>> HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

THIS EVENING A LOOK BACK AT SOME STORIES FROM THE PAST YEAR.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT A LOCAL PSYCHOLOGIST TALKS ABOUT THE STRONG BLACK WOMAN'S MENTAL HEALTH IN HER NEW BOOK, CONCERNS THAT THE METAVERSE WILL INHERIT THE COMPANY'S PROBLEMS INCLUDING LEAVING MARGINALIZED PEOPLE BEHIND.

A CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH MAKES HISTORY AS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO ENTER A MALE-DOMINATED FIELD.

>> I LOVE HOW WHEN IT'S PLACED ON MY SHOULDERS, IT'S CLOSE TO MY HEART.

>> THIS YOUNG VIOLINIST IS ONE OF DOZENS RECEIVING GRANT PLOAN TO PURSUE THEIR CAREERS.

SHE SHARES HER PASSION FOR MUSIC AND HOW SHE PLANS TO PAY IT FORWARD.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, A PROVOCATIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW BREAKING INTERGENERATIONAL CYCLES OF PAIN TAKES SELF-EXAMINATION AND SELF-LOVE.

WE SPOKE WITH THE AUTHOR, A LICENSED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE.

HER BOOK, NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN, THE EMOTIONAL LIVES OF BLACK WOMEN, BREAKS DOWN THE INTERNAL EXPERIENCES OF STRESS, TRAUMA AND UNACKNOWLEDGED EMOTIONAL SUFFERING BLACK WOMEN FACED FOR GENERATIONS WHILE OFFERING A NEW WAY OF BEING STRONG.

WE START WITH HER TELLING US WHY SHE WANTED TO WRITE THIS BOOK.

>> IT WAS CLEAR TO ME THAT THERE WAS FAR TOO MANY BLACK WOMEN IN DEEP EMOTIONAL PAIN AND SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE PAYING ATTENTION TO IT.

THAT PAIN IS ROOTED IN A VARIETY OF THINGS, ROOTED IN GENERATIONAL FAMILY TRAUMA, PEOPLE WHO ARE CONFRONTING EVERYDAY RACISM, SEXISM AND DISCRIMINATION, FEELINGS OF REJECTION BY BEING DENIED OPPORTUNITIES THAT BLACK WOMEN KNOW THAT THEY HAVE RIGHTFULLY EARNED.

YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE TO CARRY SO MUCH THAT WE'RE EXPECTED TO NOT ONLY DO IT ALL, BUT DO IT ALL ON OUR OWN.

AND THESE FEELINGS WE'RE CARRYING AROUND INTERNALLY LIKE A TICKING TIME BAKO AND THEY'RE EATING AWAY FROM US.

THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS NOT ONLY ON OUR MENTAL HEALTH BUT ALSO OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH.

WE KNOW THAT STRESS AND TRAUMA ARE CLOSELY RELATED TO PHYSICAL HEALTH AND EXTENDING FROM THAT ARE LIFE EXPECTANCY, WHEREBY BLACK WOMEN HAVE A THREE YEAR SHORTER LIFE EXPECTANCY THAN WHITE WOMEN.

I WANTED NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN TO SHOW THE OTHER SIDE OF WHAT STRONG BLACK WOMEN SHOW THE WORLD, AND BY DOING THAT OFFER THIS SPACE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THESE DIFFICULT EMOTIONS THAT MANY OF US ARE EXPERIENCING, AND OPEN THE DOOR TO RECEIVING THE NECESSARY SUPPORT THAT WE NEED.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE STRONG BLACK WOMEN MONIKER IN A MINUTE.

I MADE IT TO PAGE 2 AND I READ SOMETHING THAT WAS FAMILIAR TO ME AS A BLACK WOMAN.

YOU MENTIONED YOUR GRANDMOTHER TELLING YOUR MOTHER, YOUR MOTHER TELLING YOU IN DIFFERENT WORDS LIFE AIN'T FAIR SO DON'T EXPECT IT TO ME.

THAT'S A QUOTE.

THE VERSION IN MY FAMILY WAS WHO TOLD YOU LIFE WAS FAIR?

