WHOTTON >> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK VOICES IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY... [♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, A LOOK AT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS' GROWING CANNABIS INDUSTRY AS MORE DISPENSARY LICENSES ARE ISSUED N IN THE LATEST INSTALLMENT OF OUR BOOK CLUB HOW A CONFLICT BETWEEN A CHICAGO TEENAGERS ESCALATES INTO GUN VIOLENCE AND HOW THE COMMUNITY STEPS IN TO SAVE THEM.

>> A CLINICAL TRIAL FOR AN ALZHEIMER'S TREATMENT IS LOOKING FOR PARTICIPANTS AT THE BLACK WOMEN'S EXPO NEXT WEEK.

>> HUMAN HEALTH IS DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE WAY WE TREAT THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE WAY WE TREAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS IMPACTED BY HUMAN HEALTH.

>> AND AN INITIATIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE TAKES A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO COMMUNITY HEALTH.

FIRST TONIGHT, ILLINOIS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER ISSUES A SECOND ROUND OF CONDITIONAL ADULT USE CANNABIS DISPENSARY LICENSES.

BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER TO 177.

THE ' CANTS ALL OF CHOP QUALIFY AS SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS HAVE 180 DAYS TO OBTAIN A PHYSICAL STOREFRONT LOCATION AND THE FULL LICENSE.

ACCORDING TO THE STATE, OF THE BUSINESSES SELECTED FOR LICENSES, 41% ARE MAJORITY BLACK-OWNED.

7% ARE MAJORITY WHITE OWNED.

4% ARE MAJORLY LATINO OWNED AND 38% DID NOT DISCLOSE THE RACE.

THE PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION SAYS THESE LICENSES ALONG WITH EFFORTS TO EXPUNGE THE RECORDS OF ANYONE ARRESTED OR CONVICTED OF CANNABIS VIOLATIONS IN ILLINOIS ARE STEPS TOWARDS MAKES THE INDUSTRY A MORE EQUITABLE ENTERPRISE.

JOINING US NOW ARE AKELE PARNELL C.E.O.

OF UMMY FARMS AND BOARD MEMBER OF CHICAGO NORMAL WHICH ORGANIZES TO REFORM CANNABIS LAWS.

BRANDON WILLIAMS ATTORNEY AT CABRINI GREEN LEGAL AID AND CHRISTIAN MITCHELL THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DEPUTY GOVERNOR, THE ROLLOUT OF CANNABIS LICENSES IN ILLINOIS COULD BE ARGUED AS HAVING BEEN BUMPY.

HOW WOULD YOU SAY THE PROCESS HAS IMPROVED FROM WHERE WE STARTED VERSUS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW?

>> WE'VE REACHED A GREAT DAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON THE PROBLEM.

WE ARE AT A PLACE WHERE THE 185 LICENSES WE WERE SUPPOSED TO ISSUE 177 ARE OUT.

AND AS YOU SAID IN THE OPENING 41% ARE GOING TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND ANOTHER PERCENTAGE TO LATINOS AND OTHER FOLKS OF COLOR.

THAT INSTANTLY MAKES US THE MOST DIVERSE INDUSTRY IN THE COUNTRY WITH 30% OF OWNER ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AND HALF A MILLION ILLINOISANS HAVE SEEN THEIR CONVICTIONS EXPUNGED AND CAN START A NEW LIFE, IT IS A BIG DAY.

WE OBVIOUSLY WISH THAT DAY COULD HAVE COME SOONER BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS BECAUSE REVENUE AND SALES DOUBLED THE FIRST FISCAL YEAR AND THIS YEAR THERE'S MARKET SHARE THAT THE ENTREPRENEURS WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT.

>> AKELE PARNELL AS A SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANT WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN?

>> WE ARE EXCITED THAT THE LICENSES HAVE BEEN ISSUED.

APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT AND THE HARD WORK THAT LAWMAKERS AND REGULATORS HAVE DONE AND PUT IN TO GET US TO THIS POINT.

CERTAINLY WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THE WORK IS FAR FROM OFTEN OVER.

