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

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

TONIGHT , MORE THAN 40% OF PRISONERS RETURNED TO PRISON AFTER RELEASE.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT RECIDIVISM.

A LOCAL NONPROFIT BLACK CHARACTERS INTO THE HANDS OF BLACK KIDS.

>> SHRIMP, ALLIGATOR.

>> OH BOY , GET TO THIS MARDI GRAS PARTY WITH A LOOK INSIDE THIS PO'BOY.

ALL OF THAT IS COMING UP.

BUT FIRST, TALKING ABOUT RECIDIVISM IN ILLINOIS.

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

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

THAT IS WHY WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TOGETHER, WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>>> IN ILLINOIS, THE CHANCES OF INCARCERATED PERSON WILL RETURN TO PRISON WITHIN THREE YEARS IS HIGH.

42% OF THOSE RELEASED FROM PRISON IN ILLINOIS WERE CONVICTED OF ANOTHER CRIME .

THE SAME ANALYSIS FOUND THE AVERAGE COST ASSOCIATED WITH RECIDIVISM IS $52,000, COSTING THE STATE $13 BILLION OVER FIVE YEARS , AND, ONE QUARTER ARE COMMITTED ON TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS, LIKE MISSING CURFEW.

NOW, THERE ARE NEW POLICIES AIMED AT SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN THEIR RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE TO ACHIEVE THE BEST.

THESE ARE MORE THAN JUST TRAININGS AND CASE MANAGEMENT.

WE BELIEVE THAT RESIDENCE CAN SEE POTENTIAL IN US , AS WELL, AND IT'S TIME THAT WE PAY THAT FORWARD AND GIVE THEM THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THEY NEED.

>> THIS INITIATIVE EVALUATES LIFE AFTER PRISON.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT HOW TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM.

KEVIN BROWN, DIRECTOR OF POLICY , MARLON TAKEN , AT READY CHICAGO, AND THE DIRECTOR OF RE-ENTRY .

THANKS FOR TALKING WITH US ABOUT THIS.

SO, WE'VE HEARD, AND I KNOW YOU'RE NOT A BIG FAN OF THE WORD RECIDIVISM , WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHAT A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE THIS IS, AND THERE ARE A COUPLE DIFFERENT REASONS ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.

>> SO, WE ARE ASKING WHAT CAUSES AN INDIVIDUAL TO DO THE SPEED >> WHY THEY SENT BACK TO PRISON?

>> WHEN SOMEONE COMES HOME, AS OPPOSED TO BEING SET UP FOR SUCCESS , YOU MAY HAVE THIS LIST OF ALL THE THINGS YOU CAN'T DO.

AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU SHOULD GO TO GET THE SERVICES THAT YOU NEED.

I THINK THAT WHENEVER AN INDIVIDUAL IS RELEASED AND HAS THAT SUPPORT SYSTEM , THEY NEED A NETWORK OF INDIVIDUALS TO SUPPORT THEM AND GIVE THEM THE PROPER RESOURCES , TO MAKE SURE, OR ENSURE .

IT'S A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE, COMING HOME, FIRST OF ALL.

THE JOB THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD GET, OR HOUSING OR HEALTHCARE IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE.

THAT COULD CAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL TO BE IN A DESPERATE SITUATION , WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING FOR YOUR FAMILY.

THESE ARE ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT COULD CAUSE THIS.

>> HOW MUCH IS RECIDIVISM AN ISSUE FOR THOSE COMMITTING VIOLENT OFFENSES?

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT IT THAT WAY , THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE OUT HERE AND IN ACTUALITY, THESE ARE CITIZENS TRYING TO COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, RELAYING.

>> USED SAY THAT THIS IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTE IN FACTOR, HOUSING.

>> OFTEN TIMES, WITH A CONVICTION RECORD , THERE'S DISCRIMINATION AS THEY GO TO APPLY FOR HOUSING.

THERE ARE VARIETY OF BARRIERS .

ESSENTIALLY , THIS IS PROBABLY THE LARGEST COMPONENT AND THAT CAN CREATE THOSE BARRIERS.

>> AND THEY END UP STAYING WITH FAMILY , WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE RELUCTANT .

HOW MUCH OF A CHALLENGE IS THIS?

>> IT'S A LACK OF AFFORDABILITY THAT BECOMES AN ISSUE.

