>> GOOD EVENING AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

LET THE YOU KNOW, BOY SAYS I'M JOINED THAT MAN THIS TONIGHT, A SPECIAL BEST OF EDITION OF OUR PROGRAM.

>> WE REPORT TO BE AFRAID.

>> ACTIVISTS AN ICON BELOW DAYS WHEN THAT TALKS ABOUT HER LEGACY FIGHTING INJUSTICE AND WHY IN HER 90'S, SHE STILL IN THE FIGHT TODAY.

EXPLORING THE PRIDE PRESSURE THAT COMES WITH BEING A FIRST GENERATION LATINO AMERICANS.

META COD WAS TICK TOCK RESTAURANT REVIEWER WHO IS BRINGING ATTENTION TO LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES.

FIRST.

>> THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

HOW DO THEY KNOW THAT?

LOVE IT.

I DIDN'T >> AND A LOCAL BIOCHEMISTRY PROFESSOR WANTS TO GET MORE LATINOS IN LABORATORIES.

>> AFTER THE BREAK, WE REVISIT A CONVERSATION FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR ON ASH WEDNESDAY WITH LEGENDARY LABOR ORGANIZER HERNANDEZ WITH.

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

>> IT'S A SIMPLE SENTIMENT, BUT THE FRAY SEE SIP OR YES, WE CAN HAS EMPOWERED DEMANDS FOR JUSTICE AROUND THE WORLD EVER SINCE THE UNITED FARM WORKERS OF AMERICA ADOPTED IT.

AND IT'S AS THIS MODEL IN 1972, THE WOMAN BEHIND THOSE WORDS IS THE LOW TO SWEAT SHE'S ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL LABOR ACTIVISTS IN AMERICA AND THE LEADER OF THAT.

GOT CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

IT IS AN HONOR TO HAVE THE LOTUS WITH THE HERE WITH US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING NOW.

WANT TO START OFF, AS YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH IN YOUR LIFE AT THIS POINT YOUR LIFE, WHAT DOES THE SLOGAN CEASE UP WITH IT MEAN TO YOU?

>> WELL, IT MEANS ACTIVISM.

IT MEANS THAT PEOPLE CAN I HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THINGS IN THEIR LIVES.

TASTINGS POLITICALLY AND IT MEANS EVERY PERSON SHOULD FEEL THEIR OWN POWER AND KNOW THAT THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND THAT'S VERY FOR PEOPLE TO FILL THEIR OWN POWER.

HOW COME A LOT?

BECAUSE IT'S SO MANY THINGS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE BETTER IN A SOCIETY, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT A DEMOCRACY AT RISK.

IT'S SO SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO VOTE, TO GET INVOLVED AND ENGAGED, CIVICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING ON AROUND THEM TO BE INFORMED WOULD LOVE THAT TO BE CONSIDERED.

IT'S A LITTLE THAT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND NEED TO CONTACT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS THE COMMISSIONERS, ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM THAT HAVE THE GOVERNMENT US.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A VOICE.

>> TERRY, YOU VOTE AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY.

YOUR WHOLE LIFE BEING YOURSELF BEATEN BY POLICE IN 1988.

DO BELIEVE THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND OTHER MOVEMENT SINCE THAT HAVE SPARKED SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN OUR NATION.

WELL, ABSOLUTELY.

WE KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME.

AND THAT WAS KIND OF LIKE A UNDERCOVER PEOPLE THEN DIDN'T WAS GOING ON.

BUT THE LEGISLATURE FLOWED FREELY ABOUT THE CITY ATTENTION OF THE WHOLE WORLD.

AS WE >> HOW IS IT FOR YOU TO SEE THE USE SPEAKING IN ORGANIZING?

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S NEW MOVEMENT.

>> WAS OVER.

WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF IT IS THE NEED TO VOTE CHILLY.

I THINK WE HAVE A LOT YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THEY LOOK TO PROTEST AND THEY LOOK TO MARCH.

THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT BOATING IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN CHANGE THINGS.

VOTING IS THE FIRST STEP.

AND THEN OF COURSE, KEEP TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ELECT IS THE SECOND STEP, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT MAKING SURE THAT WE DO THAT ADVOCACY SO THAT WE CAN HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

>> AND MANY PEOPLE KNOW YOU AS A LABOR ORGANIZER, BUT YOU'VE BEEN PART OF MANY MOVEMENTS.

THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENT, RACIAL INJUSTICE TO LGBTQ RIGHTS.

HOW COME?

WELL, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE RESPECTED, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE.

AND I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF STINT HERE PROGRAM MUCH OF PROGRAM.

AND ALWAYS LIKE TO THE BENITO.

SAID.

DESPITE ALL OF CAN DO IS LET RESPECTING OTHER PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO SQUEEZE HOWEVER, YOU FEEL ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

I REALLY FEEL ABOUT RIGHTS.

YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO RESPECT PEOPLE THEY ARE AND TALKING ABOUT THAT.

WHAT ADVICE TO GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT SOMETHING INJUSTICE IN THEIR COMMUNITY BUT ARE FREE TO DO SO.

WHEN YOU TELL THEM, WELL, WE CAN'T BE AFRAID.

WE HAVE SO MANY CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW IN A SOCIETY THAT EVERYBODY HAS GOT TO BE ENGAGED IN BOMBING US.

WE HAVE TO USE VOICES.

WE NOT TO BE AFRAID.

SO MANY THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE BETTER AND THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY CAN BE MADE BETTER OUR INVOLVEMENT, NOT ENGAGE THAT'S AMAZING.

AND YOUR 92 YEARS OLD AND YOU'RE STILL AT DRIVES YOU?

WELL, AGAIN, MAKING THINGS UP, MAKING A BETTER LIFE FOR EVERYONE IN DOING THAT TO THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, TO VOTING WHEN YOU'RE OUT AND ABOUT TO SEE THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE NERVOUS TO BECAUSE OF CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES IS AT ONE OF THE THINGS YOU TELL THEM.

YOU HAVE TROUBLE.

WELL, I THINK PEOPLE DON'T VOTE BECAUSE THEY DON'T THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ELECT BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE LAWS THAT THAT WE HAVE TO LIVE BY LAWS THAT ARE GOING TO GOVERN LIVES AND OUR FAMILY.

AND WHAT UNDERSTAND GET OUT AND VOTE.

ARE YOUR CHILDREN PROUD OF YOUR ADULT CHILDREN?

YESENIA DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE OPTIMA HAD TO LEAVE YOU KNOW WHAT?

I WAS DOING MY CIVIL RIGHTS THAT ALL OF MY KIDS TO BE REALLY, REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.

AND THEY ARE OF THE BAY AND.

CAN YOU SHARE A MEMORY THAT STAYS WITH YOU, A MEMORY THAT YOU'VE HAD THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE.

YOU KEEP CLOSE TO HER HEART.

WELL, I HAVE A LOT OF GREAT MEMORIES AND ONE OF THEM IS WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA HERE HE GAVE ME THE OF FREEDOM.

AND THAT WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE WITH I KNOW THAT HE WAS A STATE SENATOR HERE.

FIRST, IN ILLINOIS BEFORE BECAME THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

HOW DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER YOU?

I HOPE THEY REMEMBER ME AS AN ORGANIZATION AND THE SOMEONE IS GETTING UP THERE AND SAYING TO PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET THAT GETTING GAMES, YOU'VE GOT TO AT IS THE NUMBER ONE WE WANT TO KEEP OUR DEMOCRACY.

IF YOU WANT TO CHANGES, IT STARTS WITH VOTING.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

IT WAS SUCH AN HONOR THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AGAIN, THAT WITH THE LOTUS WITH THAT HERE IN OUR STUDIO EARLIER THIS YEAR AFTER THE BREAK, A LOOK BACK AT THE CONVERSATION I HAD THIS SUMMER WITH SOME FIRST GENERATION.

CHICAGO.

LET THE NOSE ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY FACED A WITH US.

>> A FIRST GENERATION LATINO AMERICAN COMES WITH A BULL FOR WARDS IN STRUGGLES FROM HONORING YOUR ROUTE.

WELL, DEFINING YOUR IDENTITY AS AN AMERICAN TO DEALING WITH THE WADE FAMILY EXPECTATIONS WHILE FOR GOING YOUR OWN PAST HERE TO SHARE THEIR OWN JOURNEYS AS FIRST GENERATION, LATINO AMERICANS ARE WREXHAM OF A BILINGUAL BEHAVIOR, HEALTH COUNSELOR WITHIN DUE TO HEALTH AND THIS TEAM THAT THAT IS A LICENSED CLINICAL THERAPIST AND FOUNDER OF LATINX TALK THERAPY.

