Latino Voices
Latino Voices
Volunteers Help Immigrant Parents Get Their Kids to School With the ‘Walking School Bus’
“The moment that the raids started happening and people started getting pulled off the street, you could just see it,” volunteer Alyssa May said. “You could see less students, less families, less vendors. And it really did change. It just became a really quiet place.”
Read more >Latino Voices
In Chicago, Some Businesses Report Pandemic-Era Drop in Sales Amid Immigration Raids
“I thought after COVID, like, alright, we’re in the clear,” said Adrian Zamudio, owner of Angelo’s Stuffed Pizza in Archer Heights. “We don’t have to think of anything spontaneous or something to survive anymore. A couple years later, here we are again.”
Read more >Black Voices
Black Voices
Residents of South Shore Building Raided by ICE Must Move Out by Friday, Judge Rules
Judge Debra Ann Seaton denied a 60-day extension request saying “it would be inhumane for this court not to relocate people as quickly as possible,” citing gas leaks and plumbing issues. Many residents said they had nowhere to go.
Read more >Black Voices
Director and Actor Robert Townsend Returns to Chicago for Namesake Film Festival
The event will take place Saturday and Sunday and features a variety of film screenings, discussions, a game night and a master class taught by Townsend himself.
Read more >Latino Voices
Under Threat of ICE Strikes, El Grito Canceled and Communities Prepare for Mexican Independence Day Celebrations
Immigration and Customs Enforcement strike teams are likely to begin operations around Chicago in the coming days, and local officials expect agents to target large gatherings like Sunday’s parade in Little Village and Saturday’s 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade in Pilsen.
Read more >Latino Voices
Venezuela’s Ruling Party Maintains Control Amid Election Boycotts. What That Means Going Forward
Latin America is in the midst of a crucial election year in countries including Venezuela, whose ruling party claimed another win last month amid opposition boycotts. Advocates say last month’s results could further roil the country’s political landscape.
Read more >Latino Voices
Local Illustrator Explores Growing Up in an Immigrant Household in New Children’s Book
Writer and illustrator Jacqueline Alcántara draws from her own childhood to help kids navigate their diverse identities in her new book called “Tíos and Primos” — Spanish for “aunts, uncles and cousins.”
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Cinco de Mayo Parade Canceled in Chicago Amid Deportation Fears: ‘There is Nothing to Celebrate’
“It’s definitely a tradition we don’t want to lose but with this administration, it’s better to keep our people safe,” said Hector Escobar, president of Casa Puebla and the Cermak Road Chamber of Commerce.
Read more >Black Voices
Advocates Say Black Communities Are Left Out of Regional Transit Reform Debate
Chicago-area public transit agencies are facing a fiscal cliff. The budget gap for CTA, Metra and Pace is at $200 million, according to the Regional Transportation Authority.
Read more >Black Voices
Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, Oct. 1, 2025 - Full Show
Chicago City Council prepares to navigate a billion-dollar budget deficit. And local businessman Willie Wilson on his vision to curb crime in the city.
Read more >Black Voices
Willie Wilson on Public Safety in Chicago, National Guard Troops: ‘This Is Very Personal to Me’
Local businessman and former Chicago mayoral candidate Willie Wilson, 79, welcomes the possibility of soldiers in the city. “This is very personal to me,” Wilson said. “I’ve lost a son to violence.”
Read more >Black Voices
Service Cuts on the Table as Chicago Confronts $1.15B Budget Shortfall, Alderpeople Say
A budget forecast for 2026 projects a $1.15 billion deficit for the city, driven by the end of one-time federal pandemic aid and continued uncertainty over pension payments for Chicago Public Schools employees.
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Join WTTW News every weekend for analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts and life, entrepreneurship and innovation, and equity and justice across the sectors of our society and in the Black and Latino communities in Chicago. Make the VOICES series your definitive source for real conversation and a platform for different voices and perspectives.
Latino Voices
Black Voices
Latino Voices
Volunteers Help Immigrant Parents Get Their Kids to School With the ‘Walking School Bus’
“The moment that the raids started happening and people started getting pulled off the street, you could just see it,” volunteer Alyssa May said. “You could see less students, less families, less vendors. And it really did change. It just became a really quiet place.”
Read more >Black Voices
Director and Actor Robert Townsend Returns to Chicago for Namesake Film Festival
The event will take place Saturday and Sunday and features a variety of film screenings, discussions, a game night and a master class taught by Townsend himself.
Read more >Latino Voices
In Chicago, Some Businesses Report Pandemic-Era Drop in Sales Amid Immigration Raids
“I thought after COVID, like, alright, we’re in the clear,” said Adrian Zamudio, owner of Angelo’s Stuffed Pizza in Archer Heights. “We don’t have to think of anything spontaneous or something to survive anymore. A couple years later, here we are again.”
Read more >Black Voices
Director and Actor Robert Townsend Returns to Chicago for Namesake Film Festival
The event will take place Saturday and Sunday and features a variety of film screenings, discussions, a game night and a master class taught by Townsend himself.
Read more >
Black Voices
For Some People With Criminal Records, Illinois’ Clean Slate Act Could Offer a New Beginning
More than 2 million people in Illinois are eligible to have their records sealed but haven’t acted on what is currently a cumbersome, lengthy process.
Read more >Latino Voices
Homeland Security Terminates Automatic Work Permit Renewals; Advocates Say Move Could Broaden Deportation Efforts
The Trump administration says this move allows better vetting of those using work permits. However, some are skeptical of that reasoning.
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