>> Hello and thanks for joining us in Chicago tonight.

I'm John Hernandez.

Brandis Friedman has the evening off.

Here's what we're looking at.

Ahead of small business Saturday.

We talk with a group of business owners about the holiday shopping season.

We explore how local Native Americans are preserving their history.

>> Want to showcase our heritage.

>> And the new pizza spot serving up a fusion of ingredients.

>> And now to some of today's top stories.

Local Palestinian groups are reacting today to the cease-fire between Israel in the militant group, Hezbollah.

The deal announced yesterday calls for 2 months halt in fighting and requires hizbollah to end its armed presence in most of southern Lebanon.

While Israel troops would withdraw from Lebanese territory.

The deal does not address the war in Gaza, brought pro-Palestinian activists in Chicago are calling for more in a statement, the U.S. Palestinian Community Network says while they're relieved about the cease-fire, they're demanding the U.S. and all aid to Israel in charge.

Israel's prime minister with war crimes.

President Joe Biden says his administration will renew efforts for a cease-fire in Gaza in the coming days.

And Amtrak is gearing up for a busy few days of holiday travel.

Amtrak officials say Thanksgiving is its busiest travel period of the year and the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is traditionally its second busiest travel day of the year and to accommodate the expected surge of customers.

And truck says it's adding extra cars to Northeast regional and Midwest trains and increasing trip frequencies between a number of popular destinations along the Northeast corridor.

Officials are encouraging you to of I-45 minutes before his departure.

And if you're traveling by car this Thanksgiving, good news conditions for a potential winter storm didn't quite materialize.

The National Weather Service is forecasting some effect.

Rain or snow tonight in northeast Illinois and shifting to northwest Indiana overnight accumulations.

If any are expected to be minimal.

But the big story will be the temperatures which will drop Friday into the 20's with overnight lows in the teens.

The cold pattern is expected to stick around for the entire holiday weekend.

It is going to be a cold one.

Up next area.

Business owners are looking for a bump in foot traffic.

Now that the holidays are here.

That's right.

After this.

>> Chicago tonight, voices is made possible in part by the support of these.

Don't use.

>> As you prepare your shopping list this holiday season, don't forget about the city's vibrant local business scene.

In addition to Black Friday and Cyber Monday this week also marks small business Saturday in local entrepreneurs are encouraging shoppers to visit throughout the season and here to share more about their business is our seen settles, owner of settles, leather company.

Gabriel Neely, co-owner of is Megan knows Marshawn a Miller owner of Bomb Beauty boutique in Quentin McNair, owner of Struggle Beard, Bakery.

Thank you guys for being here.

I love seeing the table full of different items.

I know that opening a business comes with the story.

So all of you have to have your journey and story.

Quinton, I want to start with You launch your business after serving 24 years in the military.

How did baking played a role in making that transaction transition and where that name come from?

Struggle.

Beard Bakery give you the story real quick when the girl might be or when I first got the military here we are 5 later, not much of I was struggling with depression and PTSD.

>> And discover bacon as a way to deal with that.

So what what started off as a hobby of the way to deal with PTSD and depression quarantine, which made the problem like 10 times worse.

It turned into a thriving business in the way for me to give back to the community.

So really was a healing journey for 100% of Hillary.

And then you realize you could bake not when I first started.

So that was that was one of the struggles that the actual bacon was a struggle.

When first started little bit of practice and light the genuine love for I got a lot better eating.

Give message.

Gabriel, your store is located right in Michigan Avenue.

A very busy.

>> Spud in dismay.

Connell's the goods are had made from Mexico.

You brought some here.

Tell us about teach INS and how you work with them.

>> are still currently represents about 150 families from 15 different states and as well as a lot of local Latino artists covering neighborhoods like those in Little Village, Marquette Park.

Yeah.

One of the few small local businesses downtown.

And we're really excited for holiday season and showing people a little piece of Chicago as they walked the Magnificent Mile in her.

Those partnership come about.

>> In finding people to bring to your store.

Sure.

It's been a process of years.

You know, we started out from the humblest of origins, working street festivals around the city and making contacts across make it go through our own family networks through travel and now we're in a position where given that the store has grown a little bit, people seek us out, which is a great honor to represent some of the greatest crafts people from across like imagine that being downtown comes with challenges.

Yeah.

Stories almost full for in good ways and and challenging ways of most of the time.

But it's a real blessing to be sort of in the eyes of the world downtown.

And we really tried to represent Chicago as best we can.

>> In Morrow, want to go to you.

How did you get started working with leather and handcrafted items.

>> Was starting with the day.

Didn't really know the beginning.

What to do it.

I attempted of.

A business before NFL through and I was like gotta figure something here, but I we had a passion, increased demand.

