[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> AND I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... >> OUR KIDS ARE HAPPY TO BE BACK IN SCHOOL.

>> IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL IN APRIL FOR CHICAGO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

A LOOK AT LEARNING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE LOOK FOR RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AFTER A WEEKEND OF PROTESTS IN RESPONSE TO THE POLICE SHOOTING OF ADAM TOLEDO, WE TALK WITH SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

>> HE ASKED FOR HELP, WITH THIS VERY LAST BREATH.

>> CLOSING ARGUMENTS AND JURY DELIBERATIONS BEGIN IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF DEREK CHAUVIN.

TWO ATTORNEYS BREAKDOWN THE CHARGES.

>> ALL CHICAGOANS OVER THE AGE OF 16 CAN RECEIVE A COVID VACCINE BUT SOME ISSUES REMAIN.

>> A NEW DEAL FOR ELECTRONICS MAKER FOXCONN IS IN ITS FINAL STAGES THAT AND MORE FROM CRAIN'S.

>> A LOCAL CHILD WELFARE ORGANIZATION SAYS ITS ANTIRACISM APPROACH HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN OUTCOMES FOR THE CHILDREN THEY SERVE.

>> AND HOW TELECOMMUTING COULD SPELL BIG CHANGES FOR CHICAGO AREA TRANSIT.

FIRST STAY-AT-HOME ORDER OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT IS RESPONDING TO THETY SEA SPATE OF SHOOTING AND VIOLENCE WHILE SATISFIED WITH THE WORK OF SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN AND THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT MORE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS NEED TO BE PASSED.

>> EVERY YEAR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT TAKES OFF THE STREETS MORE ILLEGAL CRIME GUNS THAN NEW YORK OR LA COMBINED.

WHY?

BECAUSE OF OUR PROXIMITY TO STATES AND CITIES THAT HAVE VERY LAX GUN CONTROL LAWS.

>> THE MAYOR SAYS SHE IS ADVOCATED FOR UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS AND DENYING PEOPLE ON THE NO-FLY LIST FROM PURCHASING GUNS.

>> CHICAGOANS COULD SEE THE ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD IN THE CITY HOME AS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ACTIVATED 125 GUARDSMEN AND WOMEN AT THE MAYOR'S REQUEST.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS THE GUARD WILL BE ON STAND BY TO SUPPORT THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WE AWAIT A VERDICT IN THE TRIAL OF FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN WHAT STANDS ACCUSED OF KILLING GEORGE DPLOID.

THE GUARD WILL HAVE A LIMITED MISSION MANAGING STREET CLOSURES BUT NOT INTERFERING WITH PEACEFUL PROTESTS.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT MADE THE REQUEST OUT OF CAUTION.

THERE IS MORE OF THE STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AND WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE CLOSING ARGUMENTS IN THE TRIAL LATER IN THE SHOW.

>> PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY NEARLY 2,000 MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS SINCE YESTERDAY AND 22 DIED.

THE TOTAL COUNT PASSED 1.3 MILLION OVER THE WEEKEND AND 21,685 PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

MORE THAN 26% OF RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.

AND TODAY IS ALSO THE DAY THAT ALL CHICAGO RESIDENTS AGES 16 AND OVER BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR A COVID VACCINATION.

THE CITY SAYS ALREADY HALF OF ALL RESIDENTS RECEIVED A FIRST DOSE.

FOR MORE ON THE VACCINE ROLLOUT IN THE CITY VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND FIRST LADY, JILL BIDEN WAS IN ILLINOIS TODAY WITH U.S. EDUCATION SECRETARY TO DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

>> BECAUSE WITHOUT EDUCATED AND TRAINED WORKERS BUSINESSES CAN'T BUILD INNOVATION IS HELD BACK AND OUR ECONOMY DRAGS.

WE CAN'T AFFORD TO EXCLUDE SO MANY FROM CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION JUST BECAUSE THEY COME FROM CERTAIN INCOME BRACKETS OR CERTAIN AREAS.

>> THE FIRST LADY WHO IS A COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROFESSOR TOURED DIXON WITH CARDONA AND GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER.

THEY VISITED AN ENGINEERING AND NURSING LAB SPEAKING WITH STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS ABOUT THEIR TRAINING AND THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS ADVOCATED FOR FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND FIRST LADY CELEBRATED THE EFFORTS TO DO THAT THROUGH A FUNDING MODEL RELYING ON PARTIALLY CORPORATE GRANTS >> THE FOURTH QUARTER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS BEGUN FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ONLY TODAY WERE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ALLOWED BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM.

AMANDA VINICKY JOINS US WITH MORE.

>> BRANDIS, C.P.S.

STUDENTS HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM IN WAYS FIRST FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION CLUSTER STUDENTS AND PRE-K AND THEN ELEMENTARY.

FINALLY AFTER 13 MONTHS OF REMOTE LEARNING, C.P.S.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAD THEIR CHANCE.

>> WE FOUGHT VERY HARD FOR THIS MOMENT.

BECAUSE WE FELT LIKE IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT AND QUESTION BASIC EQUITY FOR OUR STUDENTS.

>> C.P.S.

WENT THROUGH ROUNDS OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CHICAGO TEACHERS' UNION TO GET TO THIS POINT.

INSTEAD OF RETURNING TO CLASSROOMS LAST WEEK FOR PART OF PREPARING LIKE THE DISTRICT WANTED, C.T.U.

MEMBERS REFUSED AND WORKED REMOTELY.

YESTERDAY, 83% OF UNION MEMBERS WHO VOTED AGREED TO RATIFY A DEAL THAT ALLOWED HIGH SCHOOLS TO START TODAY AS C.P.S.

HAD PLANNED.

C.T.U.

PRESIDENT JESSE SHARKEY SAYS HIGH SCHOOL IS DIFFERENT THAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND NOT JUST BECAUSE THE STUDENTS ARE TEENAGERS.

>> STUDENTS GO AND STAY WITH A TEACHER.

IN HIGH SCHOOL, YOU GO AND YOU SEE SEVEN OR EIGHT TEACHERS OVER THE COURSE OF A DAY.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS FROM A PANDEMIC IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YOU HAVE A POD WITH THE SAME KIDS AND THE SAME TEACHER ALL DAY LONG.

HIGH SCHOOL THAT NOT THE CASE.

YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT SETUP.

30 STUDENTS EVERY PERIOD A DAY IN HIGH SCHOOL.

SO IT MEANS THAT IF YOU GOT THAT ONE KID WHO TURNS OUT TO HAVE COVID, AS THEY GO THROUGH THEY WILL SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> EVEN CROWDED HALLWAYS.

THAT IS WHY MAKING SURE THAT HIGH SCHOOLS DON'T EXCEED COVID CAPACITIES IS CRUCIAL AND SO WHY EVEN THOUGH HIGH SCHOOL IS BACK, IT IS NOT HOLY SO.

DEPENDING ON SCHOOL SIZE AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS CHOOSING TO COME IN, STUDENTS MAY BE ON CAMPUS FOR EITHER ONE, TWO OR FOUR DAYS A WEEK.

NOT FIVE NO MATTER WHAT.

WEDNESDAYS ARE REMOTE LEARNING.

THE MEMORANDUM BETWEEN C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

CALLS FOR SIX FEET OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THAT IS DOUBLE THE THREE FEET NOW RECOMMENDED BY BOTH THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE CDC.

OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE AGREEMENT CALL FOR MASKING AT ALL TIMES AND METRICS THAT WOULD HAVE SCHOOLS SHUTDOWN IF THERE IS A SURGE.

>> TODAY WAS PROBABLY THE STRANGEST FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL I'VE HAD BUT I CAN SAY IT WAS NICE TO SEE KIDS.

I THINK THERE WAS A SENSE OF EXCITEMENT THAT WE'RE BACK.

A LOT OF STUDENTS WERE HAPPY TO SEE US.

