CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALLSTATE AND CIDC.

>> GOOD EVENING.

CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, I'M MICHAEL PUENTE, REPORTER WITH WBEZ CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US ON OUR 50th SHOW TONIGHT.

DACA RECIPIENTS FACING LONGER DELAYS THAN NORMAL.

WE HEAR FROM LOCAL GROUPS WORKING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

THE IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY TO LOCAL LEADERS IN THE LATINO LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

>> THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL MIX OF CULTURE.

>> A CHICAGO ARTIST REVELS IN LATIN AMERICA'S LOVE OF BASEBALL WITH A TRIBUTE.

FIRST OFF, DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS, BETTER KNOWN AS DACA, HAS BEEN GIVING IMMIGRANTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN THE U.S.

LAWFULLY.

RECENTLY THERE HAVE BEEN DELAYS IN STATUS PUTTING THEIR EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY AT RISK OR IN SOME CASES TAKING AWAY THEIR ABILITY TO WORK LEGALLY.

JOINING US IS ALFREDO ESTRADA AND JOANNA JAIMES, PROGRAM MANAGER AT A FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER.

WE ALSO INVITED THE AGENCY HANDLING DACA RENEWALS, U.S.

CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES TO JOIN THIS CONVERSATION, BUT AS OF OUR RECORDING TIME WE HAVEN'T HEARD BACK.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "LATINO VOICES."

ALFREDO, WE'LL START OFF WITH YOU.

WHAT HAVE THEE LONGER WAITING PERIODS LOOKED LIKE?

>> CURRENTLY FOUR TO SICK SICK -- SIX MONTHS FOR WAITING FOR DACA RENEWALS.

AS OF JULY OF THIS YEAR NEW APPLICANTS FOR DACA ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE ADJUDICATED SO WE'RE SEEING TWO TO THREE MONTHS EXTRA EVEN TO BE ADJUDICATED.

JOANNA, HOW DO THESE DELAYS COMPARE TO NORMAL WAITING TIMES?

>> SURE.

THE DELAY LIKE HE JUST MENTIONED IS EXTREME.

PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS OR HAVING TO PUT THEIR LIFE ON HOLD BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO OBTAIN A WORK PERMIT.

WITH ANY IMMIGRATION SERVICES THERE IS ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT OF A WAITING TIME, BUT NOW WE'RE SEEING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT TIME HAS INCREASED.

>> WE SPOKE WITH A RECENT GRAT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO WHO UP UNTIL NOW HAS NOT RECEIVED HER NEW CARD.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> I WAS SO HAPPY TO START MY ENGINEERING CAREER AND JUST HAVING DELAY AFTER DELAY, I'M LIKE, OKAY, JUNE.

IT SHOULD COME IN BY JULY.

OKAY, MAYBE AUGUST.

THEN SEPTEMBER, NOW NOVEMBER.

NOW IT'S I HOPE I CAN START BY JANUARY.

THIS WHOLE THING HAS BEEN REALLY FRUSTRATING AND SAD BECAUSE I SEE HOW ALL OF MY FRIENDS, MY CLASSMATES, THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR CAREERS.

BY JANUARY THEY'LL BE LIKE SIX MONTHS IN.

>> JOANNA, CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT THESE RENEWAL DELAYS ARE CAUSING AMONG RECIPIENTS.

>> A REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE RIGHT THERE, WITH CAREER CHANGES.

WITH DACA RECIPIENTS, WE KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW THE RENEWAL TIME IS TWO YEARS.

AT ONE POINT DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IT WAS ONE YEAR BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES THEY HAVE IN CERTAIN PLACES.

THAT PLACES A BURDEN PLUS THE WAIT PLACES AN EXTREME FINANCIAL BURDEN AND PRESSURE ON HOW LONG THEY CAN PLAN OUT THEIR LIVES.

IT'S A CONSTANT POINT OF HAVING TO WAIT AND WORRY, FEEL LIKE YOUR LIFE IS DETERMINED BY THIS POLICY.

>> ALFREDO, WITH YOU HANDLING SO MANY OF THESE DACA CLIENTS, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS CAUSING THESE DELAYS?

HAVE YOU FOUND U.S.

CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES AGENCY BEING RESPONSIVE DURING THIS TIME?

