>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES , I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN .

TONIGHT , CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS COME TO CLASS , THE CHALLENGES IN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

>>> THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS HELPING PEOPLE WHEN THEY GET OUT OF JAIL.

>>> AND MATERNAL MENTALITY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

>> POSITIVE ROLE MODELS CAN CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF YOUR LIFE .

>>> THE FOUNDER OF A MENTORING ORGANIZATION GETS THE LAST WORD .

ALL THAT COMING UP.

OUR FIRST STORY , PREPARING FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> AT FIFTH THIRD, WE BELIEVE WE HOLD GREATER PROMISE.

TOGETHER , WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TOGETHER , WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE SAVORING ONE FINAL WEEKEND OF SUMMER FREEDOM BEFORE SCHOOL ON MONDAY.

THE BLACK STUDENT ENROLLMENT HAS BEEN ON THE DECLINE SINCE THE 1990s IN PARALLEL WITH A DECLINE IN THE BLACK POPULATION OVERALL.

BLACK STUDENTS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINE OR UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE SCHOOLS AND HAVE TO TRAVEL THE FARTHEST OF ANY DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP TO GET TO SCHOOL.

HERE IS THE DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIP AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CRIME AND EDUCATION LAB.

AND A PARENT LEADER WITH FAMILY ISSUES , AND THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BLACK COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE, AND A REPORTER .

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DESCRIBE SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES IN EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR BLACK STUDENTS IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

>> WE EXPERIENCE , WITH THE BLACK CULTURE, HOW THERE IS NOTHING EQUATED TO SUPPORTING THE EXPERIENCE.

AND WHAT WE ARE NOT TACKLING TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A VALUABLE EDUCATION.

ON A HOLISTIC APPROACH.

>> WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS CONTRIBUTING TO THE GAPS ?

>> SAFETY.

LEAVING HOME , BUT ALSO IN THE BUILDING , WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

EDUCATION, YOU SEE THAT THERE WERE TWO TO THREE YEARS BEHIND THE ACADEMICS , HOW DO WE CATER TO THAT POPULATION?

ALSO , MAKING SURE THEY FEEL SAFE INSIDE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM .

>> WE WILL COME BACK TO SAFETY.

NATOSHA , YOU ORGANIZATION MUST AGREE A BLACK STUDENT COMMITTEE.

>> THAT IS NECESSARY BECAUSE WE HAVE SERIOUS ISSUES THAT HAS BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC .

WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO WERE DISENGAGED DURING THE PANDEMIC .

WE HAVE THE IDEA OF STUDENTS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE IN THE ACADEMIC PANDEMIC .

WE WERE BEHIND IN READING AND MATH IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

LIKE STUDENTS WERE 10% IN READING PROFICIENCY .

THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

WE NEED AN EFFORT THAT WILL DRIVE HOME SOLUTIONS TO BRIDGE THE GAP.

>> YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER IN A PREDOMINANTLY LATINO SCHOOL, ARE HER NEEDS MET ?

>> I DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY ARE .

SHE HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BULLYING , ACADEMICALLY, HER READING LEVEL IS KIND OF LOW.

I AM TRYING TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET IT BACK TO THE TOP.

I FEEL THEY JUST CATER TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

>> THE TEACHERS ARE SPEAKING SPANISH , ARE THEY TEACHING IN SPANISH BACK >> THEY ARE DOING BOTH.

MY DAUGHTER IS LIKE , I DON'T UNDERSTAND , THE TEACHER SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO HELP HER ONE ON ONE.

SHE HAS BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM .

>> SAMANTHA , YOU HAVE THAT REPORTING ON STUDENT RESTRAINT POLICIES IN CPS.

OUTLINE THAT FOR US.

>> THIS MAY, I HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON HOW CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE NOT BEEN IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE LAW FROM 2021 WHERE , IT SAYS THAT, BASICALLY , IF STAFF ARE RESTRAINING STUDENTS OR PLACING THEM IN TIMEOUT , THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TRAINED .

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE NOT ONLY ON TRAINED STAFF DOING THIS , THEY ARE ALSO NOT NOTIFYING PARENTS OF THIS 24 HOURS AFTER THE INCIDENT HAPPENS .

THEY ARE ALSO USING OUTLAW METHODS OF RESTRAINT .

RIGHT NOW, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS PUT PRESSURE ON THE DISTRICT TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE.