AND IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE FOR A YEAR NOW I'VE HAD KIDS WHO I HAVE NOT SEEN, NO CAMERAS, NO MICROPHONE AND I SEE KIDS WOW, I DID NOT EXPECT YOU TO BE THIS WAY.

THERE IS MORE OF THE MAGIC WE ARE USED TO WE SAW TODAY.

>> ROBERTO CLEMENTE COMMUNITY ACADEMY HISTORY TEACHER SAM TEXEIRA SAYS HE WAS NOT CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY BEING IN THING.

HE SAYS THE AGREEMENT THAT C.P.S.

AND C.T.U.

CAME TO DOES PROVIDE TEACHERS WITH QUALITY PROTECTION.

HE ALSO THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THAT JANITORS HAVE DONE AND HE CAME PREPARED WITH EQUIPMENT WIPES AND SUCH.

HE IS VACCINATED AND PLANS TO ENCOURAGE HIS STUDENTS TO DO THE SAME.

THAT IS ANOTHER BIG PART OF THIS DEAL.

A VACCINATION PROGRAM FOR QUALIFYING STUDENTS AS WELL AS FOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> C.T.U.

AND C.P.S.

HAVE HAD A NATIONALLY FAMOUS CONFLICT BUT SOME ELEMENTS THAT GET LEFT OUT OF THAT IS THAT WE ALSO WE HAVE SOME PRETTY IMPRESSSY ADVOCACY FOR STUDENTS.

AND I DON'T KNOW OF A SINGLE DISTRICT, TALK TO THE NATIONAL UNION OF TEACHERS AND WE HAVE THE SINGLE DISTRICT THAT HAS A VACATION PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS.

WE'RE PROUD OF THAT.

>> NOW, MALENCIA SHORTY IS AMONG THOSE GLAD TO BE BACK IN SCHOOL.

I CAUGHT HER AS SHE WAS LEAVING ROBERTO CLEMENTE COMMUNITY ACADEMY AND SHE SAYS THAT SHE LEARNED MORE IN THE FIRST DAY BACK THAN SHE HAS THE REST OF THE FRESHMAN YEAR.

>> LIKE I GOT MORE DONE GOT MORE HELP.

>> HOW HAS REMOTE LEARNING BEEN?

>> I DON'T PAY ATTENTION.

LIKE I CANNOT SIT AT A COMPUTER SCREEN ALL DAY AND JUST WATCH IT.

>> MALENCIA SHORTY, DID SAY THAT BEING IN THE CLASSROOM WAS A BIT STRANGE.

SHE HAS PLAYED ON THE SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM AND THIS IS HER FIRST DAY ACTUALLY HIGH SCHOOL.

AND SHE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW PEOPLE.

NOW, TEACHER SAM TEXEIRA SAYS MOST STUDENTS ACTUALLY DON'T TURN ON THEIR COMPUTER CAMERAS WHEN THEY ARE IN CLASS ON-LINE.

HE SAID HE ONLY HAD A HANDFUL OF STUDENTS IN CLASS TODAY.

HE TRIED TO TALK THEM IF HE NEEDED ANYTHING AND HE EXPECTS TO HAVE MORE STUDENTS TOMORROW.

EVEN AS HE IS TEACHING THEM IN R IN-PERSON, TEACHERS ARE STILL HAVING TO TEACH THE STUDENTS WHO OPTED TO CONTINUE TO LEARN REMOTELY.

>> IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I AM A STUDENT TEACHER AND A CO-TEACHER FOR ONE CLASS I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COULD DO THIS IF THERE WERE NOT MORE ADULTS.

YOUR INCLINATION IS TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF YOU AND YOU REALIZE THERE'S 20 OTHER KIDS THAT I NEED TO HELP.

IT FEELS LIKE BEING A GAME SHOW HOST THERE IS OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE AND YOU ALL.

TRYING TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THAT.

>> HE TRIED TO EASE THE STRANGE LOGISTICS OF THAT BY SHOWING IN THE PHYSICAL CLASSROOM WHATEVER WAS GOING ON IN THE REMOTE CLASSROOM CHAT.

FOR ALL OF THOSE CHALLENGES, C.P.S.

SCHOOLS CHIEF JANICE JACKSON SAYS HAVING STUDENTS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM IS A VICTORY.

>> I COUNT THIS AS A SUCCESS.

MY GOAL IS TO HAVE EVERY KID BACK IN SCHOOL FULL-TIME.

I WANT TO RETURN TO NORMAL WHATEVER THAT NEW NORMAL IS.

BUT WE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.

WE GOT OUR KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

OUR KIDS ARE HAPPY TO BE BACK IN SCHOOL AND IT IS ONE STEP ALONG A LONG PROCESS THAT WILL END WITH ALL OF OUR KIDS HAVING ACCESS TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

THAT IS THE GOAL.

>> PROGRESS BECAUSE WITH NOT FIVE DAYS A WEEK NOW, SOME OF THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL ONLY BE IN THE CLASSROOM ABOUT 14-DAYS BEFORE SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER.

AND THEN THERE'S THE MATTER COMING UP HELPING STUDENTS WITH THE LEARNING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND LEARNING LOSS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR FALL.

>> TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET TO THE PLACE IN THE FALL WHERE KIDS ARE ABLE TO COME BACK AND STAFF IS ABLE TO COME BACK.

IT'S IMPORTANT WE ARE HERE PHYSICALLY THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO NAME AND SAY IT'S IMPORTANT AND WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE TO GET US TO THAT POINT.

>> WE DON'T YET, BY THE WAY, HAVE NUMBERS FROM C.P.S.

ON WHAT ATTENDANCE THIS FIRST DAY BACK FOR INCLASSROOM HIGH SCHOOL.

WITH THAT, BACK TO YOU.

>> SOMETHING WE WILL KEEP ASKING FOR THANK YOU.

>> TO PARIS AND A LOOK HOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE RESPONDING TO THE EVENTS SURROUNDING ADAM TOLEDO'S DEATH >> YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

PROTESTORS TOOK TO THE STREETS THIS WEEKEND BOTH IN LITTLE VILLAGE AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AFTER THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY CIVIL RELEASED VIDEOS OF POLICE FATALLY SHOOTING 13-YEAR-OLD ADAM TOLEDO.

LITTLE VILLAGE HAS BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT AS HAVE CONVERSATIONS SURROUNDING GANG VIOLENCE AND DISINVESTMENT IN THAT COMMUNITY.

WE HEAR FROM NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS ON THE GROUND WORKING TO HELP RESIDENTS CONNECTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND RESOURCES AND SOME VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVES THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON AS WELL.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS HOW THE COMMUNITY IS RESPONDING TO THE VIDEO AND TO TALK ABOUT WORK COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE SOLOMON MARTINEZ, YOUTH PROGRAM MANAGER AT THE ERIE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

BERTO AGUAYO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF INCREASE THE PEACE, A VIOLENCE PREVENTION ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A CHAPTER IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

AND BALTAZAR ENRIQUEZ, PRESIDENT OF THE LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY COUNCIL.

WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

BALTAZAR ENRIQUEZ, SEVERAL DAYS PASSED SINCE THAT VIDEO WAS RELEASED.

WHAT IS THE TENOR OF THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM RESIDENTS IN LITTLE VILLAGE?

>> FIRST THANK YOU FOR INVITING US.

OUR RESIDENTS ARE RESILIENT AND STRONG IT IS A STRONG NEIGHBORHOOD.

SEEING THE VIDEO DID HURT US.

A LOT.

LIKE, IT BROKE US DOWN TO THE CORE.

AND WE ARE LEARNING FROM THIS EXPERIENCE.

AND WE'RE MOVING ON.

WE'RE MOVING ON.

WE WIPED OUR TEARS AND YOU KNOW WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO PROTECT LITTLE VILLAGE.

LITTLE VILLAGE WE ARE NOW MOVING FORWARD TO SEE TO DO POLICY CHANGES AND SEE IF THE MAYOR WANTS TO CONDUCT A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS NOT THAT SHE RUNS THAT SHE PIMPS.