WHY DO WE PASS THIS TOUGH LOVE ON THROUGH THE GENERATIONS?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE ARE TRYING TO TEACH OUR YOUNG GIRLS THAT LIFE AS A YOUNG BLACK GIRL, AS A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN, AS AN OLDER BLACK WOMAN IS GOING TO BE TOUGH.

WE'RE TRYING TO TOUGHEN UP OUR GIRLS SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE, TO GET THROUGH SOCIETY.

BUT YOU KNOW, BY DOING THAT, WE'RE NOT HONORING THOSE EMOTIONS THAT ARE ALSO A PART OF THAT PICTURE.

WE'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE STATINS, THE DEPRESSION, THE ANXIETY.

BY TEACHING GIRLS ONLY TO BE STRONG, WE'RE ALSO KIND OF MINIMIZING AND DISMISSING THOSE OTHER FEELINGS THAT MAY BE LYING BELOW THE SURFACE.

>> WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT THE STRONG BLACK WOMAN.

YOU MENTIONED IT A MINUTE AGO AS WELL.

TWO THINGS, WHY DO WE FEEL THE NEED TO ADD THE WORD STRONG.

WE'RE OBVIOUSLY BLACK WOMEN.

CAN THAT ALSO BE A POINT OF PRIDE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY?

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY A POINT OF PRIDE.

I DEFINITELY HAVE HELD BEING CALLED A STRONG BLACK WOMAN AS SOMETHING THAT I'M PROUD OF.

IT'S REALLY, MANY OF THE STRENGTH THAT WE SO DEEPLY ADMIRE IN EACH OTHER, THE WAY WE HOLD OUR HEADS UP, THE WAY WE'RE ABLE TO BE RESILIENT, THE WAY WE'RE ABLE TO OVERCOME DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES TO KIND OF MAKE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY AND BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH HARD TIMES.

BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS AVOIDING AND DENYING WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE INSIDE.

THAT'S WHAT I OFFER IN THIS BOOK "NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN" AND THAT WE CAN BE PROUD STRONG BLACK WOMEN, BUT ALSO ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE VULNERABLE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIFFICULT EXPERIENCES THAT WE'VE HAD, CBLG THE EMOTION -- E EMOTIONS THAT COMES WITH THAT, THE WAY IT IMPACTS OUR LIVES BAILIFFLY, THE WAY IT IMPACTS OUR RELATIONSHIPS.

IN DOING THAT, WE CAN MOVE OUT OF A SPACE OF SHAME AND ISOLATION AND BUILD COMMUNITY IN UNDERSTANDING AND OPEN OURSELVES UP TO RECEIVE THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THAT WE NEED.

>> HAVE YOU NOTICED IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, HAS THERE BEEN A RECENT SHIFT TO DESTIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH?

>> I ABSOLUTELY THINK THAT THIS IS A PIVOTAL TIME IN TERMS OF TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH PARTICULARLY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT CELEBRITIES ARE SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH ARE PLAYING A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THAT.

PEOPLE LIKE MICHELLE OWE OWE OWE -- MICHELLE OBAMA AND BEYONCE, WOMEN WHO ARE BEAUTIFUL AND REVERDICT ALSO TALK ABOUT DIFFICULT TIMES THAT THEY HAVE HAD.

WHEN PEOPLE DO THAT, THAT GIVES THE EVERYDAY BLACK WOMAN PERMISSION TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER OWN SUFFERING AND TO KNOW THAT SHE'S NOT ALONE AND THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME EXPERIENCE.

>> THE BOOK IS ALSO PART THERAPY.

THERE ARE PARTS YOU TELL THE READERS TO ASK THEMSELVES CERTAIN QUESTIONS AND IDENTIFY CERTAIN FEELINGS.

WHAT ARE YOU PROVIDING THERE AND HOPING THOSE TAKE AWAY?

>> ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO PROVIDE IS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SOME MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES LOOK LIKE.

OFTEN WE TALK ABOUT TRAUMA AND DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, AND WE THROW THESE TERMS AROUND.

BUT PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL LIVES.

