>> [ MUSIC ] > >> GOOD EVENING.

CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

I'M ALEX HERNANDEZ .

[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

> >> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, WOMEN IN THE U.S. ARE BEING INCARCERATED INCARCERATED AT A RAPIDLY INCREASING RATE.

WE TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE AND THE OTHER SIDE UPON RETURNING HOME.

> >> PARENTS WITH HOW TO PROTECT THEIR KIDS FROM SEXUAL ABUSE AND HOW TO EMPOWER THEIR CHILDREN TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

THEMSELVES.

STRUCTURE WE PUT A T ON LATINO ART AND ARTISTS ON CHICAGO STREETS.

> >> IT IS IMPORTANT.

THEY ARE IMPORTANT BUT MORE IMPORTANT YOU PUT YOUR HEART THERE.

>> WE WRAP UP HISPANIC HERITAGE HERITAGE MONTH BY TAKING YOU INSIDE A MEXICAN ICE CREAM PARL.

CREAM PARLOR.

> >> ALL THAT COMING UP.

OUR FIRST STORY, LIFE AFTER INCARCE.

AFTER INCARCERATION.

THAT IS AFTER THIS.

> >> CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES IS MADE PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

> >> NATIONWIDE, THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN PRISON IS EXPLODING.

BETWEEN 1980 AND 2020, THERE HAVE BEEN 475% INCREASE OF INCARCERATED WOMEN, ACCORDING TO THE DATA FROM THE PROJECT.

MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE WOMEN ARE MOTHERS TO CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNDER 18.

IN OUR PERMANENT PUNIT PERMANENT PUNISHMENT SERIES, BRANDIS FRIEDMAN EXPLORE THE MAY WAYS THAT THE EFFECTS OF INCARCERATION CAN LAST LONG BEYOND THE TIME THEY SERVED IN PRISON.

HERE IS MARIA, COFOUNDR OF THE NONPROFIT CHALLENGE TO CHALLENGE, TALKING ABOUT HER OWN PAST INCARCERATION.

>> AS SOON AS WE START TALKING ABOUT INCARCERATION OR THE BACKGROUNDS COME UP, YOU KNOW, THE ONE-SIDED NARRATIVE FOR WHAT THE CHARGE IS.

YOU LOOK AT AT DRUG TRAFFICKING, YOU LOOK AT MURDER.

THEY DON'T SEE THE CS THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEHIND THOSE .

THOSE THINGS.

>> JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE ARE ALINA GUNN, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF LAW, CRIMINALITY AND JUSTICE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO, [INDISCERNIBLE], FOUNDER OF THE THE NONPROFIT AND MARIA GARZA, COFOUNDER OF CHALLENGE TO CHANGE TO CHANGE .

THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

I WANT TO TO START WITH YOU, MARIA GARZA.

GARZA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US US REMOTELY.

WE JUST HEARD YOU TALKING ABOUT FACING STIGMAS AND BARRIERS AFTER YOUR INCARCE.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE?

>> APPLYING FOR APARTMENTS WHEN WHEN YOU HAVE TO GIVE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OR YOUR WORK AND WHY THERE IS THAT LARGE GAP, THE QUESTIONS COME AT COME ABOUT.

YOU CAN BE HONEST ABOUT IT, WHICH EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO.

I HAVE, JUST TO SEE WHAT THE PROCESS IS LIKE.

EVEN THOUGH, MANY TIMES, APPLYIG FOR AN APARTMENT, THEY DON'T SAY NOTHING BUT YOU CAN TELL WHEN THERE WAS NO RETURN CALL.

>> RIGHT >> RIGHT.

DEFINITELY A TOUGH SI.

TOUGH SITUATION.

WE KNOW YOU ARE BACK IN SCHOOL NOW.

WHAT HAS THAT EXPERIENCE OF GETTING YOUR DEGREE LIKE BEEN SO FAR?

>> IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT IN THE THE SENSE THAT I STARTED WITH NORTHWESTERN PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAM WHILE I WAS STILL AT LOS CORRECTIONAL CENTER.

IN THE TIME OF YOUR RELIEF, HOW THE EDUCATION WOULD CONTINUE, OBVIOUSLY IT WAS HARD.

YOU KNOW, THE FUNDING.

CLEARLY, I CAN COME OUT OF PRISON AFTER 13 YEARS AND THINK OF THE AMOUNT OF DEBT FOR SUCH A HIGH EDUCATIN UNIVERSITY THAT IT WOULD BE TO CONTINUE MY EDUCATION.

THERE IS IS ALL OF THE BARRIERS THAT THERE ARE WHEN YOU COME OUT BECAUSE OF THE COLLABORATION THAT THERE IS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND ME BEING A PAROLEE AND THE LIMITATIONS THAT THERE ARE WITH THE COMMUNICATION WITH MY COHORTS, THE STUDENTS THAT ARE STILL ON THAT SIDE OF THE FENCE .

IT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING BUT NORTHWESTERN HAS FOUGHT FOR MY N MY EDUCATION.

CURRENTLY, I AM STILL TAKING TWO CLASSES RIGHT .

RIGHT NOW.

AGAIN, I AM PUSHING THROUGH BECAUSE, TO NOT DO SO IS SO IS TO SAY THAT WE CAN'T DO THIS AND DO THAT.

BUT, I CAN.

I I CAN WORK.

I CAN STILL BE A MOTHER.

I CAN STILL BE A FRIEND, A DAUGHTER AND I STILL CAN GO TO SCHOOL.

>> THANK YOU, MARIA.

>> YOU WERE ALSO FEATURED IN THE PERMANENT PUNISHMENT SERIES .

HERE IS A CLIP WHERE YOU TALK TALK ABOUT GETTING YOUR RECORDS.

RECORDS SEALED.

>> THERE IS JUST SO MANY REASONS WHY I NEEDED TO GET MY CASE SEALED.

I NEEDED TO HAVE A A SECOND CHANCE OF BEING THIS PERSON THAT DOES NOT HAVE A RECD AND IS SEEN AS THIS WORST OF SOCIETY.

THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE THK OF YOU.

>> WHAT HAS RECORD CEILING ALLOWED YOU TO DO SINCE HE RETURNED?

>> I WOULD SAY, THERE IS A MYTH MYTH INTO CEILING YOUR RECORD.

I DON'T CALL MYSELF A RETURNING.

RETURNING CITIZEN.

I CALL MYSELF A JUSTICE IMPACTED PERSON.

THERE IS SUCH A LACK OF OF BARRIERS THAT ME AND MY FAMILY FACE.

THERE WAS LOTS OF GENERATIONAL HARM THAT NEVER LEAVES US DUE TO ME HAVING A BACKGROUND.

EVEN THOUGH I HAVE MY RECORDS SEALED AND I HAVE DEGREES AND I HAVE CERTIFICATES HAVE CERTIFICATES AND I SIT ON EVERY STATE AND GOVERNMENT BOARD DOING NATIONAL SYSTEMIC WORK, REALLY IMPACTING LIVES, NONE OF THIS REALLY MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING A BACKGROUND A BACKGROUND AND HAVING A NUMBER A NUMBER.

SOCIETY ALWAYS WANTS TO LABEL YOU AS THE WORST MISTAKE THAT YOU EVER HAD.

IF YOU ARE NOT ANY DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING.

I DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS HARD FOR PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WITH RECS CAN HAVE THE SAME HUMAN EXPERIENCE AS YOU.

WE EVOLVE EVERY DAY.

WE CAN NEVER MOVE BA.

WE ARE ALWAYS CHANGING.

WE ARE MADE OUT OF WATER.

WE ARE ALWAYS MOVING FORWARD.

