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

>> THE LEADER OF A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION GIVES THE LAST WORD ON WHAT HE BELIEVES NONPROFITS SHOULD BE LEARNING DURING THE PANDEMIC ON HOW THEY CAN OUT THE COMMUNITY.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM FULL-TIME.

NOW WITH VACCINATED STAFF, MASK MANDATES AND OTHER THEY DO PROTOCOLS IN PLACE, CPS KIDS ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK IN A SCHOOL YEAR LIKE NO OTHER AND PARENTS ARE ANXIOUSLY HOPING FOR THE BEST.

JOINING US OUR THREE CPS PARENT.

TAHRA WORKMAN-MANDELL WHO HAS TWO CHILDREN IN CPS, DARLENE O'BANNON WHO HAS TWO GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND LATISHA HOLLINGSWORTH WHO HAS THREE CHILDREN IN CPS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

TAHRA LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

YOUR KINDERGARTNER IS STARTING IN SCHOOL THIS YEAR AND HOW ARE YOU FEELING THAT CPS AND HER SCHOOL ARE HANDLING COVID SAFETY?

>> Guest: THE BIGGEST CONCERN WE HAVE IS THAT SHE HAS ASTHMA.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT COVID AND WHETHER OR NOT THINGS WILL BE SAFE IN SCHOOL.

I DO BELIEVE THAT JUST LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS THAT CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB THAN MOST OF THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF KEEPING DELTA NUMBERS LOW.

KEEPING THE NUMBERS LOW FOR NEW COVID INFECTIONS SO, I AM CONFIDENT.

I THINK THERE'S MORE THAT CPS CAN DO LOWERING THE STATS IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING KEEPING THE KIDS SEPARATED.

I AM CONFIDENT.

I THINK THAT CPS IS TRYING.

THEY REALLY SEEM LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE.

>> Host: DARLENE, YOUR GREAT GRANDKIDS ARE PART OF THE SUMMER PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL WHO HELPS REENGAGE STUDENTS.

DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT SENDING THEM BACK TO THE CLASSROOM THIS YEAR?

>> Guest: YES.

THEY HAVE BEEN IN REMOTE LEARNING SINCE JULY 6 AND THEY DID AN ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR THE PARENTS TO HELP US REENGAGE BACK INTO THE BUILDING, OUR CHILDREN BACK INTO THE BUILDING, THE PARENT VOLUNTEERS ARE BACK IN THE BUILDING AND WE JUST HAD AN OPEN HOUSE ON TUESDAY, I'M SORRY ON WEDNESDAY.

IT ALLOWED THE PARENTS TO COME IN AND SEE THE SETTING OF THE SCHOOL, THE CIRCULATION OF THE SCHOOL AND I AM COMFORTABLE AND GOOD.

I WILL BE THERE VOLUNTEERING AND I AM GOOD TO GO WITH BACK TO SCHOOL FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

I AM READY TO GO BACK AND I'M READY FOR THEM TO GO BACK.

>> Host: I'M SURE YOU ARE!

PARENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

LATISHA YOU HAVE TWO TEENAGERS AND A TWEEN.

HOW ARE THEY FEELING ABOUT IN PERSON LEARNING?

>> Guest: AT FIRST, I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THEM GOING BACK AND THE TIME THEY DID GO BACK THEY SAID WE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK ANYMORE WE WANT TO STAY HOME AND LEARN FROM HOME.

THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT HOW THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT PROPERLY HANDING OUT MASKS LIKE THEY SHOULD.

THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LUNCH AND FOR THEM TO SAY THEY DIDN'T GIVE AN OPEN HOUSE, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF WE HAD AN OPEN HOUSE TO SEE HOW THE SCHOOL WAS GOING TO RUN THE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> Host: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU COULD HAVE USED SOME MORE COMMUNICATION AND ON THAT NOTE, TAHRA WHAT HAS BEEN THE LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR CHILDREN SCHOOL AND IS IT ENOUGH?

>> Guest: AT MY DAUGHTER'S HIGH SCHOOL THEY HAD A PARENT ORIENTATION ON THURSDAY NIGHT WHICH WAS NICE BECAUSE THEY TALKED ABOUT ALL THE PROTOCOLS THEY PUT IN PLACE.

