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

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

I AM BRANDIS FREEMAN.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT THE ROLE OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS KEEPING KIDS HEALTHY MENTALLY.

THE CITY'S BASIC INCOME PROGRAM WAS SET INTO MOTION MONTHS AGO.

WHERE IT STANDS RIGHT NOW.

>>> A NEW FILM ON INSTAGRAM GIVES AUDIENCES A FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT TO WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE FOR SLAVERY.

>>> CHICAGO'S FIRST WHACK LIBRARIAN NOW SHE BUILT ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTIONS OF BLACK HISTORY IN THE US.

>> AND CONNECTING THROUGH MUSIC WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS RIGHT NOW TO REMEMBER THAT THERE IS HUMANITY LEFT.

>> PLUS, HOW THE CHICAGO'S CHILDREN CHOIR IS BRINGING ABOUT CHANGE THAT THE WORLD CAN HEAR IN THEIR ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH CONCERT.

>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT AS THE PANDEMIC TAKES A TOLL ON KIDS AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH GIVING THEM THE SUPPORT THEY NEED REMAINS CHALLENGING.

SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE OFTEN A PRIMARY RESOURCE FOR MENTAL WELLNESS AND GUIDANCE BUT FEW CAN BE FOUND IN AMERICAN SCHOOLS.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST DATA FROM THE AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION THERE WAS ONE COUNSELOR FOR EVERY 424 STUDENTS DURING THE 2019 2020 SCHOOL YEAR.

IN ILLINOIS THE RATIO WAS ONE COUNSELOR FOR EVERY 592 STUDENTS.

THE AMERICAN SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDS ONE COUNSELOR FOR EVERY 250.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE OUR AUTUMN CABELL ASSISTANT COUNSELING PROFESSOR AT DEPAUL UNIVERSITY AND TARAEL L KEE, 2027 AND FORMER COUNSELOR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AUTUMN, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT KIND OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT CAN SCHOOL COUNSELORS PROVIDE?

>> A SCHOOL COUNSELOR CAN PROVIDE A VARIETY OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR YOUTH AND SCHOOLS INCLUDING SHORT-TERM INDIVIDUAL ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS AS WELL AS SMALL GROUP INTERVENTION LIKE GRIEF COUNSELING, STRESS MANAGEMENT, ANGER SELING, STRESS MANAGEMENT, ANGER MANAGEMENT AND THEN ALSO SCHOOL COUNTS OTHERS DO CLASSROOM VISITS WHERE THEY CAN TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH TOPICS LIKE MANAGING STRESS, SIGNS OF ANXIETY AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH TOPICS ALONG THOSE AREAS IN A WIDE VARIETY OF AREAS.

SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND THE ROLE THEY HAVE WITH MENTAL HEALTH VARIES FROM THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL TO A ARCH GROUP LEVEL AS WELL.

>> YOU WERE ON AN ADVISORY PANEL RECOMMENDING TO HELP THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

ONE WAS TO INCLUDE USING FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES TO HIRE AND TRAIN ADDITIONAL STAFF SUCH AS SCHOOL COUNSELORS, NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

TARAEL L KEE WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT RECOMMENDATION?

>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT RECOMMENDATION.

MONEY NEEDS TO BE ALLOCATED TO HIRE SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND WE ALSO NEED TO MARKET THE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM AND GET MORE CANDIDATES IN THERE BECAUSE WE NEED SCHOOL COUNSELORS ALL AROUND THE SITE AND WE HAVE TO DEVELOP MORE PROGRAMS AROUND THE STATE.

WE DON'T HAVE A TON IN ILLINOIS AND WE NEED MORE.

WE HAVE TO TRY TO GET AWAY TO HAVE SCHOOL COUNSELORS AT EVERY LEVEL.

ELEMENTARY STUDENTS NEED A SCHOOL COUNSELOR SAME THING WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.

IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS A LOT OF SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE ELEMENTARY OR MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELORS.

WE DEFINITELY NEED THOSE DOLLARS.

NOT ONLY TO PAY FOR THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR BUT TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE PROGRAM SO WE CAN HAVE SCHOOL COUNSELORS AVAILABLE IN THE TIME COMES.

>> HOW DOES THE OVERLOAD OR LEFT OF COUNSELORS IN SCHOOLS IMPACT STUDENTS?

>> IT IMPACTS THEM IN SO MANY WAYS BECAUSE SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE OVERWHELMED AND THEY CAN GO OUT AND DO THOSE DIRECT SERVICES THAT AUTUMN MENTIONED.

