♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

>> CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS SOMETIMES HAVE TO WORK 11 DAYS STRAIGHT.

THAT AND OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FROM A NEW WATCHDOG REPORT.

>> CHICAGO WILL HAVE FEWER VOTER PRECINCTS IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THOSE HEADED TO THE POLLS.

>> LEASES FOR DISCOUNT MALL VENDORS HAVE BEEN EXTENDED.

AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE OWNERS PLANS FOR THE LITTLE VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER.

>>> A LOOK AT RACIAL SEGREGATION IN CHURCHES.

PART OF WTTW'S FIRSTHAND SEGREGATION SERIES.

>>> SALES IN THE U.S., MUSLIM-LED NONPROFITS WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE GROWING NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.

>>> WE INTRODUCE YOU TO RICHARD NICHOL IN A NEW EXHIBIT.

>>> THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS FORMED A CARAVAN TASK FORCE TO CRACKDOWN ON DRAG RACING.

CPD SAYS NINE PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED AND SEVEN VEHICLES WERE SEIZED OVER THE WEEKEND.

BUT DAVID BROWN SAYS POLICE WILL USE SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER TOOLS TO HOLD MORE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

>> WE DIDN'T ARREST YOU OR TOW YOUR CAR WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, THERE'S VIDEO OF YOU.

THERE'S VIDEO OF YOUR CAR AND YOUR BEHAVIOR.

AND WE WON'T REST UNTIL WE BRING EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH HARMING OUR OFFICERS, DAMAGING PROPERTY, CITY PROPERTY, OUR SQUAD CARS, TO JUSTICE.

AND WE'LL PROSECUTE THEM TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.

>> NEW CITY ORDINANCE ALLOWS THE CPD TO IMPOUND VEHICLES USED IN ILLEGAL DRIFTING OR DRAG RACING.

>>> AND CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT IS TAKING SHAPE.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCED THE SEVEN PEOPLE TO SERVE ON THE NEW COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE IN BRINGING PEACE, LASTING PEACE AND SAFETY TO OUR COMMUNITY IS BY GETTING THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED AND ENGAGED AND FEELING LIKE THEY'VE GOT A STAKE.

THAT THEIR FACES ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE IGNORED.

THAT THEY HAVE A ROLE IN SHAPING WHAT COMMUNITY SAFETY LOOKS LIKE.

>> LIGHTFOOT CHOSE SEVEN INDIVIDUALS FROM 14 WHO APPLIED AND VETTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

HELPING TO FILL VACANCIES ON THE POLICE BOARD.

THEY COULD ALSO MOVE TO REMOVE THE CPD SUPERINTENDENT.

BIG RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT ONLY TEMPORARY ONES.

CANDIDATES TOMORROW CAN BEGIN TO CIRCULATE PETITIONS TO RUN FOR DISTRICT LEVEL CPD OVERSIGHT POSITIONS.

AND THE WINNERS OF THE FEBRUARY ELECTIONS WILL CHOOSE A PERMANENT COMMUNITY COMMISSION.

YOU CAN READ THE NAMES OF THE JUST APPOINTED COMMISSIONERS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TIMELINE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> CHICAGO'S ELECTION BOARD FACES A LAWSUIT OVER ITS PLAN TO SLICE THE NUMBER OF PRECINCTS IN FUTURE ELECTIONS.

WILSON WHO IS RUNNING FOR MAYOR SAYS HE BELIEVES IT'S A FORM OF VOTER SUPPRESSION.

>> VOTERS OUT OF THE WHOLE STATE, PERHAPS THE WHOLE COUNTRY, OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.

MIND YOU NOW, THEY LIVE OFF A FIXED INCOME.

FOR THEM TO MOVE THE POLLS LET'S SAY A MILE AWAY OR FIVE OR SIX BLOCKS IS BEING UNFAIR TO OUR NUMBER ONE VOTERS.

>> THE ELECTION BOARD SAYS ITS REDUCING PRECINCTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH A NEW STATE LAW.

AND OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF PRECINCTS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.

WE HAVE MUCH MORE ON THIS COMING UP IN JUST A BIT.

>>> BUT UP NEXT ONE ON ONE WITH CHICAGO'S WATCHDOG TO TALK ABOUT FINDINGS OF A NEW REPORT.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDERA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE JIM AND KAY FAMILY.

THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION, AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> HUNDREDS OF CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS MAY HAVE HAD TO WORK 11 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE DAYS LAST SPRING ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT FROM THE CITY'S INSPECTOR GENERAL.

WHAT'S MORE THE IG'S OFFICE SAYS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S RECORD KEEPING MADE IT HARD TO EVEN TELL IF THE OFFICERS ACTUALLY WORKED THE SCHEDULED DAYS.

HERE TO SHARE THE FINDINGS FROM THIS JUST RELEASED REPORT IS THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, DEBORAH WITZBURG.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> FIRST, PLEASE, WALK US THROUGH THE FINDINGS OF YOUR REPORT.

>> SURE.

WE LOOKED AT CPD'S SCHEDULING INFORMATION FOR PATROL OFFICERS ON ITS FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD WATCHES DURING THE MONTHS OF APRIL AND MAY.

WE LOOKED AT COHORTS OF OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO EACH OF THOSE WATCHES ON WHAT ARE CALLED DAY OFF GROUPS.

THOSE ARE GROUPS OF OFFICERS WHICH THE DEPARTMENT USES TO CALENDAR REGULAR TIME OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR.

WE FOUND THAT SOMETHING LIKE 1100 CPD MEMBERS, JUST AGAIN, PATROL MEMBERS ON FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD WATCHES.

SOMETHING LIKE 1100 WERE SCHEDULED TO WORK 11 DAYS IN APRIL AND MAY LEADING UP TO THE SUMMER MONTHS.

FROM THERE, WE LOOKED AT NUMBERS AND DETERMINED WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM CPD'S RECORDS ABOUT WHETHER THE OFFICERS SCHEDULED TO WORK THOSE DAYS WERE IN FACT PRESENT TO WORK IN ALL OF THOSE CONSECUTIVE DAYS.

WE FOUND SOME WERE AND SOME WEREN'T.

THAT SOME MEMBERS SCHEDULED TO WORK 11 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE DAYS WERE IN FACT PRESENT ALL OF THOSE DAYS.

AND IN OTHER SITUATIONS, THAT SCHEDULING DATA DID NOT ACTUALLY CAPTURE PRESENCE FOR ALL OF THOSE DAYS.

>> I WANT TO COME BACK TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOUR OFFICE EXPERIENCED WITH THAT DATA.

THE TIME PERIOD YOU LOOKED AT WAS APRIL 1ST OF 2022 TO MAY 31ST OF 2022.

IN HIS RESPONSE, SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN SAYS YOUR REPORT DIDN'T REALLY CONSIDER WHAT WAS HAPPENING DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

HE POINTS TO MEMORIAL DAY, OF COURSE, AND THE CITY BEING OPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE COVID.

BUT WHY DID YOU EXAMINE THAT PARTICULAR TIME PERIOD?

