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

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT , CHICAGO'S CRIME STATISTICS REVEAL A MIXED BAG OF TRENDS.

WE WILL GET THE DATA FOCUSED LOOK WITH UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CRIME LAB .

>>> CHICAGO HAS BEEN HER BEAT FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS.

NOW, SHE IS BOWING OUT.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST.

>>> ARE YOU BEHIND ON YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING?

WE WILL PERU'S WHAT IS ON OFFER AT THE CHICAGO FAIR TRADE FOR ANY LAST MINUTE GIFTS.

>>> I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

COMING UP, WE ARE TRYING FOOD FOR THE FALL AT A NEW RESTAURANT IN LAWNDALE.

>>> OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT, AS 2022 COMES TO AN END, THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CRIME LAB IS HE TO BREAK ON THIS YEAR'S CRIME STATS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

>>> AT FIFTH THIRD , WE BELIEVE WHEN DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED, COMMUNITIES ARE MADE BETTER.

THE FUTURE HOLDS GREATER PROMISE FOR ALL.

WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TOGETHER, WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>>> WITH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS JUST WEEKS AWAY , CHICAGO'S LEADERS ARE LOOKING BACK AT ANOTHER DISTRESSINGLY VIOLENT YEAR .

FOR 2022 COMMISH THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS 661 MURDERS OCCURRED AT DECEMBER 10.

THAT IS DOWN 15% SINCE LAST YEAR .

OVERALL SHOOTINGS ARE ALSO REPORTED AS DOWN, 20% FROM 2021 NUMBERS FROM 3400 TO AROUND 2700.

REPORTED INCIDENTS OF MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS HAVE NEARLY DOUBLED SINCE 2021 AND THEFT NUMBERS ALSO SHOWED A STEEP INCREASE.

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CRIME LAB USES A DATA FOCUSED APPROACH TO STUDY CRIME AND CRIME REDUCTION PROGRAMS AND THEY SAY WHILE SOME OF 2022 TRENDS OFFER HOPE FOR CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT, THERE IS MORE TO LEARN AND MORE WORK TO DO.

JOINING US NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE DATA IS TIM SMITH, DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AT THE CRIME AND EDUCATION LAB AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> FIRST OF ALL, WE KNOW THAT YOU PART DATA YOU RECEIVE FROM THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AS COOPERATE AND PARTICIPATE IN YOUR RESEARCH.

HERE IS THE CRIME LAB'S TAKEDOWN, SHOOTING AND HOMICIDES OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE THAT ON SCREEN RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE HOMICIDE VICTIMS ON THE LEFT AND SHOOTING VICTIMS ON THE RIGHT.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE STATISTICS WE ARE SEEING HERE.

>> AS YOU SAID, SHOOTINGS ARE DOWN ABOUT 20% RELATIVE TO LAST YEAR AND HOMICIDES HAVE GONE DOWN BY 15% AND THOSE ARE CERTAINLY NUMBERS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE STILL NOT WHERE WE WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC , BEFORE THE HISTORIC INCREASE THAT WE EXPERIENCED IN 2020.

WHILE THINGS ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, WE STILL HAVE A FAR WAY TO GO.

>> DOES THE DATA INDICATE THAT IT IS SOMETHING THE POLICE ORE CITY IS DOING IS WORKING?

>> IT IS HARD TO SAY.

THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT RESEARCHERS WILL BE TRYING TO ANSWER FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

WE KNOW THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING.

THERE ARE CHANGES TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND CHANGES TO POLICING STRATEGIES.

WE KNOW THAT COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ORGANIZATIONS HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM PUBLIC SECTOR DONORS.

THEY TYPICALLY WERE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS PREVIOUSLY.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE SOCIAL SERVICE SECTOR HAS BEEN REBOUNDING AND THAT HAS IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR CRIME AND VIOLENCE, GIVEN THE DEVASTATING ECONOMIC AND MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC.

