CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> Brandis: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, WHEN CITY LEADERS AND DEVELOPERS DISCUSS NEW PLANS FOR MAJOR REAL ESTATE PROJECTS SOME GROUPS ARE LEFT OUT OF THE DISCUSSION.

WHAT IS BEING DONE TO BRING MORE BLACKS AND LATINOS INTO THE INDUSTRY?

ONE-ON-ONE WITH NEW PUBLIC DEFENDER IN COOK COUNTY ON HIS GOALS ON CHALLENGES HE WILL FACE.

BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS CHICAGO IS LOOKING FOR MORE MENTORS FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY WE WILL HEAR FROM A LOCAL BIG AND LITTLE ON THEIR EXPERIENCE.

>> WE SHOULD ALSO LET ABEL KNOW WHAT THE CITY IS AND WHAT THE CITY HAS BEEN AND WHAT WE CAN BECOME.

>> Brandis: URBAN HISTORIAN, SHERMANN "DILLA" THOMAS GIVES US THE LAST WORD ON HOW KNOWING THE CITY'S PAST CAN CHANGE THE ENERGY OF IT'S FUTURE.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT IF YOU WERE TO TAKE A DRIVE FROM HALSTED TO LAKEVIEW TO LINCOLN PARK AND INTO INGLEWOOD AND ROSELAND IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO MISS HOW THE STREET GOES FROM VIBRANT STOREFRONTS TO VACANT LOTS IN THE SOUTH.

A PATTERN ROOTED IN DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT AND RACISM.

NOW A GROUP OF LACK BUSINESS LEADERS IS STRIVING TO CHANGE THAT.

THE CHICAGO EMERGING DEVELOPMENT EMERGE OR BOOST TO DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN LONG IGNORED BY COMPANIES AND PEOPLE OF COLOR TO GET IN THE GAME.

JOINING US ARE TWO MEMBERS OF THE INITIATIVE, GRAHAM C. GRADY FROM TAFT STETTINIUS & HOLLISTER LLP AND IN INTEREST OF FULL DISCLOSURE MR. GRADY IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE WTTW BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND LEON WALKER, MANAGING PARTNER OF DL3 REALTY.

LEON WALKER LET'S START WITH YOU, IN CHICAGO THE NUMBER OF BLACK AND LATINO PEOPLE COMBINED WELL OUTNUMBER THE NUMBER OF WHITE PEOPLE IN THE CITY WHICH STATISTICALLY MAKES WHITE PEOPLE THE MINORITY.

WHY IS THERE SUCH A DISPARITY IN THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT WORLD?

>> Guest: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I AM HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

IT'S A TOPIC THAT IS LONG OVERDUE.

FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED MOSTLY WHEN IT COMES TO REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY BUT PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AND PARTICIPATION AND THAT IS WHERE YOU GET THE PARTICIPATION GOALS TO FOCUS ON 26 PERCENT BEING A MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE THAT IS BLACK.

THOSE ARE LAUDABLE GOALS, GREAT OBJECT OF.

THEY ARE NOT OFTEN MET BUT THEY ARE STILL VERY ASPIRATIONAL AND VERY GOOD.

WE NEED TO SEE MORE EQUITY IN CONSTRUCTION PHASES GOOD HOWEVER, WHAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON AS A DEVELOPER AS THEY HAVE APPLIED IN THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE, WE HAVE FOCUSED ON GETTING MORE PARTICIPATION FROM ENTREPRENEURS WITH A HIGH CAPACITY AND HIGH POTENTIAL IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER IS WHAT CONTROLS THE ENTIRE BUDGET.

NOT JUST THE TARGETED COST BUT TARGETED CONSTRUCTION FOR THE BUDGET AND THE SOFT COST THE LAND ACQUISITION AND ALL THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT ARE ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS.

THIS IS A PIVOTAL TURN IN REAL ESTATE.

>> Brandis: AND, GRAHAM C. GRADY WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS HOLDING THESE DEVELOPERS FROM BREAKING THROUGH?

