>> "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 NIGHT OFF.

THANKS FOR SHARING A PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

WILL ON THE SHOW TONIGHT...

THE PUSH TO THE POLLS IS UNDERWAY AS PRIMARY ELECTION DAY APPROACHES.

WHAT VOTERS NEED TO KNOW.

ACTIVISTS ARE HITTING THE PAVEMENT TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR MISSING AND MURDERED BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS.

A FORMER COOK COUNTY WARDEN CALLING FOR SAFER PRISONS.

SHE LAYS OUT HER VISION FOR A MORE HOLISTIC CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND COOK COUNTY IS LEADING A CONVERSATION ON RACIAL EQUITY AS WE LOOK TOWARDS COMMEMORATES JUNETEENTH.

>> AND MEET MELODY ANGEL.

ONE OF THE NEW PROMISING MUSICIANS PLAYING AT THIS WEEKEND'S CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, PRIMARY ELECTION DAY IN ILLINOIS IS QUICKLY APPROACHING.

AND WITH VOTER ACCESS POTENTIALLY BEING AN ISSUE, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT GROUPS ARE RAMPING UP EFFORTS TO GET PEOPLE TO THE POLLS.

KNOWING WHERE TO VOTE IS EXPECTED TO BE A CHALLENGE: 73 PRECINCTS ACROSS CHICAGO HAVE NO DESIGNATED POLLING PLACE DUE TO PANDEMIC RELATED CLOSURES.

VOTERS AFFECTED BY THIS WILL HAVE TO VOTE-BY-MAIL, VOTE EARLY OR GO TO A SITE OPEN TO THEIR ENTIRE WARD ON ELECTION DAY JUNE 28TH.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE STEVIE VALLES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHICAGO VOTES A NONPROFIT WORKING TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGED IN CIVICS.

AND CHAUNDRA VAN DYK, THE CHICAGO PROJECT MANAGER AT CHANGE ILLINOIS.

NOW, LET'S START WITH YOU CHAUNDRA WHO DO YOU SEE THE POLLING CLOSURES DOING HOW IN TERMS IT WILL IMPACT VOTERS?

>> ULTIMATELY IT IS A BARRIER THAT PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM GETTING TO THE POLLS.

WE KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE ALREADY FACE WITH TRYING TO GETTING TO THE POLLS TO VOTE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND NOW WE SEE THERE WILL BE CHALLENGES REGARDING KNOWING WHERE TO GO TO VOTE AND THAT SEEMS TO BE ANOTHER BARRIER TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM TURNING OUT TO VOTE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> STEVIE VALLES, ANOTHER CHANGE THAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE ELECTION TAKING PLACE IN JUNE INSTEAD OF MARCH TO ACCOMMODATE THE DELAYED 2020 CENSUS DATA.

DO YOU THINK THE NEW DATE WILL IMPACT VOTER TURNOUT AT ALL?

>> I THINK IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE QUITE YET.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN WITH THE ELECTION HAPPENING IN SUMMERTIME.

USUALLY WHEN WE ARE VOTING IN CHICAGO IT'S FREEZING COLD.

HOPEFULLY WITH THE SUN BEING OUT, PEOPLE WILL FEEL MORE ENERGIZED NT WANT TO TURNOUT TO THE POLLS.

ONE THING FOR US, WE FOCUS ON ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE.

SO A BOUNDARY WE'VE HAD TO NAVIGATE IS THE FACT THAT HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES ARE NOT IN SESSION THIS CLOSE TO THE ELECTION.

SO WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF OUR TURNOUT WORK FOR HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES IN MAY.

BUT IT'S OPENED UP MORE CAPACITY FOR US TO FOCUS ON ENGAGING YOUTH IN COMMUNITIES.

SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> AND CHAUNDRA WITH THE CHANGES THIS YEAR AS FAR AS NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS AND A NEW VOTING DAY AND NOW POLLING CLOSURES, WHAT IS CHANGE ILLINOIS DOING TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD?

>> WE HAVE BEEN DOING WORK TO FOCUS ON EDUCATING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING ENGAGED, AND WHERE PEOPLE CAN LOCATE THE NEW DISTRICT AND SEEING WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED AND SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT VOTER REGISTRATION AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THEY CAN DO EARLY VOTER REGISTRATION.

TRYING TO EDUCATE COMMUNITIES ABOUT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT RESOURCES AND INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO INSURE THEY GET TO THE POLLING LOCATION.

KNOW THEIR NEW DISTRICTS AND EARLY VOTING IS AN OPTION AND IT'S STARTING MAY 26.

