THE STORY OF PILSEN IS ENGRAVED ON CHURCH CORNERSTONES.

IT'S CARVED ONTO PEDIMENTS ATOP19TH CENTURY HOMES AND TOLD AT THE ENTRYWAY OF FACTORIES.

IT'S CHISELED IN OLD WORLD CRAFTSMANSHIP AND PAINTED IN VIBRANT COLORS ALL AROUND THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S A STORY OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND ETHNICITIES FROM PEOPLE WHO CAME LOOKING FOR WORK AND FREEDOM AND WHILE IT WAS NEVER EASY, THE STORY OF PILSEN HAS ALWAYS BEGUN WITH A "BIENVENIDOS" OR "WELCOME."

CHICAGO IN THE 1840S WAS A PART OF THE AMERICAN FRONTIER.

BUT IN FAMINE RAVAGED IRELAND THERE WAS WORD OF OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS GROWING WESTERN GATEWAY.

HISTORIAN PETER PERO.

THERE'LL BE WORK AT THE END OF OUR TRIP WHEN WE ARRIVE; THE HOUSING WE UNDERSTAND IS AFFORDABLE.

IRISH IMMIGRANTS WERE THE FIRST MAJOR IMMIGRANT POPULATION TO ARRIVE IN THE AREA THAT WOULD ONLY LATER BE CALLED PILSEN.

THEY WORKED ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL THAT CONNECTED THE GREAT LAKES TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

NOT LONG AFTER, GERMAN IMMIGRANTS ARRIVED BRINGING SKILLS IN PRINTMAKING AND BEER BREWING.

THEY WERE SOON JOINED BY ARRIVALS FROM WHAT IS NOW THE CZECH REPUBLIC, POLAND AND LITHUANIA.

THEY FOUND WORK IN THE FURNITURE FACTORIES, LUMBER YARDS, IRON WORKS AND MOST FAMOUSLY THE STOCKYARDS WHERE CONDITIONS WERE DIFFICULT, DIRTY AND DANGEROUS.

THE LABOR MOVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNIONS CAN BE TRACED TO AN 1877 VIOLENT CLASH BETWEEN PROTESTORS AND ARMED TROOPS ON S. HALSTED ST THAT LEFT DOZENS OF DEMONSTRATORS.

SOCIAL REFORM PIONEER JANE ADDAMS ESTABLISHED ONE OF THE FIRST SETTLEMENT HOUSES IN THE US JUST OUTSIDE OF PILSEN.

THE HULL HOUSE AND GADS HILL HELPED LEAD THE WAY IN WHAT WOULD BE AN ONGOING STRUGGLE FOR FAIRNESS IN HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

MANUFACTURING JOBS IN PILSEN DECLINED IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION BROUGHT ABOUT WHAT WAS LATER TERMED A BLIGHTED COMMUNITY.

IN THE 1950S A NEW WAVE OF IMMIGRANTS STARTED DISCOVERING PILSEN.

AMONG THEM WAS THE FATHER OF THE CURRENT ALDERMAN DANNY SOLIS.

HE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF AN EDUCATION, 3RD GRADE HE THOUGHT HE COULD DO BETTER HERE TERESA FRAGA'S PARENTS WERE MIGRANT WORKERS LIVING IN TEXAS IN THE 1960S AND TAKING WHATEVER AGRICULTURAL WORK THEY COULD GET IN THE WESTERN US.

BUT IN 1966 SHE WAS GIVEN A TIP.

AFTER 3 YEARS OF WORKING IN THE FIELDS MY GODMOTHER SAID YOU SHOULD GO TO CHICAGO HER HUSBAND REFUGIO WERE FIRST PROFILED BY CHANNEL 11 IN A 1981 DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE STRUGGLES OF THE MEXICAN COMMUNITY IN PILSEN.

LIKE MANY OF THE IMMIGRANT GROUPS THAT PRECEDED THEM, THE GROWING MEXICAN COMMUNITY OF THE 1960S AND 70S FACED MANY OBSTACLES: FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES AND ADEQUATE SCHOOLS.

PILSEN WAS ALSO BEING TRANSFORMED BY CITY HALL AS THE FIRST DALEY ADMINISTRATION'S HIGHWAY AND UIC EXPANSION PROJECTS PUSHED MANY MEXICAN FAMILIES OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

SO MANY MEXICANS FLOWED BACK INTO THIS AREA THAT THEY THOUGHT WAS A SAFETY ZONE IN THEIR FIRST HOME TO GYP WITH.

BEGIN.

>> WE NEEDED A HIGH SCHOOL FOR OUR KIDS THAT THERE WAS A 77% DROPOUT RATE AND IT TOOK FIVE YEARS.

IT WAS A FIVE-YEAR CONSISTENT BATTLE.

>> BUT MORE CHALLENGES AWAITED.

UNEMPLOYMENT SKYROCKETED AND SOCIAL SERVICES LAGGED.

THE COMMUNITY TOOK IT UPON ITSELF TO ESTABLISH THE HELP IT NEEDED WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS PILSEN NEIGHBORS, THE RESURRECTION PROJECT.

WHILE A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER NAMED CARMEN TACKLED THE NEED FOR HEALTH SERVICES BY FOUNDING THE MEDICAL CENTER.

AMONG THE RESIDENTS WHO BEGAN WIELDING POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN PILSEN IN THE LATE 70s AND EARLY AID OWES WAS RUDY OSANO AND WAS KILLED IN HIS PILSEN HOME IN JUNE 1983 A MONTH AFTER LOSING THE BID TO BECOME THE FIRST MEXICAN-AMERICAN ALDERMAN IN CHICAGO.

>> HE WAS AN OUTSPOKEN MAN ON MANY ISSUES.

ONE OF THE FIRST TO TALK ABOUT CENTIMETREIZATION AND TALKED ABOUT MANY THINGS THAT THE COUNCIL WANTED TO PUSH UNDER THE RUG.

>> THE 80s AND 90s BROUGHT ANOTHER CHALLENGE GROWING GANG ACTIVITY AND SAW THE ELECTION OF THE FIRST MEXICAN-AMERICAN ALDERMAN IN 1987 FOLLOWED IN 1991.

>> BOTH MEN LEFT OFFICE FOLLOWING LEGAL PROBLEMS AND IN 1996 RICHARD M. DALEY APPOINTED DANNY SOLIS WHO REMAINS ON THE JOB.

EVERY ETHNIC GROUP SETUP THEIR OWN CLUBS TO PRESERVE THEIR LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND SPORTING TRADITIONS.

AND THE MEXICANS BROUGHT SOCCER CLUBS AND HAVE ESTABLISHED ONE OF THE PREIMMINENT MEXICAN FINE ARTS MUSEUMS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE COMMUNITY'S PRIDE AND HERITAGE IS REFLECTED IN TRADITIONS SUCH AS THE 18TH STREET MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE IN MID-SEPTEMBER.

AND GOOD FRIDAY.

THE LARGE SCALE AND COLORFUL MURALS REFLECT BOTH THE TRADITIONS OF THE MEXICAN COMMUNITY AND THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE FUTURE.

BUT JUST AS IT HAS FOR 150 YEARS, PILSEN IS ONCE AGAIN ON THE BRINK OF CHANGE.

>> THE CHANGES ARE EVIDENT.

BUILDINGS ARE NOT BEING BOUGHT BY ANOTHER FAMILY, A DEVELOPER BUYS BLOCKS LIKE ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW.

HOW DO YOU STOP THAT PERSON FROM BUYING THAT BUILDING?

THAT IS JUST THE REALITY.

