ARE LIFTING UP OF THE NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION CAUSES SEIZURES AS A RESULT OF A GENETIC DISORDER OR INJURY TO THE BRAIN.

AND WHILE EPILEPSY CAN CAUSE DIFFICULTIES FOR THOSE DIAGNOSED WITH IT, LATINOS FACE AN ADDITIONAL RANGE OF HEALTHCARE BARRIERS.

ACCORDING TO A KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION STUDY, 25 PERCENT OF AMERICA'S LATINOS ARE UNINSURED.

25 PERCENT HAVE NO USUAL SOURCE OF HEALTH CARE.

AND A HARVARD ANALYSIS CONCLUDED THAT SPANISH SPEAKING LATINOS RECEIVED ONE THIRD LESS CARE OVERALL.

AS A RESULT OF LANGUAGE BARRIERS WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

THIS NOW WITH MORE A DOCTOR OF ANATOMIC MAIL BY A ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES AT RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER.

AND AGATHA THE MACHI.

A BILINGUAL CLINICIAN WITH THE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION OF GREATER CHICAGO.

DOCTOR OF I WILL START WITH HIM.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WITH US WHILE EPILEPSY IS AND WHAT CAUSES IT?

>> THINK.

IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> IS CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE ACTIVITY OF THE BRAIN.

IT CAN ACTIVATE THIS DISH ONLY NATURAL WAY AT THE MOMENT.

AND CAUSES SEIZURES, WHICH CAN PREVENT DIFFERENT TEST TEST BASICALLY, THERE OVER ESTIMATIONS OF PLACES OF THE BRAIN OR THE WHOLE BRAIN.

EPILEPSY CAN BE CAUSED BY MULTIPLE BRAIN INJURIES AND PEOPLE THAT ARE BORN WITH EPILEPTIC SEIZURES.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT ACQUIRE THOSE SEIZURES THAT AFFECT BRAIN INJURIES.

YOU CAN ACQUIRE ANY TIME OVER A LIFETIME.

>>HOST: AND AGATHA, WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF SEIZURES ARE NOT ALL THE SAME, RIGHT?

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR?

>>AGATHA DEMARCHI: THANK YOU.

FOR GIVING UP THE TIME TO BE HERE AND TEST IS [INDISCERNIBLE] .

DIMENSION THESE TEACHERS.

AND SOMETIMES [INDISCERNIBLE] >> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MISCONCEPTIONS, ESPECIALLY THEM LATINO COMMUNITY, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THOSE MISCONCEPTIONS THAT YOU SEE JUST IN GENERAL ABOUT EPILEPSY AND WHAT CAN BE DONE?

>> YES.

DEFINITELY.

SO, WHEN IS A MISCONCEPTION, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT LATINO POPULATIONS.

CORRECT?

UNFORTUNATELY WHEN THEY COME TO THIS COUNTRY, THINGS THAT MIGHT BE GOING TO THAT IS THE BEST [INDISCERNIBLE] THAT IS THE MOST FOR THIS CONDITION.AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A SEIZURE.

AND TO GO TO HOSPITAL.

BECAUSE IT'S A CAREER JUST DON'T KNOW THIS DISH IS SOMETHING THIS DISH WE ALWAYS TRY TO PROVIDE THIS DISH [INDISCERNIBLE] OR PEOPLE CAN FEEL THAT THEY CAN SPEAK ONLY WHAT AND CREATE LIKE A PITCH FOR THEM OVERCOME THOSE BARRIERS AS WELL.

>> I'M SURE GETTING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IS THE IMPORTANT PART THERE.

DOCTOR OVALLE, WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY?

>> FOR MOST PEOPLE, EPILEPSY HAS CONDITIONS.

WE EXPECT ABOUT 70 PERCENT IN THE FULLY CONTROLLED IRRIGATION DISCUSSION WE HAVE DIFFERENT TEST TEST IN THE SUN DIFFERENT TYPES OF EPILEPSY NOT WITH MEDICATIONS.

MUNICATION MEDICATION COMMISSIONS THAT THEY HAVE.