WE NEED TO BE IN THAT CLASSROOM TO HELP CHANGE MINDSETS AND BEHAVIORS TO UPLIFT STUDENTS THROUGH TOUGH TIMES AND HELP THEM BUILD RESILIENCE WHEN THEY ARE GOING THROUGH TOUGH TIMES LIKE WE ALREADY KNOW.

WE HAVE INCREDIBLY HIGH CASELOADS AND IT KNOCKS OUT THAT VISUAL BECAUSE WORK CONSTANTLY RESPONDING TO CRISIS.

IF THERE IS A SUICIDE INTERVENTION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT CAN TAKE UP >> AMOUNT OF HOURS OR A LOT OF HOURS.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE MINDSETS AND BEHAVIORS AND HELP THE CHILDREN WE SERVE.

>> IN AN OP-ED YOU CALLED THE SURGEON GENERAL ADVISORY A CLARION CALL TO INCREASE AND DIVERSIFY THE RANKS OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN OUR NATION SCHOOLS.HOW DO YOU BRING DIVERSITY TO SCHOOL COUNSELING AND MAKING SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS OUT THERE?

>> IT STARTS EVEN IN THE MASTERS GRADUATE PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL COUNSELING.

THE MARKETING MATERIALS FOR POTENTIAL STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SERVING YOUTH IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND MARKETING THAT TWO BLACK, BROWN, MEN AS WELL WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF MALE SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE NATION.

BEING INTENTIONAL AND EVEN THE MARKETING MATERIAL USED FOR RECRUITING STUDENTS TO SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS AND THEN ONCE THEY ARE THERE IT'S RETAINING THEM IN THE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM BY SUPPORTING THEM AND LETTING THEM KNOW THEY ARE NEEDED AND LETTING THEM KNOW THEY ARE IMPORTANT AND THERE'S JOBS FOR THEM OUT HERE IN THE WORKFORCE FOR SCHOOL COUNSELING AND SUPPORTING THEM THROUGH EVERY PART OF THE PROCESS TO BECOME A SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DIVERSE STUDENT BODY WHO ARE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TODAY.

>> WE TALKED TO THE COUNSELOR FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO THE ONLY COUNSELOR IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR 400 STUDENTS AND SHE POINTS TO THE STUDENT COUNSELOR RATIO OF BEING ONE OF HER CONCERNS.

HERE IS WHAT SHE SAID.

>> THE RECOMMENDATION IS THERE FOR A REASON AND I DEFINITELY THINK THAT SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES WOULD BE AT LEAST CUT IN HALF AT THE RATIO, THE RECOMMENDED RATIO ACROSS THE BOARD IN THIS COUNTRY.

I DO FEEL LIKE I HAVE SUPPORT WITH THE VARIOUS FUNDING AND THINGS THAT COMES DOWN THE PIPELINE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS COMING INTO OUR BUILDING TO COUNSEL STUDENTS.

WE DO HAVE A SOCIAL WORKER DOESN'T.

SO, I DEFINITELY FEEL THAT THIS IS IS THERE.

>> AUTUMN, COMING BACK TO YOU BEFORE WE GO WISE IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES SPECIFICALLY?

>> WE HAVE HAD A SHIFT IN HOW SCHOOLS VIEW MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW OUR COUNTRY HAS VIEWED MENTAL HEALTH IN THE RECENT YEARS.

THIS WILL HELP TO CAPITALIZE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS IT IS IMPORTANT AS THAT SCHOOL COUNSELOR MENTIONED TO HAVE THOSE RATIOS IN PLACE SO THAT WAY THEY ARE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB AND DO WHAT THEY ARE TRAINED TO DO.

SO MANY SCHOOL COUNSELORS ACROSS THE NATION ARE BEING TASKED WITH ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THEIR ROLE OF SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO BUILD THOSE PIPELINES BUT ALSO TO SUPPORT THE COUNSELORS THAT ARE IN THOSE PIPELINES AND SUPPORT THEM BY SUPPORTING THE ONE TO 250 RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME FROM THE AMERICAN COUNSELING ASSOCIATION.

>> I'M SURE THAT I CAN CONTINUE TO TALK TO YOU ALL FOR A GOOD BIT OF TIME UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE OUT OF TIME.MY THANKS FOR AUTUMN CABELL AND TARAEL L KEE FOR JOINING US.>> UP NEXT WHATEVER HAPPENED TO CHICAGO'S PLAN FOR A BASIC PILOT PROGRAM?