AND BRIAN, I USING A PHOTOGRAPHER AND FOUNDER OF MASTERMIND STUDIOS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU ALL RIGHT, BRIAN, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE YOU GREW UP AND HOW DO YOU DEFINE BEING FIRST GENERATION?

>> I GREW UP IN SINCE I WAS A KID.

SO MY COMMUNITY WAS BLACK AND BROWN.

I GREW JUST.

I GUESS YOU COULD SAY.

FEELING A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION FROM MY HOUSEHOLD FEW WITH ONLY SPANISH SPEAKING AND SCHOOL WOULD BE ONLY ENGLISH.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.

THERE WAS A CHANGE GOING ON WITHIN MY HOUSE AND THE SCHOOL.

I THOUGHT THIS IS NORMAL.

BUT I STARTED REALIZING THAT I WASN'T AROUND A LOT OF LATINOS GOING OUT.

SO EVEN MY FRIENDSHIPS, I WASN'T SPEAKING SPANISH.

I WASN'T INVOLVED IN ANY OF THAT AT ALL.

FOR ME, IT WAS MORE SO ADAPTING TO LIKE THE REAL WORLD IN KIND OF THINGS THAT OUR PARENTS DON'T UNDERSTAND OR DIDN'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OR ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO TELL US, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN OUR LIVES FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.

SO IT'S KIND OF THING, GUESS THE WING KIND OF FIGURE FIGURE IT ALL OUT SOME OF THE WRECK.

YOU MENTIONED THAT YOUR PARENTS MIGRATED HERE FROM MEXICO.

CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES?

>> WHEN YOU REFLECT BACK BEING THE FIRST.

SO, YES, MY MOM ACTUALLY FROM QUESTION ABOUT AM I?

THAT IS FROM.

>> WHAT THE AND MY STEPFATHER IS FROM GUADALAJARA AND GROWING UP HERE AT THE FIRST.

AND I THINK THAT WE CAN PUT A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY, BUT I THINK IT ALSO COMES WITH A LOT OF PRIDE PRIDE IN KNOWING THAT YOU'RE SETTING AND PAVING THE WAY FOR NOT JUST YOUNGER SIBLINGS, BUT ALSO FOR ANYONE ELSE.

I IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS LATINOS AND LATINAS AND I THINK IT CAME WITH A LOT OF TRY.

AND I THINK YOU TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT IN OUR OWN WAY, WHICH I STILL AM A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS RIGHT?

BUT IT COMES WITH ALSO KNOWING THAT SOMETIMES IT'S OKAY TO BE SELFISH IN WAYS THAT PERHAPS OUR PARENTS WERE NOT ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH CERTAIN THINGS FOR THEMSELVES AT THE MIGHT HAVE WANTED.

AND BY SACRIFICING THOSE THINGS, RIGHT, THE WANTED TO PROVIDE A BETTER FUTURE FOR US HERE.

AND KNOWING THAT, YES, IT'S OKAY TO BE SELFISH AND THE SENSE THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THEM PROUD IN THOSE WAYS THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FULFILL FOR TOO.

INTERESTING THAT YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENT STORY.

YOU CAME TO THE U.S.

WHEN YOU WERE 7 YEARS OLD.

>> NOW, TELL ME WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU?

BEING UNDOCUMENTED IN THE UNITED STATES CAN BE REALLY CHALLENGING.

I THINK I WAS OFTEN A SPACE WHERE I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE I BELONGED WITH MY PARENTS AT HOME SPEAKING SPANISH AND OVERCOMING A LOT OF THE BARRIERS THAT MANY IMMIGRANT FAMILIES FACING THE UNITED STATES AND THEN NAVIGATING MY EXPERIENCE IS OUT IN THE WORLD AT SCHOOL AND SPEAKING ENGLISH.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MOST KERRY WAS HAVING THE SENSE OF THERE'S A SAYING LIKE MUSIC YOU NEED YEAH.

AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT LIKE, AM I?

WHAT DO I BELIEVE WHILE STILL TRYING TO BE PROUD OF WHAT YOUR PARENTS YOUR NEW TRADITIONS AND THE PRESSURE TO KIND OF ASSIMILATE TO AMERICAN CULTURE AND ALSO ON THAT IDENTITY OF BEING AMERICAN.