A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST YEAR, THE PAST TWO YEARS AND IT IS HARD TO SAY WHICH OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS, WHICH OF THOSE DIFFERENT COURSES IS CONTINUING TO RESULT IN THE CRIME NUMBERS WE ARE SEEING.

>> IT SOUNDS A LOT OF AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON THESE NUMBERS.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT DRIVES SHOOTINGS AND HOMICIDES?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS NOT QUITE APPRECIATED AS MUCH AS IT SHOULD BE IS THAT A LOT OF SHOOTINGS AND HOMICIDES IN CHICAGO ARE THE RESULT OF AN ALTERCATION.

AN ARGUMENT THAT ESCALATES AND TURNS VIOLENT BECAUSE A GUN IS THERE.

THAT HAS IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS.

PROGRAMS THAT LEVERAGE COGNITIVE THINKING PRINCIPLES OR PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE TOOL TO NAVIGATE THE SITUATIONS DIFFERENTLY CAN BE REALLY IMPACTFUL IF IT IS THE LARGE MAJORITY OF INCIDENTS THAT STEM FROM ALTERCATIONS OR ARGUMENTS.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN USE AS PART OF THE LARGER ECOSYSTEM OF SOLUTIONS AROUND CONTINUING TO CREATE SAFE SPACES.

>> ARE VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE TYPICALLY GANGED RELATED?

ARE THERE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK THAT IS A MISCONCEPTION .

WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF CRIME IN CHICAGO, I THINK THEY OFTEN DEFAULT TO SHOWS LIKE THE WIRE WHERE THERE ARE INSTRUMENTAL INCIDENTS THAT TAKE PLACE TO FURTHER THE GOALS OF THE GAME OR TIFFS OVER DRUG TURF .

WHILE THOSE CERTAINLY DO TAKE PLACE, OUR READ OF THE NARRATIVE DATA AND ALSO CONVERSATIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN EXPOSED OR INVOLVED WITH THE VIOLENCE SUGGEST THAT THESE ALTERCATIONS ARE REALLY AT THE ROOT OF THE GUN VIOLENCE CHALLENGE.

AS I SAID, THAT REALLY DOES PROVIDE A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS LIKE PROGRAMS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IN CHICAGO TO BE IMPACTFUL IN KEEPING INDIVIDUALS SAFE.

>> WE ALSO HAVE A DECADE BY DECADE HISTORICAL LOOK .

THE LAST 130 YEARS, HOMICIDE RATES IN CHICAGO, LOS ANGELES, AND NEW YORK.

WHAT LARGER PATTERN DO YOU SEE IN THIS DATA?

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE LINE GRAPH ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.

WE CAN SEE CHICAGO IS HIGHER THAN L.A. AND NEW YORK.

>> THERE ARE A FEW THINGS TO TAKE AWAY FROM THAT GRAPH.

THE FIRST IS THAT FOR THE MAJORITY OF HISTORY, CHICAGO, NEW YORK, AND L.A. LOOK VERY SIMILAR WHEN IT CAME TO HOMICIDE RATES.

THE TWO POINTS OF DIVERGENCE WERE DURING THE PROHIBITION PERIOD AND THEN RIGHT NOW.

THE REASON THAT IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE WE CAN LOOK AT CITIES LIKE NEW YORK AND L.A. .

OF COURSE, THEY ARE DIFFERENT FROM CHICAGO BUT WE CAN LOOK TO THOSE CITIES AND UNDERSTAND WHAT STRATEGIES, WHAT POLICIES THEY IMPLEMENT AND HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THOSE.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE GRAPH, WHILE WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS THE PAST YEAR, OUR HOMICIDE RATE IS STILL FIVE TIMES THAT OF NEW YORK AND THREE TIMES THAT OF L.A.. WE HAVE A LOT THAT WE NEED TO DO AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE A WORLD-CLASS CITY, A CITY THAT IS REALLY ON PAR WITH THE TWO LARGER CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

>> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT THOSE TWO CITIES ARE DOING DIFFERENTLY TO MAKE THAT DIFFERENT?