>> UM, YOU KNOW, SUPERINTENDENT BROWN, WE PROVIDED A DRAFT OF HIS REPORT BEFORE IT WAS PUBLISHED TO CPD TO MAKE SURE WE WERE GETTING IT RIGHT.

SUPERINTENDENT BROWN'S RESPONSE IS ATTACHED TO OUR REPORT.

IN THAT RESPONSE, I THINK HE APPROPRIATELY POINTS OUT THAT IN MAKING SCHEDULING DECISION.

PROTECT THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING AND THE REST OF ITS MEMBERS.

THAT IS THE DECISION THAT IS BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT.

AND THE HOPE WITH OUR ANALYSIS IS THAT WE BETTER EQUIP THOSE MAKING THAT DECISION WITH INFORMATION THAT IS AS GOOD AND AS CLEAR AS POSSIBLE GIVEN THE STATE OF THE RECORD KEEPING.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS I THINK UNDER CONSIDERATION.

WE CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT MANAGING AND STAFFING THE DEPARTMENT TO KEEP CHICAGOANS SAFE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT RECORD KEEPING BECAUSE THE REPORT WAS ALSO CRITICAL OF IT.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS YOUR OFFICE EXPERIENCED?

>> THE PROBLEM IS THE INFORMATION ONE NEEDS TO LOOK AT TO DETERMINE WHO IS SCHEDULED TO WORK WHEN AND WHO IS ACTUALLY PRESENT AND FOR HOW LONG, THAT INFORMATION IS STORED ACROSS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SYSTEMS.

AND SOME OF THOSE SYSTEMS REQUIRE MANUAL REVIEW.

SO INFORMATION ABOUT VERY SMALL NUMBER OF CPD MEMBERS ARE ACTUALLY CLOCKING IN AND OUT ARE IN ONE SYSTEM.

WHAT ARE CALLED ATTENDANCE AND ASSIGNMENT SHEETS ARE IN ANOTHER SYSTEM.

THOSE ARE SORT OF MANUALLY KEPT.

THEY OFTEN INDICATE THE MEMBER IS NOT PRESENT WHEN THEY ARE IN FACT PRESENT AND WORKING OVERTIME.

THE OVERTIME INFORMATION IS KEPT IN STILL ANOTHER SYSTEM.

WITH THE SILOING.

THAT'S PROBLEMATIC FOR US AS AN OVERSIGHT MATTER.

IT'S PROBLEMATIC FOR THE DEPARTMENT AS A CONCERN.

>> YOU FOUND THAT IN SOME INSTANCES THOSE OFFICERS DID WORK 11 OR MORE DAYS AS SCHEDULED.

IN SOME INSTANCES THEY DID NOT.

IS IT POSSIBLE THE CPD SCHEDULING ISSUES WERE WORSE THAN YOU WERE ABLE TO DOCUMENTED OR MAYBE NOT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE.

WE CONDUCTED THIS ANALYSIS REALLY TO ARRIVE AS CONSERVATIVE AS POSSIBLE ESTIMATE EXPLICITLY TO AVOID OVERSEEING THE PROBLEM.

I WOULD EXPECT THE GROUP OF OFFICERS SCHEDULED TO WORK 11 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE DAYS WAS HIGHER ESTIMATE.

>> DID YOUR OFFICE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS?

>> WE DON'T MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS REPORT.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T TAKE A POSITION ON HOW MANY DAYS IN A ROW IS TOO MANY WITHOUT REST IN THIS REPORT.

IT IS CERTAINLY THE CASE THAT OTHER INDUSTRIES HAVE OTHER LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG PEOPLE CAN WORK WITHOUT REST.

TRUCK DRIVERS, AIRLINE PILOTS AND SO ON.

THERE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK HERE.

WE WERE NOT ABLE TO ARRIVE AT AN EXACT NUMBER OF CPD MEMBERS WHO WORKED 11 DAYS IN A ROW.

THERE'S A QUESTION TO ASK ABOUT WHETHER ANY NUMBER IS TOO MANY.

>> MAYOR LIGHTFOOT TODAY APPOINTED A COMMISSION TODAY.

THESE ARE INTERIM COMMISSIONERS.

IT SEEMS A FIRST STEP OF CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION THE POWER THIS COMMISSION WILL HAVE.

>> THERE'S A REALLY CRITICAL ROLE IN POLICING OVERSIGHT AND PUBLIC SAFETY POLICY FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE AND COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE.

AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THIS IS EXACTLY AS YOU SAID A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION FOR CHICAGO.

>> DO YOU THINK THIS COMMISSION MIGHT BE ABLE TO RESTORE SOME OF THE DAMAGED TRUST BETWEEN SOME COMMUNITIES AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT?

>> THAT IS CERTAINLY THE ENDEAVOR IN WHICH ALL OF US SHOULD BE ENGAGED.

>> UM, OKAY, WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

INSPECTOR GENERAL DEBORAH WITZBURG, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> POLICE OFFICERS REGULARLY FACE STRESS AND TRAUMA IN A JOB THAT COULD PUT THEM IN LIFE OR DEATH SITUATIONS.

AND AS CHICAGO'S INSPECTOR GENERAL JUST TOLD US, OFFICERS ARE SOMETIMES SCHEDULED TO WORK 11 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE DAYS.

HOW DOES THAT KIND OF SCHEDULE IMPACT JOB PERFORMANCE AND MENTAL HEALTH, AND HOW DOES IT IMPACT THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE?

JOINING US NOW IS SANDY JO MacARTHUR.

SHE IS A SPECIALIST ON OFFICER MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING NATIONALLY.

AND ALDERMAN MATTHEW O'SHAE WHO REPRESENTS THE 19TH WARD.

ALDERMAN O'SHEA, LET'S START WITH YOU FIRST.

>> WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT IS JUST THE DATA FROM THE MONTHS OF APRIL AND MAY WHEN WE WEREN'T SEEING POLICE OFFICERS WORKING 10, 20, 25 DAYS IN A ROW.

YOU KNOW, THE START OF THIS IS REALLY NEAR MEMORIAL DAY.

WHAT WOULD BE INTERESTING IS TO SEE THE DATA FROM JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST WHEN IT WAS A RECURRING THEME OF DAYS OFF BEING CANCELED ON A REGULAR BASIS.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE MORE ALARMING AND CAUSE MORE CONCERN.

>> SANDY JO MacARTHUR, YOU'VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF OFFICERS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, HOW COMMON IS IT FOR OTHER POLICE OFFICERS IN MAJOR CITIES TO HAVE TO WORK 11 OR MORE DAYS STRAIGHT?

>> GENERALLY FOR DEPLOYMENT PURPOSES THAT IS UNCOMMON.

THERE ARE TIMES WE'VE SEEN WHEN THERE ARE EMERGENCIES, WHETHER IT'S NATURAL DISASTERS OR CIVIL UNREST OR THINGS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THAT CAUSE US TO HAVE TO CANCEL SOME DAYS OFF.