WE'RE CURRENTLY THE MOST DIVERSE MARKET BUT IN ORDER FOR THE STAY THAT WAY AND FOR US TO STAY IN BUSINESS AND BECOME VIABLE AND SUCCESSFUL, THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO REMOVE BARRIERS ON THE CULTIVATION AND RETAIL SIDE.

AND THERE'S SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO VIABILITY FOR US AS CRAFT GROWERS.

WE HAVE TO START AT 5,000 FLOWERING, MEDICAL OPERATING GOING UP TO 210,000 AND WE ARE IN A TOUGH POSITION FINANCING OUR BUSINESS AND MAKING IT MAKE SENSE AND THAT FEEDS OVER INTO THE RETAIL SIDE WE HAVE BUSINESSES THAT NEED PRODUCT AND DIVERSITY OF PRODUCT.

THEY DON'T JUST BUY THEIR PRODUCT FROM THE LARGE MSO.

THEY WANT BLACK AND BROWN PRODUCTS IN THEIR STORES TOO.

WE NEED TO REMOVE BARRIERS FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND STATE FUNDING MORE QUICKLY.

>> I WANT TO COME BACK TO THE BARRIERS.

I WANT TO BRING BRANDON WILLIAMS HERE.

CAN YOU GIVE US A PICTURE HOW EXPUNGEMENT IS GOING FOR THE CLIENTS YOU WORK WITH SO FAR?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CANNABIS CONVICTIONS AND ARRESTS EXPUNGED ALREADY BUT THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO.

I BELIEVE AT THE TIME WE BELIEVE THERE ARE OVER 700,000 CANNABIS ARRESTS AND CONVICTIONS WITHIN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND WE ARE STILL WORKING TO LOWER THAT NUMBER EACH AND EVERYDAY THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM AND THE AUTOMATIC PROCESS.

>> SO DEPUTY GOVERNOR ILLINOIS IS SOMETHING OF AN ISLAND OF LEGAL CANNABIS ACCESS IN THE MIDWEST, WITH THAT IN MIND HOW MUCH UPSIDE DO YOU THINK REMAINS IN THE INDUSTRY?

>> QUITE A BIT.

WE HAD A BILLION IN SALES THE FIRST FISCAL YEAR AND 1.5 BILLION LAST YEAR.

TAX REVENUE WENT UP TO $445 MILLION.

THAT SHOWS THERE'S ROOM AND WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM FOLKS IS THERE IS ADDITIONAL DEMAND.

NOW WE HAVE 177 NEW DISPENSARIES ON-LINE.

AND I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE AWARE OF.

THERE WAS A BILL LAST YEAR TO EXPAND THE CANNABIS BASE OF SMALL GROWERS.

AND WE THINK THAT THAT IS VIABLE AND MAKES A LOT OF SENSE AND IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE FROM SOUP TO NUTS WE ARE DIVERSIFYING AND BECAUSE OF THE MARKET SHARE OUT THERE AND THE APPETITE FOR GROWTH AND THE UPSIDE THAT THE BUSINESS IS SEEING AND THE UPSIDE WALL STREET IS SEEING WE HAVE A CHANCE TO CONTINUE TO DIVERSIFY.

THE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO GROW.

>> TO THAT END, AKELE PARNELL, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE STATE DO TO ADDRESS THE BARRIERS THAT YOU MENTIONED WITH REGARDING TO FINANCING AND HOW THAT IMPACTS RETAIL?

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE STATE DO?

>> I KNOW THE STATE HAS A LOT OF STUFF TO WORK ON.

BUT WE AS ENTREPRENEURS CERTAINLY NEED THE STATE LOAN FUNDS, A LITTLE FASTER.

WE APPLIED ON THE CRAFT SIDE FOR FUNDING LAST YEAR AND ALMOST THROUGH THE PROCESS.

STILL HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE FUNDS YET.

ON THE RETAIL SIDE FOR US TO STAY BLACK-OWNED AND NOT NEED TO RAISE CAPITAL FROM OTHER SOURCES THAT WOULD DIMINISH THAT WE'LL NEED THAT FUNDING FASTER.

>> SOUNDS LIKE STAYING BLACK OWN SECOND A BIT OF A CHALLENGE WITHOUT BRINGING IN OUTSIDE SUPPORT.

