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

I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HAS THE EVENING OFF.

THANKS FOR SHARING A PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS IN CHICAGO PROPOSES A NEW TAX AS A LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO HOUSING INSTABILITY.

>> 11 PUBLIC ART GROUPS RECEIVE FUNDING FROM A LOCAL NONPROFIT ON A MISSION TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN ART AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM.

WE TALK WITH TWO OF THE AWARD RECIPIENTS.

AN ART EXHIBITION DRAWING PARALLELS AMONG TORTURE TECHNIQUES AMONG CHICAGO'S.

>> THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PERFORMING ARTS ARENA.

>> AND A LOCAL JAZZ VOCALIST IS EXPOSING CHICAGO YOUTH TO OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN PERFORMING ARTS.

>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT, A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT TO END HOMELESSNESS IN CHICAGO IS CALLING ON THE CITY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM LONG-TERM.

IN JUNE, A COALITION GAVE MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT A FAILING REPORT CARD ON HER ADMINISTRATION'S PROGRESS ON THE ISSUE.

NOW, THEY ARE RALLYING SUPPORT AMONG COUNCILMEMBERS FOR THEIR BRING CHICAGO HOME CAMPAIGN.

THE PROPOSAL WOULD INCREASE THE CITY'S REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX, A ONE-TIME TAX PAID WHEN A PROPERTY IS SOLD BY NEARLY 2% ON PROPERTIES OVER $1 MILLION.

THE COALITION SAYS IT WOULD IMPACT ABOUT 4% OF PROPERTIES.

THEY SAY THE MOVE WOULD GENERATE $163 MILLION TO FUND PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH WRAP AROUND SERVICES.

JOINING US ARE CAESAR HILL, A MEMBER OF ORGANIZING NEIGHBORHOODS FOR EQUALITY NORTH SIDE.

AND HARRY WILLIAMS, A GRASSROOTS LEADER WITH THE CHICAGO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS.

CAESAR HILL LET'S START WITH YOU CAN YOU GIVE US A SNAPSHOT HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN CHICAGO IS RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN 2019, JUST PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC THERE WERE MORE THAN 58,000 PEOPLE IN CHICAGO EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

OF THOSE, NEARLY 13,000 WERE CHILDREN.

OVER 34,000 WERE BLACK AND OVER 14 WERE [INAUDIBLE] AND MOST PEOPLE YOU KNOW THEY BECOME HOMELESS DUE TO ECONOMIC REASONS.

AND HOUSING IN CHICAGO IS NOT BUILT ON WHAT YOU EARN.

CHICAGOAN MUST EARN 25.77 AN HOUR TO AFFORD A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT.

AND A MINIMUM WAGE IS CURRENTLY 15.40 AN HOUR.

OTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTORS THE HOMELESSNESS ARE THE SYSTEMIC RACISM, LACK OF ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND FOR YOUTH, ABUSE AT HOME OR COMING OUT AS LGBTQ.

>> CITY DATA INDICATES THE HIGH PROPORTION OF CHICAGOANS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE BLACK.

WHAT DO YOU THINK CONTRIBUTES TO THAT?

>> I FEEL LIKE SAY FOR EXAMPLE THE WEST SIDE THEY HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF HOMELESSNESS IN CHICAGO.

IN 2021 SCHOOL YEAR, THE 27TH WARD AND THE 28TH WARD WERE THE SECOND AND THIRD HIGHEST NUMBERS OF HOMELESS STUDENTS.

IN 2020 THE 27TH AND THE 28TH WARD WERE THE FIRST AND SECOND HIGHEST NUMBERS OF SHELTERS.

WHAT THE SHELTERS REQUEST USING 7283 REQUESTS.

THERE ARE HIGH NUMBERS OF PEOPLE STAYING TEMPORARILY WITH OTHERS.

WEST SIDE NEIGHBORS HAD IT RIGHT AROUND 18,394 PEOPLE LIVING DOUBLED UP IN 2019.

>> CAESAR HILL JUMPING BACK TO YOU, WOULD YOU SAY THERE ARE COMMUNITIES OR NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE HOMELESSNESS IS ESPECIALLY ACUTE?

