>> "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALL STATE.

AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> GOOD EVENING.

I'M ALEX HERNANDEZ OF UNI VISION WHICH AIRS EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING AT 5 AND 6.

ON THE SHOW, MEXICO'S SUPREME COURT DECIDED THAT WOMEN SHOULD NOT BE CRIMINALIZED FOR HAVING AN ABORTION.

WE HAVE A LOCAL REACTION.

A REPORT BY PROPUBLICA SAYS THEY ONLY NEED TO SERVE THOSE IN THEIR LANGUAGE.

>> SHOWCASING MEXICAN PRIDE IN HONOR OF MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY.

>> MEXICAN ARTISTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY PERFORM AT THIS WEEKEND AT THE FESTIVAL.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH TONIGHT'S SHOW WE HAVE A PROGRAMMING NOTE.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" HOSTED BY BRANDIS FRIEDMAN WILL BE MOVING TO SATURDAY EVENINGS AT 6:30 IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS PROGRAM.

IF YOU CAN'T JOIN US ON SATURDAYS, YOU CAN NOW CATCH BOTH PROGRAMS WHEN THEY REAIR ON SUNDAY BEGINNING AT 10:00.

WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US THEN.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, IN A MAJOR RULING, MEXICO SUPREME COURT DECIDED THAT WOMEN SHOULD NOT BE CRIMINALIZED FOR HAVING AN ABORTION.

THE DECISION MAKES WAY FOR FULL LEGISLATION OF ABORTION STATEWIDE IN MEXICO.

THE MOVE COMES JUST WEEKS AFTER A TEXAS LAW TOOK EFFECT THAT BANS MOST ABORTIONS IN THE STATE.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT MEXICO'S MOVE ARE ILLINOIS STATE SENATOR REPRESENTING WEST CHICAGO.

AND AN ABORTION RIGHTS ADVOCATE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHAT IS -- ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON MEXICO'S SUPREME COURT DECISION?

>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT STEP TOWARD THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND GIVES HOPE WE CAN SEE PROGRESSIVE CHANGE IN MEXICO, A COUNTRY THAT HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN VERY CONSERVATIVE, ESPECIALLY TO THESE VERY HEAVY RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE THAT'S WITHIN THE CULTURE.

I THINK THIS IS A GREAT STEP TO BETTER AND FURTHER CHANGE.

>> WHAT IN FACT WILL MEXICO'S DECRIMINALIZATION HAVE ON ILLINOIS JUST WHEN THE GOVERNOR IS URGING CONGRESS TO PROTECT ABORTION ACTION.

>> AS YOU KNOW, ALEX, ILLINOIS IS ONE OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE AND WELCOMING STATES FOR WOMEN AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE PROTECTED THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN TO MAKE THEIR OWN REPRODUCTIVE DECISIONS.

WE THINK THAT THIS IS -- WE ALREADY KNOW, I WAS JUST AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN AURORA RECENTLY AND THEY TOLD US THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO GET CALLS FROM WOMEN IN TEXAS SAYING THEY'RE COMING TO ILLINOIS TO SEEK THEIR MEDICAL ATTENTION BECAUSE OF THIS NEW LAW IN TEXAS.

>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT WAS PREVENTIBLE -- NOT PREVENTIBLE BUT IT WAS EXPECTED THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN OR COULD HAPPEN.

SENATOR, I WANT TO STAY WITH YOU.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, WHAT IS THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE ACT AND WHAT ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS DOING TO MAKE SURE WOMEN HAVE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH?

>> THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACT THAT WE PASSED IN 2019, MANY BRAND-NEW FRESHMEN FEMALES WERE WILL HE BE THED TO THE STATE'S LEGISLATURE AND WE SAID WE ARE GOING TO PROTECT WOMEN IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

WE MADE SURE WITH THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE DID JUST THAT.

