- This and more coming up on "The Whitney Reynolds Show."

- My goal is to have more female coaches because I feel that's my space, that's what I'm meant to be here, is to grow women's sports.

But most importantly, build a platform for female coaches to be at that coaching level.

- All know that music provides so much emotional connection, but just to be able to provide something that allows patients to take their mind off of what's happening in that moment, we feel is really critical.

- We tend to overthink serving, and it's very simple.

The answer that I got was, go do what you love to do more than anything and do it for free to help people that are trying to change their lives.

- [Narrator 1] "The Whitney Reynolds Show" is supported by BMO, boldly grow the good in business in life, Kevin O'Connor Law Firm, when it comes to your injuries, we take it personally, Kevin Kelly, serving your real estate needs in Florida and Illinois at kevinkelly.realestate, Together at Peace, a foundation with a mission to generate financial support for hospitals, schools, and many charities that provide compassionate bereavement care and foster spiritual resilience.

We are here to inspire tangible moments and share the light of loved ones who have passed away, always doing good in their honor.

And the Respiratory Health Association, healthy lungs and clean air for all.

Special thanks to Lifeway Kefir, Kid Friendly Venues app, GIRLSTRONG Empowerment Apparel, Mike Dyer with Edward Jones, joeperillo.com, High-Five Sports Chicago, centerforbeautifulliving.com.

Deluxe Cleaning Services, and by these sponsors.

- Hello, and welcome to "The Whitney Reynolds Show."

Today, we get to hear from people who have impacted their community yet under the radar.

They don't do it for their recognition.

They are truly unsung heroes.

Here, we believe your story matters.

(audience cheering) - I think the resilience started like when my family said this is really bad.

Like, when you wake up you have to like keep going.

I was that story, the one that needed a safe space.

- The key to success is taking risk.

- So we created it.

- Everybody fails, everybody takes that one big hit.

What's important is standing back up and keep going.

- You now watching "The Whitney Reynolds Show," be careful.

(audience cheering) (transition whooshing) (audience cheering continues) (gentle music) - We like to say that we provide some distraction therapy as well.

We all know that music provides so much emotional connection, but just to be able to provide something that allows patients to take their mind off of what's happening in that moment, we feel is really critical and can provide such a source of joy and comfort.

And I've played for so many patients over the years, from really young children all the way up to people that are kind of in their last days of life.

And it's extremely emotional and really speaks to the testament of the human connection.

- Finding out about what you're doing just was mind blowing on so many levels to say, "Hey, I have this talent and I wanna gift it to the world."

How did you start this all up?

- So, our organization was founded in 2012 by Allegra Montanari, and she really decided that she wanted to give back with her musical talent.

She was an excellent cello player and didn't wanna go the traditional route of going into a symphony.

So, she started this, essentially student club, that has turned into a nonprofit that's been in service for over 10 years.

We have over 100 volunteer musicians from around the city- - Wow.

- Ranging from pre-professional to professional.

We have a number of different genres that we specialize in.

So, we have a lot of classically trained musicians, we have some opera singers, we have some musicians that play in the opera.

We also have folk artists, like myself.

(gentle music) - It's so wonderful when Sharing Notes Gets to be here.

We are so lucky because they share with us their gifts, and our patients, genuinely, their anxiety decreases hearing live music.

- Do you see a correlation of potential healing when anxiety levels decrease?

- Oh, absolutely.

In fact, I know that there's a lot of data to support that.

When we were going through some challenging times, with COVID, for instance, and needing to be out in nature or hearing a beautiful piece of music, and what that did for our mental health as well as our physical health, I think that we can never not take advantage of those things.

Although sometimes we're not able to heal a patient's body.

We can heal their soul in some way.

- Oh wow.

- And it was such a beautiful way of looking at our work as this holistic approach to caring for people.

People that come here every day and trust us and are going through some of their most challenging times.

(gentle music) - What kind of cancer do you have?

Do you mind sharing?

- It's called cholangiocarcinoma.