>> YES.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS REPRESENT THREE OUT OF FOUR OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS CONDITION OF BEING UNSHELTERED.

SO YOU KNOW, BEAR IN MIND WE WANT ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE UNSHELTERED TO HAVE THEIR HOME, A PERMANENT HOME, WITH THE WRAP AROUND SERVICES.

BUT WHENEVER A GROUP IS OVERREPRESENTED AS SUCH, THAT IS WHERE THE EFFORT MORE EFFORT NEEDS TO BE MADE DIRECTED BY THE SITUATION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HARRY JUMPING BACK TO YOU THE BRING CHICAGO HOME CAMPAIGN PROPOSES USING A REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX TO CREATE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

WHY DOES THE COALITION BELIEVE THAT IS THE BEST SOLUTION?

>> WELL, THE REASON WHY WE FEEL LIKE IT'S NECESSARY FOR THE FUNDING AND THIS WOULD BE THE BEST SOLUTION BECAUSE THE FUNDING NEEDS TO BE LEGALLY DEDICATED SO IT'S NOT SUBJECT TO BUDGET CUTS OR THE PRIORITIES OF A PARTICULAR ADMINISTRATION WHILE THEY ARE IN OFFICE.

THE FUND WILL BE USED TO PERMANENTLY HOUSE -- USED FOR PERMANENT HOUSING AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES.

AND WE NEED FUNDING EVERY YEAR FOR THAT SO PEOPLE DON'T -- DEDICATED FOR THOSE HOUSING IS THE BEST PRACTICE NATIONWIDE.

THERE'S 47 STATES INCLUDING ILLINOIS AND 700 CITIES AND COUNTIES WITH LEGALLY DEDICATED FUNDING.

DEDICATED FUND SOMETHING NOT NEW TO CHICAGO.

WE HAVE 18 DEDICATED FUNDING STREAMS THAT MAKEUP THE $1 BILLION CITY BUDGET THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE'S DEDICATED FUNDING FOR ROAD REPAIR, DEDICATED FUNDING FOR LIBRARIES, DEDICATED FUNDING FOR TOURISM BUT THERE IS NOT DEDICATED FUNDING FOR HOMELESSNESS.

>> WELL, I HATE TO END IT THERE BUT THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY.

OUR THANKS TO CAESAR HILL AND HARRY WILLIAMS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> AN EXHIBIT AT THE DePAUL ART MUSEUM TITLED REMAKING THE EXCEPTIONAL, TEA, TORTURE AND REPARATIONS.

IS ACKNOWLEDGING 20 YEARS SINCE THE OPENING OF THE UNITED STATES EXTRALEGAL PRISON IN GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA IN IT EXAMINES VIOLENCE AND CELEBRATING THE TORTURE SURVIVORS FEATURING ART MADE WHILE IN THE GUANTANAMO AND STATESVILLE PRISON.

A BOOK ACCOMPANIES THE EXHIBITION WITH WORDS WRITTEN BY ARTISTS, ACTIVISTS AND TORTURE SURVIVORS TO INVESTIGATE THE INVESTIGATION BETWEEN TORTURE METHODS IN CHICAGO AND THE U.S. MILITARY PRISON IN GUANTANAMO BAY.

MIRA WITH THE CHICAGO POLICE IS ONE OF THOSE AUTHORS.

>> THE CLEAREST EXAMPLE IS THIS INTERROGATOR RICHARD WHO IS STILL ALIVE TODAY AND HE WAS A PART OF TORTURING PEOPLE AT AREA 3.

HE IS NOT A PART OF THE BURGE CREW, THE MIDNIGHT CREW THAT IS IN THE PROCESS OF RECEIVING REPARATIONS AND THERE'S A STRUGGLE TO GET THEM OUT OF PRISON.

BUT HE USED THE SAME TECHNIQUES IN CHICAGO AS HE TOOK OVER TO GUANTANAMO BAY.

A LOT OF THE TECHNIQUES THAT WERE DEVELOPED IN MILITARY EFFORTS ALL THE WAY GOING BACK TO VIETNAM AND BEFORE THAT.

