>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... [♪♪♪] GOOD EVENING WITH "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" I'M ALEX HERNANDEZ OF UNIVISION CHICAGO.

EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING AT 5 AND 6:00 A.M. ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... MORE THAN 70 MIGRANTS ARRIVED IN CHICAGO ON BUSES SENT BY TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THEIR CHALLENGES AND WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT HOLD.

AND LEASES FOR DISCOUNT MALL VENDORS HAVE BEEN EXTENDED AN UPDATE ON THE OWNER'S PLANS FOR THE SHOPPING CENTER.

AS WELL, THE FIRST-EVER EMPANADA FEST IS COMING TO NORTHWEST INDIANA.

WE'LL TALK TO THE ORGANIZERS ABOUT THIS LATINO CULTURAL CELEBRATION.

>> GO OUT AND LISTEN FOR THE CHATTER THE TWEETING.

>> AND LOCAL BIRDER, GEORGE GARCIA TALKS ABOUT HOW HE FOUND A COMMUNITY THANKS TO AN INTEREST.

>> FIRST OFF, MORE THAN 70 IMMIGRANTS WERE DROPPED OFF IN CHICAGO THIS WEEK ON BUSES SENT BY TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT.

CHICAGO IS THE LATEST CITY TO RECEIVE MIGRANTS MOST OF THEM ARE FROM VENEZUELA COMING FROM TEXAS.

GOVERNOR ABBOTT SAYS IT'S BECAUSE THE BORDER CRISIS HAS TEXAS OVERWHELMED.

CRITICS SAY HE'S ATTEMPTING TO SEND A POLITICAL MESSAGE.

CHICAGO MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SENT HER OWN MESSAGE ABOUT THIS SITUATION IN A RECENT PRESS CONFERENCE, LET'S LISTEN.

>> INSTEAD OF TREATING THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE, THE DUE PROCESS THAT OUR LAWS REQUIRE, GOVERNOR ABBOTT CHOSEN STEAD TO INHUMAN MAINLY LOAD THEM ON BUSES AND SEND THEM ACROSS A COUNTRY THAT THEY DON'T KNOW.

AND DROP THEM OFF WITHOUT ANY REGARD FOR WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE.

THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS.

MOMS AND DADS, YOUNG CHILDREN, ELDERS WHO DESERVE OUR RESPECT AND DIGNITY.

>> JOINING US WITH MORE ARE JESSICA DARROW ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CROWN FAMILY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK, POLICY AND PRACTICE.

GLADIS MOLINA ALT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE YOUNG CENTER FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN'S RIGHTS.

AND JOHANNES FAVI THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF CHICAGO IMMIGRANT TRANSIT ASSISTANCE WITH THE INTERFAITH COMMUNITY FOR DETAINED I AM GRABTS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WILL START WITH YOU GLADIS MOLINA ALT WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE WAY THE MIGRANTS WERE TREATED UPON ARRIVING AT THE U.S. AND ESPECIALLY BEING BUSSED ALL THE WAY TO CHICAGO?

>> OUR MAIN CONCERN, ALEX, IS THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS NOT DOING THE BUSING POLICY OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF HIS HEART.

BY TAKING ON THIS BUS THEM OUT OF MY BACKYARD SCHEME, THE GOVERNOR IS ESSENTIALLY REINFORCING HIS POLITICAL POSITION THAT MIGRANTS ARE NOT WELCOMED IN THE UNITED STATES.

MIGRANTS ARE NOT WELCOMED IN TEXAS.

AND HE WANTS TO GET THEM OUT OF TEXAS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, WITHOUT ANY REGARD FOR SERVICES COORDINATION OR WITHOUT ANY REGARD FOR THE MIGRANTS' DIGNITY.

AND HUMANITY.

HE IS DOING THIS POLICY AS A WAY TO MAKE A POINT AND ALSO AS A WAY TO TAKE AGENCY AWAY FROM IMMIGRANTS AND NOT GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION THEY NEED BEFORE BOARDING THOSE BUSES.