>> THE DISTRICT HAS A DEADLINE?

TO TRAIN HUNDREDS OF STAFF BY A CERTAIN POINT , CORRECT ?

>> YES , THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

THEY HAVE TO TRAIN AT LEAST TWO STAFF MEMBERS PER BUILDING AND CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE OVER 600 STUDENTS .

>> WHERE CAN PARENTS GET RESOURCES ?

>> WE SHOULD START WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHAT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE THERE?

YOU HAVE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YAP, YOU CAN, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, WE CANNOT JUST RELY ON THE SCHOOL, WE NEED TO STEP UP AND HAVE OUR COMMUNITY PEOPLE GET MORE INVOLVED.

PARENTS SHOULD REACH OUT TO LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HELP EQUATE WHAT IS TAKING PLACE .

ALSO, TO THE INSTRUCTORS.

>> YOU THINK CPS HAS ENROLLMENT NUMBERS WHICH ARE NOT TELLING THE WHOLE STORY.

>> YES, ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND , WE HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ABOUT ENROLLMENT AND WE HAVE SEEN THERE ARE SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, SCHOOLS THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK , THAT HAVE LOW ENROLLMENT, WE THINK OF LOW ENROLLMENT, BUT WE FOUND ON THE CPS WEBSITE, SCHOOLS THAT HAVE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO APPLIED BUT WERE NOT ACCEPTED TO THE SCHOOL.

THESE WERE STUDENTS WHO RIGHTFULLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BUT THEY WEREN'T.

MAKING SURE THERE IS THIS EFFORT TO BRING STUDENTS BACK.

CPS , ARE THEY DOING THAT?

>> ARE THEY FORCED TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY TO GO TO SCHOOL?

WE ALREADY KNOW , THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO STUDY, WE FOUND OUT THAT BLACK STUDENTS TRAVELED THE FURTHEST IN ANY RACIAL GROUP.

SOME OF THE ENROLLMENT ISSUES ARE PREDICATED ON THE FACT THAT CPS IS NOT FOLLOWING PROTOCOL IN TERMS OF MONITORING SCHOOLS UNDER ENROLLED OR UNDERUTILIZED .

>> YOU HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL AGED SON, HOW BIG OF A CONCERN IS SAFETY IN AND -- IN THE SCHOOL AND ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL ?

>> IT IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE.

THEY HAVE HAD FIGHTS, BOMB THREATS, MY SON JUST TRANSFERRED .

HE HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES.

HE SAYS, MOM , I AM NOT SAFE.

THE HISPANICS BOTHER HIM BECAUSE HE IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

>> HE IS TRANSFERRING SCHOOLS AS A RESULT ?

>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE BEST THING FOR HIM TO MAKE SURE HE IS SAFE AND LIVES TO BE 30, 40, 50, A LOT OF YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICANS DON'T LIVE THAT LONG BECAUSE OF FIGHTS .

I WANT MY SON TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A YOUNG MAN AND JUST BE SAFE AND GET AN EDUCATION.

>> YOU DID NOT TAKE THAT TRANSFER LIGHTLY BECAUSE IT TRANSFERRING IN HIGH SCHOOL IS A BIG DEAL.

LAST YEAR, CPS STRUGGLED TO PROVIDE BUS TRANSPORTATION TO STUDENTS, WHAT IS BEHIND THE BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE AND WHAT ABOUT THIS YEAR?

>> THERE HAS BEEN A NATIONWIDE BUS SHORTAGE.

THE PREVIOUS YEAR , SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE USED COVID RELIEF FUNDS , AS A BONUS SIGN-UP, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE EFFORT THAT HAS BEEN DONE HAS BEEN WORKING TO GET MORE DRIVERS.

THIS SCHOOL YEAR , CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAY THEY WILL FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT TRANSPORTATION IS GIVING TO STUDENTS , THOSE WITH INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLANS, AND ALSO STUDENTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

THAT TAKES AWAY TRANSPORTATION FROM STUDENTS AND SELECT ENROLLMENT SCHOOLS, MAGNET SCHOOLS, AND GROUPS OF STUDENTS THAT ARE FEDERALLY MANDATED TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION.

WHAT I'M HEARING SO FAR FROM PARENTS, THEY DON'T KNOW THE BUS ROUTES.