WE DON'T NEED THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.

WE NEED GRASSROOT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ON THE STREETS AND KNOW THE MEMBERS AND KNOW THE RESIDENTS AND THAT WHAT THE LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY COUNCIL IS.

>> BERTO AGUAYO HOW DOES LITTLE VILLAGE MOVE FORWARD AND WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION TO HELP THAT COMMUNITY HEAL.

>> WELL, YES, YOU KNOW WE ARE IN A TRANSITIONAL MOMENT WHERE WE ARE TURNING OUR ANGUISH INTO ACTION AND YESTERDAY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY COUNCIL AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS CAME TOGETHER TO HAVE A PEACE WALK WITH MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE SHOWED OUT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO DEMAND WE FUND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE INVEST IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, JOBS, HOW THE WRAP AROUND SERVICES.

WE SAID ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

THE COMMON DENOMINATOR IS DISINVESTMENT AND YOU CAN SOLVE THAT WITH INVESTMENT.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP UNTIL WE GET IT.

>> AND SOLOMON MARTINEZ YOUR ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH YOUTH IN LITTLE VILLAGE WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION FROM KIDS OF A CERTAIN AGE OF A SIMILAR AGE?

>> FOR SURE.

AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT ONLY YOUTH ARE COPING WITH THE REALITY IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE SEE THIS IS A SINGLE INCIDENT IN A LONG HISTORY OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE IN LITTLE VILLAGE.

FOR A LOT OF YOUTH THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND THAT SPACE WHERE THEY FEEL GOOD AND WHOLE.

BECAUSE THIS HURTS.

PEOPLE ARE ALSO TRYING TO GRIEVE.

BUT THEY ARE GRIEVING THIS AMIDST OTHER THINGS.

AND THEN THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR THAT SPACE WHERE THEIR RAGE AND PASSION CAN WORK TOWARDS CHANGE.

>> BALTAZAR ENRIQUEZ, IN LITTLE VILLAGE WE TALKED ABOUT THE POPULATION OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS THERE IS A DISTRUST OF IMMIGRATION AGENTS OBVIOUSLY.

BUT HOW ABOUT POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS?

DO YOU FEEL MOST OF THE COMMUNITY TRUSTS THE POLICE?

WANTS THE POLICE TO PROTECT THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS?

OR HAS A DISTRUST OF THE POLICE IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE SAW IN THE VIDEO LAST WEEK?

>> LITTLE VILLAGE IS THE MECCA OF MEXICAN AMERICANS.

AND WE ARE DEPORT ACTIVE IMMIGRANTS AND A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE A HUMAN RIGHT TO FIND OUT WHO HURT THEM AND WHO WAS THE AGGRESSOR.

IN THE ADAM TOLEDO CASE THE REASON WE GOT THE TAPE IS BECAUSE WE EDUCATED OUR COMMUNITY THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT FOR THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT AND THAT CAMPAIGN FORWARD ON GETTING THE TAPES RELEASED.

BUT THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T KNOW THEIR RIGHTS THEY ARE SCARED OF THE POLICE AND SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS ARE NOT REPORTED OR BROUGHT TO LIGHT THAT THE INDIVIDUALS HAVE HURT THEM.

YES IT IS -- IMMIGRATION MARGINALIZED THEM AND YOU GOT THE C.P.D.

DEPARTMENT THAT IS NOT FAMILY AND COMMUNITY FRIENDLY.

IT'S MORE OF A SHOOT FIRST ASK QUESTIONS LATER.

>> MAYBE THERE IS A RETICENCE TO TALK TO ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT I.C.E.

OR POLICE OFFICERS.

BERTO AGUAYO THERE'S BEEN THE ISSUE OF GANG VIOLENCE DISCUSSED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS SOMEWHAT.

LITTLE VILLAGE A VERY TIGHTLY KNIT COMMUNITY BUT IT DOES STRUGGLE WITH A GANG PROBLEM.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PRESENCE GANGS HAVE IN THAT COMMUNITY?

>> YEAH.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW TO BE TRUE AGAIN IS THAT POLICE AND GANG VIOLENCE STREET VIOLENCE HAVE THE SAME COMMON DENOMINATOR.

DISINVESTMENT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT COMMUNITIES LIKE LITTLE VILLAGE, BACK OF THE YARDS LIKENING EVENING, COMMUNITIES WITH HIGH LEVELS OF VIOLENCE THEY ARE THE SAME COMMUNITIES WITH THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT WHERE IT'S HARDER TO FIND AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, HARDER TO FIND A PLACE TO GO TO.

LITTLE VILLAGE IS ONE OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE YOU HAVE 71% OF YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE UNEMPLOYED.

SO IN ORDER FOR US TO NOT HAVE GANGS FILL THE VOID THAT THOSE THINGS CREATE WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY AND GUIDANCE AND MENTORSHIP AND AN ART CLASS, GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT FOR THEMSELVES WHAT IT IS THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE ENGAGED IN.

OTHERWISE GANGS WILL FILL THAT VOID AND WE HAVE TO INVEST IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> SOLOMON MARTINEZ, YOU LOOK AT THE AGE OF ADAM TOLEDO RIGHT AT THE AGE WHERE IT SEEMS LIKE HE IS AT A PRECIPICE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PATH HE WANTS TO GO DOWN.

WHEN YOU HEAR WHAT BERTO AGUAYO SAYS ABOUT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, DISINVESTMENT HOW DO YOU WORK WITH KIDS TO HELP THEM STEER THEM AWAY FROM THE LURE OF GOING DOWN THAT ROAD?

>> WELL, LIKE, RIGHT, GANG INVOLVEMENT IS WAY MORE COMPLICATED THAN THERE IS NOT A JOB SO I'M JOINING A GANG.

A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN DREAM AND THOSE DREAMS HAVE IMPACT.

THE THING THAT A YOUTH WANTS TO DO IS AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT A LOT OF THE YOUTH IN LITTLE VILLAGE ARE CONSTANTLY NAVIGATING IS I WANT TO DO THIS, BUT I DON'T HAVE THIS OPTION THIS IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR ME.

AND WITHIN SCHOOLS A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS, DIFFERENT AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS THEY ARE TAILORED TOWARDS A NARRATIVE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD IMMIGRANT TO BE A GOOD PERSON FROM THE HOOD.

VERSUS CREATING SPACE FOR THEM TO CREATE THEIR OWN DREAMS AND THEN TO ACTUALLY ACCESS AND TAKE HOLD OF THOSE DREAMS.

SO I REALLY WANT TO ECHO WHAT BERTO AGUAYO SAID ABOUT THE IDEA THAT WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR YOUTH.

OUR YOUTH ARE SO RESILIENT THE COMMUNITY IS SO RESILIENT AND IF THE OPPORTUNITY WAS AVAILABLE PEOPLE WOULD TAKE IT AND WE WOULD SEE THAT DIFFERENCE.

>> IT'S RESILIENT I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN LITTLE VILLAGE AND WE SPOKE WITH ANAHI BOTELLO AN 18-YEAR-OLD WHO LED THE PEACE WALK THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY HERE IS A CLIP ABOUT WHAT SHE BELIEVES HER COMMUNITY NEEDS.

>> WE NEED MORE RESOURCES, MORE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.

WE NEED ACTIVISTS, THERAPISTS, COUNSELORS.

WE NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE FOR OUR PEOPLE.

NOT AGAINST OUR PEOPLE.

WE NEED PEOPLE THAT CAN PAPER THIZ AND UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE THE WAY WE ARE AND WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH AND ACTUALLY SEE POTENTIAL IN US.

>> BALTAZAR ENRIQUEZ TALKING ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES YOUR ORGANIZATION LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY COUNCIL OFFERS ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE PREPAREDNESS, COLLEGE READINESS.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS ARE AND WHAT IMPACT YOU'VE SEEN IN THAT COMMUNITY?

>> I WILL USE MYSELF AS AN EXAMPLE.