AND SO I WANTED PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT THROUGH REAL EXAMPLES, TO BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS THAT MIGHT BE SHOWING UP IN THEM, AND IN DOING SO BE ABLE TO REFLECT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M GOING THROUGH.

I HAVE DIFFICULTY SLEEPING.

I HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING OUT OF BED.

I'M FINDING MYSELF IRRITABLE AND ON EDGE AND AFRAID TO LEAVE MY HOME.

I'M HAVING CRYING SPELLS AND DEEP SADNESS.

BY RECOGNIZING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IN OURSELVES, THAT AWARENESS IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS MAKING BEHAVIORAL CHANGE AND FOR REACHING OUT FOR SUPPORT.

>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT 20 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS BOOK?

WHY SHOULD WE READ IT?

>> ADDRESSING OUR MENTAL HEALTH IS URGENT.

THE TIME FOR US AS BLACK WOMEN TO DO SO IS RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE NOT ALONE, AND WE CAN BE BOTH STRONG AND VULNERABLE, AND OUR VULNERABILITY DOES NOT MEAN WEAKNESS.

>> CONGRATS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THAT CONVERSATION WAS FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE BOOK IS CALLED "NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN: THE EMOTIONAL LIVES OF BLACK WOMEN."

NEXT, PARIS SCHULTZ AND A RECENT CONVERSATION ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE AND TECHNOLOGY.

STAY WITH US.

>> FACEBOOK REBRANDED THIS PAST FALL AS META, A VIRTUAL REALITY VISION FOR THE FUTURE.

WHILE C.E.O.

MARK ZUCKERBERG IS TRYING TO CREATE A NEW DIGITAL WORLD SOME ARE WORRIED THE PROBLEMS OF FACEBOOK AND THE INTERNET WILL TRANSFER OVER LIKE UNCONTROLLED HATE SPEECH AND BIAS AND ALLEGE RHYTHMS.

ONE WRITER SAYS TO CREATE A NEW TECHNO LOGICAL WORLD PEOPLE IN MARRIAGE -- MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES NEED TO HAVE A HAND IN SHAPING IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FOR VIEWERS THAT DON'T KNOW THIS, EXPLAIN WHAT THE META HAVE VERSE -- THE METAVERSE IS >> VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS WHERE PEOPLE USE VIRTUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF THEMSELVES TO INTERACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE ON THE PLATFORM BUT ALSO WITH DIGITAL AS WELL.

IT IS SORT OF ENVISIONED AS THIS NEXT GENERATION OF THE INTERNET.

THAT IS IMMERSIVE AND EMBODIED, WHICH IS WHAT THE CURRENT INTERNET DOESN'T OFFER.

IT IS THIS NEXT LEVEL, NEXT ITERATION OF THE INTERNET BUT WILL BE MORE EMBODIED, MORE IMMERSIVE AND REALLY BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER SIMILAR TO HOW WE INTERACT IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD, BUT ALSO QUITE DISTANT.

>> YOU WROTE A COLUMN RECENTLY ONLINE SAYS AS A BLACK WOMAN THE METAVERSE SCARES YOU.

HOW COME?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME ABOUT THE META VERSE IS THIS HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RACE AND TECHNOLOGY.

UNFORTUNATELY RACISM AND TECHNOLOGY HAS HISTORICALLY GONE HAND IN HAND.

LEAVING MARGINALIZED PEOPLE TO OFTEN SUFFER MOST FROM THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF TECHNOLOGY.

ALGORITHMS ARE WRITTEN BY HUMANS AND HUMANS ARE INHERENTLY BIASED.

THAT CAN CREEP INTO THE WAY THAT CODERS UNDERLINE THEIR CODE.

THIS NOT ONLY MIRROR THE BIASES AND INEQUALITIES IN SOCIETY BUT ALSO SOMETIMES MAKES THEM WORSE.

WE SEE THAT IN ALGORITHMS AND DETERMINING CREDIT WORTHINESS.

FOR INSTANCE THE SOFTWARE USED BY BANKS TO PREDICT WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE WILL PAY BACK CREDIT CARD DEBT TYPICALLY FAVORS WEALTHIER WHITE CANDIDATES.