THINGS LIKE USING MILITARY FIELD TERMS AND BEING ABLE TO USE IT AS AN ELECTROCUTION DEVICE THAT IS KNOWN TO HAVE HAPPENED IN VIETNAM AND THAT IS THE TECHNIQUE THAT JOHN BURGE USED IN CHICAGO ON BLACK MEN STILL AROUND TODAY AND STILL CAN SHARE THEIR STORIES.

OVERALL THE GOAL ABOUT BRINGING THESE TWO STRUGGLES TOGETHER IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW SIMILAR THE EXPERIENCES ARE.

AND ALSO HOW SIMILAR THE NEED FOR REPARATIONS AND SUPPORT ARE >> NOW, THAT BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AND IT'S ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY A PODCAST.

THE EXHIBITION IS AT THE DePAUL ART MUSEUMAL AUGUST 7TH.

>> UP NEXT, AN INITIATIVE PUSHING FOR MORE PUBLIC ART BUT WITH A PURPOSE.

>> A COMMUNITY-BASED ART INITIATIVE IS PUSHING FOR MORE PUBLIC ARTWORK ACROSS CHICAGO'S NEIGHBORHOODS.

EARTH ARTS CHICAGO IS AWARDING NEARLY $550,000 TO 11 ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THE PROJECTS WILL RAISE AWARENESS ON CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, WITH THE GOAL OF SPARKING ACTION IN COMMUNITIES.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE UZMA NOORMOHAMED, PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF ILLINOIS SCIENCE AND ENERGY INNOVATION FOUNDATION AND CREATOR AND LEAD FUNDER OF EARTH ART CHICAGO.

VERSHAWN WARD ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND C.E.O.

OF RED CLAY DANCE COMPANY WHICH IS ONE OF THE AWARD RECIPIENTS.

AND JON VEAL, COFOUNDER OF ALT SPACE CHICAGO ALSO ONE OF THE AWARD RECIPIENTS.

>> UZMA NOORMOHAMED LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT PUBLIC ART IS NECESSARY?

>> WELL, I THINK PUBLIC ART IS NECESSARY BECAUSE ART ALLOWS FOR THE ABILITY TO BRING EMOTION INTO THE NARRATIVE.

AND IN THE CLIMATE NARRATIVE THAT IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF THE LANGUAGE AND CONVERSATION AROUND CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT CAN SOMETIMES BE ISOLATING AND IT CAN BE VERY REMOVED FROM EMOTION AND PEOPLE.

THERE IS A LOT OF SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGE IT'S DATA ORIENTED ABOUT THRESHOLDS AND TARGETS AND WE THINK THAT ART HAS A POTENTIAL TO BRING IN A PIECE OF EMOTION AND CONNECTION FOR PEOPLE TO INTERSECT AND RELATE TO THE ISSUES IN A WAY THEY CAN'T WHEN THEY SEE A SCIENTIFIC REPORT AROUND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

>> HONING IN ON THAT EMOTIONAL ASPECT, WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU THINK ART IS A GOOD APPROACH TO ENCOURAGE ACTION ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES?

>> WELL, PUBLIC ART SPECIFICALLY AND OUR APPROACH TO INSURING THAT THE ART IS IN NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY AND SPREAD OUT, AND LETTING THE COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES HAVE OWNERSHIP OVER IT, ALLOWS FOR THE EXPRESSION OF SO MANY DIFFERENT EMOTIONS; GRIEF, ANXIETY, AND ALLOWS FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CONNECTEDNESS.

THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME FOR WHEN THE ART PIECES ARE BEING ACTIVATED FOR OUR NEIGHBORS TO MEET EACH OTHER AND ORGANIZATIONS TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE WORK THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING.

MANY OF THE GRANTS WE AWARDED ARE BOTH ORGANIZATIONS AND ARTISTS WORKING TOGETHER.

>> VERSHAWN WARD, YOUR PROJECT IS TITLED FERTILE GROUNDS FOR HEALING AND YOU PLAN TO USE RESEARCH GATHERED FROM COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS TO CREATE MOVEMENT THAT ENCOURAGES HEALING.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT MOVEMENT CAN EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES?

