>>> HEY THERE, THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.

ONE ON ONE WITH THE CHICAGO BASED LIBRARY ASSOCIATION NAMED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL LISTS.

WHAT A GRANT TO THE CHICAGO LIBRARY FOUNDATION WILL DO TO HELP THE ARCHIVES THRIVE.

>>> THREE UNIVERSITIES SAW FACULTY STRIKES THIS MONTH.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT'S BEHIND THE PICKET LINE.

>>> WE WILL GET BEHIND AND PUSH, BUT YOU HAVE TO PUT THE WORK IN.

>> AND SAINT LEONARD MINISTRY'S HOLISTIC APPROACH OFFERS SMOOTHER LANDINGS FOR PEOPLE COMING OUT OF INCARCERATION.

>>> MEET ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE'S MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES, IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK.

AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> WE BELIEVE WHEN DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED, COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER.

LIVES ARE MADE BETTER AND THE FUTURE HAS A GREATER PROMISE FOR ALL.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO TONIGHT'S BLACK VOICES.

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND DRIVE CHANGE.

>>> THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO LEAD THE CHICAGO BASED AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION WAS NAMED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF THE YEAR.

TRACY HALL'S LIFE WORK TEACHES ALL OF US THAT THE LIBRARY AND BOOKS CAN FREE US FROM HATRED AND LIES NOT JUST FOR THE PRESENT GENERATION BUT FOR ALL TO COME.

THIS COMES AS THE ASSOCIATION REPORTS EFFORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO BAN BOOKS NEARLY DOUBLED IN 2022 FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT IT ALL IS TRACY HALL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

CONGRATS AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> CAN YOU BELIEVE THE LINE I READ FROM TIME MAGAZINE AND WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT YOU?

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT MAKING THE LIST?

>> FIRST OF ALL, IT'S STILL SINKING IN.

I DEFINITELY KNOW IT IS NOT ABOUT ME.

IT IS ABOUT THIS MOMENT IN TIME.

THE LIBRARIES AND LIBRARIES AND FOR ALL OF US WHO ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURE THAT THE RIGHT TO READ PASSES ONTO ANOTHER GENERATION.

BUT I'M STILL IN DISBELIEF.

I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

I WAS BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL LIKE SOME OF US DO AND THIS EMAIL COMES OVER AND IT ASKS ME TO VERIFY WHO I WAS AND MY DATE OF BIRTH AND IT WAS FROM TIME 100.

WHEN I INVESTIGATED AND FOUND OUT IT WAS REAL, I WAS IN SHOCK.

>> I KNOW YOU GET A SORT OF STRANGE EMAIL ASKING YOU WHO YOU ARE.

I DON'T HAVE TO IDENTIFY MYSELF TO YOU.

>> RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

>> GLAD YOU DID.

SO, YOU'RE THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO HEAD THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

>> WELL THERE'S A LOT OF FIRSTS.

ONE THING I THINK A LOT ABOUT IN TERMS OF HONORS FOR BLACK WOMEN IS THAT IN 1957, THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION HONORED A BLACK SORORITY DELTA SIGMA THETA FOR A FUNDING MOBILE BOOK MOBILE.

THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH.

FIGHTING AGAINST SEGREGATED LIBRARIES.

SO THEY ARE JUST A HISTORY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN GENERAL LEADING THE WAY WHEN IT COMES TO LIBRARIES.

>> TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH READING AND THE LIBRARIES.

>> WELL, I AM DEDICATED TO LIBRARIES BECAUSE MY GRANDPARENTS ON MY MATERNAL SIDE REALLY DEALT WITH AND HAD TO NAVIGATE LOW LITERACY.

AND SO THEY REALLY PUSHED ME TO PURSUE EDUCATION AND MY GRANDMOTHER WALKED WITH ME TO THE LIBRARY EVERY DAY.