AND ALSO HAVE THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE REQUEST TO VOTE-BY-MAIL.

REALLY TRYING TO SHARE RESOURCES AND INSURE THAT RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT IS NECESSARY TO GET TO THE POLLS TO VOTE SO WE CAN SEE A HIGHER VOTE TURNOUT.

>> AND STEVIE, WHAT WORK HAVE YOU AND CHICAGO VOTES BEEN DOING TO INCREASE VOTER ENGAGEMENT AND HELP PEOPLE VOTE?

>> YEAH, EVERY YEAR THIS IS REALLY A CORE PART OF OUR MISSION IS TURNING OUT YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN 17-35 TO VOTE.

WE DISTRIBUTE MILLIONS OF NONPARTISAN VOTER GUYEDS TO YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY SO THEY KNOW WHO IS ON THE BALLOT AND THE STANCES THEY HAVE ON KEY ISSUES THAT MATTER TO THEM.

WE TRY TO MAKE VOTING FUN.

WE'RE HOSTING PARTIES AT THE POLLS IN NORTH LAWNDALE AND ENGLEWOOD AND WOODLAWN OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT WEEK.

SO THERE WILL BE GARDENING, BARBECUES, MUSIC, MURAL PAINTING AND FUN WAYS TO BRING PEOPLE OUT TO WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY CAST THEIR BALLOT.

WE LEAD PARADES TO VOTE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.

WE RECRUIT YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE ELECTION JUDGES IF THEY ARE PLANNING ON VOTING SO THEY CAN BE ENGAGED.

WE TRY TO MEET EVERYBODY WHERE THEY ARE AND PROVIDE LIKE FUN AND INNOVATIVE WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL KNOWLEDGEABLE ENOUGH TO PARTICIPATE, BUT TO FEEL LIKE PARTICIPATING IS ACTUALLY FUN.

>> THAT DOES SOUND LIKE A LOT OF FUN.

CHAUNDRA FOR THE UPCOMING PRIMARY, ILLINOIS VOTERS ARE CHOOSING PARTY NOMINEES FOR STATE-WIDE OFFICES, STATE LAWMAKERS, CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES AND COUNTLESS OTHER RACES ALL SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE IN THE CIVIC PROCESS NOW RATHER THAN WAITING UNTIL THE FALL?

>> ONE, THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION AROUND WHERE TO VOTE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND VOTERS NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AS MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND WHAT VOTING WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE FALL AND USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET EDUCATED.

BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT MISCOMMUNICATIONS GOING ON AND A LOT OF BARRIERS BEING PUT FORTH FOR VOTERS TO GET OUT FOR THE JUNE 28TH ELECTION.

COVID HAD ISSUES AND A LOT OF OTHER BARRIERS.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET ENGAGED NOW.

BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF IMPORTANT DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE.

WE WANT TO INSURE THAT PEOPLE USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE THEMSELVES NOW SO THEY ARE PREPARED FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS.

>> STEVIE, VOTER TURNOUT IN MIDTERM ELECTIONS IS LOWER THAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

AND ACCORDING TO FAIR VOTE IN ILLINOIS 67% OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS SHOWED UP FOR THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL RACE COMPARED WITH 58% IN THE MIDTERMS.

WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS?

>> MOST PEOPLE IN AMERICA WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT VOTING THE FIRST THING IS VOTING FOR PRESIDENT.

AND SO I THINK PART OF THE REASON WHY THERE'S SUCH A HIGH TURNOUT IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IS BECAUSE THAT'S THE BIGGEST ELECTION THAT YOU GET TO PARTICIPATE IN AS AN AMERICAN VOTER.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US AS ADVOCATES AND ORGANIZERS TO DO ALL THAT WE COULD TO INFUSE OUR SOCIETY WITH A CULTURE OF CIVIC EDUCATION AND PARTICIPATION SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ARE ALL THE MORE IMPACTFUL.

THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS MATTER A LOT AND WHAT YOU DO POST ELECTIONS MATTERS AS WELL.

AND SO THAT IS WHY WE JUST DON'T RUN PROGRAMS DURING GENERAL ELECTIONS WE ENGAGE OUR BASE IN EVERY ELECTION AND BEYOND.

AND RECENT HISTORY YOUNG PEOPLE TURNED OUT AT HIGH RATES DURING MIDTERMS AS WELL.

WE'RE HOPING THIS SUMMER ELECTION WITH THE SUN BEING OUT, ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO TURNOUT AND ENGAGE.