>> MIXING THE DESIRE FOR PROGRESS WITH THE LONGING FOR COMMUNITY MAY BE PILSEN'S BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE NEW CENTURY.

FOR WTTW 11 I'M EDDIE ARRUZA.

>> AND THAT IS A PREMIER OF THE DOCUMENTARY "MY NEIGHBORHOOD: PILSEN" PRODUCED BY DAN ANDRES.

IF YOU WERE INSPIRED BY THE STORY, WTTW WILL PRESENT SCREENINGS OF THE DOCUMENTARY YOU HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE SPRING AND SUMMER.

VISIT WWW.WTTW.ORG/MYNEIGHBORHOOD TO LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING A SCREENING OR DISCUSSION IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

TONIGHT YOU ARE WATCHING THE TWO-HOUR TELEVISION EVENT INCLUDING A TOWN HALL DISCUSSION AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

TWEET YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO US AT... WE HAVE A STUDIO AUDIENCE AND WE WILL HEAR ABOUT ISSUES OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

FIRST A BIT ABOUT IMMIGRATION.

THE DOCUMENTARY TOUCHED ON THE SUBJECT WITH REACTION FROM RESIDENTS AFTER THE ELECTION AND WE COULD SPEND AN ENTIRE PROGRAM ON THE ISSUE BUT TONIGHT WE'VE DECIDED TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN PILSEN UNDER THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

AND HERE TO REPORT ON THAT FROM OUR PARTNER IN TONIGHT'S TOWN HALL, UNIVISION CHICAGO NEWS ANCHOR ERIKA MALDONADO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND FIRST OF ALL, PLEASE SHARE YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SINCE THE ELECTION, WHAT IS THE SENSE OF THE COMMUNITY?

WHAT ARE THE FEELINGS IN THE COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, PHIL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US FIRST AND FOREMOST.

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE SENSE THAT YOU HAVE NOW SUCH A DIVERSITY IN PILSEN.

THERE IS FEAR.

THERE WAS A LITTLE FEAR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THERE IS STILL FEAR AND ALSO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO NOT GENERALIZE OR MAKE YOU THINK THAT EVERYBODY FEELS OR ARE THINKING THE SAME ABOUT IMMIGRATION IN PILSEN.

WE CANNOT BE OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT NEW PEOPLE ARE MOVING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY COME WITH THEIR OWN IDEAS.

SO WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN THE SPECTRUM.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WE SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATION.

AND THE MEASUREMENTS OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND SOME OF THE CHANGE IN POLICY FROM IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOM ENFORCEMENTS AND OF COURSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING IN PILSEN FOR 40, 50, 30 YEARS THAT ARE RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS AND WANT TO KEEPING WITH IN THE COMMUNITY AND LIVING AND IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY AND YOU HAVE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS THAT THOSE WILL BE THE MOST DANGER AND MOST FEAR EVERYDAY THAT THEY LEAVE THEIR HOMES TO GO TO WORK.

SO WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AT UNIVISION WITH OUR AUDIENCE AND THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND THAT IS ACTUALLY WHAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK SO ACTIVELY IN PILSEN HAVE REPORTED, TOO, IS THAT AT THE BEGINNING THERE WAS A STRUGGLE OF THE UNKNOWN.

THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND AM I GOING TO BE ARRESTED?

IS MY FAMILY MEMBER GOING TO BE DEPORTED?

AM I LOSING MY FRIENDS?

AM I AT FEAR OF GOING TO SCHOOL?

THAT HAS CURBED A LITTLE BIT IT'S NOT THAT IT HAS DISAPPEARED BECAUSE STILL SOME POLICIES ARE UP IN THE AIR BUT DEFINITELY THE FACT THAT PILSEN HAS NOT BEEN AN AREA OF MASSIVE RAIDS OR EVEN OPERATIONS TO REMOVE CERTAIN PEOPLE HAS GIVEN PILSEN A LITTLE BIT MORE CALM AND I -- I THINK THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO WORK NOW AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON AS THE DAYS GO BY IN THIS FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> BASED ON YOUR REPORTING AND BASED ON WHAT YOUR NEWS TEAM HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIND, IS ICE ACTIVE, THE IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, ARE THEY ACTIVE IN PILSEN?

>> WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED SPECIFIC WHERE THEY HAVE HAD OPERATIONS AND THE FEAR IS BIGGER, WE HAVE SEEN THAT FOR EXAMPLE IN THE LITTLE VILLAGE PEOPLE HAVE STOPPED GOING OUT.

AND CONSUME OR SPEND MONEY IN BUSINESSES.

THE BUSINESSES IN PILSEN HAVE NOT BEEN AFFECTED TO THAT EXTENT.

WHICH MEANS IN PILSEN, I THINK THE FEAR HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT LESS NOTICEABLE IN THAT REGARD NEVERTHELESS THE FEAR IS THERE FOR A BIG PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK ALSO THE FACT THAT PILSEN IS ORGANIZED AND HAS SO MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR THAT ARE GOING TO SCHOOLS EXPLAINING THE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AND WHAT TO DO OR NOT TO DO HAS AT THIS POINT IN TIME CURBED A LITTLE BIT OF THAT FEAR SO PEOPLE CAN BE PRO-ACTIVE AND CONTINUE TO GO ON WITH THEIR LIVES BECAUSE THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS OUR COMMUNITY IS EXTREMELY HARD-WORKING AND THEY NEED TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR FAMILIES.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT IS THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE SPECTRUM OF OPINIONS IN PILSEN IN REGARDS TO IMMIGRATION.

BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT PEOPLE SOMETIMES DO NOT EXPRESS THEM.

SO IT IS ACTUALLY HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON.

SOMEHOW I WANT TO USE THE PLATFORM TO SAY TWO THINGS: FIRST, THE FACT THAT SOMEONE HAS AN OPINION ON IMMIGRATION DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT IMMEDIATELY BECOMES AN OPINION ON LATINOS.

IT IS A TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT RESPECT THE HARD-WORKING LATINOS BUT MIGHT FEEL THEY HAVE TO GET IN THE BACK OF THE LINE.

AND SOME PEOPLE WANT FULL IMMIGRATION REFORM WHICH IS WHAT IS NEEDED FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND HARD-WORKING FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE COUNTRY IN THE SHADOWS FOR SO LONG BUT YOU ALSO HAVE A SENSE THAT NO ONE WANTS CRIMINALS AND PEOPLE THAT DO NOT ABIDE BY THE LAW IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE THAT ULTIMATELY TAINT THE IMAGE OF THE LATINOS AND THE LATINO COMMUNITIES NOT ONLY IN PILSEN BUT IN CHICAGO, IN COOK COUNTY AND ILLINOIS AND IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO WE WANT THE FAMILIES FROM PILSEN TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THE HARD WORK THAT THEY HAVE PUT TO BETTER THIS COMMUNITY AND TO MAKE IT A SAFE PLACE, A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO LIVE IN.

NOW ALL THEIR FAMILIES AND KNOW THEIR PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE INTO THE COMMUNITY AND THAT IS ALSO WE ARE SEEING THE DIVERSITY.

IT IS NOT THE SAME WAY IT WAS IN THE 90s OR THE BEGINNING OF THE 2000'S WHERE 90% OF THE LATINOS THAT LIVED IN PILSEN WERE FROM MEXICO.

WE'RE SEEING YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF GENTRIFICATION AND I WILL TOUCH ON THAT LATER ON, TOO.

BUT THAT IS ALSO WHAT WE HAVE NOW.

A BROADER RANGE OF OPINIONS.