BRANDON WILLIAMS GIVE US, A SENSE OF WHAT THE EXPUNGEMENT PROCESS IS LIKE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THIS APPLIES TO AND WHAT KIND OF GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE THE PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION ON CANNABIS SO FAR?

>> SO THE EXPUNGEMENT PROCESS IS A DIFFICULT PROCESS JUST NAVIGATING THE COURT PROCESSING AND WHERE THE FILE.

HOWEVER, IN THE FUNDING FROM SOME OF THE CANNABIS REVENUE THE STATE WAS ABLE TO CREATE AN ORGANIZATION AND THROUGH THAT PROCESS PEOPLE CAN GET FREE ASSISTANCE FROM AN ATTORNEY TO ASSIST IN GETTING THE CRIMINAL RECORDS EXPUNGED AND SEALED IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

AND IN REGARDS TO THE CANNABIS LAWS HELD BY GOVERNOR PRITZKER, I THINK HE HAS DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE BUT BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE LOOPHOLES A LOT OF THINGS HAVE BEEN DELAYED WITH REGARDS TO LICENSING AND EXPUNGEMENT WE NEED TO GET GO WORD OUT TO MORE PEOPLE SO THEY KNOW THE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR FREE.

>> THAT IS MY NEXT QUESTION.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S ENOUGH AWARENESS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO HAVE THEIR RECORDS EXPUNGED?

DO THEY KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THEY CAN ACCESS?

>> WE HAVE BEEN TRYING HARD TO GET THE WORD OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE NUMBERS WE ANTICIPATED IN REGARDS TO PEOPLE SIGNING UP TO GET THE FREE ASSISTANCE.

WE HAVE BEEN ON BUS BILLBOARDS, DONE ADS THROUGH TV NETWORKS BUT WE HAVE MORE GET MORE INTO THE ACTUAL COMMUNITIES WHERE THE WAR ON DRUGS IMPACTED MOST PEOPLE WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHILE A LOT OF EFFORT HAS BEEN PUT INTO IT THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT SHOULD BE DONE MOVING FORWARD.

>> AKELE PARNELL, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS NEXT FOR THE INDUSTRY?

>> SO A FEW THINGS NEXT FOR THE INDUSTRY, ONE THAT THE REGULATORY PROCESS AND THE PROCESS OF GETTING NEW APPROVALS NEEDS TO BE STREAMLINED.

WE ARE WORKING WITH SEVERAL AGENCIES, THE DEPARTMENT OF AG AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.

WE PREFER TO HAVE ONE COMMISSION, ONE PLAN ONE AGENCY STRONGLY SUPPORT THAT.

AND THEN FOR THE LEADERSHIP FOR THE CANNABIS REGULATORY AGENCY WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE NEXT PERSON SOMEONE SOCIAL EQUITY, GOING TO BE CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITIES MOST HARMED BY THE WAR ON DRUGS AND PUSH THE INDUSTRY FORWARD.

AND YOU KNOW, US AS BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS WE NEED A SEAT AT THE TABLE WITH THE LEGISLATORS.

THIS IS AN AMAZING MARKET OPPORTUNITY BUT THAT WIN DOUGH OF MARKET OPPORTUNITY ONLY STAYS OPEN FOR SO LONG WE HAVE TO ACT FAST AND THERE NEEDS TO BE CHANGES TO THE LAW AND THE REGULATIONS AND THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF NOT THIS FALL.

>> A LOT OF WORK FOR EVERYONE.

THANKS TO THE THREE OF YOU, BRANDON WILLIAMS, DEPUTY GOVERNOR CHRISTIAN MITCHELL AND AKELE PARNELL FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, FREE SCREENINGS TO SEE IF YOU ARE AT RISK FOR DEVELOPING ALZHEIMER'S.

WE SHARE THE DETAILS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION REPORTS THAT AMONG BLACK AMERICANS AGED 70 AND OLDER MORE THAN 21% ARE LIVING WITH THAT DISEASE.

INDIANA BASED PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY ELI LILLEY IS LAUNCHING A TRIAL FOR A DRUG FOR THERAPY AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR PARTICIPANTS IN CITY.