AND WE HOPE OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST FIVE YEARS, AND WE'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING THAT THAT CIVIC CULTURE IS STARTING TO BUILT HERE IN CHICAGO.

THAT SEES MORE PEOPLE TURNOUT DURING MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND WE CAN START TO BALANCE THAT OUT A BIT.

>> I WANT TO CORRECT MYSELF.

I SAID 58% IN 2018.

BUT IT WAS 52%.

AND I'M SORRY THAT WE ARE OUT OF TIME NOW.

BUT OUR THANKS TO STEVIE VALLES AND CHAUNDRA VAN DYK.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANKS.

>> AND A REMINDER THAT ILLINOIS PRIMARY ELECTION IS LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AWAY.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR 2022 VOTER GUIDE LAUNCHED THIS WEEK.

THERE YOU CAN HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES IN THEIR OWN WORDS WHY THEY WANT YOUR VOTE.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND YOUR POLLING LOCATION ON ELECTION DAY.

IT'S AT... >> ACTIVISTS FIGHTING TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR MISSING AND MURDERED BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS IN CHICAGO ARE HOLDING A MARCH IN CHICAGO THIS TUESDAY.

SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE TEAMING UP FOR THE FIFTH AN USE ALL "WE WALK FOR HER" EVENT.

WE ASKED ORGANIZERS WHAT THEY HOPED TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> I WOULD SAY MORE URGENCY, MORE SENSE OF URGENCY FROM OUR CITY OFFICIALS AND STATE REPS WHO CAN MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES IN LAW SO THAT BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN ARE PROTECTED AND THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE BEING SURVEILLANCED BUT IN A POSITIVE WAY SO WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF WHO IS COMING IN AND OUT OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND THEY ARE NOT USING THAT TO CRIMINALIZE OUR BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO END UP MISSING.

WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AS FAR AS SURVEILLANCE.

AND WHEN SOMEONE IS LAST MISSING WE NEED TO KNOW WHEREWITHALL ABOUTS WHO THEY WERE LAST SEEN WITH.

AND GET AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE.

>> WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO BRING AWARENESS.

WE WANT TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR AND WE WANT THEM TO JOIN OUR COMMUNITY TASK FORCE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WE NEED SOME COMMUNICATION ALSO FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO ONCE THAT IS ESTABLISHED IN THE COMMUNICATION IS BEING MADE THEN MAYBE WE CAN START TO SEE CHANGES.

>> AGAIN, THE WALK IS THIS TUESDAY AT 5:00 P.M. AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR MORE DETAILS.

>> UP NEXT, PARIS SCHUTZ SPEAKS WITH A FORMER COOK COUNTY JAIL WARDEN WHO IS CALLING FOR A MORE HOLISTIC CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

STAY WITH US.

>> DO INMATES IN ILLINOIS PRISONS AND JAILS HAVE A RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE?

THAT IS A QUESTION RAISED IN THE NEW PUBLICATION WRITTEN BY FORMER COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WARDEN NNEKA JONES TAPIA.

IN IT SHE MAKES THE CASE FOR A MORE HOLISTIC HEALTH AND SAFETY VISION FOR THOSE IN CUSTODY.

THIS AFTER COVID RAVAGED THROUGH CORRECTIONS FACILITIES HERE IN ILLINOIS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND JOINING US NOW IS Dr. NNEKA JONES TAPIA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US WITH "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

THE INITIATIVE HERE THAT YOU'RE SPEARHEAD SOMETHING CALLED DO I HAVE A RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE?

A HOLISTIC VISION FOR SAFETY AMONG INMATES.

TELL US WHAT THIS VISION ENCOMPASSES?

>> WELL, IT ENCOMPASSES A WIDE ARRAY OF HOLISTIC SUPPORTS FOR NOT JUST PEOPLE INCARCERATED BUT FOR STAFF AND FOR THE LARGER COMMUNITY AS WELL.

IT'S PREDICATED ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONSIDERATION FOR THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO THRIVE AND BE WELL.

>> AND AS WE MENTIONED THE FORMER WARDEN YOU ARE A PSYCHOLOGIST BY TRADE AND TOM DART SAYING COOK COUNTY SAYING COOK COUNTY JAIL WAS THE LARGE HE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY IN THE STATE.

HOW DID YOUR EXPERIENCE AT COOK COUNTY JAIL INFORM WHAT YOU WANT YOUR VISION HERE TO BE?