BUT TO DO IT ROUTINELY AND TO DO IT WHERE PEOPLE ARE WORKING MORE THAN 12 DAYS IN A ROW IS ACTUALLY VERY DANGEROUS.

IT CREATES A SITUATION OF BURNOUT.

AND THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF FALLOUT AS A RESULT OF THAT AS WELL.

BUT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS IN JOBS SUCH AS POLICING TO BE PUT IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU'RE WORKING MORE THAN FIVE, MAYBE SIX DAYS IN A ROW.

AND IF YOU'RE DOING IT ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS, I AGREE WITH ALDERMAN O'SHEA THAT LOOKING AT POLICE DEPARTMENTS OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF WOULD PROBABLY BE EVEN MORE ALARMING.

>> SANDY JO, YOU MENTIONED BURNOUT AMONG OFFICERS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT MORE AND HOW BURNOUT IMPACTS THE JOBS THAT OUR OFFICERS DO.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF RESEARCH IN BURNOUT.

BURNOUT IS RECOGNIZED AS AN ACTUAL DISORDER.

ANY CAREER IN OUR COUNTRY BURNOUT WHAT THEY DO KNOW FROM ALL THE RESEARCH IS IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH SYMPTOMS OF APATHY, FATIGUE, CYNICISM.

ALL THE THINGS WE KNOW ARE NOT GOOD IN POLICING.

BUT IT ALSO CREATES SITUATIONS WHERE OFFICERS CAN DEVELOP SLEEP DISORDERS.

THEY BECOME VERY IRRITABLE.

THEY HAVE POOR PERFORMANCE.

OFTENTIMES POOR PERFORMANCE.

BUT MY CONCERN IS ALWAYS WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM WHEN THEY'RE IN THOSE HIGH RISK SITUATIONS.

WE KNOW IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SEE WITH TRUCK DRIVERS, WITH AIRLINE PILOTS.

THERE ARE RULES FOR HOW LONG THEY CAN FLY BEFORE THEY HAVE DAYS OFF.

AND THOSE RULES ARE IN PLACE FOR A REASON FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERYBODY ON THAT PLANE.

RIGHT.

FOR EXAMPLE.

OFFICERS ARE OUT THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND ARE FACED WITH VERY, VERY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS LIKE THREATENING SITUATIONS.

IN SOME SITUATIONS, A LOT OF TRAUMA.

AND THIS REALLY CANNOT JUST NEGATIVELY IMPACT THEM MENTALLY.

SO THE MENTAL HEALTH IS IMPACTED.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE GENERAL HEALTH DISORDERS THAT RESULT FROM BURNOUT.

>> ALDERMAN, YOU'RE PROPOSING THAT POLICE OFFICERS BE GUARANTEED 24 HOURS OFF DUTY FOR EVERY 60 HOURS THAT THEY'VE WORKED.

TELL US ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE.

>> TO BREAK IT DOWN, IT'S THE SIMPLEST WAY TO DO THIS AND THAT'S FOR EVERY WEEK AN OFFICER WORKS, THEY BE AWARDED 24 HOURS OF REST.

AS SANDY JO POINTED OUT, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALREADY DOES THAT WITH AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, AIRLINE PILOTS, OPEN ROAD TRUCKERS.

AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN OUR OFFICERS HERE IN CHICAGO PARTICULARLY THE LAST FEW MONTHS, IT'S JUST DANGEROUS.

POLICE OFFICERS EACH AND EVERY SHIFT HAVE TO MAKE SPLIT SECOND DECISIONS.

LIFE OR DEATH DECISIONS.

WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH REST, WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DECOMPRESS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE PROBLEMS ARISE.

WHAT IS THE MOST DANGEROUS JOB IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW, TO BE A POLICE OFFICER.

>> ALDERMAN, 24 HOURS AFTER BASICALLY WORKING WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A WEEK, A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A WEEK.

SOUNDS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING.

BUT IS THAT ENOUGH?

>> IT'S A START.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE.

SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN WIDELY DISCUSSED FOR CERTAINLY SEVERAL MONTHS.

I REACHED OUT TO INSPECTOR GENERAL WITZBURG SEVERAL WEEKS AGO TO ASK IF SHE WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THAT IS A VERY SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS.

IT POINTS TO A BIGGER PROBLEM WE HAVE.

THREE YEARS AGO IN AUGUST OF 2019, WE HAD MORE THAN 13,300 CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS.

TODAY, JUST 36 MONTHS LATER, WE'RE UNDER 11,500.

WHICH IS WHY WE CONTINUE TO SEE POLICE OFFICERS DAYS OFF CANCELED.

WHICH IS WHY WE CONSIDER STILL SEE POLICE OFFICERS WORKING 12 HOUR REGULAR SHIFTS.

WE HAVE DO MORE.

>> SANDY JO, THERE HAVE BEEN SHIFTING ATTITUDES ABOUT POLICE AT LEAST SINCE THE CIVIL UNREST OF 2020.

SINCE THAT TIME, ARE OFFICERS FACING A CULTURE WHERE SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH IS STIGMATIZED FOR THEM STILL?

>> YEAH.

IT'S VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE OFFICERS KNOW OFTEN TIMES WHEN THEY NEED HELP.

AND THERE'S A LOT A POLICY CAN HELP TO DESTIGMATIZE GOING AND SEEKING HELP.

IF AN OFFICER IS INVOLVED IN LET'S SAY AN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO GO SEE A PSYCHOLOGIST.

EITHER A DEPARTMENT PSYCHOLOGIST OR ONE THAT'S CONTRACTED BY THEIR DEPARTMENT.

OFFICERS HAVE TOLD ME OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND I HAD DONE MY RESEARCH ON THIS JUST RECENTLY, THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE POLICIES THAT REQUIRE OFFICERS -- THAT ARE TRIGGERS FOR OFFICERS TO GO GET THE HELP.

BECAUSE THAT WOULD DESTIGMATIZE IT ALTOGETHER.

THE OTHER THING THAT'S A PROBLEM WITH STIGMA IS OFTEN TIMES LEADERS WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION DON'T REALLY OPENLY SUPPORT US.

AND THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHETHER OR NOT AN OFFICER FEELS COMFORTABLE GOING OR NOT.

IF THE SUPERVISOR IS SAYING, YEAH, YOU GOTTA GO SEE A SHRINK.

THAT'S STIGMA RIGHT THERE.

>> LEADERSHIP SETTING THE TONE FOR THAT AS WELL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

BUT MY THANKS TO ALDERMAN O'SHEA AND SANDY JO MacARTHUR.

>> THANKS, PARIS.

>>> A NEW CHANGE THIS ELECTION SEASON.

PARIS.

>> CHICAGOANS WILL HAVE FAR PLACES TO VOTE.

THAT'S BECAUSE OFFICIALS HAVE SHRUNK THE NUMBER OF VOTING PRECINCTS.

IT'S A NEARLY 40% DECREASE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE MAX BEVER WITH THE CHICAGO BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

AND AMI GANDHI.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

AND LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE GRAPHIC SHOWING THE CITY IS GOING TO GO FROM 2,069 VOTER PRECINCTS TO 1,290.