WHEN I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL MY DAD SAID MAN IT IS NOT A FREE RIDE IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO WORK.

HIS MENTALITY THERE WAS NOT A COLLEGE FUTURE FOR ME.

BUT I WENT TO HAROLD WASHINGTON AND MALCOM X AND WENT INTO SOCIAL WORK WHICH I AM A SOCIAL WORKER.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS LACKING THAT OUR PARENTS DON'T KNOW ABOUT COLLEGE IS NOT PUT IN THEIR HEAD SO WE ARE PUSHING THEM TO YES ENROLL IN COLLEGE AND WAY TO COME OUT OF THIS I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT BUT IT IS NOT HARD AND WE'RE HEAR TO HELP YOU.

AND THERE'S PROGRAMS THEY COULD APPLY FOR.

EVEN IF THEY ARE DAMAGE KA RECIPIENTS WE WANT TO PROMOTE THEM.

DO NOT END IN THE FACTORY AND THE FIELDS.

IT'S ENOUGH OF US WORKING OUT THERE.

THE NEW GENERATION SHOULD BE MORE PREPARED AND MORE DOCTORS AND MORE LAWYERS MORE ARCHITECTS AND EVERYTHING UNLESS THEY WERE [INAUDIBLE] >> IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S CHANGING MINDSETS THESE ARE NOT ONLY THINGS TO ASPIRE TO BUT THINGS YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT DEFINITELY DOING.

YOU SHOULDN'T THINK ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE AT ALL.

A DISCUSSION WOULD COULD GO ON, THANK YOU TO SOLOMON MARTINEZ, BERTO AGUAYO AND BALTAZAR ENRIQUEZ.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW TO BRANDIS FOR ANALYSIS OF TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS IN DEREK CHAUVIN'S MURDER TRIAL.

>> PARIS AFTER A LONG DAY OF CLOSING ARGUMENTS THE VERDICT OF THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL IS NEW IN THE HANDS OF 12 JURORS.

THE FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER FACES THREE CHARGES FOR THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD.

SECOND DEGREE UNINTENTIONAL MURDER.

THIRD DEGREE MURDER AND SECOND DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER.

JOINING US TO EXPLAIN THE CHARGES AND TO DIVE INTO CLOSING ARGUMENTS ARE DAN HERBERT ATTORNEY WITH HERBERT LAW FIRM.

HE REPRESENTED FORMER CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER JASON VAN DYKE WHEN HE WAS ON TRA TRIAL FOR THE DEATH OF LAQUAN McDONALD.

>> AND JAMES MONTGOMERY, GENTLEMEN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DAN, WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES IN THESE THREE CHARGES?

>> THE DIFFERENCE IN THE CHARGES IS YOU CAN REALLY FOCUS ON THE INTENT ASPECT.

WITH THE SECOND DEGREE MURDER, THERE IS AN INTENT REQUIREMENT AND THE INTENT IS THAT Mr. CHAUVIN COMMITTED A FELONY WHILE HE WAS DOING THESE ACTIONS.

AND OF COURSE THAT WAS A BIG PART OF THE TRIAL IN THE EVIDENCE THAT WENT IN.

WITH REGARD TO THE THIRD DEGREE MURDER IT IS ESSENTIALLY THAT HE COMMITTED A I AM NENTDLY DANGEROUS ACT THAT -- IMMINENTLY DANGEROUS ACT THAT WAS NOT AUTHORIZED AND THE MANSLAUGHTER IS THE LOWER COUNT OF ALL THREE OF THOSE.

>> AND BECAUSE DEREK CHAUVIN A POLICE OFFICER IS ONE OF THOSE CHARGES MORE DIFFICULT TO PROVE THAN THE OTHERS?

>> I THINK THE SECOND DEGREE IS MORE DIFFICULT TO PROVE AND I THINK THE PROSECUTORS RECOGNIZED THAT MAKING SURE THERE WAS A THIRD DEGREE CHARGE.

THE STATE DID A NICE JOB SAYING THAT THE ACTIONS OF BEING PRONE AND ON TOP OF HIM WERE NOT AUTHORIZED IF THEY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED THEN THE JURY CAN CONCLUDE THAT THERE WAS AN INTENT NOT TO DETAIN BUT TO PUNISH.

>> JAMES MONTGOMERY, HOW DID THE PROSECUTION MAKE THEIR CLOSING ARGUMENTS?

>> WELL, THE PART THAT I SAW INDICATED TO ME THAT HE WAS EXTREMELY DELICATE WITH THE JURY.

HE WAS NOT -- HE BEHAVED AS IF HE WAS SPEAKING TO PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A WISE MOVE.

BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT WITH A POLICE CLIENT TO GET A JURY TO FIND THEM GUILTY.

AND I THOUGHT THE WAY HE WENT FROM THE POINT OF VIEW FROM THE HEART TO WHAT YOU SAW ON THE BLACK AND WHITE AND BASICALLY, THERE WAS NOT A ROUGHSHOD PROSECUTOR.

HE WAS A GENTLE GENTLEMAN TRYING TO SHARE THE FACTS WITH THE JURY IN A WAY THAT WAS NOT CHALLENGING, WHAT SOME OF THEM MAY HAVE A BELIEF THAT A POLICEMAN CAN DO NO WRONG.

>> AND WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK TO THAT CLOSING ARGUMENT.

THE DAN THE DEFENSE HAS TRIED TO SWAY THE JURY BY DEBATING THE CAUSE OF DEATH.

WHAT WERE THEY SAYING COULD HAVE HAPPENED OUTSIDE OF CHAUVIN KNEELING ON FLOYD'S NECK?

>> THAT WAS DEFINITELY THEIR STRONGEST ARGUMENT.

THE USE-OF-FORCE AND THEN THE CAUTIONATION.

Mr. FLOYD HAD CERTAINLY AN ENLARGED HEART AND HE INGESTED DRUGS AND THEN HE HAD THE EVIDENCE OF AN ELEVATED BLOOD PRESSURE AT THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT.

THAT'S CLEARLY WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS THAT THE DRUGS AND THE ELEVATED HEART RATE AND THE ENLARGED HEART THOSE WERE SUBSTANTIAL CAUSAL FACTORS.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE WITH THE JURY BUT THAT IS WHAT THEY'RE SAY SNOOK HERE IS A CLIP FROM THE PROSECUTION TODAY.

>> THIS CASE IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU THOUGHT WHEN YOU SAW IT FIRST.

WHEN YOU SAW THAT VIDEO.

IT IS EXACTLY THAT.

YOU CAN BELIEVE YOUR EYES.

IT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU BELIEVED.

IT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAW WITH YOUR EYES.

IT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU KNEW.

IT'S WHAT YOU FELT IN YOUR GUT.

IT'S WHAT YOU NOW KNOW IN YOUR HEART.

>> JAMES IS THIS A COMPELLING ARGUMENT FOR THE PROSECUTION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO SPEAK WITH THIS JURY UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, YES.

>> WHY SO?

>> BECAUSE IT IS NOT CHALLENGING THEIR BELIEFS.

IT IS CHALLENGING WHAT YOU SEE WHAT YOU FEEL IN YOUR GUT AND WHAT YOU FEEL IN YOUR HEART AFTER LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENED ON THE VIDEO.

IT'S NOT -- TYPICALLY WHAT YOU FIND PROSECUTORS DOING IS BEING SELF RYE JUST AND LAW AND TOWARD R ORDER ET CETERA AND TOUGH.

THIS GENTLEMAN HANDLED IT IN A WAY THAT WAS PALATABLE AND THE JURY WHETHER THEY WILL ACCEPT HIS ARGUMENT OR NOT.

>> THE DEFENSE ARGUED THAT THE PROSECUTION WAS NOT SHOWING A COMPLETE PICTURE.

>> THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS TRIAL, YOU'VE SEEN US DO THIS, RIGHT.

LITTLE SNIPPETS, A SECOND HERE, A SECOND THERE, A SCREEN SHOT HERE, A SCREEN SHOT THERE.

