Latino Voices
Latino Voices
Spanish Is Fading Across Generations. These Latino Parents Are Working to Keep It Alive
Nationally, the share of Latinos who speak Spanish at home declined from 78% in 2000 to 68% in 2024, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. The decline has been particularly pronounced among U.S.-born Latinos, as English becomes increasingly dominant across generations.
Read more >Latino Voices
Grassroots Effort Grows Into Queer-Led Community Hub in Gage Park
In a neighborhood where nearly 90% of residents identify as Latino and many families are rooted in Catholic traditions, the queer-led Gage Park Latinx Council has grown into a hub for families.
Read more >Black Voices
Black Voices
Smithsonian Head Lonnie Bunch on Preserving History, Retirement and Trump Administration Threats
Lonnie Bunch was named secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in 2019. He began his career at the Smithsonian at the National Air and Space Museum in 1978 and took on a new role in 2005 to lead the development of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Read more >Black Voices
Chicago State University Gears Up for First-Ever Football Game
For Chicago State University, the first game will be about more than football. The university is hoping the new program can help build a new sports identity on Chicago’s South Side.
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With DACA Again Under Threat, Recipients and Families Express Confusion and Fear
It is expected the final decision on DACA’s future will lie in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court – that would be the third time DACA has come before the high court since it was instituted by executive order during the Obama administration in 2012.
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Get the Hispanic Heritage Month Party Moving with Cumbia Music. Here’s Some Picks
It’s the second week of Hispanic Heritage Month, so it’s time to kick the party into high gear with some truly celebratory music. Music journalist Sandra Treviño says one of the best ways she knows to get people on the dance floor is with the sounds of cumbia.
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New MCA Exhibition Examines the Social and Political Issues of the Puerto Rican Community Through Art
Featuring 18 artists of diverse mediums, the goal of the exhibition is to address the social and political issues that the Puerto Rican community faces — from housing discrimination and migration to bilingual education and health care issues.
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Exploring the Pride and Pressure of Being a First-Generation Latino American
Being a first-generation Latino American comes with rewards and struggles — from honoring your roots while defining your identity as an American to dealing with the weight of family expectations while forging your own path.
Read more >Black Voices
Meet the 17-Year-Old Chicagoan Who Just Earned Her Doctorate Degree
Most 17-year-olds are excited about finishing high school and possibly thinking about college. But Bronzeville teen Dorothy Jean Tillman is in a class all by herself. A typical teen in some ways, she also happens to have just earned her doctorate degree.
Read more >Black Voices
Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, Dec. 6, 2023 - Full Show
An effort to streamline federal financial aid. How a three-time MLB All-Star is giving back to local kids. And restorative practices instead of suspensions — a look at the impact on students.
Read more >Black Voices
Research Shows Benefits of Using Restorative Practices in Chicago Public Schools
A study from the University of Chicago Education Lab showed using restorative practices led to an 18% reduction in suspensions, along with 35% fewer arrests at school and a 15% decrease in out-of-school arrests.
Read more >Black Voices
FAFSA Changes Take Students, Aid Administrators Into Uncharted Territory
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form is undergoing its first major overhaul since the Reagan era.
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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
Spanish Is Fading Across Generations. These Latino Parents Are Working to Keep It Alive
Nationally, the share of Latinos who speak Spanish at home declined from 78% in 2000 to 68% in 2024, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. The decline has been particularly pronounced among U.S.-born Latinos, as English becomes increasingly dominant across generations.
Read more >Black Voices
Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, June 4, 2025 - Full Show
A new path toward building wealth in Chicago’s Black communities. And Chicago State University is adding a football team to its roster.
Read more >Latino Voices
Grassroots Effort Grows Into Queer-Led Community Hub in Gage Park
In a neighborhood where nearly 90% of residents identify as Latino and many families are rooted in Catholic traditions, the queer-led Gage Park Latinx Council has grown into a hub for families.
Read more >Black Voices
Chicago State University Gears Up for First-Ever Football Game
For Chicago State University, the first game will be about more than football. The university is hoping the new program can help build a new sports identity on Chicago’s South Side.
Read more >
Black Voices
Storm Recovery Continues in Gary, as Thousands Still Without Power
Tuesday will mark two weeks since a derecho swept through Illinois and northwest Indiana, with winds damaging homes, uprooting trees and knocking out power for hundreds of thousands.
Read more >Latino Voices
New Short Film Showcases Life, Work of Puerto Rican Activist
Members of Chicago’s Puerto Rican community recently took park in a special screening of a new short film based on the life of Pedro Albizu Campos.
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