MAX, WHAT'S DRIVING THIS CHANGE?

>> THANK YOU, PARIS.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE AT THE TOP THAT WHILE PRECINCTS ARE BEING REDUCED, IT'S NOT THE NUMBER OF POLLING PLACES BEING REDUCED.

MOST POLLING PLACES WILL PULL IN DOUBLE, EVEN TRIPLE DUTY WITH THE NUMBER OF PRECINCTS THAT WERE BEING SERVED.

NOW THAT PRECINCTS ARE BEING REDUCED, MUCH MORE LIKELY THAT EVERY POLLING PLACE WILL -- >> BASICALLY YOU WON'T SEE TWO OR THREE PRECINCTS IN LIKE SAY A SCHOOL OR LIBRARY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AMI GANDHI, WHAT IMPACT DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO HAVE ON VOTERS IN CHICAGO THAT IN JUNE PERHAPS VOTED IN A DIFFERENT PLACE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE VOTING IN NOVEMBER?

>> ANY TIME THAT THERE ARE CHANGES TO POLLING PLACES THAT PEOPLE ARE INSTRUCTED TO GO TO, THAT CAUSES A DISRUPTION.

ANY TIME VOTERS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE TO GO IN ORDER TO ACCESS THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE, THERE'S A CHANCE THAT SOMETHING COULD FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS AND THEY COULD BE DISENFRANCHISED.

WE'RE NOT SUGGESTING THAT VOTERS BE ALARMED AT THIS TIME.

CLEAR AND SPECIFIC COMMUNICATION SO THAT VOTERS KNOW THEIR OPTIONS.

PARTICULARLY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WHO FACE DISENFRANCHISEMENT ON A NUMBER OF LEVELS.

TO GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER TO LOOK UP THEIR POLLING PLACES.

ANYONE CAN CALL THE NONPARTISAN ELECTION PROTECTION HOTLINE.

>> MAX, BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION, AS I UNDERSTAND THIS WILL SAVE ABOUT $2 MILLION.

EVERY ELECTION CYCLE WE HEAR ABOUT THE TROUBLES GETTING AND RECRUITING JUDGES TO WORK ELECTIONS.

WAS THIS ABOUT ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES?

>> THAT'S TRUE.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THIS IS THE SAME PROCESS THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS UNDERTOOK AFTER THE LAST REDISTRICTING IN 2012 AFTER THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED A NEW BOARD MAP AFTER THE 2010 U.S. CENSUS.

THIS TIME THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS ALREADY IMPLEMENTING REDISTRICTING AHEAD OF CIRCULATION FOR THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION, WHICH STARTS TOMORROW, AUGUST 30TH.

BECAUSE THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE WITH THOSE NEW BOUNDARIES.

SO PRECINCTS NEEDED TO BE REDRAWN WITHIN NEW BOUNDARIES AS AHEAD OF THE NEW VOTING ELECTION.

THEY WILL BE CHANGING AHEAD OF NOVEMBER WITH THESE NEW PRECINCTS.

AS AMI MENTIONED, COMMUNICATION IS KEY.

WE APPRECIATE YOU GETTING THE WORD OUT AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY CAN GO ON TO OUR WEBSITE AT CHICAGOELECTIONS.GOV.

OR IF THEY'VE GOT A LOOP HOLE IN PLACE AHEAD OF NOVEMBER.

AS YOU DID MENTION, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WE CONTINUE TO FACE AHEAD OF EVERY ELECTION IS AN ELECTION JUDGE SHORTAGE.

WE'VE PREVIOUSLY NEEDED ABOUT 11,000 ELECTION JUDGES.

NOW WE NEED ABOUT 6500.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO SEE AN EMPTY JUDGE'S TABLE OR A VACANT PRECINCT AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY.

>> AMI GANDHI, THIS HAS BEEN A PERENNIAL ISSUE HERE RECRUITING ENOUGH FOLKS.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS AND WHAT ARE OTHER WAYS TO RECRUIT MORE PEOPLE TO DO THIS?

>> WHEN THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE AND PHYSICAL ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE WHO ARE EAGER TO LEND A HAND RECRUITING ELECTION JUDGES, IT'S TOO EARLY TO CONVEY.

THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS WHO PARTNERED WITH CHICAGO BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND OTHER ELECTION AUTHORITIES DURING THE 2020 ELECTIONS TO TRY TO FILL THE GAP.

YOUNG PEOPLE IN CHICAGO ARE EAGER TO USE THEIR TECH SKILLS AND THEIR SAVVY AND THEIR ABILITY TO RELATE TO NEW PEOPLE COMING IN TO THE ELECTORATE IN ORDER TO SERVE OUR VOTING PROCESS.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SOLIDIFY THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

INSTEAD OF ASSUMING THAT WE CAN'T GET ENOUGH PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE.

INSTEAD OF ASSUMING WE SHOULD FLASH RESOURCES FOR THIS SORT OF IN-PERSON ACCESS.

UNTIL WE HEAR FROM MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY DISENFRANCHISEMENT, I WOULD CAUTION IT'S TOO EARLY TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE CONCLUSIONS.

>> MAX BEVER, WE HAVE TWO, MAYBE THREE ELECTIONS COMING UP IN NOVEMBER.

IF THERE'S A RUNOFF IN APRIL, COULD A BI PRODUCT OF THIS CONSOLIDATION BE LONGER AT PRECINCTS?

COULD THAT MEAN LONGER LINES?

>> WE'RE HOPING THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

A LOT OF PRECINCT LOCATIONS, PEOPLE AND VOTING HABITS HAVE CHANGED.

THIS LAST ELECTION, ONLY 100 VOTERS ALL DAY LONG.

MOST POLLING PLACES CAN HANDLE 200 OR 300.

ALTHOUGH WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE TURNOUT IMPROVE.

THIS LAST ELECTION, ONLY 50% OF VOTERS CHOSE TO EARLY VOTE AND IT WENT BY MAIL.

CONTINUING TO EXPAND VOTING ACCESS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND WITHIN CHICAGO AND MAKING VOTING ACCESS MORE PERMANENT.

INCLUDING INCREASING EARLY VOTING OPTIONS, AND NOW ALLOWING EARLY VOTING SITES TO STAY OPEN FOR ELECTION DAY AS WELL.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING IN CHICAGO BECAUSE WE DO HAVE EARLY VOTING SITES WHERE ANYBODY IN CHICAGO CAN VOTE NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE.

THOSE ARE NOW OPEN ON ELECTION DAY SO THEY CAN BE A CONTINUED RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME IN TIME.

>> PLENTY OF WAYS.

WE SHOULD MENTION POSSIBLY THREE ELECTIONS COMING UP.

THOSE TEND TO BE HISTORICALLY LOWER.

AMI GANDHI, IF THERE ARE LONGER LINES, ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT DISENFRANCHISEMENT EFFECTS THAT COULD HAVE?

>> THEY WANT MORE OPTIONS, MORE WAYS TO BE ABLE TO VOTE.