>> Guest: THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC IN CHICAGO.

PART OF WHAT IS KEEPING THE RIGHT THROUGH FROM OCCURRING, ONE HAS TO DO WITH EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS A PERSONAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

SECONDLY WOULD BE A TRACK RECORD IN TERMS OF EXPERIENCE IN INCREASINGLY LARGE JOBS.

THE THIRD AREA THAT PEOPLE REFER TO IN TERMS OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE, WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH GREAT EDUCATION, TALENT AND KNOW-HOW.

UNTIL YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTS TO GROW IN SCALE IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET INTO THE LARGER PROJECTS COULD IT REALLY BREAKS DOWN INTO TWO AREAS ONE IS FOCUSING ON NEIGHBORHOOD REDEVELOPMENT WHICH WE MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE CALL.

THE OTHER PART HAS TO DO WITH DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT.

REDEVELOPMENT OF BIG PROJECTS LIKE 78 AND LINCOLN YARDS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE ACCESS THERE AS WELL TO TAP INTO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WHICH EXIST AND DEVELOP PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN THOSE AREAS TO GROW THIS WILL SUCK YOUR.

>> Brandis: HOW TO ACT BOLDLY IN SPITE OF FEARS, WHAT IS THE PATH TO BECOMING A POTENTIAL DEVELOPER?

>> Guest: IT IS A MENTOR MENTEE SITUATION.

IT'S NOT GOING TO LAW SCHOOL TO BECOME A LAWYER OR MED SCHOOL TO BECOME A DOCTOR AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACKGROUND OF DEVELOPERS THEY ALL HAVE A UNIQUE PATH AND HAVE BEEN MENTOR BY ONE OR MORE PERSONS AND SOME SAY THERE'S ALWAYS A RICH UNCLE IN THE BACKGROUND THAT HAS CAPITAL OR A LOT OF LAND.

SO, SOME OF THOSE ARE REAL CHALLENGES FROM PEOPLE COMING FROM MINORITY COMMUNITIES BUT THAT REALLY IS A BIG PART OF IT.

THE MENTOR SHIP, ONE-ON-ONE RELATIONSHIP AND EXPERIENCE WHICH TAKES TIME AND PROJECT AFTER PROJECT TO DEVELOP THE EXPERTISE TO BECOME A REAL DEVELOPER.

>> LEON WALKER WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE BUSINESS SENSE TO DEVELOP COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE?

>> Guest: TO ADD ONTO TRAIN 24, MOST OF THE DEVELOPERS OF COLOR ARE IN CONCENTRATED AREAS WHICH ARE A CHALLENGE GRAPHICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY.

TO LOOK AT THESE PROJECTS WHICH ARE IN THE WEST SOUTHWEST AREA WHICH IS AN AWESOME IDEA THAT THE ADMIN STATION AND CITY IS PUSHING NO.

IT IS PUTTING FOCUS AND ENERGY AND USING THE ASSETS OF THE CITY TO PROPEL THE DEVELOPERS OF COLOR INTO PROJECTS.

NORMALLY WITHOUT THAT INTENTIONALITY, WE HAVE A FOCUS ON PROJECTS THAT ARE IN AREAS WHERE BANKS ARE TRYING, BUT APPRAISALS ARE NOT AS STRONG AND TENANTS ARE NOT AS AVAILABLE.

YOU HAVE A CONTEXT IN WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO RAISE UP THE DEVELOPERS OF COLOR AND HOW TO ACT BOLDLY IN SPITE OF FEARS HAD A GOOD POINT.

YOU CAN'T JUST FOCUS ON A NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT DOWNTOWN AND MAJOR MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS THE EMERGING MARKET OPPORTUNITIES.

NOW, WE ARE TRYING TO COORDINATE AND BE A RESOURCE AND A REFERRAL FOR THOSE DEVELOPERS OF COLOR THAT ARE RISING UP AND WANTING TO TACKLE LARGER AND LARGER PROJECTS GOOD AND THAT'S WHERE THE INITIATIVE IS ALL ABOUT.

