>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... [♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... CHICAGO'S RESILIENT COMMUNITIES GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT IS READY TO TAKE OFF.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS SHARE THEIR HOPES FOR THE PROGRAM.

>> AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY CONNECTS TEEN ENVIRONMENTALISTS WITH THE ILLINOIS PRAIRIE.

MINNIE MINOSO IS BEEN ENSHRINED IN BASEBALL'S HALL OF FAME THIS WEEKEND.

TAYLOR WAYS IN ON WHAT SHE SAYS IS AN OVERDUHON NOR?

>> I THINK WE CAN DIRECTLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON VIOLENCE.

>> HEAR ABOUT A BASKETBALL CAMP THAT IS TAKING BACK CHICAGO STREETS WHILE CREATING SAFE SPACES FOR KIDS.

BOTH CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LAUNCHING GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAMS THAT WILL PROVIDE 8,000 RESIDENTS WITH $500 A MONTH NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

WHILE APPLICATIONS FOR COOK COUNTY RESIDENTS OPENED IN THE FALL THE RESIDENTS CHOSEN FOR CHICAGO'S PROGRAM HAVE STARTED TO RECEIVE THOSE MONTHLY PAYMENTS.

ACCORDING TO DATA, 176,000 PEOPLE APPLIED FOR THE PROGRAM OF THOSE APPLICANTS 64% LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.

68% IDENTIFIED AS BLACK OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

AND 70% IDENTIFIED AS A WOMAN.

17% CITED HAVING A DISABILITY AND 9% INDICATED THAT THEY ARE HOUSING INSECURE OR HOMELESS.

HERE WITH MORE ON THE CHALLENGES OF IMPLEMENTING A GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM AND HOW RECIPIENTS WILL BENEFIT ARE, ARE AUDRA WILSON PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE SHRIVER CENTER ON POVERTY LAY.

BRANDIE KNAZZE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND SUPPORT SERVICES AND NICOLE ROBINSON C.E.O.

AT YWCA METRO CHICAGO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

COMMISSIONER BRANDIE KNAZZE WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM AND WHAT HAS THE PROCESS BEEN UP TO THIS POINT?

>> THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON.

SO RESIDENTS WHO ARE 18 YEARS OR OLDER LIVE IN CHICAGO AND EARN 250% BELOW THE POVERTY LINE OR LESS AND CAN DEMONSTRATE A COVID-19 NEGATIVE IMPACT FOR ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM.

APPLICATIONS CLOSED IN MAY.

AND BY THE END OF THE MONTH, 90% OF THE SELECTED PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FIRST PAYMENT.

PAYMENTS BEGAN GOING OUT LAST MONTH AT THE END OF JUNE.

>> AUDRA WILSON, A BIG POINT OF EMPHASIS WAS THAT THIS CASH COMES WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

>> DIRECT CASH PAYMENTS AS THIS IS MAKES A CONSIDERABLE DIFFERENCE TO FAMILIES.

IT GIVES THE INDIVIDUALS THE AGENCY TO INVEST IN WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR NEEDS WHETHER IT IS STARTING A BUSINESS OR FEEDING THEIR FAMILIES OR CARING FOR CHILDREN.

AND THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE CASH TRANSFER IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN MANY EXISTING SAFETY NET PROGRAMS THAT HAVE WORK REQUIREMENTS OR CAN ELIMINATE ASSISTANCE WHEN INDIVIDUALS RECEIVE ANY MODEST INCREASE IN INCOME.

THE FLEXIBILITY IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS PROGRAM.

>> NICOLE ROBINSON DESCRIBE HOW THE YWCA PERFORMED OUTREACH FOR THE PILOT?

>> THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING PARTS OF THE PROGRAM.

FOR ME THIS WAS ABOUT EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND IMPACT.

AND THERE'S SO MANY RESIDENTS ACROSS CHICAGO WHO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HAVE BEEN COPING WITH JOB LOSS, WITH FOOD INSECURITY WITH HOUSING INSECURITY WITH LOTS OF CHALLENGES WITH CHILDCARE.