NOT FEWER WAYs.

AS WE LOOK TOWARD NOT JUST THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.

IT IS REASSURING TO HEAR THERE IS A PLAN TO KEEP THE SAME NUMBER OF POLLING PLACES IN PLACE IN NOVEMBER COMPARED TO JUNE.

WHAT ABOUT FUTURE ELECTIONS, THOUGH?

THERE IS A TREND THAT FROM A CIVIL RIGHTS POINT OF VIEW WE FIND TO BE ALARMING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF POLLING PLACES, REDUCE THE IN-PERSON ELECTION DAY, MORE GENERALLY WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

VOTERS ARE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

IF VOTERS DON'T WANT TO SEE IT, THIS IS CERTAINLY THE TIME TO SPEAK OUT.

>> ELECTION SEASON RAMPING UP OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS.

OUR THANKS TO MAX BEVER AND AMI GANDHI.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> NOW BRANDISS, WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> PARIS, THANK YOU.

STILL TO COME ON CHICAGO TONIGHT, LEASES FOR DISCOUNT MALL VENDORS HAVE BEEN EXTENDED.

AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE OWNERS PLANS FOR THE LITTLE VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER.

>>> RACIAL SEGREGATION OCCURS IN CHURCHES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

WE LOOK AT THE IMPACT IN OUR FIRST HAND SEGREGATION SERIES.

>>> A YEAR AGO THOUSANDS OF AFGHANS CAME TO THE U.S. SEEKING REFUGE.

NOW MUSLIM NONPROFITS WORK TOGETHER.

PLUS THE DREAM HOUSE MUSEUM IS HONORING A LEGACY OF A PRESERVATIONIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER.

>>> BUT FIRST, SOME MORE OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

ILLINOIS IS SUING MONSANTO FOR PRODUCING BPDs AND DUMPING THE WASTE.

IN A LAWSUIT FILED TODAY, RAUL SAYS MONSANTO'S RECKLESS BEHAVIOR MEANS GROUND WATER IS UNDRINKABLE IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES NEAR EAST ST. LOUIS.

>>> A SPRINGHILL MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 55 YEARS IN PRISON FOR THE MURDER OF A U.S.

MARSHAL.

EXECUTING A WARRANT ON FLOYD BROWN WHEN BROWN FIRED SHOTS AT THEM INCLUDING ONE THAT KILLED DEPUTY JACOB CELTNER.

HE WAS ARRESTED JUST OUTSIDE SPRINGFIELD HOURS LATER.

>>> AN NBA SUPERSTAR FROM CHICAGO COMES HOME.

FORMER ALL-STAR TIM HARVER SR.

RETURNED TODAY FOR A CEREMONY TO RETIRE HIS JERSEY.

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT MY TEAMMATES, MY FRIENDS WHO I GREW UP WITH, TOLD ME WHAT WAS RIGHT.

TOLD ME WHAT WAS WRONG.

STEERED ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

MADE ME GO IN A DIFFERENT PATH.

WHEN I WANTED TO GO THIS WAY, NO, TAKE YOUR BUSINESS THAT WAY.

>> HARDIWAY PLAYED FOR FIVE NBA TEAMS.

HE WAS A FIVE-TIME NBA ALL-STAR.

AND HIS SON, TIM HARDIWAY JR. IS ENTERING HIS TENTH SEASON.

>>> PARIS, WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

AN UPDATE TONIGHT ON TENANTS IN LITTLE VILLAGE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN EXTENSION ON THEIR LEASES.

THEY'VE WONDERED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE MALL WHICH WAS PURCHASED BY A COMPANY CALLED NOVAK CONSTRUCTION IN 2020.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ JOINS US NOW.

JOANNA, YOU'VE TALKED TO THE TENANTS.

IT GOT BOUGHT OUT BY THIS COMPANY.

THEY HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP OPERATING THEIR STORES, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY CLEAR PLAN ON WHAT THE PLANS WERE FOR THE PROPERTY.

THAT'S WHAT WAS CAUSING A LOT OF FRUSTRATION.

WE DO HAVE TO MENTION NOVAK CONSTRUCTION OWNS THE PROPERTY.

BUT THERE'S TWO COMPANIES WITHIN THE BUILDING THAT LEASE TO THOSE 150 VENDORS INSIDE THE MALL.

WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FINAL CONTRACT FOR ONE SIDE OF THE BUILDING WAS ENDING THIS MONTH, WHICH UNDERSTANDABLY SO, MANY OF THE VENDORS SAY THEY WERE AFRAID TO BE DISPLACED.

>> THAT'S THEIR LIVELIHOODS AND A LOT OF MERCHANDISE THEY'D HAVE TO MOVE IN SHORT ORDER.

THE TWO COMPANIES THAT LEASE OUT THOSE SPACES, THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN A YEAR EXTENSION.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

VENDORS HAVE BEEN GIVEN EXTENSION ON THEIR LEASES UNTIL JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR AND THEN A MONTH AND MONTH AGREEMENT GOING FROM THERE.

A SPOKESPERSON SAYS IN PART, "WE ARE PLANNING TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NEGLECTED PROPERTY, INCLUDING FACADE, NEW ROOF.

THESE INVESTMENTS WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE ON THAT STRETCH OF 26TH STREET.

NOVAK EXPECTS THE WORK TO START NEXT YEAR.

PARIS, I ALSO SPOKE WITH NOVAK'S REPRESENTATIVE OVER THE STORE AND SHE SHUT DOWN THE RUMORS OF A BIG BOX RETAILER TAKING OVER THE SPACE.

>> THAT'S A BIG CONCERN IN THE COMMUNITY.

SIMILAR THING HAPPENED IN LOGAN SQUARE WHEN THEIR MEGA MALL GOT TORN DOWN.

JOANNA, UNDER THE REMAP, THIS IS GOING TO BE IN HIS WARD NOW.

WHAT DID HE HAVE TO SAY?

>> CORRECT.

THE LAST TIME I SPOKE WITH HIM HE SAID HIS PLAN WAS TO SPEAK WITH THE VENDORS.

EARLIER TODAY I GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH HIM.

HE HAS BEEN SPEAKING WITH THE VENDORS.

ACCORDING TO HIM, NOVAK HAS AGREED TO MEET WITH HIM IN PERSON.

AND HE WAS VERY ADAMANT THAT HE WANTS TO BE PART OF THIS PROCESS.

AND ALSO THAT HE WANTS TO INCLUDE THE VENDORS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE MALL IS A HUGE STAPLE TO THAT COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN AFTER NOVAK TRYING TO GET SOME COMMENTS FROM THEM FOR THE PAST YEAR.

GOOD JOB TODAY AT GETTING THIS UPDATE.

JOANNA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, RACIAL SEGREGATION IN PLACES OF WORSHIP.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>>> WE'VE MADE IT.

JUSTICE JACKSON APPOINTED TO THE SUPREME COURT PROVIDES A BEACON OF HOPE.

>> WE STILL RISE.

WE STILL SHOW UP FOR ONE ANOTHER.