>> WELL, I THINK MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE SYSTEM WAS REALLY WHEN I WAS A YOUNG CHILD AND I LEARNED EARLY ON THAT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SPECIFICALLY JAILS AND PRISONS CAUSE DAMAGE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

AND IT WAS WHEN I STARTED WORKING IN CORRECTIONS THAT REALLY I SAY TWO CORE LEARNINGS EMERGED.

THE FIRST WAS THAT WE AS A SOCIETY HAD GROWN COMPLICIT IN THE CRIMINALIZATION OF TRAUMA.

MORE THAN 98% OF MEN AND 99% OF WOMEN INCARCERATED IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE EXPOSED TO TRAUMA OVEREXPOSED TO TRAUMA.

AND I ALSO LEARNED THAT THESE SYSTEMS WERE DAMAGING STAFF.

STAFF WITNESS AND EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE AT ALARMING RATES.

SO I KNEW WHEN I JOINED CHICAGO BEYOND THAT WE WERE WELL EQUIPPED FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT TO REALLY PUSH FOR A SYSTEM LEVEL CHANGE TO HOW WE DO BUSINESS.

>> AND CAN YOU GIVE US SOME OF THE SPECIFICS IN COOK COUNTY JAIL?

THERE WAS A LOT OF CHANGES THAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU WERE THERE.

WHAT ARE THE FURTHER CHANGES YOU WANT TO SEE?

>> I HAVE TO SAY IT'S NOT LIMITED TO COOK COUNTY JAIL.

WHAT WE HAVE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY IS I THINK IT'S TRAUMA AND TOXICITY THAT IS WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF ALL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, JAILS AND PRISONS.

AND THAT TOXICITY, IMPACTS THE PEOPLE INCARCERATED IN WAYS THAT HAVE REVERBERATING IMPACTS TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND STAFF.

SOME OF THE CHANGES WE WANT TO SEE, INCLUDE EMPOWERMENT OF PEOPLE MOST IMPACTED BY THE SYSTEMS.

SO THAT THE EXPERTISE TO CHANGE THEM IS AT THE TABLE WHEN WE ARE MAKING REFORMS THAT ARE NECESSARY.

>> TELL US YOU BRIEFLY MENTIONED THIS BUT THE TOLL NOT JUST ON THOSE IN CUSTODY BUT THE FOLKS THAT WORK IN THE CARCERAL SYSTEM?

>> YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE JAILS AND PRISONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE DISPROPORTIONATE RATES OF SUBSTANCE USE.

DISOR PORTION AT RATES OF RELATIONSHIP DISCORD.

HIGHER RATES OF DEATHS.

THEY HAVE UNFORTUNATELY, A LIFE EXPECTANCY 20 YEARS LOWER THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

BY VERY NATURE OF THEIR WORK, PEOPLE ARE DYING FOR THIS PAYCHECK AND CORRECTIONAL STAFF ARE SPEAKING OUT ABOUT IT.

>> CERTAINLY INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL WORK.

IN THE AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THERE'S BEEN A FOCUS HOW WHITE INMATES ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN BLACK OR BROWN INMATES.

DID YOU SEE THAT AT COOK COUNTY JAIL?

AND WHAT IS THE SITUATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

>> EVERY PERSON ENTERING INTO A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IS IMPACTED BY THE DARKNESS THAT EXISTS WITHIN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

ARE PEOPLE TREATED DIFFERENTLY WITHIN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS BASED OFF OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN?

ABSOLUTELY.

WE SEE THAT SAME THING HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES HAVE HISTORICALLY AND CURRENTLY HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT DISINVESTMENT.

AND SO WHEN I SAY THAT WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE GROWN COMPLICIT IN THE CRIMINALIZATION OF TRAUMA WE'VE GROWN COMPLICIT IN THE DISINVESTMENT IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND NOT INSURING THAT BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED ON THE FRONT END SO WE ARE NOT TRYING TO PUNISH THEM ON THE BACK END.

>> IN RECENT YEARS, MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND SUPERINTENDENT BROWN HAVE SOUGHT TO BLAME A LOT OF THE SPIKE IN VIOLENCE ON BAIL REFORM AND THEY'RE SAYING MORE FOLKS ARE OUT ON THE STREETS AND THEY REOFFEND AND THE POPULATION OF COOK COUNTY JAIL HAS COME DOWN.

FROM YOUR VANTAGE DOES THAT RING TRUE AT ALL TO YOU?

>> WHEN WE TELL STORIES OF CRIMES IN OUR COMMUNITIES WE HAVE TO TELL THE WHOLE NARRATIVE.