>> WELL, OUR WORK IS REALLY AROUND THE IDEA OF COMING BACK TO LAND.

AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH LAND.

THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT NARRATIVES AROUND LAND AND LAND LABOR AND YOU KNOW, THE PRODUCTION IN THIS COUNTRY.

SO A PROCESS THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR HEALING IS THAT WE AS I ALWAYS SAY ABOUT DANCE, IT IS A VISUAL EXPERIENCE, EMBODIED EXPERIENCE WE MOVE THROUGH THE WORLD IN THE LOVELY VESSELS WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE.

SO ALL OF THOSE EXPERIENCES AND THOSE MEMORIES WE HOLD INSIDE OF THESE VESSELS AS CONTAINERS.

WE TALK ABOUT A PROCESS FOR HEALING OR REALLY UNDERSTANDING OUR IMPACT AS HUMANS WITH THE LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP LOOKS LIKE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO CARE FOR THE LAND AND EVERY CREATURE ON THE PLANET?

BECAUSE WE ARE ALL NECESSARY.

WE ARE ALL VITAL FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT TO THRIVE.

AND I THINK ABOUT HEALING AND HEALING PRACTICES, THIS VERY IMPORTANT WE UNDERSTAND HOW OUR HUMAN BODIES ARE A PART OF THE CYCLE.

AND THAT'S THE HEALING MECHANISM FOR ME AND BEING IN SPACE TOGETHER AND LIKE I SAID, UNDERSTANDING RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH LAND AND HEALING AND BRINGING IN THOSE TRADITIONS THOSE CULTURAL TRADITIONS WE HAVE WITH CULTIVATING LAND.

GETTING OUR HANDS IN THE DIRT.

AND DIGGING IN.

AND NOW IS THE TIME TO DIG IN AND TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER AND WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THE SPACE THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN ON THIS EARTH.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

QUITE LITERAL APPROACH TO TOUCHING WITH MOTHER NATURE.

>> JON, ALL CHICAGO IS CREATING HAPPY RETURNS WHAT YOU ARE CALLING REDEMPTIVE PLASTIC.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT PROCESS HOW YOU WILL BE TURNING TRASH INTO TREASURE?

>> I LOVE THAT, ANGEL.

I MIGHT HAVE TO STEAL THAT TAG LINE AND I WANTED TO COMMENT ON RED CLAY, THE WORK THEY ARE DOING IS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT NOT ONLY IS THE SOIL AN ARCHIVE OF OUR HISTORIES AND OF OUR PRESENT BUT OUR BODIES ARE AN ARCHIVE.

HOW WE MOVE WE REMEMBER THOSE MOVEMENTS.

BUT AS FOR THE PRODUCTIVE, FOR US, WE LIVE AND WORK IN CHICAGO.

THE LARGEST OF ALL 77 COMMUNITIES.

YET, THE NARRATIVE ABOUT THE WEST SIDE, THE NARRATIVE ABOUT AUSTIN SPECIFICALLY IS ONE OF VIOLENCE.

AND ONE THING WE'VE NOTICED DURING OUR WORK IS ONE OF THE FIRST SIGNS OF DISINVESTMENT IS PHYSICAL TRASH.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS COLLECTING THAT TRASH BUT WE WANTED TO TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER.

LIKE, HEY, THE MATERIALS WE ARE MAJORITY COLLECTING IS PLASTIC.

PLASTIC AFTER WORLD WAR II WAS CREATED A A MATERIAL TO LIVE FOREVER.

YET WE USE IT IN SINGLE-USE OBJECTS LIKE A FORK OR COCA-COLA BOTTLE SO IT'S LIKE COULD WE USE THIS MATERIAL IN A NEW WAY?

CAN WE REDEEM THIS OBJECT I'M GRATEFUL FOR TOM, CODY AND JORDAN BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUND A WAY TO BREAKDOWN PLASTICS.

AND ALSO CREATE BENCHES, UT LIDZING THAT PLASTIC FOR THE COMMUNITY USE.

AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF STAGES TO THIS PROJECT.

THE FIRST STAGE IS HIRING OUR NEIGHBORS.