>> THEY INVESTED A LOT IN COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS.

I ACTUALLY THINK THAT IT IS AN AREA WHERE CHICAGO IS STARTING TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY, IN TERMS OF OUR ABILITY TO INNOVATE AND CONDUCT INCREDIBLY RIGOROUS RESEARCH ABOUT WHICH COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS WORK AND FOR WHO.

WHILE L.A.

LED THE EFFORT THERE HISTORICALLY, CHICAGO IS QUICKLY EMERGING AS A LEADER IN THE SPACE.

BOTH CITIES ALSO INVESTED HEAVILY IN POLICING, SPECIFICALLY REFORMING THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE MUCH MORE CONSTITUTIONALLY FOCUSED AND COMMITTEE ORIENTED.

THE THIRD THING IS BOTH CITIES WERE QUITE DATA-DRIVEN, NOT JUST FROM THE POLICING SENSE BUT GENERALLY FROM A SOCIAL PROGRAM AND EVEN EDUCATION INVESTMENT POINT OF VIEW.

THE SECRET SAUCE IS STILL SOMETHING THAT ECONOMISTS ARE TRYING TO ISOLATE BUT WE THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT THAT THOSE TWO CITIES DID THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE AND ACTUALLY ALREADY ARE IN A CHICAGO.

>> YOU ALSO HAVE SOME DATA FROM THE CRIME LAB THAT SHOWS THE SO-CALLED SAFETY GAP .

FIRST, EXPLAIN WITH THE SAFETY GAP CONCEPT IS.

>> THE SAFETY GAP IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE HOMICIDE RATE BETWEEN DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE IN CHICAGO.

YOU CAN LOOK AT IT BY NEIGHBORHOOD AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE SAFETY GAPS BY NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU CAN ALSO LOOK AT IT BY RACE AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SHOWING HERE.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE HOMICIDE RATES OF BLACK CHICAGOANS, WHITE CHICAGOANS AND LATINX CHICAGOANS.

WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS WELL OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE SAFETY GAP HAS NARROWED, IT IS STILL INCREDIBLY WIDE AND MUCH WIDER THAN IT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY AND THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE ARE THINKING ABOUT SOLUTIONS.

WE KNOW THAT BLACK CHICAGOANS AND BLACK AND IN PARTICULAR, ALREADY THEY ARE SUCH A DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN OF THE HARM TO ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE, POLICING AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS.

AS WE ARE CRAFTING SOLUTIONS, WE NEED TO BE INCREDIBLY MINDFUL AND THOUGHTFUL THAT THE SOLUTIONS DO NOT OVERBURDEN A POPULATION THAT IS BOTH EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT HARM FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND HIGHER INSTANCES OF VIOLENCE.

>> WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED TO STUDY FURTHER?

>> I THINK THERE IS A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAMS.

OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS , WE HAVE GENERATED EVIDENCE ABOUT A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT DO REALLY SEEM TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE SAFE.

THERE IS A PROGRAM CALLED KEEP THE CHANGE WHICH COMBINES ADVOCACY WITH BEHAVIORAL THERAPY.

WE HAVE A GROWING BODY OF EVIDENCE WITH PROGRAMS THAT SEEM TO IMPROVE.

I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO A LOT OF RESEARCH ON IS HOW TO SCALE THOSE PROGRAMS AND INTRODUCE THEM TO DIFFERENT POPULATIONS , TO INTRODUCE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER THOSE PROGRAMS .

THERE IS A LOT AROUND THE SCIENCE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO LEAN INTO AND A LOT OF OTHERS ARE THINKING ABOUT AS WELL.

>> 20 OF WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU.

KIM SMITH, THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CRIME LAB .

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, WE TALK WITH HEDRICK A ABOUT HER RETIREMENT AND WHAT IS NEXT.

STAY WITH US.