>> US INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION AND GIVING SOMETHING TO ENRICH THE NEXT GENERATION WITH.

♪ >>> ONE PLACE WHERE SEGREGATION HAS A PARTICULAR STRONG HOLD TODAY COULD BE YOUR LOCAL CHURCH.

86% OF CHURCHES IN THE NATION HAVE NO SIGNIFICANT RACIAL DIVERSITY.

BUT WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF WORSHIPPING SEPARATELY?

AS PART OF WTTW'S FIRST HAND SEGREGATION INITIATIVE, WE DIG INTO THIS TOPIC TEEPER.

>> THANKS SO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

REVEREND EDGERTON, LET'S START WITH YOU FIRST.

>> THIS IS NOT A NEW PHENOMENON AT ALL.

THIS COMES OUT OF THE SOIL OF RACISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY THAT HAS MADE THIS COUNTRY WHAT IT IS TODAY FOR WORSE.

AND WE AND THE CHURCH ARE INHERITERS OF A LEGACY IN WHICH THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL POWER OF THIS COUNTRY ARE CONCENTRATED IN WHITE HANDS THAT HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY THE CHURCH.

OFTEN TIMES THE CHURCH HAS BECOME THE CENTER OF THAT CONCENTRATION ITSELF.

AND WE ARE LIVING OUT THE HISTORY OF THIS NATION IN OUR HOUSES OF WORSHIP.

>> REVEREND PAERS, SOME QUESTION TO YOU.

>> THIS IS THE BEDROCK OF THE AMERICAN VERSION OF CHRISTIANITY.

AND AS WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE CENTURIES, NOT ONLY HAS RACISM AND RACIAL INEQUALITY BEEN TOLERATED BY THE CHURCH, IT HAS IN SOME AND MANY CASES BEEN PERPETUATED AND THEOLOGYIZED ABOUT AND SANCTIONED BY THE CHURCH.

NOW AS WE SEE THE UNITED STATES SEEMINGLY AS DIVIDED AS ALMOST ANY TIME IN ITS HISTORY, WE FIND MUCH OF THAT WHITE SUPREMIST THEOLOGY BEING HELD ON TO AND PROPAGATED BY MANY CHURCHES.

NOT ALL.

>> REVEREND PAERS, TO THAT POINT, HOW MUCH ARE CHURCHES REFLECTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITIES?

>> THEY ARE SURPRISED OF THE VERY PEOPLE WHO WE LIVE NEAR AND WORK WITH AND SHOP WITH.

AND SO THE FRACTURING THAT WE SEE IN THE AMERICAN CHURCH IS A BIPRODUCT IN AMERICAN CULTURE.

>> REVEREND EDGERTON, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>> SEGREGATION'S TRUE HARMS COME BECAUSE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL POWER ARE HELD IN TOO FEW HANDS.

AND THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO THRIVE.

BLACK PEOPLE, OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE NOT ABLE TO THRIVE THE WAY THEY WOULD IN A MORE JUST SOCIETY.

SEGREGATION CUTS AGAINST GOD'S DREAM FOR HUMANITY.

IT IS NOT IN SERVICE OF THE GOSPEL FOR US TO ALLOW FOR OUR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE TO CONTINUE TO BE RACIALLY, TO BE A SYSTEM OF RACIAL HIERARCHY.

AND WE NEED TO BREAK THOSE BARRIERS DOWN.

>> REVEREND PEARCE, HOW COULD SOCIETY BE IMPACTED BY MORE INTEGRATED CHURCHES?

>> THE VISION OF GOD IS OF A BELOVED COMMUNITY IN WHICH BARRIERS THAT DIVIDE US SOCIALLY AND CULTURALLY AND OTHERWISE ARE NOT OVERLOOKED BUT ARE NOT VIEWED AS BARRIERS.

I DON'T THINK THE IDEA IS TO NOT NOTICE WHITE OR BLACK OR BROWN, OR TO NOTICE MALE OR FEMALE.

THE IDEA IS NOT TO THROW OUR UNIQUENESS AWAY.

I BELIEVE GOD'S VISION IS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SEE EACH OTHER AND TO APPRECIATE THE RICHNESS OF HOW WE HAVE BEEN CREATED AND HOW WE HAVE GROWN CULTURALLY AND RECOGNIZE THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO DIVIDE US JUST BECAUSE IT DISTINGUISHES US.

IF WE CAN GET THAT MESSAGE THAT WE CAN HAVE DIVERSITY WITHOUT DIVISION.

THAT WE CAN HAVE THE GREATEST HARMONY WITHOUT HOMOGENEITY, WE CAN GET THAT IN THE CHURCH.

I BELIEVE IT WILL HAVE BROAD EFFECTS AGAINST THE LENGTH OF OUR COUNTRY.

>> TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOUR INTENTION WAS THERE AND HOW IT WORKED.

>> OUR INTENTION THERE WAS TO ALLOW FOR OUR WORSHIP SERVICES IN A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE CHURCH TO REFLECT THE GLOBAL MAJORITY OF CHRISTIANITY, WHICH IS NOT COMPOSED OF WHITE PEOPLE IN THE PRESENT DAY AND THROUGH ALMOST ALL OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY, CHRISTIANITY HAS BEEN A RELIGION THAT HAS BEEN CENTERED IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH.

AND FOR US, THIS WAS ABOUT BEING ABLE TO REVEL IN THE GLORY OF WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS DONE IN THE CHURCH TO BROADLY.

WE HAVE FOUND THAT OUR WORSHIP SERVICES WERE MUCH ENRICHED BY TAKING PART IN THE MUSIC AND IN THE LITURGY OF THE GLOBAL MAJORITY OF CHRISTIANITY.

>> REVEREND PEARCE, WHAT DO YOU THINK CAN BE DONE TO DIVERSIFY MORE CHURCH CONGREGATION?

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT DIVERSITY AND CONCLUSION, FIRST, BRANDIS, ARE NOT THE SAME.

DIVERSIFYING CONGREGATIONS IS ONE THING.

MAKING THEM INCLUSIVE IN A MUCH MORE KINGDOM ORIENTED.

I'VE SEEN CHURCHES WHO WANT TO BE MULTI-RACIAL, MULTI-ETHNIC BUT STILL CENTERED ON A VISION OF WHITENESS, COME TO THE TABLE TO BE DIVERSE.

THAT I THINK IS PROBLEMATIC.

I THINK IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING INCLUSIVE, PART OF IT IS EMBRACING AS WE JUST HEARD FROM PASTOR EDGERTON THIS IDEA OF I'M NOT GOING TO CENTER WHITENESS.

I'M NOT GOING TO CENTER BLACKNESS.

I'M NOT GOING TO CENTER LATINO.

I'M GOING TO CENTER CHRIST.

IF WE CENTER AROUND THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, AROUND THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST, THEN WE RECOGNIZE THERE'S ROOM FOR EVERYONE NO MATTER WHAT RACIAL OR ETHNIC BACKGROUND THEY COME FROM.

THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE.