NONE OF US CAN REPEAT ANY MISTAKE TOOK IN OUR PAST YET SOCIETY TENDS TO PUNISH US AND OUR FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> ALANNA, WHAT ARE WOMEN'S EXPERIENCES IN AND OUT OF PRISON DIFFERENT FROM THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS?

>> I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY, WHEN WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WOMEN WHO HAVE HAVE A CRIMINAL LEGAL INVO, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A PIPELINE PIPELINE OF TRAUMA TO PRISON TO TO PRISON TO AND DURING TRAUMA .

TRAUMA PIPELINE.

WE ARE TALKING TALKING ABOUT WOMEN WHO HAVE DISPROPORTIONATELY EXPERIENCES OF MYRIAD TRAUMA OVER THEIR LIFE THEIR LIFECYCLE AS A CHILD, AS AN ADULT, AN INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, DYNAMICS AND EXPERIENCES.

WE ARE TALKING ABOT TALKING ABOUT WOMEN WHO EXPERIENCE DISENGAGEMENT AND DIS AND DISRUPTIONS DUE TO SYSTEMS THAT FAILED SAYING.

THAT DOES NOT STOP WHEN WHEN ONE COMES OUT OF PRISON.

WE ARE THEN TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY FORMS OF SUPERVISION THAT SERVE AS ANOTHER FORM OF SURVEILLANCE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WOMEN THAT HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE WITH ADDICTION AND POSSIBLY MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS.

>> SO MANY ISSUES.

WE ARE CUTTING IT SHORT HERE, UNDER THE MINUTES.

WE HAVE MORE QUESTIONS.

HOW DOES BEING A MOTHER A FACT-FINDING APPOINTMET FACT-FINDING APPOINTMENT FOR A WOMEN REENTERING AFTER INCARCER?

AFTER INCARCERATION?

>> I AM GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT THIS QUESTION UP THAT SOCIETY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND OR LOOK AT.

UNLIKE OUR MALE COUNTERPARTS, WHEN THEY COME HOME, 90% OF THE THE TIME, THEY ARE NOT THE PRIMARY CAREGIVER.

THAT IS THE MOM, THE WOMAN.

86% OF WOMEN IN IN PRISON ARE PRIMARY CAREGIVERS.

WHEN WE COME HOME, WE HAVE MORE PROGRAMMING TO DO MANDATED BY THE STATE.

WE ARE IN THIS CYCLE OF DESTRUCTION AND DESPAIR.

AS A WOMAN, IF YOUR KIDS ARE WITH THE STATE OR OR UNDER FOSTER CARE, YOU HAVE MANDATED SUPERVISED VISITS BEFORE YOU HAVE SINGLE VISITS ON YOUR OWN.

THERE IS PARENTING PARENTING CLASSES.

THERE IS SUBSTANCE ABUSE CLASSES.

ANY KIND OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG EVALUA.

DRUG EVALUATION.

EVEN IF YOU DID NOT HAVE A DRUG OR ALCOHOL CASE, YOU HAVE TO DO THESE PRIOR TO GETTING YOUR CHILDREN BACK.

THERE IS A LIST OF THINGS YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO GET A JOB, WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO GET THIS APARTMENT THAT MAYBE YOU HAVE THREE KIDS SO YOU NEED A THREE BEDROOM APA.

BEDROOM APARTMENT.

HERE IS THE STICKER.

BY GET A JOB AND YOU COME AT THE SAME PLACE AND WE HAVE THE SAME CASE I GO TO THE SAME EMPLOYER AND WE BOTH GET THIS JOB AND THEN I HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND TELL MY EMPLOYER I HAVE TO TAKE OFF FOR FOR THE FIRST WEEK, FOR THE FIRST 90 DAYS.

>> WE ARE CUTTING THIS VERY SHORT.

THAT IS A VERY GOOD POINT YOU'RE MAKING.