IT PUTS MIGRANTS AT PERIL AND IT IS ANTAGONISTIC AND YOU CAN FEEL THAT IN THE AIR OF HIS ACTION.

>> JOHANNES FAVI THROUGH YOUR ORGANIZATION YOU HELP NEWLY ARRIVED MIGRANTS AND ASYLUM SEEKERS IN THE GREYHOUND STATION.

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMMEDIATE NEEDS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO FIRST ARRIVED HERE?

>> HI, ALEX THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

FIRST, WHEN THE PEOPLE ARRIVE, THEY ARE HUNGRY AND SOME OF THEM HAVE NO CHANGE OF CLOTHES IN THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

SO OUR VOLUNTEERS GAVE THEM FOODS AND GAVE THEM WIPES TO CLEAN THEMSELVES UP AND CLOTHES AND SHOES.

THAT'S FIRST.

THOSE ARE THE FIRST NEEDS OF THE POPULATION COMING UP NOW.

>> AND JESSICA, WHERE DO THE MIGRANTS WHO JUST ARRIVED IN CHICAGO STAND LEGALLY?

WHAT OPTIONS DO THEY HAVE MOVING FORWARD?

>> THAT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.

WE DON'T KNOW THE DIRECT ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION BECAUSE WHAT WE WON'T KNOW YET IS WHETHER SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO CAME OFF OF THE BUS ARE SEEKING ASYLUM, WHICH MEANS THEY COULD BE GRANTED IF THEY ARE FOUND TO HAVE A WELL FOUNDED PERSECUTION AND THEY RECEIVE ASYLUM THEN THEY WILL RECEIVE A HOST OF BENEFITS AND SERVICES THAT COME ALONG WITH AN ASYLUM CLAIM.

IF THEY DON'T SEEK ASYLUM, THEN UNFORTUNATELY OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NET DOES NOT PROVIDE A LOT FOR THE FOLKS WHO CAME OFF OF THAT BUS.

WE HAVE BETTER SERVICES AND PROVISIONS FOR THE CHILDREN.

BUT FOR THE ADULTS FOR PEOPLE THAT CAME WITHOUT FAMILIES, FOR THE PARENTS OF THOSE CHILDREN, OUR SAFETY NET IS AUTHORIZE RELY FRAY -- THOROUGHLY FRAYED.

AND THEY WILL RELY ON THE GOODWILL OF NONPROFITS AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.

IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN CHICAGO THEY HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE NETWORKS THAT WILL HELP THEM FIND ACCESS TO SERVICES IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT.

>> AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE TRYING TO HELP THEM OUT.

GLADIS MOLINA ALT MOST OF THE MIGRANTS WHO ARRIVED IN CHICAGO ARE FROM VENEZUELA.

COULD YOU GIVE US INSIGHT ON WHAT MANY OF THEM ARE FLEEING FROM RIGHT NOW?

>> YES, RIGHT NOW, VENEZUELA, ALEX, THERE'S FOOD SHORTAGES.

THERE IS INSECURITY.

THERE'S ECONOMIC, POLITICAL INSTABILITY THAT THE COUNTRY IS EXPERIENCING AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE LEAVING.

WE KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN LEAVING TO PERU, TO COLOMBIA, TO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.

AND COMING ACROSS AT THE JUNGLE THROUGH PANAMA AND THROUGH CENTRAL AMERICA AND TO THE MEXICO BORDER.

WE'VE KNOWN THE DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COUNTRY IS EXPERIENCING AND BY THE TIME THEY REACH THE UNITED STATES, THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH.

MANY WILL HAVE SEEN CHILDREN DIE ALONG THE WAY, FAMILY MEMBERS DIE ALONG THE WAY.

WHEN GOVERNOR ABBOTT DECIDED TO BUS THEM TO PLACES, WHERE THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING AND THE OVERWHELMED THAT THEY MAY EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE REACHING CITIES THAT THEY DON'T KNOW THEY ARE DESTINED FOR, IT IS IN MANY WAYS ADDING TRAUMA ON TOP OF A TRACK OF TRAUMA THE FOLKS HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH.

