Latino Voices

Latino Voices

‘Like Lightning Struck’: Community Marks 60 Years Since the First Division Street Riot, Puerto Rican Rebellion

(Courtesy of the Chicago History Museum) While events for the community are planned for the entire weekend to celebrate Puerto Rican pride and culture, this year also honors the history of Chicago’s Boricua community — marking the 60-year anniversary of the first Division Street riot. Read more >

Latino Voices

As Mexico City Prepares to Host World Cup, Residents Say Construction Is Taking a Toll

(Medill School of Journalism) Residents said the rapid construction is destroying local infrastructure, severing the very pipelines that communities depend on for daily life. For many, the disruptions have come with little warning and even less explanation. Read more >

Black Voices

Black Voices

From a Replica Oval Office to Michelle Obama’s Dresses, What’s Inside the Obama Presidential Center

Visitors experience the “Yes We Can” installation at the Obama Presidential Center Museum on March 1, 2026. (The Obama Foundation) WTTW News visited the Obama Presidential Center for a firsthand look at the exhibits, installations and everything in between. Read more >

Black Voices

South Side Residents Voice Gentrification Concerns Ahead of Obama Presidential Center Opening

The Women’s Garden at the Obama Presidential Center Museum in Chicago on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (The Obama Foundation) Despite years of organizing and city ordinances being put in place, rising housing costs and investor activity continue to threaten gentrification in neighborhoods surrounding the Obama Presidential Center. Read more >

Latino Voices

‘It’s Really Heartbreaking’: Undocumented Parents Share Their Experiences Amid Fears of Mass Deportations

A still photo from a WTTW News package on undocumented families. (WTTW News) 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. Read more >

Latino Voices

Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices, Feb. 20, 2025 - Full Show

Joanna Hernandez hosts the Feb. 20, 2025, episode of "Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices." (WTTW News) Schools are facing a deadline to cut diversity programs or lose funding — how it could change the education landscape. And inside a local organization helping teens tell their stories. Read more >

Latino Voices

Mass Deportations a Cause of Concern for Illinois Restaurant Industry

(WTTW News) The U.S. restaurant industry relies on the labor of undocumented immigrants. But in the wake of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation orders, some Illinois restaurant owners are raising concerns. Read more >

Latino Voices

West Side Filmmaking Program Empowers Teens to Challenge Narratives About Their Communities

Students at Luv City. (WTTW News) 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. Read more >

Black Voices

Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, Aug. 20, 2025 - Full Show

Brandis Friedman hosts the Aug. 20, 2025, episode of "Chicago Tonight: Black Voices." (WTTW News) The head of the Chicago Teachers Union on the district’s budget deficit and more. And prison lockdowns are on the rise — we explore the reasons. Read more >

Black Voices

Illinois’ SNAP Education Program to End Amid Federal Funding Cuts. How That Could Impact Local Communities

(Photography By Tonelson / iStock) More than 1 million Illinois residents have benefitted from an educational program that teaches SNAP recipients about nutrition. Read more >

Black Voices

CTU President Rejects Pritzker’s Assertion No More Money to Be Found in Springfield for Schools

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates appears on “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices” on Aug. 20, 2025. (WTTW News) CPS is facing a $734 million shortfall with a deadline to pass a balanced budget coming next Friday, but the options facing CPS board members and the interim CEO appear to be narrowing. Read more >

Black Voices

Chicago Program Put 30,000 Young People to Work This Summer

The Chicago skyline is pictured in a file photo. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News) The city’s One Summer Chicago program put 30,000 young people to work this year, providing jobs in transportation, health care, business and more. Read more >

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

‘Like Lightning Struck’: Community Marks 60 Years Since the First Division Street Riot, Puerto Rican Rebellion

(Courtesy of the Chicago History Museum) While events for the community are planned for the entire weekend to celebrate Puerto Rican pride and culture, this year also honors the history of Chicago’s Boricua community — marking the 60-year anniversary of the first Division Street riot. Read more >

Black Voices

Up For 16 Oscars, ‘Sinners’ Sparks Conversation on Chicago Blues History and Its Future

Blues musician Billy Branch performs. (Provided) While the blues may be having a mainstream moment, the Chicago blues community has long been dedicated to the art form’s preservation, history and future. Read more >

Latino Voices

As Mexico City Prepares to Host World Cup, Residents Say Construction Is Taking a Toll

(Medill School of Journalism) Residents said the rapid construction is destroying local infrastructure, severing the very pipelines that communities depend on for daily life. For many, the disruptions have come with little warning and even less explanation. Read more >

Black Voices

South Side Residents Voice Gentrification Concerns Ahead of Obama Presidential Center Opening

The Women’s Garden at the Obama Presidential Center Museum in Chicago on Thursday, May 14, 2026. (The Obama Foundation) Despite years of organizing and city ordinances being put in place, rising housing costs and investor activity continue to threaten gentrification in neighborhoods surrounding the Obama Presidential Center. Read more >

 

Black Voices

New Columbia College President on Her Vision for the School’s Future

Shantay Bolton appears on “Chicago Tonight” on June 2, 2026. (WTTW News) Shantay Bolton was appointed the 11th president and CEO of Columbia College Chicago at what she calls a “pivotal moment” for the school. Bolton, who is the first woman of color to lead the minority-serving institution, inherits a campus that has seen enrollment steadily decline over the last decade. Read more >

Latino Voices

From Dancehall to Reggaeton, Exhibit Explores the Power of Music as Protest

Matthew McCarthy and Maxine Walters, “The Most High–a serious t’ing,” 2026. Installation view, “Dancing the Revolution: From Dancehall to Reggaetón,” MCA Chicago, April 14-Sept. 20, 2026. (Michael Tropea / MCA Chicago) The Museum of Contemporary Art is showcasing a new exhibition tracing the visual, political and spiritual origins of popular Caribbean music. Art installations are designed to immerse visitors in sound and movement. Read more >