TO GET THE DOWN PAYMENT , AND OFTEN TIMES , THERE ARE ISSUES RELATED TO HAVING TO SUSTAIN YOURSELF.

>> EMPLOYMENT IS OBVIOUSLY A BIG ONE .

HOW CAN WE HELP RETURNING RESIDENTS GET BACK TO WORK?

>> WELL, TODAY, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST FORWARD LEADING NATIONAL POLICIES TODAY, WHICH THE CITY HAS A FIVE-YEAR LOOK BACK AS INDIVIDUALS CAN APPLY FOR A JOB AND NOT BE DENIED BASED OFF OF BACKGROUND.

ALSO, THAT INDIVIDUAL ASSESS AND , YOU KNOW, HELPS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE NOT DENIED BASED ON YOUR BACKGROUND.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES HELPS WITH THAT AND WILL HELP GET YOU THAT GROUND.

AND IT WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO GO TO THAT ASSESSMENT ARE HIRED.

>> SO WHAT DO WE KNOW THAT WHAT DOES WORK?

>> WHAT WE DO KNOW IS GETTING AN INDIVIDUAL TO LOOK AT HOW THEY PARTICIPATE IN CERTAIN BEHAVIORS FOR THAT PREVENTION, PRE-AND POST.

THAT ALLOWS THEM TO REALLY LEARN HOW THEY GOT IN THEIR AND HOW TO ACCLIMATE AFTER THEY GET OUT, WHICH CAN BE REALLY HELPFUL.

>> KEVIN BROWN, WHAT YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT SOME FOLKS ARE JUST HABITUAL OFFENDERS ?

DO YOU MAINTAIN THAT ALL OF US SHOULD CARE ABOUT RE-ENTRY?

>> THERE'S A LOT THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT WE DON'T.

80% OF THE INDIVIDUALS DON'T HAVE A FELONY.

SO, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE AS THEY TALK ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT REOFFEND, SO TO SPEAK.

WHEN WE PROVIDE SUPPORT OF RE-ENTRY SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE AS WE AIM TO GET RESOURCES THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR ALL.

THIS IS HOW WE CREATE THAT COMMUNITY.

THIS PROMOTES FAITH IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT, WITH RECIDIVISM.

>> WHAT ROLE DO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE?

>> WELL, GOVERNMENT HAS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RESOURCES , AND, IF WE ARE NOT PROVIDING THIS TO INDIVIDUALS COMING BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE SET UP FOR SUCCESS , IF THEY ARE NOT ACCESSING THESE SERVICES AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACCESS THEM, WE NEED TO RETHINK HOW WE ARE PROVIDING THEM.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

MY THANKS .

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> TO LEARN MORE AND THE MANY CHALLENGES FACING PEOPLE RE-ENTERING SOCIETY , GO TO WTTW.COM.

>>> IT CAN BE TOUGH TO FIND BOOKS THAT REFLECT BLACK USE.

THIS ORGANIZATION TOOK UPON THEMSELVES TO MAKE SURE THAT CHILDREN HAVE PLENTY OF OPTIONS ON THE SHELVES.

THEY FOCUSED ON BOOKS CENTERING BLACK CHARACTERS AND LAUNCHED THIS ORGANIZATION TO PUBLISH THE WORK OF 10 YOUTH WRITERS IN SHORT STORIES.

>> THEY CAN GATHER AROUND THE TABLES, THEY CAN LOOK AT THE BOOKS.

>> WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT DONATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY , ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ARE LAUNCHING A USE AUTHOR CONTEST.

>> BLACK STORYTELLING IS A HUGE PART OF OUR CULTURE, SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GAVE YOUNG WRITERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE, TO BE SELECTED, TO BE PUBLISHED , IN CELEBRATION .

>> WE ARE GIVING CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT THEY CAN BE PUBLISHED AUTHORS AND BESIDES THAT, GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN TO READ THESE STORIES AND SEE THERE IS ACTUALLY LITERATURE THAT REPRESENTS THEM.

>> WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES .

I FELT LIKE MY NIECE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH BOOKS THAT FEATURED LITTLE BLACK GIRLS .

WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THE KIDS COME TO OUR TABLE AND THINKING OH, THAT GIRL LOOKS LIKE ME, SHE MIGHT HAVE THAT HAIRSTYLE AND IT ENCOURAGES YOU TO PICK IT UP, RIGHT?