>> IT IS A TOUGH SITUATION.

JOHANNES FAVI, AND GLADIS MOLINA ALT TALKED ABOUT THIS BRIEFLY, WHAT IS THE JOURNEY LIKE FOR MANY OF THE IMMIGRANTS TO GET TO THE U.S.?

>> IT IS TRAUMATIZING FIRST TO LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND PACK EVERYTHING LAST-MINUTE WITH YOUR KIDS.

AND MAKE A DECISION TO GO SOMEWHERE NOT KNOWING IF YOU WILL FIND FOOD, SHELTER, OR ANYTHING.

AND WORST, GOING THROUGH THE JUNGLE AND ALL THESE HORRIFIC SINS THAT BEEN GOING THROUGH FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES THAT THEY CROSS.

IT IS JUST SURREAL THAT THEY ARE READY TO WAIT IT OUT WHEN THEY ARRIVE TO THE UNITED STATES.

>> AND JESSICA, THIS IS NOT OVER.

GOVERNOR ABBOTT SAYS HE PLANS ON BUSING MORE IMMIGRANTS FROM TEXAS HERE TO CHICAGO.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT THE CITY DOES AND DOESN'T HAVE TO PLACE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE ONCE THEY GET HERE?

>> AT THE WELCOMING CITY, CHICAGO IS RELATIVELY DOING QUITE WELL BY PEOPLE WHO MIGHT ARRIVE.

WE HAVE FOLKS IN ORGANIZATIONS LIKE JOHANNES FAVI'S WHO ARE DOING A GREAT DEAL THROUGH THE NIGHT TRYING TO FIND PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO STAY, FOOD, AND AS YOU HEARD IN THE OPENING CLIP FROM OUR MAYOR, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO NOT JUST RECOGNIZE THE HUMANITY OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE ARRIVING BUT RECEIVE THEM WITH DIGNITY AND TRY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE INFORMATION THEY WILL NEED TO MAKE THEIR BEST DECISIONS.

AS I SAID EARLIER, THERE IS NOT A LOT UNFORTUNATELY IN THE LONGER TERM.

THERE WILL BE NO ACCESS TO LEGAL WORK UNLESS THEY HAVE AN ASYLUM CLAIM THAT IS FOUND TO BE VALIDATED.

>> AND DIGNITY I THINK IS THE KEYWORD HERE.

GLADIS MOLINA ALT WHAT CONCERNS DO YOU HAVE ABOUT THE YOUNG CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR, WHO HAVE ARRIVED HERE AFTER BEING BUSSED?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST THE BASIC HUMAN THAT MAY NOT BE THERE FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE TRAVELING SUCH A LONG JOURNEY.

THINGS SUCH AS DIAPERS.

WE HAVE ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS IN OUR DC OFFICE THAT HAS PARTICIPATED IN RESPONSE EFFORTS AND STORIES OF HOW CHILDREN DON'T HAVE CLEAN DIAPERS WHEN THEY ARE ARRIVING OR SHOES ON THEIR FEET.

SO THE BASIC HUMAN NECESSITIES IS ONE OF THE THINGS AND THE SECOND ONE IS THE LACK OF CONSCIOUSNESS, RIGHT, FOR WHAT THE TRAUMA FOR A CHILD MAY BE TO BE DROPPED OFF AT A PLACE WHERE THEIR PARENTS MIGHT NOT KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE AND WHERE THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SETTLE PERMANENTLY.

SO FOR US, IT IS HE AT CHILDREN'S BASIC NECESSITIES.

IT'S THE AWARENESS OF WHAT THEY NEED.

AND THE RESOURCES THEIR PARENTS MIGHT NOT HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

>> AND THAT THEY GET THE HELP THEY NEED IN THIS COUNTRY.

I THANK JESSICA DARROW, GLADIS MOLINA ALT AND JOHANNES FAVI FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, AN UPDATE ON THE LEASES FOR VENDORS AT THE DISCOUNT MALL IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

STAY WITH US.