WHAT THEY WERE DOING TO TRY TO KEEP THE KIDS SAFE AREA OBVIOUSLY IN HIGH SCHOOL WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT IN BETWEEN CLASSES AND HOW THE KIDS MOVE.

EVERYONE IS IN THE HALLWAY AT THE SAME TIME AND THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO STAGGER IT SO EVERYONE'S NOT IN THE HALLWAY AT THE SAME TIME TO GIVE THEM TIME IN BETWEEN CLASSES.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF ANSWERS BUT ONE THING I LIKE ABOUT THE NEW PRINCIPAL IS SHE ALSO COMMUNICATED THAT THIS IS SOMETHING NEW AND THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS YET BUT THEY ARE WORKING AND THEY ARE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WHEN THEY DO HAVE ANSWERS TO THE PARENTS.

I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT FROM HER.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD ANSWER FOR HER.

>> Host: DARLENE, WITH COVID INFECTIONS ON THE RISE ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT WE WILL HAVE TO SHIFT BACK TO REMOTE LEARNING AT SOME POINT?

>> Guest: WELL, ALL OF US, THE WHOLE WORLD IS DEALING WITH SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH BEFORE.

I AM VACCINATED.

I AM FULLY VACCINATED.

AT MY AGE, I AM 64 AND I DON'T HAVE ANY UNDERLYING CONDITIONS BUT IF I HAVE TO TAKE A BOOSTER WHICH MY EIGHT MONTHS WILL BE UP IN JANUARY, I WILL BE READY TO TAKE THE BOOSTER AND IF WE HAVE TO GO BACK ON REMOTE LEARNING THEN WE GOT TO GO BACK UNTIL THE COVID RATE GOES BACK DOWN AND WE CAN GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

ANYWAY IT GOES OUR KIDS HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS WITH THE VARIANT AND WE HAVE TO GO BACK ON REMOTE LEARNING I AM READY TO GO BACK.

OUR SCHOOL IS OVER COMMUNICATION.MY KIDS GO TO SCHOOL OVER IN WEST INGLEWOOD AND I BELIEVE THAT THE CPS SCHOOL, I FEEL LIKE THEY WENT OVER WITH COMMUNICATION AND I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE RETURN.

>> Host: IS SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE GETTING GOOD COMMUNICATION AND, LATISHA IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE COMMUNICATION FROM THE SCHOOLS.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THEY COULD HAVE KEPT PARENT SAFE?

>> NUMBER I DON'T THINK SO.

I FEEL COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THESE TWO YOUNG LADIES ON THE CALL NOW BECAUSE WE HAD AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS ONE WITH THE DETAIL BREAKDOWN.

IT WAS LIKE SHE STATED EARLIER, THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS RIGHT NOW BUT YOU GUYS CAN AT LEAST OVER SIX MONTHS YOU COULD COME UP WITH A PROPER PLAN SO THAT THE KIDS CAN RETURN BACK SO, THIS IS WHAT YOU ALL CAME UP WITH AFTER ALL OF THESE MONTHS?

I'M CONCERNED.

I WANT THEM TO GO BACK BUT I AM STILL CONCERNED AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING THAT COVID IS GOING TO LOOK AT THIS, I'M REALLY CONCERNED.

>> Host: TAHRA, ON THAT NOTE, A LOT OF SCHOOLS RELY ON PARENTS TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND TEACHERS THE SAME THING IN REGARDS TO MASK WEARING AND KEEPING THEIR KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL IF THEY ARE SHOWING SYMPTOMS AND MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS FOLLOWING HANDWASHING PROTOCOLS.

TAHRA CAN YOU DEPEND ON OTHER PARENTS TO KEEP THEIR KIDS HOME IF THEY ARE SICK?

>> Guest: I SAY YES.

I BASE IT ON CHICAGO IN ILLINOIS, WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING A LOT BETTER BECAUSE WE ARE VACCINATED AND WE HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF ADULTS THAT ARE VACCINATED AND WE HAVE BEEN WEARING MASKS.