AND SO, IT IS REALLY AN HONOR OF HER AND IN HONOR OF PEOPLE LIKE HER THAT THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION IS SUPPORTING THE EXPANSION OF LITERACY OUTLETS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THE LIBRARY BASED LITERACY INSTRUCTION.

SO I THINK ABOUT MY GRANDMOTHER EVERY DAY.

WORK IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AND OTHER WORK THAT WE DO.

THOSE THINGS HIT CLOSE TO HOME BECAUSE I GREW UP IN SOUTH CENTRAL LA.

SO A LOT OF THE WORK I DO TODAY WAS INSPIRED REALLY BY MY CHILDHOOD.

>> WE ARE SEEING AS WE MENTIONED ACROSS THE COUNTRY MORE EFFORTS TO BAN BOOKS.

SOME OFFICIALS THREATENING TO SHUT DOWN LIBRARIES.

WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE?

>> WHAT'S AT STAKE IS THAT LIBRARIES TODAY ARE THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF NOT ONLY PRINT MATERIAL BUT DIGITAL ACCESS.

AND SO, IF YOU HAVE EVER WORKED IN THE LIBRARY, YOU KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE QUEUING UP IN FRONT OF A LIBRARY AND TWO HOURS EARLY ARE PEOPLE WHO NEED ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, TO TEXTBOOKS THAT MIGHT BE IN THE LIBRARY THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD AND THEY NEED THOSE THINGS BEFORE THEY START THEIR DAY.

AND THE THING THAT I FEAR AND I KNOW THAT WE WON'T STAND FOR IT IS THAT IF WE SIT SILENT WHILE SOME OF THIS LEGISLATION IS PROPOSED, IT COULD REALLY ERADICATE ONE OF THE MOST USED PUBLIC SERVICES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY.

>> HOW IS THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION APPROACHING THIS.

>> WELL, IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION WAS THE FIRST NATIONAL ORGANIZATION TO MOUNT AN ANTICENSORSHIP PROGRAM.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GO TO UNITE AGAINST BOOK BANS.ORG.

AND RECEIVE THEIR OWN PLAY BOOK.

HOW THEY CAN ORGANIZE IN THEIR HOUSEHOLDS.

IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IN THE LARGER SPHERE OF INFLUENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THE NOTION THAT FREE PEOPLE READ FREELY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE JUST SAY.

BUT SOMETHING THAT IS A REALITY.

NEXT WEEK, WE WILL BE CELEBRATING NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK AND THE FIRST DAY, THAT MONDAY, IS NATIONAL RIGHT TO READ DAY.

WHERE WE ARE AFFIRMING NOT ONLY DOES EVERYONE HAVE THE RIGHT TO READ, BUT IT IS ALSO RIGHT TO READ.

AND THAT WHOLE WEEK IS DEDICATED TO THE NOTION THAT LIBRARIES OFFER MORE THAN JUST PRINT.

WE OFFER ALL KINDS OF PROGRAMS, BASIC LITERACY, FAMILY LITERACY.

PROGRAMS FOR ENTREPRENEURS.

ART PROGRAMS.

ET CETERA.

>> THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES HAS BEEN EXPANDED IN MANY WAYS.

AND YOU KNOW, WE CAN TALK ABOUT SOME LIBRARIES BEING PLACES WHERE FOLKS CAN GET NARCAN OR OPIOID OVERDOSES.

THAT KIND OF STUFF.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE ROLE THAT THE LIBRARY CAN HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY?

>> SIMPLY THIS.

I THINK THAT WHETHER IT IS ON A CAMPUS, A SCHOOL, OR A UNIVERSITY, I BELIEVE THAT THE LIBRARY IS A SWITCHING STATION AND WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

THERE'S ABOUT 17,000 PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

MORE PUBLIC LIBRARIES THAN MCDONALDS.

I BELIEVE THAT LIBRARIES ARE THE COMMUNITY HUB OF ANY NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> WHAT CAN LIBRARIES DO TO BETTER SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY?