AT NEXT WEEK'S BLACK EXPO YOU CAN GET A FREE BLOOD SCREENING TO SEE IF YOU ARE AT RISK FOR THE DISEASE.

THEY HOPE THE EXPO WILL DRAW THE PEOPLE THEY WANT TO REACH FOR THIS TRIAL.

>> DURING THE EXPO, FOLKS FROM LILLEY WILL COME AND WE WILL HAVE OUR MOBILE RESEARCH UNIT ON-SITE.

THIS IS A SPECIALIZED RECREATIONAL VEHICLE.

AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DRIVE-IN CREASED AWARENESS AND INCREASED ACCESS TO PARTICIPANTS OR POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS FOR OUR TRAIL BLAZER 3 STUDY.

INTENT OF THE STUDY IS TO INVESTIGATE A POTENTIAL THERAPY FOR PRECLINICAL ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE PATIENTS.

WE KNOW THAT ACCORDING TO THE ALZHEIMER'S ORGANIZATIONS, 65% OF BLACK AMERICANS SAY THAT THEY KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS ALZHEIMER'S OR DEMENTIA.

AND YOU KNOW, I, MYSELF, HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH ALZHEIMER'S IN MY FAMILY.

BOTH OF MY GRANDMOTHERS HAD EITHER DEMENTIA OR ALZHEIMER'S.

WE KNOW IT TOUCHES WOMEN MORE THAN MEN.

AND SO THE OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN INCREASE AWARENESS AND EDUCATION AND PROBABLY AND HOPEFULLY BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE RESEARCH REALM IS SOMETHING WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO.

>> AND THE BLACK WOMEN'S EXPO BEGINS AUGUST 12 AT McCORMICK PLACE.

WILL YOU FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> A NEW BOOK CENTERS ON TWO BLACK TEENAGERS GRAPPLING WITH FAMILY OBLIGATIONS, SOCIAL PRESSURE AND THEIR OWN SENSE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MAN.

AS THEY HURDLE TOWARDS GUN VIOLENCE, COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM PARENTS TO POLICE, TO PASTORS RUSH IN TO RESCUE THE TEENS FROM HARM.

THE LATEST INSTALLMENT IN OUR BOOK CLUB CALLED "THE TOMORROW GAME" THEIR RACE FOR A COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY UNITED TO SAVE THEM.

AND JOINING US IS THE AUTHOR, SUDHIR VENKATESH THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST LET'S MEET THE CHARACTERS AT THE CENTER OF THIS BOOK.

WHO ARE FRANKIE AND MARSHALL?

>> THEY ARE TWO TEENAGERS WHO LIVE IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO AND THEY ARE WHAT ONE OF THE PARENTS CALLED ORDINARY KIDS.

KIDS WHO NEVER GET INTO TROUBLE.

AND WHAT THE STORY IS ABOUT IS THE TWO ORDINARY KIDS GET WRAPPED UP AND THEY HAVE A LITTLE FIGHT BETWEEN THEM AND IT SPIRALS OUT OF CONTROL AND WE WATCH HOW THEIR LIVES GET OUT OF THEIR CONTROL AND GUN STARTS TO GET INVOLVED AS A WAY OF DEALING WITH THE CONFLICT.

>> THESE TWO ARE THE CENTRAL CHARACTERS BUT YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME DESCRIBING AND RELATING US TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DRAWN INTO FRANKIE AND MARSHALL'S CONFLICT, PASTORS, POLICE OFFICERS, GUN RUNNERS, PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

WHY DID YOU THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GET THE OTHER PERSPECTIVES INTO THE STORY?

>> PART ONE OF THE BOOK IS HOW THE TWO KIDS GET INTO TROUBLE.

PART TWO IS ABOUT THE ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO GET THEM OUT OF TROUBLE AND KEEP THEM SAFE.

AND THAT IS THE PART THAT WAS REALLY HARD FOR MANY OF US TO SEE WHO MAYBE DON'T GO INTO THE COMMUNITIES BESET BY GUN VIOLENCE THE RANGE OF PEOPLE THAT WORK TIRELESSLY.

I WANTED TO CHANGE THE VIEW THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THAT THERE'S NO SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE.