WE REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT INTERACTION WITH THE CHILDREN SO THAT THEY INTERACT WITH THESE BOOKS AND TRY TO FIND THINGS THEY ARE INTERESTED IN.

>> YOU WILL FIND MORE ABOUT THE YOUNG BLACK LIT ORGANIZATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

WE HAVE MORE, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

CLINIC >>> FROM IDA B WELLS TO BARACK OBAMA.

BLACK HISTORY IS RICH.

WE WANT TO PRESERVE THAT HISTORY AND SHARE IT WITH A BROADER AUDIENCE.

WE HAVE REVEREND BRIAN SMITH , AT THE CHICAGO THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY AND THE PROGRAM MANAGER OF LANDMARK ILLINOIS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SO, HELP US GET A SENSE OF THE PROJECT YOU ARE WORKING ON.

>> WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON IS A FANATIC LISTING FOR THE ILLINOIS CHAPTER .

WHAT THAT MEANS IS IT'S NOT THAT EVERY SITE WILL BE A LANDMARK , BUT, FOR EXAMPLE , NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL SITES IN ILLINOIS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT PUTTING ILLINOIS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC SITE.

>> TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT PROJECT.

>> WE ARE DEVELOPING A PROJECT ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF REVEREND JESSE JACKSON .

IT'S A VERY EXCITING PROJECT THAT COVERS SIX OF THESE PIONEERS AS WE LOOK AT HISTORY AND ARCHIVE PROJECTS.

>> SO OBVIOUSLY, THE PROJECT IS SPECIAL AND PERSONAL .

I'M CURIOUS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GROW UP IN BOTH OF YOUR PARENTS ARE BLACK PANTHERS AND HOW THAT INFLUENCES YOUR APPROACH.

>> WHEN I WAS COMING UP IN ILLINOIS, THEY WERE NOT IN OPERATION, BUT THEIR INFLUENCE WAS STILL FELT.

I WOULD SAY THAT I GOT THAT VIEWPOINT FROM MY PARENTS AND HOW I WAS DIFFERENT .

I HAD A TOTALLY DIFFERENT OUTLOOK AND WE STARTED THIS PROJECT WHERE I WAS PART OF THE EFFORT TO LANDMARK THE HAMPTON HOUSE , WITH THE EXTENSIVE WORK THAT THE BLACK PANTHERS DID IN CHICAGO AND IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS , THAT OUT OF CHICAGO'S 77 NEIGHBORHOODS, IT'S NOT EVERYONE, BUT IT'S A GREAT MAJORITY.

>> TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ROLE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, FOCUSING ON REVEREND JACKSON.

>> THE CHICAGO THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY HAS BEEN INVOLVED AND AT THE CUTTING EDGE.

REVEREND JACKSON IS ACTUALLY AN ALUMNUS AND TWO OF HIS PARTNERS IN CRIME WORKED WITH DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING TO LEAD A CHICAGO-BASED BRANCH OF THE BREAD BASKET MOVEMENT.

THIS WAS A JUSTICE ARM OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS.

WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THAT LEGACY , THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL MARCHING AND STILL WORKING VERY HARD AND WE WANT TO TAKE THAT WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO HIGHLIGHT HIS WORK, BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AND TRAIN UP-AND-COMING LEADERS.

CARRYING THE TORCH OF ACTIVISTS.

>> I WANT TO GET A SENSE OF HOW YOU WANT THEM TO BE INSPIRED.

>> WE WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO MAKE CHANGE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO A MAJOR FIGURE TO BEGIN THIS WORK.

THEY WEREN'T WELL KNOWN , IT WAS ABOUT THEIR WORK.

WE WANT TO TRAIN AND EQUIP LEADERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY AND THE ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGE.

>> WE HAVE A SIMILAR QUESTION WITH THIS ROLE OF THE BLACK PANTHERS.

IT'S THE BLACK POWER MOVEMENT.

>> EXACTLY.

I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF THE PARTIES WORK IN OUR STATE WAS IN RESPONSE TO POVERTY.

OUR PEOPLE , WHO CAME UP IN THE GREAT MIGRATION TO THE MEDICAL CENTER , THIS WAS A RESPONSE TO EXTREME POVERTY THAT PEOPLE WERE FACING.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT OUR HISTORY , IT'S NOT ALWAYS A FUZZY, FEEL-GOOD HISTORY, BUT IF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY'S HISTORY.