AND IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO GENERALIZE, NOT TO PUT EVERYBODY IN THE SAME BAG AND MOST RESPECT EVERYBODY'S OPINION ON THIS MATTER AND DO NOT EQUATE WHAT YOU FEEL ABOUT IMMIGRATION WITH LATINOS.

>> ERIKA MALDONADO THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORTING AND INSIGHTS WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, PHIL FOR HAVING ME.

>> NEXT WE TACKLE THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC SAFETY LIKE EVERY COMMUNITY PILSEN IS DEALING WITH ISSUES OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE.

CRIME HAS BEEN GOING DOWN OVER THE PAST DECADE.

HERE WITH MORE FROM OUR PARTNER UNIVISION CHICAGO.

AS A RESIDENT OF PILSEN MYSELF, I LOVE WALKING ALONG 18TH STREET ON A SUNNY AFTERNOON, STARING AT THE COLORFUL MURALS AND HANGING OUT IN THE ARTSY CAFES.

THOUGH PILSEN HAS LONG BEEN HOME TO MANY MEXICAN FAMILIES, IT HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE POPULAR AMONG NEW RESIDENTS OF VARIOUS ETHNICITIES, MANY OF THEM YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE ABLE TO AFFORD THE RISING COST OF HOUSING IN THE AREA.

WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY THE COMMUNITY HAS EXPERIENCED SOME HIGHS AND LOWS.

SO I WENT OUT TO ASK RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS, DO YOU FEEL SAFE IN PILSEN?

ANA BARRERA -MANAGER OF LAS TRES CAMPANITAS: NO THERE IS A LOT OF INSECURITY.

MANY FEAR BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF BUSINESS THAT HAVE BEEN ROBBED AROUND THE CORNER AND IF IT HAPPENED TO THEM IT COULD HAPPEN TO US.

NAYDA ROSADO - PILSEN RESIDENT.

I DO, I DO MOST OF THE TIME I AM KEEPING AN EYE AND I SEARCH AROUND IN MY CORNERS.

MIKE WELDON (PILSEN RESIDENT): IT'S REALLY SAFE, LOTS OF FAMILIES AROUND, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS GANG VIOLENCE, BUT THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY CONTAINED TO ITSELF AND THEN JUST BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.

PILSEN IS NEITHER AMONG THE MOST DANGEROUS NOR SAFEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN CHICAGO.

ACCORDING TO POLICE DATA, CRIME IN PILSEN HAS GONE DOWN OVER THE PAST 14 YEARS.

BUT, LAST YEAR THE COMMUNITY HAD 10 HOMICIDES AND NEARLY 600 THEFT RELATED CRIMES.

RESIDENTS, LIKE DAVID PINTOR, WERE ALSO IN SHOCK AFTER A MAN SET SIX PROPERTIES ON FIRE LAST FALL.

DAVID PINTOR, RESIDENT WHEN I THINK OF VIOLENCE IN PILSEN I THINK OF HOW THEY WERE ALL THESE FIRES IN PILSEN AND THEY WEREN'T DONE BY A GANG MEMBER, THOSE FIRES WEREN'T DONE BY SOMEBODY FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY WERE DONE BY SOME CRAZY WHITE DUDE, RIGHT?

THE COMMUNITY HAS ALSO BEEN AFFECTED BY LOCAL GANGS THAT ESTABLISHED A PRESENCE IN SOME POCKETS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECENT CRIME IN PILSEN?

IT'S HARD TO TELL.

POLICE DATA IS NOT ALWAYS CLEAR OR UPDATED ABOUT WHO ARE THE PERPETUATORS BEHIND EACH CRIME.

WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT PILSEN IS FULL OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE WORKING HARD AT KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE.

SANDY CHAVEZ, IS ONE OF THEM.

SHE HAS LIVED IN PILSEN ALL HER LIFE AND KNOWS HOW DANGEROUS HER BLOCK CAN GET.

WE JUST HAD RECENTLY THREE SHOOTINGS ON MORGAN STREET WITHIN THE LAST WEEK AND NO ONE WAS HURT THANK GOD.

THAT DOESN'T STOP HER FROM STAYING INVOLVED AND PROMOTING SAFETY ACROSS HER NEIGHBORHOOD.

SHE HELPS ORGANIZE BLOCK PARTIES, BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS, TOY DRIVES AND A PHONE TREE THAT NEARBY RESIDENTS CAN CALL IF THEY HEAR SHOTS.

I IMMEDIATELY CALL 911 AND I COMMUNICATE WITH EVERYONE ELSE IN MY BLOCK TO CALL 911.

THE MORE CALLS WE MAKE THE MORE SERIOUS THE CALL IS TAKEN.

ANOTHER RESIDENT IS PABLO SERRANO AN ARTIST AND KARAOKE DJ WHO GREW UP NEAR DVORAK PARK.

HE IS ORGANIZING THE PILSEN CIVIC GROUP, AN INITIATIVE THAT CONNECTS PILSEN RESIDENTS FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH SOCIAL EVENTS.

HE HAS ALSO LED MURAL PROJECTS TO INVOLVE LOCAL YOUTH IN POSITIVE INITIATIVES.

ONE OF THEM IS THE MURAL ON CULLERTON AND CARPENTER, A TRIBUTE TO HIS FRIEND'S SON WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED THE DAY AFTER HIS 19TH BIRTHDAY.

IT'S ALSO A COMMUNITY EFFORT, I HOPE, TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SYNTHESIZE WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED WHEN WE EXPERIENCE TRAGEDIES LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MY SON.

MOST OF THE RESIDENTS I TALKED WITH SAID INSTEAD OF MORE POLICE, LOCAL RESIDENTS NEED RESOURCES, EMPLOYMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES TO STAY IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND ACROSS THE BOARD THEY AGREED ON ONE THING: WHETHER YOU ARE IN PILSEN TO STAY, OR IF YOU ARE JUST PASSING THROUGH, ALL RESIDENTS NEED TO COME TOGETHER, RESPECT THEIR COMMUNITY AND GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER.

SILENCE IS FATAL TO OUR COMMUNITY SPIRIT IF WE BARBECUE, IF WE ORGANIZE BLOCK PARTIES, FESTIVALS, WE COULD START SEEING THE BEST IN EACH OTHER AND BUILDING FROM THERE.

I THINK THAT'S THE ULTIMATE RESPONSE TO A CLIMATE OF FEAR THAT KEEPS US PARALYZED TO DO ANYTHING MEANINGFUL IN RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.

FOR UNIVISION AND WTTW, I'M ADRIANA CARDONA.

JOINING US IS MARICELA GARCIA, AND MALDEN MALDEN FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PEACE PROJECT WHICH WORKS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND YESENIA CERVANTES SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR WORKING FAMILIES AT INSTITUTER.

AND GLENBROOKS THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FOR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TWEET US YOUR IDEAS... >> AALVARO OBREGON HOW DO YOU ENGAGE KIDS IN PRODUCTIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS?

>> WELL, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT JOBS THAT WE HAVE IN OUTFIELDER COMMUNITY.

WHAT WE DID AS THE RESURRECTION PROJECT BACK IN 1999, I WAS A LEADER, STILL IN THE COMMUNITY I WAS WORKING ON MY BLOCK CLUB BUT I BECAME ACTIVE AND WE WERE FACING A TIME WITH A LOT OF SHOOTINGS AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR US TO DO WAS TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

ME, I WAS ONE OF THE COFOUNDERS.

THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE THAT WERE PART OF THIS PROJECT AND WHAT WE DID WAS WE STARTED TAKING OVER HOTSPOTS YOU KNOW.

ONE THING THAT PEOPLE SAY ALL THE TIME IS LET'S TAKE THE KIDS OFF OF THE STREETS.

