>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> I WAS I WAS RESPONDING TO THE INCREDIBLE PAIN AND DAY RACIAL DISPARITIES IN CHILDBIRTH IS THE FOCUS OF A NEW DOCUMENTARY.

>> EVICTION IS JUST ONE SMALL.

SCHOOLS TO HOMELESS.

>> EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS, POVERTY AND EVICTIONS.

IN A NEW EXHIBIT.

>> THIS IS A JUST GRAMMY.

>> AND ONE ON ONE WITH CHICAGO POAGE AI THE FRESH OFF HIS 3RD GRAMMY WIN.

AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

CHICAGO'S TOP COP VISITS WASHINGTON, D.C., TODAY POLICE SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNOWING JOIN PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ALONG WITH OTHER POLICE CHIEFS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE PRESIDENT TOUTED DECREASE IN CRIME SAYING THAT NATIONALLY HOMICIDES WERE DOWN 12% LAST YEAR.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS CHICAGO INVESTED 100 MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO REDUCE CRIME, INCLUDING VIOLENCE, INTERVENTION EFFORT, YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS AND ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES TO 9-1-1.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ALSO SAYS CHICAGO RECEIVED 6 MILLION DOLLARS IN DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GRANT TO HIRE OR RETAIN 50 OFFICERS.

HOMICIDES IN CHICAGO DROPPED 13% LAST YEAR.

BUT VIOLENCE NUMBERS REMAIN AMONG THE HIGHEST IN RECENT DECADES.

AND IT WILL COST CHICAGO TAXPAYERS ADDITIONAL 4 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE CITY'S CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH SHOTSPOTTER.

THAT'S THAT CONTROVERSIAL GUNSHOT DETECTION SYSTEM.

RECORDS SHOW THE CITY SIGNED 2 CONTRACTS IN FEBRUARY WITH SOUND THINKING THAT'S THE COMPANY THAT MAKES SHOTSPOTTER TO REACH THAT TOTAL.

THE SYSTEM'S LAST DAY IN CHICAGO IS SET FOR NOVEMBER 22ND.

THAT INCLUDES THE 2 MONTH TRANSITION PERIOD WHICH MAY OR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS ALLOW THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REVAMP ITS TECHNOLOGY CENTER'S BY THEN THE CITY WILL HAVE SPENT MORE THAN 53 MILLION DOLLARS ON THE SYSTEM SINCE IT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2018.

FOR MORE ON THIS STORY, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AND IT MAY NOT THAT COLD THIS WEEKEND.

BUT MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON, A NEARLY 5,000 OTHER BRAVE SOULS ARE TAKING THE PLUNGE.

THAT'S THE POLAR PLUNGE PEOPLE IN PERFECTLY WARM, DRY CLOTHES ARE GOING TO RUN INTO LAKE MICHIGAN SUNDAY MORNING TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS, CHICAGO AND SPECIAL CHILDREN'S CHARITIES.

LAST YEAR'S PLUNGE WAS THE BIGGEST IN THE ORGANIZATION'S HISTORY AND RAISED OVER 2 MILLION DOLLARS TO PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION TO COMPETITIONS UNIFORMS, SPORTS EQUIPMENT AND MORE FOR THE ATHLETES.

GOOD LUCK TO THEM.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN UP.

FOLKS.

UP NEXT.

A NEW DOCUMENTARY EXPLORING RACIAL DISPARITIES IN CHILDBIRTH.

THAT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY 5TH 3005TH BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> 3RD, WE BELIEVE WOULD DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER.

A BETTER FUTURE HOLDS GREAT PROMISE FOR ALL.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO.

TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES TOGETHER.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER.

WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>> OKAY.

BLACK WOMEN ARE TWICE AS LIKELY AS WHITE WOMEN TO DIE FROM A PREGNANCY-RELATED CONDITION.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO LAST YEAR'S MATERNAL MORTALITY IN ILLINOIS REPORT, WHICH ALSO FOUND 91% OF THOSE DEATHS WERE PREVENTABLE.