THEY CHANGE LEGISLATION AND THEY MADE IT POSSIBLE.

IT WAS A DELIBERATE ASSASSINATION OF THE PARTY ITSELF IN OUR CITY.

>> I'M NOTICING A THEME , RIGHT, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND THE MEDICAL CENTER, LIKE YOU SAID.

WHAT ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF PRESERVING THESE MATERIALS?

HOW DO YOU RESHAPE THE NARRATIVE?

>> PRESERVING THE HISTORY AND THE STRUCTURES , IT'S VERY URGENT , SO WE ARE LOSING SOME .

THIS CERTAIN CENTER IS IN AN EMPTY LOT , SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE MATERIALS.

WE HAVE THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY NEWSPAPER SCANS , BUT IT'S NOT EASY TO PRESERVE PAPERWORK , RIGHT?

UNLESS YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL CURATOR .

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN SCAN DOCUMENTS .

THE CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM HAS THAT IN ITS ARCHIVES.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US AND >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING A GOOD >>> BACK IN THE DAY, WE HOSTED CONVERSATIONS THAT TOOK A LOOK BACK AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT LACK CHICAGO.

IN THIS 2003 THROWBACK , WE TOOK A TOUR OF BRONZEVILLE.

>> BEFORE ARLO GUTHRIE GOT ANYTHING HE WANTED, SAMMY DAVIS JUNIOR, ARETHA FRANKLIN WERE ALL RIGHT HERE AT GLADYS'S .

IT CHITTERLINGS, RED BEANS AND RICE, HAM .

AND NEVER WASTE THAT CORNBREAD.

>> GLADYS HOLCOMB OF GLADYS LUNCHEONETTE .

THERE IS A NEW RESTAURANT NAMED IN HER HONOR.

IT'S A TRIBUTE TO THE LUNCHEONETTE.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU CELEBRATE OR WHAT YOU CALL IT, THAT TUESDAY, THIS IS A DAY CELEBRATED BY EATING AND LOTS OF IT.

TALKING THAT ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED CAJUN CREOLE FOODS IN HYDE PARK AND A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PO'BOY.

>> A PO'BOY IS A SANDWICH BORN OUT OF NEW ORLEANS .

IT'S A SANDWICH THAT'S PREDOMINANTLY MEAT, THESE DAYS .

MY FIRST ONE WAS A FRENCH FRY PO'BOY.

IT'S HARD TO NAIL DOWN THE EXACT ORIGIN OF THE NAME, PO'BOY , BUT THIS WAS A HISTORIC RESTAURANT IN NEW ORLEANS AND WORKERS WOULD WALK TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT WAS DURING A STRIKE AND THEY WOULD YELL, "TRAN03 COMING UP."

WE HAVE SHRIMP, ALLIGATOR , WE HAVE THIS VERSION OF IT.

THESE DAYS , SOME OF THESE RESTAURANTS HAVE DECIDED TO DEFINED AS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT IT WAS ORIGINALLY LETTUCE AND TOMATO AND ONION.

THESE CAME FROM MY LATE AUNT .

SHE MARRIED A NEW ORLEANS MAN AND WE JUST THOUGHT , YOU KNOW, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THIS FOOD THAT IS FAST AND FESTIVE.

FOR THE MARDI GRAS SEASON.

WE PLAN ON BEING PART OF THE RESTAURANT WRAP UP AND WE WANT TO PLAY THE MUSIC LOUD.

>> I AM SO HUNGRY.

THAT'S OPEN THIS THAT TUESDAY.

>>> BEFORE WE GO , CHICAGO IS MOURNING THE LOSS OF A LOCAL LEADER.

CHILD WAS BRINGING TOGETHER THE COALITION IN WASHINGTON AND WENT ON TO WORK IN CITY COUNCIL .

THOUGH SHE WAS BORN IN CLARKSVILLE, SHE SPENT HER YEARS IN VICKSBURG .

SHE CALLED ME TO CHAT AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

I MISS HEARING FROM HER.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW, THIS WEEKEND.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

YOU CAN ALSO CATCH A SUNDAYS, BEGINNING AT 10:00.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" , THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.