The Ñ Beat: June 17, 2017
CHICAGO (WLS) -- ABC 7's Emmy Award-winning "The Ñ Beat," aired Saturday, June 17 at 6:00 p.m.
Hosted by Stacey Baca with contributions from ABC 7's Tanja Babich, Rob Elgas, Michelle Gallardo, John Garcia and Roz Varon, THE Ñ BEAT is a rich tapestry of stories highlighting Chicago's vibrant Latino community. The half-hour program covers everything from business to education to food and the arts. Baca hosts this edition of the THE Ñ BEAT from the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center Saturday, June 17 at 6 pm with an encore presentation on Sunday, June 25 at 4:30 pm. THE Ñ BEAT is an Emmy Award winning series of special programs produced by ABC 7 Chicago.
MIGUEL AGUILAR - "KANE ONE"
Like many other artists.. Miguel Aguilar's first 'canvasses' were outdoor walls but he has now become one of the biggest names on Chicago's 'graffiti scene'! In fact, his work has been commissioned by the likes of Nike and Ford... but his real -passion- is passing along this urban art form to future generations. Along with teaching graffiti to his college students at the School of the Art Institute, Aguilar founded the 'Graffiti Institute'. It is a non-profit that helps teach Pilsen teenagers about the many artistic possibilities that graffiti provides. Over the past 5 years, about one hundred students have gone through Aguilar's Graffiti Institute program! "Kane One", as Aguilar is known in the art world, also helps share his passion for art all summer long... by hosting a running art tour that departs from the National Museum of Mexican Art the last Saturday of each month. In fact, he's headed out again on June 24th and July 29th.
For information on the Running Art Tour:
http://nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/events/running-street-art-tour-re-corriendo-el-barrio
BACK OF THE YARDS COFFEE CO.
'Back of the Yards' had long been known as an industrial hub... with Steel plants and Stockyards but today, this South Side Chicago neighborhood is sadly known for its challenges with violence. Now, two young entrepreneurs are on a mission to show everyone how great Back of the Yards can be.. and they're doing it with artisan coffee! Back of the Yards Coffee Company recently opened in the shadows of Back of the Yards College Prep. This neighborhood's -first- gourmet coffee shop and roastery is a passion project for longtime Back of the Yards residents Mayra Hernandez and Jesse Iniquez. They were finally able to open this summer.. thanks to lots of hard work and a community crowd funding campaign. To 'give back' to the community they love, Hernandez and Iniguez created a 'Social Impact Fund'.. so, for every bag of fresh coffee they sell, they donate $1 to a neighborhood charity. The first recipient is Holy Cross Parish and their Kids Café program!
Back of the Yards Coffee Co.
2059 W. 47th, Chicago
312-487-2233
LAURA MARTINEZ
Next, THE Ñ BEAT shares the inspirational story of Chef Laura Martinez, the owner and Chef of La Diosa in Lincoln Park. She worked for all-star Chef Charlie Trotter's for several years and then decided to pursue her own dream -- being a chef at her own restaurant. She made it all happen despite the challenge of being legally blind. Now, she entertains customers with some of her entrees that are prepared with love.
For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/ladiosachicago/
La Diosa
2308 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-1238
SEGUNDO RUIZ BELVIS CULTURAL CENTER
Named after a respected man who fought to gain Puerto Rico's independence, the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center is one of the oldest cultural centers in Chicago. The organization offers classes, workshops and mentor-ships to children interested in Afro-Caribbean and Latin music.
For more information:
Visit their website http://segundoruizbelvis.org/
Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center
4046 W Armitage Ave,
Chicago, IL 60639
(773) 698-6003
PLASMA FUELING JETS
One of the incubators at Argonne National Laboratory's Chain Reaction Innovations Program, is Felipe Gomez del Campo, a twenty something who hopes to confirm his theory that plasma can fuel jet engines. This Miami native has been working on this project since he used it for one of his science projects. Now this millennial who has visited the White House to talk about his project is working in Chicago with a team of engineers who are putting in a lot of money and research into his idea. If this is proven to be accurate, this hardware application could potentially save the airline industry millions of dollars. For more information:
Visit Felipe's website at http://fgcplasma.com/
https://chainreaction.anl.gov/about/
DULCELANDIA
In business for over two decades, Dulcelandia is a candy store with a Mexican theme. This family owned business located in Little Village has been importing candy from all parts of Mexico for candy lovers. Inside this store, you can find a wide variety of candy and piñata's that will leave you feeling very nostalgic. Just recently, they opened Yogolandia, a specialty shop inside their flagship outlet that prides itself on selling frozen yogurt with a Mexican twist. For more information: Visit their website https://dulcelandia.com/
Dulcelandia
3253 W 26th St,
Chicago, IL 60623
(773)522-3816
MARIA LUISA GONZALEZ
Finally, the Ñ beat focuses in on the courageous Maria Luisa Gonzalez who is living proof that what doesn't kill you - makes you stronger. As a breast cancer survivor, she has found comfort helping other individuals who are in the midst of taking treatments. Now as therapy for herself and others, she provides patients with colorful head scarves to wear as a small gesture to help lift their spirits. Her organization, Courage for the Souls, continues to be an inspiration to women everywhere battling breast cancer.
"The Ñ Beat" is produced by Rubye Lane and Holly Grisham.