I WANT TO O BACK WITH MARIA TALKING ABOUT AG STATION FOR CHILDREN THAT CAN BE EMOTIONALLY DIFFICULT.

WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU BEEN ENCOUNTERING AND WE ARE VERY SHORT ON TIME NOW.

>> THE CHALLENGES ARE, YOU HAVE HAVE TO DISCONNECT YOURSELF FROM FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH A SHORT LENGTH OF SPACE IN PRISON.

IN PRISON.

THEY JUST COME BACK.

BACK.

I DID NOT -- I CAME BACK TO NOT A NINE AND A 10-YEAR-OLD.

THEY ARE GROWN YOUNG ADULTS.

SOMETIMES THE EMOTIONAL COMPONENT IS NOT THERE NOT THERE WHEN IT COMES TO TRYING TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AS NEW PEOPLE.

>> DEFINITELY.

IT IS A CHALLENGE.

MY RESPECT TO ALL OF OF YOU AND THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU TO MARIA, CELIA AND ALANA.

YOU CAN CAN CATCH UP ON OUR FOUR PART PERMANENT PUNISHMENT SERIES ON R WEBSITE.

> >> UP NEXT A WE TALK TO KIDS ABOUT SEXUAL ABUSE.

STAY WITH US.

>> FOR ANY PARENT, CHILD SEX ABUSE IS A TOUGH TOPIC TO THINK THINK ABOUT BUT AS UNCOMFORTABLE AS IT MIGHT BE, TALKING ABOUT SEXUAL ABUSE WITHS WITH KIDS, IT IS WHEN MY PARENTS CAN HELP PROTECT THEM FROM IT.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC, ONE IN FOUR GIRLS AND ONE IN 13S IN THE U.S. ARE SEXUALLY ABUSED.

91% OF ABUSERS ARE KNOWN BY THE CHILD OR CHILD'S FY CHILD'S FAMILY.

FEMALE VICTIMS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ARE AT HIGHER RISK OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, VIOLENCE, VICTIMIZATION AND ADULTHOOD AND ALL VICTIMS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ARE AT TWICEE RISK FOR NONSEXUAL INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE.

JOINING US NOW WITH ADVICE ON HOW TO START START THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH S AND MORE IS TONYA HAIG, COFOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF PARENTS AGAINST CHILD SEX ABUSE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOG US TODAY.

I WANT TO START TALKING ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION.

HOW DID YOU COME O START THE ORGANIZATION?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, BY THE WAY.

FIVE YEARS AGO -- WE GO BY THE ACRONYM.

THIS SITUATION IMPACTED MY FAMILY.

WHAT WE FOUD WE FOUND WAS PARENTS HAD NOT BEEN IN THE CONVERSATION WHEN IT CAME TO THE TOPIC.

THERE IS A LOT OF DATA THAT SUPPORTS LEADING UP TO THE ORGANIZATION, ORGANIZATION, HOW LONG THIS TOPIC HAS BEEN IN MEDICAL JOURNALS, IN WHITE PAPERS -- I LIKE TO CALL IT WHITE PAPER LAND.

NOW WE ARE AT THE PLACE, BECAUSE OF THE ME TOO MOVEMENT, THE CULTURE IS MUCH MORE INFORMED ABOUT THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

WE GOT ADULTS TALKING ABOUT THEIR CHILDHOOD E. CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES.

WHEN THIS ALL CAME ABOUT FOR US SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE WANTED TO CLOSE THAT GAP AND HELP PARENTS PARENTS SO THEY ARE NOT BLINDSIDED.

THEY ARE MORE INFORMED THAN THEY EVER WERE BEFORE.

>> TALK ABOUT THE KIDS TOO MOVE.

TOO MOVEMENT.

>> THE KIDS TOO MOVEMENT IS ON E RIGHT NOW, ALEX.

WE STARTED USING THAT HASHTAG ABOUT A YEARO YEAR AGO.