AND THAT IS STRESSFUL.

AND WHAT THIS PROGRAM DOES IS NOT JUST FILLS THE GAPS IN THOSE AREAS BUT PROVIDES RELIEF.

IN TERMS OF OUTREACH WE WERE IN THE COMMUNITY BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND HAD A COALITION OF HUNDREDS OF PARTNERS ACROSS THE CITY ALL UNIFIED UNDER THE ONE IDEA MAKING RESIDENTS WERE AWARE, WE WERE IN CHURCHES AND FAITH INSTITUTIONS.

WE WERE IN BARBERSHOPS.

LAUNDROMATS.

GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR WORKING WITH LOTS OF PARTNERS TO SPREAD THE WORD.

I THINK THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY MULTILANGUAGE, CHINESE, ARABIC, SPANISH, POLISH THERE WERE YOU COULD COMMUNICATE IN A WAY THAT MADE SENSE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

ONE ON-LINE AND ACCESSIBLE.

IT MAYBE TOOK 20 MINUTES OR LESS TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION.

SO THE TEAMS DID A GREAT JOB TO MAKE IT EASY AND FLEXIBLE AND WE HAD INDIVIDUALS AND VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY READY AT LIBRARIES, AT SCHOOLS, AT OTHER PLACES WHERE COMMUNITIES ARE WHERE THEY TRUST PEOPLE TO SHARE INFORMATION BECAUSE TRUST WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE ABOUT THIS THAT WE THOUGHT ABOUT CLEARLY TO MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS WERE WILLING TO AND WERE AWARE AS I RECALL, THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS THERE WAS A BIG, BIG RUSH OF APPLICATIONS THAT CAME IN.

SO WE FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THE FACT THAT THAT HAPPENED.

AND JUST TO COMMENT ON THE IMPACT PART, I SAY THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ENROLLED IN THIS PROCESS ARE PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEEDED IT.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THE INDIVIDUALS AS THEY CAME IN.

>> I'M SURE THAT THE FACT THAT THERE WERE 167,000 APPLICANTS IS INDICATIVE OF THE AMOUNT OF NEED OUT THERE.

COMMISSIONER BRANDIE KNAZZE WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL DETAILS THAT YOU HAD TO CONSIDER IN ORDER TO GET PEOPLE THE FUNDS?

>> SO ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE WANTED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THE PROGRAM TARGETED CAREGIVERS AND PARENTS.

WE KNOW THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC MANY INDIVIDUALS HAD TO STEP AWAY FROM THEIR REGULAR DUTIES TO STAY AT HOME TO DO ON-LINE LEARNING OR TAKE CARE OF THEIR LOVED ONES.

AND FELT THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US.

WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO NICOLE'S POINT THAT FIRST DAY MEDIA HELPED GET THE WORD OUT.

BUT WE KNEW THAT BESIDES THAT THERE WERE HARD TO REACH POPULATIONS THAT WE WANTED TO IMPACT.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THOSE UNDOCUMENTED OR DOMESTIC WORKERS OR PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH AS THE FIRST LANGUAGE THAT WE GOT TO THEM.

WE THOUGHT ABOUT HOW DO WE REACH THOSE RETURNING RESIDENTS FOR VETERANS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF DISTRUST FROM GOVERNMENT AND SO WE WANTED TO HEADACHE SURE THAT -- MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE TRUSTED MESSANGERS THAT COULD GET THE WORD OUT.

AND THE OTHER THING WE THOUGHT ABOUT THE BENEFITS CLIP.

WE DIDN'T WANT SOMEONE TO SAY, I COULD USE $500 BUT I'M ON ANOTHER SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAM SO I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY SNAP BENEFITS OR SZ DONNELLY I.