>> FIRST, I THINK WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS COUNTRY HAS A LIBRARY CARD AND IS ACCESSING LIBRARY RESOURCES.

WHETHER DIGITALLY.

I THINK WHAT LIBRARIES CONTINUE TO DO IS ENGAGE THEIR COMMUNITIES.

REPRESENT THEIR COMMUNITIES.

I'M A LIBRARIAN AND I HAVE BEEN A LIBRARIAN ABOUT 25 YEARS AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN EDUCATION WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO THINK ABOUT LIBRARYSHIP AS A CAREER AS WELL.

>> TRACY HALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND CONGRATS AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> LIBRARIES AND LOCAL HISTORY LOVERS GOT SOME GOOD NEWS THIS WEEK.

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY RECEIVED A $200 MILLION GRANT TO DIGITIZE AND ARCHIVE MATERIALS RELATE TODAY THE CITY'S BLACK HISTORY INCLUDING ITEMS DATING FROM THE 1800S TO THE PRESENT DAY.

HERE'S MORE ON WHAT THE GRANT CAN DO.

>> THAT WILL ALLOW US TO PROCESS AND DIGITIZE COLLECTIONS RELATED TO BLACK HISTORY TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

IN ADDITION TO HELPING MORE.

IT WILL HAVE OPTIONS AT ALL 81 OF OUR BRANCHES AND HELP US TO PARTNER WITH ILLINOIS EDUCATORS TO HELP THEM USE THIS COLLECTION.

>> I'M PROUD TO LIVE AND SUPPORT TEACHERS IN THE CITY WITH SUCH RICH AFTERCHI VALUE RESOURCES.

THIS OPPORTUNITY WILL SUPPORT ACCESS TO THOSE RESOURCES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY GIVEN MY WORK GETTING THOSE RESOURCES INTO SCHOOLS WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN LEARN ABOUT THEM.

NOT ONLY LOOK BACK TOWARD THE PAST, AS MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ALLUDED TO, IMAGINE THE FUTURE.

>> IT WILL ALLOW US TO PROVIDE A MENU OF PUBLIC OPTIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE NOTICE FOR OUR OWN COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT IS WHILE THE RESEARCH COLLECTION IS VERY REPRESENTED IN TERMS OF BLACK SOUTH SIDE HISTORY.

BLACK PEOPLE LIVE ALL OVER THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AND, WE VERY MUCH WANT OUR COLLECTION TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF BLACK PEOPLE ON THE WEST SIDE, ON THE NORTH SIDE.

WE HAVE QUEER BLACK PEOPLE LIVERING ALL OVER THE CITY AND THOSE ARE COLLECTIONS WE DON'T HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF DOCUMENTATION FOR.

WITH THIS FUNDING ALSO COMES OUR OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

NOT JUST WITH THE ACTUALLY AVAILABILITY OF THE COLLECTION, BUT WE WILL BE ABLE TO OFFER MINI GRANTS TO RESEARCHERS, EDUCATORS, AND OTHER TYPES OF STORY TELLERS INTERESTED IN TELLING THESE STORIES ABOUT BLACK LIVES.

THIS IS OUR COLLECTIVE HISTORY.

BLACK HISTORY HERE IN CHICAGO ESPECIALLY.

DEEPLY TRANSFORMATIVE SOCIAL MOVEMENTS.

>> WILLIAMS SAYS SOME OF THE FUNDS WILL ALSO BE USED TO OFFER MINI GRANTS TO EDUCATORS AND RESEARCHERS TO TELL SOME OF THE STORIES REVEALED IN THE ARCHIVES.

>>> UP NEXT, COMMON FACTORS BEHIND PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES STRIKING.

>>> A WAVE OF LABOR ACTIONS HAS SWEPT THROUGH ILLINOIS' PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES THIS MONTH.

FACULTY HAVE GONE ON STRIKE AT CHICAGO STATES, EASTERN ILLINOIS.