IN FACT THERE IS A RICH NETWORK OF PEOPLE AS YOU SAID FROM CLERGY TO OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICERS TO SCHOOLTEACHERS WHO ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO YOU GET THESE TWO KIDS OUT OF TROUBLE AS FAST AS THEY GO INTO IT.

>> THERE ARE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS I WAS READING THE BOOK THE KIDS ARE MISSING SCHOOL THEY ARE SKIPPING AND IT MADE ME THINK WHY ARE THEIR PARENTS NOT HEARING ABOUT THIS?

I WANTED YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN THESE KIDS' LIVES THAT SHOULD HAVE SOUNDED ALARMS BECAUSE THE TEENS WERE TRUE ANT.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SYSTEMS THAT SURROUND THEM AND HOW THEY WORK AND DON'T WORK.

>> THERE ARE INFORMAL SYSTEMS AND FORMAL SYSTEMS THAT AREN'T WORKING.

IN THE CASE OF THE FORMAL SYSTEMS, FRANKIE IS ONE OF THE TWO KIDS INVOLVED HE WENT THROUGH THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND KEPT CYCLING THROUGH AND HAD A DIFFICULT TIME AND HE GETS LOST IN THE SYSTEM AND EVENTUALLY, IT BECOMES A WAY FOR HIM TO JUST LASH OUT BY STARTING TO DEAL GUNS AND -- STARTING TO DEAL DRUGS IN A WAY THAT HE NEVER WANTED TO.

HE FEELS LEFT OUT.

FOR MARSHALL THE PARENTS ARE BUSY DEALING WITH POVERTY AND HAVING TO HOLD TWO JOBS THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME OFTEN TO JUST STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

THAT IS INFORMAL.

AND THE WORLD THERE IS CHARACTERIZED A LOT BY ONE THING HAPPENING AFTER ANOTHER.

A SNOWBALL ROLLING DOWN THE HILL IF YOU DON'T CATCH THE ISSUE UP FRONT, IT WILL EVENTUALLY GET WORSE OVER TIME.

AND THAT'S HOW I THINK HAPPENS TO A LOT OF CHILDREN WHO DON'T SEE THEMSELVES GETTING INTO TROUBLE.

THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE CONFLICT AND THEIR REMOTIONS WHEN THEY ARE GETTING OUT OF THEIR CONTROL ALMOST.

AND THEY NEED SOCIAL SUPPORTS THEY DON'T HAVE THEM AND THINGS GET WORSE EVERYDAY.

>> SO OUR VIEWERS KNOW, THE BOOK IS NARRATIVE NONFICTION.

IT IS A TRUE STORY BASED ON THE RESEARCH.

AND A LOT OF INTIMATE INFORMATION I'M CURIOUS HOW YOU GOT ACCESS TO THE STORIES THAT YOU HEAR ABOUT AND TELL IN THIS BOOK?

>> I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE, BLESSED REALLY TO BE PART OF THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO FOR 30 YEARS.

THIS IS MY FIFTH BOOK ON THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO DO SO MANY MY OTHER WORKS TAKEN A BIG PICTURE VIEW.

I FOUND TWO FAMILIES THAT MOST OF US MIGHT IGNORE EVEN IF WE ARE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THESE ARE CHURCH GOING FAMILIES.

FAMILIES THAT OTHERWISE HAD NOT A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THEIR KIDS AND I WANTED TO SLOW THINGS DOWN.

BECAUSE SOME OF THE STATISTICS AND SOME OF THE MEDIA COVERAGE MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR US TO SEE THE DAILY CHALLENGES.

THESE ARE JUST TWO FAMILIES IN THIS ONE COMMUNITY.

I SPENT A NUMBER OF YEARS JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR THEM.

AND THE BOOK TAKES PLACE OVER TWO WEEKS.

AND THE REASON I WANTED TO FOCUS ON A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE THINGS ARE SO PRECARIOUS IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT IN THIS ONE AREA, JUST IN THIS ONE MONTH, 57 INCIDENTS OF GUN VIOLENCE.

THAT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY LEVEL OF HARDSHIP FOR PEOPLE.