THE NEW DOCUMENTARY, THE FIGHT FOR BLACK LIVES CHRONICLES THE STORIES OF BLACK MOTHERS WHO FACED RACIAL INEQUITIES IN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

IT COMES AS GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER PROPOSES 4 MILLION DOLLARS IN HIS NEW BUDGET AIMED AT TACKLING THE ISSUE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE SHERRY KEELS, A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND DIRECTOR OF THE FIGHT FOR BLACK LIVES.

AND DOCTOR SAMIR DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

WELCOME BACK.

DOCTOR VOHRA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING SHERRY, TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU OR YOUR YOUR RESEARCH AS A PROFESSOR LEAD YOU TO CREATE DOCUMENTARY.

RIGHT?

SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TO GET TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

THIS ESSENTIALLY THE REASON WHY CREATED DOCUMENTARY BECAUSE IF I WROTE A RESEARCH ARTICLE ON IT, >> NO ONE WOULD BE READING IT.

WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT IT.

BUT WE'VE KNOWN FOR A VERY LONG TIME THAT THERE ARE THESE DISPARITIES AND THAT THERE ARE LARGE AND THEY HAVE MEANINGFUL EFFECTS ON THE LIVES OF THE WOMEN AIRLINES LIVES OF CHILDREN WHO MIGHT BE GOING UP WITHOUT THEIR MOTHERS.

IF THEY PASS AWAY DURING CHILDBIRTH.

AND ESSENTIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS A SPIKE, AN INCREASE AS THE AS DOCK.

AS YOU NOTED, 91% OF THESE DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE.

THERE WAS A SPIKE IN PREVENTABLE DEATHS BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE COLLATERAL EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE WAY THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THEM IN THE PUBLIC MEDIA WITH STILL IS THE.

HEALTH BEHAVIOR CHOICES AND DECISIONS AND THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WOMEN COULD BE HEALTHIER IF THEY DID THIS OR IF THEY DID THAT.

AND THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE GAPS, THE RACIAL GAPS, IT'S BECAUSE OF OUR SYSTEMS THAT ARE STRUCTURES.

IT'S BECAUSE WOMEN HAVE TO DEAL WITH SO MUCH STRESS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE COURSE THAT WHEN THEY DO BECOME PREGNANT, THEIR BODIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE WORN DOWN, WHICH IS CALLED WEATHERING.

AND THAT MATTERS.

THAT'S NOT A HEALTH CHOICE BEHAVIOR.

IT'S ALSO ISSUES OF ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

YOU KNOW, IF I'M I'M A BLACK WOMAN AND MAYBE I'M MORE LIKELY TO BE A SINGLE MOTHER.

IT MEANS I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WORK LONGER RIGHT UP TO MY PREGNANCY.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET BACK TO WORK RIGHT AFTER THAT DELIVERY.

ORDER TO MAINTAIN THAT HEALTH INSURANCE AND THAT AND WE KNOW THAT THAT THAT RETURN TO WORK VERY QUICKLY.

THERE ARE OTHER COMPLICATIONS.

AND I JUST LEARNED THE WORD HERE WEATHERING.

>> WANT TO GET A DOCTOR FOR IN JUST A BUT, YOU KNOW, WE MENTIONED THE DOCUMENTARY AND I KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN PLAYING AT SOME FESTIVALS ALL OF YOUR EXPERTS IN THE DOCUMENTARY OR WOMEN OF COLOR THAT WAS CLEARLY IMPORTANT TO I LOVE WATCHING DOCUMENTARIES MYSELF.

AND EVEN WHEN THOSE DOCUMENTARIES ARE TALKING ABOUT RACIAL ISSUES, WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES OF INEQUALITY, ECONOMIC ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

>> MOST OF EXPERTS ARE STILL WHITE.

AND SO IT JUST GAVE ME THE FREEDOM.