OUR TEAM LOBBIED WELL AND HARD I WILL SAY THAT WE GOT A WAIVER FOR SZ DONNELLY I AND FOR SNAP AND TO PUT THAT IN PER COMPETITIVE 57% WHO APPLIED AT SNAP BENEFITS.

THAT IS STRIKING WHAT WE LEARNED IS OTHER CITIES EXCLUDED THOSE POPULATIONS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT THEM TO BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.

THE OTHER THING WAS ABOUT EASE OF USE TO NICOLE'S POINT INDIVIDUALS COULD COMPLETE AN APPLICATION.

AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A PROCESS THAT WAS INCLUSIVE AND PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE TO COME BACK A SECOND OR THIRD TIME.

>> AND MAKING SURE FOLKS DO NOT FALL OFF ANOTHER BENEFIT IS AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION.

AUDRA WILSON YOU SAID THIS PROGRAM WITH ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF SOCIAL AND RACIAL JUSTICE.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> THE CONCEPT OF GUARANTEED INCOME HAS BEEN CAMP I DON'T KNOWED FOR DECADES TO ADDRESS RACIAL JUSTICE.

THIS IS A SIMPLE APPROACH.

AND YOU'VE HEARD US SAY THE SOCIAL SAFETY NETS THEY CAN BE DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE AND ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR BLACK WOMEN WHO FACE GREATER ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS WHEN SEEKING SUPPORT.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE PILOTS HAVE OFFERED A GUARANTEED INCOME HAVE MEASURABLELY IMPROVED PEOPLE'S FINANCIAL STABILITY BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE LAUNCHING THIS PILOT IN THE THIRD LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY WITH THE INCOME PILOT, IS EXTRAORDINARILY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THESE JOINT PILOTS CAN PROMOTE THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE AND HELP TO CRAFT BROADER NATIONAL INITIATIVES.

>> NICOLE ROBINSON, WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF NEED YOU SEE AMONG THE FAMILIES YOU SERVE?

>> I SEE IT.

I'VE SEEN IT IN THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE COME IN TO APPLY.

AND BRANDY AND AUDRA MENTIONED DOMESTIC WORKERS AND HOME HEALTH AIDES AND I MET SOME OF THE WOMEN AND THEIR INCOME HAD BEEN DISRUPTED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THEIR CAREGIVERS, THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE RENT.

AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT THESE INCOME PROGRAMS IS THAT THEY REALLY DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND IMPACT AND STUDIES SHOW THAT IT RELIEVES STRESS FOR FAMILIES, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IMPROVES.

THEIR STABILITY.

FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO PUT A LITTLE MONEY AWAY AND SAVE.

SO THAT IS TREMENDOUS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL STABILITY.

>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE PROMISE OF THIS PROGRAM AS IT CONTINUES TO ROLL OUT.

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO COVERING THIS DOWN THE ROAD AS WELL IN CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY AS WE SEE HOW IT SUPPORTS PEOPLE AND HOW IT WORKS.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

BRANDIE KNAZZE, AUDRA WILSON AND NICOLE ROBINSON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US >> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, HONORING A CHICAGO BASEBALL LEGEND.

>> THIS WEEKEND, THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME WILL WELCOME WHITE SOX LEGEND MINNIE MINOSO TO ITS RANK, THE CUBAN COMET ELECTED THROUGH THE COMMITTEE WAS BELOVED ON THE SOUTH SIDE FOR HIS WARM AND ENGAGING SPIRIT AS HIS EXTRAORDINARY ON FIELD PERFORMANCE.

THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" SAYS THIS LONG AWAITED HONOR IS A NEEDED HISTORICAL CORRECTION FOR BASEBALL'S LEGACY >> MINNIE'S INDUCTION I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF BLACK BASEBALL HISTORY, AFRO-LATINO HISTORY, HISTORY IN GENERAL.

HE'S UNMATCHED IN PRETTY MUCH THE LONGEVITY OF HIS CAREER.