I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE PROBLEMS OFF OF THE STREETS BECAUSE THE STREETS BELONG TO FAMILIES AND TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE PROGRAMS SUCH AS SPORTS, SUCH AS ARTS PROGRAMS.

>> LET ME INTERRUPT YOU.

TELL US ABOUT SPORTS.

YOU STARTED HOOPS IN THE HOOD AND WHAT IS THAT?

>> ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT STARTED RESURRECTION BASKETBALL LEAGUE AND THAT WAS TAKING OVER HOTSPOTS.

WE PLAYED ON FRIDAY EVENING WHEN THERE COULD BE A LOT OF THINGS JUMPING OFF ON A BLOCK AND WE CREATED A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

I HAVE NEVER PLAYED A GAME OF BASKETBALL IN MY LIFE AND YET HERE I WAS SPENDING EVERY FRIDAY WITH THESE KIDS AND SO WHAT WAS HAPPENING THEY WERE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER, PEOPLE NEIGHBORS WERE MEETING EACH OTHER, WE ARE PROVIDING SAFE SPACES AND JUST THAT IS SOMETHING THAT GREW AND WENT TO LITTLE VILLAGE.

AND THEN IT BECAME HOOPS IN THE HOOD.

SO IT'S HEARTENING WHEN YOU SEE THIS LITTLE PROJECT THAT YOU DID FROM THE HEART TURN INTO SOMETHING THAT IS NOW ACROSS 16 OR 17 NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> MARICELA GARCIA -- [APPLAUSE] >> MARICELA GARCIA HOW DO YOU ENGAGE KIDS IN A CONSTRUCTION WAY?

SHOW THEM THE PATH?

>> WE FOCUS PRIMARILY IN ENSURING THAT THEY SUCCEED IN THE SCHOOLS AND WE PROVIDE MENTORING, TUTORING AND WE EXPOSE THEM TO ART AND ENRICHMENT THAT INCLUDES STEM PROGRAMS, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH.

FOR THE KIDS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO GOING TO COLLEGE WHICH IS MANY OF THEM, WE TAKE THEM TO COLLEGE TOURS.

WE PROVIDE INTERNSHIPS FOR THEM AND WE EMPLOY THEM TO TEACH ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY HOW TO USE COMPUTERS.

SO WHAT WE NOTICE IS THAT THE MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU GIVE THE KIDS THE MORE PRODUCTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL THEY ARE.

THEIR PARENTS ARE VERY HARD-WORKING HABITS AND THE CHILDREN NEED SAFE PLACES AND PRO-ACTIVE PLACES TO EXPLORE THE TALENTS AND TO DO WELL.

>> MALDEN MALDEN YOUR SON WAS AN INNOCENT VICTIM OF JEFF MALDONADO YOUR SON WAS A VICTIM OF GANG VIOLENCE.

MY CONDOLENCES.

WHAT DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION DO IN A WAY TO KEEP OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE FROM BEING VICTIMS INNOCENT VICTIMS OF GANG VIOLENCE?

>> RIGHT.

THE PEACE PROJECT WAS BORN AFTER MY SON JEFF, JUNIOR WAS MURDERED AFTER HIS 19TH BIRTHDAY.

AND I THINK AS A PARENT AND ARTIST IT WAS A WAY TO TRANSFORM THAT ANGER YOU KNOW.

THAT FRUSTRATION.

AND AS A THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY, IT WAS BEGINNING TO THE PEACE PROJECT AS AN ORGANIC ORGANIZATION BRINGING BACK THE VALUES OF PUBLIC ART AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR YOUTH.

REALLY IT'S PREVENTATIVE ORGANIZATION WHERE WE ARE WORKING WITH YOUTH BEFORE THEY GET INTO ANY SORT OF TROUBLE.

IT'S PROVIDING A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM.

AND SOME GUIDANCE TO TRANSFORM AND NURTURE THAT CREATIVITY.

>> YESENIA CERVANTES IT STRIKES ME AFTER WATCHING THE DOCUMENTARY AND LISTENING TO THE PANELISTS SO FAR IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE IT'S EVERY COMMUNITY NEEDS DIFFERENT COMPONENTS THAT ARE WORKING ON THE SAME GOAL.

HOW DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION FIT IN THAT PIECE OF THE PUZZLE?

>> WE ACTUALLY OFFER WRAP AROUND SERVICES, EDUCATION BEING UP FRONT.

WE BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION IS POWER AND ANYTHING THAT CAN PREVENT THE KIDS AND THE YOUNG POPULATION OF BEING BETTER FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION IS THE NUMBER ONE THING.

SO MY ORGANIZATION WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS.

AND ONE OF THEM IS THE HEALTHCARE TO ALL SCIENCE ACADEMY AND THE OTHER IS THE JUSTICE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AND THE THIRD SERVICE OF -- THIRD AREA OF SERVICES WE OFFER IS WRAP AROUND SERVICES.

WE ALSO FOR JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND THE YEAR.

WE OFFER FOR THEM FOR THE YOUTH ESPECIALLY FOR THE ADULT AND YOUNG ADULTS, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE JOB READINESS, FINANCIAL COACHING, WE ALSO OFFER COLLEGE TRIPS AND ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH COLLEGE READINESS EDUCATION.

WE BELIEVE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO MAINTAIN THEMSELVES OUT OF THE STREET THEY HAVE TO BE SURROUNDED BY ROLE MODELS.

A LOT OF THE PROGRAMMING WE DO IT'S INTERNALLY IN THE ORGANIZATION AND WE BRING THEM SPEAKERS.

WE PARTNER WITH DIFFERENT EMPLOYERS.

WE PARTNER UP WITH DIFFERENT NONFOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE BRING THEM INTO THE ORGANIZATION AND WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT IN ADDITION OF HAVING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR THEM, THEY ALSO HAVE TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY ROLE MODELS.

PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY SEE AND LOOK UP TO.

OR SERVICES IN ADDITION TO BEING FOR THEM WE TRY TO BE FAMILY-ORIENTED FOR EVERY SERVICE WE OFFER WE REGISTER THE STUDENT BUT WE TRY TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE FAMILY.

BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO HAVE A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM IT HAS TO BRING THE ENTIRE FAMILY AROUND THE SERVICES AND THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD BE SERVICED.

>> GLENBROOKS YOU SAW THE DOCUMENTARY AND WATCHED IT AND HEARD THE OTHERS TALK ABOUT THE EFFORTS THAT THEY ARE MAKING IN AN EFFORT TO ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE IMPACT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT IN TERMS OF THE BENEFITS THAT THE PROGRAMS PROVIDED?

>> TREMENDOUS.

ABSOLUTELY TREMENDOUS.

WHEN A LOT OF TIMES WE TALK ABOUT CRIME AND THINK ABOUT CHRONIC CRIME WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE POLICE ARE GOING TO COME TO A NEIGHBORHOOD AND ARREST A NUMBER OF BAD PEOPLE.

AND HERE IS THE FACT... COMMUNITIES ARE NOT BAD.

AND EVERYBODY IN COMMUNITY IS NOT BAD.

AND IT TAKES A COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND WRAP ITS ARM AROUND THOSE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO GET LOST THEY GET OFF TRACK.

AND WHEN A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER AND PROVIDE PROGRAMMING WHEN THEY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES AND MENTOR AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THAT BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER WE KNOW THAT CREATES A SAFER NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> HAS THAT BEEN REFLECTED IN STATISTICS RELATING TO PILSEN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT PILSEN OVER A 10-15 YEAR TIME-FRAME PILSEN IS NOT THE SAME.

WE STILL HAVE CHALLENGES BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF VIOLENCE THAT WE HAD IN THE 90s AND 2000'S.