WHEN I WAS DOING DOCUMENTARY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT BLACK PROBLEMS BUT CELEBRATING BLACK EXPERTS.

ALL OF THESE WOMEN AS EXPERTS THERE ARE AT THE TOP OF FIELD.

SO THEY'RE NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT IT FROM A RESEARCH PERSPECTIVE.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE.

THIS MATTERS TO THEM.

THEY'RE NOT ONLY DOING THE RESEARCH, THEY'RE DOING THE WORK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO CREATE CHANGE.

AND I JUST WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SHOW.

JUST THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THIS BLACK EXCELLENCE.

YOU THERE NO IFS ANDS OR WHO ARE DOING THE DOCTOR VOHRA.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL INCLUDES 23 MILLION DOLLARS TO ADVANCE BIRTH AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BIRTH EQUITY IN THERE.

SOME OTHER STEPS MONEY THAT'S APPROPRIATED OR THAT IS PROPOSED FOR CHILDREN.

AND I BRING PROGRAM HOME VISITING, GIVE US A SENSE OF OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

>> PART OF THE GOVERNOR AND HIS LEADERSHIP ON ELEVATING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE AND REALLY PUTTING THE EFFORT TO ADDRESS THESE GAPS.

AS YOU MENTIONED, 23 MILLION DOLLARS, 4 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO THINK ACROSS GOVERNMENT ACTION PLAN TO HELP ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES AS WELL AS PROVIDE BIRTH EQUITY RESOURCE GRANTS TO COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDERS TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS AS A COMMUNITY OF AN ISSUE.

THE GOVERNOR IS ALSO PROPOSING 12 MILLION DOLLARS TO ESTABLISH CHILD TAX CREDIT PROGRAM TARGETED FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDER 3, ANOTHER 5 MILLION TO INCREASE THE DEPARTMENT HUMAN SERVICES HOME VISITING PROGRAM.

WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT HOME VISITING MODELS ARE AROUND THE BIRTH OF A CHILD AND THE FIRST YEAR AFTER BIRTH AS WELL AS A PILOT PROGRAM TO INVEST GETTING THE CRITICAL NEED OF DIAPERS TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.

AND THEN FINALLY, A MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE IN THE ONLY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FACILITIES.

GRANT ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

ALL OF THOSE COMBINED TO REALLY MAKE AN EFFORT AND SHOW THE COMMITMENT GOVERNOR AND THAT ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION AROUND IMPROVING MATERNAL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR THOSE MOMS AS WELL AS THEIR CHILDREN REALLY AT THE CORE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF COMMUNITIES.

SO THE DOCUMENTARY RECOUNTS THE STORIES OF MULTIPLE BLACK WOMEN WHO HAD PAINFUL OR HARMFUL EXPERIENCES THROUGH THEIR PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH GENERAL, A GYNECOLOGICAL CARE.

HERE IS A MOMENT FROM THE FILM.

>> SO THEY GAVE ME MORPHINE.

>> AFTER LIKE 2 HOURS, I WAS RESPONDING TO THE MORPHINE.

I WAS IN INCREDIBLE PAIN AND THEY SAID IT WOULD PROBABLY BE TIME FOR AN EARLY AT THE PROBABLY ANOTHER LIKE 10 HOURS BEFORE I GOT THAT.

AND SO THEY SAID WHAT THE BABIES THAT IN DISTRESS.

SO LET'S LET'S WAIT.

LET'S WAIT FOR YOU TO DILATE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WE WAITED FOR HIM HOURS.

>> TURNED INTO DAYS.

>> THAT IN THE DOCUMENTARY IN THE FILM SHE GOES ON TO SAY THAT A WHITE FRIEND WHO WAS IN A SIMILAR SITUATION DID NOT HAVE TO WAIT QUITE AS LONG AND WHAT SHE WAS DELIVERED MUCH WHAT WHAT ARE WHAT IS THIS AND MAYBE SOME OTHER MOMENTS IN THE FILM TELL YOU ABOUT HOW BLACK WOMEN ARE PERCEIVED IN THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW OUR THERE'S STILL PERSIST TODAY.