EPILEPSY SERVICE SURGERY [INDISCERNIBLE] THERE SOME LAYERS AND AT LEAST THREE THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR PATIENTS AT THE TIME.

DAVE TREATMENT FOR EPILEPSY AS WELL.

AND NOW COMBINATIONS ALSO [INDISCERNIBLE] DIFFERENT TYPES OF CERVICAL TECHNOLOGY.

[INDISCERNIBLE] WE'VE A LOT OF OPTIONS TO OFFER.

FOR PATIENTS WITH EPILEPSY TO BE ABLE TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE AND ACTUALLY FEEL AND LIVE A FULL LIFE.

>> THAT IS GREAT.

AND AGATHA, DO YOU SEE ANY BARRIERS WHEN IT COMES TO THE CLIENTS THAT YOU SEE?

LATINOS IN PARTICULAR?

THAT KIND OF BAR THEM FROM GETTING SOME OF THESE TREATMENTS THAT DOCTORS ARE SPEAKING ABOUT?

>>AGATHA DEMARCHI: YES.

SO, I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS THE LANGUAGE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DOCTORS THAT SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE.THE OTHER PART WOULD BE WITH PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY, [INDISCERNIBLE] WHEN PEOPLE CAME TO THIS COUNTRY AND MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE THE LEGAL STATUS PER THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS WHY THE ONLINE STATIONS AND PARTNERSHIP AT THE EPILEPSY CENTER AND ALSO AS WELL.

THEY CAN HELP GET ACCESS AS WELL.

UNFORTUNATELY THIS DISH THE LATINO COMMUNITY HAS THOSE BARRIERS.

AND THEY NEED HELP.

>> I CAN IMAGINE.

>> DOCTOR OVALLE, WHAT ADVICE YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY BE JUST GET A DIAGNOSIS AND ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE INFORMATION?

ESPECIALLY COMES TO PARENTS SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION?

>> I THINK YOU PROVIDED CARE THIS DISH DIFFERENT INFORMATION AND WONDERFUL JOB.

EPILEPSY [INDISCERNIBLE] YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST AS I WAS TO MY PATIENTS WITH THE CARE AND WOULD LIKE INFORMATION FROM THE INTERNET?

[INDISCERNIBLE] I GET A GOOD PLACE TO GO BECAUSE SUFFICIENT COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTED BY THE EPILEPSY COMBINATION AS WELL.

I THINK YOUR PROVIDER IS USUALLY THE BEST SOURCE OF INFORMATION.

I WOULD SAY MOST PATIENTS WITH EPILEPSY WILL NEED SUPPORT FROM THE PRIMARY CARE CENTER.

BUT ALSO FROM A NEUROLOGIST.

TO HELP PATIENTS AND GROUPS OF SUPPORT.

AND THESE IN PARTICULAR THE ONES THAT RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT ALL THE RESOURCES AND ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THOSE PATIENTS.

>>HOST: GETTING THAT INFORMATION FROM A TRUSTED RELIABLE SOURCE, CORRECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU DOCTOR [INDISCERNIBLE] >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>HOST: THE CHICAGO LATINA THEATER ALLIANCE IS BRINGING SOME STUFF TO CHICAGO'S HOLIDAY SEASON.

WITH THE FREE OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT SERIES, THIS DISH [INDISCERNIBLE] HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA.

I CELEBRATIONS PAINS FRIDAY FOR KICKING OFF NOVEMBER 26 AT MILLENNIUM PARK WITH A HOLIDAY SING-ALONG.

ON DECEMBER 3 AND OUTDOOR MARKET WILL BE LIFE WITH ENTERTAINMENT AT THE HUBBLE PARK BOATHOUSE.

AND ON DECEMBER 10, THE MARKET AND ENTERTAINMENT MOVES TO HARRISON PARK AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE LATINA THEATER ALLIANCE HAS THE EVENTS ARE WAYS TO BRING HOLIDAY SPIRIT TO CHICAGO WHILE CELEBRATING THE DIVERSITY OF THE CITY'S LATINO CULTURES.