AND I WANTED TO LOOK AT THE TWO WEEKS AND SEE HOW QUICKLY IF WE ARE NOT IN TOUCH WITH OUR KIDS AND LISTENING THINGS CAN UNRAVEL.

>> AND ANYONE WHO READS THE BOOK THEY WILL HEAR ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ROSEWOOD IT IS A REAL CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD BUT YOU CHANGED THE NAME OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU STUDIED HERE, CORRECT?

>> THAT RIGHT.

TO PROTECT THE GIVE ANONYMITY TO THE FAMILIES WHO GAVE SO MUCH TO ME I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY DID NOT SUFFER MORE RISK BY BEING A PART OF THE STORY.

>> UNDERSTOOD.

IN THE CONFLICT BETWEEN FRANKIE AND MARSHALL IS THIS A CASE THAT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A FISTFIGHT TURNS INTO WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A GUN FIGHT.

AND WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE ACCESS TO GUNS FOR TEENAGERS?

>> 40% OF THE GUNS THAT COME INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE THIS, THEY DON'T COME FROM GUN STORES.

SO IT IS A HIGHER FIGURE THAN THE NATIONAL 40%.

MOST OF THE WEAPONS THAT ARE COMING IN ARE COMING FROM LOCAL PEOPLE WHO ARE HEADING INTO THE SUBURBS AND BRINGING GUNS BACK WITH GUN TRADERS ET CETERA.

AND ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS I MAKE IF YOU ASK ANY KID, THE GUN IS NOT THE ISSUE.

IT'S THEY CAN GET THE WEAPON.

IT'S ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN AROUND THE WEAPONS THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IN POLICY.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT IS EMOTIONS AND CONFLICT.

HOW TO TEN TWO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE A CONFLICT ON THE SCHOOLYARD OR THE STREET CORNER INSURE THAT THEY CAN RESOLVE IT WITHOUT IT GETTING OUT OF CONTROL AND HAVING A GUN COME IN.

IN SOME CASES IT IS A GUN PROBLEM.

AND OTHER INSTANCES THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH TEENAGERS LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS AND EMOTIONS THAT TEENAGERS HAVE.

>> WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

AS THE EVENTS UNFOLD SOCIAL MEDIA IS USED TO SHARE INFORMATION AND IT EXACERBATES AND EXPANDS THE CONFLICT.

WHAT DOES IT MAKE YOU THINK ABOUT THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN VIOLENCE?

>> IF YOU ASK ANYONE UNDER 18, UNDER 20 YEARS OLD, THE SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE ON-LINE PUBLIC ATMOSPHERE.

IF YOU LOOK AT MOST OF THE PROGRAMS THAT DEAL WITH GUN VIOLENCE THEY DON'T HAVE A DIGITAL COMPONENT TO THEM.

WE HAVE A MISMATCH WHERE THE KIDS ARE COMMUNICATE SOMETHING NOT WHERE WE'RE LOOKING.

>> SUDHIR VENKATESH THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

CONGRATS ON THE BOOK AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

>> AGAIN THE BOOK IS CALLED THE TOMORROW GAME, RIVAL TEENAGERS THEIR RACE FOR A GUN AND THE COMMUNITY UNITED TO SAVE THEM.

AND OUR THANKS AGAIN TO SUDHIR VENKATESH.

UP NEXT, TAKING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO COMMUNITY HEALTH.

STAY WITH US.

>> A CAREER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE HAS TAKEN ROOT ON THE SOUTH SIDE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

IN THE FOURTH YEAR, THE IMANI GREEN HEALTH ADVOCATES, PROGRAM OFFERS PROFESSIONAL TRAINING TO INTERNS INTERESTED IN PURSUING CAREERS IN COMMUNITY HEALTH OR CONSERVATION HEALTH.

THE PROGRAM IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS AND OPERATES ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT KEEPING THE ENVIRONMENT HEALTHY GOES HAND IN HAND WITH KEEPING OURSELVES HEALTHY.

ERICA GUNDERSON HAS THE STORY.

>> MY FAVORITE TREES BECAUSE THE LEAVES ARE SO BIG.

>> I LIKE THIS TREE CALLED OHIO BUCKEYE.