SIGNIFICANT POPULATIONS OF BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS ARE SERVED AS WELL AS OLDER AND LOWER INCOME STUDENTS.

WHILE AGREEMENTS HAVE BEEN REACHED AT ALL THREE SCHOOLS, FACULTY SAY THEY SHARE COMMON FACTORS, NAMELY OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID INSTRUCTORS LEADING TO DIMINISHED OUTCOMES FOR THEIR STUDENTS.

JOINING US NOW ARE VALERIE GOSS, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LOCAL 40100.

LISA PHILLIP.

HIGHER EDUCATION REPORTER FOR WBEZ CHICAGO.

AND BOB BRUNO, DIRECTOR OF THE LABOR EDUCATION PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS SCHOOL OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS.

THANKS TO ALL THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US, I APPRECIATE IT.

VALERIE, LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE REASONS THAT THE CSU FACULTY DECIDED TO STRIKE?

>> THE CSU FACULTY HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER WE HAVE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

WE WORK WITH OUR STUDENTS AND LABORATORIES AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER COURSES.

AND, WE HAVE TRIED VERY, I GUESS I WANT TO SAY, WE STARTED TRYING TO BARGAIN WITH THE INSTITUTION AND SEE IF WE COULD GET TO SOME AGREEMENT.

I THINK THAT WE BEGAN GETTING TO A POINT THAT I WOULD SAY WHERE WE HAD ROADBLOCKS.

WE JUST COULDN'T MOVE ANY FURTHER.

SO, I THINK FOR YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS WHY WE NEEDED TO GO ON STRIKE.

WE WERE ASKING FOR ADEQUATE WORKLOADS THAT WOULD BALANCE.

WOULD WE BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK THAT NEED TO BE DONE FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR ADEQUATE EQUITY COMPENSATION AS WELL.

AND BECAUSE OF THESE AND BECAUSE OF THE THINGS, THE TALKS ARE STALLING, WE DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED TO TAKE THAT NEXT LABOR STEP.

>> LISA, WAS THAT THE STORY AT GSU AT EASTERN ILLINOIS AS WELL?

>> YEAH.

IT WAS VERY SIMILAR IN THE SENSE THAT FACULTY WERE ASKING FOR MORE PAY AND REDUCED WORK LODES AS WELL.

WE HAVE SEEN PUBLIC FUNDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION DECREASE INCREDIBLY IN THE PAST TWO DECADES WHEN YOU ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION.

IN SOME SITUATIONS, IT HAS CAUSED MINIMIZING OF SALARY, FACULTY.

AND REDUCTION OF TENURED POSITIONS.

YOU HAVE FEWER FACULTY THAT ARE TAKING ON MORE AND MORE WORK AND SALARIES HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH INFLATION.

ESPECIALLY RECENTLY WHERE WE HAVE SEEN INFLATION SKYROCKET.

>> BOB BRUNO, YOU TRACE SOME OF THE FUNDING PROBLEMS BACK TO THE BRUCE BROWNER ADMINISTRATION.

WHAT'S THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIS ADMINISTRATION THEN AND THE PROBLEMS WE ARE SEEING TODAY?

>> WELL, THE YEARS 2015, 2016 WERE TERRIBLE YEARS FOR A BUDGET IMPASSE.

WHAT IT DID, IT ACCELERATED WHAT WAS ABOUT A TWO DECADE SLIDE IN THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT TO MORE HIGHER EDUCATION.

IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

WITHOUT THE BUDGET APPROVAL, WE SAW SCHOOLS LIKE CHICAGO STATE AND EASTERN SUFFER SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN ENROLLMENT.

FURLOUGHS OF LARGE NUMBERS.

THE ALLOCATION NEEDED TO MAINTAIN OPERATION WAS NOT FORTHCOMING AND THESE SCHOOLS DIDN'T REALLY HAVE RICH ENDOWMENTS AND APPROPRIATE SOURCES OF REVENUE TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCES.