[♪♪♪] >> WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE TENANTS AT THE DISCOUNTED MALL IN LITTLE VILLAGE WHO WERE WONDERING IF THEY WOULD BE KICKED OUT UNDER A NEW OWNER.

WE'RE TOLD VENDORS AT THE SHOPPING CENTER HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN EXTENSION ON THEIR LEASES AFTER VENDORS SPENT A GOOD PART OF THE LAST TWO YEARS WONDERING ABOUT THEIR FUTURE WHICH WAS PURCHASED BY NOVAK CONSTRUCTION IN 2020.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STORY FOR MONTHS AND SHE JOINS ME TONIGHT.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH VENDORS FOR THE PAST YEAR OR SO NOW.

AND IT SEEMS THE BIGGEST CONCERN HERE WAS THE UNCERTAINTY THAT THEY HAVE OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY COULD CONTINUE THEIR WITH THEIR SHOPS.

SO WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN TELLING YOU?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

SINCE NOVAK BOUGHT THE PROPERTY THE VENDORS SAY THE COMPANY HAS THAT BEEN CLEAR ON THE PLANS THEY'VE HAD FOR THE BUILDING.

WHICH LED THEM TO BELIEVE THEY WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE.

I DO HAVE TO MENTION WE KNOW THAT NOVAK OWNS THE PROPERTY BUT THERE'S TWO COMPANIES THAT OPERATE WITHIN THE DISCOUNT MALL THAT LEASE TO THE 150 VENDORS.

I WAS TOLD THAT THE FINAL CONTRACT FOR ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES WAS ENDING IN AUGUST.

WHICH RIGHTFULLY SO LED VENDORS TO BELIEVE THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY BE DISPLACED.

>> NOW, WE'RE HEARING ALSO THE CONTRACTS FOR THE NEW TWO COMPANIES THAT LEASE TO THE MERCHANTS HAVE BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL NEXT YEAR?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

ACCORDING TO NOVAK SPOKESPERSON, THE VENDORS HAVE BEEN AN EXTENSION UNTIL JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A MONTH TO MONTH AGREEMENT.

THE SPOKESPERSON GOES ON BY SAYING IN PART WE ARE PLANNING TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NEGLECTED PROPERTY INCLUDING A NEW FACADE, NEW ROOF, BETTER PARKING.

THESE INVESTMENTS WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE ON THAT STRETCH OF TO 6TH STREET.

NOVAK EXPECTS THE WORK TO START NEXT YEAR.

I SPOKE TO THE NOVAK REPRESENTATIVE OVER THE PHONE AND SHE SHUTDOWN ANY RUMORS THAT A BIG BOX RETAIL COMPANY WILL BE COMING INTO THE MALL.

AND WAS ADAMANT AT THIS POINT THEY ARE JUST WORKING WITH NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE TWO COMPANIES AND NOVAK.

>> AND YOUR LAST PIECE, YOU SPOKE WITH ALDERMAN BYRON SIGCHO-LOPEZ OF THE 25TH WARD THE DISCOUNT MALL WILL BE FALLING INTO HIS DISTRICT NEXT YEAR.

DO YOU KNOW IF HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK WITH NOVAK?

>> ACTUALLY FROM WHAT I HEARD HE SAYS THAT NOVAK HAS AGREED TO MEET WITH HIM AND ALDERMAN SHARED HE'S BEEN MEETING WITH SOME OF THE VENDORS THERE AND IS COMMITTED TO BEING PART OF THIS PROCESS.

SO SO FAR ALL WE KNOW RIGHT NOW AT THIS POINT IS THAT VENDORS AT LEAST HAVE FIVE MONTHS GUARANTEED TO CONTINUE TO RUN THEIR BUSINESS FROM THE DISCOUNT MALL.

>> WE WILL KEEP FOLLOWING THIS STORY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UP NEXT, A TASTE OF A NEW FESTIVAL COMING TO NORTHWEST INDIANA.

STAY WITH US.

[♪♪♪] >> THE NORTHWEST INDIANA TOWN OF WHITING IS GETTING STUFFED WITH DELISH HUSBAND LATINO CULTURE WITH THE FIRST-EVER EMPANADA FEST.

ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH, THE SWEET DUMPLING TREAT TAKES CENTER STAGE IN A ONE-DAY FESTIVAL AT LAKEFRONT PARK WITH CULTURAL PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL MUSIC AND DANCE GROUPS.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE TWO OF THE EVENTS ORGANIZERS.

REBECCA, WHITING COUNCILWOMAN AND WHITING HISPANIC HERITAGE ORGANIZATION PRESIDENT.

AND MARGARET GO MESS, FOUNDER, DIRECTOR AND INSTRUCTOR.

I THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TODAY AND START WITH YOU ARE REBECCA, LET'S GET TO THE GOOD STUFF.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT TO SEE AND EAT AT EMPANADA FEST?

>> WELL, WE'RE DEFINITELY WANT TO BRING HISPANIC CULTURE TO WHITING.

SOMETHING THAT IS OUR FIRST YEAR AND WE'RE SO EXCITED.

AND OF COURSE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE EMPANADAS.

WE HAVE FIVE VENDORS WITH DIFFERENT EMPANADAS AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THINGS FOR THE KIDS, BOUNCY HOUSES.

A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BEER GARDEN WITH THE TENTS.

WE WILL HAVE EXCELLENT MUSIC ALL DAY LONG.

WE HAVE MARGARET'S GROUP HERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE BALLET, AND HAVING MARCH RANCH CHICAGOS, MARIACHIS, LATIN SOUL IS A GREAT LOCAL HISPANIC BAND.

ABANDO.

WE HAVE A FULL DAY FILLED WITH EVENTS.

>> DEFINITELY FOR EVERY TASTE A FAMILY EVENT.

MARGUERITA YOUR DANCE TROOPE IS AMONG THE PERFORMERS.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT KIND OF DANCING YOU DO?

>> WE DO TRADITIONAL FOLKLORE DANCING SUCH AS THE DIFFERENT STATES OF MEXICO.

THE TRADITIONAL FOLKLORE DANCING.

>> VERY NICE WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT.

REBECCA BACK WITH YOU, WE KNOW WHITING HAS A SIGNIFICANT LATINO POPULATION.

BUT THIS IS THE FIRST LATINO CELEBRATION THERE.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU AS A COUNCILWOMAN AND A LATINA TO BRING THIS FESTIVAL TO THE COMMUNITY?

>> TO ME THIS IS HUGE FOR ME.

I'VE BEEN WANTING TO DO SOMETHING FOR A WHILE.

AND I JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO EXACTLY GO WITH IT.

AND I NEEDED TO BRING CULTURE TO OUR CULTURE CELEBRATE OUR CULTURE.

AND WE'VE HAD SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY REACH OUT TO US.

NOW WE'RE LOOKING MORE WHAT WE CAN DO AS AN ORGANIZATION HOW CAN WE REACH BACK FROM PROBABLY LIKE JUST DONATE IF WE CAN DONATE SOMETHING BACK WE WANTED TO MAKE THIS NONPROFIT FOR US.

AND I'VE BEEN GETTING OVERWHELMED WITH EVERYBODY WANTING TO HELP OUT, EVERYONE WANTING TO VOLUNTEER.

EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO BE A PART OF IT.

I'VE GOT A GROUP OF SEVEN OF US IN THE ORGANIZATION, AND EVERYBODY IS STEPS UP BEYOND AND ABOVE AND IT'S COMING TOGETHER REALLY GOOD.

>> LIKE A COMMUNITY SHOULD DEFINITELY.

>> OUR COMMUNITY IS AMAZING.

>> THAT IS A GOOD THING TO HEAR.

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL ELEMENTS LIKE DANCE TO FESTIVALS?

>> I BELIEVE THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE IGNORANT OF THE CULTURE, THE HISTORY BEHIND THE CULTURE, THE HISTORY WITH THE MUSIC, THE HISTORY WITH THE DANCE, WITH THE COSTUMES.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO COME OUT AND EDUCATE NOT ONLY THE COMMUNITY, BUT OUR YOUTH.