Sounds like a lovely name, doesn't it?

- It's, you know what, it's the first time I heard- - It sounds kind of Italian.

It's like, "Yeah."

Unfortunately, it's not.

It's cancer, and it's metastatic stage four.

So, it's kind of spread.

Right now I'm down to just what's called immunotherapy, and I should say cholangiocarcinoma is really bile duct cancer, but it's spread to other places.

So, now, it's once a month that I'm getting it.

Hopefully, knock on wood, this works some.

- Yeah.

When you're getting the infusion, what is going on in your mind normally?

- You know, there's just a lot of thoughts going through.

There's thoughts of hope and enjoyment, but there's also thought of what if this doesn't work?

So, having something like this is just, it's marvelous.

It really lifts the spirits because you really do go through a lot of emotions, and this just sort of helps.

It's very uplifting.

And that's, I think, people like us here need it.

And probably the staff too.

- Yeah, it's twofold.

- You know, 'cause they're putting up with a lot of stuff.

- [Whitney] Yes, yes.

- And, you know, helping us through it there.

'cause they're really angels here.

(gentle music) - I always thought, you come here, you get treatment, you go home and lay down and relax.

But, you know, once I hear music, it just relaxes me even more.

It means a lot because you'll find, you find people that care, and that really, not really that really that care, but they meant to help you for real.

You know?

People here, I found them like my family, a really close family, you know?

They uplift my spirit all the time I come.

(gentle music) - I would say there's nothing better than doing what you love and making an impact on other people, and should just really reflect on what that gift is and don't be afraid to share it.

(gentle music) - Now, to a woman who is helping girls win on and off the field.

- Well, I am honored to have this changemaker in the studio.

Juliana, welcome.

- Oh, thank you for having me.

I'm so happy to be here today.

- [Whitney] Yeah.

- Thank you.

- We were talking about everything you have done for women in sports and girls in sports.

- Yes.

- When did you get a vision to say, "Hey, you know what, I'm gonna pave this new trail?"

- Yes.

So, you know, I am a Chicagoan.

I went to Chicago Public Schools, grew up in Little Village.

I also a, I'm a female and advocate for female sports, you know, daughter to parents that came from Mexico.

And to be completely honest with you, I am truly blessed to be here with you, telling you this beautiful story because that's kind of what's been driving me.

I've always had male coaches when I played sports.

Soccer was the sport that I played, and I've never had a female coach.

And to me, that was really important.

You know, it was hard to find a female coach that, you know, can kind of teach me the way.

And to me, it was always a dream, and something that I always wanted to fight for is for girls to see mentors like ourselves, you and I, 'cause you're doing amazing things too.

I mean, this is exactly meeting other females, just like yourself, is so exciting to see that leadership role because our girls need to see that.

- [Whitney] Juliana Zavala grew up in an immigrant household.

Her love for sports came at a young age, and this passion guided her professional path.

She played soccer in college and earned a master's degree in sports administration.

She later moved to Chicago Public Schools.

- What I did is I sent a Google form out, and just an interest form to all the ADs.

And I said, "The first six to eight schools that sign up and are interested will be, you know, will be part of the pilot program."

I had 26 athletic directors that filled out the interest form.

Outta the 26, 21 stayed, but the additional five schools came here too.

So, we started our pilot program with 21 schools.

- Wow.

- And it was amazing.

It was amazing.

We started with a coaches clinic.

- Yeah, women coaches?

- Yes.

And I'm glad you mentioned that because one of the things that I sent my email to the athletic directors, "Highly encouraged a head or an assistant coach must be a female," because that's what we want.

My goal is to have more female coaches because I feel that's my space.

That's what I'm meant to be here, is to grow women in sports, but most importantly, build a platform for female coaches to be at that coaching level.

- [Whitney] Yeah.

- And 70% of our coaches are females.

Coming into year three, we have 109 schools, about 2,500 girls participating in our program.

- When I was reading your story and what you have developed, I mean it's huge.