THEY ARE NOT CERTAIN WHAT MONDAY WILL LOOK LIKE FOR THEM OR THEIR KID .

>> A LOT OF US ARE LOOKING TO SEE THIS .

WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT, HAVE YOU SEEN PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE WORKED FOR OPPORTUNITY GAPS ?

>> I HAVE.

IN NEW YORK, THEY HAVE VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS THAT ARE REALLY HELPING WITH ACHIEVING SUCCESS.

WE TRIED TO EQUATE THAT WITH BACK TO OUR FUTURE WHERE WE WORK WITH SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HELP ACHIEVE THE EDUCATIONAL GAP.

>> BEST OF LUCK TO ALL THE PARENTS ON MONDAY.

WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU .

>> THE COOK COUNTY SHERIFF IS RAMPING UP EFFORTS TO HELP PEOPLE BEYOND THE JAIL AS AN OPEN A COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER LAST YEAR.

JoANNE HERNANDEZ TELLS US MORE ABOUT THE INITIATIVE.

>> Reporter: HE SPENT 15 YEARS DOING PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION WORK AT THE COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

>> THERE IS THIS IDEA THAT WE ARE HERE TO APPREHEND AND TO ARREST.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE.

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE BEEN HELPING FAMILIES IN HUMBOLDT PARK FOR THE LAST YEAR.

>> IT IS BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY NEED.

THE MORE WE SIT DOWN AND CHAT, TALK , THAT IS A HELPING HAND, WE OPEN THE DOOR FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES .

>> Reporter: AND INITIATIVE THE COOK COUNTY SHERIFF LAUNCHED.

>> WE WORK WITH PEOPLE ON MENTAL ILLNESS , WORKING WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL ISSUES .

WHEN THEY WOULD LEAVE US, THEY WOULD GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY HAD LITTLE SERVICES , SO WE SET UP OUR OWN.

>> Reporter: IT STARTED VIRTUALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THEY GOT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT, MAKING IT AVAILABLE TO A BIGGER POPULATION, COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER OPERATED .

>> NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM, WHETHER YOU ARE RECENTLY OUT OF CUSTODY OR ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING , FACING EVICTION , DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO STAY, THE THINGS THAT MAY SEEM DIFFICULT TO ACCOMPLISH FOR YOU AND I -- EASY TO A COMPASS FOR YOU AND I, CAN BE DIFFICULT.

FOR THEY HAVE HELPED THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THEIR JOURNEY.

WHAT DO THEY STRUGGLE WITH ?

>> THE PARTICIPANTS THAT WE WORK WITH HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

IT RANGES.

WE TRY TO ISOLATE WHAT THOSE ARE.

HOUSING IS ONE OF THEM.

JUST TRYING TO FIND WHERE TO START.

>> Reporter: THE SHERIFF SAYS IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HELP PEOPLE ON DIFFERENT LEVELS.

>> PART AND PARCEL OF THAT IS TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, I AM JoANNE HERNANDEZ .

>> THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER IS OPEN FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. >>> NEXT, HOW COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE ADDRESSING MORTALITY RATES AMONG BLACK WOMEN BUT AFTER THIS.

♪ >>> BLACK WOMEN IN ILLINOIS ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM A PREGNANCY -RELATED CAUSES THAN WHITE WOMEN.

A GRIM REALITY THAT LED ADVOCATES TO ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN PREGNANT PEOPLE AND THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR AT EVER DRIVE ILLINOIS .

AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH YOU, WHAT IS THE GATHERING ?

>> THE GATHERING IS OUR EDUCATIONAL GATHERING ABOUT MORTALITY CRISIS FACING BLACK PEOPLE , NOT ONLY IN CHICAGO BUT ACROSS THIS STATE.

WHAT WE DID IS USED LISTENING SESSIONS , WE LISTENED TO WOMEN WHO ARE ON THE WEST SIDE, SOUTH SIDE, WHO WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE , NOT JUST HIM IN THE COMMUNITY , BUT ALSO EDUCATE THE PROVIDER WHO OFTEN DISMISS AND DISREGARD THE CONCERNS OF WOMEN , ESPECIALLY BLACK WOMEN , IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

OUR GATHERING IS AROUND PROVIDING A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO , A WEBSITE WE LAUNCHED LAST YEAR, I ALWAYS SHARE THIS , I AM A MOTHER OF SIX AND A GRANDMOTHER OF FIVE, ONE THING I REMEMBER MY MOTHER SAYING, DON'T GO OUT, YOU WILL HAVE A SETBACK.