OUR YOUTH NEED TO BE PROUD OF WHAT THEY ARE, WHERE THEIR ANCESTORS CAME FROM.

THIS IS US.

>> YES.

>> AND REBECCA, THE BELOVED FEST HAS BEEN HELD IN THE SAME PLACE FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS PRETTY MUCH.

DO YOU THINK -- >> 27 YEARS.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> I HOPE SO.

I SURE HOPE SO.

I WANTED TO START OFF SMALL BUT JUST EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER AND JUST TO HOLD SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

BUT I DO WANT IT TO BE A YEARLY TRADITION.

IT IS A ONE-DAY EVENT MAYBE WE CAN GO FOR TWO DAYS NEXT YEAR.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CELEBRATE WITH OUR CULTURE AND BRING SOMETHING IN THIS AREA.

>> WE SURE HOPE SO.

FESTS LIKE THIS ARE POPULAR EVENTS FOR FAMILIES AS WE KNOW.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MEANS FOR LATINO CHILDREN TO SEE THEIR CULTURE CELEBRATED IN THEIR COMMUNITY?

>> A LOT OF CHILDREN THAT COME OUT OR YOUNG ADULTS AND YOUTH COME OUT TO SEE THE DANCERS.

THEY ARE FASCINATED WITH THE CULTURE, THEY ARE FASCINATED WITH THE MUSIC, THE COSTUMES AND THE COLORS THE HISTORY ABOUT THE WHOLE THING.

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT SOMETIMES WE WALK AWAY FROM AN EVENT SUCH AS EMPANADA FEST, WE LITERALLY HAVE PEOPLE ASKING US FOR BUSINESS CARDS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET THEIR CHILDREN INVOLVED IN SOMETHING POSITIVE WHERE THEY WILL LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR CULTURE AND THEIR HISTORY AND THEIR MUSIC AND ALL THE BEAUTIFUL, COLORFUL MEXICO HISTORY THAT WE HAVE.

>> RIGHT.

AND WE'RE SURE THIS IS GOING TO BECOME A TRADITION FOR THE COMMUNITY.

I THANK YOU YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL BE BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

[♪♪♪] >> A CON YET JUNGLE LIKE CHICAGO MIGHT NOT BE THE FIRST PLACE YOU EXPECT TO FIND A WIDE VARIETY OF BIRDS.

THE THINK AGAIN WE ARE IN A CITY IN A GARDEN.

AS A YOUNG LATINO MAN CHICAGO NATIVE GORGE GARCIA MIGHT BE AN ODDITY BUT HE WEREN'TS EVERYONE TO FIND OUT HOW THE CITY IS A PERFECT PLACE TO STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN FOR OUR FINE FEATHERED FRIENDS.

ERICA GUNDERSON HAS THE STORY.

>> BIRDING HELPED EASE MY MIND AND HELPED ME CALM DOWN AND CENTER MYSELF A LITTLE BIT.

>> ON THIS STICKY SUMMER MORNING, GEORGE GARCIA IS WAITING IN A NORTHWEST SIDE PARK HOPING TO HEAR A CHIRP OR SPY WINGS IN TIME TO CAPTURE A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT IN A PHOTO.

>> WHEN I BEGAN BIRDING THIS IS THE PARK WHERE I WOULD COME TO BIRD.

FOR ME BIRDING WAS VERY SOLITARY FOR A LONGTIME.

IT WAS A PEACEFUL EXPERIENCE A MINDFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

MINDFUL EXERCISE.

>> GARCIA WASN'T ALWAYS A BIRD, HE HAS ONLY BEEN AT IT FOR A COUPLE YEARS AFTER AN UPGRADE TOOK AN UNEXPECTED TURN.

>> IT WAS WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAMERA I BOUGHT IT IN THE PANDEMIC.

I THOUGHT THAT I WANTED TO IMPROVE THE VIDEO OUTPUT OF MY ZOOM CALLS SO I STARTED TRYING TO PURPOSELY SHOOT MORE PHOTOS WITH THIS AND GET MORE ACCLIMATED WITH THE CAMERA AND I STARTED BUYING OLD LENSES TRY TO EXPERIMENT.