IT'S NOT JUST THE ALGORITHMS ARE BIASED TO ME BUT THEY ARE BIASED IN WAYS, WHICH MEANS WE'RE NOT AWARE OF WHY WE MIGHT BE SEEING CERTAIN ADS ON FACEBOOK OR OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA OR EVEN AWARE THAT WE MIGHT BE MISSING OUT ON PARTICULAR ADS OR WHY WE MIGHT BE GETTING LOWER HOME APPRAISALS OR WHY WE MIGHT BE APPROVED, MIGHT NOT BE APPROVED FOR A FINANCIAL LOAN.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY THIS HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RACE AND TECHNOLOGY CONCERNS ME ABOUT THE META VERSE.

>> I SAY WITH RESPECT TO FACEBOOK, THE ALGORITHMS DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF POSTS YOU SEE, WHAT KIND OF ADVERTISEMENTS YOU SEE.

WITH RESPECT TO THE META VERSE, WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE A MORE INCLUSIVE VISION IN BUILDING IT?

>> I THINK I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE MIGHT BEGIN TO FOCUS ON IS HOW WE DESIGN ALGORITHMS OR THE VALUATION WE PLACE INTO THESE TECHNOLOGIES, WHICH IS WHAT I MEAN IN MY ARTICLE BY CREATING A MORE DEMOCRATICALLY ACCOUNTABLE TECHNOLOGY, IS THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO IMBUE THESE TECHNOLOGIES WITH VALUES THAT ARE JUST SO THAT OUR ALGORITHMS PROMOTE EQUALITY RATHER THAN IN EQUALITY, THEY PROMOTE JUSTICE RATHER THAN INJUSTICE.

BY FOCUSING ON HOW WE DESIGN THESE TECHNOLOGIES, ONE MIGHT BE HAVING MORE DIVERSE DESIGN TEAMS.

ANOTHER ASPECT MIGHT BE TO FOCUS ON HOW WE APPROACH OR WHAT VALUES WE APPROACH DESIGN WITH.

I THINK BY FOCUSING ON THAT, THEN WE CAN HAVE A BETTER ALGORHYTHMIC FUTURE.

>> DO YOU THINK MR. ZUCKERBERG IS LISTENING TO THIS?

>> I HOPE SO.

I THINK WITH THEIR REBRANDING THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW US THAT THEY ARE LISTENING TO US.

I THINK WITH THEIR FOCUS ON THE META VERSE THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW US THAT THEY HAVE HEARD OUR CONCERNS AND THAT THEY'RE TAKING THEM QUITE SERIOUSLY.

WE WILL SEE HOW THE FUTURE UNFOLD WITH THE META VERSE AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE FACEBOOK PLATFORM, WHAT IT PLANS TO DO WITH THE CONCERNS WE'VE EXPRESSED.

>> FACEBOOK HAS VERY WELL PUBLICIZED PROBLEMS WITH REGULATING HATE SPEECH AND DISINFORMATION ON ITS PLATFORM.

DOES THAT MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO WIN BACK TRUST ESPECIALLY AMONG MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AS IT CREATES THIS WHOLE NEW VIRTUAL WORLD?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, TRUST HAS TO BE EARNED, AND I THINK FACEBOOK HAS LOST A LOT OF TRUST FROM THE PUBLIC OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE THE COMPANY GETS A LOT OF PUSHBACK FOR OFTEN PRIORITIZING PROFIT OVER PEOPLE AND ESSENTIALLY OVER ITS SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT IT HAS FOR US.

I WOULD SAY THAT MESSA, AGAIN, WITH -- META, WITH ITS REBRANDING AND STRONG FOCUS ON THE META VERSE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REGAIN PUBLIC TRUST.

>> THERE WILL BE A LOT OF TO TALK ABOUT IN THE YEARS AHEAD ABOUT THIS META VERSE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> A FOOTBALL COACH HAS MADE HISTORY AS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO LEAD A BOYS FOOTBALL TEAM IN THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LEAGUE AND SHE'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON AND OFF THE FIELD.

WE FIRST BROUGHT YOU THIS STORY IN EARLY DECEMBER.