I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IS NOT DOING IT IN THE COMMITTEE BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE.

I AM CONFIDENT THAT I THINK MOST PARENTS WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND OBVIOUSLY THERE REALLY ARE GOING TO BE SOME BAD ACTORS BUT I THINK MOST PARENTS WILL BE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

I THINK MY KIDS WILL BE SAFE.

>> LATISHA, I WANT TO GET TO YOU.

I WANT TO ASK, DO YOU THINK THE VACCINE REQUIREMENT FOR TEACHERS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL ANY MORE CONFIDENT OR SAFER ABOUT YOUR KIDS SAFETY IN SCHOOL?

>> WITH THAT BEING SAID, WHEN IT COMES TO THE VACCINE AND VACCINATED AND I GOT MINE IN JULY.

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, IS IT BEING MANDATED THAT THEY GET THE VACCINATION?

WHY IS IT THAT WE NEED A BOOSTER BEHIND IT IF YOU GUYS ARE JUST PUSHING OUT THE ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO GET VACCINATED AND THAT WE NEED A BOOST?

I AM CONCERNED.

I DON'T THINK A LOT OF TEACHERS OR PARENTS WANT TO RECEIVE THAT.

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GO ON STRIKE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER SETBACK FOR US.

THEY ARE SAYING THAT WE BEEN DOING IT THIS LONG AND THEY BEEN SAYING THAT THEY BEEN DOING IT FOR SO LONG NOW.

>> BEST OF LUCK.

OUR THANKS TO TAHRA AND LATISHA AND ARLENE FOR JOINING US.

GOOD LUCK ON THE FIRST DAY.

OF NEXT RESOURCES FOR RENTERS AS FEDERAL AID IS SLOW TO ARRIVE.

STAY WITH US.

>> RENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY MAY SOON FACE EVICTION NOW THAT THE US SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION EVICTION MORATORIUM THIS COMES ON THE HEELS THAT ONLY SOME FEDERAL UNTIL ASSISTANT DOLLARS HAVE BEEN DISTURBED AND NATIONWIDE.

OWNING US NOW IS MIKITA LEE AND SENECA OADDAMS A BOARD MEMBER THAT FOCUSES ON PREVENTING THE DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US MIKITA, LET'S START WITH YOU.

THE SUPREME COURT RULING COMES AFTER THE MORATORIUM WAS EXTENDED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 18.

HOW WILL THE SUPREME COURT RULING AFFECT RENTERS IN THE COUNTY?

>> Guest: I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED, HONESTLY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY ARE THINKING OF THE LONG TERM AND THE BIGGER PICTURE.

THERE WILL BE SOME FUNDING SO WE CAN EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM AND AM HOPING THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL OVERTURN THIS AND MAKE A CHANGE BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEED THIS FUNDING IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THE FUNDING NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED FUNDING FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND ITS STREAMING IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THE ADDITIONAL MONEY.

>> YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE HOPING THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL OVERTURN THE RULING OR YOUR TALKING ABOUT A SEPARATE CASE NOT THE ONE THEY JUST OVERTURNED?

SENECA, WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM PEOPLE ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS?

>> FOR THE MOST PART, THE ISSUE THAT I HAVE BEEN HEARING HAS TO , I WOULD SAY THE.

>> HASN'T BEEN A COMPLICATED PROCESS?

PEOPLE NOT KNOWING WHERE TO GO?

>> YES.

I WOULD SAY THERE'S A GAP WITH MOST OF THE MAJORITY PEOPLE I'VE SPOKEN WITH HER THERE IS A TECHNOLOGY GAP.

THE CHALLENGE OF GATHERING DOCUMENTATION OF WHO DO YOU CALL WHEN YOU NEED SOME HELP, WHERE DO YOU GO?

YOU KNOW, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> IN COOK COUNTY WE KNOW 12,000 PEOPLE HAVE APPLIED FOR ASSISTANCE IN HALF OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED THE FUNDS.

THERE'S ABOUT $13 MILLION LEFT TO DISTRIBUTE.