And another way I was iPhone bizarre stumble upon When I was working with a job, I had to construction.

>> And those looking for some tools that I needed the other stuff for, like tape measure holders and one a.

>> actually it was the idea of a labor that said, hey, Mario, tired of him, he Grabbing about his holder for steam engine and broken in.

They clicked into But you know what?

I'm going to take this asking for permission for it and just take it from a and is that, yeah, Macy we can do let me try it out.

Yeah.

But you knew you wanted to start a business.

So then that would trigger that ultimately that so I went home made me a better one.

Better version of it, took it to him.

And then it just like wildfire.

They hey, can you make me more then that turned into can you make belts?

Can you Can you make a while?

It's can you make songs like man?

This is a mix I do lie.

And here we are in sport.

Here we are.

this is my passion.

Also want to get back to the community I know that there's a lot of kids out there and I struggled with trying to find all that for him.

For the energy that I have.

And and then I figured one.

I just give a to the kids that very seeking that kind of a.

Cross Red Crescent shape and teach them how to do everything by hand.

Because everything I do is by hand.

So I dropped the pad is by hand to cut everything up and they stitched by hand.

There's so much passion and love right behind that that's really great.

>> Mars, I want to go with you.

I heard that your business actually start your passion for fashion started when you were a kid rate, tell us about bomb beauty boutique and what kind of styles.

What can we find there?

Sure.

Yeah.

So a really bad eggs in and I just was trying to find a different way to empower myself and give myself some confidence.

And so I dove into everything, beauty, fashion and entertainment.

And I first started out, you know, obsessive with skin care routines.

And then I went say hair and then I went calls and he's just expanded from there.

So you really embodying the whole entrepreneur spirit?

Absolutely.

I actually got it from my mom.

Some of my working very hard going up.

She had a full-time job and that she had multiple businesses on the side.

And, you know, you're a kid.

I didn't realize it at the time.

But as I got older it really understood her more.

And got to entrepreneurial spirit.

I love that.

Tell me a little bit.

As we know.

It's small business Saturday.

What are some of the deals that people can expect that brought some of your jewelry?

Yeah.

So everything you see here is $10 or less at my store, which is located at 8, 3, 7, West, 100 15th street 150, the hostage.

We're doing a big small business Saturday sale.

I'm going throw it in the bag sale.

So I have a bag $45.

You fill it out.

Whatever cafe inside the bag is yours to have.

And that's not a bad deal.

Now, right used to see how creative people gate was definitely in the bag.

Yeah.

See, really is look at what about you continue.

Your shop is located in high Parker editing.

>> You're right on the right of these goods to yes.

Tax brought to share with everybody One thing enjoy about bacon is the actual Sharon.

Other people enjoy things that create.

>> We keep merch from everything from the but he didn't wear.

And it's a partnership with another black owned business, a merging of our 2 brains.

So we have coffee cups.

We have, of course, the treats.

So it's type of place you come is more coffee, shop and bakery.

You come in, get a tree or if you want to take one home or travel and said to give weekend, eventually wrap any of our goods for you.

Put in your own gift.

Baskets were also having events every Wednesday night.

Tonight we're having care, cookies and karaoke.

We can come in.

Get your seeing off to fire doodle.

You have a whole bunch which your favorite.

So my favorite.

>> Is the one that started the business.

It is the Charles Anthony still in the bag down to cooking to make.

But it's also it tells the story of the bakery.

So I love to share that with people in particular.

That's also what Gabriel?

I love all these different.

You brought candles, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

This let's see about a Christmas ornament.

We have a huge selection of handmade Christmas ornaments.

This one >> Call that he got which is a gourd that's been carved by hand with essentially like a little chisel.

So, yeah, the entire thing is drawn out.

This would have been the natural skin of the gourd that was painted black and then it was basically carved to draw to cut out the drawings of the birds and the animals.

A lot of the art in our stores inspired by the natural landscapes of people.

And that takes time.

People need to not this takes time.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

Each of these pieces takes several days to craft.

So yeah, a lot of handmade ceramics.

This is another sort idea of ours working the summons from Mexico.

This is a handmade little cost when you which is a little that we've poured.

We've worked with a local partner to poor candle into dozens of candles.

Okay.

it afterwards?

I do think it's important for people to shop small business.

>> Because where your community, you know, your neighbors and the same money that you can spend with us as money will turn around and put back into our communities to support our schools.

>> To support our local grocery stores, it's I don't know.

I think we all really respond well to that feeling of walking into a place and knowing the people who work there knowing how invested they are in it and you can definitely feel the passion around this table.

And I know that goes for a lot of small businesses around the city to the grave.

>> What you what are some deals he would say for for Saturday?