- Yes.

- And I love that women and girls, and they're getting behind a sports that is very male-dominated.

- It is.

It is.

And that's exciting to see.

So, you know, you think about, go back to your high school days, when did you actually have the opportunity to play football?

- So, I don't ever remember ever having the opportunity.

- [Juliana] Yes.

Yes.

I'll remind you, Powderpuff, that's the- - Powderpuff!

- Yes.

Yes.

- And we actually won.

- And there you go.

See, but you know, see how it made you feel so happy, right?

- Yes.

- My thing is, how can we make sure that we get the girls to feel that for full season, just like the boys do in the fall sport.

And guess what?

They have a league of their own.

I'm gonna have my own homecoming game and I'm gonna have a season and I'm going to play football, and that's really what it's about.

And to me, I wanna see those smiling faces.

I played soccer, but I'll tell you what, if there was football, you know, as an offered sport in high school, I would've played it.

And I can't tell you how many females and women come to me and tell me, "Juliana, I wish football was a sport when I was in high school because I would've played."

Woman belong in sports.

- [Whitney] Dr. Jen Welter, who is known by our show in former seasons, aligned with this topic.

She knows firsthand about making waves in women's athletics.

- The opportunity and responsibility is to ensure you're not the last, right?

Like, so to be a first woman means that a guy had to open the door for you at some point because there were no women in the room.

So, it's really important that as we look at advancing women, we're not just saying it's, you know, women versus men, because we've had some great male allies along the way.

When you are in the room, be committed to creating opportunities for other women and inspiring young girls.

And then as girls, the girls need to see it, because once you see it, then you can picture yourself doing it.

And so the visibility increases the accessibility and then the likelihood that they will chase after that same dream.

- Now, you mix new girls participating in a new sport for the first time at the school, and then multi-sport athletes coming together.

And now, they're creating their own bond.

And they're, they have a place that they belong, they have a culture at the school, pride at the school, and most importantly, they're walking around the hallway saying, "I'm a football player."

- What was that moment for you where your heart knew that you were right where you're supposed to be?

- You know, I have to share one, Carla.

Carla committed to play at the college level.

She got a scholarship to play soccer to play in the city, and then she got a scholarship to play outside of the state and to play flag football.

Her mom was hesitant on having her leave the state.

And I shared my story with her.

My mom was hesitant of having me not play outside of the state.

So, I got multiple scholarships to play different universities to play soccer.

And my mom said, you know, in Spanish, "Miha, please stay here.

Please stay here in Chicago."

Because, you know, a lot of Latino families, you have to be married until you leave the house.

And it's okay.

My mom, I respect her values.

She never had a, you know, an athlete in the family, let alone a female, right, to play sports.

It was a barrier that I was breaking through for her.

And in a way I said, "Okay, mom, I will play NIU," you know?

And I did my freshman year.

And it was not, it's not that it wasn't for me, but I felt like I wanted to go somewhere else.

And my last three years, I played soccer in Louisiana.

And my mom, you know, she was heartbroken.

She sees what I've gone through and how I've been advocating for female sports, and most importantly, speaking to Carla's mom, right?

I get a little emotional.

- I can tell, yes.

- That's how I'm in the place that I am now.

And I hope that there's girls out there listening to this because this is what it's about.

This is the dreams that you put out there in your mind, and you set them, they'll come true.

You know, they really will.

- Thank you so much.

- Thank you.

- [Whitney] Juliana went on to win the Chicago Bears Changemaker Award, and that student that she referenced earlier was in the room when she received it.

(gentle music) - We started doing this work 13 years ago.

Lisa and I sat down, and we like, "What do we want to give the people?"

And we wanted to give them a different experience, you know?

Tattoo shops usually are dark, real heavy, hardcore music, and, you know, stuff on the TVs you don't necessarily wanna see, and stuff like that.

Clean, comfortable, chill environment to come and get work done.

- You also give 'em a little bit more.

- Yeah.

- You call this a ministry.

- It is 100% a ministry, yeah.

You know, I got saved when I was 38, and I spent the first year of that really beating myself up over things in my past and growing up in L.A., and, you know, some of the things I did, the friends I kept and and stuff like that.

And really the answer that I got to a lot of prayer was, hey, you know, it took you 38 years to figure out what kind of Christian you wanna be.

- And it was almost like, "Hello, my young gifted son."

- Well, it was so simple.

It's, you know, I think that we tend to overthink serving, and it's very simple.

The answer that I got was, go do what you love to do more than anything and do it for free to help people that are trying to change their lives.

And here we are, 13 years later.

- Do it for free?

Was that not scary part of the business model?

- Terrifying.

Terrifying.

Yeah, because, you know, I had years in the past tattooing, I made a couple $100,000 a year, and I was the most miserable human being you could encounter.

Now, I do 80% of my work is done for free, and I'm happier than I've ever been.

- Wow.

You know, what intrigues me about you is your changing lives.

You know, we just sat down with one of your clients and, or I would call friend, y'all were having- - Yeah.

- Such a good conversation when I walked in.

I hated to interrupt, but the cameras were here.

- [Chris] Yeah.

- And, you know, that's, you know, there's so much back and forth on the table when you are doing a tattoo, just in general.

- Yeah.

- Now, you add an element of helping someone.

- Sure.

- Helping cover a scar that was self harm.

Or, as you're also very well known for, helping victims of sex trafficking.

- [Chris] Yeah.

Yeah, it's, you know, we say all the time, you know, "We don't have clients, we have friends."

- [Whitney] When did you start harming yourself?

- Early teens.

About 12 would probably be about the first time I cut myself.

Just a lot of bullying in school, and then, you know, parents going through issues, separating.

So, just typical, typical child.

- Tell me, how did you even find out about this shop?

- Actually, a friend of mine.

She has had a lot of her work done here.

- She's had her work done here.

- Yeah.

- And so you were just following him?

- Yes.

- And what did he post?

He posted, "Anybody, you know, that has any self harm scars, gang-related tattoos," and yeah.

And just said that he's willing to cover 'em up.

And I messaged him.

- What made you wanna trust Chris?

- Because I see his work, and I followed him for a long time, so I know what he does.

So, how can you not trust him?

- I call this like a miracle ink station because not only is it blossoming beautiful things on your skin where there was once pain, but he also helps victims of sex trafficking.

- Yes.

- What is that like for you, knowing that this man does this, and for free?

- We were actually talking about it earlier, and he just said he, it is, he got he guy like spoke to him and told him, like, "This is what you should do."

And he has just followed through with it.

And I think it's amazing.

I think it is amazing that he has gone this far and how much he does for other people, and he doesn't ask for anything in return.

- When we started doing the sex trafficking tattoo coverups and removals, I wanted to give those survivors kind of that flag in the sand moment.

That part of your life is over.

You don't have to look at that constant visual reminder on your neck or your hands or wherever the tattoo was.

And you can walk out the door as a new person and you don't have to look back.

And we started the freedom tree.

We painted a tree on a 10 foot by 10 foot canvas, and they dipped their hand and paint and put it up on the tree to portray the leaves.

And I'll tell you, it's my favorite place to pray.

It's where I sit and pray when we are struggling for money to pay, you know, pay the bills to do this work.

It's very expensive to do this work.

And there's a lot of dark times in that.

- The reason I wanna make sure we highlight this story is because it's so easy to see a sign in the bathroom on the way to a road trip, and it says, "Are you being sex trafficked?"

But the reality is, it's happening.

- Yeah, it's happening everywhere.

It's happening everywhere.

And these big events like the Super Bowl are highlighted quite often.

Pimps and traffickers will descend on that city and we go to do coverups for survivors there, but we also go to assist state, local, and federal law enforcement in finding and recovering those who are being trafficked.

- And when you have worked with victims of sex trafficking, or I would say survivors- - Yeah.

- By the time they get to you.

- Yep.

Amen.

- What are the tattoos that you're covering up?

- Well, initially, when we started it, we saw a lot of barcode tattoos.

And a barcode is just a visual symbol of, hey, you're a piece of product, you're not even a human being.

I could buy, sell, trade, or throw you away when I feel like it.

But we don't see as many barcodes anymore.

More of what we see are gang symbols because gangs have become very prevalent in the world of sex trafficking.

Because for years and years, they're means of making money with selling drugs, right, or guns.

But now, they know they can go and recruit in 10, 15, 20 victims.

They send 'em out in the morning with a quota that they have to meet, and then they just sit in the house all day and wait for the money to come back that night.

- Ugh, that is, I mean, it's mind blowing, but these are the kind of conversations that - Yeah.

- Need to be talked about.

- Yeah.

- So we understand.

With the number of people that you've helped, you know, really create art over some tragic stories, what are some of your, you know, I guess what pop up of not only like success, but like moving forward after this?

- I'd tell you, it's hard, especially the sex trafficking stuff.

I have a really good counselor who makes a lot of money from me because I have to go and offload these stories.

But one that I will never forget, I'll never forget any of the sex trafficking survivors or anyone that I've helped, I had a 10-year-old trafficking survivor that was found in Phoenix, and we helped her remove her tattoo last year at the Super Bowl in Phoenix.

And she was actually trafficked by her own mother to get drug money.

And my immediate phone call was to my wife, Lisa, who was back here in Chicago while I was in Phoenix, working at the Super Bowl.

And I said, "We have to adopt this girl.

She needs a life."

And, luckily, I mean, we would've loved this little girl, and it would've been a blessing for us too, but she got a even better situation.

She was actually adopted by her caseworker.

- [Whitney] Oh.

- And her caseworker's husband is also a caseworker.

So, now, for the rest of her life, she's gonna have the exact people in her life that know how to help her through the trauma.

- What would you want our viewers to be left with?

- I guess, my biggest thing with this work that we do is not to judge people.

You know, we, there's a great saying that I heard, unfortunately, I don't know who said it, but it said, "Every sinner has a future and every saint has a past."

And it's not about who you used to be, it's who you are today and tomorrow and going forward.

And really what we're trying to do is just create a ripple effect of grace and kindness for people.

And people tell me, you know, like, I cover these tattoos.

They don't have the money to pay for it, and that's why we do it for free.

But they're like, "When I get money, I'm gonna come back."

I'm like, "No, pay it forward."

Go bless somebody else that needs it in your life.

It's not about paying us back.

You know, it's already taken care of, but just go out and spread kindness and grace wherever you go.

(gentle music) - Today, we met people who use their passion as a gift.

Stories of people who simply wanted to make the world a little brighter for those around them.

How can you brighten someone's day and combine that with your passion?

Remember, your story matters.

(gentle music) (gentle music continues) - [Narrator 1] "The Whitney Reynolds Show" is supported by BMO, boldly grow the good in business and life, Kevin O'Connor Law Firm, when it comes to your injuries, we take it personally, Kevin Kelly, serving your real estate needs in Florida and Illinois at kevinkelly.realestate, Together at Peace, a foundation with a mission to generate financial support for hospitals, schools, and many charities that provide compassionate bereavement care and foster spiritual resilience.

We are here to inspire tangible moments and share the light of loved ones who have passed away, always doing good in their honor.

And the Respiratory Health Association, healthy lungs and clean air for all.

Special thanks to Lifeway Kefir, Kid Friendly Venues app, GIRLSTRONG Empowerment Apparel, Mike Dyer with Edward Jones, joeperillo.com, High-Five Sports Chicago, centerforbeautifulliving.com, Deluxe Cleaning Services, and by these sponsors.

- [Narrator 2] Want to stay connected to all things Whitney Reynolds?

Well, follow us on social media and you'll get exclusive content and updates from the show.

All episodes are available for streaming anytime.

(indistinct) (gentle music)