WE WERE PARTICIPATING PARTICIPATING IN A COALITION THAT BROUGHT A LOT OF OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ON THE SUBJECT OF ONLINE SAFETY.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS, THE PANDEMIC SHOWED, THE DATA SHOWED THAT OVR THAT OVER 20 MILLION CASES HAVE HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

EVERYONE CALLS IN ABOUT ONLINE EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN.

COVID COVID AND THE PANDEMIC BLEW THE THE DOORS OPEN OF MAKING SOCIAL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND TECHNOLOGIES EXPOSE THE FACT THAT KIDS WERE BEING VICTIMIZED VICTIMIZED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA MEDIA AND OTHER TECH PLATFORMS.

PLATFORMS.

WE STARTED THIS RALLYING CRY AROUND THIS KIDS TOO MOVEMENT THAT GOES OFF OF THE ME TOO MOVEMENT.

PEOPLE GET GET THE CONNECTION AND WE HAVE BEEN ON THAT ROAD THIS PAST YEAR, GETTING PARENTS MORE INFORMED.

>> HOW SOON DO YOU THINK PARENTS THINK PARENTS SHOULD TALK WITH THEIR KIDS, HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POTENTIAL SEX?

>> LIKE YOU SAID AT THE BEGINNING, THIS IS A TOUGH CONVERSATION OR EVEN THOUGHT TO TO HAVE.

IT IS ONE WE ALWAYS WANT TO HAVE BUT WE KNOW IT IS OUT THERE AND HAPPENING UNDER OUR NOSES.

OUR POINT OF VIEW AS AS AN ORGANIZATION IS THAT AS SOON AS THE KID IS A VERBAL, THEY START TALKING ABOUT THEIR BODIES.

IT IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM A 2-YEAR-OLD TO A 10-YEAR-D A 10-YEAR-OLD TO A 15-YEAR-OLD.

15-YEAR-OLD.

IT NEVER ENDS.

IT IS ABOUT HEALTH.

THAT IS WHERE WE ARE COMING FROM, MIRRORING TS MIRRORING THIS CONCEPT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY.

A LOT OF TIMES, THAT TOPIC IS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR PARENTS SO THEY LEAVE IT TO THE SCHOOL AND AND THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.

>> HOW CAN THEY ADJUST THAT CONN WHILE THEIR KIDS ARE GROWN.

IT IS A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.

HOW DO PARENTS ADJUST TO THAT?

>> HAS A LOT OF PARENTS KNOW, WHEN WE START ENGAGING WITH OUR OUR KIDS AND TALKING AT THE LEVEL AT TWO YEARS OLD, FIVE YEARS OLD, TALK ABOUT MEETING YOUR KIDS WHERE THEY ARE.

THE CONVERSATION MIGHT START ABOUT THEIR BODIES AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS OKAY AND WHAT IS NOT OKY AND THEN, HAVING SECONDS WITH THEM ABOUT THE ADULTS THAT ARE AROUND THE KID.

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE AROUND THIS UNCLE?

HOW IS THIS COACH?

YOU MEET THEM AT THAT LEVEL OF PARENTS.

COMES NATURALLY OVER REGRESSION REGRESSION OF TIME BUT WE WANT TO INVITE PARENTS TO KEEP HAVING CHECK INS WITH THEM NOT JUST ABOUT THEMSELVES BUT IF THEY ARE SEEING IF BEHAVIORS ARE DIFFERENT FOR THEIR EMOTIONAL HAS CHANGED.

ASKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND THEM, THE KIDS, THE TEENS, THE COACHES, THE TEACHERS.

>> NOW THAT SCHOOL IS BACK IN SN IN SESSION, THAT IS VERY IMPORT.

VERY IMPORTANT.

KIDS MIGHT FEEL FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE OR SHY TO TELL THEIR PARENTS SOMETHING MIGHT BE OFF.