>> LISTEN, COVID HAS AFFECTED EVERYTHING, FROM PROCESSING TIMES, APPLICATIONS AND PROCESSING CENTERS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND CONSOLATE INTERVIEWS ABROAD.

THE CAUSE OF DACA RECIPIENTS BEING IN THE POSITION THEY ARE IS BECAUSE FRANKLY OUR DEMOCRACY IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, MICHAEL.

WE HAVE THE ADMINISTRATION, EXECUTIVE BRANCH TRYING TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAW, CREATE IMMIGRATION LAW AND THE JUDICIAL BRANCH DETERMINING WHETHER THEY ARE GOING OUTSIDE THEIR POWER.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

DACA IS NOTHING NEW.

IT CALLS FOR ALL THIS, HAVING DACA, HAVING ADVANCED PAROLE, NOT HAVING DACA, ONLY BEING ABLE TO RENEW IT, NOT HAVING ADVANCED PAROLE AND NOW KIND OF HAVING DACA IS BECAUSE CONGRESS HAS FAILED FOR OVER A DECADE NOW OR NEAR A DECADE ENACT ANY TYPE OF LEGISLATION TO CORRECT THE SITUATION.

IF THERE'S ANYONE TO BLAME AND TO PUT CAUSE ON THIS, IT'S REALLY BECAUSE CONGRESS HAS FAILED TO CODIFY DACA, EVEN THOUGH IT'S SO POPULAR AMONGST ALL AMERICANS.

>> ALFREDO, YOU ACTUALLY PUT THE BLAME SQUARELY ON CONGRESS, NOT NECESSARILY THE PRESIDENT?

>> WE'VE BEEN LITIGATING WHETHER DACA IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DETERMINED, CAN BE FOUND TO BE CONSTITUTIONAL FOR YEARS NOW.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS TAKING AWAY DACA AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO DIDN'T FEEL THAT WAS CORRECT, LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR ORGANIZATIONS.

NOW WE FEEL DACA SHOULD BE REMOVED TO CHALLENGE IT AND THE FIFTH CIRCUIT INJUNCTION HAS SHOWN WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LITIGATE THIS.

THE EASIEST WAY, OR AT LEAST THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO RECTIFY IS CONGRESS NEEDS TO CODIFY A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR ALL UNDOCUMENTED AMERICANS, LET ALONE DACA RECIPIENTS.

>> JOANNA, IS THERE ANYTHING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS CAN DO TO HELP SPEED UP THE PROCESS FOR RECIPIENTS?

>> SURE.

ONE OF THE MANY TOOLS WE USE IN OUR TOOLBOXES, SPEEDING UP THE PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO RESPONSE TIME.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO ASSIST OUR CLIENTS IS TALK TO THEIR CONGRESSMAN, WORK WITH THEIR CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE USE PRETTY FREQUENTLY, THAT WE ALWAYS DID BUT DIDN'T HAVE TO USE AS FREQUENTLY, OUR CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY.

IT'S A REQUEST.

THE CONGRESSMAN IN OUR AREA, WE WORK A LOT WITH CONGRESSMAN SNYDER'S OFFICE.

WE SUBMIT CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRIES.

IN A WAY THEY'RE CHECKING IN ON THE CASE.

THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR CLIENTS.

>> THE PARLIAMENTARIAN RECENTLY RULED THAT A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP FOR DREAMER AND OTHER IMMIGRANTS CANNOT BE INCLUDED IN A LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE.

BUT SOME ARE STILL ADVOCATING FOR THIS.

HERE'S JENNIFER.

>> I REALLY HOPE THAT PEOPLE IN CONGRESS CAN REALLY PUSH TOWARDS HAVING US ESSENTIAL WORKERS, DREAMERS ON THAT BILL, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH DACA HAS HELPED SO, SO, SO MUCH, AND I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT DACA, I NEED MORE SECURITY.

I HAVE BEEN CONTRIBUTING TO THE SOCIETY, AND I KNOW THIS COUNTRY AS MY HOME, AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT PERMANENT WITHOUT FEELING LIKE ANY TIME NOW THEY CAN JUST TAKE AWAY DACA, THEY HAVE ALL MY INFORMATION.

THEY CAN DEPORT ME TO A COUNTRY THAT I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING MUCH ABOUT ANY MORE.