>>> A LONGTIME CHICAGO JOURNALIST JUST STEPS AWAY FROM HER JOB AFTER 30 YEARS COVERING CRIME, POLITICS, EDUCATION AND URBAN AFFAIRS.

REGULAR CHICAGO CHRONICLES: IN THE SUN-TIMES FOCUSED ON POSITIVE STORIES IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY.

ALONG THE WAY, SHE HAS WRITTEN BOOKS AND MENTOR YOUNG JOURNALISTS, THIS ONE INCLUDED.

SHE JOINS US NOW.

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE HAVE DONE SOME REDECORATING SINCE THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE.

WHY NOW?

WHY WAS THIS THE TIME?

>> DECEMBER 3 WOULD HAVE MADE 29 YEARS .

I RETIRED A WEEK BEFORE MY 29th ANNIVERSARY.

I THINK THAT FOR SO MANY OF US, THE PANDEMIC HAD US ALL REFLECTING .

IS THIS WHAT WE WANT TO DO FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES?

ARE WE HAPPY?

ARE THERE OTHER THINGS WE WANT TO DO?

I HAD BEEN TAKING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS BEFORE THE LAST YEAR WHEN I TOOK SOME TIME OFF.

I THINK IT IS TIME TO MAKE THAT JUMP AND DO SOME OTHER THINGS WHILE I STILL CAN.

>> YOU ARE CHICAGO CHRONICLES COLUMN , WHAT KIND OF STORIES DID YOU TRY TO HIGHLIGHT?

>> THE MONIKER WAS THE LONG FORM COLUMNS ABOUT PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT MADE CHICAGO WITH A FOCUS ON BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

FOR ME, IT WAS ALL ABOUT RACE, ALL THE MANY ASPECTS OF RACE EQUITY, IN EQUITY .

THEN, SOCIAL JUSTICE.

ALL OF THOSE ISSUES THAT PLAGUE OUR COUNTRY FROM POVERTY TO CRIME TO POLICING TO POLITICS AND REPRESENTATION FOR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND THOSE POSITIVE STORIES THAT DON'T GET TOLD.

THOSE DIVERSE NARRATIVES , THOSE EVERYDAY HEROES WITH NEIGHBORHOODS ALL ACROSS THE CITIES.

LIKE, WTTW, TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT NOW AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT THOSE STORIES ARE TOLD.

>> YOU TOOK A FEW YEARS OFF TO WORK IN POLITICS A LITTLE BIT.

YOU ARE CREDITED WITH HELPING BOBBY RUSS GET REELECTED IN 2000.

HE IS ALSO RETIRING THIS YEAR SO YOU WILL SEE HIM OUT THERE.

WHY DID YOU MOVE INTO COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS AND WHY DID YOU COME BACK?

>> SURE .

HAD BEEN COVERING URBAN AFFAIRS AND THEN SEGUED INTO COVERING D.C. SF FOR A WHILE.

THIS WAS DURING THE TIME IN THE LATE 90s WHEN WE WERE ALWAYS IN THE NEWS.

SO MANY TRAGIC STORIES OF CHILDREN BEING KILLED.

AT ONE POINT, I GOT AN OUTREACH AND THEY SAID , HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME TO OUR SIDE.

IT WAS LIKE, WE WOULD RATHER HAVE YOU ON THIS SITE COVERING.

AT FIRST, I SAID NO BUT I THINK EVERYONE HAS A POINT WHERE THEY ARE LIKE, MAYBE I COULD TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I DECIDED TO GO TRY IT .

OF COURSE, CHILDREN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MY PASSION.

THE MAJORITY OF THE CHILDREN THAT ARE IN THE SYSTEM ARE BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN.

ISSUES PLAGUING MY COMMUNITY , THE LACK OF ADOPTION HAD ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE I WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT.

I DID THAT FOR TWO YEARS.

POLITICS MAKES STRANGE BEDFELLOWS .

IT IS NOT EASY.