THE DECISION OF WHEN TO HAVE AN ABORTION WOULD BE BETWEEN A WOMAN AND THEIR DOCTOR, AND THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

THESE CLINICS OFFER SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST ABORTIONS.

IN FACT, THEY COVER SERVICES SUCH AS A WIDE ARRAY OF SEDATIVES.

IT'S AMAZING.

>> ACCORDING TO THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER, ABOUT 52% OF AMERICAN LATINOS WANT TO BAN ABORTIONS AND 41% WANT TO LEGALIZE ABORTION.

WHAT DOES REPRODUCTIVE CARE LOOK LIKE IN LATINO COMMUNITY?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THEIR THOUGHT ON ABORTIONS?

>> I THINK THE SEXUALITY AND IN GENERAL THE CONVERSATION OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IS A TABOO SUBJECT IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF THAT IS HEAVILY NUNESED ON THE MACHISMO CULTURE THAT IS EMBEDDED OR THE RELIGION CATHOLICISM EMBEDDED IN THE CULTURE AS WELL.

IT'S ALMOST VIEWED LIKE A SHAMEFUL TABOO SUBJECT WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT.

I THINK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WITHIN THE CULTURE WE NEED TO START BY FIRST HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS IN SAFE SPACES WHERE WE START TO MAKE THIS LESS TABOO AND MAKE THIS A COMFORTABLE CONVERSATION TO TALK ABOUT.

I THINK ONCE WE GET TO THAT, WE'LL START SEEING A BETTER CHANGE IN THE WAY THE WORK IS BEING DONE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO PARTNER UP WITH LATINO ORGANIZATIONS AND WE CONTINUE TO PARTNER UP WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE WE WANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE HEALTHY.

WE WANT THEM TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.

WE NEED TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS SO THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO ACCESS THESE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

IT'S CRUCIAL BECAUSE LATINO WOMEN ARE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RISK FOR CERVICAL CANCER SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WOMEN ARE GETTING THEIR SCREENING AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR PHYSICIANS THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR DOCTOR.

>> WE SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM METRO CRISIS INTERNATIONAL WHO IS PART OF THE ANTIABORTION MOVEMENT.

THIS IS WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY ABOUT ABORTION PROTESTS IN MEXICO WHERE PROTESTERS CLASHED WITH POLICE.

LET'S LISTEN.

>> I THINK IT'S SAD.

I DON'T LOOK UP TO THAT.

I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.

WOMEN CAN FIGHT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

I REALLY AGREE A LOT OF THEM ARE BEING ABUSED.

A LOT OF THEM DON'T HAVE A VOICE.

AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THERE'S RESOURCES FOR THEM TO BE HELPED.

I UNDERSTAND, BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO FIGHT.

THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO FIGHT, BY DESTROYING THE CITY.

>> THIS QUESTION IS GOING TO BE FOR BOTH OF YOU ACTUALLY.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU, SENATOR.

WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEGALIZE ABORTIONS ACROSS LATIN AMERICA AND OTHER COUNTRY WHEN WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING ACTUALLY OR WHAT HAS HAPPENED JUST NOW IN MEXICO?

>> WOMEN HAVE BEEN HAVING ABORTIONS FOR AS LONG AS THERE HAVE BEEN WOMEN.

WHETHER YOU DO IT SAFELY IN A DOCTOR'S OFFICE WITH CARE, OR YOU DO IT HIDING, YOU KNOW, IN A BATHROOM AT YOUR HOME, WOMEN ARE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE ABORTIONS.

I BELIEVE IN HEALTH CARE.

I BELIEVE IN HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYONE WHO NEEDS IT.

THIS ALSO MEANS WOMEN, WOMEN WHO ARE IN THESE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY ARE DESPERATE.

AND FOR TOO LONG WEEVIL -- WE HAVE VILIFIED WOMEN, FOR TOO LONG WE HAVE SHIED AWAY FROM THESE CONVERSATIONS OF PROTECTION WHERE MEN HAVE GONE BY AND BEEN ALLOWED TO BE FREE OF ANY KIND OF BLAME, AND WOMEN ARE THE ONES THAT ARE CONSTANTLY BEING ATTACKED BOTH PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY AND WITH LEGISLATION.