PILSEN HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A SAFER NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND IT WASN'T JUST THE FACT THAT WE ARRESTED PEOPLE.

IT WAS THE FACT THAT COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER AND EMPOWERED THEMSELVES AND ORGANIZED AND SUPPORTED EACH OTHER AND WE PLAYED A ROLE IN IT.

BUT LET'S NOT FORGET THE COMMUNITY'S ROLE IS AS IMPORTANT IF NOT MORE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT TRULY MAKES IT SAFE.

>> WE RECEIVED A QUESTION ON TWITTER AND I WILL OPEN IT UP TO ANYONE ON THE PANEL.

WHAT ARE THE WAYS CITY AND STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN PILSEN PROTECTING FAMILIES?

>> I WILL TAKE THIS.

>> THE COMMUNITIES NEED MORE PROGRAMS.

WHETHER IT'S WORK THAT IS HAPPENING WITH SPORTS PROGRAMS, I AM THE FOUNDER OF THE ARTS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

TU KNOW THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO FUND THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THIS IMPASSE WE ARE HAVING AT THE STATE LEVEL WE NEED A BUDGET THAT IS PASSED SO THE FUNDS CAN GO TO THE COMMUNITIES AND THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES WHO KNOW COMMUNITIES CAN DO THEIR WORK.

AND THESE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS EXPERTS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE UP HERE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING REALLY HARD INSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> AND BACK TO THE ISSUE OF SPECIFICALLY PUBLIC SAFETY.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CURRENT GANG SITUATION IN PILSEN?

ANYONE?

>> I THINK IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS SINCE JEFF'S MURDER, WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN DEALING WITH THE GANG PROBLEM OR THE GANG PROBLEM AS IT WAS BEFORE.

SO WE WOULD MOVE OUR PROGRAM TO CERTAIN AREAS WHERE THERE WAS THAT GANG PRESENCE AND EVENTUALLY BECAUSE OF OUR YOUTH AND PARTNERS ON THE POLICE FORCE AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, WE HAD MANAGED TO ACTUALLY MOVE THE GANGS OUT OR ACTUALLY FIND SOME OTHER CORNER THAT WAS LESS INTRUSIVE FOR THEM.

I AGREE.

THAT THE EFFORT IS THERE TO NOT BE AFRAID TO PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON IT.

AND TO OR CREATE MURALS WHERE THERE'S NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.

OUR FLAGSHIP MURAL DEALS WITH JUST THAT.

THAT WAS A HOTSPOT AND THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE WERE OUT THERE WAS I MEAN IT WAS SCARY.

WE HAD STUDENTS OF OURS WHO WERE TERRIFIED AND SO YOU KNOW THERE'S 30 TEENS AND WE HAVE BOTH A GANG PATROL ON FOOT AND WE HAVE GANG PATROLS IN VEHICLES.

AND SO YOU KNOW STICKING IT OUT AND BEING DEDICATED TO THE WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE IN ADDRESSING VIOLENCE AND YOUTH THAT IS HOW WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP.

>> NOW, WE WILL GO TO THE AUDIENCE AND EDDIE ARRUZA IS OUT THERE AND SO IS UNIVISION CHICAGO'S VIFFIAN -- AN DEGREE ANNA AND YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS SOMETHING TO SAY.

>> WE HAVE MARGARET SHE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE PILSEN ALLIANCE.

>> YES, GOOD EVENING.

I'M VERY MOVED BY WHAT IS GOING ON TONIGHT.

BUT TO ME THE WORD HERE IN DANGER IS GENTRIFICATION.

WE ARE GOING TO BE EXTINCT WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE LATINO FAMILIES AS WE WANT TO HOPE FOR.

THE OTHER THING IS I LEARNED SOMETHING AS A CHILD HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS.

BUT WITHOUT A HOME WHERE ARE OUR HEARTS?

IN THE PAST 10 YEARS WE HAVE LOST MORE THAN 10,000 RESIDENTS LIVING IN PILSEN COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AND BOMBARDED WITH ALL KINDS OF ADVERTISEMENTS AS TO LOOKING AT THE SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR GENTRIFICATION.

BUT I HATE TO BLOW THE BUBBLE OF THE ORGANIZATION CALLED TRP.

I KNOW THEY MEAN WELL AND I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING FOR MANY YEARS.

BUT YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, WE HAVE TO COME TO REALITY.

OUR PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING GIVEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> YOU KNOW EXCUSE ME.

>> I WANTED TO ASK THE QUESTION OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE UP THERE, YES, AND SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT CAN ALL OF YOU SAY TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANT THING OF GENTRIFICATION AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN PILSEN?

>> YOU ARE JUMPING AHEAD OF US THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF OUR NEXT SEGMENT.

HOLD THAT THOUGHT.

EDDIE ARRUZA?

>> PHIL I'M HERE WITH CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT CAPTAIN AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK THE PILSEN PLANNING COMMISSION WHO PUT TOGETHER THE QUALITY OF LIFE PLAN FOR PILSEN.

IT HAS MADE MY JOB AND MY OFFICERS' JOBS INCREDIBLY BETTER.

I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THE RESURRECTION PROJECT THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN DIFFUSING CONFLICTS.

WHEN WE HAVE A VIOLENT INCIDENT, THEY WILL ACTUALLY HAVE -- THEY REACH OUT TO US OR WE REACH OUT TO THEM AND THEY HAVE A BLOCK PARTY WHERE IT OCCURRED.

WHICH INCLUDES A MASS AND WE HAVE GRANDMOTHERS AND FAMILIES OUT AND PRIESTS AND YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT A DEESCALATOR.

YOUR PROGRAM GOING ON VERY, VERY WELL.

>> AND AT THIS POINT WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR PANELISTS FOR JOINING US.

LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[APPLAUSE] THE ISSUE CAN BE DIVISIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

PROGRESS DOES NOT ALWAYS COME WITHOUT A PRICE?

HOW IS PILSEN DEALING WITH THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT THE STORY FROM UNIVISION CHICAGO AND HERE IS THE REPORT.

INOCENCIO "EL GUERO" CARBAJAL HAS ENJOYED MUCH SUCCESS AND DELIGHTED RESIDENTS IN PILSEN OVER THE LAST 42 YEARS WITH CARNITAS, OR "LITTLE MEATS", A PORK DISH OF MEXICAN CUISINE ORIGINATING FROM THE STATE OF MICHOACÁN.

GREAT SERVICE, TREATING PEOPLE WITH RESPECT AND OFFER A GOOD PRODUCT.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES PEOPLE COME BACK.

YOU ALSO NEED TO BE PERSISTENT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN ANY BUSINESS.

INOCENCIO IS NOW PASSING HIS SUCCESS AND LEGACY TO HIS ONLY SON MARCOS, WHO RECENTLY RECEIVED HIS MASTERS DEGREE IN MARKETING FROM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

MARCOS HAS BROUGHT NEW IDEAS, INCLUDING THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, TO THE BUSINESS.

THE RESTAURANT HAS BEEN FEATURED ON A VARIETY OF FOOD SHOWS.

OUR BUSINESS HAS BEEN GROWING CONTINUOUSLY, AT DOUBLE DIGIT RATES THE LAST 3 YEARS, WE HAVE FAR OUTGROWN OUR SPACE, WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE, THAT WE HAVE LITERALLY LINES OUT THE DOOR ON THE WEEKENDS HERE, AND IT NECESSITATES GROWTH ON OUR PART TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT DEMAND.

CAFES ALSO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN PILSEN'S ECONOMY.

ONE EXAMPLE IS SALVADOR CORONA.

4 YEARS AGO, HE OPENED CAFE CATRINA ON 18TH STREET WITH A UNIQUE APPROACH... CUISINE FROM MEXICO, ART, MUSIC, IS WHAT WE LOVE, WE GREW UP WITH THAT KIND OF CULTURE AND WE INCORPORATE IN THE CAFE AND PEOPLE LIKE IT.

BUT ACCORDING TO ALEX ESPARZA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 18TH STREET DEVELOPMENT COORPORATION, OTHER MOM AND POP BUSINESSES ARE HAVING TROUBLE COPING WITH DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE, NEW TECHNOLOGY, AND BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY IN PILSEN... IN THE PAST THREE YEARS WE'VE LOST ABOUT 8% OF MOMA AND PAPA SHOPS, THIS EQUALS ABOUT 68 BUSINESSES CLOSED THAT ONCE WERE OPERATED BY MOMA AND PAPA SHOPS YOU KNOW PARENTS BEEN BACK OF THE COUNTER, KIDS RUNNING THE BUSINESS.

HIGH RENTS, EMPTY SPACES, AND THE LACK OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL ARE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES FACING SMALL LATINO BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT, THERE IS HELP AVAILABLE.

SO WE HELP THEM WITH THEIR FINANCIALS, WE HELP THEM GET ACCESS TO CAPITAL TO RUN THEIR BUSINESSES AND WE DO WANT THEM TO STAY HERE SO WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE THEM SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.

MARY KUHN EMPHASIZES THE NUMBER OF APPROVED LICENSES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN PILSEN INCREASED IN 2016. .

HOWEVER, ANOTHER CONCERN IS HOW THEY'LL BE ABLE TO EMBRACE THE CONTINUOUS ARRIVAL OF BIG BOX RETAILERS LIKE COSTCO.

I THINK WE HAVE SOLID BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT CAN STAND BY THEMSELVES AND STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH ANY COMPETITION.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ALSO SHOULD EMBRACE THE WELCOME OF MORE BIG BOX RETAILERS BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT SOMETHING GOOD IS HAPPENING IN PILSEN SO GOOD.... THAT PILSEN IS NOW THE HOME OF CALIFORNIA BASED LAGUNITAS BREWING, A COMPANY ORIGINALLY FOUNDED BY KAREN HAMILTON AND HER BROTHERS.

LAGUNITAS EXPORTS BEER NATIONALLY, AND TO EUROPE PUTTING CHICAGO AND PILSEN IN THE MAP.

IT'S POPULAR BEER TASTING HAS BECOME A FAVORITE ATTRACTION FOR LOCALS AND TOURISTS.

BUT THE QUESTION IS· WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE WHO FEEL BIG COMPANIES LIKE LAGUNITAS DON'T HIRE LOCAL WORKERS?

INITIALLY WITH ONLY 200 JOBS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A SMALL IMPACT, BUT OVER THE 100 PLUS YEARS THAT PLAN ON BEEN HERE, WE HOPE THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MUCH BIGGER IMPACT OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE COMMUNITIES AND BEYOND.

WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE EVOLUTION AND NEW ECONOMIC DYNAMIC IN PILSEN IS APPEALING TO SOME NEW BUSINESSES.... SO MUCH THAT CHEF ALFONSO SOTELO, WHO WORKED AND TRAINED UNDER INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED CHEF RICK BAILESS, CHOSE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TO OPEN "5 RABANITOS", HIS FIRST RESTAURANT.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS TO BE CONSISTENT, BE DEDICATED, ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT OUR FOOD.

CREATE NEW IDEAS SO NEW GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE CONTINUE COMING AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR FOOD.

CULINARY ART THAT HE HOPES WILL BRING A NEW TASTE AND ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THIS VIBRANT, AND CULTURALLY RICH COMMUNITY.

FOR UNIVISION AND WTTW, I'M ENRIQUE RODRIGUEZ.

>> NOW, JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC VICE-PRESIDENT.

IN PILSEN ARE 25TH WARD ALD MARNTION DANNY SOLIS, RAUL RAYMUNDO C.E.O.

OF THE RESURRECTION PROJECT, ALEX RUIZ, LOAN OFFICER IN CHICAGO, INVICTORIA ROMERO OF THE PILSEN ALLIANCE.

AND MEGHAN HARTE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE LOCAL INITIATIVE SUPPORT CORPORATION.

AND REMEMBER TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION YOU CAN TWEET US HOW YOU WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS OF DEVELOPMENT IN YOUR COMMUNITY AT WEB WEB.

AND ALDERMAN I BEGIN WITH THE HIGHEST RANKING PUBLIC OFFICIAL BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN WITH RAUL BECAUSE WE HEARD A MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE IN TERMS OF BALANCING DEVELOPMENT AND GENTRIFICATION, THE ABILITY OF RESIDENTS TO STAY IN THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?

>> WELL, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST 27 YEARS SINCE THIS ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED HAVE DEVELOPED HUNDREDS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE, THE FUTURE OF PILSEN THERE IS A LOT OF RENAISSANCE, A LOT OF MOM AND POP BUSINESSES SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS.

AND THERE'S ALSO NEW BUSINESSES COMING IN THAT WE HAVE TO WELCOME AND OUR JOB IS NOT DONE.

YOU SAW FROM THE FILM PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER AND WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS OTHER CHALLENGES THAT THE ARE FACING THE COMMUNITY.

YES, HIGHER PRICES IN THE COMMUNITY IS ONE OF THOSE CHALLENGES.

BUT WE HAVE TO ALSO WORK WITH FAMILIES, HOMEOWNERS AND GET THEM TO STAY.

THE FASTEST WAY A COMMUNITY CHANGES IS WHEN PEOPLE CHOOSE TO LEAVE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CHOOSE TO STAY.

THE CHALLENGES TO BUILD A HEALTHY COMMUNITY AND NOT TO MOVE TO ONE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT.

>> ALDERMAN HOW DO YOU DEVELOP -- BALANCE DEVELOPMENTS WITH THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY THERE?

>> YOU GOT TO ORGANIZE WHICH IS THE BASIC TEAM THAT WE'VE HEARD HERE AND THE DOCUMENTARY TODAY.

I THINK RAUL IS A GREAT EXAMPLE IN WHAT THIS WOMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT.

HE STATES HE BOUGHT HIS HOME AND KIDS BOUGHT HOMES AND THEY ARE INVESTING IN THE LONG-TERM.

I THINK THAT WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH RESURRECTION EVERY CITY PROPERTY THAT IS AVAILABLE WE'VE GIVEN IT TO THEM SO THEY CAN BUILD HOUSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHETHER IT'S RENTAL, SENIOR, STUDENT HOUSING, OR SINGLE FAMILY.

AND THEN WE GOT TO CREATE JOBS AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY THE PILSEN INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR WAS TURNED INTO A TIF SO THAT WE CAN CLEAN UP THAT AREA.

AND WE CAN IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND THEN ATTRACT HUNDREDS OF BUSINESSES AND CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS.

>> VICTORIA ROMERO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT NEGATIVELY AFFECTING THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT ARE YOUR COMMUNITIES?

>> ABSOLUTELY THERE IS A HUGE CONCERN WITH THE WORD GENTRIFICATION.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REVITALIZATION VERSUS GENTRIFICATION BEING FROM THE DEVELOPERS DOWN AND THEN OUT OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT IS A HUGE CONCERN.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE SEE TODAY IS THE TERM AFFORDABILITY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MEDIAN INCOME IN PILSEN IT IS $10,000 LESS THAN THE AVERAGE MEDIAN INCOME ACROSS COOK COUNTY.

AND THAT IS HUGE.

$10,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR A WORKING CLASS FAMILY.

SO PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING THE BUSINESSES COME IN OR HAVING NEW NEIGHBORS COME IN.

THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD TO STAY WHEN THEY ARE THE ONES WHO PUT THE BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO MAKE IT WHAT IT IS.

NO ONE WAVED THE WAND AND MADE PILSEN ATTRACTIVE.

THERE ARE DECADES OF HISTORY OF ORGANIZING OF MOBILIZING BEHIND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHAT IT IS TODAY.

AND SO TO HAVE THOSE SAME PEOPLE BE PUSHED OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS INSULTING.

>> AND A QUICK RESPONSE FROM -- [APPLAUSE] >> A QUICK RESPONSE FROM THE ALDERMAN OR RAUL?

>> I AGREE A LOT WITH WHAT VICKY SAID AND WE ARE THOSE PEOPLE SHE IS REFERRING TO.

STAYING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ORGANIZING, WORKING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WITH THE ALDERMEN WE ARE WORKING ON MAKING SURE THAT ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT THIS IS THE ONLY COMMUNITY WHERE THIS IS TAKING PLACE.

WHERE ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT REQUIRES A ZONING CHANGE OF EIGHT UNITS OR MORE HAS TO HAVE 21% SATISFIED.

THAT IS TWICE THE CITY REQUIREMENT.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND WE HAVE TO WORK WITH BUSINESS AND WE HAVE TO WORK WITH GOVERNMENT AND COMING TOGETHER WE HAVE TO BE PUTTING THOSE PLANS FORWARD.

>> WE NEED TO ADD RESIDENTS TO THE LIST.

>> AND RESIDENTS IN THE PART OF THIS EFFORT MOVING FORWARD.

>> ALEX LET'S MOVE ON TO ANOTHER ISSUE BESIDES HOUSING.

HOW DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION HELP BUSINESSES IN PILSEN ACCESS CAPITAL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

CHICAGO IS A NONPROFIT THAT IS HEAD OFFICES IN PILSEN SINCE 1994.

AND WE IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS HAVE DONE 64 LOANS IN PILSEN AND CONTINUE TO WORK IN THAT AREA AND TO PROVIDE LENDING TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

WE FEEL THAT THEIR ENTREPRENEURSHIP YOU CAN CHANGE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT IS WHERE WE WANT TO EMPOWER NOT ONLY ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE MOVING INTO PILSEN BUT EMPOWER RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YEARS AND CONTINUE TO GROW.

>> SOMEBODY DRIVING DOWN 18TH STREET HOW MANY EMPTY STOREFRONTS DO YOU SEE?

>> I LIVE ON 18TH STREET AND I WALK UP AND DOWN THE STREET AND I'VE SEEN LIMITED VERY FEW AND THERE'S BEEN A HUGE JUMP.

>> MEGHAN HARTE WHAT LESSONS CAN PILSEN TEACH OTHER COMMUNITIES ABOUT DEVELOPMENT?

>> I THINK PILSEN IS SORT OF THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HAVING ALL OF THE CRITICAL ASSETS THAT A COMMUNITY WOULD NEED FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT HAS A VIBRANT INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR AND IT HAS JOBS THAT MATCH THE SKILLS OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S GOT A VIBRANT RETAIL CORRIDOR TO PROVIDE THE AMENITIES FOR THE PEOPLE.

IT HAS DENSE POPULATION.

ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION.

PROXIMAL TO DOWNTOWN, INSTITUTIONS WITH THE UNIVERSITIES AND HOSPITALS AND A VERY CONNECTED COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT OF ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE ALDERMEN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK TOGETHER AND BRING THE ISSUES TO LIGHT AND THEN TRY AND ADDRESS THEM.

>> WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM TWITTER ABOUT THE QUESTION OF GENTRIFICATION AND A VIEWER ASKS... CAN PILSEN MAINTAIN ITS HISPANIC ROOTS DESPITE THE LARGE ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE IN THE LAST 20 YEARS?

>> YES.

YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE THE MOST DYNAMIC GROUP OF ORGANIZATIONS OF ANY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THIS 21% THERE IS NO OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY THAT HAS THAT DEMAND ON DEVELOPERS.

RIGHT NOW [INAUDIBLE] AND EVERY PUBLIC INSTITUTION THAT HAS BEEN CREATED UNDER MY TENURE HAS A MEXICAN-THEME CULTURE WHETHER IT BE THE SCHOOL AND WHERE THERE IS LOTS OF AND YOU CAN GO ON AND ON.

AND WE ARE WORKING ON EVERYTHING IS FOCUSED ON THE MEXICAN HERITAGE AND MEXICAN CULTURE, THE LAST GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT CAME INTO PILSEN.

>> A QUICK RESPONSE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I WILL TRY TO MAKE QUICK.

ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT POLICY LIKE THE 21% SATISFIED IS IT'S ONLY GOOD IF YOU ENFORCE IT.

THAT IS THE THING.

AND WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY IN OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT KNOWING I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE WE HAD A DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE STREET AND INSTEAD OF OUT AND OUT COMMITTING TO THE 21% THEY WENT AND DECIDED I WILL BUY THIS PARCEL OF LAND AND DONATE IT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL WHICH SOUNDS PHENOMENAL.

HOWEVER, ALL THEY ARE DOING IS BUYING A PIECE OF LAND AND GIVE TO GO BACK TO THE CITY WHEN THAT IS MONEY THAT SHOULD BE THERE FOR THAT PIECE OF LAND FOR THAT HIGH SCHOOL.

AND SO WHAT SEEMS LIKE A GIFT OFTENTIMES IS NOT.

AND WHILE 21% DOES SOUND LIKE A HIGH NUMBER WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO 10 OR 11% IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE WE GO BACK TO THAT WORD AFFORDABILITY AND THAT IS THE KEY.

>> THAT PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT THAT VICKY IS REFERRING TO WE ARE PROUD TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT AN ACRE WHICH IN THIS TIME COULD COST A LOT OF MONEY IS BEING DONATED TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY ARE IN THE FUTURE WILL BE ABLE TO REASSIGN LAND TO BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR RECREATIONAL FIELD AND IT WILL BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

>> AND THE ADDED VALUE IT WOULD BE 28% THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE GETTING IN TERMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO THE AUDIENCE AND YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS A QUESTION ON DEVELOPMENT?

>> YES, WE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE ART DISTRICT.

>> I'M WONDERING WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE PROPERTY IN THE EASTERN END 18TH AND HALSTED THAT WAS THE PILSEN ART DISTRICT THAT WAS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED AND THERE ARE A LOT OF VACANCIES AND I'M WONDERING WHAT THE COMMUNITY'S VISION IS FOR THAT.

>> THAT STRIP BELONGS TO THE 11TH WARD.

AND THAT PATRICK THOMPSON WOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT.

>> IF I COULD, IT'S BEEN PART OF THE PILSEN COMMUNITY BUT WILL PROBABLY RECOGNIZE THE PILSEN COMMUNITY.

>> THAT AREA ALWAYS WAS SORT OF THE GATEWAY FOR GENTRIFICATION ALWAYS BEEN SEEN THAT WAY BUT AS YOU POINTED OUT THERE IS A LOT OF VACANCY.

WE ARE WAITING TO SEE AND WE HAVE TO EVALUATE IT.

BUT ARTISTS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SPACE FOR ARTISTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

>> AND THERE IS A FAMILY LEGAL BATTLE GOING ON BETWEEN THE TWO SURVIVORS.

AND HIS SON AND SISTER.

AND I THINK THAT PROBABLY IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THEY ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM.