WE LOOK INTO IT, RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAID RESIDENTS SHOULD BE LEARNING EXACTLY WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR CHICAGO'S NEW BASIC GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM PAID THE CITY APPROVED THE PLAN IN THE 2020 BUDGET GIVING 5000 LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS $500 PER YEAR.

IT WOULD BE THE FIRST OF THIS PROGRAM.

JOINING US WITH MORE ARE 36 WARD ALD.

GILBERT VILLEGAS WHO SPEARHEADED THE INCOME INTO THE COUNCIL.

DORIAN WARREN FROM THE ECONOMIC SECURITY PROJECT AND RICHARD WALLACE UNDER AND DIRECTOR OF EQUITY TRANSFORMATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

ALD.

GILBERT VILLEGAS LET'S START WITH THE AU PAIR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAID WE SHOULD GET MORE SPECIFIC ON THIS GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM SOON.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE WHERE THE CITY COUNCIL IS ON IMPLEMENTING IT?

>> YES.

THANK YOU.

RIGHT NOW THERE IS A WORKING GROUP THAT IS PUTTING TOGETHER SOME OTHER CRITERIA AND THERE IS AN RFP THAT IS ALREADY OUT ON THE STREET DUE NEXT FRIDAY AT NOON.

AND SO THAT IS WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY AT RIGHT NOW.

IT IS FRUSTRATING THAT IT'S TAKEN SOME TIME CONSIDERING IT STARTED LAST YEAR IN FEBRUARY WHERE WE INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE IN APRIL.

IT'S FRUSTRATING GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS ACTED SO QUICKLY TO PASS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND THIS PANDEMIC HAS DEVASTATED BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

>> IF YOU HAD TO BALLPARK IT WHEN WILL THE FIRST APPLICANTS RECEIVED THAT CHECK?

>> LISTEN, I'VE BEEN IN CITY AND STATE GOVERNMENT FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT RFPS DO NOT MOVE QUICKLY INTO SAY THAT THIS WOULD BE MONEY FOR CASH IN HAND BY SUMMER WOULD BE VERY OPTIMISTIC.

I'M INKING FALL OF THIS YEAR.

>> RICHARD, YOUR ORGANIZATION EQUITY AND TRANSFORMATION WANTS YOUR OWN BASIC NEED PROGRAM TO GIVE $500 PER MONTH TO INCARCERATED RESIDENTS IN GARFIELD PARK HERE TELL US ABOUT THE PROJECT AND HOW IT'S GOING.

>> WE DESIGNED THE CHICAGO FUTURE FUNDS ENDING YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

IT WAS DESIGNED TO ALLEVIATE THE BURDEN OF POST-INCARCERATION.A NUMBER OF OUR RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE REPRESENT HAVE A NUMBER OF BARRIERS AND HAVE HAD TO OVERCOME MANY COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES.

WE WANTED TO KNOW IF THE DIRECT PAYMENTS WOULD IMPACT THAT AND ALLOW THEM TO ACHIEVE SOME OF THE GOALS THEY HAD.

THE PROJECT IS GOING GREAT.

THEY ARE ON -TODAY'S THE 11TH AND ON THE 13TH THEY WILL HAVE THEIR FOURTH PAYMENT AND THERE'S BEEN NO HANG UP SO FAR.

>> THE CITY HAS TAKEN SOME CRITICISM AND I HEAR ALD.

GILBERT VILLEGAS FRUSTRATED THAT IT'S NOT MOVING AS QUICKLY AS HE WOULD LIKE BUT THEY ARE SAYING THAT THE CITY IS TAKING A LONG TIME ON THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND TO SOMEONE WHO'S OPERATED THIS PROGRAM WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

>> OUR PROJECT TOOK A YEAR TO GET OFF THE GROUND THAT'S FROM FUNDRAISING, IMPLEMENTATION TO DISTRIBUTION OF THE CASH.

AND SO, I THINK WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT FOR ME IS THAT WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST GET IT.

IT'S NOT AN EASY PROCESS FOR A SPEEDY PROCESS THAT IT IS POSSIBLE.

WE WERE ABLE TO TARGET FORMALLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE AND IT DID TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BUT WE HAVE THE RIGHT PROGRAM AND THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE PROGRAM.

>> THIS GUARANTEES SAYING QUOTE CASH IS THE MOST DIRECT AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO PROVIDES SUSTAINABILITY FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST.