I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THIS SEASON.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN SHE'S LIKE, I'M NOT AMERICAN ENOUGH FOR THE OVER THE NEXT BRYANT GOING TO YOU, YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL PHOTOGRAPHER.

I MEAN, TELL ME ABOUT THAT JOURNEY.

YOU SHOULD CELEBRITIES.

ROLLOVER.

I MEAN, TELL ME WHERE THAT INTERESTS, YOU STARTED.

I STARTED WHEN I WAS A KID.

AN ARTIST PAYING TEENS DRY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE I WAS YOUNG WRITING POETRY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> IT'S KIND OF JUST STARTED FROM MYSPACE.

I USED TO DO GRAPHIC DESIGN ON MYSPACE FROM PEOPLE.

I USED TO DO THEIR PHOTOS FOR LIKE 15 BUCKS AND 2 PARTY FLYERS AND STUFF.

SO WANTED MY HE HE WAS A PHOTOGRAPHER WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER HE WOULD TAKE PIECE OF ARCHITECTURE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO HE JUST ENDED UP BUYING A CAMERA AND HE WAS LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PRETTY BEEN A GRAPHIC DESIGN.

IF YOU HAD A MORE HIGH QUALITY CAMERA, YOU WOULD MAKE YOUR PICTURES LOOKING SO ONE DAY HE BOUGHT A CAMERA AND I WAS LIKE, NAH, NOT REALLY INTERESTED.

I JUST WON A GRANT TO START TAKING PATIENTS INDICTED STARTED.

YOU KNOW, MY SISTERS, COUSINS, PEOPLE AT SCHOOL AND LITTLE BY LITTLE.

I STARTED YOUR FIRST YOUR FIRST REAL THAT FUEL FOR YOU OR OH, MY GOD, LIKE IMPOSTER SYNDROME COMING.

AND YEAH, I THINK I STILL HAVE THAT A LOT YOU KNOW, FROM CHICAGO AND WERE AGAIN ON LATINO HOMES WERE NOT.

>> RAISED TO BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, OTHER THAN WORK, YOU NEED TO WORK REALLY, REALLY HARD.

SO US BEING IN, YOU KNOW, AMERICA NOW AND FINDING NEW WAYS TO.

CHANGE OUR GENERATION, YOU KNOW, BRING GENERATIONAL YOU KNOW, KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG THAT WE DO NOW.

VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO BE IN THIS POSITION AS A LATINO YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAY CREATING OR PAT ABOUT THE INFLUX.

WHAT GOT YOU INSPIRED INTO GOING INTO THE MENTAL FIELD?

MENTAL HERE?

A FIELD?

>> YEAH.

SO MY PARENTS ACTUALLY GOT DIVORCED AT A VERY YOUNG WHEN I WAS A VERY YOUNG AGE.

>> AND I REMEMBER MY MOM, RIGHT?

MAKING SURE THAT BOTH MY BROTHER, MY HAD A THERAPIST, BUT ALSO SHE HAD A THERAPIST AT THE TIME.

AND I THINK BACK THEN I MEAN, WE THINK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND FILIPEK TABOO TOPIC.

WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS AND I THINK THINKING BACK TO THAT, I REALLY ADMIRE HER IN THE SENSE THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO TAKE THAT LEAP AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO GET YOU CAN SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED DURING THIS TIME OF TRANSITION.

AND SO I THINK NOW BEING IN FIELD, IT HAS PROVIDED ME WITH A SENSE OF FULFILLMENT IN KNOWING THAT I'M MAKING AN IMPACT IN SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE, BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO MEET THEM WHEREVER IT IS THAT THEY ARE IN THEIR JOURNEY, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE OBSTACLES ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THEIR LIFE.

>> SENIOR YEAR ALSO MAKING WAVES YOURSELF.

YOU HAVE YOUR OWN PRACTICE.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU?

YEAH.

WELL, I THINK LENEXA THERAPY IS A REFLECTION OF BEING SIMILAR EXPERIENCES, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT I BELIEVE IN HAWAII WAS TRYING TO FEEL SEEN AND CONNECTED AND FINDING A SPACE.

WHY COULD FEEL THAT COULD BE MYSELF?

I WOULD SAY THAT IT SHOWED UP IN A WHILE AS ANXIETY STRESS AND SO REALLY HAVING THE LANGUAGE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH A LOT OF THOSE THINGS THAT I CAN ALSO IMAGINE IT COMES.