>> Brandis: HOW DO YOU KNOW YOUR BOOSTING DIVERSITY IN THE INDUSTRY AND ALLOWING FOR DEVELOPMENT FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THOSE COMMUNITIES VERSES GENTRIFICATION IN THOSE COMMUNITIES?

>> Guest: THAT IS TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.

THE DEVELOPMENT OBVIOUSLY NEEDS TO CHANGE BUT THAT CHANGE DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THERE HAS TO BE GENTRIFICATION.

WHEN I SPEAK TO A COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE ARE ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN WE ARE TRANSPARENT AND HONEST ABOUT THINGS ARE CHANGING AND CHANGING AS AN INVESTMENT.

IN MOST OF THE COMMUNITIES ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY WE HAVE A LOT OF LANDS BUT NOT THE POPULATION TO SUPPORT MOST OF THE ASPIRATIONAL ELEMENT PLANS.

AND SO, REALLY IT'S NOT AN ISSUE OF GENTRIFICATION IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, IT IS THE ISSUE OF INCLUSION.

IN ORDER TO BE INCLUSIVE AND TO ANTICIPATE IN EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL.

I CAN TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT BUT THAT IS INTENTIONALITY WHICH PREVENTS GENTRIFICATION AND WHAT ENDS UP IN WHAT WE CALL REVITALIZATION.

>> Brandis: ABSOLUTELY.

GRAHAM C. GRADY WHAT SORT OF THINGS DO BIG DEVELOPERS NOT KNOW OR MISUNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS INVESTED COMMUNITIES?

>> Guest: SINCE YOU MENTION THAT, SO MANY OF THE BIG DEVELOPERS THE HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE THEY DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS AND EXPERIENCE TO BRING DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN ON THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SIDE.

AS LEON MENTIONED, ON THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE THERE'S GREAT PROGRESS.

A LOT OF THE COMPANIES DIRECT HIRING PROGRAM BUT ON THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SIDE REALLY ISN'T THE EXPOSURE.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE ALONG WITH OUR OTHER PARTNERS.

WE WANT TO THINK CHICAGO TRUST FOR FINANCING THIS INITIATIVE IN THE CHICAGO EMERGING MANAGER INITIATIVE BECAUSE THE TRUST RECOGNIZES THAT IN ORDER TO CLOSE THE WEALTH GAP IN THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP THIS IS AN REALLY IMPORTANT REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT SECTOR NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

TI IS EVERYWHERE.

EVERY BOARD AND COMMITTEE I AM ON FROM CHICAGO SYMPHONY TO COMMERCIAL CLUB TO MY OWN LAW FIRM HAS A DI INITIATIVE IN A HAS TO REACH THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND IT IS NOT A PLACE WHERE THERE IS ADDITIONALLY MUCH DIVERSITY WITH DEVELOPERS.

A.

>> Brandis: AND, GRAHAM, IN THE FEW MINUTES WE HAVE LEFT, WHAT DOES THE CITY NEED TO DO TO HELP THESE EMERGING DEVELOPERS?

>> Guest: THE CITY IS PUSHING STRONG THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WHICH IS A GREAT FOCUS ON KEY AREAS WHERE THE CITY IS ROLLING OUT NUMEROUS PROPOSALS FOR REDEVELOPING SITE IN AND ALONG THE DIS-INVESTED NEIGHBORHOODS HERE THAT IS FANTASTIC.

I THINK WE COULD ASK THE CITY IF THEY COULD DO MORE TO PUSH DEVELOPERS ON THE DOWNTOWN GOLDEN MARKET, RIVER NORTH AND MEGA PROJECTS.

THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

>> Brandis: A LOT MORE WORK CAN BE DONE.

THAT'S WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE OUT OF TIME I THINK LEON WALKER AND GRAHAM C. GRADY FOR JOINING US.

ONE-ON-ONE WITH COOK COUNTIES NEW PUBLIC DEFENDER WE SPOKE WITH BEFORE HE STARTED THE JOB ON APRIL 1.