WHAT HE MEANT TO THE WHITE SOX PRIMARILY, WHAT HE MEANS TO PLAYERS COMING UP TODAY.

I THINK THAT -- I DON'T KNOW LIKE I FEEL THIS IS A MOMENT THAT IS NECESSARY.

IT HAD TO HAPPEN.

I THINK OMITTING HIM LEAVES A PRETTY BIG HOLE IN HISTORY.

SO THIS IS -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG-TERM OH, MY GOD THIS CHANGES THE HALL OF FAME.

BUT I DO THINK THIS IS A MOMENT THAT FOLKS CAN TAKE A SECOND AND LEARN.

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT HIS LEGACY OR THEY ONLY KNOW THE LATER YEARS WITH THE WHITE SOX.

AND I THINK ANY OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY REMEMBER HISTORY THE WAY I GUESS WE SHOULD.

SO THIS WILL DEFINITELY PUT IT IN THE FOREFRONT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS.

GENERATIONS LATER, YOU HEAR CUBAN PLAYERS TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT HE IS TO THEM CURRENTLY.

IT WAS TIME.

I THINK IT'S GREAT.

I THINK IT'S SAD THAT HE IS NOT PHYSICALLY HERE TO SEE IT.

BUT I THINK IT IS A GOOD THING FOR BASEBALL THAT THIS FINALLY HAPPENED.

I THINK THINGS LIKE THIS ARE GREAT BUT THEY DON'T VALIDATE.

HIS ACHIEVEMENTS REMAIN.

WHAT HE DID FOR THE SPORT REMAINS.

THIS JUST SORT OF MAKES IT A LITTLE SWEETER.

>> SADLY, MINNIE MINOSO DIED IN 2015.

BUT HIS FAMILY SAYS 80-90 PEOPLE WILL BE AT THE CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE AND HEAR HIS WIFE SHARON RICE GIVE A SPEECH.

>> AS THE BRUTAL HEATWAVES SWEEP ACROSS THE GLOBE CALLS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE HAVE BEEN URGENT.

BUT IN ADDITION TO LARGE SCALE POLICY EFFORTS MAKING LASTING CHANGE OFTEN STARTS WITH INDIVIDUALS.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY'S YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL THINKERS PROGRAM IS HOPING TO BE PART OF THAT CHANGE.

THE PROGRAM IS A PAID INTERNSHIP THAT HELPS 16-18-YEAR-OLDS EXPLORE ILLINOIS' NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE SOCIALOGICAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

JOINING US NOW ARE DEBRA WILLIAMS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND DANIELLE BROGAN, AN INTERN WITH THE YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL THINKERS PROGRAM.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DEBRA WILLIAMS LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE, HOW DID THE PROGRAM COME ABOUT?

>> WELL AS A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST WITH THE DESIRE TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY, WHERE I SERVE WHICH IS ILLINOIS THE PRAIRIE CAPITAL OF THE PRAIRIE STATE, I DEVELOPED THIS PROGRAM WITH HELP AND INPUT FROM COLLEAGUES SO THAT WE COULD ADDRESS THE BALANCE WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE AND NATURE.

AND OF COURSE, IT'S NOT JUST REACHING OUT TO TEEN ENVIRONMENTALISTS IT'S REACHING OUT TO TEENS WHO COME SONT'S EVEN LIKE NATURE.

BUT THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM ALLOWS FOR EXPERIENCES WHERE WE LOOK AT HOW TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTALLY AND SOCIALOGICALLY.

>> DANIELLE BROGAN DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY IN THE FIELD FOR AN INTERN?

>> A LOT OF OUR DAYS WE SPENT DOING RESEARCH OR LEARNING ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT PARTS OF NATURE AFFECT PEOPLE NOWADAYS AS WELL AS EVERY THURSDAY WE GO OUT WITH THE STEWARDSHIP TEAM AND ALLOWED TO HELP OUT IN THE PRAIRIES.

WHETHER THAT BE CATCHING BUGS OR PULLING WEEDS.