UNFORTUNATELY IS STILL IMPLICITLY TAUGHT IN MEDICAL SCHOOL THAT BLACK PEOPLE, I'M MUCH MORE TOLERANT TO PAIN ALSO IDEAS THAT DARKER SKIN IS TOUGHER.

AND SO IT CAN HANDLE IN THIS PROCESS.

IT'S ALSO THE EXTENT TO WHICH YOU I SEE YOU AND YOUR HUMANITY AND EMPATHIZE WITH YOU WHEN I'M PROVIDING CARE.

IF I'M ABLE TO SEE YOU AND YOUR HUMANITY EMPATHIZE WITH YOU, I'M MORE LIKELY TO REACT QUICKER.

RATHER YOU KNOW, WATCHING THIS CLINICAL CASE UNFOLD AND DISTANCE AND AWAY FROM ME.

AND SO THAT'S A PIECE OF IT.

ONE OF THE STATISTICS THAT SHOWING THE DOCUMENTARY IS THAT WHEN BLACK CHILDREN, BLACK INFANTS ARE CARED FOR BY A BLACK DOCTOR.

THERE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS LIKELY TO DIE BEFORE THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY.

THEN WHEN BLACK INFANTS ARE CARED FOR BY A WHITE DOCTOR RICH AND INDICTED WITH, THERE'S ALSO OBVIOUSLY THE TALK ABOUT HOW TO BRING IN MORE BLACK DOCTORS SO THAT THERE'S MORE ACCESS TO THAT, WHICH WHICH I KNOW IS A UNFORTUNATELY.

>> WE'RE OUT OF SHERRY KEELS AND DOCTOR SAMIR BORA, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

UP NEXT, A NEW EXHIBIT EXPLORES A POTENTIAL PATHE TO HOMELESSNESS.

THE REASON MIGRANT CRISIS HAS SHOWN A LIGHT ON A PROBLEM THAT ALREADY EXISTED IN CHICAGO.

HOMELESSNESS.

SEVERAL FACTORS CAN LEAD TO NOT HAVING A HOME, BUT FOR SOME IT HAPPENS AFTER AN EVICTION.

A NEW EXHIBIT WORKS TO EXPLAIN THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN EVICTION HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY WITH HELP FROM THOSE WHO KNOW IT BEST.

IT'S BASED ON THE PULITZER PRIZE WINNING BOOK EVICTED BY PRINCETON, SOCIOLOGIST MATTHEW DESMOND, AS PART OF WTW IS ONGOING INITIATIVE FIRSTHAND HOMELESS.

HERE'S A TOUR.

>> MY NAME IS ROSEMARY AND I WAS 14 WHEN I WAS A BIT IT'S THIS VIDEO THAT JAMES LEE WILLIAMS SAYS HE FINDS ESPECIALLY MOVING >> IT'S TOUCHING IS ABOUT A PERSON REALLY POINT HARD THAT SHE LOST.

>> EVERYTHING THE VIDEO, PLEASE AS PART OF AN EXHIBIT CALLED EVICTED BASED ON THE PULITZER PRIZE WINNING BOOK BY PROFESSOR MATTHEW DESMOND IS A PLAY.

WILLIAMS CAN RELATE BECAUSE HE'S EXPERIENCED IT TOO.

>> LOST EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, DUE TO THE FACT OUR BRAND OVER BY A CAR.

AND IT JUST WENT DOWNHILL POSITION WITH JOB THAT I HAD DESTRUCTION SAID I CAN NO WORK THERE BECAUSE I GOT TO DISABUSE THEM OF AND THE MONEY RAN OUT.

YOU KNOW THAT I WOULD GET NO CHECKED.

YEAH, I WAS ADDICTED.

>> WILLIAMS SAYS HE'S STILL HOMELESS COUCH SURFING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHILE MAINTAINING A PICTURE.

PERFECT EXTERIOR.

