Stories by 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.

Two brothers had an emotional reunion Friday after the Resurrection Project filed a humanitarian parole application on the family’s behalf.

The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services says one of its goals is to empower the next generation of young women.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Latino neighborhoods in Chicago are on edge amid increased reports of immigration raids by federal law enforcement agents.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

This weekend, Runway Latinx is bringing a fusion of fashion designers together to close out Chicago Fashion Week.

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.

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.

As Chicagoans celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, WTTW News wanted to hear from you about a Latino person who has influenced or inspired you.

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.

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.

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.

“We make sure that all our bilingual books are written by Latino authors and that they speak to our experiences,” Laura Romaní said.

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.