HERE'S ANOTHER LOOK.

>> GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB.

>> COACH K IS THE NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACH OF THE DUE SABLE PANTHERS, A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM, LOCATED AT THE HISTORIC DUSABLE CAMPUS.

SHE TOOK OVER THIS YEAR AFTER SCHOOL LEADERS DECIDED TO MAKE STAFFING CHANGES.

>> WE PROBABLY WEREN'T LOOKING INTERNALLY AT THE PROGRAM WHEN WE DECIDED WE MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM.

IT WAS THE PLAYERS THAT STEPPED UP AND SAID, HEY, THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS ARE CONSIDERING, WE WOULD LIKE TO YOU HEAR US OUT.

>> THE PLAYERS ADVOCATED FOR COACH K. >> ONCE WE HEARD WE DIDN'T HAVE A HEAD COACH, WE BROUGHT UP COACH K. >> SHE GOT THE JOB MOVING FROM ASSISTANT COACH TO HEAD COACH.

SHE'S NOW MAKING HISTORY AS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO LEAD A CHICAGO PUBLIC LEAGUE BOYS FOOTBALL TEAM.

IT'S A GLASS CEILING COACH K DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE SHE WAS BREAKING.

>> IT WAS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO POINTED THAT OUT, TWO FRIENDS OF MINE WHEN I WENT TO CHICAGO STATE, THEY POINTED IT OUT.

I SAID I CAN'T BE.

THEY'RE LIKE, YOU ARE.

IT'S AN HONOR.

IT'S KIND OF SCARY BEING THE FIRST, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF GREAT MENTORS, SO I'M OKAY.

>> COACH K ISN'T THE ONLY ONE BREAKING THE GENDER BARRIER.

WHILE TRADITIONALLY A BOYS TEAM, OVER THE YEARS GIRLS HAVE STARTED TO JOIN.

>> IT'S OPEN TO GIRLS, AND I'VE GONE, LIKE, LOOK, LADIES, I PLAYED, SO I WORE MY FOOTBALL JERSEY HERE TO LET THEM KNOW YOU CAN PLAY IF YOU'RE A GIRL.

DON'T LET THAT BE A DETERRENT.

>> I WANTED TO BE ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS A GIRL, GENDER DON'T MEAN NOTHING.

>> COACH K SAYS HER FOCUS IS ON HER PLAYERS AND BUILDING THE TEAM.

THAT INCLUDES RECREMATE WHICH CAN BE A CHALLENGE.

>> THE PRINCIPAL GAVE ME THE PHONE LIST AND I WAS TEXTING PARENTS SAYING I'M COACH K, WE HAVE A FOOTBALL TEAM.

WE WOULD LOVE IF YOUR, INSERT THE DAUGHTER'S NAME, THE SON'S NAME, WOULD BE INTERESTED IN COMING OUT.

I GOT REPLIES, WE GOT PEOPLE TO SHOW UP.

>> WILLIAMS SCHOOL PRINCIPAL JULLANAR NASELL SAYS IT'S THAT DEDICATION THAT BROUGHT THE FOOTBALL TEAM STABILITY AND CONSISTENCY.

IN THE PAST COACHES STRUGGLED TO GET ENOUGH PLAYERS ON THE TEAM AND GET THEM TO STICK AROUND.

>> UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE HAD COACHING TURNOVER SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE PAST FEW YEARS.

DESPITE THAT AND DESPITE THE SIZE OF THE TEAM, THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW YEARS WE'VE ACTUALLY FINISHED THE SEASON WITH ALL THE PLAYERS AND HAD A COMPLETE SEASON.

>> IT'S NOT JUST ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

THE PRINCIPAL IS ALSO NOTICING IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> THEIR ACADEMICS INCREASED.

THEIR CODE OF CONDUCT CONCERNS PRACTICALLY DON'T EXIST.

>> PERFORMING WELL ON AND OFF THE FIELD IS SOMETHING COACH K MAKES SURE TO INSTILL IN HER STUDENTS.

>> I'M TEACHING YOU THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE GAME THAT WILL EQUATE TO LIFE LESSONS.

>> SHE'S TOUGH ON US.