WE NEED TO STOP THAT.

WOMEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT MEDICAL DECISIONS ARE RIGHT FOR THEIR BODIES.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU EXACTLY THE SAME QUESTION.

>> I WANT TO GO ON WITH WHAT THE SENATOR WAS SAYING.

WHEN YOU PERFORM ABORTION, PEOPLE DIE.

WOMEN WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE ABORTIONS,.

IT'S A MATTER OF MAKING SURE WOMEN ARE HAVING SAFE ABORTIONS BECAUSE BANNING ABORTIONS DOESN'T MEAN WOMEN WILL STOP HAVING THEM.

WE NEED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND MAKE SURE WE ARE MAKING LAWS THAT MAKE IT ACCEPTABLE FOR WOMEN.

I THINK PRIOR TO THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF ABORTIONS IN MEXICO, THE ONLY THING THAT HAD ABORTIONS LEGAL WAS MEXICO CITY AND ONE OTHER.

THEY WILL BE SHAMED AND AT TIMES ALSO BE PUNISHED AND PROSECUTED FOR BEING TOLD THAT THEY MURDERED THE CHILD THAT THEY WERE CARRYING BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT WAS OUT OF THEIR CONTROL, SOMETHING THAT WAS IN NO WAY -- >> IN SOME CASES EVEN AFTER RAPE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS LAST QUESTION.

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE FOR WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY THAT FEEL STIG MY -- STIGMATIZED.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF RESOURCES SUCH AS PLANNED PARENTHOOD WHO HAVE SPANISH-FRIENDLY RESOURCES WHERE YOU CAN HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

BUT I THINK IT START WITH HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AND BEING SAFE WHILE DOING IT.

>> THANK YOU BOTH.

THAT'S OUR TIME FOR RIGHT NOW.

I WANT TO THANK THE STATE SENATOR AND GISELLE FOR JOINING US TODAY.

UP NEXT, A NEW REPORT ON ILLINOIS CHILD WELFARE AGENCY AND HOW IT'S SERVING SPANISH-SPEAKING FAMILIES.

>> 2019 PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS REPORTED FAMILY CHILDREN SERVICES WAS FAILING SPANISH SPEAKING FAMILIES BY NOT OFFERING SPANISH SPEAKING CASE WORKERS AND PLACING WOMEN INTO HOMES WHERE SPANISH WAS NOT SPOKEN, THIS DESPITE A FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE IN PLACE SINCE 1977 REQUIRING THE AGENCY TO DO SO.

A FOLLOW UP INVESTIGATION BY REPORTERS THIS PAST AUGUST INDICATES THE AGENCY HAS BARELY MADE ANY PROGRESS IN COMPLYING WITH THAT CONSENT DECREE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS FINDING IS MELISSA.

THANKS FOR JOINING.

YOUR MOST REPORT IS BY A COOK COUNTY GUARDIAN.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT HE FOUND?

>> THE GUARDIAN'S JOB IS TO WATCH OUT FOR THESE KIDS.

HE READ AN EARLIER REPORTING AND KNEW THE AGENCY STRUGGLED FOR YEARS WITH FOLLOWING THE CONSENT DECREE.

PART OF THE CONSENT DECREE IS YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHETHER A FAMILY NEEDS A SPANISH SPEAKER.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FORM FILLED OUT.

AN INVESTIGATOR MEETS THE FAMILY IF THERE IS AN ALLEGATION OF ABUSE OR NEGL HE CT.

THEY'RE ASKED ENGLISH OR SPANISH.

THAT FORM IS GOING TO TELL YOU WHETHER THE CONSENT DECREE REQUIREMENT ARE GOING TO KICK IN, WHETHER THEY'LL GET A SPANISH SPEAKING CASE WORKER.