YOU NEED TO REVIEW THE ENTIRETY OF THE EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE.

DURING THE COURSE OF YOUR DELIBERATIONS AS WELL.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT SOME OF THE VIDEOS THAT WE'VE SEEN, THEY ARE MUCH LONGER THAN WHAT WAS PRESENTED IN COURT.

>> DAN HERBERT, WILL THE JURY BELIEVE THAT?

>> AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

I DON'T THINK THEY WILL.

BUT CLEARLY AND I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE ON THIS, THAT IF THE PROSECUTORS ARE TRYING TO MAKE THIS AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE THERE IS A VISCERAL REACTION WHEN PEOPLE SAW THAT TAPE AND THE PROSECUTORS WANT THE JURORS TO THINK ABOUT THAT VISCERAL REACTION.

WHEREAS THE DEFENSE WANTS TO SHOW ALL THE ELEMENT AND HIGHLIGHT THIS BURDEN OF PROOF AND PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE THERE ARE TWO CONTRASTING VIEWS HERE.

I COULDN'T SEE THE JURY.

I SAW A LOT OF HOW THE EVIDENCE WENT IN.

BUT AS JAMES WILL AGREE WITH ME ON, UNTIL YOU SEE THOSE JURORS AT WHAT POINTS THEY ARE TAKING NOTES ON AND WHAT POINTS ARE RESONATING ON THEM IT'S HARD TO PREDICT WHAT THEY ARE THINKING.

>> JAMES MONTGOMERY HOW DO YOU THINK THE MAKEUP OF THE JURY MIGHT IMPACT THE OUTCOME OF THE CASE?

>> IT IS MAJORITY CAUCASIAN AND THEREFORE IT WILL AFFECT THE OUTCOME QUITE A BIT.

BECAUSE ALL YOU NEED IS ONE OR TWO OF THEM TO DECIDE THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO FIND GUILTY OF ANYTHING AND HE WILL HAVE A HUNG JURY.

AND IN THESE KINDS OF CASES, THAT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.

JURORS BELIEVE WHITE JURORS BELIEVE THAT THE POLICE OFFICER IS YOUR FRIEND AND INDEED HE IS.

AND HE'S BEEN THEIR FRIEND.

BLACK FOLKS ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE AFRAID OF THE POLICE.

AND HAVE GOOD REASON.

>> DAN HERBERT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPARISONS BETWEEN THIS CASE AND OTHERS AND THAT OF JASON VAN DYKE IN THE DEATH OF LAQUAN McDONALD HOW DO YOU SEE IT?

>> YOU KNOW, I WAS CLOSE TO THE CASE WITH MY CLIENT OBVIOUSLY.

I SEE THEM AS POLAR OPPOSITES AND VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE TWO ELEMENTS HERE.

WITH OUR CAUSE THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS NOT AT ISSUE.

IN OUR CASE, I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS A MUCH MORE ROBUST DEBATE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HAD WITH RESPECT TO THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE USE-OF-FORCE WHEREAS WITH CHAUVIN'S CASE, THE USE-OF-FORCE ISSUE WAS A MOOT ISSUE AND I THINK THE DEFENSE RECOGNIZED THAT AND SMARTLY DEVOTED MOST OF THEIR ARGUMENTS AND ATTACKS WORDS OF CAUSATION.

>> AND THEY LANDED IN THE HANDS OF JURORS AND WE AWAIT THE VERDICT.

IN THE MEANTIME THANKS TO DAN HERBERT AND JAMES MONTGOMERY FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE THANK YOU.

>> JAMES TAKE CARE.

>> YOU, TOO.

>> EXPANDED VACCINE ELIGIBILITY FOR CHICAGOANS BUT HURDLES REMAIN.

STAY WITH US FOR MORE.

>> ALL CHICAGOANS OVER THE AGE OF 16 ARE NOW ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A COVID-19 VACCINE.

THE CITY OFFICIALLY EXPANDED ACCESS TODAY MEETING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S APRIL 19TH DEADLINE TO OPEN UP THE ROLLOUT TO ALL AMERICAN ADULTS.

BUT DEMAND FAR OUTPACES SUPPLY AND ISSUES OF EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION AND HESITANCY LINGER AS THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON REMAINS ON PAUSE HERE IN THE U.S.

HERE TO SHARE HER INSIGHTS ARE Dr. MARINA DEL RIOS AN EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN AND DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL EMERGENCY MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS HOSPITAL IN CHICAGO.

Dr. DEL RIOS THANK YOU FOR BEING BACK HERE WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NOW, THAT ALL ADULTS ARE ELIGIBLE HERE IN CHICAGO, THE QUESTION IS: HOW LONG ARE FOLKS GOING TO BE WAITING OR SEARCHING OR CLICKING TO FIND AN APPOINTMENT?

>> WELL, I MEAN I THINK IT IS ALL GOING TO DEPEND HOW GOOD YOUR INTERNET ACCESS IS, HOW TECH SAVVY YOU ARE AND HOW MUCH OF A LANGUAGE BARRIER IS AN ISSUE.

WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE LITTLE PROGRESS THAT WE HAD MADE WITH PROTECT CHICAGO PLUS WITH GETTING VACCINES OF COMMUNITIES TO COLOR AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES WE WILL LOSE GROUND ON THAT AS WE OPEN UP VACCINE ACCESSIBILITY TO EVERYONE.

>> THE MORE TECH SAVVY CUSTOMERS NOW THAT IT'S OPEN TO ALL ADULTS WILL JUMP TOED FRONT OF THE LINES.

HO DO YOU MAKEUP FOR THAT FOR COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THAT ACCESS?

>> IN PARALLEL WE NEED TO BE INVESTING IN COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS INSURING THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO GET VACCINES TO THOSE COMMUNITIES.

AND THAT MEANS BRIDGING THE TECHNOLOGY GAP USING HEALTHCARE WORKERS, INSURING THERE ARE SIGN UP SYSTEMS THAT DON'T DEPEND ON PEOPLE BEING FLUENT IN ENGLISH.

AND BASICALLY, SHORT OF KNOCKING ON DOORS AND TELLING PEOPLE SIGN UP FOR YOUR VACCINE OR BRINGING IT TO THEM IF THAT'S POSSIBLE WHICH GETS COMPLICATED WITH THE FACT THAT JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS NOW ON HOLD.

>> AND IT IS A RACE AGAINST TIME.

ALTHOUGH GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SAYS THIS LATER SURGE OF CASES APPEARS TO START TO BE LEVELING OFF.

SO IS ILLINOIS AT AN INFLICTION POINT WHERE PERHAPS THE PACE OF VACCINATION CAN KEEP UP OR EXCEED THE PACE OF THIS CONTAGIOUS VARIANT THE B117 VARIANT?

>> MY WORRY IS THAT PACE NEEDS TO KEEP UP IN ALL POPULATIONS.

WE'RE SEEING THE 18-49 OR SO-YEAR-OLDS THAT ARE NOW GETTING INFECTED WITH COVID, BECAUSE NOT BECAUSE OF CHOICE BUT BECAUSE OF MANNERS OF BEING EXPOSED UNNECESSARILY, NOW WILL BE MORE PROTECTED WITH THE VACCINES BUT THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE VACCINE AND WILL SEE SHOWING UP FOR WORK, EXPOSING THEMSELVES AND NOT WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF PROTECTION.

SO WHAT I WORRY ABOUT IS THAT IF WE DON'T KEEP UP THE PACE WITH COVID VARIANTS WHAT WE MAY SEE IS A RETURN TO SOME INEQUITIES IN COVID CASES.

>> A LOT OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE TO PLEA VENT THAT FROM HAPPENING.

THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED LIKE THE COUNTRY, 50% OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO HAS RECEIVED A FIRST DOSE.

OR SOMEWHERE AROUND THAT.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT WHEN THE CITY MIGHT BE OR THE STATE MIGHT BE READY FOR A FULL PHASE 5 REOPENING?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT I LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, CAN'T WAIT FOR EVERYTHING TO GO BACK TO NORMAL.