AND REALLY SINCE ABOUT 2009, WE HAVE SEEN TUITION GO UP SUBSTANTIALLY ACROSS THE SYSTEM TO TRY TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT IS ABOUT A 49% REDUCTION CONTROLLED FOR INFLATION IN THE LEVEL OF STATE SUPPORT BETWEEN 2009 AND ROUGHLY 2021, 2022.

SO IT REALLY JUST AGGRAVATED A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION AND REALLY PUT THOSE TEACHERS IN AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF SERVICES THAT THEY ARE SO PASSIONATE TO PROVIDE.

>> VALERIE, ONE OF THE STICKING POINTS THAT YOU ALL EMPHASIZED WAS STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH NEED.

WHY WAS THAT IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL?

>> WELL I THINK THAT STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH NEED ALSO RELATES AS WELL TO THE STUDENT EMOTIONAL NEED.

THEIR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH FACULTY.

THEY CONSULT WITH US.

THE FIRST PERSON THAT THEY TURN TO GENERALLY ARE THE FACULTY.

THEY TURN TO THE FOLKS THAT THEY TRUST.

AND WE LOOKED AT HOW FACULTY WERE HELPING STUDENTS.

FOR IT TO BE EFFECTIVE, WE NEEDED TO HAVE A BALANCED WORKLOAD.

WE NEED TODAY HAVE TIME TO SPEAK WITH THE STUDENTS.

WORK WITH THEM.

GIVE THEM COUNSEL.

GIVER THEM GUIDANCE.

CAREER ADVICE.

WE NEEDED THAT TIME.

STUDENTSGET ANXIOUS ABOUT BEING ABLE TO DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

GIVEN ALL THAT HAS TRANSPIRED, I THINK THE STUDENTS HAVE NEEDED AND WE CAN SEE THAT THEY NEEDED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN THIS AREA.

EMOTIONAL.

AND MENTAL HEALTH.

AND THOSE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE.

BUT WE CAN SEE THAT FACULTY ARE REALLY THE FIRST LINE.

RIGHT AT THE FRONT LINE HELPING THE STUDENTS.

>> LISA, HOW DO THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS AT THESE UNIVERSITIES DIFFER FROM SO-CALLED TRADITIONAL STUDENTS?

>> A LOT OF THESE STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR.

ARE STUDENTS FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

SO THEY SOMETIMES NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.

AN 18-YEAR-OLD OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

MAYBE DOESN'T NEED.

AND A LOT OF THE STUDENTS THAT TURN TO A PLACE LIKE CHICAGO STATE OR EASTERN ILLINOIS, ARE STUDENTS THAT MAY BE UNBOUND TO THEIR COMMUNITIES IN SOME WAY.

ARE COMMUTING TO CAMPUS.

DON'T LIVE IN THE DORM.

AND, I TALKED WITH SEVERAL STUDENTS DURING THESE STRIKES WHO JUST REALLY LOVE THE CLASS SIZES THEY HAVE COME ACROSS.

I KNOW THAT AT CHICAGO STATE, ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT IT IS YOU HAVE SUCH A DIVERSE FACULTY SERVING WHAT IS REALLY A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK STUDENT BODY.

UNLIKE NATIONALLY, WHERE THE PERCENTAGE OF BLACK FACULTY IS LESS THAN 10%.

AT CHICAGO STATE, IT IS NEARLY 40%.

AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO ONE OF DR. GOSS'S STUDENTS ON THE PICKET LINES AND SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW IN HIGH SCHOOL, SHE WAS INTERESTED IN CHEMISTRY.

BUT WASN'T REALLY SURE WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO COMING INTO CHICAGO STATE.

AND SHE TOOK A CLASS WITH DR. GOSS.

SHE SAID THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD SEEN A BLACK WOMAN TEACHING CHEMISTRY.

AND SHE TOLD HERSELF I CAN DO IT.