MIKITA WILL THAT BE ENOUGH TO MEET THE NEEDS THAT EXIST?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK WE NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING TOGETHER BECAUSE LIKE I SAID BEFORE THERE'S DEFTLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT AND THERE'S SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSTANTLY APPLYING TO GET THIS FUNDING.

WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE MONEY FOR THIS, FOR SURE.

IN.

>> SENECA, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT OUTREACH TO COMMUNITIES COULD IMPROVE?

WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE?

>> WE NEED TO HAVE A STAND.

WE NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE SPEAK ABOUT IT MORE.

THE HIGHER-UPS NEED TO GET INVOLVED AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE NEED HELP OUT HERE.

WE NEED WAYS TO REACH ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP US.

YOU KNOW, WE LOSE A FAMILY HERE.

WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE A MOUTH AND GET OUR WORDS HEARD.

>> SENECA, YOU MENTIONED THE TECHNOLOGY GAP PEERED WAS BEING REQUIRED OF PEOPLE AS IT COMES TO THE DOCUMENTS AND WHAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE IS OUT THERE TO REACH THAT GAP?

>> THE TECHNOLOGY GAP IS BASICALLY ABOUT CELL PHONES AND IT IS ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO UPLOAD DOCUMENTS.

IT IS ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO BRING PDF FILES TO SAVE IT AND SEND IT AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, NOW THAT EVERYONE HAS A COMPUTER WHICH IS A CELL PHONE, FOR THE MOST PART, WE ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO UPLOAD PDF FILES, THERE IS NO WAY TO GET THESE DOCUMENTS OUT.

WE NEED PEOPLE IN PLACE TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION SENT OUT AND SO WE CAN GET PEOPLE SUFFICIENTLY GETTING THIS INFORMATION AND SENDING THIS INFORMATION OUT.

SO, IT'S JUST ABOUT GETTING THE WORD HEARD.

>> GETTING THE WORD HEARD.

I WANT TO GET MIKITA IN ON THIS QUESTION.

WHAT IS OFFERED TO RENTERS?

>> PEOPLE CAN APPLY WITH US.

THEY CAN DO IT ON THE PHONE OR THEY CAN COME IN AND WE CAN GIVE THEM THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTS THEY NEED AND WE CAN UPLOAD THEM FOR THEM.

WE HAVE A NUMBER IF YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE ALL THE INFORMATION IS THERE.

WE HAVE BEEN TAKING THE TIME TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE WE DO REALIZE THERE IS A TECHNOLOGY GAP AND NOT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.

WE HAVE BEEN MAKING SURE THAT WE TAKE THOSE ADDITIONAL STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS EASIER.

>> SENECA, WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

WE KNOW YOU APPLIED FOR ASSISTANCE AS WELL AND YOU BEEN WAITING FOR SOME TIME.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I APPLIED IN MAY AND EVEN ME, KNOWING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TECHNOLOGY STILL HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AND GETTING THE DOCUMENTS SENT.

THERE WAS SOME PROBLEMS WITH SOMETHING THAT I SENT, I'VE GOT MESSAGES BACK AND FORTH TO RESEND BUT AT THIS POINT I'M STILL WAITING AM HOPEFUL AND IT'S BEEN PROBLEMATIC SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

MY TENANT HAS SUFFERED.

WE ALL HAVE SUFFERED.

>> WE WISH YOU THE BEST.

SADLY, WE ARE OUT OF TIME ON THE SEGMENT BUT WE WISH YOU BOTH THE BEST OF LUCK WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, TRAN 22 AND SENECA OADDAMS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> A GROUP OF POLICE OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE GETTING TIME BACK FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES BY GETTING KIDS TO PLAY SPORTS.

OUR REPORTER JOANN HERNANDEZ HEADS TO THE WEST SIDE WITH MORE.

>> ONE PERSON CAN MAKE AN IMPACT ON A YOUNG PERSON'S 'S LIFE, JUST ASK SERGEANT JERMAINE HARRIS A COFOUNDER OF CHICAGO WESTSIDE SPORT.

>> THERE WAS A PROJECT WITH POLICE AND YOUTH.

THERE WAS A GRANT ATTACHED TO IT WHERE OFFICERS HERE IN THE DISTRICT AND IN THE COMMUNITIES ARE WORKING WITH KIDS AND PLAYING BASEBALL.