>> EDDIE ARRUZA YOU HAVE SOMEONE?

>> THIS IS MAGGIE AND SHE IS ON THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD HERE AT WTTW AND ALSO A LONGTIME EDUCATOR AND HAS A COMMENT AND QUESTION FOR THE PANEL.

>> I DO.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE LINK BETWEEN EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

AND BACK IN THE DAY OF THE 80s AND 90s WHEN THIS WAS TOUGHER, I COULD ALMOST CRY I GET EMOTIONAL.

BECAUSE LATINO YOUTH, ALL OF THOSE, I TRADED OFF FUNDS SO MORE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS COULD BE FUNDED AT THE TIME AND EDUCATION MAKES A DIFFERENCE BUT I ALSO WANT THE DISTRICT DIRECTOR AND ONE OF MY ASSIGNMENTS WAS TO GO TO A CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND AT THAT MEETING, THERE WERE, I'D SAY 20-30 ELDERLY COUPLES IN THEIR 70s AND 80s FROM LITTLE VILLAGE.

LITTLE VILLAGE AND BACK OF THE YARDS ARE NOT ENJOYING THIS FEAST AND I KNOW THE FEAST IS HARD-EARNED.

BUT IT IS THE SAME POPULATION AND THAT IS WHEN FINANCING WAS COMING IN THERE AND PEOPLE WHO WORKED HARD AND INVESTED AND BOUGHT THEIR HOMES NOW IN THEIR LATE YEARS OF LIFE, WERE LOSING THEM BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT AFFORD THE TAXES.

AND THEY STOOD UP AND TURNED THEIR BACK ON THE MAYOR AND STOOD THERE FOR 10 MINUTES.

IT WAS THE MOST POWERFUL THING I'VE SEEN.

AND I'M HOPING THAT THERE WOULD BE A CON TEENAGENT ABOUT THIS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS LINKED TO EDUCATION FOR THE YOUTH IS IMPORTANT FOR THE VIOLENCE AND >> WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION?

>> HOW DID YOU STAVE THIS OFF?

HOW DID THIS NOT HAPPEN IN PILSEN WHEN IT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT BUTT UP AGAINST IT?

>> THE ORGANIZING.

THE DOZENS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ORGANIZING ON WHATEVER ISSUE THAT IS IMMIGRATION, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IMMIGRATION, WE HAD THE FIRST MEETING A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS WITH ABOUT 300 STUDENTS.

AND WE WERE PREPARING THEM HOW TO DEAL WITH THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION AND WHAT THEIR RIGHTS WERE AND WHAT THE LAWS WERE AND IT TOOK ORGANIZING.

>> WHAT I WANT TO ADD IS THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST THERE ARE MANY RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE STAYED THERE AND WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE PILSEN WHAT IT IS WHAT VICKY WAS TALKING ABOUT.

BUT THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO NOT JUST HEADQUARTERED IN PILSEN AND WORKING IN PILSEN BUT THEY ARE BEGINNING TO SPREAD THEIR WINGS TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THE BACK OF THE ARTS AND LITTLE VILLAGE PARTNERING WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THERE, BUILDING BOTH ON THE ASSETS AND NON-TANGIBLE ASSETS THAT EXIST.

OUR WORK IS NOT DONE IN PILSEN ONLY.

THEY MIGHT BE IN PILSEN DOING WONDERFUL WORK THEY ARE DOING WONDERFUL WORK IN OTHER PLACES AS WELL.

>> AND A QUESTION?

>> I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF PILSEN FOR 30 PLUS YEARS AND MY CHILDREN GREW UP IN PILSEN AS WELL.

THE REASON WHY I'M HERE IS BECAUSE I CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO LIVE IN PILSEN.

I WAS GIVEN A 30-DAY NOTICE.

MY RENT HAS BEEN INCREASED DOUBLE.

I WISH TO STAY IN PILSEN BUT I CANNOT AFFORD IT.

SO MY QUESTION TO YOU ALDERMAN DANNY SOLIS IS WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT SITUATIONS LIKE THIS WHERE THE FAMILIES ARE BEING EVICTED THAT WISH TO STAY IN PILSEN BUT CANNOT AFFORD IT ANYMORE?

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON RENT CONTROL?

>> I THINK THAT -- [APPLAUSE] >> I THINK RENT CONTROL IS A KEY ISSUE THAT I AM EXPLORING WITH THE ADVICE OF RAUL RAYMUNDO HE IS COMING UP WITH A STRATEGY HOW TO DO THAT IN PILSEN.

BUT I THINK THE MAIN ISSUE IS HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN PILSEN THAT OWN PROPERTY IN PILSEN TO INVEST IN THE LONG-TERM AND STAY IN PILSEN.

>> EDDIE ARRUZA?

>> MY QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU PLAN OR WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO KEEPING RENTERS TO GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS?

BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY THEY WILL BE CONTINUED TO BE PUSHED OUT AND PUSHED OUT, OUT OF THE BACK OF THE YARDS OUT OF LITTLE VILLAGE.

THIS PROCESS WILL CONTINUE IF THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS DOES NOT EXIST.

ALDERMAN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR RESIDENTS THAT OPPORTUNITY?

>> I WILL TELL YOU AGAIN.

RESURRECTION PROJECT IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATION IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO IN TERMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

ANY KIND OF RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED FROM THE CITY FOR SINGLE FAMILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIOR HOUSING FOR RENTAL HOUSING FOR STUDENT HOUSING, I'VE HELPED THEM TO DO THAT.

THE SECOND POINT IS ANY DEVELOPMENT THAT HAPPENS IN PILSEN HAS TO AGREE TO 21% AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THAT DEVELOPMENT IF IT'S EIGHT UNITS OR MORE.

>> IF I COULD ADD, VERY IMPORTANT THAT ANYBODY WHO IS A CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER IN PILSEN AND IS WATCHING THIS, PILSEN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, TO REMAIN IN PILSEN.

ALL STUDIES INDICATED THE MORE HOMEOWNER OCCUPIED RESIDENTS THERE IS MORE AFFORDABILITY.

THE CHALLENGE WE'RE FACING IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF INVESTORS COMING IN AND BUYING PROPERTY AND IT'S VERY EASY FOR FAMILY WHO BOUGHT A BUILDING FOR $20,000 IN THE 70s TO BE OFFERED 10 TIMES THAT MUCH IN TODAY'S PRICES.

AND THEY BUILD WEALTH AND PART OF THEIR RETIREMENT BUT THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF THEY ARE GOING TO SELL IS THERE ANOTHER NEIGHBOR OR RELATIVE OR FAMILY THAT THEY CAN ALSO INVITE TO PILSEN.

>> AND THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALDERMAN DANNY SOLIS, RAUL RAYMUNDO, VICTORIA ROMERO, ALEX RUIZ, AND MEGHAN HARTE.

[APPLAUSE] AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR TONIGHT'S TOWN HALL EVENT.

WE HOPE THE STORY OF PILSEN WILL ENTIRE MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS CHICAGO TO HAVE A DIALOGUE ABOUT HOW THAT NEIGHBORHOOD -- HOW THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS FACING THE FUTURE.

THROUGHOUT THE SPRING AND SUMMER, WTTW WILL CONDUCT SCREENING OF "MY NEIGHBORHOOD: PILSEN" AND HOST COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ADDRESSING THE ISSUES YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS EVENING AND YOU CAN CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WE STARTED TODAY.

VISIT WWW.WTTW.ORG/MYNEIGHBORHOOD TO LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING AN EVENT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS AT UNIVISION CHICAGO AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

[APPLAUSE]