THE CHALLENGE IS TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT HOW TO RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

THAT'S HOW DOES HOW DOES HOW WOULD YOU NAVIGATE THAT?

WELL, IT CAN BE TRICKY, BUT I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I ALWAYS TELL LATINX PEOPLE IS DON'T GIVE YOU KNOW, BELIEVING YOU'RE WORTH BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN DO IT.

THE YOU'RE SMART AND YOU'RE COMPETENT.

>> AND SO A LOT OF IT IS MAKING TIME TO PROCESS AND TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION AND FINDING MENTORSHIP SO THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO GROW AND DON'T FEEL SO ALONE.

THOSE CHALLENGES AND FIND.

HOW WOULD YOU SAY THAT NOW YOU'RE USING WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED HERE IN AMERICA AND ALSO WEIGHT, THE LESSONS THAT YOU'VE LEARNED FROM YOUR FAMILY TO CREATE.

>> JUST YOUR OWN PAST AGAIN.

>> I GET A LOT OF INSPIRATION FOR MY PARENTS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THINKING ABOUT THEIR JOURNEY OF KIND CROSSING THE BORDER TO MUNICH USES THAT THEY WENT THROUGH EXTREMELY DIFFICULTY.

THINK TIME TO TIME.

WHAT?

I'D BE ABLE TO MENTALLY DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND I DON'T THINK I DO SO FOR ME.

I LOOK AT IT AS THE INSPIRATION OF IF THEY CAN DO IT, COME TO PLACE WHERE THEY DON'T KNOW THE LANGUAGE, NOTHING ON WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO READ ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

ONE EXCUSE AND I HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAME HERE FOR YOU TO DO.

SO IT KIND OF ME AND IT MOTIVATES ME THAT REASON THE ANTS AND, YOU KNOW, EAGERNESS FOR US TO HAVE A BETTER FUTURE WITH BECAUSE HE SECONDS.

WHAT'S ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF AND YOUR JOURNEY.

>> A RESILIENCY?

THINK VAN ABILITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GUYS.

THINK YOUR EX AND I THANK GOODNESS TIENEN.

THANK YOU, BRIAN.

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

>> THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM TIKTOK IS A SPACE.

YOU CAN FIND ALL SORTS OF CONTACT, EVEN HOW TO PREPARE A TURKEY AND FOR SOME SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS, A VIRAL VIDEO OFTEN LEADS TO A BIG PLATFORM.

WE RECENTLY SPOKE WITH THE DIGITAL CREATOR WHO GOES BY THE NAME CHRISTO AND HE'S BEEN ABLE TO MAKE HIS MARK BY REVIEWING FOOD.

WE MET HIM AT HANG GRIESE A RESTAURANT IN THE BELMONT CRAGIN NEIGHBORHOOD.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO COME INTO THIS RESTAURANT OR EVEN START DOING VIDEOS?

SO I I'VE ALWAYS HAD THE IDEA ONE OF BLOG ME GOING TO DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS TRYING OUT DIFFERENT CULTURES, FOODS.

SO WHAT I ALREADY HAD THE PLATFORM, I WAS ALREADY ON TIKTOK, I READY HAD HER ON 100,000 FOLLOWERS AT THE TIME.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN FULLERTON AND WE HAPPEN TO STOP GANG GRIESE WAS FOR SOME REASON SITTING IN A IN THE CAR FOR SECONDS, GATHER MYSELF AND MY GIRL.

MY GIRLFRIEND WAS LIKE, WHY DON'T RECORD YOUR FIRST VIDEO HERE WITH THE FOOT OF YOU?

SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

WE CAME IN.

WE LOOK AT WHAT WE LIKE ON THE MENU AND WHAT I GOT WAS A PHILLY CHEESE STEAK WITH SOME CHEESE FRIES.

AND WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND IS A PORTRAIT THAT SLUSHY AND I'M WITH THAT CALM.

I GUESS THAT'S WHAT CAUGHT EVERYBODY'S THE NEXT DAY I WAKE UP.

HAD LIKE OVER 100,000 VIEWS AND YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE NOW.

GOING ON 3 YEARS NOW GOING ON 3 YEARS AND GOING BACK TO THAT FIRST VIDEO THAT YOU DID HERE.

>> HOW HAS THAT BEEN FOR YOU REFLECTING BACK GOING BACK AND THINKING ABOUT IT?

IT'S LIKE DOING SOMETHING ON SELF-CONSCIOUSLY LIKE HE'S DOING IT AND NOT KNOWING WHAT THE OUTCOME IS GOING TO BE.

>> BECAUSE I WAS DOING IT FOR FUN.

AND NOW I'M MADE A WHOLE COMPLETE ONE I LIVE IN A SMALL MIKE ARE HERE.

>> AND CHRIS DILLOW JOINS US NOW.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

CHRIS.

NOW I GOT TO ASK YOU, YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE TIKTOK?

SO PRIOR TO TIKTOK AND EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING NOW?

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT STILL HAS TO DO WITH FOOD.

I WAS ACTUALLY DOOR DASH ING DELIVERING PEOPLE'S FOOD DRIVE ALL DAY SMALLING ALL THIS DELICIOUS FOOD AND NOT BEING ABLE TO EAT IT BUT DELIVERING IT TO THE PEOPLE AND SOME OF THOSE SPOTS ACTUALLY ENDED UP GOING BACK TO REVIEW FROM THAT.

I FOUND FROM DOORDASH.

NOW IT SEEMS THE MOST OF THE RESTAURANTS.

ARE YOU GOING TO VISIT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES OR REASON BEHIND SO THERE'S A BIG WHEN I WHEN I GO ON LIKE INSTAGRAM OR TIKTOK.

>> BEFORE ME DOING THE VIDEOS, I WOULD SEE OTHER VIDEOS OF PEOPLE DOING LIKE FOOD REVIEWS.

BUT WHAT I NOTICE SAYS THAT THEY WOULD GO TO LIKE DOWNTOWN ARE LIKE FROM OUR CORPORATE RESTAURANTS THE MORE RESTAURANTS NECESSARILY DON'T NEED THE PUBLICITY.

SO I LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF MOM POP RESTAURANTS ALL OVER CHICAGO, NOT JUST ONE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY HAVE DIFFERENT CULTURES.

AND I FELT LIKE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT DESERVE IT.

SO I JUST STUCK TO THAT.

NEITHER CALLED TRYING ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF MOM AND POP SHOPS ARE ON THE CITY.

>> SO YOU REALLY TRY TO FOCUS ON TRYING TO FUND SMALL LIKE YOU MENTIONED, SMALLER MOM, MOM AND POP SHOPS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

CORRECT?

YEAH.

>> IT'S IT'S IT'S A BLESSING.

YOU NOTED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE PLATFORM TO THEM BECAUSE THEY REALLY WORK.

ALL DAY ALL NIGHT ON THE RECIPES ON THEIR MARKETING.

SOME OF THEM DON'T EVEN MARKET THE RESTAURANT.

SO IT'S GLAD WHERE I COULD COME IN AND HELP THEM ON THAT.

>> WHAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD SAY YOU'VE LEARNED STOPPING BY AT THESE RESTAURANTS AND TALKING TO THE RESTAURANT HAS ITS OWN ON STORY.

NOW, SOME OF CAME FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTRY SOME LONGER UP HERE, THEIR WHOLE LIFE.

SOME OF THEM HAVE 10 MISTER NEW RESTAURANT AND AND JUST DON'T TO HEAR DIFFERENT STORIES.

AND SOME OF THE SUCCESS STORIES THAT SOME OF THESE RESTAURANTS NOW WANT TO PLAY A CLIP FROM ONE OF THE OWNERS OF HUNGARY'S.

WE'VE GOT A CHANCE TO VISIT THAT WE PREVIOUSLY SAW.

AND I WANT YOU TO HEAR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT WHEN HE FIRST SAW THE VIRAL VIDEO YOU MAKE OF HIS RESTAURANT.

THAT SPIRIT.

WHEN HE CAME OUT.

>> IT JUST STARTED BOOMING.

LIKE WE STARTED SENDING OUT A PHILLIES.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF DAYS.

WE HAVE TO CLOSE IN EARLY BECAUSE WE WERE DOING SO THAT AND EVERYBODY KEPT OR IN THE SAME THEY WOULD THE OR TRY TO WITH OR THE FEELING HE'S WITH THE CHEESE FRIES.

SO WE KNEW THAT THAT HAPPENED.

FAMILY MEMBERS SEND IT TO US.

>> I HAVE TO SAY THAT CHAT, THE SLUSHY WAS SO GOOD.

I'M STILL LIKE LITERALLY THINKING ABOUT IT.

DOES IT SURPRISE YOU THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA?