[MUSIC] COOK COUNTY HAS A NEW PUBLIC DEFENDER.

COMING INTO THE DECISION IS SHARON MITCHELL JUNIOR WHO HAD WORKED AS AN ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER BEFORE HE WAS SELECTED AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS JUSTICE PROJECT IN 2015.

HE'S COMING IN AT A TURBULENT TIME.

THE RETRIALS HAVE A MASSIVE BACKLOG DID CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL WAS SIGNED LAST MONTH ALL OF THIS WITH THE DROP BACK OF 2019 AND JOINING US IS SHARON MITCHELL JUNIOR, THE NEW PUBLIC DEFENDER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.AS MENTIONED COOK COUNTY COURTS RESUMING TRIALS AND THERE IS A MASSIVE CASE BACKLOG.

HOW DO YOU PLAN ON HANDLING ALL OF THIS COMING INTO THIS POSITION AS SUCH A TURBULENT TIME?

>> Guest: I THINK WE HAVE TO HANDLE IT BY REALLY COMING TOGETHER WITH LEADERSHIP AND RANK AND FILE AND FIGURING OUT WHAT THE BEST SOLUTION IS.

THIS IT IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF THOUGHT.

THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE ALREADY STARTING.

I THINK THE KEY THING IS TO MAKE SURE THAT I HEAR FROM THE STAFF, AND THE LEADERSHIP AND WE PROTECT THE SAFETY OF OUR CLIENTS AND PROTECT THE SAFETY OF OUR STAFF IN MAKING THE CORRECT DECISIONS.

>> Brandis: HOW DID YOU COME TO FIND YOUR CALLING AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER?

>> Guest: I THINK IT WAS EARLY ON.

I AM A LIFELONG CHICAGOAN.

I AM THE SUN OF A LIBRARIAN, CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY AND A LONG-HAUL DRIVER WHO FINISHED HIS CAREER IN SANITATION.

I WAS BORN IN MICHAEL REED HOSPITAL.

I WAS RAISED MY FIRST SIX YEARS IN THE SOUTH SHORE AND THAT TOOK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME IN MY BRAIN.

I GREW UP IN A PLACE AND TIME WHERE IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WASN'T ABOUT JUST PUNISHING THE BAD GUYS AND PROTECTING THE GOOD.

I NEVER GREW UP WITH A THOUGHT THAT AS SOON AS YOU SEE THE BLUE LIGHTS YOU WILL BE SAFE.

I GREW UP KNOWING A SYSTEM THAT WAS WRONG WHETHER IT BE INCARCERATING THE WRONG PERSON OR OVER PUNISHING A PERSON WHO MADE A MISTAKE OR DISRESPECTING SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT VIOLENT.

IN TURN, I WENT TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AS A LAW STUDENT.

I KNEW I WAS INTERESTED IN JUSTICE BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

EARLY ON WHEN IRAN INTO A FORMER CLASSMATE COULDN'T BELIEVE I WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BAR.

THAT CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE FROM WHERE I CAME FROM TO DO THIS AS A LAW CLERK, IT CAME TO DEFINE WHAT I DID FOR THE REST OF MY CAREER AND AM SO EXCITED TO BE HERE.

>> Brandis: WENT TO GET INTO THE POSITION WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE OFFICE?

>> Guest: AGAIN I STARTED APRIL 1.

I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WISDOM AND THE ROLE WHETHER IT COMES TO LEADERSHIP OR RANK AND FILE.

WITH THAT SAID NO MATTER WHAT THE CASE IS WE'VE GOT TO PROVIDE ALL THAT WE ARE ASSIGNED TO AND MEANING TO BE IN THE SYSTEM FOR CHANGE.

WERE GOING TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATION WE CERTAINLY HAVE IDEAS BUT I'M NOT THE PERSON WHO WALKS INTO A ROOM AND SAYS HEY I GOT ALL THE GOOD IDEAS.

I NEED TO BE RESPECT OF THE WISDOM IN THE ROOM.