>> THIS YEAR IS THE FIRST YEAR WE ARE DOING A HOLIDAY.

VERSION.

AND PARTNERING WITH THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT.

ONE OF THE NIGHT IN THE PARK.

>> MILLENNIUM PARK.

IT IS THE MEXICAN POTALA AND THEN WE HAVE TO PUERTO RICAN FRANKIE DS IS THE TRAIL.

FEATURING NEARLY SANTIAGO.

IT'S IMPROVISATIONAL.

CALL AND RESPONSE.

IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY FUN AND SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

PARENTAL PART, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED.

THEY'RE GONNA BRING THE HEAT RIGHT THERE WITH THE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC.

WE ALSO HAVE WHICH IS A VENEZUELAN GROUP.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

THEY PUT ON BY THE ARE BEING TREATED.

IT IS AN AERIAL MOVEMENT PERFORMANCE.

AND GWEN LAROCCA.

WE ARE SO THRILLED TO HAVE GLENN A MOCHA BECAUSE SHE'S THE FIRST BLACK CHICAGO LATINA TO WHEN HER FIRST HBO COMEDY SPECIAL PIT WE'RE GONNA HAVE MARIACHI WHICH IS A REALLY GREAT ALSO THIS DISH CATHERINE BE STATE STORYTELLING AND MARKET PART.

THAT'S GONNA BE DOING MEXICAN NATIVITY SCENE.

IT'S REALLY JUST A FUN CELEBRATORY EXPERIENCE THEY COULD SEE THE DIVERSITY OF LATINO CULTURE.

THIS IS NOT JUST MEXICAN AND PUERTO RICAN IN CHICAGO.

WITH COLOMBIAN AND VENEZUELAN AND CENTRAL AMERICAN AND SOUTH AMERICAN AND KOREAN CULTURE.

SO, TO REPLACE THE COMMON AND SEE THE DIVERSITY AND BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE.

>> AGAIN, THE FIRST LATINO EVENT TAKES PLACE ON NOVEMBER 26.

AND YOU CAN FIND MORE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS COFFEE SHOPS AND BIKE SHOPS ACROSS CHICAGO.

BUT ONE LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR IS POURING HIS LOVE FOR ACTIVITIES.

CHICAGO LATINAS JOANNA LATINOS AS A BUSINESS OWNER TO LEARN MORE.

>> MICHAEL SALVATORI HAS COMBINED TWO THINGS THAT HE LOVES.

COFFEE AND BICYCLES.

>> DIXIE CAME ABOUT.

BECAUSE WE DID A LOT OF STREET FAIRS AND FESTIVALS.

WE COULD NOT AFFORD RENT THEIR OBVIOUSLY NEO-.

IT'S REALLY EASY TO SEE HOW PEOPLE WERE ENGAGING.

WHEN THEY HAD DRINKS OR COFFEE IN HAND.

I THOUGHT YOU KNOW WHAT?

LET'S CREATE THAT ENVIRONMENT PERMANENTLY.

>> SALVATORI IS A FIFTH-GENERATION CHICAGOAN.

WHEN HE LIVED IN NEW YORK, HANNA'S BUDDY STARTED A BICYCLE BUSINESS FROM HIS BASEMENT.

THAT CONCEPT SLOWLY EVOLVED WHEN HE OPENED HIS FIRST SHOT.

HERITAGE BIKES AND COFFEE IN LAKEVIEW.

>> FOR ME, WAS JUST A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE PICK NOT ONLY MY FAMILY HERITAGE IN CHICAGO, BUT ALSO THE CYCLING HERITAGE IN CHICAGO.

WE COME FROM A RICH HISTORY OF MARY AND ALL THESE FACTORS HERE THAT ARE THE EPICENTER OF THE BY CLIENT.

>> THE MASHUP IS PRETTY SIMPLE.

CUSTOMERS CAN COME IN AND ENJOY THE OF COFFEE WHILE CHECKING OUT A VARIETY OF CUSTOM-MADE BIKES.

THIS ALSO REPAIR ASSISTANCE.

OR JUST COME IN WITH A COUPLE OF INTELLIGENTSIA COFFEE AND HEAD OUT.

