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

I'M PHIL PONCE AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, A SURGE IN RESPIRATORY VIRUSES PUTTING HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS ON HIGH ALERT.

WE BREAK DOWN WHAT'S BEHIND THE RISE AND HOW YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF.

>>> ALLEGATIONS OF WAGE THEFT FROM WORKERS AT A SOUTH SIDE PIZZA RESTAURANT.

AS THE LATINO POPULATION GROWS, CAN THE NUMBER OF LATINO ELECTED OFFICIALS GROW WITH IT?

>>> THE MORE WE UNDERSTAND OTHER CULTURES, THE LESS FEAR THAT THERE IS.

>> AND, A BALLET COMPANY HAS AN IMPORTANT LESSON ON ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH AS TOLD THROUGH DANCE.

ALL THAT COMING UP.

BUT OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT, RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS ON THE RISE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

>>> THOUGH THIS WEEKEND'S BALMY WEATHER MIGHT INDICATE OTHERWISE, WINTER IS ON THE WAY AND UNFORTUNATELY, ONE'S LUNGS WILL HAVE A LOT TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS SEASON SO TO SPEAK.

RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS ARE ON THE RISE.

HIGH RATES OF FLU AND COVID INFECTIONS ARE EXPECTED AND A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL BEDS AND ICU RESOURCES IS STRAINING THE HEALTH CARE CENTER ONCE AGAIN.

JOINING US IS DR. JUANITA MOORE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US DR. LUNA, THERE IS SOMETHING AFOOT CALLED RSV.

WHAT IS RSV?

>> YES.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

RSV IS RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS.

IT HAS A PREFERENCE FOR CHILDREN.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE IT DOES SEND CHILDREN TO THE HOSPITAL.

IT REQUIRES AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT IN THOSE PATIENTS THAT ARE COMPLICATED, THAT PRESENT THE SEVERE FACE OF THE DISEASE AND IT CAN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF INDIVIDUALS.

>> AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF RSV?

>> RSV IS LIKE, IT PRESENTS LIKE EVERY COLD SYMPTOM WE SEE.

COUGH, RUNNY NOSE.

THEN, IT IS THAT RESPIRATORY DISTRESS WE SEE IN SEVERE CASES.

WHEN OUR FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, CARE GIVERS HAVE THE NECESSITY TO LOOK FOR THAT HEALTH CARE, GOING TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

AND, AFTER IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NOT MUCH TREATMENT.

SO WITH SYMPTOMATIC TREATMENT IN A LOCATION REQUIRES VENTILATION OR MECHANICAL VENTILATION AT THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.

>> DR., THIS SOUNDS KIND OF ALARMING.

AT WHAT POINT DOES A FAMILY REALIZE MAYBE THEY SHOULD TAKE THEIR CHILD TO THE HOSPITAL?

>> VERY IMPORTANT SIGN TO LOOK OUT FOR.

ONE IS THAT THE CHILD STARTS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING.

SO THEY ARE USING THEIR ACCESSORY MUSCLES.

THEIR CHEST IS MOVING UP AND DOWN, OR THEIR COUGH GETS WORSE.

THERE ARE SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION, THEY ARE NOT EATING OR DRINKING AS MUCH.

FOR BABIES, THEY ARE NOT PUTTING OUT AS MANY DIAPERS.

THESE ARE SIGNS THESE CHILDREN SHOULD GO TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

>> AND DOCTOR, STAYING WITH YOU, WHAT IS THE DEMAND RIGHT NOW, HOW ARE PEDIATRIC UNITS DEALING WITH RSV?

>> WELL, THERE IS DEFINITELY A HIGH DEMAND ALL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

RSV IS A DISEASE THAT CAUSES 2.1 MILLION HOSPITAL VISITS.

AND 150,000 HOSPITALIZATIONS A YEAR FOR RS V. RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING AN EARLY SURGE OF RSV CAUSING A LOT OF PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNITS TO BE FULL.