THE REALITY IS, YOU HAVE TO REFERENCE CASES IN THE OPENING OF THE COURTS ON THE CHANGES PRESENTED BY THE SAFETY ACT.

I'M EXCITED TO THINKING ABOUT REEVALUATING HOW WE DO THE BASICS .

HOW WE SELECT DATA, HOW WE TRAIN AN ADVOCATE.

AND HOW WE WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS DEMANDED THAT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND LEGAL SYSTEM GIVE IT BETTER RESULTS.

>> Brandis: YOU ARE ACTIVE IN THE ABOLISHING CASH BAIL PORTION OF THE SAFETY ACT THAT YOU JUST REFERENCE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BILL THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGNED LAST MONTH.

WHY WAS THAT AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR YOU?

>> I THINK IT'S CLEAR.

WHO SHOULD BE IN JAIL AND WHO SHOULD NOT BE IN JAIL CREATES ALL KINDS OF BAD CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY WHETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE DOLLARS THAT ARE PULLED OUT OF COMMUNITIES CAN BARELY AFFORD IT MAINLY PAID BY BLACK WOMEN, MOTHERS, SISTERS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

OR IT IS THE OVER INCARCERATION IN THE RELIANCE OF CASH BOND.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PROBLEMS FURTHER DOWN THE LINE.

MASS INCARCERATION, WRONGFUL CONVICTION.

I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT MOVE AND QUITE FRANKLY, SOMETHING THAT FOLKS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR QUITE A LONG TIME BECAUSE THE CURRENT SYSTEM HAS FAILED TO KEEP US SAFE.

THEY HAVE FAILED TO PRODUCE JUST RESULTS.

>> Brandis: HOW DO YOU VIEW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AND THE ATTORNEY?

>> Guest: I THINK THE ATTORNEY HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.

AN EXCELLENT JOB WHEN IT COMES TO THE POLICIES.

WHEN WE ARE TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC OFFENDER, CLEARLY GIVEN THE ROLES, WE WON'T ALWAYS GET ALONG BUT I'M INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO WORK WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN A CHAMPION FOR PROGRESSIVE CHANGE.

THE ATTORNEY HAS WORKED HARD ADVOCATING FOR THE END OF MONEY BONDS.SHE'S WORKED HARD ON LEGALIZING CANNABIS.

THERE WILL BE SOME TIMES WHERE WE HAVE BACK AND FORTH IN THE COURTROOM THAT I RESPECT ATTORNEY FOX.

I KNOW SHE IS A CHAMPION FOR CHANGE.

>> Brandis: AND, I APOLOGIZE WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

COVID CASES IN COOK COUNTY JAIL HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY LOW AS OF LATE DESPITE THE SPIKES WE SAW LAST YEAR.

HOW DO YOU PLAN ON WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF TO MAINTAIN THE LOW INFECTION RATE?

>> Guest: WE WILL TALK TO THE SHERIFF SOON.

THE KEY IS THAT WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN JAIL.

THE WAY THE JAIL IS SET UP ON THE WAY ANY JAIL IS SET UP, IF YOU LEAD PEOPLE IN JAIL WERE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND WE NEED TO THINK DEEPLY OF HOW PEOPLE GET INTO JAIL AND OUT OF JAIL AND THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF MY MAIN CONCERNS.

>> Brandis: YOUR WORK IS CUT OUT FOR YOU.

BEST OF LUCK.THANKS YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> Brandis: WE WILL BE BACK WITH MORE OF CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>.

>> Brandis: THE BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS AND TOURING ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN IN CHICAGO FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

OVER THOSE FIVE DECADES THEY SAY THE NEED FOR ADULT VOLUNTEER MENTORS WHAT THEY CALL PIGS HAS GROWN.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR MORE BIGGIES FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY TO MAKE FULL CONNECTION TO MEET THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

OUR PRODUCER HAS THE STORY.

>> OMARI AND JORDAN ARE NOT RELATED BUT THEY ARE BROTHERS.

THEY WERE MATCHED BY BIG BROTHERS EXIST OR CHICAGO WHEN RASHEED WAS IN FIFTH GRADE.