I DID NOT KNOW THE TERMS THAT ARE USED.

>> A LOT OF EDUCATION ABOUT THE TERMINOLOGY.

WE WILL COME BACK TO THAT.

YOU'VE DEALT WITH SOME OF THESE DISPARITIES FIRST-HAND DURING YOUR PREGNANCY.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU EXPERIENCED.

>> HEALTH DISPARITY RESEARCHER, I KNEW THE RISK FACTORS THAT IMPACT BLACK WOMEN , HIGHER STRESS LEVELS, BEING LOWER INCOME, LOWER ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES, BUT NOT UNTIL I HAD A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH PREECLAMPSIA THAT I SAW IT PLAY OUT.

THROUGH THAT , I SAW HOW WOMEN DESCRIBE THEIR SYMPTOMS TO THEIR PROVIDERS AND HOW YOU HAVE TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF SO THEY KNOW SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG TO BE HEARD.

AND HOW THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM REALLY CAN'T FAIL A LOT OF WOMEN IN GENERAL AND BLACK WOMEN SPECIFICALLY WHEN THEY ARE NOT HAVING THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS MET .

>> PART OF THE GATHERING IS EDUCATING HEALTHCARE WORKERS ON DISPARITIES AND REASONS FOR IT .

YOU CREATED A GLOSSARY THAT HELPS PEOPLE WITH THE TERMS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS MAY USE SOMETHING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND.

>> IF YOU TALK TO A PROVIDER ABOUT A SETBACK, THEY MAY THINK YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT FINANCIAL, BUT IN THE COMMUNITY , STEP BACK CAN BE HEMORRHAGING.

GO LAY DOWN.

NOTHING IS TRIGGERING YOU TO REACH OUT YOUR PROVIDER , SO THE GATHERING GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT RESOURCES IN THE HANDS OF , NOT JUST THE FAMILIES , BUT THE PROVIDERS, WHEN THEY HEAR SUGAR RUN , NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT , THOSE ARE TERMS USED IN THE COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH SOMETHING THAT COULD BE HAPPENING TO THEM AND THEY ARE IN A STATE OF MIND WHERE THEY CAN'T COMPREHEND THE INFORMATION WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE GATHERING IS OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO TAP INTO THE EDUCATIONAL PART , TAP INTO HOW I CAN HELP MY NEIGHBOR AND MY NEIGHBOR CAN HELP THE FAMILY.

>> YOU HAVE WRITTEN A COMMENTARY ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AND YOU MENTIONED A NUMBER OF BLACK PROVIDERS .

YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER ARE FINE.

BUT TELL US ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING BLACK PATIENTS WITH BLACK PROVIDERS.

>> THE RESEARCH SHOWS LIKE PATIENTS PAIRED WITH BLACK PROVIDERS FEEL MORE HEARD AND THAT BLACK BABIES THAT ARE DELIVERED FROM BLACK PROVIDERS HAVE BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES.

I GET CHILLS WHEN I THINK ABOUT THOSE PROVIDERS THAT USHERED ME THROUGH MY DELIVERY, THE WAY THEY CARED FOR ME, IN A WAY THAT FELT TANGIBLY DIFFERENT .

EXPERIENCES I HAD A COUPLE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THAT WHERE I TRULY BELIEVED THINGS COULD HAVE GONE ANOTHER WAY.

SPECIFICALLY I WAS TOLD TO GO HOME.

EXPERIENCING SHORTNESS OF BREATH, SWELLING , SYMPTOMS I KNOW NOW WORK PREECLAMPSIA.

WOMEN THAT HAD TO CARRY ME FORWARD AND ULTIMATELY DELIVERED MY DAUGHTER.

THEY SAVED OUR LIVES.

>> WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE TO PROVIDE BETTER CARE FOR FAMILIES?

>> WE CANNOT DISMISS PEOPLE AND THEIR CONCERNS.

AS SHE SHARED, A LOT OF PROVIDERS JUST DON'T -- YOU HAVE A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET IT DONE.

FAMILIES ARE SUFFERING.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING IN HAND.

WE HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

PUTTING FLYERS IN BUSINESSES , RESIDENTIAL AREAS, SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO BETTER.