So for Sandra doing classes right now to the promotion for $10 and you >> We're creating a So this is a perfect example of the wallet.

I didn't bring any of the other stuff so they can learn how to make a lot.

Yes, that's So they can see everybody wants a good leather wallet?

yeah.

My brother was just asking you to buy one for Christmas the so Rizzo.

How long is a class we're going to do on 12 to 22, but they're welcome to stay.

We're going to have little finger food and we're going to have ornament decorating to so for the kids that Friday's thing to get something going on Friday.

But as a black Friday, if you which is very different now, Back in the day of TV's.

I think we're on the same era dangerous.

Now now the sales start like a month ahead.

yeah.

And you talked about giving back.

>> Mars, would you say that?

It's also important for you to get back?

Absolutely.

I do a lot of free things in my store and a lot of community things.

>> Because like he said, this is the aspect.

I had an election night watch party kaiwi $100 in gift cards just to get the community engaged in voting and coming around.

Also host what I call a boutique boot camp so that teach people how to start their own boutiques and my very first class, the top 14 young ladies that were impacted by incarceration had to start their all retail business.

So whether they had a parent, whether whether they themselves are incarcerated, I taught them how have a new path, a fresh start that doesn't require much education.

Just a couple $100 and a lot of passion that everyone can do it.

Well, thank you so much for taking the time for coming down here and sharing your talent.

Thank you.

I can't wait try your screen live cooking.

I'm pregnant.

So I I'm I think you get >> up next, local efforts to preserve Native American heritage.

>> Chicago >> is home to one of the largest urban Native American populations in the United States.

More than 65,000 live in the greater metropolitan area, representing about 175 different tribes.

And while November marks Native American Heritage Month, many locals say they don't confine celebrating their traditions, culture and achievements.

Just 2, 1, month.

Here with more.

Our jessamine Curnow board president of the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative.

And Matthew, we saw tribal Council chairman of the Polk is on band of Potawatomi of Michigan and Indiana.

Thank you both for joining us.

Jasmine, I want to start with you.

Tell me about the significance of the fall season for Native Americans, of course.

Well, I can only speak so much for myself and my family's experience but fall is.

>> A season to celebrate harvest to give.

Thanks for the growing season and to prepare for the long cold winter months.

But yeah, definitely a season of of gratitude, but has all year round.

But especially in the fall, something to celebrate all your on your culture and traditions.

That's beautiful.

Matthew.

>> I want to go to you.

And what ways is a parking on ban preserve its culture?

>> Well, we spent 30 years of preserving culture rebuilding our government to fund a reaffirmation in 1994 November is an interesting month.

And that, you know, as you said, it's a, you know, Native American month.

But for Were Native American 365 days a year.

So there's well, we go out and do a lot of teaching.

We get a lot of requests for schools and different groups to, you know, learn more about the native community.

It's something that we live every day.

So it's it's really not a lot of difference just something have to work at.

>> And want to correct myself, poke can write a cage, want to make sure that I'm right.

And and Matthew, you govern over 6300 tribal citizens and your community is constantly growing.

I do want to bring a stat.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that national poverty rate for the natives was 21% in 2023.

Compared to 17% for black people.

16% for Hispanics in 9% for Asians.

Why do you think natives have have the highest rate?

>> You know, that's that's a good question.

Because when you look at our community under the last census, we took our unemployment rate was above 50%.

I think a lot of that is a lot of our elders still suffer from the trauma boarding schools and the attempts are attempts to improve the quality of life of our people is an ongoing project for us.

You know what?

Education is very important to us.

We have a very robust education scholarship program.

Health care is very important with a very nice clinic.

know, we create as many jobs as we can.

And we're building homes to bring more of our people home.

You know, we have 6300 citizens, but yet we have citizens of every state in the country and even some outside the country and many of them want to come home we want to build a place where they can come on and be comfortable and improve the quality of life.

>> Be able to drive jasmine in an effort to increase financial support, though the CA ICC invites foundations to witness indigenous experiences in Chicago Land area.

What does that experience look like?

And what do you want people to take away from that?

Yeah, I would say connected to what chairman we mentioned Native Americans face hyper invisibility.

And so a lot of decision makers, policymakers.

>> Foundation grant makers are not seeing are knowledgeable about the Native American experience.

And so of the things that efforts that cake has done is to educate the phone traffic community on one, catch them up to speed.

That natives are still around.

They still Today's society and we have both great need and a big dreams for our communities.

So I'm helping form and educate the grant makers and foundations talking about education.

You mentioned that most states don't teach their students about natives Post 1900.

What does history show after that time period?

Would he want people to know?

One that native still exist in all of our complexities.

