
Meet the Women Powering Their Own Mechanic Shop
Clip: 2/12/2026 | 3m 34sVideo has Closed Captions
In Ravenswood, a new kind of mechanic shop is breaking the mold.
Mechanista, a new nonprofit repair shop in Ravenswood, is designed to make auto care more inclusive for women and nonbinary people.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Meet the Women Powering Their Own Mechanic Shop
Clip: 2/12/2026 | 3m 34sVideo has Closed Captions
Mechanista, a new nonprofit repair shop in Ravenswood, is designed to make auto care more inclusive for women and nonbinary people.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> In Ravenswood a new kind of mechanic shop is breaking the mold.
Reporter Joanna Hernandez shows us how a garage opening its doors to drive more women into the industry.
>> Ever pop the hood of your car and have no idea what you're looking at.
>> For some drivers walking into a mechanic shop can feel intimidating.
>> It is not a safe really included space.
When so many kind of talks and vehicle jargon and makes a way over complicated when it's actually really simple.
Do you need this or do you not?
>> Meet Ray Chapin.
She's a lead mechanic at Megan Estep, a nonprofit repair stop aimed at making auto care more inclusive for women and non-binary folks.
>> The whole time in the military, I was only female.
It wasn't until right before actually retired out the I got to train my first female in job.
To pull out check in with >> This is actually looks pretty new chief and spent nearly a decade.
And the Air Force has a heavy mobile equipment.
Mechanic said she knows her way around cars I was.
I was working on my hands hours, probably handed some >> tool at the age of 2 and was like, go play with this outside.
Take it apart.
But it put it back together.
And then.
While you're checking level.
Also check in the fluid, making sure the it's looks clean is not burn.
2% of all mechanics are women and it's a problem because we have all these openings everywhere.
>> Lisa Thompson is the founder of Mecca.
Nice to and idea.
She says came after research in conversation with people in the industry.
That's when she first heard about the 2% problem.
And so I said, oh, what are you doing?
Like, what are some of the things that people are doing to try to solve this 2% problem?
And he said >> I really think that doing anything about it.
So I Rachel, my husband, I was like I think I have to do this.
I think I have to start a program for this.
>> And the garage doesn't look like an ordinary mechanic shop.
>> I wanted the space to look like some place.
I would feel comfortable.
Curling up with a book in a cup of coffee.
>> The auto shop has plenty of space for parents to bring their kids or anyone wanting to get some work done while their cars being serviced.
>> I want them to walk out feeling like, wow, that was fun.
That was a pleasant hour and I know what's going on with my car.
It could possibly just beer bill.
If it's getting more like that.
>> Besides offering car services, Thompson says they're developing a 12 Week Apprentice program for ages 16 to 24 a chance for girls and non binary people to jump into a career in the automotive industry.
I think it's really critical.
>> That we create opportunities for our young women to work in a garage and to learn in a place that they feel safe, that they feel included, that they feel is equitable because otherwise they may not stay in the field and you never want to open that when a car just pulled in here because pressurize and very So I'm getting an opportunity to create that safe space and that.
>> Opportunity to.
Give people the confidence and show them that we can do this.
We are so capable as a human being.
He's got absolutely as women women plus.
>> For Chicago tonight, I'm joined on this.
>> Reckon is also hosting car care workshops, including a Valentine's Day event where
Artists Talk Making History With Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 2/12/2026 | 7m 28s | Two local artists were among Bad Bunny's reported 300 performers at the stadium. (7m 28s)
SAVE Act Would Require Proof of Citizenship to Vote
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 2/12/2026 | 9m 44s | Voting rights groups are sounding the alarm over the bill, which just passed the U.S. House. (9m 44s)
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