WHEN I DECIDED -- WHEN GOVERNOR EDGAR DID NOT RUN AGAIN, I LEFT AND DECIDED TO CONTINUE DOING PUBLIC RELATIONS.

THAT IS WHEN I STAYED IN POLITICS AND WORKED WITH THE MEDIA AND MEDIA STRATEGIES FOR MEMBERS OF THE U.S. CONGRESS, CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL, THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE.

IT WAS DURING THAT TIME WHERE I WAS THE PRESS SECRETARY FOR BOBBY RUSS' CAMPAIGN WHEN A LITTLE-KNOWN POLITICIAN BY THE NAME OF BARACK OBAMA WAS VYING FOR HIS SEAT .

IT WOULD BE THE ONLY RACE THAT MR. OBAMA WOULD LOSE ON HIS UPWARD TRAJECTORY TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

IT WAS BITTERSWEET TO SEE HIM GO ON AND WIN THOSE HIGHER OFFICES .

BOBBY CALLED ME FOR MY RETIREMENT LAST WEEK AND SAID, HEY, I SEE WE ARE BOTH RETIRING.

WE WILL HAVE TO GET TOGETHER AND HAVE COFFEE.

>> NOW THAT YOU'VE GOT TIME, OR SO THEY SAY.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ?

YOU HAVE COVERED EVERYTHING.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STORIES THAT HAVE IMPACTED YOU .

THE STORY OF SANDRA BLAND, JESSE JACKSON .

YOU GOT YOUR VACCINE FROM ONE OF THE BLACK DOCTORS WHO HELP DEVELOP IT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT YOU THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW AND WHY ARE THOSE ISLETS?

>> IN MY EARLY CAREER, IT WAS COVERING POLITICS AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF PUBLIC HOUSING AS THE COUNTRY BEGAN TO DEMOLISH THEM.

IT BEGAN IN CHICAGO BECAUSE OF VIOLENCE AND CRIME THAT PLAGUED CHICAGO.

THERE WERE SO MANY STORIES THERE.

ONE THAT MOVED ME WAS THAT OF DENTAL DAVIS, THE YOUNG BOY WHO WAS SHOT ON HIS WAY TO SCHOOL, HOLDING HIS MOTHER'S HAND.

THIS WAS A GANG SHOOTING.

FOR ME, THOSE WERE THE ESSENCE OF THOSE STORIES THAT WERE THE ESSENCE OF WHY PUBLIC HOUSING DID NOT WORK WHEN YOU STACK FOUR PEOPLE ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

ONE OF THE STORIES I ENJOYED DURING THAT PERIOD WAS AN OCCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON BY MERGING IN WITH RESIDENTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING DURING A VISIT BY THE PRESIDENT .

BECAUSE I AM A BLACK AND BROWN PERSON, I WAS ABLE TO BE THERE AND NO ONE QUESTIONED ME.

WHEN HE CAME OUT, I WAS ABLE TO GET A FEW QUESTIONS AND BEFORE SECRET SERVICE RECOGNIZED THAT I WAS A JOURNALIST.

ALMOST AT A TIME -- >> YOUR FIRST BOOK TOOK 17 YEARS.

YOUR NEXT BOOK CANNOT TAKE THAT LONG.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?

>> I WANT TO DO SOME DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CONSULTING.

I WANT TO DO SOME WORK IN PROTECTING AND PROMOTING JOURNALISM.

I DEFINITELY WILL BE ENTERING ACADEMIA AT SOME POINT .

MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WILL BE STARTING THAT SECOND BOOK THAT CANNOT TAKE 17 YEARS.

>> I CAN'T WAIT TO READ IT.