WHY CASH OVER OTHER FINANCIALLY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS?

>> WE THINK WE HAVE EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE AND WE NEED A STRONG AND ROBUST SAFETY NET.

OF COURSE WORKERS NEED HIGHER WAGES IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY.

DIRECT CASH AS WE HAVE LEARNED FROM EXPERIMENTING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS THE BEST WAY TO GET MONEY INTO THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE INTIMATE.

WE HAVE THE DATA, WE HAVE THE STORIES WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE CASH FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND OF COURSE THIS HAPPENED IN CALIFORNIA IN 2019 BUT ALSO THROUGH THE COUNTRY.

WE JUST WENT THROUGH AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIMENT.

ABOUT THE STIMULUS CHECKS THAT THE ALDERMAN ALREADY MENTIONED.

INCORPORATED ABOUT THE EXPANDED TAX CREDIT LAST YEAR WHERE FOR SIX MONTHS MANY PARENTS ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY RECEIVED DIRECT CASH FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND THAT WAS MONTHLY.

WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET HANDED CASH TO PEOPLE THE MOST.

THEY PAY UTILITIES, THEY PAY BILLS, THEY PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, THEY GET SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

WE NOTES EFFECTIVE.

THE DATA IS PRETTY OVERWHELMING ON THIS QUESTION AND IT'S TIME TO REALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PILOT PROGRAM.

>> DORIAN, YOU JUST NAMED THOSE EXAMPLES FROM OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS THE TAX CREDIT AND OTHERS AND DIRECT CASH PAYMENTS TO BEEN SENT TO FAMILIES TO RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC.

DO YOU THINK THAT HAS HELPED SHIFT PEOPLE'S MINDS ABOUT THIS SECULAR CONCEPT AS A SOLUTION TO ECONOMIC STABILITY WHEN PEOPLE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN WILLING TO CONSIDER IN THE PAST?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT IN TERMS OF THE QUESTION.

THERE WAS SKEPTICISM BEFORE THE FIRST DEMONSTRATION IN STOCKTON WHERE WE COLLECTED A LOT OF DATA AND WE COULD SHARE THE IMPACT NOT JUST PEOPLE'S FINANCIAL SECURITY BUT WELL-BEING AS WELL.

LOWER ANXIETY, LOWER INSECURITY LEVELS AND IN FACT THE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE THE MONEY IN THE STOCKTON CASE WERE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO BE EMPLOYED AND HAVE A JOB AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM.

SO YES, WE HAVE THE DATA, THERE ARE LIKE 90 DEMONSTRATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THE CRISIS FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE ECONOMIC CRISIS BUT LET'S REMEMBER THERE'S AN ECONOMIC CRISIS PARTICULARLY IN THE LOCK AND BROWN COMMUNITY AND THAT WAS EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND THE PANDEMIC DID HELP TO SHIFT PEOPLE'S UNDERSTANDINGS OF WHAT WAS THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AND WHAT WAS THE ROLE OF DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE AND AWFULLY WE HAVE TURNED THE TABLE ON 40+ YEARS OF ATTACKS SPECIFICALLY RACIAL AND GENDER ATTACKS ESPECIALLY ON BLACK WOMEN AND THE DEMONIZATION OF BLACK WOMEN AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN TURN THE TABLE FOR INSTANCE THE WELFARE REFORM IN 1996 PAIRED WITH HAVING A VERY DIFFERENT CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW.

>> THE MAYOR HAS SENT US A COMMENTS.

WE ONLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEFT SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET THROUGH A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS BUT RICHARD BACK TO YOU AS THE CITY REACH OUT TO YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR GUIDANCE ON IMPLEMENTING THIS CONSIDERING YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE IT?

>> YES.

WE SIT ON THE ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR CHICAGO'S RESILIENT COMMUNITIES G.I.

PILOT.

I GET IS THAT THERE TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEES WE SERVE AND THAT IS ALSO WEST GARFIELD PARK PREDOMINANTLY INCARCERATED IMPACTED PEOPLE IN CHICAGO.

>> ALD.

GILBERT VILLEGAS WHY IS THIS SUCH A TOP PRIORITY FOR YOU?

>> IT IS SUCH A TOP PRIORITY FOR ME BECAUSE I AM ACTUALLY A RECIPIENT OF A PROGRAM THAT WAS SIMILAR.

SURVIVAL DEATH BENEFITS OF SOCIAL SECURITY.