>> FROM THE JUMP HE WAS A GOOD MANNERED GUY, CONFIDENT AND SMART AND WILLING TO WORK HARD.

IT WAS AWESOME FROM THE BEGINNING.

>> THROUGH THE YEARS, RASHEED AND BONDS HAVE DONE ALL THE THINGS THAT BIG BROTHERS AND LITTLE BROTHERS DO.

>> WE DID AN 8K, A 10K OR AN 8K.

>> LETTINGS WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE OUTINGS.

>> DEFINITELY BASKETBALL WAS ONE OF THE EASIEST THINGS WE PLAYED.

>> RASHEED RECALLS THE LESS ADVENTUROUS TIMES HE SPENT WITH BOND, FONDLY.

>> TOOK ME TO SEE WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE A HOMEOWNER.

WE LOOKED AT SOME PROBLEMS ON THE ROOF HERE TRACKS THE SCHOOL HAS A LOT OF GREAT MATERIAL BUT A LOT OF TACTICAL STUFF MISSING PERSONAL-FINANCE BEING ONE OF THEM.

>> RASHEED'S MOTHER SAID THAT BONDS PRESENCE HELPED OPEN UP HER SON'S WORLD.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY SUN HAD ALL OF THE TOOLS THAT HE NEEDED TO ACHIEVE HIS MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.

I WANTED HIM TO LEARN ABOUT THE VALUE OF VOLUNTEERISM AND TO PAY IT FORWARD .

TO SHOW THAT PEOPLE CARED ABOUT HIM ENOUGH TO INVEST IN HIM AND COMMIT TO HELPING HIM REACH ALL OF HIS GOALS.

JORDAN MADE IT EASY, TOO.

IT WAS LIKE MAN LIKE IT WAS HIS LONG-LOST FAMILY MEMBER.

>> BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS CHICAGO CEO SAID THAT HIS ORGANIZATION IS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MORE BLACK MEN AND WOMEN LIKE BONDS TO TAKE ON THIS REWARDING ROLE.

>> AS BIG BROTHERS WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SEE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE YOU IN EVERYDAY LIFE.

HAVING SUCCESS IN THE SIMILAR ENVIRONMENT YOU GREW UP WITH HIM.

>> AFTER EIGHT YEARS AS BEING A LITTLE BROTHER TO BOND, HE IS NOW HEADING OFF TO COLLEGE.

>> I THINK MY ENCOURAGEMENT WAS TO NOT LIMIT YOURSELF.

>> JORDAN WAS ONE OF MY RECOMMENDATION LETTERS.

I APPLIED FOR 7 COLLEGES AND I GOT INTO ALL SEVEN.

MY TOP THREE - >> ALL SEVEN!

THIS GUY GOT INTO ALL SEVEN!

>> I'M EXCITED TO GO INTO COLLEGE.

>> NO MATTER THE DISTANCE, NO MATTER THE TIME, FAMILY IS FAMILY.

HE KNOWS I HAVE HIS BACK.

THROUGHOUT EVERYTHING.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> Brandis: AN UPDATE TO THE STORY, OMARI RASHEED SAID HE IS LEANING TO LOCAL COLLEGES.

CHICAGO IS FAMED FOR IT'S PATCHWORK OF NEIGHBORHOODS EACH WITH A UNIQUE HISTORY OVER TIME THE RICH HISTORY OF SOME OF THE CITIES COMMUNITIES HAVE BECOME CLOUDED BY TRAGEDY.

URBAN HISTORIAN AND SOUTH CIDER, SHERMANN "DILLA" THOMAS SAID THAT CAN CLOUD A COMMUNITY'S FUTURE, TOO.

HE GIVES US THE LAST WORD ON HOW UNDERSTANDING THE CITY'S PAST CAN LEAD TO A BETTER TOMORROW .

>> MY NAME IS SHERMANN "DILLA" THOMAS AND I AM A URBAN HISTORIAN IN CHICAGO.

WE ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF FRANK GILLESPIE SCHOOL.