THE GRANT RAN OUT.

IT SEEMED LIKE THE BENEFIT OF WHAT THAT WAS, IN 2019 THERE WAS A LOT OF BRAINSTORMING AND IDEAS AND WE JUST HAD TO BRING IT BACK.

>> HE JAMES FORCES WITH STEPHANIE MOORE COURT THE DIRECTOR OF A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, CITY OF REFUGE TO HELP KIDS WHO WANTED TO PLATE A SMALL, BASKETBALL AND LEARN ARCHERY.

ON THIS DAY, 20 KIDS FROM ALL AROUND THE WEST SIDE ARE COMING TOGETHER TO PLAY BASEBALL AT COLUMBUS PARK.

>> I LIKE SPORTS AND THE COMPETITIVENESS.

UNLIKE TO BE ABLE TO PLAY AGAINST FRIENDS.

>> 13-YEAR-OLD AVION TART HAS PLAYED IN THE PROGRAM SINCE IT RELAUNCHED THREE YEARS AGO.

>> IT MAKES ME FEEL LOVED AND CARED FOR.

OUTSIDE THE BONDS, WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE.

>> TART IS ONE OF 250 KIDS THAT IS INVOLVED IN CHICAGO SI SPORTS, AND ORGANIZATION THAT HAS POLICE OFFICERS AND LOCAL LEADERS OF ORGANIZATIONS TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMON GOAL FOR COMMUNITY.

>> ONE THING COMING OUT OF THIS IS CHILDREN AND POLICE OFFICERS HAVING A CONVERSATION AND THERE'S NO OTHER SPACE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

SOME HAVE A CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER.

MAYBE THEY HAD A FAMILY MEMBER WHO HAD A BAD INTERACTION WITH POLICE.

MAYBE POLICE HAVE A CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER BECAUSE THEY BEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A LONG TIME AND HAS SEEN THE WORST ASPECT IN PEOPLE.

>> THE PROGRAM IS RAN BY VOLUNTEERS AND THE SERGEANT SAID IT GIVES THE KIDS A SAFE SPACE TO NOT ONLY HAVE FUN AND IMPROVE ON THE FIELD BUT ALSO DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS.

>> COME OUT HERE AND SEE A SMILE AND HEAR A KID SAY HI COACH AND GIVE YOU A HUG AND LOOK FOR YOU AND THE FIST BUMP ALL THOSE INTERPERSONAL ACTIVITIES THAT GO ON BETWEEN YOUTH AND POLICE IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOUNG PEOPLE IS SO INSPIRING AND YOU GET ADDICTED TO IT.

LIKE WE WANT TO DO MORE.

>> IT IS PASTOR MICHAEL LANCASTER'S FIRST YEAR PER DISSIPATING IN THE PROGRAM AND SAYS EFFORTS LIKE THIS ARE NEEDED.

>> FOR A MOMENT, IN THE CRAZINESS OF LIFE, JUST HAVE FUN, HE A KID.

>> SERGEANT HARRIS HAS BEEN AN OFFICER FOR 18 YEARS AND SAYS THIS INITIATIVE HELPED HIM NAVIGATE HIS OWN MENTAL HEALTH.

FROM THE TIME HE BEGAN COACHING HIS SON.

>> I REALIZE IN LOOKING BACK AT THOSE SUMMERS IN THE TIME I SPENT WITH KIDS WHO ARE DOING THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT I SAW AT WORK, THEY WERE HAPPY, SMILING, LAUGHING, THEY WEREN'T VICTIMS OF CRIME AND THAT GAVE ME BALANCE.

WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG OFFICERS TO GET THAT SAME THING THAT I GOT.

EXTRA SPORTS EDUCATION AND MENTORING THESE VOLUNTEERS HOPE TO GIVE KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DREAM BEYOND THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> I LIKE THAT THEY ARE PROTECTING US AND KEEP US SAFE.

>> SERGEANT HARRIS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PROGRAM EXPAND CITYWIDE ONE-DAY.