>> YOU KNOW, I JUST PLAYED A ROLE WITH PEOPLE LIKE, YOU KNOW, YEAH, I STILL STAY HERE IN HOUSE RIGHT HERE.

YOU SAND LIKE THAT AND ALL I DON'T STAY THERE IN THAT HOUSE ALL ALONE.

STAY HERE.

YOU DON'T SAY.

AND SOMETIME I SLEEP IN MY SUNDAY'S THERE.

AND SOME TIME I GO TO THE HOTEL.

>> THE ROLE WILLIAMS PLAYS HERE AT THE NATIONAL PUBLIC HOUSING MUSEUM IS EDUCATOR HELPING VISITORS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF EVICTION AND THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE IT.

>> I DIDN'T PAY RENT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THEY THEY CAME GOT I GOT TO GO.

MOST OF MY STUFF GOT DESTROYED.

YOU KNOW, I'M SAYING I GOT MOST OF MY THAT I START PUTTING ALL MY STUFF IN THE STORES.

I STILL GOT STUART'S STUFF IN MY STORIES NOW.

I GOT STUFF IN MY MIND THAT I GOT STUFF FROM IT.

I GOT I COULD I GOT STUFF.

IT FRIEND'S HOUSE.

YOU KNOW AND STUFF IS EVERYWHERE.

>> PART OF THE EXHIBIT INCLUDES THIS SCULPTURAL PIECE SEEN CONTAINING THE ITEMS THAT MAKE A HOME'S UNDERGO TOSSED ONTO THE STREET.

WE'RE SO SUDDENLY ALL OF THEIR MOST PRECIOUS FAMILY OBJECTS ARE SORT OF RIPPED OUT OF THEIR HOME OWNED UP.

AND THEN IN UNITED STATES WHAT HAPPENED SAYS THERE'S OFTEN.

>> PREDATORY MOVING COMPANIES THAT COM TAKE THE OBJECTS AND PUT THEM INTO A STORAGE FACILITY.

AND THEN UNLESS THE FAMILY HAS ENOUGH MONEY, THEY'LL NEVER GET THEIR OBJECTS A AND SO ALL THROUGHOUT THE NATION, THERE ARE THESE WAREHOUSES JUST FILLED WITH PEOPLE'S MOST PRECIOUS OBJECTS.

>> THE EXHIBIT RELIES ON EDUCATORS LIKE WILLIAMS FROM WHO IS ALSO HOMELESS.

BUT IT ALSO USES NUMBERS.

THE GOAL IS TO ELIMINATE THE HARSH REALITY OF EVICTIONS FROM LOW-INCOME RENTERS.

IN CHICAGO ALONE.

LAST YEAR, WE HAD, YOU KNOW, OVER 24,000 SORT OF EVICTIONS.

AND WE'RE UP THERE AS THE CITY.

THE NUMBERS ALSO SHOW THE DISPROPORTIONAL IMPACT ON BLACK RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN.

>> AS LACK BLACK MEN UP, BLACK WOMEN ARE LOCKED OUT.

AND SO REALLY THIS YOU SEE THAT BLACK WOMEN ARE MOST OF THE REST FOR OF ACTION IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> BLACKS MAKE UP ONLY 18.6% OF RENTERS THE ACCOUNT.

FOR 43% OF THOSE WHO WERE EVICTED FOR BLACK WOMEN WITH CHILDREN.

THE EVICTION FILING RATE WAS 28.4% COMPARED TO THE OVERALL FILING RATE FOR ADULTS WITH CHILDREN AT 10.4% RESEARCH SHOWS THAT IN THE U.S. 7.6 MILLION PEOPLE WERE THREATENED WITH EVICTION EACH YEAR BETWEEN 2007 2016, NEARLY 3 MILLION OF THEM WERE CHILDREN.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK, OH, WELL, PEOPLE WHO ARE EVICTED.

>> DON'T HAVE JOBS.