I think in addition to our racialized experience, we also have a legal and political status within the U.S. and so that's because of our treaties with the U.S. government's are sovereignty.

And so I would want folks to understand and learn about the U.S. context.

>> And Matthew, I want to talk about mascots.

Can you tell me what efforts are you making towards mascot removal in school and schools?

And what would you say?

Are those impacts us impacts about having mascots in different communities.

>> Well, one of the one of the big impacts is you have a number of children who will not self identified because of the harassment discrimination they take for being Native American in the school has the mascot Chenault with.

We have a we've had since 2013, a very big push to get rid of the Redskins logo the Redskins mascot in particular native community looks at the rest Redskin what we refer to as the R word the same way the African-American community looks at the N word.

So there's a very big push.

We had 9 schools.

I think we had overnight schools 10 years ago.

I think we're down to one.

But if you look at the research it shows there is a negative impact having these mascots in the schools get in habits, our students learning ability.

And when you look at the school board's system, their number one priority is to create the most positive learning environment they can for their students.

And when you have these types of ceremonial logos and mascots, you're just not providing that environments.

>> What are your thoughts?

has been at see that.

It's not a matter of opinion on whether it's honoring are representing accurate research shows that Native American representation or harmful for not just native children, but all children.

And yet they have no place in our society.

>> We know Chicago has a longstanding history of Native American history.

You know, I want to ask the last question here is when it comes to Thanksgiving, how do you want people to rethink the past of that history?

I think more and more of the this younger generation, especially wants to know the real truth their own country in their history.

And so let's not shy away from that.

Would you say it's more of a day of mourning for groups of Native Americans that say some folks to sober recognize the day as a day of mourning.

could be a day of giving.

Thanks.

could be a day to honor their ancestors of lives lost and are enduring a resistant.

Well, thank you, Jasmine, and thank you, Matthew, for both.

Joining us.

Appreciate it.

>> Up next, a nurse and a factory worker team up to open their very own pizza place.

We stopped by for a slice.

There's no doubt that food is on many of our minds this week.

>> And if you're venturing out in the cold, there's a pizzeria in the Pilsen neighborhood that is putting a modern twist on an Italian classic.

>> We recently sat down with the owners of novel Pizza Cafe to learn about their journey.

You hear that sound.

>> That's the sound of the thing.

Classic style Chicago pizza crust with a twist.

>> think some people might not like you're they've been what is that?

They want to putting that on a pizza.

And it is a right, that it could reside.

>> One of the owners of novel Pizza in Pilsen.

The Chicago native says he grew watching his dad making pizzas my dad's been making news for like 30 5 years.

>> So that a couple more minutes.

>> it his 2 friends?

Ryan got political in.

France's all need open pizza in June.

The spot is decked out with 90's inspired throwbacks and the food embraces a fusion of their Mexican and Filipino cultures.

>> Want to showcase our heritage when we change a pizza that it be irregular.

Chicago, like Italian and we're trying a few other things.

>> Serving tavern style warfare and pizza topped with unique ingredients.

>> We do have some takes on a cold chisel the Filipino from of it.

We a longer view.

So which is a Filipino breakfast, pork sausage.

It's like a sweet about set out with the becomes very well.

>> Before becoming a business owner was on worked at a factory and got political still works as an emergency room nurse for the VA hospital.

>> When the pandemic hit be at the hospital and doing that.

But then I just come home and start messing around making pizza with ingredients and China just work up the recipe.

>> Eventually their love for pizza brought them together leading to a business partnership.

>> The trio begins selling pizzas at pop-up events, mixing stuff of our hand do.

>> And then we finally buy like a little mix.

Are at-home ones?

And then now we have big Hobart.

>> Upbeat, despite also runs a campaign crafting or chop the lattes I just feel like this is.

>> My home coming in like.

Alright, go >> The partners recently celebrated their grand opening.

>> yeah.

kind of see if they were doing and like.

>> you do it.

They me upset it like when they want open a pizza shop.

And I know my friends If it did it and it's like then do it.

>> And that's exactly like what we want to do is showcase like Larry, anybody can do it.

If you have like the motive and just what your mind to it.

>> Who >> doesn't like pizza and novel Pizza Cafe is open Wednesdays through Saturdays.

And that's our show for this Wednesday night.

We're off tomorrow for Thanksgiving, but join us on Friday for a special edition of the weekend review.

Now from the economy and immigration to reproductive care and the environment, we explore the potential impact.

A second Trump administration could have on Illinois.

Now from all of us here, Chicago tonight, I'm John Hernandez.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe.

This holiday.

>> Good night.

>> Oppose caption made possible by Robert a cliff and Clifford law.

A Chicago personal injury and wrongful death proud to recognize its turns recognized in the 2025