>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALLSTATE.

THE SOUL FUNDED THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST AND CIBC.

AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

[MUSIC] >> GOOD EVENING.

EAST AMITYVILLE IN CHICAGO TONIGHT'S BLACK VOICES.

>> SYLVESTER CHICAGO.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, LOCAL MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SHARE THE LATEST RECOMMENDATION ON COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOTS AND WHAT'S BEING DONE TO ADDRESS LACKING VACCINATION RATES IN TEEN COMMUNITIES.

PLUS A GROUP OF STUDENTS NOW THE SPANISH SONG AT THE SCHOOL DANCE.

MORE FROM THE STUDENT TO CAPTURE THAT MOMENT ON VIDEO.

FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN WOMAN WHO FIGHTS FIRE WITH FIRE.

AND LOOK PROFESSIONAL SOFTBALL PLAYER IN HERE ABOUT HER JOURNEY TO INSPIRE OTHER LATINOS TO GO PRO.

>> WHO IS NOT VACCINATED WITH THE COSMOS?

>> ASTRO JOE [INDISCERNIBLE] WHAT HE SAYS EVEN UNDER CITY LIGHTS EVERYONE CAN GET UP AND SEARCH FOR THE STARS.

>> FIRST OF TONIGHT, AND ADVISOR PANEL TO FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE AGENCY AUTHORIZED COVID BOOSTER SHOTS FROM THE DHARNA AND JOHNSON AND JOHNSON.

LAST MONTH, THE FULL FDA APPROVED THE PFIZER VACCINE SHOT FOR PEOPLE 65 AND OLDER.

THOSE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS OR THOSE WHO WORK IN RISK SETTINGS.

HOWEVER, LATINO COMMUNITIES, RATES HAVE INITIAL VACCINATION ARE STILL LAGGING WITH 52 PERCENT OF LATINOS IN CHICAGO HAVE BEEN COMPLETED THE VACCINE SERIES.THAT ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S PUBLIC DATA PORTAL.

JUNE IS NOT TO TALK WITH US MORE ARE DOCTOR WANITA MOTO OF THE CHICAGO ALLERGY CENTER AND LUNA, MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

DOCTOR MOORE, YOU FIRST.

WHAT IS YOUR LATEST ON VISIBILITY.

WE KNOW CAN CHANGE SO MUCH WHICH WE CAN DAY BY DAY SOMETIMES.

>>DR.

JUANITA MORA: 'SABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE A REALLY WONDERFUL SURPLUS OF VACCINES AT THIS TIME.

PFIZER IS READY AND AVAILABLE NOW AND AS OF YESTERDAY AND TODAY, WE NOW HAVE FDA GRADE FOR THE ACTUAL MAJORITY AND JOHNSON AND JOHNSON BUT WE ARE WAITING FOR THE OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATION NEXT WEEK.

SO, THAT'S WHERE PUBLIC STANCE.

RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE CAN GET THERE PFIZER BOOSTER, BUT THE MODERNITY AND JOHNSON AND JOHNSON, WE ARE HOPING BY NEXT WEEK, THE CDC MAKES OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND ARE EAGERLY AWAITING BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT MIXING AND MATCHING VACCINES AS WELL.

>> DOCTOR LIMIT TO YOU NOW, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL RISK OR DIFFERENT RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH BOOSTER SHOTS AND DOZENS VERY FOR THE TYPE OF BOOSTER SHOT?

>> RADAR, THE ONLY BOOSTER THAT WE HAVE IS PFIZER AND PRETTY MUCH THE SAME EFFECT AS THE INITIAL SERIES.

PART ONE AND PART TWO.

SO, MORE TO COME TODAY AND YESTERDAY AND TODAY.

MEETING FOR MODERNITY VACCINES BOOSTER.

AND J&J AND ARE LOOKING AT THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES DOWN TO CDC APPROVING AND THE ACA P. COMES WITH A FINAL RECOMMENDATION SO, LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

SO FAR, NO DIFFERENT THAN THE PREVIOUS DOSE IN EUROPE AND WITH McDERMOTT, HALF A THIS HALF OF THE SIDE EFFECTS OF ANY AT ALL.