BUT WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS AND WAIT OUT A LITTLE BIT AND SEE HOW THIS VACCINE ROLLOUT TO AN EXPANDED AGE GROUP GOES.

AND IF WE CAN YET VACCINES TO THE COMMUNITIES AND TO THE PEOPLE WE KNOW ARE AT HIGHEST RISK.

IT IS NOT GOING TO BE HELPFUL TO OUR POPULATION IF ALL THAT ARE GETTING VACCINATED ARE YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO ARE HEALTHY AND WITH WE'RE LEAVING PEOPLE THAT ARE VULNERABLE UNPROTECTED.

I THINK THAT BEFORE WE MOVE TO PHASE 5 WE NEED TO BE REALLY CAUTIOUS AND SEE HOW WELL THIS VACCINE DISTRIBUTION GOES.

>> DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE GET AGO PROVED AGAIN?

AND IF SO HOW COULD THAT HELP EFFORTS IN CHICAGO?

>> I CERTAINLY HOPE SO.

THE CASES THAT CAME UP THAT WERE COMPLICATIONS WERE SPECIFIC AGE GROUP.

AND SO WHAT I FORESEE IS THAT IT MAY HAPPEN AS HAPPENS SOMETIMES WITH MEDICATIONS THERE MAY BE RESTRICTIONS A WARNING FOR RESTRICTING ITS USE IN WOMEN IN THE AGES OF 18-40 FOR EXAMPLE.

AND STILL BE SAFE TO USE IN THE ELDERLY AND IN MALES.

WE'LL SEE.

WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE FDA DECIDES UPON AND THE CDC MOVING FORWARD.

>> AND IN TERMS OF BEING FULLY VACCINATED THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION AMONG PEOPLE ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

WHAT THE ACTUAL RATE OF BREAKTHROUGH CASES ARE.

MEANING CASES OF FULLY VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS STILL CONTRACTING COVID-19.

WHAT IS THE RATE BASED ON THE DATA THAT WE HAVE?

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE RATE IS A LOT LESS THAN 1%.

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER BUT IT'S VERY, VERY RARE.

AND IT'S NOT UNEXPECTED.

I MEAN I THINK WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW IS THAT WITH EVERY VACCINE PROTECTION IS NOT 100%.

SO NO VACCINE IS GOING TO GUARANTEE THAT YOU WON'T GET WITH THE FLU VACCINE, THERE'S NO 100% GUARANTEE THAT YOU WON'T GET THE FLU.

SAME THING WITH MEASLES, MUMPS, RUBELLA, THE VACCINES ALL OF THOSE, THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT IT PREVENTS SEVERE ILLNESS WHICH IS REALLY THE 100% GOAL THAT ALL OF THE VACCINES HAVE THEY SEEM TO ACHIEVE THAT IT'S CLOSE TO 100% PROTECTION TO SEVERE ILLNESS AND DEATH.

A LOT OF CASES THAT HAVE BEEN BREAKTHROUGH CASES HAVE BEEN ASYMPTOMATIC OR MINIMALLY SYMPTOMATIC WHICH IS GOOD.

IT MEANS THAT THE VACCINE IS WORKING.

>> ALL RIGHT Dr. MARINA DEL RIOS WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> AND NOW BRANDIS WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS THANK YOU.

ONE OF THE THINGS I TOOK AWAY FROM THAT ESPECIALLY LOTS OF FOLKS WAITING ON WEDNESDAYS BUT OBVIOUSLY A LOT MORE PATIENCE IS WARRANTED.

STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT", NOW THAT VACCINATIONS ARE ON THE RISE, WILL TOURISM BOUNCE BACK IN THE CITY THIS SUMMER?

THAT AND MORE FROM CRAIN'S.

>> AS CHICAGO'S TRANSIT AGENCIES PLOT THEIR RECOVERY A NEW SURVEY FINDS ONGOING WORKING FROM HOME COULD SHIFT TRAVEL PATTERNS AND REVENUE.

>> AND A LOCAL CHILD WELFARE NONPROFIT SAYS AN ANTI-RACIST APPROACH HAS HELPED CHILDREN OF COLOR FIND SAFE PERMANENT HOMES.

BUT FIRST, MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY NEARLY 2,000 MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS SINCE YESTERDAY AND 22 HAVE DIED.

SO FAR MORE THAN 26% OF RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED.

CHICAGO BULLS LEGEND SCOTTIE PIPPEN SHARED THE TRAGIC NEWS OF HIS SON'S DEATH.

AT 33 HE WAS HIS OLDEST SON AND ONCE A TOP COLLEGE PROSPECT.

IF NOT FOR HIS CHRONIC ASTHMA HE THINKS HE WOULD HAVE MADE IT TO THE NBA.

THE OLD HE HAVEST OF HIS SEVEN CHILDREN HE PLAYED COLLEGE BASKETBALL AT SOUTH GEORGIA TECH AND TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL.

>> IT IS NOT A CHICAGO SPRING WITHOUT SNOW.

THE WEATHER FORECAST CALLS FOR AN 80% CHANCE TOMORROW AFTER 10:00 A.M.

DROPPING TO 30% LATER IN THE EVENING AND MAYBE AREAS OF FROST.

THAT IS RIGHT FROST AFTER MIDNIGHT WITH ANOTHER CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS ON WEDNESDAY.

GOING TO GET COLD.

LOW OF 32 OVERNIGHT TUESDAY.

MORE OF THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE AND HAPPY SPRING CHICAGO!

>> NOW, TO PARIS FOR SOME OF TODAY'S BUSINESS HEADLINES.

>> THANKS.

A NEW DEAL FOR THE CONTROVERSIAL FOXCONN DEVELOPMENT NORTH OF THE WISCONSIN BORDER.

NEW SIGNS OF IN-PERSON WORK RETURNING DOWNTOWN AS A TRIO OF COMPANIES SIGN NEW LEASES FOR OFFICE SPACE AND WILL TOURISM BOUNCE BACK IN THE CITY THIS SUMMER?

HERE IS CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS REPORTER DANNY ECKER.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

FIRST WITH THE FOXCONN STORY JUST NORTH OF THE BORDER IN IMPLEMENTS APTD PRAIRIE, IT'S CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE IT GOT BILLIONS OF TAX BREAKS YEARS AGO AND NEVER GOT OFF THE GROUND NOW THERE IS A NEW DEAL WITH TONY EVERS.

TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHATEVER FOXCONN IS GOING TO DO WILL BE SMALLER THAN THE ORIGINAL PLAN.

A FEW YEARS AGO, COMPANY WAS GOING TO BUILD A GIANT FACTORY THAT MADE LCD SCREENS FOR TVS AND IN TURN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN WAS OFFERING THEM $4 BILLION WITH A B, OF INCENTIVES.

NOW THEY REACHED A DEAL TO REDUCE THAT TO ABOUT $10 MILLION WITH AN M. WE DON'T KNOW YET WHAT FOXCONN WILL DO IN WISCONSIN.

THEY WERE WORKING ON A DEAL TO BUILD SERVER COMPONENTS.

THEY MANUFACTURED SOME MASKS AND VENTILATORS BUT IT APPEARS WHAT WE CAN SAY IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE NEAR THE 8TH WONDER OF THE WORLD THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP CALL TO DO IN 2018 >> AND THE INCENTIVES ARE A FRACTION OF WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY OFFERED.

BACK IN CHICAGO, THREE COMPANIES ARE SIGNING NEW LEASES OR EXPANDING THEIR DOWNTOWN OFFICE SPACE.

WHEREABOUTS IS THAT HAPPENING?

AND DO YOU TAKE THIS AS A SIGN THAT THE MARKET COULD BE IMPROVING?

>> WELL, DEFINITELY IMPROVING.

WE ARE FAR FROM WHERE WE OUGHT TO BE AND WHERE WE WILL BE LATER IN THE YEAR.

BUT OFFICE LEASING WE DON'T SEEM TO BE TURNING.