WHEN MY DAD DIED MY MOM AND I GOT A STIPEND FOR ME AND MY BROTHERS UP TO 18 AND THAT WAS A GAME CHANGER.

IT ALLOWED MY MOM TO WORK WITH DIGNITY TAKING SURE THAT SHE WAS HOME AFTER WORK AND RAISING TWO BOYS IN THE CITY CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING AND I CAN TELL YOU SHE MADE SURE THAT SHE WAS THERE TO TAKE CARE OF US AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF THAT STIPEND TO ALLOW HER THE FLEXIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF US BUT ALSO TO WORK WITH NITTY.

>> A LABOR OF LOVE OBVIOUSLY FOR YOU ALDERMAN AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE THREE OF YOU AGAIN.

THANKS TO ALD.

GILBERT VILLEGAS, RICHARD WALLACE AND DORIAN WARREN FOR JOINING US.

>> UP NEXT A FILM THAT OFFERS A FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE BEFORE SLAVERY.

STAY WITH US.

THE MUSEUM AND FILM M STUDIO IS TELLING THE STORY OF A WEST AFRICAN BOY WHO WAS KIDNAPPED INTO SLAVERY.

>> HELLO, WELCOME!

>> EQUINAO STORIES IS A NEW STORY THAT CAN ONLY BE VIEWED ON INSTAGRAM.

IT RINGS THE LIFE OF THIS BOY WHO WAS ENSLAVED AT 17 YEARS OLD.

HIS MOM MEMOIR IS TOLD IN A SERIES OF STORIES OVER A 48 HOUR PERIOD.

PEOPLE CAN WATCH HIS LIFE AND JOURNEY AS HE IS RIGHT NOW POSTING ABOUT HIS DAY STARTING OUT AS A CAREFREE BOY AND THEN BEING KIDNAPPED AND TAKEN TO A SLAVE SHIP.

>> YOUNG EQUINAO IS WHAT WE FOCUS ON THIS STORY FOCUSES ON IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TO US AS EDUCATORS OF BLACK HISTORY AND EDUCATING THROUGH LACKED HISTORY, ART AND URE.

THAT IS OUR ORIGIN STORY WHICH BECAME FREEDOM AND NOT IN SLAVERY.

THAT ORIGIN STORY HAS NEVER BEEN TOLD.

WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND HONORED TO BE BRINGING EQUINAO STORY TO NEW GENERATIONS YOUNGER GENERATIONS AND REALLY HIGHLIGHTING THE BEAUTY OF AFRICAN LIFE BEFORE IN SLAVERY.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS SO MUCH-NEEDED.

IT IS EDUCATIONAL, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL STORY.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS VERY HARD TO DEHUMANIZE SOMEONE WHEN YOU SEE THEIR LIVES AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THE JOY AND THE BEAUTY JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CULTURE.

>> EQUINAO STORY PREMIERES WEDNESDAY ON INSTAGRAM.

THE DUSABLE MUSEUM WILL ALSO HAVE AN EXHIBIT OF THE FILMS RELEASE.

CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS.

>> REMEMBERING, RECLAIMING AND RECONNECTING THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY CHICAGO CHOIR.

ANGEL IDOWU CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AT THE CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER AND OFFERS A PREVIEW OF WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED NEXT MONTH.

[SINGING] ASKED THE CHICAGO CHILDREN'S CHOIR IS OFFERING THEIR ANNUAL LACKED HISTORY MONTH CONCERT.

VIRTUAL CONCERT WILL FEATURE A NUMBER OF AFRICAN SONGS THAT EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE AND THE UNITED STATES.

THEY ARE TAKING CONCERTGOERS ON A JOURNEY.

A WORD FROM GHANA WHICH MEANS TO RETURN OR RETRIEVE WHAT IS LOST.

>> IS A CHANCE TO EDUCATE ALL PEOPLE ON BLACK HISTORY AND HOW IT GOES BEYOND SLAVERY.

[SINGING] ANAYA CHASE MAYFIELD IS ONE OF THE FEATURED CHOIR MEMBERS.

>> MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT BLACK HISTORY ONLY START THE SLAVERY I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO REALIZE THAT BEFORE THAT WE WERE KINGS AND QUEENS AND HAD HER OWN EMPIRES PEERED WE WERE VERY PROSPEROUS.

I THINK THE MUSIC THAT WE SING FLEX THAT.

>> FROM NIGERIA TO JAMAICA THE SONGS FEATURED COMES FROM MULTIPLE COUNTRIES.