HOW CAN WE MAKE THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND REPORT THAT MAYBE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH AN ADULT?

>> THE MORE THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE KIDS TO USE THEIR VOICES AND TO TRUST THAT THEIR INFORMATION WILL BE BELIEVED -- -- THAT IS SUCH A BARRIER.

MOST MOST OF THE KIDS DON'T GET BELID GET BELIEVED.

THIS IS HIGHLY UN.

HIGHLY UNDERREPORTED.

ONLY 30% OF KIDS ACTUALLY DISCLOSE.

THAT THAT IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING BEING REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT IS IS HAPPENING.

IT COMES FROM THES THE PARENTS, ALEX.

I WANT TO EMR TO EMPOWER OTHER PARENTS TO COM.

TO COMMUNICATE.

>> THIS TAKES ME TO THE RED FLA. WHAT ARE THE REDFLEX PARENTS SHOULD BE LOOKING OUT FOR?

>> THERE ARE SO MANY DOCUMENTARS OUT THERE.

HOPEFULLY PEOPLE ARE ARE STARTING TO KNOW THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON.

YOU HAVE NATIONAL CASES LIKE THE U.S. VOLLEYBALL TEAM.

SOME OF THE PREDATORY RED FLAGS ARE, IT IMPACTS PARENTS AND KIDS.

AN ADULT IS TRYING TO ISOLATE YOUR, MEANING SPEND ALONE TIME, IT CAN SEEM SO HEARTLESS SOMETIMES.

LET ME DO THIS FAVOR.

REALLY, WE WANT PARENTS, INSTEAD OF LIKE THINK GOD, WE WT KIDS TO BE MORE PROTECTIVE, A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A GUARD UP AD UP AND BE MORE IN TUNE SO ISOLATING THE KID AND TREATING THAT KIDS SPECIAL, EXPLOITING THEIR VULNERABILITIES IS SOMETHING TO LOOK OUT FOR.

>> WE HAVE LESS THAN 30 SECONDS.

>> WHAT STEPS CAN PARENTS TAKE?

TAKE?

>> FIRST THING FIRST, WE WANT PARENTS TO TALK TO THEIR CHILD.

CHILD.

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE.

ASK THEM IF ANYONE EVER MADE YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

HAS ANYE HAS ANYONE TRIED TO TOUCH YOU AND APPROPRIATELY?

IF ANYTHING EVER HAPPENS, COME TO MOM AND DAD.

WE WILL BELIEVE YOU.

>> OUR THANKS TO TONYA FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

> >> WE ARE BACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

> >> [ MUSIC ] > >> AS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH COMES TO A CLOSE, WE ARE ENDING ENDING ON A SWEET NOTE.

JOANNA Z JOANNA HERNANDEZ VISITS A BUSINESS SERVING TASTY DESSERTST ALSO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOR OTHER LATINOS.

>> THANK YOU, ALEX.

HAVE YOU HEARD OF THIS ICE CREAM SHOP?

IF YOU HAVEN'T, I HAVE A TREAT FOR YOU.

WE ARE TAKING YOU INSIDE A MEXICAN ICE CREAM PARLOR SERVING MORE THAN JUST D. JUST DESSERTS.

>> THIS ONE IS EXCELLENT.

YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE IT.

CHECK IT .

IT OUT.

>> INTERACTING WITH CUSTOMERS IS ONE PART OF THE JOB.

>> GROSSE YES, CARLOS.

>> GARCIA AND HIS WIFE HAVE SPET HAVE SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS MASTERING THEIR ICE CREAM MAKING SKILLS.

>> YOU PUT A LOT OF LOVE AND IT.

>> OF COURSE.

THAT IS THE THING.

IF YOU DO YOUR JOB WITH E WITH LOVE -- >> LOOK AT THIS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS CAN SEE THIS.

ALL OF THE LAYERS.

YOU CAN FIND THESE KINDS OF ICE CREAM IN THE THE SUMMER.

>> EXACTLY.

>> THESE ARE SO GOOD.

>> ICE CREAM IS A HUGE DEAL IN MEXICO'S WESTERN STATE OF MICHO.

BUSINESS OWNERS SHARING A PIECE OF THAT SWEET CULTURE.

>>.

GOODNESS.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

>> THIS IS FILLED WITH FRUIT?

>> THAT IS FRUIT.

IT HAS CHILI -- DIFFERENT THINGS.

IT DOES NOT HAVE THAT MUCH SUGAR.

THERE THERE IS MORE FRUIT THAN SUGAR.

>> WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS?

>> FROM ICE CREAM TO PALETAS, KNOWN AS POPSICLES, EVERYTHING EVERYTHING IS HOMEMADE.

WE GOT AN INSIDE LOOK AT WHAT IT TAKES TAKES TO MAKE THIS TASTY FROZEN FROZEN TREAT.

FIRST STEP, HAVE YOUR MIX READY TO GO.

>> DUMP IT IN THERE.

>> YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

SOME SOME OF THEM ARE LITTLE BIT EAG.

BIT EAGER.

>> ONCE THE MIX IS SPREAD EVENL, THE STICKS ARE INSERTED INTO THE MOLD.

>> THEN IT GOES RIGHT INTO THE POPSICLE MACHINE TO FREEZE FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR.

>> HOW MANY CAN YOU PUT IN HERE?

IN HERE?

>> FROM WORKING AS A CARPENTER TO OWNING HIS ICE CREAM PARLOR, , ALFREDO SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT THE MOTIVATION BEHIND HIS.

HIS BUSINESS.

>> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> KNOWING WHAT IT IS LIKE TO ME TO MIGRATE TO A NEW COUNTRY, HE HE SAYS HE FINDS PRIDE IN GIVING PEOPLE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> >> [ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> DOWNSTAIRS, THE PALETAS ARE READY.

>> HERE TO THE HOT WATER.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.

>> THERE IT IS.

>> I TAKE THE POPSICLES.

YOU CAN SEE THE COLOR ON THE POPSICLE CHANGE.

IT MEANS THEY WON'T MELT ANYMORE.

>> I CAN SMELL THE LEMON JUICE.

>> IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETG SWEET, CREAMY, OR FRESH, THIS IS THE PLACE TO CHECK OUT.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU PUT PUT YOUR HEART THERE.

>> AS I MENTIONED, THE HISTORY GOES BACK DECADES TO A SMALL TON SMALL TOWN IN MICHOACCN.

THE BRAND HAS GIVEN PEOPLE LIKE THES OPPORTUNITIES TO OPEN THEIR OWN OWN INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES.

ALEX COME BACK TO YOU.

>> PALETAS HAVE TO BE THE BEST.

BEST.

I HOPE YOU BROUGHT SOME FOR ALL OF US.

> >> AND OTHER TOPICS, THE STORIES THAT CAN BE TOLD ON A STAGE ARE LIMITED ONLY BY THE STORYTELLER'S IMAGINATION.

THAT THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF THEATER.

JUST TO GETS TO WRITE THE STORIES AND BRING THEM TO LIFE ON CHICAGO STAGES IS OFTEN LIMID TO A PRIVILEGED FEW.

THE PLAYWRT THE PLAYWRIGHT IS AMONG HIS MANY ROLES IN THE THEATER SCENE.

HERE, HE IS PUTTING MORE MORE LATINOS AND THEIR STORIES IN CHICAGO SPOTLIGHT.

>> I AM RICARDO GAMBOA, AN ARTIST, ACADEMIC BORN AND RAISED IN CHICAGO.

I HAVE A LARGE MEXICAN-AMERICAN FAMILY SCATTERED ACROSS THE SOUTH SIDE .

WE WOULD GET TOGETHER FOR FAMILY PARTIES.