WE ARE NOT DONE HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAUDLYNE IHEJIRIKA.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> BACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> THIS TIME OF YEAR WHEN LISTS ARE LONG AND TIME IS SHORT, LEAVING THE HOUSE FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING MIGHT SEEM LIKE A DAUNTING TASK BUT CHICAGO FAIR TRADE VENDORS ARE HOPING THE PROSPECTS OF BUYING ARTISAN GIFTS THAT SUPPORT LOCAL NONPROFITS IS ENOUGH TO LURE YOU OUT OF YOUR JAMMIES AND INTO THEIR HOLIDAY POP UP SHOP.

PRODUCER ERICA GUNDERSON STOPPED IN TO HELP.

>> YOU GO HOME, GET YOU A NICE CANDLE AND LIGHT IT.

>> CANDLES MADE BY THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE RIGHT ENDEAVORS ARE AMONG THE GOODS THAT DO GOOD AT CHICAGO FAIR TRADE POP-UP HOLIDAY MARKET THROUGH DECEMBER 24.

>> WE HAVE 7500 SQUARE FEET OF HAIR TRAIT TROTTA 'S.

COFFEE, TEA, CLOTHING, JEWELRY , HATS, MITTENS, GLOVES .

MOST TRADE IS -- THE BOTTOM LINE WILL MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU CAN.

WITH FAIR TRADE, IT TURNS THAT DOWN.

EVERYONE ALONG THE SUPPLY TRAIN IS TREATED FAIRLY.

>> MANY OF THE FAIR TRADE VENDORS RIGHT ENDEAVORS OPERATE ON SOCIAL ENTERPRISE MODELS INCLUDING YOUNG PEOPLE MAKING HOME GOODS WHILE EARNING CRUCIAL EMPLOYMENT SKILLS.

>> WE EMPLOY BETWEEN 18 AND 24.

FOR MOST OF THOSE YOUNG MOMS, THIS IS THEIR FIRST JOB.

THEY GET TO COME INTO A SAFE PLACE TO EXPAND THEIR WORKPLACE DEALS, REALLY LEARN ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE DEALS.

THEY ARE PAID TO DO THAT WORK.

THAT PROJECTS THEM TOWARD ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

>> THEY SUPPORTED ME A LOT .

I CALL THEM MY LITTLE MOTHERHOOD, SISTERHOOD.

THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED TO GET GOING.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN NO ONE IS GOING THROUGH.

WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE BRIGHT ENDEAVOR DOORS , IT IS LIKE A BOTTLE OF SUNSHINE.

>> SIMILARLY, YOUNG MEN HAVE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT WHILE CREATING HOME AND SELF-CARE PRODUCTS.

>> WE LEARN THE PROCESS OF MAKING SOMETHING FROM SCRATCH WITH EFFORTS, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY ARE CARED FOR, THEY ARE THOUGHT OF .

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES.

WE TALK ABOUT FAIR TRADE.

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES THE SAME THINGS COME INTO PLAY.

WE THINK ABOUT PEOPLE BEING HELD BACK, OPPORTUNITIES BEING RELEASED AND TRULY NOT AVAILABLE.

A LOT OF THE GENTLEMAN WHO WORK FOR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS , THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> THE PRODUCTS THAT THEY HAVE ARE SUSTAINABLE.

THEY ARE WELL-MADE.

MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT, IS WHAT THEY STAND FOR.

AGAIN, GIVING INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY , AN OPPORTUNITY.

IT MAY BE A SIMPLE BAG TO SOME BUT IT MEANS SO MUCH MORE TO OTHERS.

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

STRIKE THE CHICAGO FAIR TRADE POP-UP SHOP IS AT 1457 NORTH HALSTED THIS YEAR AND OPEN THROUGH DECEMBER 24 , JUST ENOUGH TIME.

YOU WILL FIND MORE ON THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> CUSTOMERS ARE DECLARING A NEW RESTAURANT AS THE PLACE TO GO FOR SOUL FOOD BUT WITH A TWIST.

OUR CORRESPONDENT ANGEL IDOWU TAKES US TO LAWNDALE FOR A TASTE OF WHAT IS BRINGING CHICAGOANS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY TO SOUL FOOD LOUNGE.