IN THE MEANTIME HE'S FOCUSED ON GETTING MORE KIDS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO DISSIPATE.

>> REALLY WE WANT THE KIDS TO COME TO THE SPACE AND BE SAFE SO THAT THEY CAN BE VULNERABLE TO BE LOVED.

TO BE SUPPORTED.

TO DEVELOP FRIENDSHIP.

>> FOR AVION TART MOTHER IT'S A WAY FOR HIM TO STAY ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

JOY GOING SOME OF THESE YOUNG PLAYERS ALREADY HAVE DREAMS OF MAKING IT BIG ONE DAY.

>> MAKE IT TO THE MLB AND HELP MY FAMILY.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES I AM ANGEL IDOWU.

>> PEOPLE HELP CHICAGO DREAMS.

TONIGHT HE GIVES THE LAST WORD ON HOW HE USES COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO EXAMINE THEIR OWN EFFORT TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS.

>> MY NAME IS DION DAWSON.

I AM THE DIRECTOR OF A NONPROFIT OUT OF INGLEWOOD THAT IS ON FOOD INSECURITY.

WHAT FOOD INSECURE HE IS AND WHY WE FOCUS ON THE SIMPLE IS SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES CONSISTENCY TO GIVE RESIDENTS HEALTHY OPTION ON A NORMAL BASIS.

WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY IT COMES FROM A PLACE OF SETTING THE QUALITY STANDARDS AND CONSISTENCY LEVELS SO THEN WE CAN START STABILIZING HOW WE FEED PEOPLE.

THERE'S A FEW THINGS WE'VE LEARNED IN THE PANDEMIC WHEN IT COMES TO BEATING PEOPLE AND NONPROFITS IN ENROLL.

PEOPLE EAT EVERY DAY.

FEEDING PEOPLE ONE TIME OR OFFERING FRESH PRODUCE DOES NOT SOLVE THE CORE PROBLEM.

THAT IS WHAT AT PRODUCT DREAM FRIDGE WE FEED PEOPLE EVERY DAY PEERED WITH DREAM DELIVERIES WE DELIVERED TO HOUSEHOLDS EVERY WEEK.

WE WANT TO GET THEM USED TO A CERTAIN QUALITY THAT NOT ONLY THEY THINK THEY DESERVE IT BUT WHAT FRESH PRODUCE LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE WE FEEL IN ORDER TO MEET A CERTAIN QUALITY LINE YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU OWN EVERYTHING THAT YOUR HAND TOUCHES.

WE OWN OUR VEHICLES, WE OWN OUR PRODUCE, WE BUY IT SO WE CAN DICTATE HOW WE DISSEMINATE IT TO THE PUBLIC AND WE THINK THAT DURING THIS PANDEMIC IT TAUGHT US THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FOCUSED ON GIVING DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE AND NOT BEING A PLACE-BASED INSTITUTION.

NOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW WE MOVE ON FROM JUST FEEDING PEOPLE AND HAVING PROGRAMMING, WE THINK ABOUT AFTER THE PANDEMIC, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PROVIDE VALUE FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC?

WE REALIZE THAT THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO DO IS UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR MISSION IS.

WHAT DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION GIVE AS FAR AS BEING CLOSELY RELATED TO THE PROBLEM AND I SOLVE IT AND HOW YOUR UNIQUE IN YOUR OFFERING?

FOR US OUR MISSION IS FEEDING PEOPLE NOT JUST FEEDING THEM BUT FEEDING THEM QUALITY.

WERE YOU IT COULD BE HOW CAN YOU AT YOUR PROVIDE PROVIDE QUALITY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC HOW CAN YOU PROVIDE QUALITY FROM YOUR NONPROFIT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

YOUR PROGRAMMING HAS TO GO TO THE PEOPLE AND MEET THE PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

IF THE PROGRAMMING IS NOT DOING THAT AND YOU'RE NOT ACTIVELY DOING IT TO POSITION THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING IT THE RIGHT THING OR APPLYING IT, WHAT WE LEARN FROM THE PANDEMIC.

WE THINK IT IS ESSENTIAL TO NONPROFIT YOUR ACTUALLY TRYING TO DO BETTER.