I KNOW I CAN DO IT.

AND SHE HAS BEEN ACCEPTED INTO A PHD PROGRAM IN CHEMISTRY.

>> A MATTER OF ROLE MODELING AS WELL.

IF YOU HAVE A HIGH NUMBER OF FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS.

BOB, HOW DO FUNDING DECISIONS AFFECT WORKING CONDITIONS FOR UNIVERSITY INSTRUCTORS?

>> WELL LOOK.

I THINK YOU HEARD FROM TWO OTHER GUESTS THAT WHEN IN FACT, YOU DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDING, AND YOU CAN'T MAINTAIN THE PROPER LEVEL OF STAFFING, YOU INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS PER INSTRUCTOR.

YOU ARE GOING TO ASK INSTRUCTORS TO TAKE ON ADDITIONAL CLASSES IN A COMPRESSED TIME.

IF THOSE TEACHERS ARE NOT RECEIVING SUITABLE PAY INCREASES, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE COST OF LIVING IS GOING UP, THEY ARE HAVING TO MAKE HARD CHOICES ABOUT HOW ARE THERE OTHER WAYS TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR PAY.

IF YOU ARE NOT ON A FULL TIME TENURED TRACK PROGRESSION, BUT YOU ARE HIRED AS A PART TIMER, AS AN ADJUNCT, YOU HAVE TO JUGGLE POSITIONS.

>> AS WE HEARD EARLIER, WHAT ABOUT THAT EXTENDED.

CAMPUS LIFE.

>> ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY WE KNOW THE FACULTY HAS VOTED TO STRIKE.

THEY ARE IN A PERIOD WHERE THEY ARE NOT WALKING OFF THE JOB.

WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANKS TO THE THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> UP NEXT, PEOPLE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION REENTERING THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?

WHERE ARE WE AT?

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

>> ESSENTIALLY TO HELP ANYONE AND EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WHETHER THAT IS THROUGH ACADEMIC SUPPORT.

PROVIDING A SAFE SPACE WHERE YOU ARE USED TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE.

>> THIS IS THE FABRIC OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE TAKE CARE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S AN ECO SYSTEM.

>>> RELEASE FROM PRISON BRINGS A NEW SET OF CHALLENGES.

MANY FIND THEMSELVES IN HOUSING INSECURITY.

DIFFICULTY FINDING A JOB AND STRUGGLING TO INTEGRATE.

SAINT LEONARD'S WAS A HALFWAY HOUSE.

THEIR MISSION HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE JOB TRAINING, HEALTH CARE, AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR REENTERING MEN AND WOMEN.

BUT THEY SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THEY OFFER THE RESIDENTS IS TIME TO HEAL.

AS PART OF WTTW'S ONGOING INITIATIVE, FIRSTHAND LIFE AFTER PRISON, PRODUCER ERICA GUNDERSON HAS THE STORY.

>> I WEAR MANY HATS HERE.

SOMETIMES I'M A COUNSELOR.

SOMETIMES I'M JUST AN EAR.

FOR SOMEONE TO LISTEN TO.

>> Reporter: AS INTAKE AND HOUSING MANAGER, DAVID HARRIS HELPS PEOPLE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION SUCCESSFULLY REENTER THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND HE SAYS HE KNOWS THEY CAN DO IT.

>> I CAN'T DO THE PROGRAM.

BACK IN 1996 MYSELF.

I HAVE BEEN THROUGH SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

I HAVE BEEN HOMELESS.

AND I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

BUT WHAT I DID IS I CHOSE TO CHANGE MY LIFE THROUGH EDUCATING MYSELF.

AND THEN, GIVING IT BACK NOW, IT IS LIKE LOOKING IN THE MIRROR.

>> IN THE MERELY 70 YEARS SAINT LEONARD'S HAS MAINTAINED ITS QUIET PRESENCE ON THE WEST SIDE, THE NON-PROFIT HAS GROWN FAR BEYOND ITS INITIAL MISSION OF GETTING MEN OUT OF INCARCERATION.