EVERYONE AT THESE PARTIES, AS THEY GOT LATE , THEY WOULD START TELLING STORIES ABOUT GROWING UP IN CHI.

IN CHICAGO.

FAMILY AND MY AUNTS AUNTS AND UNCLES WOULD TELL THOSE STORIES OVER AND OVER BECAUSE IF THEY DIDN'T, WHO WOULD?

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BECAME IMPORTANT TO ME WAS CREATING THEATER THAT REFLECTEDE I CAME FROM.

FROM THERE, I STARTED NOTICING A DIFFERENT FRD WHICH IS THAT WHICH WE CALL CHICAGO THEATER IS HARDLY CHICA.

HARDLY CHICAGO.

CHICAGO IS ONE THIRD LATINO AND 80% OF THAT DEMOGRAPHIC IS MEXICAN-AMERICAN .

THE REALITY IS, I AM THE ONLYN PLAYWRIGHT IN THE CITY THAT IS BORN AND BRED IN THE CITY THAT HAS EVER BEEN PRODUCED IN THE C. THAT SPEAKS A LOT TO THE WAYS IN WHICH THEY ARE NOT MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR LATINO CREATOS AND LATINO COMMUNITIES TO SEE TS AND THEIR STORIES ON STAGE.

>> THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE FROM CHICAGO'S DIVERSE COMMUNITY ARE MARGINALIZED FROM HAVING THE MEANS OF CULTURAL EXPRESSION OR OR DON'T GET TO BE COUNTED AS CREDIBLE ARTISTS OR CREDIBLE CULTURAL CREATORS.

WE KNOW THATN IS IMPORTANT.

WE KNOW IT IS EMPG FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THS SEE THEMSELVES.

I THINK ONE OF E THINGS THAT WE LEAD OFF WITH IS IS QUESTION OF REPRESENTATION, SPECIFICALLY IN CHICAGO, GIVINGS THE RESOURCES AND THE ABILITY TO SELF REPRESENT.

WE NEED TO SEE MAJOR INSTITUTIONS IN CHICAGO GAVE THEIR RESOURCES, GAVE THEIR PLATFORMS, GAVE THEIR STAGES TO ACTUAL CHICAGO , CHICAGO RESIDENTS, THE CHICAGO LATINOS.

WE NEED TO SEE THINGS LIKE THEATER CRITICS GOING TO THESE SHOWS THAT LATINOS PUT ON.

SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT R THAT IS HAPPENING IS THEATER THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO SEE PEOPLE PEOPLE GETTING OUT THE CRIB AND GOING TO SEE LATINO THEATER INE CITY.

>> EVERY DAY, PEOPLE MAKING CHOS MAKING CHOICES TO SUPPORT LATINO ARTISTS AND SUPPORT LATIO THEATER AND SEEING ALL OF THE AMAZING WORK THAT IS HAPPENING THERE BY COMMUNITY LED ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY THEATER COMPANIES COMPANIES THAT ARE REALLY MAKING CHALLENGING, EXCITING, FUN, ACCESSIBLE WORK.

>> YOU ACTUALLY SAW SOME IMAGES IMAGES FROM PREPRODUCTION.

IT TK IT TOOK A SUPERNATURAL THRILLER AND IT OPENS THIS WEEKEND WITH A RUN THROUGH NOVEMBER.

YOU WILL FIND MORE ON THAT AND MOREN MORE IN OUR SERIES ON OUR WEBSI.

OUR WEBSITE.

> >> THAT WILL BE OUR SHOW FOR THIS WE CAN.

BE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE VERY LATEST LATEST ON WTTW NEWS .

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT, KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON A SUNDAY BEGINNING AT0 A.M. ALSO TUNE INTUNIV IS IN CHO EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING.

I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

>> THAT IS IT.

FROM ALL OF US HERE ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO LATINO VOICES, I AM ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.