AND THE NARRATIVE DOES NOT START WITH THE CRIME AND THE PERSON COMMITTING THE CRIME.

IT STARTS WITH EXCLUSION.

AND WE AS A SOCIETY ARE THE PERPETRATORS OF THAT EXCLUSION.

EXCLUSION FROM QUALITY EDUCATION.

EXCLUSION FROM QUALITY MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTHCARE.

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

AND WHAT THESE TOUGH ON CRIME STATEMENTS AND THIS RHETORIC DOES IS FURTHER EXCLUDE PEOPLE.

AND AS WE CONTINUE TO PUSH PEOPLE FURTHER AND FURTHER IN THE MARGINS OF SOCIETY, AS IF THEY ARE SOMETHING TO BE TOSSED AWAY.

AND THEY ARE SOMETHING TO BE LOCKED AWAY A PROBLEM TO BE MANAGED WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE TRAUMA MANIFESTED THROUGH VIOLENCE.

>> WHEN YOU SAW WHAT COVID DID TO JAILS AND PRISONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING AT COOK COUNTY JAIL, DOES THIS SORT OF PLAY INTO YOUR NOTION HERE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A HOLISTIC RETHINKING OF THE SAFETY OF FOLKS THAT ARE IN CUSTODY?

BECAUSE CLEARLY SO MANY OF THEM WERE NOT SAFE FROM THE VIRUS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE AS A SOCIETY NEED A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN THE WAY WE VIEW JAILS AND PRISONS.

AND THE PEOPLE WITHIN THEM.

THE PEOPLE INCARCERATED IN THEM AS WELL AS THE STAFF.

AND WE DIDN'T SEE THAT WHEN COVID-19 RAVAGED JAILS AND PRISONS AND PEOPLE IN THEM.

WE DID NOT HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE SO THAT STAKE HODDERS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM INCLUDING THE PEOPLE MOST IMPACTED BY THIS, COULD HAVE A VOICE AT THE TABLE THAT WAS MAKING DECISIONS TO SPARE LIVES.

INSTEAD, WE HAD A PENDULUM SHIFT WHERE IT WAS A LOT OF BLAMING HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY OF WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE AND THE OUTCOME OF THAT WAS LIES.

WE REALLY NEED TO GET IN FRONT OF THIS ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY IN TERMS OF MASS INCARCERATION AND THINK ABOUT NOT JUST INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITIES BUT REAL DECARCERATION.

>> ALL RIGHT Dr. NNEKA JONES TAPIA VERY IMPORTANT WORK YOU ARE DOING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

THE CHICAGO BLUES FEST RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY AT MILLENNIUM PARK AND A FEW LOCATIONS AROUND TOWN.

A LOCAL SINGER SONGWRITER HAS BEEN GOING TO THE FESTIVAL SINCE HER MOTHER TOOK HER IN A STROLLER.

NOW SHE WILL BE ON STRINGS.

MELODY ANGEL HAS BLUES IN HER DNA PRODUCER MARC VITALI HAS THE STORY.

[♪♪♪] >> IF YOU REALLY LOVE MUSIC, YOU MUST ALSO LOVE THE BLUES.

IT IS THE BASELINE FOR EVERY FORM OF MUSIC WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY.

EVEN HIP-HOP.

[♪♪♪] >> IT'S FAIRLY UNCOMMON TO SEE BLACK FEMALE GUITAR PLAYERS.

I'M FIGHTING FOR THE YOUNG GIRL THAT COMES UP TO ME THE YOUNG BLACK GIRL THAT COMES UP TO ME ALL THE TIME AND SAYS I WANT TO PLAY LIKE YOU.

I WANT TO DO THIS.

I FEEL IT'S MY JOB TO MAKE THAT EASIER FOR HER.

>> UP WITH PERSON WHO MADE IT EASIER FOR MELODY ANGEL WAS HER MOTHER WHO IS ALSO HER MANAGER AND SOMETIMES STYLIST.

>> IT IS A BIT OVERWHELMING SOMETIMES TO SEE HER AND ALL THAT SHE CAN DO YOU KNOW, SEEING HER AS A LITTLE BITTY BABY AND GROW, BUT I SAW THIS SPARK IN HER IT WAS UNDENIABLE.

[♪♪♪] >> ANGEL PLAYS THE GUITAR HER MOTHER BOUGHT HER AT A PAWNSHOP.

>> I WILL NEVER FORGET THE DAY SHE CAME HOME FROM THE PAWNSHOP.