EVEN THOUGH SHE'S A FEMALE, I KNOW HOW PEOPLE BE ABOUT THAT STEREOTYPICAL STUFF BUT SHE'S TOUGH ON US LIKE ANY OTHER COACH.

OFF THE FIELD, SHE'S LIKE A MOTHER TO US.

SHE GIVES US THE LOVE AND STUFF WE NEED.

SHE'S LIKE A SECOND MOM TO ME.

IF I EVER NEEDED SOMETHING, SHE WOULD BE THERE FOR ME.

>> AS A COACH, NO MATTER IF WE LOSE THE GAME, SHE PUSHES US HARDER.

>> THE TEAM HAD A TOUGH SEASON LOSING EVERY YEAR BUT ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR AND THINKING OF WAYS TO GET BETTER.

>> NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO PRACTICE MORE DURING THE SUMMER, SO WE CAN BE PREPARED FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> AS FOR COACH K, SHE'S PLANNING TO TAKE HER TEAM ALL THE WAY.

>> WE NEED TO GO TO STATE.

WE NEED TO WIN.

TO BE ABLE TO BRING ANOTHER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TO CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT TO EVEN BE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR THE STATE PLAYOFFS, TO MAKE IT TO THE SECOND ROUND OF STATE PLAYOFFS WOULD BE AMAZING FOR US.

>> THIS SEASON WAS ALSO A RECORD YEAR FOR GIRLS PARTICIPATION, WITH FOUR GIRLS JOINING THE TEAM.

DOZENS OF CHICAGO ARTISTS ARE RECEIVING A TOTAL OF NEARLY $1 MILLION IN CASH GRANTS FROM THE CHICAGO PROFIT FREE ART.

THE ORGANIZATION WHICH SUPPORTS LOCAL ARTISTS OF COLOR AND DISABLED ARTISTS AWARDED TEN PEOPLE WITH $30,000 THIS YEAR, AND EIGHT OF THOSE ARTISTS ARE BLACK.

ONE OF THOSE RECIPIENTS IS VIOLINIST KAITLYN EDWARDS.

>> I PLAY THE VIOLIN.

MY NAME IS KAITLYN EDWARDS.

I STARTED PLAYING THE VIOLIN WHEN I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD IN THE THIRD GRADE.

MY THIRD GRADE TEACHER CALLED MY HOUSEHOLD AND TALKED ABOUT THIS FREE GROUP STRING CLASS THAT WAS SPONSORED BY THE MUSIC OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, GOING TO DIFFERENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND OFFERING THESE FREE GROUP LESSONS, AND I WAS LIKE, YES, OF COURSE I'D LOVE TO GET OUT OF MATH CLASS AND GO LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE VIOLIN.

AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

>> I LOVE THE TONE OF THE INSTRUMENT.

I LOVE HOW WHEN IT'S PLACED ON MY SHOULDER, IT'S CLOSE TO MY HEART SO I FEEL LIKE I CAN SING THROUGH MY INSTRUMENT AND EXPRESS WHATEVER I'M GOING THROUGH, WHATEVER I FEEL.

>> I'M CLASSICALLY TRAINED THROUGH AND THROUGH, BUT MY MUSIC, GOSPEL MUSIC, NEOSOUL, R&B, THAT'S PART OF MY CULTURE, PART OF WHO I AM AS A MUSICIAN.

WHEN I GO TO THESE SPACES, I TRY TO BRING ALL OF MYSELF TO THESE SPACES, FUSING THOSE GENRES TOGETHER AND TRULY BEING WHO I AM AS A MUSICIAN.

>> KAITLYN TELLS US SHE HOPES TO USE SOME OF THE $30,000 TO CREATE A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM TO SUPPORT YOUNG MUSICIANS.

SHE ALSO JUST RELEASED HER FIRST SOLO ALBUM TITLED "EXHALE."

AFTER LEADING HER TEAM TO ITS FIRST WNBA CHAMPIONSHIP, CHICAGO'S SKY STAR, CANDICE PARKER IS CAPPING OFF 2021 BY BEING VOTE VOGTED FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FOR THE SECOND TIME BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

WE REVISIT THE PLACE WHERE HER ASCENT BEGAN, HER HIGH SCHOOL, NAPPERVILLE CENTRAL.