LAST SILVER SPRING WAS DECIDED -- LAST SPRING IT WAS DECIDED, THEY WERE WORRIED AND COUNTED EVERY SINGLE CASE OVER HEADLINES THAT INVOLVED A SPANISH SPEAKING FAMILY.

IT REQUIRED ABOUT 80 CASES AND NOT A SENL ONE OF THOSE FILED CONTAINED ONE OF THESE FORMS.

THERE COULD BE A WHOLE CHAIN, RIPPLE EFFECT, A FAMILY CAN'T SPEAK ENGLISH -- >> SORRY.

WHY WASN'T AN AGENCY COMPLYING WITH THIS IF THE QUESTION WAS ESTABLISHED TO BE ASKED, WHY WASN'T THE AGENCY DOING THIS?

>> THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

I WISH WE KNEW THE ANSWERS.

IT'S UP TO INDIVIDUALS TO FILL IT OUT BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE, IT MUST NOT BE PUTTING ENOUGH PRESSURE OR EMPHASIS ON THIS INTERNALLY BECAUSE THE WORKERS THEMSELVES AREN'T DOING IT.

WE CAN UNDERSTAND IN PART, INVESTIGATORS AND CASE WORKERS ARE OVERWHELMED.

IT'S NOT A PRIORITY, NEVER BEEN A PRIORITY.

IT OUGHT TO BE.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS, WHAT WE FOUND A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND STILL HAPPENING TODAY IS ESSENTIALLY FAMILY GET SEPARATED FOR A REALLY LONG TIME IF YOU DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH, YOU CAN NEVER REALLY COMMUNICATE VERY WELL.

THERE'S DELAY AFTER DELAY OF YOU GETTING TO REUNITE WITH YOUR KIDS.

>> IS THERE AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF THE NUMBER OF SPANISH SPEAKING CLEENTS THEY SERVE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT FORM FILLED OUT.

THAT FORM IS WHAT'S FILLING THEIR DATA BASE OF WHETHER A FAMILY PREFERS SOMEONE WHO SPEAKS ENGLISH OR SPANISH.

THE AGENCY HAS MADE REFORMS, UPDATED THEIR DATA BASE SO THAT NOW A FAMILY'S NEEDS ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

>> THIS MAY SEEM OBVIOUS BUT WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR CASE WORKERS AND FAMILIES TO SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE?

>> IT'S A RELATIONSHIP.

IT'S NOT LIKE A QUICK LIKE TRANSACTION AT McDONALD'S.

IT'S A RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU AS A PARENT HAS WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS MONITORING YOUR ABILITY TO FULFILL A NUMBER OF REQUIREMENTS TO GET YOUR KIDS BACK.

LET'S SAY YOU MISSED SOME MEETING OR MISSED THERAPY, YOU WANT THE CASE WORKER TO BE ABLE TO CALL YOU EASILY AND SAY LIKE LOOK, WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS?

YOU MIGHT NEED INTERPRETATION WHICH HAS HAD ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS IN THE PAST.

>> WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING COMPLIANCE WITH A CONSENT DECREE?

>> RIGHT NOW NOBODY.

RIGHT NOW THIS HAS BEEN A FEDERAL COURT MONITOR IN OTHER YEARS, BACK WHEN IT FIRST GOT SIGNED IN THE 1990'S.

MONITORED ON AND OFF.

IN THE 1990'S WAS THE LAST TIME THIS WAS AN OFFICIAL FEDERAL COURT MONITOR AND AFTER THAT THERE'S BEEN NOBODY.

THERE IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS CONSIDERED THE PLAINTIFFS ATTORNEYS.

THEY ARE THE ATTORNEYS WHO ARE REPRESENTING THE LATINO FAMILIES IN THIS LITIGATION WHICH IS STILL ONGOING.

THEIR JOB AS LAWYERS SHOULD ALSO BE TO HOLD D.C.S., BUT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET RECORD THAT WOULD LET THEM DO ITS JOB.