IT WAS REALLY JUST IN ORDER TO GET US OUT INTO NATURE AS WELL.

>> DID YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF AN ENVIRONMENTALIST BEFORE COMING TO THE PROGRAM, DANIELLE?

>> WELL, I WAS IN THEORY I'D ALWAYS CARED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND THOUGHT ABOUT HOW I COULD HELP.

BUT BEING OUTSIDE ASPECT, I DID NOT KNOW I WOULD ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS I DID.

>> DEBRA WHY DO YOU BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE ENGAGED IN THIS KIND OF WORK?

>> I BELIEVE THE YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO BE ENGAGED AS THEY LEARN ABOUT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS AND THEN TO BE INFORMED ABOUT WHAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS, YES, ENVIRONMENTALLY AND HOW WE ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE.

OFTEN WE WANT TO GET THE WORK DONE THAT IS CONNECTED TO ITSNAER AND THE ENVIRONMENT BUT DON'T NECESSARILY ADDRESS PEOPLE CLIMATES AND HOW WE RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER AND HOW TO TALK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT YOU CANNOT DO IT WITH PULLING IN PEOPLE LIKE A NOOSE AROUND THEIR NECKS BUT BEING RESPECTFUL WITH THE PEOPLE.

AND YOUNG PEOPLE HOW THEY ENGAGE IN THE VARIETY OF ATMOSPHERES THEY ARE IN THAT IS NOT AN EITHER OR.

>> DANIELLE WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN THIS PROGRAM?

>> WELL, MY HIGH SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER RECOMMENDED IT TO ME.

AND NEXT YEAR, I AM MAJORING IN CHEMISTRY WITH A MINOR IN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND COMMUNICATIONS.

WHICH ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES RELATES BACK TO THE NATURE ASPECT AND COMMUNICATIONS RELATES TO THE PEOPLE ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM.

>> OK. OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE TAKEN SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN FROM THIS INTERNSHIP AND YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT APPLYING IT IN YOUR COLLEGE STUDIES BY ADDING THE COMMUNICATIONS >> OF COURSE, IT THOUGHT ME THAT INTERACTING WITH OTHER PEOPLE HAS REALLY JUST HELPED ME REALLY CONNECT AND BE ABLE TO LEARN AND HAVE RESPECTFUL DIALOGUES WITH OTHERS.

>> DEBRA YOU'VE MENTIONED ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM IS CONNECTING PEOPLE TO PEOPLE AND PEOPLE TO NATURE.

TELL US WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> WELL, BECAUSE OF MY EXPERIENCE THUS FAR JUST SINCE 2015 WITH THE WHOLE THING WITH CONSERVATION AND CARING FOR THE EARTH, I FOUND THAT OFTEN THERE WAS THE INTRIGUE OF NATURE, THE TREES AND THE BIRDS WHICH IS WARRANTED.

BUT HOW I RELATE TO SOMEBODY WHO IS RIGHT NEXT TO ME THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT WAS CHAMPIONING.

SO WHEREAS SOMEBODY MAY SEE A RARE BIRD AND BE ALL EXCITED REALIZING THAT THE PERSON YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH ON A DAILY BASIS OR ONCE, IS ALSO VERY RARE AND VERY VALUABLE.

AND TRYING TO BRING A LENS TOWARDS LOOKING AT IT IN A BALANCED WAY AND BOTH BENEFIT.

>> DEBRA, ALSO EXPLAIN IF YOU WOULD THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING TEENS INVOLVED IN LEARNING ABOUT SORT OF NATURE AND HOW MUCH DOES CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE COME INTO THAT LEARNING?

>> WELL, I WILL GO BACK IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE PROGRAM WASN'T DESIGNED JUST TO GET TEENS INVOLVED IN THE EFFORT.

BUT IT WAS AN ECONOMIC PIECE THAT WAS CONNECTED THERE.