THAT IS THE FIRST WAY OUT OF POVERTY.

THE FIRST WAY TOWARDS INNOVATION AND BEING ABLE TO HIRE OUR NEIGHBORS.

SO WE'RE HIRING A SMALL COHORT OF NEIGHBORS WE WILL BE COLLECTING TRASH.

CLEANING THAT TRASH, LEARN BEING THAT TRASH.

AND THEN CREATING BENCHES FROM THAT TRASH FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE OUR PEOPLE WE LIKE TO LINGER A LITTLE BIT.

>> THAT IS VERY TRUE ABOUT LINGERING.

HOW WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING HOW TO UTILIZE UPPSYCHE KELLING CAN HELP THEM LEARN TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE?

>> FOR US, THE SUSTAINABILITY IS OVER TIME.

WE COME UP WITH THE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES WHAT SUSTAINABILITY MEANS BUT WHAT FOR US IT MEANS IS CONTINUAL CARE.

SO THAT INCLUDES EDUCATION.

HOW DO WE EDUCATE PEOPLE -- PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN DIRTY ENVIRONMENTS.

AND WE ALL, ALL OF US REGARDLESS OF RACE OR GENDER, DESERVE A SAFE AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT TO LIVE IN.

AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND, ONCE WE TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO REUSE THINGS, REUSE THESE OBJECTS FOR FURTHER USE IN A COOL WAY, PEOPLE TAKE IT AND RUN WITH IT THEMSELVES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NOW, UZMA NOORMOHAMED JUMPING BACK TO YOU, CLEARLY THE PROJECTS BOTH REQUIRE ACTIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WHY IS THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT SO IMPORTANT FOR THEIR WORK?

>> WE WANTED TO INSURE THAT AS A PART OF THIS PROGRAM THAT WE DIDN'T JUST TAKE SOME ART A SCULPTURE OR ANY KIND OF PERFORMANCE AND JUST PLACE IT INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT IS ONE OF THE CRITERIA FOR THE PROGRAM IS YOU HAVE TO HAVE PREEXISTING CONNECTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND TELL US WHAT THOSE CONNECTIONS ARE.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS OWNERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

AND THAT NEIGHBORS WOULD COME OUT.

THE ENGAGEMENT IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THE LANGUAGE CAN BE VERY EXCLUSIVE HOW WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE QUESTION YOU ASKED ANGEL ABOUT CERTAIN COMMUNITIES, NOT HAVING SORT OF STRONG COMMITMENTS TO SUSTAINABILITY OR NOT PRACTICING IT IN THE WAY THAT WE LIKE TO THINK ABOUT IT, I MEAN AN EXAMPLE I THINK ABOUT IS MY MOM HAS A COLLECTION OF USED YOGURT CONTAINERS THAT SHE WILL WASH AND REUSE BUT SHE WOULD NEVER SAY SHE UPCYCLES.

THERE IS A LOT OF LANGUAGE THAT IS USED THAT IS LIKE INSIDER LANGUAGE THAT FOLKS MIGHT NOT RELATE TO.

AND SOMEBODY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND A WAY FOR THEM TO RELATE.

AND THAT IS WHY ENGAGEMENT IS IMPORTANT.

BOTH VER SEAN AND JON TALKED ABOUT WAYS TO CHANGE NECESSARY RIFFS ABOUT RELATIONSHIP TO THE LAND, CHANGING NARRATIVES ABOUT AUSTIN AND WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT IT.

AND IN THE SAME WAY CHANGING THE NARRATIVE HOW PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO NATURE, TO EARTH, THE CLIMATE AND KNOWING WE ARE ADDRESSING THEM, TOO.

AND SO I THINK THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENT OF NOT JUST ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES AS A CRITERIA OF THIS GRANT PROGRAM, BUT ALSO AREAS WHERE THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF PUBLIC ART ASSETS.

THAT WAS A CRITERIA.

ART OPPORTUNITY AREAS.

NEIGHBORHOODS THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM PUBLIC ART AND ALL OF THE TOGETHERNESS THAT IS A RESULT OF SEEING A PIECE OF ART IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NOW, THESE ARE JUST TWO OF THE 11 FEATURED PROJECT RECIPIENTS.