SO WE WANT PARENTS TO KNOW WHEN THEY SHOULD TAKE THE CHILD TO THE ER SO THE CHILD WITH THE BROKEN LEG WITH SOCCER OR THE CHILD WITH ASTHMA HAS A BED IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM IF NEEDED.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FLU VACCINE.

THE FLU VACCINE UPTAKE IS LOWER AMONG BLACK AND LATINO PEOPLE AMONG OTHERS.

THAT'S THE REASON FOR THIS DISCREPANCY?

>> THERE ARE MANY FACTORS.

A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THE RURAL AREAS DON'T HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO CARE SO THERE ARE THOSE STRUCTURAL BARRIERS.

THERE IS MISTRUST AND LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR VACCINES.

AND, THEN HEALTH INSURANCE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM.

ADDING TO THOSE BARRIERS.

AND LANGUAGE IN CULTURAL ACCESS OF INDIVIDUALS, TOO.

THERE'S MULTIPLE THINGS, UNFORTUNATELY, WE SEE IN OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND MINORITIES IN CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS AND NATIONWIDE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE SEEING THIS LAG OF INDIVIDUALS GETTING THEIR VACCINES, FAMILIES TAKING THAT PROACTIVE APPROACH TO GETTING VACCINES.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

>> DOCTOR, WE HAVE HEARD OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES BEING PERHAPS MORE SKEPTICAL OF VACCINES THAN OTHERS.

AT THIS POINT, WITH ALL THE PUBLIC EDUCATION GOING ON, HOW DOES ONE CONVINCE SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN RELUCTANT, WHO HAS DEVELOPED THIS ANTIPATHY TO VACCINES TO GET VACCINATED?

>> WELL I THINK IT IS BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS.

A PERSON AT A TIME.

PHARMACISTS AT THE PHARMACY AS WELL.

WE ALL TAKE PART IN HAVING THAT CONVERSATION.

STARTING TO INSTILL TRUST IN THOSE WITH MISTRUST.

LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE NO LONGER HERE WITH US BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT VACCINATED.

COVID-19 HAS TAKEN ENOUGH LIVES WITHIN ALL OUR COUNTRY.

AND IT HAS BEEN VERY HARD HIT IN THE LATINO AND AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

THAT IS ALWAYS MY CONVERSATION WITH THEM.

AND THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO VACCINATE SO THAT WAY, WE CAN SAVE MORE LIVES AND CONTINUE SAVING MORE LIVES.

WINTER IS ABOUT TO START.

TIME TO GET YOUR COVID-19 VACCINE OR BOOSTER AND YOUR FLU SHOTS, TOO.

>> DR. LUNA, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE RATES OF PEOPLE GETTING THE MOST RECENT COVID VACCINE, IS RATES ARE LOW.

AGAIN, CAN YOU AMPLIFY ON WHY THAT MIGHT BE?

>> IT IS UNFORTUNATE.

ESPECIALLY WITH OUR LATINX COMMUNITY.

OUR POPULATION OF CHILDREN IS THE LARGEST COMMUNITY OF CHILDREN IN ILLINOIS, IN CHICAGO.

SO WE HAVE A 38% OF ELIGIBLE CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY.

LESS THAN 6% THAT HAVE TAKEN A BOOSTER IN WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT I HAVE TO STRESS IT TO FAMILIES THAT IT HAS ALL THE UPDATED INFORMATION FOR THE CURRENT VARIANTS WE HAVE OUT THERE.

IT IS INCREDIBLE HOW WE LOOK AT THE PREVIOUS VERSION AND WE KNOW WE HAVE LOST PROTECTION WITH THE PREVIOUS VACCINE WE HAVE AROUND.

THERE HAVE BEEN OVER A THOUSAND MUTATIONS SINCE THE WUHAN COVID-19 APPEARED INITIALLY IN THE PANDEMIC.

SO NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF STRETCH IN TERMS OF THE DIFFERENCES OF THE VIRUSES VERSUS THE ONES THAT WE HAVE WHICH ARE STILL COVID-19 BUT VERY WELL MUTATED.

SO GETTING THAT ACTUAL BOOSTER WILL MAKE A WHOLE DIFFERENCE AND WE ARE SEEING THAT IT IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION.