BEFORE WE RUN TO DIVERSIFYING CHURCHES AND TRYING TO PUT BLACK PEOPLE IN PREDOMINANTLY WHITE CHURCHES.

WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S SOME WORK AROUND INCLUSION.

THERE'S SOME DISCIPLING THAT HAS TO BE DONE.

RACISM HAS BEEN IN THE DNA IN THE CHURCH OF AMERICA SINCE ITS INCEPTION.

>> THAT'S A GOOD PLACE -- NOT A GOOD PLACE TO LEAVE IT BUT THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, REVEREND JOHN EDGERTON AND REVEREND NICHOLAS PEARCE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF SEGREGATION IN OTHER COMMUNITIES OF CHICAGO BY VISITING WTTW.com/FIRSTHAND.

>>> PARIS.

>>> BRANDIS, THANKS VERY MUCH.

YEAH, A YEAR AFTER THOUSANDS OF AFGHAN REFUGEES SETTLED IN THE U.S., THE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION INITIATIVE BRINGS TOGETHER 22 MUSLIM AMERICAN NONPROFITS MOST LOCATED IN CHICAGO IN ORDER TO HELP EACH ORGANIZATION REACH ITS MISSION FASTER.

ORGANIZATIONS WILL SHARE RESOURCES AND NETWORKS TO PROMOTE SUCCESS AMONG THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS .

>> WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

DILNAZ, THIS IS BRINGING TOGETHER 22 MUSLIM NONPROFITS.

EXPLAIN THIS PROGRAM FOR US.

>> SURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, PARIS.

SO IN 2017, OUR FAMILY DID SOME RESEARCH.

WE SPOKE TO ABOUT 50 DIFFERENT MUSLIM-LED NONPROFITS AND WE FOUND THREE THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, WE FOUND MUSLIM LED NONPROFITS COOPERATE REALLY WELL.

BUT THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT COLLABORATION MEANS.

WE REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS ON COLLABORATION VERSUS COOPERATION.

THE NEXT THING WE FOUND IN OUR SURVEY WAS THAT MUSLIM LED NONPROFITS DEFINITELY HAVE GREAT DONORS BUT THEY MAY HAVE A HARD TIME STEWARDING THEIR DONORS.

MAKING SURE THEIR DONORS ARE ENGAGED 365 DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR AND REALLY HAVING A WHOLISTIC APPROACH TO GETTING FUNDING.

AND THE THIRD THING WE FOUND OUT WAS JUST THE DIVERSITY IN OUR MUSLIM LED NONPROFITS MAY NOT LOOK LIKE WHAT MUSLIM AMERICA LOOKS LIKE.

THOSE ARE THE THREE FINDINGS WE FOUND.

THROUGH THOSE FINDINGS WE CREATED A THREE-YEAR RESEARCH INITIATIVE AND WE HOUSED IT AT THE UNIVERSITY.

>> SAIMA, EXPLAIN HOW THE COLLABORATION WILL HELP YOUR ORGANIZATION.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

RELIEF IS A NATIONAL NOT FOR PROFIT FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION.

WE HAVE FOOD PANTRIES SUPPORTING REFUGEES BACK TO SCHOOL AND MANY MORE.

IN ILLINOIS, WE HAVE TWO MAIN OFFICES.

WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP.

WE HAVE HUNDRED LOCAL PARTNERS.

AND WE SERVE EVERYBODY.

IT HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE LEARNING ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS AND WHAT CHALLENGES THEY GO THROUGH AND HOW, YOU KNOW, IT'S SIMILAR.

WE LEARN WE ARE PRETTY SIMILAR.

>> EXPLAIN YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR US AND HOW THIS COLLABORATION WILL HELP YOU OUT.

>> SO MCC HAS 53 VERY DIVERSE.

WE HAVE THREE LOCATIONS IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA.

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS WE HAVE COMPLETED MULTIPLE PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE VERY STRONG EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND AS WELL AS COMMUNITY SERVICES, FUNERAL SERVICES AND OTHER YOUTH SERVICES.

MULTIPLE SERVICES ARE GOING THROUGH THE DOORS OF MCC ALL THE TIME, EVERY DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

NOW WITH THIS BEING SAID, ONE OF OUR STRONGEST ARMS IS REHAB AND WELFARE COMMITTEE WHICH DOES THE CHARITABLE ARM.

WE ESSENTIALLY PARTNER WITH ANY AGENCIES WHICH WE HAVE IN THE RECENT HISTORY THE WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER.

ALLOCATING RESOURCES TO THE MOST RECENT ARRIVING REFUGEES IN AFGHANISTAN, ALSO AS WELL AS SYRIAN AND BURMESE.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SERVICES AS A WHOLISTIC LOOK AT IT.

WHAT WE FOUND IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS THAT WE CANNOT SAY NO TO ANY SERVICES THAT WALK THROUGH THOSE DOORS.

IF ANYONE WALKS THROUGH THE MCC DOORS, THEY NEED HELP FOR ANY REASON, WE HAVE TO FIND INTERNALLY OR EXTERNALLY.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT YOU NEED TO HELP.

AND THAT LEADS ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION, DILNAZ, HOW STRAINED ARE RESOURCES NOW ONE YEAR AFTER THE FALL OF AFGHANISTAN AND TENS OF THOUSANDS REFUGEES COMING TO THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING MANY IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA.

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION, PARIS.

WHAT WE REALIZE IS MUSLIM NONPROFITS ARE CREATING A STRONGER AMERICA.

AS WE ARE CREATING A STRONGER AMERICA, WE'RE NOT GETTING THE FUNDING FOR THESE NONPROFIT SERVICES.

WHAT WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK FOR MORE FUNDING.

WE'RE REALIZING THAT PHILANTHROPY HAS A MORE COMFORTABLE FEELING WITH FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE.

WHAT WE'RE REALIZING IS RESEARCH THROUGH A YEAR OF LEARNING, WE FOUND THREE THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, WE FOUND PHILANTHROPY IS UNCOMFORTABLE WORKING WITH FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES.

NUMBER TWO, WE FOUND THAT PHILANTHROPY GIVES LESS FUNDING TO MUSLIM LED PARTNERS.

YOU'RE JUST GOING TO GET LESS THAN MAYBE IN DIFFERENT INTER-FAITH PARTNER.

THE LAST THING WE FOUND THROUGH OUR RESEARCH, IS MUSLIM LED NONPROFITS ARE ALSO RUNNING AGAINST ISLAMPHOBIA.

>> SO MAYBE UP AGAINST SOME HURDLES HERE THAT MANY PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS DON'T HAVE.

SAIMA, SOME 200 FAMILIES HAVE COME THROUGH AFGHANISTAN AFTER THE FALL OF KABUL.

CAN YOU MEET ALL THOSE NEEDS?

>> THE APPROACH BASICALLY WITH REFUGEES IS THREE-PRONGED APPROACH.

ONE IS BASIC ESSENTIAL WHICH IS EXTREMELY NEEDY AT THIS POINT.

EVEN AFTER ONE YEAR.