THEIR WORK WILL INCLUDE A MOSAIC, DOCUMENTARY FILM AND SCULPTURES AND MORE.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THEIR WORK OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND THANKS TO UZMA NOORMOHAMED, VERSHAWN WARD AND JON VEAL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, A TIMELESS PERFORMANCE.

WE'LL EXPLAIN COMING UP.

>> A LOCAL EMMY WINNING JAZZ VOCAL SIFT COMMITTED TO INSURING STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE PATHS IN PERFORMING ARTS.

THE SUMMER PROGRAM OFFERS MUSIC EXPOSURE FOR ALL AGES AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED TO THE TEST IN PUBLIC CONCERTS.

WE VISIT THE WEST LOOP TO CHECK OUT TIMELESS GIFTS A MUSIC REVIEW.

>> IT IS A REMEMBRANCE, IT IS A REIMAGINING, IT IS A TRIBUTE TO SOME OF THE GREAT ICONIC PIECES IN MUSICAL THEATRE, FILM AND TELEVISION THAT FEATURED AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

YOU WILL SEE LITTLE SNIPPETS FROM SERAPHINNA, BOREGY AND BESS, DREAM GIRLS WE HAVE MOTOWN MEDLEY.

>> COMPRISED OF STUDENTS 3-24, TIME BUILDING GIFTS IS A NONPROFIT CREATED BY JOAN COLLASO WHO WANTED TO INSURE CHILDREN HAVE THE SAME EXPOSURE TO MUSICAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE ALLOWED HER TO SING AROUND THE WORLD.

>> IT'S JUST THAT OUTLET.

THAT BEING ABLE TO EXPRESS YOURSELF IN ANOTHER WAY.

BEING ABLE TO REALLY BE WHO YOU ARE, SOMETIME IN YOUR LIFE.

>> WHILE THE SEVEN-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM OFFERS MUSIC AND DANCE LESSONS THEY EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES.

THAT PERFORMING ARTS CAN BE PURSUED PASSIONATELY AND PRACTICALLY.

>> AS YOU GET OLDER, IT BECOMES LESS AND LESS ABOUT THE FAME AND THE FORTUNE AND MORE AND MORE ABOUT MAKING A LIVING.

AND BEING REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT LIFE IS LEADING US INTO.

>> THIS COMMITMENT TO PRACTICALITY AND PERFORMING ARTS EXTENDS TO RELATIONSHIPS AS WELL.

EIGHT-YEAR-OLD CHRISTIAN WILLIAMS HAS BEEN A PART OF THE PROGRAM FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND HAS FOUND A MENTOR IN HIS PERCUSSION INSTRUCTOR TONY CARPENTER.

>> HE MIGHT BE THE BEST PERCUSSION INSTRUCTOR I COULD EVER HAVE.

>> THEY LEARN THE DIFFERENT PARTS AND PUT THEM TOGETHER TO MAKE A RHYTHM.

TONE, TONE, HEEL, TIP.

>> YES.

>> CHRISTIAN HAS APPLIED THIS TO HIS FIRST SOLO.

>> ♪OH, HAPPY DAY♪ [♪♪♪] >> IT WASN'T UNTIL CHRISTIAN JOINED THE PROGRAM THAT HE REALIZED HE WANTED TO SING.

JOAN COLLASO SAYS THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY SUCCESS STORIES FOR THE PROGRAM.

>> A LOT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS MUSIC.

ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS DANCE.

ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS PLAY PIANO AND WRITE SONGS AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

BUT THE ONES THAT ARE HERE AND THEY DON'T KNOW THEY ARE ON THE FENCE ABOUT IT OR I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE TALENT THAT WAY, BUT I STILL AM DRAWN TO THIS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO KNOW THERE IS A PLACE FOR THEM HERE AS WELL.

[♪♪♪] >> YOU CAN SEE TIMELESS GIFTS A MUSICAL REVIEW AT THE END OF SUMMER SHOWCASE AUGUST 7TH AT THE DUSABLE MUSEUM.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

AND IF YOU'RE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK VOICES, I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING A PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]