>> AT THE TIME I DID NOT KNOW THE POWER THAT SOCIAL MEDIA HAD.

AND NOW THAT I LOOK AT IT, IT'S IT'S THE NEW WAY OF MARCH WHERE THE NEW COMMERCIALS I FEEL RADIO STATIONS, THEY DON'T REALLY WORK WITH THE MARKETING NOWADAYS.

I FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING IS MORE VISUAL NOW.

>> WHEN DID YOU START SEEING THAT WHEN YOU WENT AND STARTED MAKING THESE VIDEOS THAT HE COULD BE LIFE CHANGING FOR AFTER LITERALLY THE FIRST ONE, WHEN I DID THE FIRST RESTAURANT WHICH WAS SAYING AGREES, I WANT TO I WENT BACK LIKE A COUPLE WEEKS LATER AND ONLY HAD BEEN A COUPLE WEEKS.

I ORDERED FOOD.

LIKE I SAID AFTER I WON THAT FIRST TIME I BECAME A REGULAR.

SO I WENT BACK ORDER MY FOOD AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY SAW THE VIDEO OR NOT.

AND WHEN I GET HOME, I BACKFILL HEAVIER AND THEY HAD ROLLED ME A THANK YOU LETTER LIKE THANKING ME FOR THEIR THE VIDEO AND HOW I UP THE RESTAURANT UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO I FEEL LIKE THAT WAS WHEN I KNEW I ONLY HAVE TIME FOR ONE OTHER QUESTION.

BUT I DO WANT TO ASK, YOU KNOW, THIS CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE KNOWN ON SOCIAL MEDIA HAS LED YOU TO HAVE SPONSORSHIP.

YOU HAVE MEANT MENTION THAT.

>> AND NOW YOU HAVE OPEN YOUR OWN CHICAGO.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

YES, >> SO DOING THE SOCIAL MEDIA IN LIKE THE FOOD REVIEWS FOR OVER A YEAR LIKE 2 YEARS, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD GO TO THESE RESTAURANTS, NOT A LOT OF THEM HAD SOCIAL MEDIA'S.

ARE THEY DEAD OR THEY JUST DIDN'T UTILIZE IT.

SO I THOUGHT, WHAT AM I?

WELL, CAN I DO TO UTILIZE THIS?

AND I THOUGHT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 2 YEARS.

I KNOW WHAT WORKS.

WHAT DOESN'T?

SO I STARTED A COMPANY WHERE WE TAPE RESTAURANTS AND WE GROW THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE ON TIKTOK INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, CREATING CONTENT AND THE NEW WAY THAT CON SON IS BEING CREATED.

WELL, THANK YOU, CHRIS, FOR JOINING US.

OUR THANKS TO >> COVERAGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

HE'S MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY JOEL M FREE PRESIDENT OF THE ELVEN H BOMB FAMILY FUN.

>> IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO CHASE YOUR DREAMS.

JUST ASK UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO BIOCHEMISTRY PROFESSOR JUAN MENDOZA WHO SAYS HE HIT A FEW BUMPS ON HIS PAST TO CAREERS SCIENCE, BUT HE SAYS MEN TO SHIP BECAME THE CATALYST FOR HIS SUCCESS.

AND NOW HE'S LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BRING MORE LATINOS INTO THE LAB PRODUCER.

ERICA GUNDERSON HAS THE STORY.

>> THE WORK THAT WE DO IN THE LAB, I'M VERY INTERESTED HOW THINGS INTERACT AT THE MOLECULAR LEVEL.

>> IN HIS LAB AT THE PRITZKER SCHOOL OF MOLECULAR ENGINEERING PROFESSOR PROTEIN ENGINEER AND COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGIST RUN MENDOZA.

RESEARCHES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO ENGINEER CANCER TREATMENTS.

IT'S WORK.

HE CAME TO A LITTLE LATER IN LIFE AND IT'S IN A FIELD.

HE SAYS HIS IMMIGRANT PARENTS COULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED FOR THEIR SON AS THEY RAISED HIM IN CALIFORNIA.

>> I NEVER SCIENCE COULD BE A CLEAR BECAUSE MY PARENTS WERE FROM A SMALL FARMING TOWN.

DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH.

IT WAS JUST NOT A PATHWAY THAT WE EVEN THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE.

>> MENDOZA STARTED OUT STUDYING BIOCHEMISTRY AT SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY BUT PIVOTED TO OCCUR ERIN IT BEFORE FINISHING HIS DEGREE.