THEY SAY IT'S BECAUSE D.F.S.

ISN'T PROVIDING THOSE RECORDS.

THEY ALSO DON'T SEEM TO HAVE PRIORITIZED THEM.

>> ARE THEY DOING SOMETHING?

ARE THEY EVEN TRYING TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF BILINGUAL CASE WORKERS?

>> IT SAYS THAT IT IS BUT IT'S REALLY HARD.

WE EMPATHIZE WITH THAT.

THERE'S A LOT OF TURNOVER THERE.

IT'S A HARD JOB.

BILINGUAL WORKERS FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE HIGHER, THEY HAVE TOUGHER CASELOADS WHEN THERE IS NOT A BILINGUAL COUNTERPART THEY HAVE TO TRANSLATE ALL THE RECORDS.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO STAY IN IT LONG.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE BUT I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT GOVERNOR PRITZKER WHO SIGNED A BILL THAT CREATED A TASK FORCE TO HAVING A RACIAL IMPACT ON THE POLICY.

HOW DOES THAT TASK FORCE HELP ADDRESS THE SITUATION?

>> THE WAY WHICH PART OF IT -- T CONSIDERED IN THE TASK FORCE.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT CULTURAL LANGUAGE.

I THINK HAVING THE EYES OF STATE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE ON THE TASK FORCE WILL BE GOOD.

A LAW CENTER AND SOME LATINO LEGISLATORS ARE PRIORITIZING THIS, I THINK THEY'LL USE THE TASK FORCE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

UP NEXT, SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM THIS WEEK'S MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS.

STAY WITH US.

CELEBRATIONS FOR MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY ARE ON THEIR WAY IN CHICAGO.

OUR REPORTER SPENT SOME TIME IN LITTLE VILLAGE THIS WEEK TO HEAR FROM COMMUNITY MEMBER ON HOW THEY'RE CELEBRATING AND WHAT MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY MEANS TO THEM.

>> IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE EVERY YEAR AND REMEMBER OUR MEK CAN INDEPENDENCE.

-- OUR MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING.

IT BRINGS A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AND A LOT OF HAPPINESS FOR ME TO KNOW OTHER PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING THEMSELVES AND THEY'RE IN THE MEXICAN SPIRIT.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> THERE'S SO MUCH TO LEARN AND SO MUCH TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR.

WE COME FROM A PEOPLE, WE COME FROM A COUNTRY, WE COME FROM A NATION THAT HAVE FOUGHT.

PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR DECADES FOR THEIR RIGHTS.

WE'RE STILL CONTINUING TO FIGHT.

I LOOK AT MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY, I LOOK AT PARTICULARLY THE WOMEN OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE STOOD UP AND FOUGHT SO HARD AND I HOPE I'M PAYING THEM PROPER HOE IMAGINE.

I HOPE WHAT -- PROPER HOMAGE.

I HOPE WHAT WE'RE DOING MAKES THEM PROUD.

[SPEAKING SPANISH] >> MY MOM, MY AUNT, MY GRANDMOTHER, NONE OF THEM HAD IT EASY AND THEY ALL HAD TO FIGHT TO GET TO THIS COUNTRY.

THEY ALL HAD TO FIGHT TO GET WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR OWN LIVES AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO FILL SOME PRETTY BIG SHOES IN MY FAMILY BUT ALSO MAKE IT EASIER FOR MY DAUGHTER.

>> WE HAVE INFLUENCED THIS UNITED STATES SO MUCH THOUGH WE'RE MORE AMERICAN THAN KRAFT CHEESE.

>> THAT LAST GENTLEMAN WAS WITH THE LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY COUNCIL.

THE MEXICAN MOVEMENT STARTED IN 1810 BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL 1821 THAT THE QUUNT -- COUNTRY GAINED INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN.

HISPANIC HERITAGE KICKED OFF THIS WEEK WITH CELEBRATIONS.

