By: Ashmar Mandou

ABC 7 Anchor Mark Rivera, alongside his ABC 7 Eyewitness News team, is placing a spotlight on the diversity of the Latino community this Hispanic Heritage Month with a half-hour special Our Chicago: Lideres Innovadores,which will delve into the movers and shakers within the Hispanic/Latino community across the City of Chicago. “There are so many incredible voices and so many incredibly hard-working people that it is with pride that we highlight those individuals,” said Rivera. “I hope people will be inspired to want to make a change in their own community.” Our Chicago: Lideres Innovadoreswill air on Sunday, Sept. 29 that 11p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 6 that 4:30p.m. Rivera spoke with Lawndale Bilingual News about what the audience can expect from the special and the importance of working together.

Lawndale Bilingual News: What aspect do you enjoy most about working for ABC 7 Chicago?

Mark Rivera: The best aspect is that we are such a part of the community and that we really pride ourselves on that, you know. I think that’s one of the things that I was struck by when I came here, more than six years ago. It is a privilege that we are such a part of the Chicago fabric and the fabric of the Chicago community because any neighborhood you go to people know ABC 7. They know the people that work here because they know that we care, at least I hope they do. We have such a dedicated team of journalists and photographers who really care about telling the stories of the people who live here and advocating for them and holding public officials accountable and doing everything we can as a news organization. That’s something I am really proud of and really grateful to be a part of here.

Lawndale Bilingual News: What experiences or circumstances lead you down the path of journalism?

Mark Rivera: Growing up we would go on lots of road trips and we would always listen to radio news, specifically NPR and the storytelling on public radio. That’s actually where I first wanted to pursue my journalistic career. I knew at a young age, probably middle school, where that’s something that I wanted to do. All of my schooling, internships were all in radio. My first journalism jobs were in radio…I think I became enamored with the writing for a radio piece. You really have to paint a picture, you really have to use words to convey what you really mean and be really specific of how you are trying to describe something to really set the scene for your story. I got out of school, graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and was ready to find my NPR job [laughs] and it was tough. It was really hard to find a job in public radio. I was working part-time as an anchor reporter at WDWS radio in Champaign and a friend of mine at the TV station at the town over in Decatur told me about a reporter position available at the station. So I made the choice to do full-time reporting at the TV station. And that got me on the path and I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s been a wonderful ride.

Lawndale Bilingual News: This year, Hispanic Heritage Month’s theme is Pioneers of Change. How can one incorporate this year’s theme into their own life?

Mark Rivera: I think they can look at what we have put together this year [Our Chicago: Lideres Innovadores], whether it be trying to get more Latinas on the golf course with executives, the luchadores who are out there, Colores Mexicano, the beautiful Mexican store that is on Michigan Avenue; incredible handmade products from all over Mexico represented on the most premiere street our city has to offer, it’s a beautiful thing. I think people can look at that and say, “I can do that, too.” I can be a change maker in my community. I hope when people watch this special that they are inspired. Inspired to see that you don’t have to be a millionaire to make a difference in your community and to stand out and try and make your community better. You can do that in any small way. That’s what it is to be a leader to me, is to make change, to try and support the people around you in whatever place that is and in whatever way that is, you know.

Lawndale Bilingual News: Is there a particular story from the ABC 7 Our Chicago: Lideres Innovadoresspecial you are particularly excited for people to see? Do you have favorite?

Mark Rivera: I can’t pick a favorite [laughs], but as I mentioned earlier Colores, this store is incredible. All the items are handmade in Mexico and then brought here to Chicago. To hear from this family, they never would have thought this was possible to have a store that is so representative of Mexico and their Mexican identity on Michigan Avenue, in Chicago. That is meaningful on so many different levels.

Lawndale Bilingual News: What advice can you give youth in the Latino community who aspire to follow in your footsteps? What skills should they foster?

Mark Rivera: You need to foster a sense of curiosity. Be curious about the world around you. Try to learn about the people around you, your community, be involved. To care about the issues that affect your community. To be aware of and involved in politics, to know what’s going on and to have your voice heard. I think those are all really important things. But for youth I would say, do that and be willing to try new things. I think one of the biggest things is showing up and doing it. You have to be there to learn and get the work done.

Photo Caption: ABC 7 Anchor Mark Rivera proudly celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with half-hour special Our Chicago: Lideres Innovadores