BUT ACTUALLY WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING WITH US WHO ARE HUSTLING AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE 3 JOBS.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS STILL FOR TO ACTUALLY LIVE SOMEWHERE.

>> THE DARAA SAYS HE WORKS BUT ISN'T PAID ENOUGH FOR BRENT.

SOMETIMES HE STAYS WITH FRIENDS, BUT MOSTLY HE SLEEPS OUTSIDE.

>> FIRST, I WAS JUST.

STAYING BY THE TRAIN, MOSTLY.

I'M NOT THE SAFEST PLACE OF BEEN ROBBED TWICE >> ASSAULTED >> HE SAYS HE'S NEVER BEEN EVICTED BUT KNOWS THE PAIN ELECTRIC PEOPLE TOO.

AND EYES PEOPLE.

WE LOST THEIR HOMES BEING EVICTED SUCH BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR HOME.

YOU LOST YOUR PRIVATE SPACE.

YOU LOSE.

YOU WERE.

SPACE WHERE YOU CAN BE SAFE WHERE YOU CAN BE YOURSELF.

IT'S HARD TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE LIKE THAT.

>> JAMES LEE WILLIAMS SAYS IT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE HIM CONSIDER HIS OLD WAYS.

YEARS AGO HE WAS SENT TO PRISON FOR BANK ROBBERY.

BUT TODAY HE HAS A GOOD REASON TO STAY HOPEFUL FOR A BETTER MY DAUGHTER KEEPS ME.

>> A PRISON.

>> BECAUSE I WANTED TO HAVE THE BEST.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MY DAUGHTER KEEPS ME OUT OF PRISON.

>> DARIOUS WILLIAMS AND OTHER EDUCATORS FOR THE EXHIBIT.

OUR PARTICIPANTS WITH RED LINE SERVICE, AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS WHO ARE OR HAVE BEEN HOMELESS.

THE EVICTED EXHIBIT RUNS THROUGH MARCH 10TH AT THE NATIONAL PUBLIC HOUSE AND MUSEUM IN RIVER NORTH.

UP NEXT, CHICAGO POAGE AI THE JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT HIS LATEST GRAMMY WIN.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

CHICAGO NJ.

IT IS ONE OF THE MOST HIGH-PROFILE POET ON THE PLANET.

HE'S WORKING WITH A LIST ARTIST INCLUDES KANYE WEST, JAY Z AND OF COURSE, BEYONCE EVEN GAVE JOHN LEGEND HIS NAME USED TO BE JOHN STEVENS.

ALSO JUST WON HIS 3RD GRAMMY FOR HIS SPOKEN WORD ALBUM, THE LIGHT INSIDE.

AND LAST YEAR HE EVEN PERFORMED AT THE UNITED NATIONS.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

>> IT IS OUR HUMAN RIGHTS.

SO REPORTS ARE TRUE.

TO WRITE OUR STORIES.

TO PROTECT THE VOICES OF THE AND THE OLD.

BUT FOR THOSE THAT DISAGREE.

BUT YOU WILL NOT.

NEWT.

OUR HEARTS.

YOU WILL NEVER SILOAM.

HOW SOME >> STRONG WORDS.

JOINING US NOW AJ IVY.

WELCOME BACK.

THANKS FOR JOINING THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO TO BE HERE, I WANT TO COME BACK TO THAT PERFORMANCE AT THE UN IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.

BUT FIRST, 3RD, GRAMMY, HOW DID THAT FEEL LIKE A JIMMY JAM JUST ME A YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN FLOWN ALONG IS THE MY CLOUD WHEN I WALK.

AND I DO KNOW IS THAT YES, A LITTLE SOME OF THE CREW STARTED COUGHING.

HAHA.

>> IS IS BEEN A TO START.

>> THE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND AND AND TRAINED ABOUT REACHING CERTAIN POINTS TO BE HERE AND HAVE ALMOST LIKE THE GRAMMYS OF ALL PLACES HERO LIKE JIMMY JAM AND A NEW STATUE.