WE WROTE ABOUT DEALS THAT GOT DONE THE BIGGEST WAS LACK TALLIES, A FRENCH COMPANY THAT BOUGHT KRAFT BEHIND CHEESE BUSINESS AND THEY SIGNED A SUBLEASE IN THE WEST LOOP AND THE EAST LOOP IMPACT NETWORKINGS EXPANDED THEIR SPACE BY 30,000 FEET.

AND IN FULTON MARKET DISTRICT, A COMPANY THAT MAKES OFFICE FURNITURE THEY SIGNED A 22,000 SQUARE-FOOT EAST ON THE -- LEASE.

IT IS A SEA CHANGE COMPARED TO WHAT THE PAST YEAR AS DELIVERED AND IT IS A SIGN THAT COMPANIES ARE PREPARING TO RETURN TO OFFICES IN GREATER NUMBERS.

>> THINGS THAT LOOP OFFICIALS WANT TO SEE HAPPENING AND I'M SURE THEY ARE GLAD THAT IS HAPPENING.

LASTLY TOURISM, THE CITY DEPENDS ON THAT IN GOOD YEARS, THEY HOPE TO GET IT GOING IN THE SUMMER.

BUT THE CITY'S TOURISM ARM IS LOSING TOP EXECUTIVES.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> NOT THE BEST TIME TO BE HAVING A LEADERSHIP GAP AT THE TOURISM BUREAU.

TWO CHICAGO IS NOT RENEWING THE CONTRACT OF DAVID WHITAKER IN JULY AND WE GOT NEWS THAT HIS NUMBER TWO MARK ANDERSON ONE OF THE VETERANS IS LEAVING TO LEAD TOURISM EFFORTS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

IT IS A TIME WHEN THE CITY NEEDS ITS TOURISM ARM TO BE FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS AND IT'S MISSING LEADERS AND ALSO HAS A SLASHED BUDGET AND REDUCED STAFF ON TOP OF THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO SEND A MESSAGE THE CITY IS OPEN FOR FUN BUT TRYING TO MAKE SURE IT IS A SAFE AND INVITING PLACE TO BE.

THERE IS CREATIVITY TO BE DONE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT PEOPLE THINK WILL BE A STRONG SUMMER FOR LEISURE TRAVEL.

>> IT WILL BE A HEAVY JOB.

DANNY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS.

>> IT'S THE OPEN QUESTION THAT ALL TRANSIT AGENCIES WISH THEY COULD PEER INTO THE KRYSTLE BALL AND ANSWER.

HOW MANY TRAINS AND BUSES COULD 0 COME BACK AFTER THE PANDEMIC, COULD BE 80% ACCORDING TO A SURVEY RELEASED BY THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY WHICH OVERSEES, CTA, METRA AND PACE.

AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE REPORT IS LEANNE REDDEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE FINDINGS IN THE STUDY THAT YOU PUT OUT.

FIRST OF ALL, THE KEY FINDINGS HERE ABOUT HALF OF PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN TAKING TRANSIT EXPECT TO KEEP WORKING FROM HOME TWO OR MORE DAYS A WEEK.

TRANSIT TRIPS WERE NOT REPLACED BY CAR TRAVEL AND RIDERS' PRIORITIES IN ADDITION TO HEALTH AND SAFETY ARE THE THINGS PEOPLE LOOK FOR IMPROVED SPEED, RELIABILITY AND BETTER CONNECTIONS.

LET'S START WITH THE NUMBERS.

80% THAT IS A GOOD NUMBER, ALTHOUGH WHEN YOU LOOK AT FOLKS DECIDING THEY MIGHT STAY HOME AND COME BACK TO THE OFFICE THREE DAYS WHAT IS THAT GOING TO MEAN FOR RIDERSHIP?

>> ULTIMATELY IT'S GOOD NEWS.

WE DO SEE EXPECT A VAST MAJORITY OF THE RIDERS TO COME BACK.

BUT, YES, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT COME BACK OR COMING BACK AS FREQUENTLY AS THEY MAY HAVE PREPANDEMIC.

AND WE ARE SEEING THAT PREVIOUS TO THE PANDEMIC.

BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO PLAY OUT.

SO I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS WE RELY ON FARE REVENUE AS PART OF OUR OPERATING REVENUE.

WE HAVE TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE AND MANAGE OUR BUDGETS APPROPRIATELY.

>> COULD THAT BE REDUCED SCHEDULES DURING RUSH-HOUR WHEN YOU TEND TO RUN TRAINS AND BUSES EVERY 10, 15 MINUTES?

>> I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE AT THAT POINT.

ONE THING THE PANDEMIC HAS SHOWN US THAT TRANSIT IS CRITICAL TO OUR REGION'S ECONOMY AND TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE REGION TO GET TO AND FROM WORK THAT IS NOT ANYTHING WE ARE CONTEMPLATING WE ARE PLANNING TO RAMP UP SERVICE AND METRA HAS BEEN DOING THAT WE'VE SEEN AN UPTICK IN RIDERSHIP.

IT'S SOMETHING WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOKALITY.

THIS STUDY WAS THE FIRST THROUGHOUT REACH TO OUR RIDERS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND WE ARE GOING TO USE THAT AS WE PLAN OUR RECOVERY WORK GOING FORWARD OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

>> AND WE MENTIONED SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SURVEYED RIDERS AND USERS ON FOR WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE WHEN THEY COME BACK.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THOSE THINGS?

SOME OF THE TOP ANSWERS YOU GOT ON THAT?

>> WE HEARD LOUDLY AND CLEARLY THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BE ASSURED THAT THE TRANSIT SYSTEM IS SAFE, RELIABLE AND ULTIMATELY CLEAN.

SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT COMING OUT AND RECOVERING FROM A PANDEMIC.

AND WE HEARD THAT LOUDLY AND CLEARLY.

AND THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE RIDING AGREE WITH THAT.

OUR JOB IS TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO PEOPLE CONSIDERING COMING BACK.

SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE WERE MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE INVESTING INTO THE TRANSIT SYSTEM THE INFRASTRUCTURE SO IT IS RELIABLE.

CAN OPERATE EFFICIENTLY.

THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM BETTER CUSTOMER INFORMATION TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT THEIR TRIPS.

AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE LOOKING AT INVESTING IN.

>> THE STIMULUS MONEY YOU'VE GOT HOW LONG IS THAT GOING TO LAST BEFORE YOU NEED RIDERS TO COME BACK TO THE FULL PREPANDEMIC LEVEL?

AND CAN YOU USE THAT FOR THOSE INVESTMENTS?

>> YES WE ARE WORKING THROUGH OUR BUDGETS RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE GOOD FINANCIALLY THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR.

THE INFUSION OF FEDERAL RELIEF DOLLARS HELPED US FILL THE BUDGET GAPS THROUGH 2021.

WE WILL START THE WORK FOR PLANNING FOR THE BUDGETS FOR 2022.

AGAIN THAT IS PART OF OUR ONGOING CONVERSATION WE KNOW WE CAN STRETCH THE RELIEF DOLLARS INTO 22.

BUT THE FUTURE LOOKS UNCERTAIN.

NO ONE HAS A KRYSTLE BALL WE CANNOT PREDICT HOW LONG RECOVERY IS GOING TO TAKE.

WE HAVE TO BE PRUDENT AND RESPONSIBLE AND THE THREE OPERATORS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND WE'RE ALL WORKING PRETTY CLOSELY PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

>> AND SPEAKING OF PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE YOU HAVE A POSSIBLE $2 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE BILL COMING FROM CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT BIDEN IF THEY DO PASS THAT.

WHAT COULD THAT MEAN FOR RTA?

>> THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC FOR US.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING FOR A LONGTIME ABOUT THE NEED TO INVEST IN THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE HAVE OVER $20 BILLION BACKLOG OF AGED ASSETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE.