THERE ARE DOCTORS SAYING MASSIVE HEART ATTACKS ARE HAPPENING IN CHILDREN WHEN IT IS NOT TRUE.

WE REALLY ENCOURAGE OUR PARENTS TO GET THE INFORMATION FROM AUTHORIZED SOURCES IN A LANGUAGE AND A CULTURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND MAKE SENSE OF THAT SO WE CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.

THE PROTECTION WITH THIS VACCINE IS INCREDIBLE.

WE HAVE HAD MORE THAN 600 BILLION INDIVIDUALS GLOBALLY BEEN VACCINATED WITH AN INCREDIBLE SUCCESS.

AND EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY.

OVERALL SAFETY IS ALWAYS GUIDED OUR DECISIONS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND THESE VACCINES, THEY ARE SAFE.

THEY DO PREVENT NOW INFECTIONS, HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH.

>> WE THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR INSIGHTS.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

OUR THANKS.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>>> LOCAL RESTAURANT FACING ALLEGATIONS OF WAGE THEFT BY CURRENT AND FORMER WORKERS.

A GROUP OF WORKERS GATHERED AT THE 26th STREET LOCATION ALONG WITH ARISE CHICAGO.

JOSE ARIVA OF THAT GROUP AND WORKER ASAE L ESPINOSA AIR OUT THEIR GRIEVANCES.

>> WE ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY APPROACHED US EARLIER THIS YEAR IN FEBRUARY, ALLEGING MANY VIOLATIONS THEY ENDURED IN THEIR WORKPLACES.

AMONG THEM, WAGE CONCERNS AND MISCLASSIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES.

REFERRED TO AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS HERE WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE DISPUTING.

THERE WERE CHARGES SUBMITTED IN STATE COURT AGAINST THE EMPLOYER.

THE NEXT THING COMING UP IS IN DECEMBER.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ] >> WE REACHED OUT TO THE RESTAURANT FOR COMMENT BUT DID NOT HEAR BACK.

>>> UP NEXT, AS THE LATINO POPULATION GROWS, A PUSH FOR POLITICAL REPRESENTATION TO REFLECT THAT GROWTH.

SO STAY WITH US.

>>> LATINOS CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING GROUPS IN THE COUNTRY.

IN ILLINOIS, THEY MAKE UP 18% OF THE POPULATION.

IN CHICAGO, MORE THAN 28%.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO REPRESENTATION IN POLITICS, LESS THAN 2% OF LATINOS ARE IN ELECTED WELCOME ALL.

LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE, HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THE STATE OF LATINO POLITICAL POWER IN THE CITY AND IN THE STATE?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT IN THE CITY, WHAT YOU SAW WITH THE REDISTRICTING IS WE ARE TRYING TO PUT OURSELVES IN A POSITION TO TRY TO ACHIEVE SOME TYPE OF PARITY.

WE PICKED UP TWO ADDITIONAL SEATS.

WE WERE LOOKING FOR THREE.

BUT, TOWARD THE END, WHEN THE REDISTRICTING FINALLY CAME TO A CONCLUSION, WHAT WE SAW WAS IDEOLOGY REALLY DEFEAT COMMUNITY.

WHAT I SAY BY THAT, WE HAD SOME FOLKS THAT REPRESENT THE LATINO COMMUNITY THAT CAVED BECAUSE OF IDEOLOGY.

WHAT THAT GAVE ME THE SENSE OF, AS A COMMUNITY WE ARE STILL YOUNG.

WE ARE NOT THERE YET TRYING TO GET THAT POWERMENT BUT WE WILL GET THERE.

SO THE FACT WE PICKED UP TWO ADDITIONAL SEATS IS SOMETHING I'M HAPPY WITH.

>> AND YOU VOTED AGAINST THE PLAN?

REMIND US WHY.

>> I I VOTED AGAINST THE PLAN BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE POPULATION.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACTS, WE WANT TO LOOK AT PROTECTED CLASSES.