AND AS I TALKED ABOUT LEARNING ABOUT THEMSELVES AS WELL IT'S SOMETIMES THE FIRST JOB FOR SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

WORK ETHIC.

RESPONSIBILITY.

INDEPENDENCE, FUNCTIONING.

BUT IF YOU DON'T KNOW AND MANY -- WE HAD FIVE INTERNS THIS YEAR SEVERAL LIKE THEY LEARNED SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T KNOW.

AND NOW THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT IT THEY CAN ADDRESS IT.

AND WANTS TO PASS IT ON WHERE THEY FEEL KNOWLEDGEABLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED IT.

TEENS HAVE A VOICE AND TEENS HAVE IMPACT AND INFLUENCE.

JUST SO HAPPENED THAT OUR PROGRAM FOCUSES ON 16-18-YEAR-OLDS AND THEY KNOW SOMEBODY AND SOMEBODY KNOWS SOMEBODY SO IT GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE MESSAGE AND CONNECTING PEOPLE TO PEOPLE AND PEOPLE TO NATURE.

WHICH MEANS JUST PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE.

AND WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU ARE IN YOUR DIFFERENT PEOPLE CLIMATES INTENTIONALLY.

>> DANIELLE YOU'VE TOLD US WHAT YOU PLAN ON STUDYING IN SCHOOL.

AND YOU'VE MENTIONED YOU ARE GOING TO MONMOUTH COLLEGE IN THE FALL.

CONGRATULATIONS THERE.

HOW DO YOU SEE THIS PROGRAM SORT OF HELPING YOUR PROFESSIONAL GOALS LATER ON?

>> WELL, REALLY JUST BEING ABLE TO FURTHER INTEREST MYSELF IN NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS ONCE I DO GET TO A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL BEING ABLE TO OPEN A CONVERSATION ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND HAVE IT BE A MUTUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING SOMEONE BLAMING THE OTHER WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE WANT AS MS. WILLIAMS TAUGHT ME.

>> ONCE YOU FINISH COLLEGE DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

>> I'M NOT COMPLETELY SURE YET BUT I'M PLANNING ON GETTING MY MASTERS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY FIELD.

>> DEBRA THIS WEEK AS THE LAST FIELD DAY FOR THE PROGRAM.

ARE THERE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT IN THE FUTURE?

>> ACTUALLY, YES.

WE'VE BEEN INTENTIONAL ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] LIKE AUGUST 20 WE ARE HAVING A PRAIRIE DAY WHICH IS IN 345RBG HAM AND THEN ON OCTOBER FIRST WE ARE HAVING THE NATURE FESTIVAL.

IT IS A FOUR GROUPS ARE PARTNERED AND [INAUDIBLE] >> SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF FUN.

BEST TO LUCK TO YOU DANIELLE BROGAN AND AUDRA WILSON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US >> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, HOW COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE KEEPING KIDS ENGAGED THIS SUMMER.

HOOPS IN THE HOOD IS TAKING OVER THE STREETS OF CHICAGO THIS SUMMER BY BRINGING KIDS AND TEENS TOGETHER TO PLAY BASKETBALL IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD BACKYARDS.

"CHICAGO TONIGHT'S" JOANNA HERNANDEZ LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE MISSION BEHIND THE PROGRAM AND THE LEADERS WHO ARE DRIVEN TO MAKE A CHANGE.

>> AT THE CENTER ON THE FAR SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO YOUNG HOOPERS COME TOGETHER TO PLAY BALL.

IT'S COACHED DARRELLE BANKS FIRST YEAR PARTICIPATING IN HOOPS IN THE HOOD.

>> I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING COACHES MENTORS WHO INSTILLED IN ME VALUABLE THINGS AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO MATRICULATE AND BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT.

AND BASKETBALL HAPPEN TO BE THE AVENUE FOR ME.