AFTER THE POST 9.11 RECESSION MENDOZA RETURNED TO PURSUING A CAREER IN SCIENCE WHERE HE SAYS SUPPORT VIA MENTORSHIP AND SALARIED FELLOWSHIPS ALLOWED HIM TO REACH HIS POTENTIAL.

>> REMEMBER WORKING AS A KID UP THROUGH COLLEGE.

SO THE FOCUS AM I ACADEMICS WASN'T ALWAYS THERE.

SO I WASN'T THE STRONGEST STUDENT.

AND AFTER COMING BACK TO FINISH MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE, I GOT INTRODUCED TO THESE SOCIAL PROGRAMS THAT ALLOWED ME TO DO RESEARCH PAID ME A SALARY.

SO SO I CAN FOCUS ON MY RESEARCH AND STUDIES AND THAT MEANS THE WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.

ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOLS.

I WENT TO ONE OF THE TOP GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN DALLAS, TEXAS.

>> MENDOZA JOINED THE FACULTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO IN 2018 THIS YEAR.

MENDOZA WAS NAMED A FREEMAN.

HER ABOUT THE SCHOLAR BY THE HOWARD HUGHES, MEDICAL INSTITUTE, WHICH FUNDS EFFORTS TO BRING MORE SCIENTISTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS INTO SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS.

THAT MENDOZA SAYS HE GOT RIGHT TO WORK ON RECRUITING.

I ACTUALLY >> PUT OUT AN ADVERTISEMENT ON FACEBOOK AT THESE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND SAID, HEY, I'M OPEN TO HIRING PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY.

THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED.

>> IN STEM LITTLE VILLAGE, NATIVE AND UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, URBANA CHAMPAIGN GRADUATE.

ISABELLA CASTILLO HAS BEEN WORKING IN HIS LAB FOR THE LAST YEAR.

>> I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH DOCTOR JUAN MENDOZA AND VARIOUS GRADUATE THEIR RESEARCH PROJECTS RELATED TO PROTEIN FUNCTION IN PROTEIN.

ENGINEERING.

MY PLAN IS TO PURSUE THEIR CAREERS IN MEDICINE AND INITIALLY MY FIRST OUT OF COLLEGE WAS CLINICAL HEALTH CARE SETTING.

AND AFTER BEING OFFERED THE POSITION HERE AS THE RECENT CHECK MISSION, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE 2, BUT MY BOSS, DOCTOR KAHNEMAN DOES.

IT WAS REALLY UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTIVE OF MY PLAN TO GAIN BOTH CLINICAL AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE DURING MY GAP YEARS AND NEVER BEFORE EXPERIENCED HAVING SOMEONE WHO COMES FROM THE SAME BACKGROUND AS I DO LIKE GUIDE ME PROFESSIONALLY.

AND I THINK HE REALLY HAS TAUGHT ME LIKE THE SKY'S THE LIMIT.

>> MENDOZA SAYS EVERY INSTITUTION SHOULD LOOK FOR WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ASPIRING SCIENTISTS LIKE CASTILLO.

>> WE HAVE TO ALWAYS OUT THERE AND AND JUST LET THEM KNOW THAT IT'S A OR, YOU KNOW, IF THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, HOW DO THEY KNOW THAT THEY'D LOVE IT?

I DIDN'T AND EVER SINCE THEN, MY FIRST CHANCE ISN'T WORKING IN A LAB.

I'VE JUST BEEN IN LOVE WITH THE WORK.

I DO.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES.

THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> AND YOU CAN FIND MORE ABOUT THIS AND ALL OUR STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS THANKSGIVING EVENING.

AND IF YOUR FAMILY'S ANYTHING LIKE MINE, YOU PUT IN LOTS OF TIME IN THE KITCHEN, ALL BE TAKING ON THE TURKEY THIS YEAR.

SO DON'T FORGET TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SMELL THE FOOD AND ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS FOR THIS VERY LATEST FROM W T TW NEWS AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5.37, FOR A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE WEEK IN REVIEW.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS AN EXCLUSIVE ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION.

BUT THE U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN, FORMER CHICAGO MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL.

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

I'M JOINED 9 THIS HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

STAY HEALTHY.

STAY SAFE.

ONE AS MUCH >> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT, A CLIPPER AND CLIFFORD LAW CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH.

THAT IS PROUD TO GIVE