TWO MINORITY GROUPS MAKING UP A THIRD IN THE CITY, IF WE WORK TOGETHER, BOTH COMMUNITIES WOULD HAVE WON, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, OUR COMMUNITY CAME UP ONE SEAT SHORT.

WE WILL GET THAT AGAIN AT THE NEXT REDISTRICTING.

THINK WE WEREN'T READY YET AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT.

>> IS IT ALWAYS THE CASE, OR IT SEEM TO BE THE CASE THAT AT LEAST THE PERCEPTION IS THAT WHEN ONE GROUP, QUOTE, WINS, ANOTHER GROUP, QUOTE, LOSES.

HOW DO YOU SEE IT?

>> WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, PHIL.

FIRST OF ALL, THE ILLINOIS LATINO AGENDA CAME TOGETHER.

WE KNEW OUR COMMUNITIES HAD ISSUES LIKE ACCESS TO DIGITAL RESOURCES SO YOU KNOW WHEN FOLKS DIDN'T HAVE DEVICES OR CONNECTION TO INTERNET, THEY WERE LAST IN LINE THE GET THEIR COVID VACCINES WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT.

THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES HAPPEN IN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

YOU CAN'T BE WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE.

SO FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE THE VISION, THEY HAVE TO SEE US IN OFFICE.

BUT THE OTHER SIDE IS THE SAME.

EVEN IF WE ARE NOT REPRESENTED BY LATINOS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ARE CULTURALLY COMPETENT IN HOW THEY SERVE US.

LANGUAGE ACCESS IS IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE MOBILIZATION OF VOTERS IS KEY.

THE BOTTOM UP, WE NEED TO MOBILIZE FOLKS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE TO REGISTER TO DO SO AS WELL.

>> AND, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS SOME OF THE IMPEDIMENTS?

>> WE NEED MORE REPRESENTATION ON THE JUDICIARY IN THE ILLINOIS PUBLIC COURT AND THE SUPREME COURT.

HAVING MORE DIVERSITY ON THE BENCH CREATES MORE TRUST IN THE SYSTEM.

MORE EQUALITY.

HOW CAN WE HAVE FAITH IN THE SYSTEM IF WE ARE NOT FULLY REPRESENTED AND IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY POWER IN THAT SYSTEM?

SO WE NEED MORE APPOINTMENTS TO THE APPELLATE COURT FROM A LATINO OR HISPANIC DESCENT.

>> THE SUPREME COURT WAS VACANT AND FILLED NOT BY A LATINO.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

>> WE ARE NOW THE BIGGEST ETHNIC POPULATION, SECOND BIGGEST ETHNIC POPULATION IN COOK COUNTY AND WE HAVE ABOUT 30% IN CHICAGO.

AND, WE THINK THIS WAS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT TO APPOINT A LATINO OR HISPANIC APPELLATE COURT, ANY JUDGE TO THE SUPREME COURT TO BE REPRESENTED.

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE POPULATION NOW THAT WE ARE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED, NOT IN THIS STATE, BUT OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW ABOUT THE STORY.

OUT OF LA.

WHERE SOME LATINO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE HEARD MAKING DISPARAGING REMARKS ABOUT OTHER GROUPS.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THAT AS A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL HERE?

>> I THOUGHT THOSE COMMENTS WERE DISGUSTING.

IT IS NOT EITHER OR.

WE ARE A THIRD OF THE CITY.

AFRICAN AMERICANS MAKE UP ALMOST A THIRD OF THE CITY AS WELL.

SO TOGETHER, WE MAKE UP 66%, APPROXIMATELY 66% OF THE POPULATION.

IF WE WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITIES, THINK THAT BOTH COMMUNITIES CAN WIN.

SO WHEN WE HEARD IT WAS A SHORT WIN, OR A VISION THAT QUITE FRANKLY WAS MARGINALIZING ANOTHER COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN DISINVESTED IN, AND FACING SIMILAR CHALLENGES WE ARE, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

THOSE COMMENTS WERE DISGUSTING.

THE FORMAL COUNCIL PRESIDENT STEPPED DOWN.