>> DARRELLE BANKS GREW UP ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND IS ONE OF MANY COMMUNITY LEADERS TAKING PART IN THE BASKETBALL CAMP >> MY JOB IS TRYING TO GET THEM TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE COHESIVENESS BETWEEN LIFE AND BASKETBALL.

BECAUSE THEY GO HAND IN HAND.

>> HOOPS IN THE HOOD IS AN INITIATIVE THAT STARTED IN 2006.

AIMED AT PROVIDING SAFE SPACES FOR KIDS TO PLAY BASKETBALL.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVERY YEAR BECAUSE IT HIGHLIGHTS A LOT OF THE REALLY AMAZING THINGS THAT GRASSROOT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY ARE DOING.

YOU HEAR ABOUT THE BAD THINGS.

THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE CITY.

>> ALEX ANAYA IS A COACH AND PROGRAM OFFICER AT LOCAL INITIATIVE SUPPORT CORPORATION.

KNOWN ASLISTIC.

HE RUNS A LEAGUE IN PILSEN >> ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS ABOUT HOOPS IN THE HOOD A LOT OF THE PROGRAMMING THAT OCCURS, OCCURS OUTSIDE.

WE ARE INVITING THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND BE PART SO THEY CAN SEE THAT THE YOUTH ARE DOING SOMETHING POSITIVE.

>> EVERY YEAR, THEY PARTNER WITH 17 NEIGHBORHOODS AND ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THOSE COMMUNITIES TO HOST SUMMER LEAGUES WHERE HUNDREDS OF KIDS TAKE PART.

ALEX ANAYA SAYS THE PROGRAM GOES BEYOND LEARNING BASKETBALL SKILLS >> KEEPING KIDS SAFE AND OUT OF TROUBLE YOU ARE SAVING LIVES WHILE YOU HAVE THEM IN THE GYM YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR MINDSET ABOUT FORT INCLUDING ACT ASSEMBLYICS, ATHLETICS, THE WAY THEY TREAT THEIR PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND COMMUNICATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT AS WELL.

>> WHETHER IT IS A LOCAL GYM OR OUTSIDE COURT PARTICIPANTS ARE GOING THROUGH DRILLS >> AS FAR AS I CAME HERE TO PLAY BASKETBALL.

>> OTHER PARTICIPANTS LIKE 10-YEAR-OLD SOFIA KHAN SAYS SHE HAS HER EYES ON IMPROVING HER SKILLS FOR THE BIG LEAGUE ONE DAY >> I WANT TO BE THE FIRST GIRL TO PLAY ACTUAL GAMES IN THE NBA.

TO SHOW THAT OTHER GIRLS THAT IT'S POSSIBLE.

>> AND THE PROGRAM ONLY HAPPENS IN THE SUMMER BUT COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE WORKING TO HAVE CAMPS LIKE THIS RUN ALL YEAR LONG >> IF WE CAN HAVE THIS YEAR-ROUND I THINK WE CAN DIRECTLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON VIOLENCE.

I THINK WE WILL HELP REDUCE VIOLENCE.

>> FOR BANKS, COACHING KIDS GIVES HIM AN OUTLET TO GIVE BACK AND SAYS IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP BOYS AND GIRLS DEVELOP GOALS ON AND OFF THE COURT.

I WOULD TELL HIM OR HER NOT BE SO HUNG ON WHAT IS HAPPENING TO YOU AND CHANGE YOUR MINDSET.

ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ARE TO TEACH YOU AND SHOW YOU WHO YOU ARE CAPABLE OF BEING ALREADY.

>> FOR BLACK VOICES I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> AND ONCE THE CAMP ENDS THE PROGRAM HOSTS A CITYWIDE TOURNAMENT WHERE KIDS FROM ALL 17 NEIGHBORHOODS PARTICIPATING.

THEY COME AND COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER.

AND THAT'S HOUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

AND IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT, KNOW YOU CAN CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES ON SUNDAYS AT 10:00 P.M. AND JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ NEXT WEEK AT 7:00 P.M. ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

NOW, FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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