>> Reporter: IT WAS AFTER BEING APPROACHED BY THE LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT NETWORK TO ENHANCE THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ENTREPRENEUR AND CHEF QUINTON LOVE DECIDED TO OPEN WHAT HE HOPES TO BE A SOUL FOOD STAPLE ON THE CITY'S WEST SIDE.

>> WHEN WE AS A CULTURE WANT SOMETHING FANCY, WE GO OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITIES TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: SO, THE SOUL FOOD LOUNGE WAS BORN.

>> THE SOUL FOOD LOUNGE IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN INVEST IN UPSCALE IN OUR OWN BACKYARD.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY FINE DINING OR UPSCALE THINGS IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY THAT CAN BRING THE PROPERTY VALUES UP.

>> Reporter: IT IS JUST NEXT DOOR TO THE MLK APARTMENTS.

THE SOUL FOOD LOUNGE OFFERS A WIDE SELECTION OF SOUL FOOD COMBINATIONS .

CUSTOMERS SAY THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THEM ELSEWHERE.

>> IT IS QUAINT.

IT IS SWANKY .

THE FOOD IS DELICIOUS .

FOR HER BIRTHDAY DINNER, THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS.

>> WHAT DID YOU GET?

>> I GOT THE POT ROAST WITH ASPARAGUS .

I GOT THE MISSISSIPPI CRABCAKES.

THIS IS THE CREEL.

THE LOBSTER MACARONI.

>> Reporter: THE MENU SELECTION IS NOT THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY CUSTOMERS ARE FINDING TO INVEST.

>> I KNOW WE DESERVE IT .

SO MANY TIMES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE HAVE SMALL CORNER STORES AND THERE IS A FOOD DESERT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IN ORDER FOR US TO EAT, WE HAVE TO GO AND PUT RESOURCES INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S COMMUNITY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

I THINK IT IS GOOD IN THE HOOD.

I AM FROM THE HOOD AND I AM GOOD.

>> AS A LITTLE GIRL, I GREW UP WITH MY MOM.

SHE ALWAYS TOLD US ABOUT DINING.

IT IS AN EXPERIENCE.

I ENJOY THAT EXPERIENCE AND OUR KIDS NOWADAYS DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THE WORLD.

IT TEACHES THEM ETIQUETTE.

YOU CAN COME RIGHT IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY AND HAVE A REALLY NICE, INTIMATE DINNER.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE RESTAURANT IS ONLY A FEW MONTHS INTO BUILDING ITS IMPACT, BOB SAYS IT CAN ONLY CONTINUE WITH SUPPORT FROM THOSE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> HOW DO YOU CHANGE THE PARADIGM OF VIOLENCE ?

>> BRINGING THE BEAUTIFICATION IN .

WHEN YOU ARE GOING DOWN THE CORRIDOR OF THE INNER-CITY , CHICAGO, YOU SEE NOTHING BUT DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS ON THE THOROUGHFARE .

IT IS LIKE A CRIMINAL HAVEN.

WHAT IF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REPAIRS ARE PRESENT AND THE BENEFITS WILL BE THERE?

THE ELEMENT CHANGES.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO UP NORTH .

THE EXPERIENCES ARE RIGHT IN YOUR HOME BACKYARD.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THEIR DOLLARS OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY TO GET A HIGH QUALITY MEAL.

SO MANY TIMES, WE HAVE HAD TO.

WE WILL SUPPORT IT .

WE WANT TO BUILD A LEGACY.

>> IT IS LIKE A REAL POUNDCAKE.

>> IT LOOKS SO GOOD.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> THAT LOOKS DELICIOUS.

THE SOUL FOOD LOUNGE IS OPEN WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING WITH EXTENDED HOURS ON WEEKENDS.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT, KNOW THAT YOU CAN CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES ON SUNDAYS AT 10:00 P.M.. JOIN US NEXT WEEK.

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

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.