NOT JUST FROM PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL, BUT ALSO FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.

AND YOU HEARD IT ALL THE WAY FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN ON DOWN TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS HOW SERIOUS AND EGREGIOUS IT WAS.

NOT JUST TO BRING BACK JUSTICE.

BUT IT WAS JUST BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THOSE COMMENTS WERE JUST DISGUSTING.

>> LET ME ANSWER THAT IF I CAN.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SAY PARTICULARLY FROM THE ILLINOIS LATINO AGENDA, EMPHATICALLY THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER AND IT IS EMPHATICALLY TRUE THAT THE LIVES OF OUR INDIGENOUS LATINOS AND NATIVE AMERICANS, THEIR LIVES HAVE VALUE AND THEY ARE THE ORIGINAL FABRIC OF THIS COUNTRY AS WELL.

SO, WE SERVE THE GAMUT.

SO YES, WE ARE PROUD LATINO SERVING INSTITUTIONS BUT 30% OF WHOM WE SERVE IS AFRICAN AMERICAN.

WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

SO WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN ILLINOIS IS GOOD FOR ALL IN ILLINOIS.

ONE CASE IN POINT, THE ILLINOIS LATINO AGENDA PUT TOGETHER A PUBLIC SAFETY SUMMIT NOT TOO LONG AGO.

WELL ATTENDED, A DIVERSE ATTENDANCE THERE.

AND ONE OF THE OUTCOMES WE PUT FORWARD, WE ARE CALLING ON OUR CITY AND STATE LEGISLATORS WHO HELP US WITH GREATER FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME.

TO HELP PEOPLE NOT BECOME PERPETRATORS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THIS NOT ONLY IS A POSITIVE FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY, BUT FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS LIVING IN POVERTY, PAIN, AND INJUSTICE AS WELL.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING LATINO REPRESENTATION ON THE BENCH.

HOW DO YOU GET THAT?

>> WELL I THINK THE JUDICIARY NEEDS TO COUNT US MORE WHEN TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION VACANCIES THAT NEED TO BE FILLED BUT WE ALSO NEED TO GET OUT AND VOTE FOR THESE CANDIDATES.

DO YOUR RESEARCH AND VOTE FOR CANDIDATES THAT CAN CREATE MORE DIVERSITY.

>> LAST QUESTION FOR YOU.

THE PROSPECT OF A LATINO MAYOR.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> THE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE MEN GET THE JUDGES ELECT AND WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE EDUCATING SOME OF OUR OTHER COMMITTEE MEN.

THERE NEEDS TO BE DIVERSITY ON THE BENCH.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO.

>> ON THE ISSUE OF POTENTIAL LATINO MAYOR AT SOME POINT?

>> I WOULD SAY IT WILL BE SOONER THAN LATER.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE STILL, NOT EVERYBODY HAS DECLARED FOR MAYOR YET SO WE WILL SEE.

>> YOU EXPECT IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER?

>> YES.

>> OKAY, WE'LL KEEP WATCHING.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, PHIL.

>>> AND, UP NEXT, ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH DANCE.

SO STAY WITH US.

>>> HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH HAS COME TO A CLOSE, BUT ONE BALLET COMPANY SOUTHWEST OF THE CITY IS STILL CELEBRATING ITS HERITAGE WHILE ALSO BRINGING ATTENTION TO MENTAL HEALTH.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT ANGEL ITO INTRODUCES US TO BALLET 58.

>> Reporter: PROFESSIONAL DANCERS AT BALLET 58 HAVE UTILIZED THE PRACTICE TO NOT ONLY EXPRESS THEIR PASSION BUT TELL STORIES.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JULIANA BELIEVES THAT COMMITMENT IS IMPORTANT.

>> OUT HERE IN THE SUBURBS, THERE IS A LACK OF AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING ON HOW IMPORTANT THE ARTS ARE.

WHAT I LOVE, WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO EDUCATE AND BRING THAT CORNER STONE OF THE COMMUNITY TO A PLACE WHERE NOBODY ELSE IS KIND OF IN THAT SPACE.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE CURRENTLY USING THEIR WORK TO EDUCATE THEIR PEERS ON A DIFFERENCE OF IDENTITY WITH THE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH SHOWCASE.