WARMER CHOIR MEMBER'S ANITA JACKSON SAID IS THAT COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY THAT MAKES THE CHICAGO CHILDREN'S CHOIR SO SPECIAL.

>> WE'VE GONE BEYOND CULTURAL APPROPRIATION TO CULTURAL APPRECIATION.

THESE YOUNG PEOPLE SING THESE AFRICAN INSPIRED SONGS AND AMERICANS ARE FINALLY GETTING TO EMBRACE THAT WE ARE AFRICANS.

WE ARE INDIGENOUS.

WE ARE EUROPEAN.

WE ARE ASIAN.

WE ARE EVERYTHING.

IT'S NOT UNUSUAL, THANKFULLY, FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, THESE CHILDREN AND THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE SINGING ALL KINDS OF MUSIC.

IT IS WHERE WE OUGHT TO BE AND THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ALREADY THERE.

THEY HAVE LEFT US BEHIND.

THEY'VE GONE INTO THE NEW WORLD AND I ENCOURAGE THAT.

TILDEN ARE HELD HOSTAGE BY THE MADNESS OF ADULTS.

AND WHAT YOU SEE WHEN CHILDREN HAVE THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION THEY KNOW THE TRUTH.

AND FACING THE TRUTH.

EVEN IF IT IS A PAINFUL SONG AND ADULTS NEED TO LISTEN.

THEY ARE THE FUTURE AND THEY ARE A REFLECTION OF OURSELVES.

>> WHETHER IT BE LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING OR GOSPEL SONG, CHOIR MEMBERS HOPE THERE VOICES WILL BRING ABOUT CHANGE THAT THE WORLD CAN HEAR.

>> THIS TOWN HAS CADENCE, INFLECTION AND PITCH.

WE HAVE ALL THESE DEVICES THAT ARE WORKING TOWARDS THE EMOTIONS PART OF A PERSON, IT'S HARD TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO A PERSON AND GET RIGHT TO THAT BUT WITH MUSIC AND DEVICES AND ENERGIES IN THE COLLECT BEHIND YOU IT IS EASIER AND DEEPER AND A MATTER HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT A CERTAIN SONG, IT GETS YOU THERE AND IT MAY TAKE A PERSON A MOMENT TO ADMIT IT THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HOPING TO DO.

[SINGING] FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES, I AM ANGEL IDOWU.

>> RECLAIMING AND CONNECTING WITH THE CHICAGO CHILDREN'S CHOIR DEBUTS FEBRUARY SIXTH.

YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO VIEW THE LIVE STREAM.

>>> FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

TO CELEBRATE WE ARE SPOTLIGHTING A BLACK HISTORIAN.

SHE WAS A LIBRARIAN AND JOINED THE HIGH SCHOOL AND JOINED HER LOVE FOR HISTORY AND BOOKS.

AFTER GRADUATING SHE BEGAN HER CAREER WITH THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY IN 1909.

VIVIAN HARSH WORKED HER WAY UP TO BECOME HEAD LIBRARIAN TO THE GEORGE CLEVELAND BRANCH.

AS SHERMAN "DILLA" THOMAS POINTS OUT, HER MATERIAL WAS TO BUILD ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTIONS OF BLACK LITERATURE IN THE US.

>> WE LEAVE THAT VIVIAN HARSH STORY IS IMPORTANT EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T WRITE A WORD.

SHE COLLECTED VERY IMPORTANT BOOKS, NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, IF YOU ARE A SMART BROTHER OR SISTER GETTING A PHD YOU PUT IN A ISA SOAR A DISSERTATION AT A UNIVERSITY, SHE COLLECTED THOSE, A LOT OF THOSE DOCUMENT, CHURCH MEETINGS, WE STILL HAVE TODAY AT THE LIBRARY WITH THE VIVIAN HARSH COLLECTION.

WHEN SHE LEFT CHICAGO SHE HELPED US WITH HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND DETAINING AND UNDERSTANDING OUR HISTORY.

>> VIVIAN HARSH DIED IN 1960 PEERED HER COLLECTION OF AFRO-AMERICAN HISTORY AND LITERATURE CAN BE FOUND AT THE WOODSON LIBRARY IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BELIEVE YOU WITH MORE FROM THE CHICAGO'S CHILDREN'S CHOIR.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, I AM BRANDIS FREEMAN.

INCORPORATED YOU FOR WATCHING AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[SINGING]