THE SCHOOL IS NAMED AFTER THE FOUNDER OF LIBERTY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.

WE ARE HERE BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL BUT THE HISTORY OF THE MAN.FRANK GILLESPIE STARTED THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY FOUNDED NORTH OF THE MASON-DIXON LINE.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

IN THE EARLY 1900S LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES WOULD NOT GIVE AFRICAN-AMERICANS LIFE INSURANCE.

WE KNOW THAT THAT CREATED A GENERATION OF WEALTH.

NOT ONLY DID THAT ENSURE AFRICAN-AMERICANS BUT PROVIDED SEED MONEY FOR WHAT WOULD BECOME BARE OAKS CEMETERY WHERE EMMETT HILL LAYS IN PEACE.HE HIRED A INTERN KNOWN AS JOHN H JOHNSON TO GIVE US EBONY AND JET.

THIS SCHOOL IS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD CALLED LILY DALE.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE IT'S THE ONLY NEIGHBORHOOD IN CHICAGO THAT WAS ENTIRELY BUILT BY AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

THAT WAS UNHEARD OF IN THE 1940S AND 50S.

IT WAS TRUE.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN BRICKLAYERS, ELECTRICIANS AND PLUMBERS.

THEY ALL BUILT A NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THEMSELVES AND THEY NOW HAVE A SCHOOL HERE.

YOUR DOWN THE STREET FROM THE PARK AT THE PARK ONLY SAYS ABBOTT PARK.

I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE IN PRINCETON PARK AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD KNOW THAT THAT PARK WAS NAMED FOR THE FOUNDER OF THE CHICAGO DEFENDER?

IF YOU ARE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN CHICAGO AND YOUR FAMILY ARRIVED AFTER WORLD WAR I IT WAS PROBABLY BECAUSE YOUR FAMILY READ AN ARTICLE BY ROBERT ABBOTT.

HERE IN CHICAGO WE HAVE A LEASE RECALLED PARKWAY GARDENS.

NOTORIOUSLY IT IS CALLED A BLOCK.

THAT NEIGHBORHOOD SADLY HAS A BIT OF A BAD ENERGY.

I WONDER IF THE PEOPLE THERE KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOU MIGHT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET WAS OWNED BY AN AFRICAN AMERICAN KNOWN AS HERB HERMAN ROBERTS.

HE HAD THE HERB HERMAN ROBERTS SHOW.

IT WAS A PLACE WHERE BLACK AMERICANS COULD PERFORM DID THEY COULDN'T SLEEP THERE AT NIGHT.

HERMAN ROBERTS PROVIDED THEM A PLACE TO STAY AND AN OUTLET FOR UP-AND-COMING MUSICIANS.

TO GO TO ELLIS ISLAND IN NEW YORK, TO GO TO BORATE ISLAND IN AFRICA WHICH THEY CALLED THE DOOR OF NO RETURN, YOU FEEL AND ENERGY.

YOU DO THAT AND YOU FEEL THAT ENERGY BECAUSE YOU ARE AWARE OF THE HISTORY BEFORE YOU ARRIVE THERE.

EVERY WEEKEND WE BROADCAST OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE SHOT IN SADLY HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE KILLED.I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION BUT WE SHOULD ALSO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE CITY IS AND WHAT CITY HAS BEEN AND WHAT WE CAN BECOME.

CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE A HISTORY AND I THINK IF WE START TO TELL IT AND GIVE THAT INFORMATION DETAILED HISTORY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD PERHAPS WE CAN CHANGE IT.

>> Brandis: SHERMAN THOMAS WILL GET TO PUT HIS HISTORY EXPERTISE TO THE TEST ON WTTW.

HE'S A CONTESTANT ON THE QUIZ SHOW THIS FRIDAY.

BE SURE TO CHECK THEM OUT AND BE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO WATCH MORE IN OUR LAST WORD SERIES.

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THE SUNDAY NIGHT BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/ NEWS WITH THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

JOIN PARIS SCHUTZ AND ME AT 7:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.