THEN I STARTED TRYING TO FIND SUBJECTS.

I WASN'T SURE WHAT THAT WOULD BE AND IT ENDED UP BEING BIRDS AND SUDDENLY I WAS LEARNING ABOUT BIRDS, LISTENING FOR BIRDS, LEARNING THEIR BEHAVIOR AND CALLS THEIR NAME.

>> HE ALSO BEGAN PRINTING AND SELLING POSTCARDS OF HIS PORTRAITS TO SUPPORT THE POST OFFICE.

>> AROUND THE TIME WHEN THE POSTAL SERVICE WAS UNDER ATTACK, WHERE THEY STARTED STRIPPING DOWN THE MACHINES I THOUGHT WELL, I WANT TO MAKE POSTCARDS TO SUPPORT THE POST OFFICE.

AND THEY REMIND ME OF TRADING CARDS IN A COLLECTIBLE SENSE.

>> AS THE NEW INTEREST TOOK FLIGHT, HE BEGAN BRANCHING OUT AND SEEKING COMMUNITY.

THOUGH AS A YOUNG LATINO HE IS A BIT OF A RARE BIRD IN THIS CIRCLE.

>> THE FIRST GROUP THAT I FOUND WAS IN NORTH PARK VILLAGE NATURE CENTER.

I STARTED TO MAKE A LOT OF FRIENDS OUT OF THAT SPACE AND BIRD WITH THEM FREQUENTLY.

AND NOW THAT IS A REGULAR FOR ME.

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THERE WOULD BE LATINX INDIVIDUALS BUT I SEE ON THE YOUNGER SIDE FOR SURE.

>> THOUGH HIS PRESENCE HAS SOMETIMES DRAWN UNWELCOME ATTENTION IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES... >> I ONCE HAD A POLICE OFFICER STOP ME WHILE DRIVING AND SEARCH ME FOR GUNS AND ALL I HAD WAS A CAMERA.

I STARTED CARRYING AROUND THIS BAG SO SORT OF ADVERTISE THAT I WAS SHOOTING BIRDS.

>> HE SAYS BIRDING IS A PASTIME ANYONE CAN PICK UP.

EVEN IN THE CITY.

>> IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE LOOKING BUT IT'S BEEN LISTENING.

YOUR BACKYARD IS A PERFECT PLACE TO START.

YOUR ALLEY THERE ARE BIRDS EVERY JUNIOR WHERE.

WHEN I LEFT THIS MORNING TO MEET YOU OUTSIDE WAS A GOLD FINCH AND A CHICKADEE.

SHE WAS A JOKE OVER THE WINTER THAT I LOVE SEEING AND FOLLOWING WHEN THEY ARRIVE AND WHEN THEY LEAVE.

THE CITY.

>> AND GARCIA SAYS WITH TIME AND PATIENCE, PERHAPS YOU, TOO, CAN CAPTURE A BEAUTIFUL FLEETING MOMENT.

>> EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THERE WILL BE ONE BIRD LIKE GIVES ME A NICE EXPERIENCE WHO SHOWS EXCEPTIONAL BEHAVIOR, UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN.

THAT MOMENT WHERE LIKE THE BIRD ALLOWED ME TO TAKE A PICTURE OF IT.

I LIKE THAT.

IT WAS A MOMENT FOR ME TO REMEMBER.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> THOSE ARE GREAT PICTURES.

WELL, AS WE MENTIONED GARCIA OFFERS POSTCARDS OF HIS BIRD PHOTOS.

YOU CAN FIND MORE ON OUR WEB SOIFT.

>> AND THAT WILL BE OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

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

AND IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY, KNOW THAT YOU CAN CATCH LATINO VOICES AND BLACK VOICES ON SUNDAY'S BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M. ALSO, DON'T FORGET TO TUNE INTO UNIVISION CHICAGO EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" I'M ALEX HERNANDEZ THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR HOLIDAY WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY SAFE.

BUENOS NOCHES.

[♪♪♪]