>> WHAT'S COOL IS THAT YOU COME IN AS A CUSTOMER RIGHT ON THE BIKES PAIRED WITH FIVE DIFFERENT MODELS PRETTY CHILL THE FRAMES UP THERE.

BUT, YOU RIDE THE BIKE.

YOU PICK WHICH ONE AND YOU WORK WITH A MECHANIC TO PICK WHICH ONE WORKS BEST FOR YOU.

AND FROM THERE, YOU BUILD IT OUT.

>> WHAT STARTED AS A SMALL COFFEE AND BIKE SHOP IN 2012, HAS GROWN INTO ITS OWN BRAND.

>> WE HAVE A SPACE HERE AND ACTUALLY DRINK IT WOULD BE EXPENDED.

WE SAT IN OFFICE HERE.

WE TURN INTO THE MICROGRID BIKE ROOM IS TO BE RIGHT HERE.

JUST IN THE OFFICE AND SITTING OVER THERE.

BECAUSE OF THE BIKE THAT ACTUALLY PASSED COUPLE OF YEARS THEY HAD TO EXPAND THE BIKE FROM.

>> DESPITE THE HARDSHIPS OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES JUST SALVATORI HAS MANAGED TO STAY AFLOAT OPENING OTHER BUSINESSES AROUND THE CITY.

>> WE STARTED WITH THIS.

THIS IS OUR MOMENT.

THIS IS OUR BIG BANG.

AND FROM HERE, WE CREATED A BUNCH OF LITTLE UNIVERSES THAT WE HAVE ALL OVER THE CITY FROM LITTLE COFFEE SHOP TO BIG COFFEE SHOPS.

THE BARS AND DINERS.

SO, IT'S BECOME COMPANY ON ATTEMPTED WHICH IS SUPER EXCITING.

>>HOST: IN THE EXCESS OF THE SHOP THAT SALVATORI SAYS MAKES IT SPECIAL PREPAYING HOMAGE TO HIS ROOTS.

>> ALL RECORD PLAYERS FROM MY PARENTS BASEMENT PAID FOR MY GREAT-GRANDPARENTS, WHO LIVED IN CHICAGO.

JUST FILMING US IN THE BASEMENT AT MY PARENTS HOUSE.

TOTALLY.

[INDISCERNIBLE] IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

I STILL CANNOT BELIEVE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY BY THE BIKES THAT WE MAKE.WHICH IS SUPER COOL AND YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE IT.

THE REALLY COOL THING IS THAT TO BE ABLE MY PROVEN HERITAGE.

WE ALSO GET THIS DONE.

THIS IS BASED ON A PROVEN DESIGN FROM THE NORTHERN PART OF PERU THAT MY MOTHER'S ROOM.

SO, WE PUT IT HERE AND WE ARE MAKING OUR FIRST BICYCLES MADE BY HAND IN LIMA.

SO, THEY COME HERE EARLY NEXT YEAR AND IT WILL BE OUR FIRST EVENT OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO MADE BIKE.

>> SALVATORI IS NOW PROUD TO SAY THAT HIS ROOTS IN HIS HOMETOWN AND MANUFACTURING ONE-OF-A-KIND BIKES.

HOPING TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO START WRITING BICYCLES.

>> IT'S NEVER BEEN ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BICYCLE FOR ME.WAS BEEN ABOUT THE LIFESTYLE OF THE BIKE.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT CARRIES ON AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.

>> FOR LATINA VOICES, I AM JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> IN ADDITION TO HERITAGE, INTELLIGENCE TO CREATE A LIST FOR THE RACIST EXPANDING DRINK.

WHILE SHOPPING.

THE TEMPERATURE FOR THIS WEEKEND.

YOU CAN WATCH ME HOSTING THE WEEKEND EDITION 10 DAYS AND 10 DAYS BUT MY REPORTING DURING THE WEEK.

ON 91 FIVE.

WD EASY.

NOW, FROM ALMOST HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINA VOICES, I AM GOMEZ.THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH THE SPIRIT STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

[MUSIC]