WAS THIS IN IN YOUR SPEECH, YOU TOASTED POETS WHO SOUNDED AN ALARM TO WAKE UP THE SPIRIT.

>> WHAT DID YOU WANT TO SAY?

WOULD YOU WANT PEOPLE TO HEAR?

>> I WANT PEOPLE HERE LOVE.

PEOPLE TO REFLECT ON THE BEAUTY IN ALL OF US.

THE LIGHT INSIDE OF ALL OF US.

WE LOOK AROUND THE WORLD.

WE SEE OF THE THAT OR MORE THAT HAPPENS.

AND YOU KNOW, ENOUGH OF IT ENOUGH.

WE NEED MORE BALANCE.

WE NEED MORE LOVE MORE LIKE MORE.

JOY IN THE WORLD.

FOUND THAT POETRY IS A A VERY HEALING TO A WAY TO AND LIGHTEN THE SPIRIT NOT DOWN WALLS AND CONNECT THIS.

SO ME MY JOB AS A POET, MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO CONTINUE TO CREATE AND HOPES THAT WE CAN CONNECT.

>> YOU ALSO SAID THE WORLD NEEDS MORE POETS HOW CAN THE REST OF US TAP INTO THAT INNER POET?

>> I MEAN, FOR ME IS SIMPLE.

THIS IS LIKE MEDITATION ACQUIRED TAKE DEEP BREATHS TO NOT LISTEN.

LISTEN TO THOSE VOICES I LISTEN TO DO.

YOU KNOW, TO MY SPIRIT, HEART.

AND, YOU KNOW, I LISTENED WITH A PEN IN MY HAND AND I DOCUMENT WHAT I HEAR.

I CATCH THOSE AS FAST AS I CAN.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANY AND EVERYBODY, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT LOOKING TO CAREERS, POETRY IS GREAT TO.

>> GET THOSE FEELINGS OFF SO RIGHT, THOSE DOWN FEELINGS.

THOSE STORIES, THOSE AT THE IS DOES WRITE IT DOWN, WRITE IT DOWN BECAUSE A LOT OF POWER AND THOSE WORDS.

>> YOU'VE ALSO YOU'VE OFTEN TALKED ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF YOUR TEACHER.

PAUL AS WELL AS YOUR MOTHER.

WHEN WAS IT THAT YOU REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU HAD A TALENT TO GET A GIFT?

>> YES, SO MY MY TEACHER MISS ARE YOU MY JUNIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, MADE THE CLASS RIGHT UP ALL THE HOMEWORK AND THEN THEY SAY SHE SURPRISES.

EVERYONE MAKES BY PALMA FROM THE CLASS OUTSIDE LOW SELF ESTEEM CONFIDENCE TO READ THIS PALM WHERE SHE GIVES ME A ONE GETTING A'S AND >> THEY WERE JUST A IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE A NICE SPEAKING VOICE NO ONE EVER TOLD ME THAT NEVER EVEN PAID ATTENTION TO MY VOICE AS A INSTRUMENT OR OR A TOOL.

>> YOU KNOW, SHE'D MADE ME DO THIS SHOW FOR SHOW DID I GOT A STANDING OVATION AND LIFE IMMEDIATELY CHANGE AND MEANWHILE, MOTHER WAS SHE SUPERVISOR AT HER DIALYSIS UNIT.

SHE'S A RETIRED NURSE SOUTH.

THE LADY MY MOM GOT RAPPER >> PUT OUT THESE NEWSLETTERS EVERY MONTH.

SO SHE HAD THE RIGHT UP HOME TO PUT OUR NEWSLETTER.

SO ESSENTIALLY MY MOTHER WAS MY FIRST PUBLISHER.

YOU KNOW, SHE TAUGHT ME LIKE REALLY HAVE A GIFT.

AND THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME HERE AND THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU STILL.

HAVE, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES TIME TO BUILD THAT CONFIDENCE IN KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL.

