>>> HISTORICALLY, THE MEDICAL MISTREATMENT PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE RESULTED IN THE DISTRUST OF A SYSTEM INTENDED TO SAVE LIVES.

BUT HEALTH CONDITIONS LIKE DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, AND KIDNEY DISEASE ON THE RISE IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

REPORTER JOANNA HERNANDEZ HELP US HAVE A GROUP OF PHYSICIANS IS WORKING TO RESTORE TRUST IN THE ORGAN DONATION PROCESS.

>> Reporter: MEET THE TEAM WORKING TO BREAK DOWN LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

AT YOU WHY HEALTH, THE SPANISH-SPEAKING CLINIC IS HELPING PATIENTS THROUGH THE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PROCESS.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: 52-YEAR-OLD HAS HAD TWO KIDNEY TRANSPLANT SURGERIES.

HE IS IN TODAY FOR A CHECKUP.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: THE CLINIC IS PART OF THE UI HEALTH KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION SYSTEM.

ONE OF THE DOCTORS WHO SPEARHEADED THE INITIATIVE.

>> WE STARTED A SPANISH-SPEAKING CLINIC TO TRY TO MAKE MORE INTERVIEWS WITH THE PEOPLE, TRY TO CLARIFY ALL THE DOUBT, AND IN THAT WAY, ALSO FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS.

AND DR. ALVAREZ SAYS HIS VISION FOR THE CLINIC IS TO BRIDGE THE INFORMATION GAP IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

>> SOMETIMES THERE'S SOME CULTURAL BARRIERS ABOUT THE SURGERY .

THERE IS SOMETHING COMPLICATED , TOO DANGEROUS.

WHICH NOW THEY SEE IS NOT LIKE IN THE PAST.

>> Reporter: ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO IN THE CHATHAM NEIGHBORHOOD, TERRY WILKINS IS ON A SIMILAR MISSION.

>> NATIONALLY, THERE'S OVER 106,000 PEOPLE WAITING FOR AN ORGAN.

MOST OF THOSE ARE KIDNEYS, AND THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY, 60% OF THOSE, ARE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

THE DISPARITIES ARE BECAUSE THOSE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE KIDNEY FAILURE ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: THE FORMER INDEPENDENT BANK OF CHICAGO IS BEING TRANSFORMED INTO AN EDUCATION HUB.

>> IN THE BLACK COMMUNITIES, THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, THERE'S A HISTORICAL MISTRUST OF HEALTHCARE IN GENERAL.

>> >> Reporter: WILKINS GREW UP IN THE CHATHAM NEIGHBORHOOD, BECAME A TRAUMA SURGEON, AND IS NOW THE CEO OF GIFT OF HOPE, AN ORGANIZATION PROVIDING ORGAN AND TISSUE SERVICES.

>> ONLY WAY WE CAN REALLY ADDRESS THAT IS THROUGH EDUCATION.

>> Reporter: IS THIS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE?

ANDY NOW.

>> YES, IT'S EMPTY NOW.

IT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

BUT ONE OF THE THING IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER HERE.

>> Reporter: DESPITE THERE BEING 7.4 MILLION REGISTERED DONORS IN ILLINOIS, THERE'S STILL A NEED FOR LIVING DONORS.

PATIENT DAVID RODRIGUEZ AT UI'S HEALTH SAYS HIS JOURNEY TO FIND A DONOR IN HIS FAMILY WAS DIFFICULT.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ] >> [ SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ] >> [ SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ] >> Reporter: THE TEAM AT UI HEALTH SAY MYTHS ABOUT DONATION OFTEN STEER PEOPLE AWAY FROM WANTING TO DONATE.

>> PEOPLE THINK THAT AFTER DONATING A KIDNEY, THEY WILL BE ON MEDICATION , THAT NOW THEY'RE MISSING AN ORGAN THAT THEY NEED .

>> Reporter: AT SOME POINT, WE'VE ALL HEARD THE MYTH THAT DOCTORS WON'T WORK AS HARD TO SAVE YOUR LIFE IF YOU'RE A REGISTERED DONOR.

WILKINS SAYS THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> IF YOU REGISTER YOUR INTENT TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR, THEN YOU BECOME A DONOR UPON YOUR DEATH.

>> Reporter: IN THE MEANTIME, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE GIFT OF HOPE AND PHYSICIANS AT UI HEALTH ARE WORKING TO RESTORE HEALTH BETWEEN COMMUNITIES BY GIVING THEM ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

>> PATIENTS CAN FEEL THAT THERE IS A PLACE FOR THEM, WHERE THEY CAN COME AND BE SEEN IN THEIR OWN NATIVE LANGUAGE.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.