VERY HELPFUL.

>> DOCTOR MORA, TO YOU, WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SHOW IN TERMS OF HOW MANY LATINOS WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THE BOOSTER SHOT HAVE GOTTEN THEM.

ARE WE SENSING THE SAME VISITATION THAT WAS SOME OF THE FIRST VACCINE?

>>DR.

GERALDINE LUNA: YES, BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY AND THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AS WELL TO THE HARDEST HIT.

THEY'RE ASKING US, WELCOME WE ALREADY DID THAT AND I'M EXPECTING THEM THAT'S JUST A SECOND VACCINE THEY ARE TOGETHER JOHNSON AND JOHNSON.

WE ARE LOOKING AT 16 PERCENT OF ELIGIBLE LATINOS FOR THE BOOSTER THAT HAVE ACTUALLY RECEIVED.

SO, WE'VE A LOT OF WORK TO DO THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF INFORMING AND REALLY GETTING EVERYONE BOOSTED UP.

AND THEN ONCE THEY FOLLOW VACCINATED, GET TO A NICE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH ALL THE EXPENSIVE FAMILY MEMBERS AND [INDISCERNIBLE] >> DOCTOR LUNA, DOES THAT CONCERN YOU AND ARE THERE RESOURCES FOR LATINOS IN CHICAGO WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED, WHO MIGHT BE AN OFFENDER MIGHT STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BOOSTER SHOTS?

>>DR.

GERALDINE LUNA: FOR THE BOOSTER SHOTS, WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES.

WE EVEN HAVE NOW, THIS WEEK IS DURING THIS THE COLLEGES.

CAN YOU BE OPENING AND OFFERING FLU SHOTS AND ALSO COVID-19 VACCINES ALTOGETHER FOR BOOSTER.

FOR PRIMARY DOSES AND REMEMBER THE PRIMARY CONTINUES TO BE PRIMARY DOSES, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE 97 PERCENT PRETTY MUCH INSIDE THE RATES VISITING HOSPITALS DYING FROM COVID-19.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WOULD SAY THAT IN OUR BOOSTERS, WE ARE LACKING A LOT AND ARE 65 YEARS AND OLDER.

AND THAT'S THE GROUP THAT RECEIVED THE MOST BENEFIT OF GETTING THIS VACCINATION AND PERHAPS ONLY 16 PERCENT OF OUR SENIORS HAVE GOTTEN BOOSTER SHOTS PRE-MUCH THE SAME AGE THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR BREAKTHROUGH CASES.SO, WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, OUR NEIGHBORS FOR LIFE INITIATIVE FOR CONTAINING SENIORS IN WHICH WE ARE OFFERING BOOSTERS TWO.

AND WE HAVE ALSO CHICAGO 77, WHICH IS A NEW INITIATIVE.

TRYING TO HAVE OUR 77 COMMUNITY 70 SENT TEST TEST BREAKTHROUGH CASES AGAIN, BREAKTHROUGH CREASES ARE NOT THE THE PRIORITY CONTINUES TO BE THOSE FIRST.

ONE AND SECOND THIS IS THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING A SERIES OF TWO OR JOHNSON AND JOHNSON PRIMARY DOSES TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

>> ALL GOOD INFORMATION AND VERY HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE WONDERING.

DOCTOR MORA, HOW LONG DOES THE IMMUNITY FROM A BOOSTER SHOT LAST?

>>DR.

JUANITA MORA: SO, THIS POINT, WE KNOW THAT FOR EXAMPLE, THE SERIES OF VACCINATIONS THAT WE ALWAYS KEPT FROM FIRST AND SECOND PFIZER ARE THE FIRST AND SECOND FROM A DHARNA AND JOHNSON AND JOHNSON.

IT LASTS US A GOOD 6 TO 8 MONTHS.WE KNOW THE VACCINE HAS STALLED FROM DATA THAT'S COMING OUT AND THEY SHOULD LAST ABOUT THE 6 TO 8 MONTHS.