SO THOSE DOLLARS WOULD BE A HUGE WIN FOR OUR REGION AND HELP US CHIP AWAY AT THAT BACKLOG WITH THE FOCUS ON THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY IN THE EXISTING TRANSIT NETWORK TO INSURE WE'RE HERE AS THE RECOVERY CONTINUES AND TO SUPPORT THIS REGION'S ECONOMY.

>> GETTING BACK TO THE SURVEY THAT YOU PUT OUT, YOU GOT A BETTER PICTURE OF WHO THE RIDERS OF METRA, PACE AND CTA ARE, A LOT OF FOLKS ESSENTIAL WORKERS, TELL US MORE ABOUT THOSE FINDINGS?

>> SO, A LOT OF THIS SOME OF THE INFORMATION WE SORT OF KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND SOME WAS ANECDOTAL BUT WE WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS THE LION'S SHARE OF OUR RIDERS IT'S BEEN HEROS TRANSPORTING HEROS, BUT ALSO I THINK SOME OF THE RIDERS HAVE BEEN LARGELY BLACK AND LATINO.

AND PEOPLE HAVING LOW INCOMES.

AND SO, AGAIN IT'S HIGHLIGHTING THE NECESSITY OF THE TRANSIT SYSTEM AND HOW IT'S BEEN ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO SURVIVING THE PANDEMIC FOR ALL OF US THAT THOSE OF US WORKING AT HOME.

AND ALSO CRITICAL FOR OUR RECOVERY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS THE LIFE BLOOD OF THE REGION AND LEANNE REDDEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND UP NEXT HOW TO CREATE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLACK AND LATINO FOSTER CHILDREN.

FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

>> CARING FOR A CHILD IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM CAN BE COMPLICATED AND EMOTIONAL.

DIFFERENCES OF RACE AND CULTURE CAN MAKE IT A MORE CHALLENGING ENDEAVOR.

BUT LOCAL CHILD WELFARE NONPROFIT LUTHERAN CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES SAYS ANALYSIS SHOWING TAKING AN ANTIRACIST APPROACH CAN IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR BLACK AND LATINO CHILDREN.

JOINING US WITH MORE IS BEVERLY JONES, VICE-PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF LUTHERAN CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

CAN YOU FIRST EXPLAIN TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOUR ORGANIZATION DOES?

>> WE'RE AN AGENCY THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 140 YEARS STARTING OUT AS AN ORPHANAGE.

WE ARE A NONPROFIT.

WHO BASICALLY PROVIDE SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS.

THE LARGEST BEING FOSTER CARE.

>> AND SO WE'VE LEARNED 54% OF ROUGHLY 21,000 CHILDREN IN ILLINOIS FOSTER CARE ARE BLACK OR LATINO.

OF COURSE, PRESUMABLY YOUR ORGANIZATION WAS ALREADY ACCUSTOMED TO WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF COLOR.

BUT WHAT MADE YOU REALIZE THAT YOU NEEDED TO CHANGE YOUR APPROACH?

>> DATA IS POWERFUL.

AND WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN OF COLOR WHO WERE ACHIEVING WHAT WE CALL PERM NANCY OR LEAVING FOSTER CARE TO GO BACK WITH THEIR PARENTS OR BE ADOPTED, WE SAW DATA THAT WAS EMBARRASSING AND UNACCEPTABLE.

WHEN WE BEGAN THIS JOURNEY IT WAS 4% OF CHILDREN OF COLOR WERE LEAVING FOSTER CARE TO GO TO A LOVING FOREVER FAMILY.

>> I THINK WE ARE GOING TO GET TO THE CHANGE FROM 4% WHAT THE IMPROVEMENT WAS.

BUT HOW DID YOU PUT THAT CHANGE OF APPROACH INTO PRACTICE?

WHAT STEPS DID YOU ALL TAKE?

>> WE DID SOMEWHAT I CALLED FOUNDATIONAL WORK.

WE STARTED WITH LOOKING AT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN ANTIRACIST ORGANIZATION?

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

WHAT COMMITMENT DO WE WANT TO MAKE TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AND MORE DIRECTLY TO THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE SERVE?

SO WE NOW HAVE AN ORGANIZATIONAL STATEMENT AROUND THIS.

WE ALL PARTICIPATED IN A ANTIRACIST TRAINING.

TOGETHER WHICH REALLY GAVE US A COMMON FRAMEWORK AND CONCEPT AND LANGUAGE TO THINK ABOUT AND TALK ABOUT.

WE HAD WORKSHOPS AND ALL STAFF MEETINGS DIVERTED TO THE SUBJECT ABOUT BIASES IMPLICIT BIASES AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AND HOW DOES IT SHOW UP IN OUR WORKDAY TO DAY.

THOSE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT WE DID.

AND THEN WE SET A GOAL THAT WE WANTED TO TACKLE THE DISPARITY AROUND CHILDREN ACHIEVING PERMANENCY AND HOW LONG IT TOOK FOR THEM TO LEAVE FOSTER CARE AND GO WITH A LOVING FOREVER FAMILY.

>> LET'S GET TO SOME OF THOSE RESULTS.

SOME OF THEM ARE POSITIVE FOR BLACK AND LATINO YOUTH YOU ARE SHOWING AN INCREASE IN ACHIEVING PERMANENCY AND REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT IN FOSTER CARE.

NOW, THAT DROP IN TIME AND CARE FOR LATINO YOUTH WAS ESPECIALLY LARGE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ACCOUNTS FOR THAT?

>> WE'RE STILL EXPLORING THAT AND LOOKING AT THAT.

SO THIS IS WHAT STAFF HAVE SHARED WITH US.

ONE IS LISTENING BETTER TO FAMILIES.

WE HAVE BILINGUAL STAFF TO SERVE ON SPANISH SPEAKING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

LOOKING AT BOTH PARENTS IF CHILDREN ARE NOT ALREADY LIVING WITH ONE, ALSO ENGAGING THE OTHER PARENT AND THAT SIDE OF THE FAMILY AS RESOURCES FOR THIS CHILD.

AND I THINK JUST PAYING ATTENTION TO HOW WE TALK TO PEOPLE THE LANGUAGE WE USE TO DESCRIBE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES AS WELL AS THEMSELVES.

ALL HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO OUR SUCCESS.

>> WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT CHILDREN SPEND LESS TIME IN A FOSTER CARE SETTING VERSUS IN A PERMANENT HOME?

>> FOSTER CARE WHEN IT WAS FIRST CREATED OR ESTABLISHED IN THIS COUNTRY, ALWAYS SAYS THIS IS A TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT.

AND WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS IN LIFE IS THAT YOU NEED A LIFETIME SUPPORT LINE REGARDLESS OF HOW OLD YOU ARE.

AND THAT FOSTER CARE IS MEANT AS TEMPORARY.

WHERE DO I BELONG?

WHERE CAN I GO WHEN I'M IN TROUBLE OR SAD OR EVEN WHEN I'M CELEBRATING SOMETHING?

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE JOY OF FAMILY.

AND FOR MANY OF OUR CHILDREN THEY WERE MISSING THAT.

>> AND IN THE FEW SECONDS WE HAVE THE LEFT WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT NEED TO TACKLE A SIMILAR ISSUE?

>> YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE, MOVE PAST THE WORDS TO ACTIONS.

THERE IS NO BLUEPRINT FOR YOU TO FOLLOW.

WE SHARE WHAT WE ARE DOING AS A WAY OF SAYING HERE ARE SOME IDEAS.

THE IMPORTANCE IS ACTION IN MOVING PAST WORDS.

CHILDREN DESERVE MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING AT THE MOMENT.

AND WE SHOULD ALL BE OUTRAGED BY THAT AND DETERMINED TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE.

>> OK. BEVERLY JONES THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND THAT'S OUR HOE FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

>> PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. ALDERMEN WEIGH-IN ON THE RELEASE OF BODY-CAM FOOTAGE SHOWING POLICE SHOOTING ADAM TOLEDO.

>> AND VIBRANT PORTRAITS ON FABRIC AT THE ART INSTITUTE.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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