I LIKE THIS TREE IT'S CALLED A VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP VIA PODCAST AND THE PBS VIDEO APP TREE.

>> MY TREE IS A GINKGO TREE.

THEY LOOK LIKE FANS IN THE WIND.

>> ON A LEAFY STREET IN PULLMAN, AJIAH GILBERT.

>> FOR THE PUBLIC RELATIONS TEAM.

>> WE SPEND OUR DAYS ASSESSING STREET TREES ALONG CHICAGO PARKWAYS AND LOGGING THEIR HEALTH METRICS.

>> THE TEAM IS PART OF THE IMANI GREEN HEALTH ADVOCATES PROGRAM A CAREER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE THAT COMPRISES TWO COHORTS OF INTERNS EACH WITH A DIFFERENT FOCUS.

THE CONSERVATION COHORT TRAINS INTERNS IN MANAGING TREE HEALTH AND OFFERS TREE CAREFREE OF CHARGE IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE IT OPERATES.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE SOUTH SIDE THEY DON'T LIKE THEIR TREES BECAUSE THEY THINK IT WILL RUIN THEIR PIPES OR THINK THAT IT DROPS A LOT OF LEAVES.

AND ONE LADY AND SHE WAS SAYING HOW RACCOONS CLIMB UP THE TREE AND GET INTO HER ATTIC.

WHICH IS TRUE.

THERE IS A LOT MORE BENEFITS THAT I THINK AREN'T NOTICED OR KNOWN ABOUT.

SO I THINK THAT WE ALSO REALLY HELP BY EDUCATING PEOPLE.

>> THE SOUTH SIDE IS A HEAT ISLAND WHICH MEANS THAT THERE'S NO TREES TO COOL IT OFF SO IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY HOTTER IN THE SUMMER THAN THE REST OF CHICAGO LIKE THE NORTH SIDE.

IT ALSO SEQUESTERS CARBON IN THE ATMOSPHERE WHICH LOWERS AIR POLLUTION AND IT HELPS WITH STORM WATER RUNOFF.

>> AND THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS WHICH I THINK PEOPLE OFTEN FORGET ABOUT.

>> ONCE YOU GET DOWN TO THE NITTY-GRITTY DETAILS OF IT A LOT OF PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MIND LIKE OH, I DID NOT REALIZE THAT.

MY ELECTRICITY BILL IS LOWER BECAUSE I HAVE THIS OAK TREE IN FRONT OF MY OFFICE.

>> THE SECOND GROUP WORKS TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE FOOD PHARMACY WHICH TWICE A WEEK DISTRIBUTES FRESH FOOD TO PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES LIKE DIABETES.

>> PATIENTS ARE ABLE TO SIGN UP THROUGH THE DOCTOR IF THEY ARE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY.

WE SEE A LOT OF PATIENTS WHO ARE EITHER HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN THEIR MEDICATION OR EATING.

SO WE'RE HERE TO BREAK THAT BARRIER.

>> LIKE THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN CONSERVATION HEALTH, THE COMMUNITY HEALTH INTERNS BELIEVE THE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS THEY MAKE WITH PEOPLE WILL EFFECT LASTING CHANGE.

>> YOU CAN REACH MORE PEOPLE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH RATHERRING THAN SAYING MEDICAL TERM TERMIN.

THE FOOD PHARMACY HELPS PREVENT THOSE THINGS THAT CAN HURT THEM LATER IN LIFE.

IT IS MORE OF A CONVERSATION THAN JUST GIVING YOU A PACKET OF INFORMATION.

>> AND THEY SAY WORKING TOWARDS BOTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CREATES A NATURAL CONNECTION.

>> THE ENVIRONMENT IS FACING SO MANY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW AND IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN LOW INCOME AREAS.

JOINING THEM TOGETHER HELPS US BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IS ALWAYS HUMAN HEALTH.

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

>> AND YOU WILL FIND MORE ON OUR IMANI GREEN HEALTH ADVOCATES ON OUR WEBSITE.

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

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATER FROM WTTW NEWS.

AND WHILE YOU ARE THERE CHECK OUT OUR SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON IS THE DAY NIGHT KNOW YOU CAN CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M. AND JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ AT 7:00 P.M. ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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