WE ARE HOPING THAT WITH THE NEW DEVELOPMENT AND NEWER VACCINES AS WELL, THESE SAME VACCINES WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE ANTIBODIES LAST LONGER AS WELL IS BUILDING UP IMMUNITY.

SO, THE VACCINE, WHEN KIDS GET THE FIRST VACCINE AND SECOND FOR POLIO VACCINE AND etc.

THE BOTH OF THE IMMUNITY LEVEL OF ANTIBODIES IN OUR BODY.

WE HOPE THE MORE THAT WE ACTUALLY DO THE HIGHER LEVEL OF ANYBODY'S AND THE LONGER THEY LEFT AS WELL.

>> OKAY.

THIS IS A GOOD TRANSITION TO DOCTOR LUNA.

TO EXPECT COVID-19 THE RECOMMENDED SIMILARLY TO WHAT WAS TO THE FLU SHOT OR PERHAPS EVEN SOONER?

>>DR.

GERALDINE LUNA: IT'S VERY HARD TO PREDICT RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE WE SAW THESE BREAKTHROUGH CASES, ESPECIALLY IN THE 65 YEARS AND OVER.

VERY SMALL CASES CAN BE COMPARED TO TWO UNVACCINATED CASES, WHICH CONTINUED TO BE 97 PERCENT OF THE CASES THAT WE CAN HOSPITALS AND DEATHS RELATED COVID-19.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW.

WE ARE EXPECTING AND HOPING, RIGHT?

THAT THIS THIRD DOSE WOULD BE LIKE TOWARDS THE BOOSTERS.

WHATEVER NEEDS THE BOOSTER.

THE THIRD AND ONLY AND MOVING ON.

BUT, IT'S VERY UNPREDICTABLE IS BECAUSE OF THE MUTATION OF THE VIRUS JUST NOW.

SO, THE LONGER WE HAVE PEOPLE UNVACCINATED AND THE PANDEMIC HAPPENING, THE MORE CHANCES WE HAVE THE VIRUS MUTATING AND LEADING OTHERS AND BOOSTERS AND VACCINES COULD WE HAVE AN UPPER THAT'S WHAT THE CALL IS SO STRONG.

GET VACCINATED AND GET IT NOW.

LET'S GET THIS OVER AND CONTINUE TO INCREASE OUR LIKELIHOOD.

>> FINAL QUESTION.

>>ANCHOR: NOT TO JUMP IN HERE.

I JUST WANT TO GIVE DOCTOR MORA CHANCE AND ANSWER ONCE CHILDREN BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE, SHOULD WE EXPECT TO SEE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THEM TO GET BOOSTERS AS WELL?

JUST A FEW SECONDS HERE.

>> PROBABLY NOT.

>>DR.

GERALDINE LUNA: I'M EXPECTING BECAUSE THAT HIGH AND ROBUST LEVELS OF ANYBODY'S AND THE CHILD, KIDS MAKE HUGE IMMUNE RESPONSES.

SO, THEY MIGHT NOT NEED A BOOSTER.

>>ANCHOR: THANK YOU TO DOCTOR MORA AND DOCTOR LUNA.

A GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE SEEN KNEELING DURING A SCHOOL DANCE THIS PAST WEEKEND.

ELIZABETH A JUNIOR AT MARES HIGH SCHOOL REPORTED THE INCIDENT AND UPLOADED IT TO INSTAGRAM WHERE IT HAS GONE VIRAL.

SOON AFTER WAS DEMANDING ANSWERS AND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM BOTH THE SCHOOL AND HER PEERS.

>> THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ALREADY SO, I FELT SHOCKED.

AND A LITTLE BIT BETRAYED BECAUSE THESE ARE MY CLASSMATES THAT I HAD GONE OUT WITH THESE PAST FEW YEARS.

AND I WAS REALLY CONFUSED WHY THEY WOULD DO THIS TO US.

AND WHY WOULD THEY SAY SUCH HURTFUL THINGS?

I WAS ALSO PRETTY UPSET THAT NOBODY WAS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NOT EVEN THE STAFF.I HOPE THAT THE SCHOOL DOES TAKE ACTION AND I AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S I DO HAVE FAITH IN THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE HEARING US RIGHT NOW.

EVENLY TODAY.AFTER SCHOOL, THE MEETING.

THEY ARE SUPPORTING US.

I FEEL LIKE I REALLY WANT ACTION AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE YOU KNOW, SO LONG.

FOR THOSE IN THE SCHOOL.

BECAUSE IT REALLY ONLY TAKES SIX DAYS TO SAY I'M SORRY, THIS IS WRONG.

>>ANCHOR: IN A STATEMENT, THIS SCHOOL SAID THAT THE KNEELING WAS NOT ISOLATED TO THAT SONG.

THE SCHOOL ALSO ADDED THAT QUOTE THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE STILL STUDENTS WHO VIEWED THIS VIDEO OR BREAK THE HOMECOMING DANCE THAT WERE HURT BY THESE ACTIONS.

THEY CONTINUED THAT THEY ARE FAMILY AND WHEN ONE OF US IS HURT, WE ARE ALL HER PROGRESS ARE REACHED OUT TO THE SCHOOL FOR COMMENT AND HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A RESPONSE.

UP NEXT, A NEW PROGRAM INDICATING MORE WOMEN INVOLVED IN CONSERVATION.

STAY WITH US.

[MUSIC] >>ANCHOR: ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MID AND UPPER REGIONS, WILDFIRES BECOME MORE COMMON PIT RATHER THAN FIRE SUPPRESSION, CONTROLLED FIRES, ALSO KNOWN AS PRESCRIBED BURNS CAN HELP KEEP WILDFIRES FROM SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL ACTUALLY CREATE MORE RESILIENCE AND HEALTHIER FOR US.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS BRUCE CAMPBELL.

BURN CREWMEMBER FOR THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AGENCY HABITAT AND FIELD CREW WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY.IT USES CONTROLLED BURNS YOUR STUDENT LIFE TO LANDSCAPES.

IN THE LAST YEAR, SHE TRAVELED TO MINNESOTA AND CALIFORNIA TO HELP BATTLE WILDFIRES.

SHE WANTS MORE WOMEN ESPECIALLY WOMEN OF COLOR TO JOIN HER.

RUTH, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M SO INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU DO.

WHAT YOU DO IS PRIMARILY WORK WITH SCRIPT FIRES.

AND THAT'S AN INTERESTING CONCEPT BECAUSE IF YOU ASK MANY PEOPLE THINK OF DESTRUCTION WHEN THEY THINK OF FIVE.THIS ACTUALLY CREATES HEALTH.

HE TELLS WHAT THAT IS WHY IT'S NECESSARY?>>RUTH CAMPOS: THANK YOU FOR THE INTRODUCTION.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT THE FIRES.

JUST LIKE YOU SAID IN YOUR INTRODUCTION, DEFINITELY CONTROLLED APPLICATION OF FIRE OF THE GROUND.

BY FIRE EXPERTS ON WHAT WE CALL A PRESCRIPTION.

SO, TO RESTORE THE MANAGEMENT OF ECOLOGICAL FORCE.

AND SO, FIGHT FIRE IS A TOOL THAT HAS BEEN USED FOR A LONG TIME BUT I NEEDED AND AMBITIOUS PEOPLE.

WE ARE BRINGING IT BACK BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

>>ANCHOR: WE SEE A LOT OF NEWS ABOUT WILDFIRES IN CALIFORNIA AND WE ARE SEEING SOME SPECTACULAR PHOTOS OF DOING WHAT YOU DO BY THE WAY.

WE WANT TO KNOW THAT WILDFIRES ONLY HAPPEN IN CALIFORNIA.

HE TELLS ABOUT WHERE YOU BEEN WORKING LAST YEAR?

>> THIS YEAR WAS VERY NEAT BECAUSE I'M SURE THE CHICAGO AREA AND YOU SAW JUST AS WE HAVE THAT MOST DAYS.

AND SPECIFICALLY HERE IN THE WEST COAST HOME, MINNESOTA, WE HAVE WORKED HERE AND WE HAVE WORK ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

SOME ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO STRESS BECAUSE OF THE TEMPERATURE.

OR BECAUSE OF THE DRAIN.

IN A TREES THERE ARE.

AND SO, MINNESOTA FIRE BECAUSE OF A DROUGHT, THEY SAW A LOT MORE FIRE THIS YEAR.

>> WOULD NOT COUNTRY VERY WORD TENDS TO BE WHITE MALE DOMINATED.

WHAT DREW YOU TO THE WORKING WITH THE LIKE IS A FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN WOMAN TO WORK IN THESE SPACES?

>>RUTH CAMPOS: OUR JOURNEY WAS WANTING TO SPEND MORE TIME.

I DID NOT THAT'S THAT'S WHEN I FIRST STARTED DOING CONSERVATION WORK A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I DID NOT THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE DOING IT FOR A LONG TIME.HOWEVER, THEY ARE SUCH A GREAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

IN THE COMMUNITY IS GREAT.

ALL THE WOMEN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MADE ME FEEL LIKE IT'S A SPACE FOR ME AND MADE ME FEEL LIKE I CAN BE HERE AND TREAT ME TO BE HERE.

HE SAID, THERE'S NOT MUCH WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN AND ESPECIALLY PEOPLE COLOR AND NOT WHITE WOMEN.

SO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE HER WE HAVE ANYTHING DYNAMIC WHEN IT COMES TO FIRE.

WHETHER IT'S PRESCRIBED FIRE OR FIRE SUPPRESSION.

IT IS NOT JUST GETTING UP TO AND PUTTING IT OUT.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROBLEM-SOLVING COMMUNITY BUILDING TEAMBUILDING AND SO, WE NEED A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE TO SOLVE THOSE DIFFICULT AND DYNAMIC PROBLEMS.

>> AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE ACTUALLY A PART OF A TEAM THAT EXTENDS THE HELPING HAND TO YOUNG WOMEN.

YOUR MENTOR FOR THE WOMEN IN FIRE PROGRAMS.

WE DO WITH THE MENTOR AND YURI TOLD US ABOUT WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.

>> YES.HERE IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND THE SHAWNEE NATIONAL CHORUS, WE HAVE A PROGRAM WITH CONSERVANCY AND THE SERVICE THAT HIGHER YEARLY WOMEN.

WHO ARE'S SOLO.

THEY HAVE A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

ORIGINALLY, THE WORLD MENTOR BECAME AN ORGANIC ROLE.

AND SORT OF HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE HUMAN AND IT WAS A STRICT GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH THE FOLKS WHO ARE RAISING IT AND BE ABLE TO TEACH THEM EVERYTHING THAT I'VE LEARNED FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

AND YES, THAT KNOWLEDGE AND HOPEFULLY HAVE THEM STAY AROUND AS WELL AND TEACH THE NEXT GENERATION OF FELLOW.

>>ANCHOR: OUR FINAL QUESTION TWO.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO YOUNG LATINOS MIGHT BE LISTENING AND MIGHT BE WATCHING AND INTERESTED IN DOING WHAT YOU DO?

>>RUTH CAMPOS: [LAUGHTER] [INDISCERNIBLE] YES, IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AND DIFFICULT WORK.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT BARRIERS FOR US.

MAYBE FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT ARE LIKE WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?

A LOT OF HIKING AND CAMPING AND YOU KNOW, VERY MUCH PHYSICAL AND INTENSIVE WORK.

BUT, WHEN HE DIVERSE PEOPLE AND IT IS FUN AND WORTH IT.

AND YES, WE JUST NEED MORE OF US.

>> FIRST OF ALL, STAY SAFE OUT THERE.

AND BRUCE CAMPBELL, OUR THANKS.

FIRST LADY JOE BIDEN AND EDUCATION SECRETARY MIGUEL CORONA VISITED THE ALASKAN INSTITUTE AND PHYLLIS THIS WEEK FOR SPANISH HERITAGE MONTH.

AS PART OF THEIR TOUR, BIDEN AND CORONA HAD A VISITING SESSION AND JOIN WITH THE GROUP OF LATINO LEADERS AND ORGANIZERS TO HEAR ABOUT THE WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.

THIS WAS BIDEN'S FIRST VISIT IN CHICAGO AS FIRST LADY.

HERE IS WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.

>> ALL OF YOU ARE GIVING BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL AND UNIQUE EXPERIENCES.

AND SO, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT I ADMIRE AND ALL OF YOU.

THAT YOU ARE MENTORING AND YOU ARE REACHING BACK AND PULLING OUT THOSE ALONE.

THAT'S SO IMPORTANT I THINK.

>>ANCHOR: NOT ALL WORKS AFFORDED THE A VISIT.

PROTESTER REPORTEDLY APPROACHED THE FIRST LADY'S MOTORCADE DEMANDING IMMIGRATION REFORM.

ACCORDING TO ABC SEVEN REPORT, THAT PERSON WAS QUICKLY TACKLED TO THE GROUND BY SECRET SERVICE AGENT.

AND HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH MAY JUST WRAPPED UP ON FRIDAY.

BUT, WE WANT TO BRING YOU THIS PROFILE.

THE LOOKING WOMAN AND ACCOMPLISHED ATHLETE, WHO IS PROUD OF HER MEXICAN GROUP.

WHAT THROUGH HER INTERPROFESSIONAL SOFTBALL?

SHE SHARES HER SECRET WITH CHICAGO TONIGHT, JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> I DID NOT THINK I WAS CAN BE A PROFESSIONAL SOFTBALL PLAYER.

NOT EVEN IN COLLEGE THAT I THINK IS GONNA BE PROFESSIONAL SOFTBALL PLAYER.

BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW THEY WOULD BE THERE FOR ME.

>> MEXICAN-AMERICAN ABBY RAMIREZ HAS BEEN PLAYING SPORTS SINCE SHE WAS A KID.

>> I COME FROM AN ATHLETIC FAMILY PUT ALL OF MY AUNTS AND UNCLES PLAYED SPORTS.

ESPECIALLY ON MY DADS SIDE AND MY GRANDPA WHEN MY BIGGEST CHEERLEADERS SINCE I WAS YOU KNOW, THE STALL AND PLAYING 10.

>> HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR, TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR WAS ABBY RAMIREZ.

>> 26 YEARS OLD, THE CHICAGO NATIVE HAS GONE ON TO PLAY WITH CHICAGO BANDITS FOR TWO SEASONS AND PROCEEDED TO COMPETE WITH ATHLETES UNLIMITED.A SOFTBALL LEAGUE FOR PRO ATHLETES WERE PLAYERS ARE DRAFTED FOR DIFFERENT TEAMS EACH WEEK.

>> ATHLETES UNLIMITED TO BE HERE IT'S BEEN SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US AS FEMALE ATHLETES.

ESPECIALLY IN THE SOFTBALL COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE WERE LACKING THAT PROFESSIONAL PRESENCE.

AND TO BE ABLE TO PLAY BEYOND COLLEGES BEEN AMAZING.

AND NOW, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PLAY WITH TEAMMATES, WIFE PLAYED AGAINST IN COLLEGE.

>> RAMIREZ, WHO HAS IRISH HERITAGE ON HER MOTHER'S SIDE IS MAKING A MARK FOR OTHER GOALS TO PURSUE THE GAME THAT SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH.

>> THERE'S TONS OF LITTLE GIRLS AND I'M SUPER EXCITED TO GET OUR SIGNATURES AND IT'S BEEN REALLY COOL.

AND ALSO I DO LESSONS IN THE AREA.

SO, DURING THE OFF-SEASON, I WORKED WITH A TON OF YOUNG PLAYERS.

TO ME, IT'S VERY REWARDING.

I ALWAYS TELL THEM THAT I STARTED IN THEIR SHOES.

IF I CAN GET HERE, SO CAN THEY.

>> THE EMPLOYER WHO GREW UP ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF CHICAGO PLAYED UP IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN WHERE SHE GOT HER DEGREE IN COMMUNICATIONS AND WENT ON TO PURSUE HER MASTERS IN SPORTS ADMINISTRATION FROM NORTHWESTERN.

>> I PLAYED THE HIGH SCHOOL GAMES HERE.

SO, TO BE BACK AS A PROFESSIONAL HAS BEEN REALLY COOL.

AND KIND OF A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR ME.

THAT'S DEFINITELY A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN I WAS LIKE WOW, THAT'S I DREAMED ABOUT THIS FOR SO LONG.

AND NOW I'M HERE DOING IT.

>> IT'S A CONNECTION SHE SHARES WITH HER FAMILY.

THAT RAMIREZ SAYS KEEP THEIR GROUNDED AND CONNECTED TO HER ROOTS.

>> I FELT THE CHICAGO BANDITS.

THEY'LL COMMIT TO GAME AND I SWEAR YOU SELECT 36 37 I THINK THERE'S A TOTAL NUMBER.

IT WAS APPROACHING 40.

RAMIREZ WERE IN THE STANDS AND WE ALL THE PICTURE AFTERWARDS.

THAT WAS A REALLY SPECIAL THING TO ME.

EVERY TIME I GOING TO THE GAME, THEY SCREAMED THEIR HEADS OFF.

>> AS SHE WRAPPED UP THE SEASON ATHLETES UNLIMITED, SHE HAS HER EYES SET ON COACHING HOPING TO HELP OTHER WOMEN GET OPPORTUNITIES TO GO PRO.

>> MY COLLEGE COACH, CAROL HUTTON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, SHE HAS NEVER BEEN SUCH A HUGE MENTOR FOR ME AND HAD SUCH AN IMPACT ON MY LIFE.

I WOULD HOPE TO DO THE SAME FOR SOMEONE IN COLLEGE AS WELL.

>> THROUGHOUT HER JOURNEY GROWING UP AS A SECOND GENERATION LATINO, SHE IS PROUD TO BE REPRESENTING HER HERITAGE ON AND OFF THE FIELD.

>> I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR YOUNG YOUNG PLAYERS, WHO COME FROM, YOU KNOW, MEXICAN BACKGROUNDS OR HISPANIC BACKGROUNDS OR WHATEVER IT IS.

TO BE ABLE TO SEE US REPRESENTING AND TO SEE YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THEM ON THAT STAGE.

AND THEN THAT JUST MOTIVATES THEM AND INSPIRES THEM.

SO, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> FIRST CHICAGO TONIGHT, AND JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> RAMIREZ HAS RECENTLY BEEN NAMED ASSISTANT COACH FOR DEPAUL UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL TEAM.

UP NEXT, MEET AND ENTHUSIASTIC ENDORSER OF THE COSMOS KNOWN AS JOE.

>> YOU WILL NEVER MISS CHICAGO TONIGHT.

JOIN OUR PODCASTING GET A DAILY DOWNLOAD OF OUR SHOW DELIVERED TO YOUR DESKTOP OR MOBILE DEVICE BUT GO TO WT TW.COM/CHICAGO TONIGHT PODCAST AND SUBSCRIBE.

[MUSIC] >>ANCHOR: CHICAGO TONIGHT IS DAZZLING.

THE SKY LINE THAT LIGHTS UP OUR EVENING ALSO MAKE IT A LITTLE HARDER TO SEE THE NATURAL WONDERS OF THE NIGHT SKY.

STILL, CHICAGO ASTRONOMER, JOE, ASTRO JOE, SAYS THAT THERE IS PLENTY TO SEE.

YOU JUST NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.

HERE AT THE CHICAGO PARKS AND RESIDENTS ASTRONOMER JOSI AND WHY HE SAYS EVERYONE SHOULD GET OUT AND LOOK UP.

>> HELLO FELLOW SPIRIT STARGAZERS.

MY NAME IS JOE.

AND I AM AN ASTRONOMER HERE IN THE CITY.