SECOND IS MENTAL HEALTH, AND THIRD IS SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

RIGHT NOW WE REALLY, REALLY NEED BASIC ESSENTIAL ITEMS.

FOOD, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, FURNITURE, BACKPACKS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, CLEANING SUPPLIES, WINTER GEAR.

NOW WINTER IS COMING.

HYGIENE ITEMS.

DIAPERS ARE EXTREMELY NEEDY.

CLOTHES, SHOES.

SO WE ARE COLLECTING THESE ITEMS.

AND THEN SECOND THING IS MENTAL HEALTH.

BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THE HUGE NEEDS.

YOU DON'T USUALLY FIND CLINICAL COUNSELORS WHO SPEAK DUSHTO AND DALI.

WE ASK COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO STEP UP AND BECOME MENTORS.

WHICH IS NOT EQUAL TO COUNSELING.

BUT WE WANT THEM TO SIGN UP.

AND BASICALLY START SUPPORTING THESE FAMILIES.

AND THIRD IS SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM.

WE BASICALLY TEACH THEM HOW TO STAND ON THEIR OWN FEET.

CARS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

WITHOUT CARS, YOU CAN IMAGINE CHICAGO'S WINTERS, YOU CANNOT SURVIVE.

LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE EIGHT CARS FOR FAMILIES.

BUT WE ARE SERVING 200 FAMILIES.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THE NEED.

>> SO THE NEED AND IT ALREADY WAS GREAT, BUT EVEN GREATER NOW GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENED IN AFGHANISTAN THE LAST YEAR.

WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, PARIS.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND UP NEXT, HONORING THE LEGACY OF AN ARCHITECT, PRESERVATIONIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER.

BUT WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER FIRST.

>>> A TALE OF TWO STORIES IS TAKING CENTER STAGE AT THE RICHARD H. DRIEHAUS MUSEUM AS IT EXPLORES THE ARCHITECT LOUIE SULLIVAN.

WHAT RICHARD NICKEL SAW.

>> WE'RE MOVING BOTH NARRATIVE FORWARD THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EXHIBITION.

AND IT'S SORT OF LIKE AN OPERA I FELT.

THE MUSIC GOES FORWARD AND THEN THE DRAMA.

SO WE HAVE TWO STORIES WE'RE TRYING TO TELL.

>> IT'S A STORY OF ARCHITECT LOUIE SULLIVAN AND PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD NECKEL.

TWO ARTISTS EXPECTED THROUGH THEIR WORK BUT NEVER IN LIFE.

>> RICHARD NICKEL COMMITTED HIS LIFE'S WORK TO DOCUMENTING SULLIVAN'S ARCHITECTURE AS BOTH A PHOTOGRAPHER AND PRESERVATIONIST.

IT'S THE DECISION HE MADE WHILE LEARNING OF LEWIS SULLIVAN'S WORK.

>> RICHARD NICKEL WAS TRYING TO RECORD THE BUILDINGS.

ONE, THROUGH TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THEM.

AND SECOND, BY SALVAGING ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENT BECAUSE THE ORNAMENT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO SULLIVAN'S IDEA OF ADDING BEAUTY AND AESTHETIC DIMENSION TO HIS HOUSES.

SO THE EXHIBITION IS NOT ONLY THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT RICHARD NICKEL TOOK BUT ALSO THE ARTIFACTS SALVAGED.

>> WERE BEING DESTROYED IN THE 1960s AND 70s.

A PRESERVATIONIST.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO TELL THE STORY ABOUT RICHARD NICKEL'S PHOTOGRAPHY.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE AUDITORIUM PHOTOGRAPH OVER THERE, RICHARD HAS CLIMBED UP HIGH ON THE BUILDING ACROSS FROM THE AUDITORIUM TO GET THIS MAGNIFICENT VIEW.

HE HAD NO FEAR OF HEIGHTS.

HE WAS A PARATROOPER DURING THE KOREAN WAR.

HE JUST JUMPED ON TOP OF BUILDINGS TO GET THESE GREAT SHOTS.

HE WAS A DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER.

AND HE TOLD IT AS IT WAS.

WARTS AND ALL, HE SHOWED THE BUILDING IN A DOCUMENTARY FASHION NOT TO MAKE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS.

THOUGH OF COURSE THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE BEAUTIFUL.

BUT TO REALLY DOCUMENT TO SHOW THE BUILDINGS AND HIS GOAL WAS TO PUBLISH A BOOK.

AND HE WAS GATHERING THE PHOTOGRAPHS.

AND OF COURSE THE INFORMATION, THE DOCUMENTATION ON THE BUILDINGS.

AND HE DISCOVERED BUILDINGS THAT WERE UNKNOWN BY ADLER AND SULLIVAN.

SO HE WAS DOING RESEARCH.

>> NICKEL'S RESEARCH IN THE EXHIBITION HAS BEEN BROKEN UP IN FOUR THEMES.

THE OTHER TWO ON THE CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE BUILDING.

THAT BUILDING IS ALSO THE LOCATION OF RICHARD NICKEL'S DEATH.

HE DIED IN 1972 WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SALVAGE PIECES OF THE BUILDING WHEN IT COLLAPSED ON HIM.

AND WHILE HIS COMMITMENT TO PRESERVATION, AND HIS WIFE'S MISSION LIVES ON IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

>> AFTER RICHARD NICKEL DIED, JOHN CREATED THE RICHARD NICKEL COMMITTEE WHICH HAD HIS ARCHIVES.

ALL HIS NEGATIVES.

ALL THE DOCUMENTATION.

MAYBE A DECADE LATER THEY GAVE THIS TO THE CHICAGO ART INSTITUTE AND IT'S NOW IN THE LIBRARY AT THE ART INSTITUTE.

SO NOW THERE'S A WHOLE NOTHER GENERATION WHO NEED TO HEAR THE STORY AGAIN ABOUT HOW RICHARD NICKEL REALLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR TO SAVE BUILDINGS, AND THAT WAS A MISSION THAT CAN INSPIRE US FOR TODAY.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M ANGEL ITO.

>> TWO ICONS.

CAPTURING RICHARD SULLIVAN, WHAT RICHARD NICKEL SAW.

HOW YOU CAN WATCH THE RICHARD NICKEL STORY.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDERA AND JOHN NICKELS.

THE JIM AND KAY FAMILY.

THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

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

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED TO US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING.

YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

>>> A COLOSSAL COLLECTION OF RARE MOVIE POSTERS AND CARS FROM CHICAGOAN HISTORY.

>>> AND A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, BUT ARE THE PROBLEMS THE SAME?

ONE ON ONE WITH STACY DAVIS GAETZ.

>>> BUT BEFORE THAT, JOIN ME TONIGHT AT 8:00 FOR OUR NEXT CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES VIRTUAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATION.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT EQUITY AS THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR IS UNDERWAY.

VISIT WTTW.com.

>>> FOR ALL OF US HERE TONIGHT, I'M BRANDIS FREEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SHUTZ.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

"REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY" .

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY LAW OFFICES.

WHOSE ATTORNEYS EMBRACE A