IT CHANGED MY LIFE.

I CRIED LIKE A BABY.

I REMEMBER THINKING OK, ONE DAY I AM GOING TO BE ON STAGE WITH THIS GUITAR PLAYING FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

[CHEERING] >> THAT HAPPENED.

SO I'M LIKE WHEN LITTLE KIDS SAY THEIR DREAMS OUT LOUD, IT'S NOT A SMALL THING.

IT IS A BIG THING.

IT CAN ACTUALLY COME TRUE.

>> THE LIFELONG SOUTH SIDER CARRIED HER GUITAR FROM EUROPE TO AUSTRALIA.

SHE HAS ALSO ACTED ON STAGE AT COURT THEATRE AND THE GOODMAN.

AND SHE JUST RELEASED HER LATEST LP OF ORIGINAL MATERIAL.

[♪♪♪] >> ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT WRITING WAS FROM THE ARTISTS THAT I LOVED AND WHEN I LISTEN TO THEM IN THEIR INTERVIEWS THEY ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT BEING TRUE TO THEMSELVES.

AND THAT'S HOW I LOOK AT SONG WRITING.

IT'S THIS PEACEFUL RELEASE.

WHATEVER IS ON MY HEART, GOOD OR BAD, I CAN RELEASE IT.

[♪♪♪] >> MELODY ANGEL COMES FROM A MUSICAL FAMILY.

HER MOTHER'S COUSIN WAS OTIS RUSH, THE LATE CHICAGO BLUES MAN.

>> I DO ADMIT I DIDN'T WANT HER REALLY TO GO INTO IT BECAUSE I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THIS INDUSTRY IS.

BUT WHEN YOU COME HERE, YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOUR PURPOSE TO DO.

SO IT'S NO WAY I WOULD COME IN-BETWEEN THAT.

[♪♪♪] I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF PEOPLE AGAIN.

AND THAT IN ITSELF IS A TRIUMPH FOR ME.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES", THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> NOW, MELODY ANGEL JUST RELEASED HER RECORD FOXY.

SHE AND HER BAND PLAY TWO SETS THE BLUES FEST THIS WEEKEND.

FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND JUNETEENTH WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS A FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL HOLIDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.

THE DAY RECOGNIZES THE FREEING OF THE LAST ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN TEXAS TWO YEARS AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION IN 1865.

TO MARK JUNETEENTH COOK COUNTY IS HOSTING A TWO-DAY CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON RACIAL EQUITY AT MATT COMMON X COLLEGE.

EVENTS INCLUDE A MOVIE SCREENING, CAREER AND HEALTH FAIRS A BLOOD DRIVE AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON TOPICS AROUND EDUCATION, HEALTH, WEALTH AND JUSTICE.

COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER DENNIS DEAR HAS WORKING TO MAKE JUNETEENTH A COUNTY HOLIDAY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR EDUCATION SINCE HE BECOME A LEGISLATOR IN 2017.

>> AS A YOUNG KID GROWING UP ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO I HAD NEVER HEARD OF JUNETEENTH BEFORE.

AND IT WASN'T UNTIL I WENT TO JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY TO COLLEGE WHICH IS AN HBCU THAT I HEARD ABOUT JUNETEENTH.

AND IT WAS WHEN I DECIDED TO STAY OVER THE SUMMER AND SO I COULD GRADUATE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER AND SOMEONE INVITED ME TO A JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL.

AND I WAS JUNE WHAT?

AND THEY SAID JUNETEENTH.

AND I WENT TO THE FESTIVAL AND LEARNED ABOUT JUNETEENTH AND WHAT IT MEANT AND THE FREEDOM OF THE LAST OF THE SLAVES TO BE FREE AND I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT EVER SINCE.

ALL ABOUT THE BLACK COMMUNITY CELEBRATING OUR FREEDOM BUT NOT ONLY FREEDOM OF NURSING HOME PHYSICAL BEING, FREEDOM ECONOMICALLY, FREEDOM FROM AN EDUCATIONAL STANDPOINT, FREEDOM FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT, AND FREEDOM AND LIBERATION OF EDUCATION.

>> THE JUNETEENTH CONFERENCE TAKES PLACE JUNE 16-17.

AND JOIN US NEXT SATURDAY FOR BLACK VOICES A JUNETEENTH SPECIAL.

WE'LL EXAMINE HISTORICAL TIES TO SLAVERY IN CHICAGO, THE FIGHT FOR REPARATIONS AND CELEBRATE BLACK CULTURE.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

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.

[♪♪♪]