BUT IT WAS ENOUGH TO KNOW I HAVE PURPOSE AND IT WAS AND THAT PURPOSE WAS WAS MY NORTH STAR I LOVE PHILAE NOW IS GETTING FROM FROM WRITING FROM BEING ON STAGE FROM THE SHARING.

AND I JUST KEPT US ON THAT THAT PHIL AND THEN OUTSIDE.

YEAH, THIS IS YOU ARE YOUR STORY.

THAT MISS ARGUE ALSO SORT OF ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES THE POWER IN THE IMPACT OF OF A GOOD TEACHER.

BECAUSE WE MIGHT NOT BE HERE.

HAD SHE INSPIRED YOU AT THE TIME >> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU'RE WORKING, WHEN YOU'RE WRITING, DO YOU EVER HAVE SORT OF A CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT STORIES YOU WANT TO TELL OR IS IT ALL JUST KIND OF DEPENDING LIKE SORT OF WHAT'S ON YOUR BOTH BOTH SOMETIMES IS.

>> JUST BEING A FREE AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES STOPS.

JUST COME TO ME.

YOU KNOW, ALLY MAY JUST POP IN MY HEAD AND ALL RIGHT.

THAT DOWN THAT LINE MAY END UP BEING THE HOOK FOR THE ENTIRE PIECE.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE APPROACH ME AND SAY I HAVE THE SONG WILL HAVE THIS PROJECT WORKING ON THIS.

THIS COMMERCIAL LIKE RECENTLY DID SOMETHING WITH THE JORDAN BRAND.

BUT WE WE HAVE THIS THIS PIECE.

THIS IS THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO.

AND THEN I WRITE UP HOME TO, YOU KNOW, GET THOSE DOWN THERE JUST AREN'T ANY SO SO REALLY JUST THE PAN IS, YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO BE OPEN WITHIN A LET IT FLOW.

HOWEVER, IT MAY COME.

BUT THE GOAL IS TO WRITE A PAUL CAUGHT.

I NEED TO WRITE AND AS I WANT TO HIT, YOU NEED TO WRITE IT DOWN.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S THE YEAH.

>> THOSE SO WE PLAYED THAT OF THE YOU PERFORMING AT THE UNITED NATIONS.

THAT WAS LAST YEAR TO PRESS FREEDOM DAY IN UNUSUAL GIG FOR A TO BE AT THE UN.

HOW DO YOU TRY TO REACH AUDIENCES THAT MAY NOT BE IN THE POETRY WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES ON THE RADAR AS YOU FOR ME OF.

>> I'VE DEVELOPED THIS CONFIDENCE IN KNOWING THAT IF FEEL THAT OTHER PEOPLE FEEL IT WHEN I'M IN THE THE CONFINES OF MY HOME ALL RIGHT.

SAY ALL RIGHT, A LINE AND AND AM I ALLOWED WRITE A LINE THAT MAKES ME LAUGH LATE A PERFORMANCE.

THE SAME PLACE LAST AUDIENCE AS WELL.

SAME PLACE.

WHY LAUGHTER ON HIS WHAT IS TAUGHT ME IS I FEEL IT OTHER PEOPLE WILL FILL IT.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO TO ISSUE IMPORTANT MATTERS OF THE HEART, I KNOW ONE WE'RE ALL HUMAN.

WE ALL CONNECTED.

WELL WITH WHAT ALL SPIRITS HAVING A HUMAN EXPERIENCE TOMORROW WHEN THAT GETTING FOLKS TO IT IS UNFORTUNATE WERE ACTUALLY OUT OF TIME.

YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT ALL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM W T TW NEWS.

>> AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES, ILLINOIS CONSIDERS CRACKING DOWN ON HOW AUTO INSURERS SET RATES SO YOU MIGHT BE IMPACTED AND ADVICE FOR NAVIGATING THE SPREAD OF FALSE INFORMATION.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE IN CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTION HE'S MADE POSSIBLE BY CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM COMMITTED TO GIVING BACK TO