>> SHE LOVES CHICAGO LAND AND I THINK SHE WANTED TO COME BACK AND MAKE IT HAPPEN HERE, KIND OF FOR HER WHERE IT STARTED.

>> I FEEL LIKE IT IS AN AMAZING MOMENT FOR CHICAGO IN GENERAL AND FOR CANDICE TO BE BACK IN HER HOMETOWN AND WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP FOR HER HOME TEEN -- TEAM BECAUSE SHE IS LIKE AN ALUMNI HERE.

>> IT'S KIND OF SURREAL BECAUSE SHE GREW UP IN MY TOWN, WENT TO THE SAME SCHOOLS THAT I DID.

IT'S INSPIRING FOR ME BECAUSE I KNOW I HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS SHE DID TO POSSIBLY GO AS FAR AS HER.

>> SEEING THEM WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND HOW EXCITED THEY WERE MADE ME EXCITED FOR OUR BASKETBALL SEASON AND IT MADE ME THINK ABOUT HOW I CAN BE BETTER AS A PLAYER.

AND I FELT PROUD AS A TEAM AND OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

>> CANDICE PARKER IS ONE OF THE NICEST PLAYERS WE'VE HAD.

IT IS PHENOMENAL TO HAVE HER HERE.

OBVIOUSLY THE MOST TALENTED BASKETBALL PLAYER I'VE SEEN AND HER LOVE FOR BASKETBALL AND DESIRE TO WORK HARD, IT'S A PRETTY THREE PRONGED LETHAL COMBINATION.

THAT'S WHY SHE IS AS GOOD AS SHE IS.

>> SHE KNOWS WHERE SHE CAME FROM.

SHE COMES TO GIVE BACK AND ENJOYS WATCHING THE GIRLS PLAY.

>> TO SEE SOMEBODY FROM NAPERVILLE AND A WOMAN GO THROUGH WITH HER TEAM AND WIN THAT, IT'S ALMOST LIKE PROUD TO SEE SOMEBODY LIKE THAT WIN.

USUALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WATCH WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, SO I THINK CANDICE LAID OUT THE BLUEPRINT FOR THAT AND GOT MORE PEOPLE INTO WATCHING WOMEN'S BASKETBALL.

>> I FEEL LIKE BEFORE IT WAS HARD BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE WATCHES THE MEN'S LEAGUE, BUT NOW THAT I FEEL LIKE WITH CHICAGO BRINGING HOME THE BIG WIN WITH THE WOMEN'S TEAM, I FEEL LIKE IT'S HELD ME TO A BIGGER DEAL AROUND HERE.

>> I KNOW IT'S INSPIRING TO MY CURRENT PLAYERS, FOR THEM TO SEE THAT, SET YOUR GOALS, SET YOUR DREAMS AND WORK HARD TO ACHIEVE THEM.

>> I THINK IT MOTIVATE ME TO DO MY BEST AND KNOW THAT HARD WORK PAYS OFF IN THE END.

>> OBVIOUSLY GROWING UP AS A GIRL, I REALLY WANT MY TALENT TO BE SHOWN AND I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT JUST BECAUSE I'M A GIRL DOESN'T MEAN I CAN'T PLAY AT THAT LEVEL.

>> I THINK CANDICE INFLUENCES ME A LOT AS WELL AS MY SISTER.

MY SISTER CAME THROUGH HERE AND PLAYED BASKETBALL AS WELL.

SENSE SHE IS AFRICAN AMERICAN, IT KIND OF GIVES ME MORE HOPE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE BETTER FOR ME IN THE FUTURE SO I CAN KIND OF -- PAVED THE PATHWAY FOR ME AS WELL.

>> PARKER HAS KNOWN HOW IT FEELS TO BE THE CHAMP.

WHILE AT NAPERVILLE CENTRAL SHE LED THE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2003 AND 2004 AND CHOSEN AS GATE RAID'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- GATORADE'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR NOT ONCE BUT TWICE.

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

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.