MY MOM WOULD SAY TO ME, THAT IS TRUE, WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A REAL THING.

EVEN WORSE THAN MOST PEOPLE THINK.

SIX TIMES THE NATIONAL STATISTICS.

AS WE CONTINUE TO DO OUTREACH ACROSS THE STATE , BOOTS ON THE GROUND, AND I URGE PEOPLE TO GO ON THE EVERTHRIVE ILLINOIS WEBSITE , LOOK AT THE GATHERING, TALKING ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH WE ADDRESS AND THE WAYS WHICH CAN BE BENEFICIAL TO PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES ALIKE.

>> HOW OLD IS YOUR DAUGHTER?

>> 16 MONTHS .

>> CONGRATULATIONS THAT IS A GOOD PLACE TO LEAVE IT.

THANK YOU BOTH.

>>> NEXT, HOW THE FOUNDER AIMS TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF BLACK GIRLS LIVES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> SHE SAYS , AS A YOUNG BLACK GIRL GROWING UP IN CHICAGO, HER PARENTS WERE HER BIGGEST CHEERLEADERS, NOT UNTIL SHE SAW HER PEERS STRUGGLE WITH SELF-CONFIDENCE THAT SHE REALIZED NOT EVERYONE GOT THE SAME ENCOURAGEMENT AT HOME.

SHE DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND BECAME A MENTOR.

SHE GIVES WORDS ON WHY SHE SAYS BLACK GIRLS NEED MORE ROLE MODELS AND WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE IT A TRY.

>> I AM FOUNDER AND CEO OF LADIES OF VIRTUE MY FATHER SAID , YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO.

MY MOTHER WAS THE SAME WHITE.

SHE SAID I COULD ACCOMPLISH MY DREAMS.

I TOOK MY PARENTS FOR GRANTED AND DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL MY JUNIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL, ALL PARENTS ARE NOT INSTILLING THOSE POSITIVE WORDS TO KIDS .

I SAW HOW SOME OF MY FRIENDS TOOK A DOWNWARD TURN .

THAT IS WHEN I REALIZED THAT ROLE MODELS CAN CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES.

THAT IS WHY I STARTED MENTORING.

I HAVE NOT LOOKED BACK.

I STARTED LADIES VIRTUE IN 2011 , THIS IS OUR 12th YEAR.

WE STARTED WITH SIX GIRLS IN THE LIBRARY AND NO WE HAVE OVER 500 GIRLS THIS YEAR AND IN 18 PROGRAMS WITH 27 PROGRAMS ACROSS THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

THERE IS A LOT OF -- WE KNOW WHAT THE WORLD IS SAYING ABOUT BLACK GIRLS.

THEY SAY BLACK GIRLS HAVE THE HIGHEST DISCIPLINARY RATE, SUSPENSION RATE, WE KNOW THAT BLACK GIRLS ARE RESILIENT, STRONG, PASSIONATE , CREATIVE , THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON BLACK GIRLS SO WE CAN CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AND SHOW OUR GIRLS ARE EMPOWERED TO BECOME CONFIDENT AND PURPOSE-DRIVEN LEADERS .

THEY WANT TO BECOME AROUND MENTORS AND ADULTS.

THEY WANT TO SEEK OUT POSITIVE ROLE MODELS AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE.

IF YOU ARE LISTENING AND THIS EXCITES YOU, BECOME A MENTOR AND GIVE BACK TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

COME AND JOIN US.

YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPOSE GIRLS TO A WORLD THEY MAY NOT HAVE EVEN CONSIDERED.

WE ARE SEEING SO MANY POSSIBILITIES OPENING UP FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS, GIRLS WHO ARE OBTAINING THEIR GOALS AND THEIR DREAMS BECAUSE THE SEED WAS PLANTED.

WE NEED TO NURTURE THE GIFT ALREADY WITHIN THEM SO THEY CAN FULLY REALIZE THEIR POTENTIAL.

>> LADIES OF VIRTUE IS LOOKING FOR NEW PARTICIPANTS FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR AS APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON AUGUST 31st.

THEY ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MENTORS AND VOLUNTEERS.

TO FIND MORE , GO TO OUR WEBSITE, IN THE LAST WORD SERIES .

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES , I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN , BE SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH FIRM AND SPONSOR OF PROGRAMMING THAT