>> WE'VE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT BUT THIS QUESTION IS FOR BOTH OF YOU.

WHAT PERMANENT SOLUTIONS DO YOU HOPE TO SEE IN IMMIGRATION REFORM?

ALFREDO, STARTING WITH YOU.

>> I THINK WE HAVEN'T SEEN COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM IN DECADES.

IF I WERE GIVING A WISH LIST, I WOULD PUT TOGETHER A REENACTMENT OF INA-24-I, EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T HAVE LAWFUL ENTRY.

REMOVAL OF THE MULTIPLE BAR INADMISSIBILITY FOR IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY AND RETURN AND THEN REENTER.

AND A REMOVAL OF THE TEN-YEAR BAR FOR ILLEGAL OR UNLAWFUL ENTRY FOR IMMIGRANTS.

>> UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

I APOLOGIZE, JOANNA.

OUR THANKS TO ALFREDO ESTRADA AND JOANNA JAIMES.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT, LOCAL LEADERS ON NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

>> MONDAY MARKS NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY AND ANNUAL AWARENESS DAY AIMED AT SUPPORTING BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR LEADERS IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY?

JOINING US TO ANSWER THAT AND MORE ARE JULIO RODRIGUEZ, COFOUNDER AND BOARD PRESIDENT OF ALMA, THE OLDEST LGBTQ ORGANIZATION IN THE MIDWEST, ONE OF THE OLDEST IN THE COUNTRY.

AND DAVID ERNESTO MUNAR, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF BROWN HEALTH.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO LATINO VOICES.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THIS QUESTION IS FOR BOTH OF YOU.

WHAT DOES COMING OUT DAY MEAN TO BOTH OF YOU?

LET'S START WITH YOU, JULIO?

>> TO ME, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING VISIBILITY TO OUR COMMUNITY.

I THINK OFTENTIMES PEOPLE ASSOCIATE THE GAY COMMUNITY WITH ONE DEMOGRAPHIC.

I THINK COMING OUT DAY, AT LEAST FOR US, IS ABOUT REALLY EXPANDING THE DEFINITION OF WHO IS IN THAT COMMUNITY, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE LATINX COMMUNITY AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE OFTENTIMES NOT NOTED IN HISTORY AROUND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WHERE OUR MOVEMENT IS WITHIN THE LARGER LGBTQ MOVEMENT.

THAT'S WHAT COMING OUT MEANS TO ME.

IT'S ABOUT VISIBILITY AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> YOU DAVID?

>> FOR ME, COMING OUT DAY IS A REMINDER THAT BEING LGBTQ FOR MANY IS AN INVISIBLE IDENTITY.

THAT OVER, YOU KNOW, MANY YEARS HAS MEANT THAT PEOPLE CAN LEAN ON STEREOTYPES AND PREJUDICES ABOUT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND DO SO WITHOUT KNOWING AN LGBT PERSON OR SOMEBODY.

AND IN MANY CASES THEY DO.

YOU KNOW, THE STONEWALL MOVEMENT THAT GAVE RISE TO THE MODERN DAY LGBTQ LIBERATION MOVEMENT IN 1969 WAS A ROOT AGAINST POLICE PERSECUTION.

AND FROM THAT, FROM THAT RIOT IN NEW YORK CITY, THIS MOVEMENT TO COME OUT BEGAN, TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO STAND PROUD IN OUR IDENTITY AS LGBTQ PEOPLE, AS QUEER PEOPLE.

WE'RE GOING TO TELL THE WORLD, TELL OUR FAMILIES, TELL EMPLOYERS.

WE'RE GOING TO MARCH IN PARADES.

THIS IS WHY THE ANNUAL LGBTQ LIBERATION CELEBRATION IS CALLED PRIDE, BECAUSE OF TAKING THIS ACTION TO SAY THESE ARE NOT JUST INVISIBLE STEREOTYPES THAT YOU CAN PERSECUTE, BUT THESE ARE ACTUAL REAL HUMAN BEINGS.

AND REAL HUMAN BEINGS THAT MAY BE IN YOUR FAMILY, IN YOUR WORKPLACE, IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE DESERVE RIGHTS AND VISIBILITY AND RESPECT.

>> DAVID, LET'S STAY WITH YOU.

ARE THERE DIFFICULTIES SPECIFIC TO THE LATINO COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO COMING OUT?

>> WELL, I THINK FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S LGBTQ, THERE ARE INTERSECTIONAL ISSUES.

NOBODY IS ONE THING.

AND I THINK THIS IS REALLY TRUE FOR THE LATINX COMMUNITY, AND THE LATIN COMMUNITY IS ALSO VERY DIVERSE.

WE'RE COMPRISED OF DIFFERENT NATIONALITY, DIFFERENT GENERATIONS.

SOME OF US ARE IMMIGRANTS, SOME OF US ARE DOCUMENTED.

SOME OF US ARE BILINGUAL.

SOME ARE MONO LING WALG.

BECAUSE OF LACK OF SOCIAL CAPITAL AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY'RE UNDOCUMENTED OR THEY'RE RECENT IMMIGRANTS, IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR THEM.

FOR SOME IT CAN COMPOUND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN THE WORLD, LIKE OUR TRANSGENDER BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHERE THERE'S SO MUCH DISCRIMINATION.

>> EARLIER THIS YEAR A MAJOR FIGURE IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, ROMAN BUENROSTRO, PASSED AWAY.

JULIO, CAN YOU SPEAK A BIT ON HIS LEGACY.

>> I THINK ROMAN ACTUALLY IS THE SORT OF MODEL, IF YOU WILL, FOR COMING OUT.

I MEAN, HIS COURAGE EVEN FROM A YOUNG AGE, YOU KNOW, WE JUST DID A MEMORIAL TO HIM.

EVEN WHEN HE WAS YOUNG AND HE WAS FACED WITH DISCRIMINATION AND TO SOME DEGREE A THREAT TO HIS OWN LIFE, RATHER THAN RETREATING, HE ACTUALLY REALIZED THAT IT WAS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO EMBRACE WHO HE WAS FULLY.

AND I THINK HE REALLY NOT ONLY EMBRACED WHO HE WAS, BUT THEN HE TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER, WHICH WAS TO REACH OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE SAME COURAGE AND REALLY HELP TO BE A MENTOR AND A GUIDE TO THEM IN COMING OUT.

>> ALMA DID A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HOW LATINOS IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY ADVOCATED BY COVID.

JULIO, CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID?

>> YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT SORT OF THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

AND I THINK OFTENTIMES PEOPLE FORGET, YES, THAT IS TRUE, THAT IT'S THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

BUT THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LGBT OR QUEER COMMUNITY, YOU DON'T REALIZE HOW INTENSE THAT IS.

IN OUR DOCUMENTARY, WE CAPTURED FOLKS WHO, THEY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT WHETHER THEY GO TO WORK OR THE TYPES OF JOBS THEY HAVE.

AS DAVID MENTIONED, THE TRANS COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR, OFTENTIMES PEOPLE FORGET THEY'RE FORCED TO GO INTO OCCUPATIONS THAT AREN'T THEIR CHOICE.

THEY ARE CHOSEN FOR THEM AS A RESULT OF DISCRIMINATION.

I THINK WHAT THIS DOCUMENTARY REALLY SHOWS IS NOT ONLY SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR COMMUNITY FACES, PARTICULARLY AROUND HOMELESSNESS, AROUND THE LACK OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AROUND JUST BEING VISIBLE, SO THAT WHEN WE GET THESE BLANKETED TITLES OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS, PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS WORKING AT A FOOD PROCESSING PLANT AND REALIZING THAT YOU HAVE ONE MASK THAT YOU HAVE TO WEAR FOR THE WHOLE WEEK.

AND THAT'S NOT A CHOICE WHETHER YOU GET TO WALK OFF THE JOB OR NOT.

>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT 20 SECONDS LEFT.

DAVID, HOW HAS HOWARD BROWN BEEN WORKING WITH THE LATINO COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON SOME OF THE ISSUES JULIO MENTIONED.

>> HOWARD BROWN IS ACTIVE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID.

WE ARE ONE OF THE FIRST ENTITIES TO START COVID TESTING ON THE WEST SIDE AND DOCUMENTED EXTREMELY HIGH RATES OF COVID PREVALENCE IN THE LITTLE VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S EXACTLY THE DYNAMICS THAT JULIO WAS DESCRIBING -- PEOPLE LIVING IN CROWDED CONDITIONS, WORKING IN FACTORY, OR ESSENTIAL WORK WHERE THEY WERE NOT PROTECTED ADEQUATELY.

WE'VE BEEN DOING VACCINATIONS.

WE DO PRIMARY CARE, ESSENTIAL HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

AND CITYWIDE, OUR ANCHOR OF LATINO, OUR BIGGEST LATINO PROVIDERS -- >> OUR THANKS TO JULIO RODRIGUEZ AND DAVID ERNESTO MUNAR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT A LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF LATINO PLAYERS ON THE WHITE SOX.

>> THE FACE OF AMERICA'S PAST TIME HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY LATINO OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES AS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STEPPED UP RECRUITMENT OF CARIBBEAN AND SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRIES THE RESULT HAS BEEN A INCREASING INTERTWINING OF CULTURES.

THIS YEAR THERE ARE THREE MURALS THAT CELEBRATE DIVERSITY IN BASEBALL.

HERE'S A LOOK AT A MURAL THAT PAYS TRIBUTE TO JOSE'S JOURNEY.

>> I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME WAS TO SHOW THE STORY FROM BEGINNING TO WHERE IT IS NOW.

SO SHOWING CUBA, SHOWING WHERE HE WAS BORN, THAT'S ACTUALLY A STREET WHERE HE'S FROM.

>> IN THIS MURAL BY A CHICAGO ARTIST, A LARGER THAN LIFE JOSE ABREU SWINGS A MIGHTY BAT UNDER THE STREET LIGHTS OF HIS CHILDHOOD.

>> I LOVE HIS COMMITMENT, HE'S LASER FOCUSED AND I LOVE HIS HUMBLENESS.

HE COMES FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS.

I WANTED TO SHOW HOW THINGS, THE CARS, EVERYTHING THAT SURROUNDED HIM AS A CHILD, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT REALLY MOLDED HIM.

>> THE DREAM-LIKE RENDERING IS ONE OF THREE MURALS COMMISSIONED BY THE WHITE SOX AS PART OF THEIR GAME CHANGER SERIES.

IT THROWS A SPOTLIGHT ON UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITY.

IT WAS UNVEILED IN SEPTEMBER AND HAS BEEN ON DISPLAY SINCE THEN.

>> WE WANTED TO CREATE A SERIES, A WAY TO USE OUR PLATFORM TO CELEBRATE CREATIVITY.

>> HE WAS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE WHITE SOX BRAND AND HE WAS A NATIVE TO CUBA.

HE WAS A MENTOR AND A DEAR FRIEND TO JOSE.

>> HE WAS BORN IN VENEZUELA AND PLAYED BASEBALL HIMSELF FOR YEARS.

>> THE LATINO, ANYONE WHO MADE THE MAJORS FROM OUR COUNTRY, YOU WERE A FRIEND OF THAT TEAM.

IN OUR CASE, IT WAS [INAUDIBLE] 80'S AND 90'S, I WAS A SOX FAN.

WE MOVED TO THE SOUTH SIDE AND CONTINUED MY LOVE FOR THE SOX HERE.

>> BASEBALL AND PLAYERS LIKE JOSE BEAUTIFULLY BLUR THE LINES BETWEEN AMERICAN CULTURE AND LATINOS.

>> I LOVE SEEING DIVERSITY.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE IT ALL TOGETHER ON A BASEBALL FIELD.

IN A DUGOUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AMERICAN PLAYERS, CUBANS, PUERTO RICANS, AND IT'S ALL JUST A BIG FAMILY, A PART OF CULTURE ESPECIALLY FOR LATIN AMERICANS.

FOR US, IT'S SOMETHING WE DO AS KIDS, AND WE TAKE INTO ADULTS.

WE SHARE GAMES WITH OUR FAMILY.

WE SHARE, YOU KNOW -- BASEBALL IS MORE THAN JUST A GAME.

>> THE WHITE SOX SAY THEY PLAN TO USE THE MURALS TO RAISE MONEY FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS SUPPORTING THE GAME CHANGES MISSION AFTER THE SEASON ENDS.

YOU CAN GET A LOOK AT THE OTHER MURALS IN TONIGHT'S BLACK VOICES AND NEXT WEEK ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

AS YOU JUST HEARD, THE HISTORY OF THE LATINO PLAYERS WITH THE SOX GOES WAY BACK.

THIS WEEK CHICAGO TONIGHT SPOKE WITH A HISTORY PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA CHAMPAGNE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF LATINO PLAYERS IN BASEBALL.

HE SHARED WHAT HE THINKS SETS SOME OF THESE PLAYERS APART.

>> THEY ALL CLAIM THIS DESIRE, BUT ALSO THIS JOY.

I THINK THAT WHAT OFTEN HAS CAUSED SOME STRIFE FOR A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE NOT LATINO IN BASEBALL IS THAT LATINOS CELEBRATE THEIR ACHIEVEMENT.

THEY CELEBRATE THEIR TEAMMATES' ACHIEVEMENTS PARTLY BECAUSE MANY OF THESE BALL PLAYERS ARE COMING FROM COUNTRIES AND SOCIETIES THAT HAVE BEEN TORN APART BY POLITICAL STRIFE, BY ECONOMIC TURMOIL.

AND TO BE A MAJOR LEAGUER, TO REALIZE THAT DREAM, IT'S LIKE TO CELEBRATE LIFE FOR THEM.

LIKE THEY MADE IT.

THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY IN THE STRONGEST LEAGUE IN THE WORLD -- BASEBALL -- AND TO EXCEL.

>> TO WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATION ON THE IMPACT OF LATINO PLAYERS IN BASEBALL AND ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

BEFORE WE LEAVE TONIGHT, WE'VE REACHED A MILESTONE HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

THIS IS OUR 50th SHOW SINCE OUR DEBUT LAST FALL.

HERE'S A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF OUR FAVORITE MOMENT.

>> WE OFTEN HAVE BEEN ERASED FROM HISTORY, FROM THE NAR ALTERNATIVE.

>> MY TEACHING FOCUSED CHANGED FROM KNOWING WHAT MATTERS TO ASKING WHAT MATTERS.

>> WITHOUT HELPING EVERYONE MOVE FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO STAY BEHIND.

>> WE CAN DEFINITELY CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> WE CAN'T BE FIGHTING ONE ANOTHER.

WE NEED TO FIGHT THE SYSTEM THAT SUPPRESSES US BOTH.

>> CLEANING THE AIR ESPECIALLY IN HARD-HIT COMMUNITIES, THESE ARE ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS IMPACTING OUR HEALTH.

>> ESPECIALLY LATINO WOMEN HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.

>> THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT MAKE THESE POLICIES THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE NOT FROM OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> THE AUTHORITY TO GOVERN PEOPLE WHO ARE GOVERNED AND ALL THOSE PEOPLE ARE EQUAL UNDER THE LAW.

>> A LEGAL PROCESS AFFECTED BY THE LAW.

>> [SPEAKING SPANISH] >> I'M PROUD OF THIS BECAUSE THESE ARE THE LATINOS THAT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.

[SPEAKING SPANISH] >> THEIR VISION FOR THE SHARED KITCHEN CONTINUES TO GROW.

THEY'RE HOPING TO BUY THIS LOT TO EXPAND THE COMMERCIAL CAN KITCHEN.

>> WE'RE VERY CHICAGO, VERY URBAN.

>> THEY CAN STILL FEEL THAT CAMARADERIE IS STILL HUMAN TO A LOT OF VETERANS.

>> TO US, IT IS AN EXTENSION OF LIFE.

>> MAKING FLOWERS, YOU ARE ABLE TO HAVE CONTROL, AND YOU END UP WITH SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.

>> THE SKY'S THE LIMIT.

AS LONG AS THERE'S PEOPLE WILLING TO PUT THE WORK IN, THERE'S SPACE FOR EVERYONE.

>> OUR THANKS TO YOU FOR BEING PART OF CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

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

IF YOU'RE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHTS, KNOW YOU CAN CATCH LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M. YOU CAN CATCH MY REPORTING ON 91.5FM WBEZ.

NEXT WEEK ON LATINO VOICES THERE WILL BE SOMEONE ELSE IN THE HOST CHAIR.

FROM ALL OF US CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES, I'M MICHAEL PUENTE.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY, STAY SAFE.

BUENOS NOCHES.