A LOOK WHERE THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART IS HOSTING ITS FIRST EVER MUSICAL FESTIVAL WITH HELP FROM ARTISTS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> SOUNDS OF 18th STREET.

THAT'S THE THEME OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART FIRST EVER MUSIC FESTIVAL.

[SPEAKING SPANISH] >> FOR A LOT OF SOUTH SIDE, MEXICANS AND LATINOS ACTUALLY KNOWN AS SOMETHING ELSE, HOW IT WAS REFERRED TO WAY BACK IN THE DAY.

SORT OF PAYING HOMAGE TO 18th STREET, THE WAY WE USED TO IDENTIFY -- >> IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN JUST A TRIBUTE TO MEXICAN CULTURE.

CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE STEREOTYPES THAT YOU HOPE THIS FESTIVAL BREAKS OR BRINGS ATTENTION TO?

>> WE'RE NOT A MONOLITHIC CULTURE.

THERE IS SO MUCH RICHNESS AND DIVERSITY IN WHO WE ARE.

I THINK THIS FESTIVAL IS ALLOWING US TO, GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SORT OF SHOWCASE THE DIFFERENT ARTISTS.

WE HAVE ARTISTS WHO WILL BE SINGING A LITTLE BIT OF OLDIES AND ELECTRONICA.

IT'S REALLY A VERY ECLECTIC FESTIVAL.

>> A -- MONGA FEATURED VOCALISTS -- >> WHEN IT COMES TO MY SONGS I TRY TO REVEAL PART OF MYSELF THAT EVEN I HAVE TROUBLE ACCEPTING.

>> FROM RAGATON TO JAZZ TO NEO SOUL, SHE DESCRIBES HER SOUND AS EXPERIMENTAL.

>> MY SONGS ARE SELF-REFLECTIVE.

I TRY TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT'S BOTHERING ME.

I FEEL LIKE A BIG PART OF MY LIFE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE TRYING TO BRING ME DOWN, TRYING TO INFLUENCE ME, TRYING TO PUT A LOT OF STUFF IN MY HEAD.

ESPECIALLY WITH MUSIC, IT MADE ME RECOGNIZE WHO I AM, MY WORTH AND WHAT I'M REALLY HERE FOR.

IT'S LIKE NOTHING ELSE REALLY MATTERS AS LONG AS I'M FOCUSED.

>> AFTER PERFORMING, SILVA SAYS SHE IS EAGER TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH THE SOUNDS OF HER STORY WHILE SHARING THE STAGE WITH OTHER LATINO ARTISTS.

>> MUSIC IS REALLY ALL WE HAVE THAT REALLY CAN JUST PICK YOU UP.

EVERY SONG HAS A STORY.

EVEN IF THE SONGS DON'T HAVE WORD, YOU CAN FEEL WHAT'S TRYING TO BE TRANSLATED.

I FEEL LIKE THAT HELPS EVERYBODY IN MANY FORMS, MANY SITUATIONS BECAUSE IT BRINGS A LOT OF CLARITY.

>> SHE PLANS TO RELEASE A LIVE ALBUM THIS FALL.

WHILE YOU MAY HAVE MISSED HER PERFORMANCE, THERE ARE STILL OTHER PERFORMANCES IN HARRISON PARK UNTIL 9 TONIGHT AND MORE TOMORROW.

TICKETS ARE FREE BUT REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

THAT WILL DO IT FOR OUR SHOW THIS SATURDAY NIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT W SP SP -- WEBSITE.

TOMORROW BLACK VOICES.

FLOWERS THAT EMPOWER, A PROMISING FLOOR RIFTS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE.

STARTING NEXT WEEK YOU CAN CATCH "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" 6:30 ON SATURDAYS FOLLOWING THIS PROGRAM.

DON'T FORGET ALSO TO TUNE IN ON UNI VISION EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES," I'M ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY, STAY SAFE.