I AM OFTEN ASKED JOE, HOW DID YOU GET INTO ASTRONOMY?I OFTEN REPLY ASTRONOMY GOT INTO ME.

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN.

USE THIS TO MY DAD'S BINOCULARS AND LOOK AT THE NIGHT SKY AND BE ENTHRALLED AND AMAZED AT WHAT IS LOOKING AT.

AND I'M STILL NOT TIRED OF IT.

HOW CAN YOU BE TIRED OF THE UNIVERSE?

IT'S WHERE WE CAME FROM.THE CALCIUM IN YOUR TEETH, THE NITROGEN IN YOUR DNA, THE IRON IN YOUR BLOOD.

THEY ALL CAME TEST IS ALL THESE ELEMENTS WERE FORGED IN THE HEARTS OF STARS THAT BLEW UP BILLIONS OF YEARS AGO.

AND WOMAN LOOK UP IN THE SKY WHAT WE DO IS LOOK BACK HOME FROM WHENCE WE CAME.

FROM MEXICAN-AMERICAN.

MY ANCESTORS WERE GREAT ASTRONOMERS.

THE MAYANS ALL MESOAMERICA.

THEY KNEW ABOUT ECLIPSES DECADES IN ADVANCE.THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PLANET VENUS.

THEY ESTABLISHED A SOCIETY AROUND THE PLANET.

THEY BUILT THEIR BUILDINGS AND THE LINEMAN WITH THE SONS AND COMES DOWN TO THEIR CASE ON THE EQUINOXES.

FANTASTIC!

AND I TRIED TO INSTILL THAT VERY SAME FASCINATION THAT MY ANCESTORS HAD TO THE YOUNG GENERATION.

AND THEY LOVE IT AND THEY GOBBLE IT ALL UP.

HERE IN THE CITY, KIDS REALLY DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK THROUGH TELESCOPES.HERE, SKIES ARE FREE AND SO ARE THE VIEWS.

I OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AGES TO LOOK THROUGH TELESCOPES AND LOOK AT PLANETS.

LOOK AT GALAXIES.

BINARY STARS.

ALL THE STARS OF THE UNIVERSE FIRSTHAND.NOT ON THE INTERNET OR IN BOOKS.

WITH YOUR OWN EYES.

AND EVERYBODY'S FASCINATED WHEN YOU LOOK AT SATURN FOR THE FIRST TIME.

YOU SEE THE BEAUTIFUL RING SYSTEM.

OH MY GOD, IT'S CALLED THE WILD MOMENT.

EVERYBODY'S LIKE A MY GOD, I CANNOT BELIEVE IT!

THE BANES OF JUPITER AND GALILEO IN THE 1600S.

I'M SHOWING THAT TEAR RIGHT HERE WITH GALILEO WISHED HE SAW BUT HE NEVER DID.

IT IS NOT FASCINATED WITH THE COSMOS?

I WANT PEOPLE TO GO OUT ON ANY CLEAR NIGHT AND JUST LOOK UP.

APPRECIATE WHERE YOU ARE AT IN THE UNIVERSE.

WE'RE JUST A LITTLE TEENY TINY PART THE UNIVERSE IS 15 BILLION YEARS OLD.

WHERE DO WE FIT?

WELL, LET'S TAKE A MOMENT AND STEP BACK.

AND LET'S EXPLORE THE UNIVERSE TOGETHER.

AND LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

THE SKIES ARE FREE AND SO ARE THE VIEWS TO MY TELESCOPE.

>>ANCHOR: JUST LOOKED UP.

ASTRO JOE'S ORGANIZATION IN CHICAGO ASTRONOMER HOST FREE SKY WATCHING EVENTS ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

MORE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THE WEEKEND.

AND IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS ON SATURDAY NIGHT, KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10 PM.

YOU CAN CATCH MY REPORTING CBS TO CHICAGO NEXT WEEK ON LATINO VOICES.

WITH WBT.

WE WILL BE RIGHT HERE IN THE HOST CHAIR.

NOW, FROM ALL OF US FROM CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES, I AM ROSE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF THE WEEKEND WITH US AND STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

[MUSIC]