>> WE ARE NOT JUST A HOUSING PROVIDER OR A WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT PROVIDER.

NOT JUST A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER.

AND WE ARE NOT JUST SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND RECOVERY.

WE ARE ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

THERE ARE SO MANY OBSTACLES THAT GET PUT IN THE WAY.

WE PROVIDE ALL OF OUR SERVICES, AND ALL OF OUR WORK FORCE PROGRAMS.

FREE OF CHARGE.

>> Reporter: IT BEGINS WITH HOUSING.

BOTH TRANSITIONAL.

THE 42 FURNISHED UNITS AT SAINT ANDREW'S COURT ALLOW RESIDENTS TO EASE INTO INDEPENDENCE AT THEIR OWN PACE.

>> IT ALSO STEMS THE FACT IF THEY HAVE BEEN HERE OVER A YEAR WITH US AND THEY HAVE BEEN PAYING RENT AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, IT HELPS IN REGARDS TO WHEN THEY GO OUT THERE AND APPLY FOR AN APARTMENT.

THEY CAN USE US AS A REFERENCE AND A LOT OF GUYS GET HERE HAVE NEVER BEEN ON THE LEASE BEFORE.

NEVER HAD AN APARTMENT.

THEY CAN COME IN AND THEY CAN FEEL THAT THEY ARE HOME.

THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE THING IS ABOUT.

>> Reporter: AND JOB TRAINING IS JUST STEPS AWAY AT THE BARLOW CENTER.

>> IN ADDITION TO I WAS LEARNING ABOUT FOOD.

WE ALSO LEARN HOW TO BE PROFESSIONAL.

HOW TO RESPECT EACH OTHER.

AND HOW TO ENCOURAGE AND ROOT FOR EACH OTHER.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT A PERSON IS DEALING WITH.

OR WHATEVER THEIR BACKGROUND IS.

WE ARE MORE LIKE A FAMILY HERE.

>> Reporter: THE 14-WEEK CONSTRUCTION SKILLS COURSE TAUGHT BY JONATHAN WILSON PREPARES PARTICIPANTS FOR TRADE APPRENTICESHIPS AND INDUSTRY JOBS.

>> WE ARE LEARNING TO BUILD A HOUSE ON THE GROUND UP.

FRAMING.

PLUMBING.

ROOF ING.

HOUSING MANAGEMENT COMPANIES.

A WIDE WAY THEY CAN GO.

>> Reporter: THE PROOF THEIR HOLISTIC APPROACH WORKS IS RECIDIVISM RATE.

>> THERE IS GROWING RECOGNITION THAT SOCIETY IS BETTER IF WE FIGURE OUT BETTER WAYS TO WELCOME AND INCORPORATE RETURNING RESIDENTS.

>> WE ARE HERE TO HELP EACH OTHER BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR JOURNEY.

>> SOMEONE SAID AT THE LAST GRADUATION, HE WAS BROKEN WHEN HE CAME HERE AND I KNOW WHAT HE MEANS BY THAT.

AND YOU CAN BE BROKEN BUT THEN YOU HAVE A PLACE TO HEAL.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES, THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>>> AND YOU CAN FIND ALL ON MORE SAINT LEONARD'S HAS TO OFFER ON OUR WEBSITE AND YOU CAN SEE MUCH MORE ABOUT LIFE AFTER PRISON AT WTTW.COM/FIRSTHAND.

>>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

BUT DON'T FORGET, ON MONDAY AT NOON, TUNE IN TO A VIRTUAL VOICES COMMUNITY CONVERSATION.

I'LL BE SPEAKING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE ELECTION AND EXPECTATIONS AS MAYOR-ELECT BRANDON JOHNSON.

YOU CAN VISIT WTTW.COM/EVENTS.

FOR ALL OF US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

STAY HEALTHY, STAY SAFE, AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD.