Stories by Joanna Hernandez
Upcoming Exhibit Will Showcase Latino Stories. Share Your Photos, Memories With the Chicago History Museum
| Joanna Hernandez
Glamorous Quinceañera dresses and an Indigenous ceremonial mask are among the items that will be on display in “Aquí en Chicago,” an upcoming Chicago History Museum exhibit celebrating the long history of Latinos in the city.
Venezuelan Immigrant Temporarily Released From ICE Custody to Donate Kidney to Brother
| Joanna Hernandez
Two brothers had an emotional reunion Friday after the Resurrection Project filed a humanitarian parole application on the family’s behalf.
Chicago Event Aims to Inspire, Empower Teen Girls: ‘We Are the Change’
| Joanna Hernandez
The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services says one of its goals is to empower the next generation of young women.
A Chicago-Area Man Needs a Kidney. His Brother Who Planned to Donate Was Arrested by ICE
| Joanna Hernandez
A Cicero man with kidney failure is fighting for his life, while his brother who planned to donate a kidney is now seeking temporary humanitarian release from ICE custody. Here’s their story.
Chicago Nonprofit Supporting Women in Trades Sues Trump Administration Over Anti-DEI Orders
| Joanna Hernandez
The lawsuit challenges two of President Donald Trump’s executive orders ending government support of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The orders call DEI programs illegal and immoral discrimination.
‘It’s Really Heartbreaking’: Undocumented Parents Share Their Experiences Amid Fears of Mass Deportations
| Joanna Hernandez
Many undocumented families describe their lives as living in the shadows since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Mixed-status families who have called Chicago home for decades are feeling the impact of Trump’s promise to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.
3 Years Into Russia-Ukraine War, Chicago’s Ukrainian Community Continues to Speak Out and Organize Aid
| Joanna Hernandez
Monday marks three years since Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, resulting in thousands of people being killed and millions displaced. Chicago’s Ukrainian Village is home to one of the largest populations of Ukrainians in the U.S.
West Side Filmmaking Program Empowers Teens to Challenge Narratives About Their Communities
| Joanna Hernandez
Luv City focuses on youth violence prevention on Chicago’s West Side. Students delve into the world of digital media — learning about film production, editing, photography and acting.
Business Owners in Little Village, Back of the Yards Say Sales Declining Amid Fears of ICE Raids
| Joanna Hernandez
Latino neighborhoods in Chicago are on edge amid increased reports of immigration raids by federal law enforcement agents.
University of Chicago Lab Connects Computers With the Human Body
| Joanna Hernandez
In this lab, you can find students working on projects like a smartwatch incorporating muscle stimulation, an augmented headset that expands our perception, or a device to assist individuals in learning the drums.
Mexican Government Launches App to Help People Facing Deportation
| Joanna Hernandez
The app is designed to provide resources and to alert relatives, lawyers and officials at the nearest consulate when someone is being detained or deported.
Retracing Martin Luther King’s Time in Chicago With Shermann ‘Dilla’ Thomas
| Joanna Hernandez
Almost six decades later, urban historian Shermann “Dilla” Thomas is making sure new generations know the details of Martin Luther King Jr.’s time in Chicago through his educational tours of the city’s neighborhoods.
Chicago Entrepreneur Recreates Classic CPS Lunchroom Cookies
| Joanna Hernandez
Do you remember those buttery lunchroom cookies? The simple shortbread snack was a staple in hundreds of Chicago public schools; they sold for just a couple of cents for years.
A Look Inside Greater Chicago Food Depository’s New Facility, Delivering Nourishing Meals Across the City
| Joanna Hernandez
The Greater Chicago Food Depository is a non-stop operation serving hundreds of organizations across Chicago and Cook County. With food insecurity still rising, the food bank has opened a new facility focused on preparing hot meals.
Grano Offers Modern Take on Mexican Bakery in Back of the Yards
| Joanna Hernandez
Brothers Andy and Fredy Granados opened Grano Panadería and Café in Back of the Yards. The shop combines traditional Mexican flavors with their first-generation Chicago roots.
After-School Programs Facing Cuts as Organizations Wait for State to Distribute Promised $50M
| Joanna Hernandez
Illinois lawmakers previously approved $50 million for after-school and summer programs, but that funding hasn’t reached schools yet. This delay leaves Chicago Public Schools and local organizations facing difficult budget cuts.
Free Puppet Shows Blend Theatrics, Classical Music for Dia de los Muertos
| Joanna Hernandez
“Day of the Dead LIVE!” is running Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at the Harold Washington Library. The free show will feature larger-than-life puppets, stilt-walkers, skeletons, ghosts and aerialists — plus classical music from pianist Llewellyn Sánchez Werner.
Runway Latinx Holds Fashion Show for a Cause
| Joanna Hernandez
This weekend, Runway Latinx is bringing a fusion of fashion designers together to close out Chicago Fashion Week.
‘He Continues to Give’: Chicago Family, Local Nonprofit Urge People to Become Organ Donors
| Joanna Hernandez
The Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network is urging people to become organ donors. According to the nonprofit, while 95% of people in the U.S. support donation, fewer than 60% are registered organ and tissue donors.
Pilsen Antique Shop Delivers Curated Collections, Hidden Gems: ‘People Find It Magical’
| Joanna Hernandez
If you’re walking down 18th Street, it’s hard to pass the El Anticuario storefront without wondering what’s inside. It’s just about everything.
Chicago Talks: This Hispanic Heritage Month, Who Inspires You?
| Joanna Hernandez
As Chicagoans celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, WTTW News wanted to hear from you about a Latino person who has influenced or inspired you.
‘Chicago Style’ Showcases Black Fashion Through the Decades
| Joanna Hernandez
Two friends have combined their love of fashion by incorporating film and the runway to take people on a journey back to see Black fashion on Chicago’s South Side decades ago. The “Chicago Style” film and fashion show runs from 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21.
From Festivals to a Parade, Here’s How Chicagoans Are Celebrating Mexican Independence Day
| Joanna Hernandez
You’ve probably seen a lot of Mexican flags around Chicago this week. That’s because celebrations for Mexican Independence Day are kicking off this weekend. Some street closures and traffic disruptions are expected in parts of the city as thousands will participate in the festivities.
What Chicagoans Want to Hear From Donald Trump and Kamala Harris at the Debate
| Joanna Hernandez
WTTW News hit the streets in Chicago to speak with people and find out what they want to hear from the candidates during the debate.
How a Chicago Business Owner is Helping Kids Access Bilingual Books
| Joanna Hernandez
“We make sure that all our bilingual books are written by Latino authors and that they speak to our experiences,” Laura Romaní said.
For Some Chicago Voters, Kamala Harris Represents Something Bigger: ‘She Covers a Cross-Section of American Society’
| Joanna Hernandez
If Vice President Kamala Harris beats former President Donald Trump in November, she’ll be the first woman in the Oval Office as well as the first person of Jamaican ancestry to assume the role, and the first person of South Asian descent.
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