>> ONE IS CALLED MI FAMILIA.

I WANTED TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT WOULD SHOW PEOPLE THE REAL HEART OF MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS AND THE MUSIC IS INCREDIBLE.

IT IS BY ARTURO MARQUEZ.

IT CAPTURES THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF FAMILY LIFE.

THE BALLET IS ALL ABOUT THE JOY OF FAMILY.

SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER AND LOVING ONE ANOTHER AND LIVING IN COMMUNITY.

MY HOPE IS IT HELPS SOMEBODY WALK A MILE IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S SHOES.

>> Reporter: MIRANDA RUBIO HAS BEEN DANCING PROFESSIONALLY WITH THE COMPANY THE PAST THREE YEARS.

BEING OF HISPANIC HERITAGE AND WHITE PASSING SHE SAYS SHE HAS USED HER POSITION TO MAKE SURE HER WHITE COLLEAGUES FEEL COMFORTABLE DANCING OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE.

>> SPEAK THROUGH WHAT IT IS.

GIVE THEM A LITTLE INTRODUCTION.

BALLET IS FRENCH.

VERY FEW OF US ARE FRENCH.

IT IS PERFECTLY OKAY TO DO A DANCE STYLE THAT IS NOT FROM YOUR COUNTRY AFTER ORIGIN AND TO RESPECTFULLY USED THE TERMS USED IN THAT STYLE OF DANCE.

>> Reporter: ALSO WILL COME STORIES ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

>> THIS IS A PLAY ON DIA DE LOS MUERTOS.

BUT IT IS DAY OF THE LIVING.

I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH DEPRESSION ON AND OFF ABOUT TEN YEARS.

WHAT YOU WILL SEE, MY FAMILY IS THERE.

THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PASSED ON.

THEY ARE ENCOURAGING ME TO CHOOSE LIFE AND KEEP GOING.

AND THEY ARE REMINDING ME OF THE BEAUTY OF LIFE.

AND THOUGH IT DOES GET DIFFICULT, MY JOB IS TO CARRY ON BECAUSE OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE ME.

THAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR ARTISTIC DIRECTORS.

IS TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN.

IF I'M STRUGGLING, I CAN GET HELP.

LIKE, I WANT TO SEE PEOPLE DECREASE THAT STIGMA AND REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW VITAL IT IS THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND STRIP BACK SOME OF THE EXPECTATION THAT ARTISTS ARE JUST PERFECT ALL THE TIME.

>> Reporter: WHETHER IT BE EDUCATING NON-DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, MENTAL HEALTH, OR JUST TELLING A STORY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY, BALLET 58 HOPES AUDIENCES LEAD WITH A SENSE OF UNDERSTANDING.

>> LOOKING PAST OUR DIFFERENCES AND LOOKING TO WHAT MAKES US THE SAME BRINGS US TOGETHER FAR QUICKER THAN ANYTHING ELSE WILL.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES, I'M ANGEL ITO.

>> AND YOU CAN SEE MORE FROM THE BALLET 58 COMPANY AND THEIR DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION.

THAT'S HAPPENING ON OCTOBER 31st.

90 FLOORS UP IN THE AIR AT THE 360 CHICAGO OBSERVATION DECK INSIDE THE JOHN HANCOCK BUILDING.

DATES FOR THE COMPANY'S OTHER FALL PERFORMANCES ARE ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

WHILE YOU ARE THERE, VISIT OUR COMPREHENSIVE VOTER GUIDE FOR THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION.

IT FEATURES A RUNDOWN OF LOCAL RACES, CANDIDATE BIOS AND STATEMENTS.

AND IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT, YOU CAN CATCH LATINO VOICES AN BLACK VOICES SUNDAY AT 10:00 P.M. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES, I'M PHIL PONCE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY, AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[ MUSIC ] >>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES.

A WRONGFUL DEATH LAW FIRM.