>>> HI THERE, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, THE CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE TAKES THE PULSE OF BLACK CHICAGO IN A NEW REPORT.

WE DIG INTO THEIR FINDINGS.

>>> MEET THE LEADERS OF THE STATE REPARATIONS COMMISSION, AND HEAR ABOUT THEIR GOAL.

>>> A NEAR WESTSIDE SCHOOL CLOSES ITS DOORS AFTER PARENTS AND TEACHERS FIGHTING TO KEEP IT OPEN.

>>> AND EXHIBIT KEEPS TO EDUCATE CHILDREN ABOUT THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF EMMETT HILL.

>> THERE IS PEOPLE THAT DEEPLY CARE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO.

>>> AND MEET THE UPTOWN CHEF WHOSE COOKING ETHIOPIAN FOR A CAUSE.

>>> ALL OF THAT COMING UP, BUT OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT, A NEW REPORT DIGS INTO THE INEQUITIES FACING MANY BLACK CHICAGOANS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

>>> HOW WOULD YOU GAUGE THE STATE OF BLACK CHICAGO?

WELL, THE CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE IS OUT WITH A NEW REPORT THAT DOES JUST THAT.

THE FINDINGS INDICATE THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE IN ADVANCING EQUITY FOR BLACK RESIDENTS.

AMONG THEM, OVERWHELMING RESIDENTIAL SEGREGATION PERSISTS.

NEARLY THREE TIMES AS MANY BLACK RESIDENTS AS WHITE RESIDENTS LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL.

GRADUATION RATE FOR BLACK PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT ARE ABOUT 20% LOWER THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS, AND THE AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR BLACK RESIDENTS IS 10 YEARS SHORTER THAN THAT OF WHITE CHICAGOANS.

JOINING US NOW ARE RYAN L CAMPBELL JUNIOR, VICE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RESEARCH AND POLICY CENTER AT THE CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE.

AISHA JAKO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WESTSIDE UNITED.

AND CARONDELET LUCAS, CBS PARENT AND KIDS FIRST CHICAGO PARENT ADVOCATE THANKS FOR THE THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

LIONEL, LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THIS REPORT?

>> THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE CONDITIONS AND CHALLENGES THAT FACE AFRICAN-AMERICANS ON BOTH THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS STRIKING TO ME IS THAT, REALLY, THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THINGS STAY THE SAME.

UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE IDEAS AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT COME OUT IN OUR REPORT, BUT I THINK THE GREAT THING ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IS THAT WE TRY TO ISSUE A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND BE IMPLEMENT IT IN BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND THE GOVERNMENTAL LEVEL.

>> AISHA JAKO, THE LIFE EXPECTANCY GOT IS STAGGERING.

WHAT DOES WESTSIDE UNITED CSM OF THE DRIPPING FACTORS TO THAT GAP, AND THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED TO THE POLICY?

>> SURE.

SO OUR BIG CARRY A DAY OF GOAL IS TO ELIMINATE THE GAP.

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A 13 YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY GAP BETWEEN RESIDENTS OF CHICAGO'S LOOP AND THE WESTSIDE Z.I.P.

CODE.

AND SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE KEY DRIVERS IN THAT GAP BEING RELATED TO HEALTH CONDITIONS LIKE CARDIO METABOLIC DISEASE AND THE GROUPING THERE OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, HYPERTENSION, DIABETES, FOLLOWED BY CANCER, OPIOID OVERDOSE, HOMICIDE, AND INFANT MORTALITY.

AND NOW, THERE ARE LIMITATIONS FROM COVID.

SO IN OUR APPROACH, WE BELIEVE THAT, YES, YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THE BARRIERS IN ACCESSING HEALTHCARE, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF RESIDENTS, THE EDUCATIONAL, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

AND SO OUR STRATEGIES ARE BASED ON LOOKING AT MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME, UNEMPLOYMENT RATES, LOCAL HIRING INITIATIVES, CAREER PATHWAYS, AND THEN ALSO THINKING ABOUT INVESTMENTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES, CORRIDORS, HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS, ACCESS TO INTERNSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, PIPELINES FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS AS WELL IS VERY CRITICAL.

SO WE HAVE A, AN APPROACH THAT LOOKS AT THE SOCIAL DRIVERS, THAT'S COMPREHENSIVE, THAT REALLY TAKES AN ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH, NOT JUST WITH HEALTHCARE ANCHORS, BUT OTHER INSTANCES.

>> YOU HAD THREE CHILDREN IN CPS SCHOOLS OVER THE YEARS.

DO YOU THINK THE SYSTEM IS APPROPRIATELY MEETING THE NEEDS OF ITS BLACK STUDENTS?

>> NO I DO NOT, ACTUALLY.

THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE WITH CHILDREN IN LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES VERSUS WEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

I DO LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO, AND MY CHILDREN HAVE A -- ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CHICAGO, SO WE DO SEE A DIFFERENCE IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN BOTH THE WESTSIDE, NORTH SIDE, EVEN THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO.

>> I MEAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU, YOU FEEL THE NEED TO TRAVEL FROM YOUR WESTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ALL THE WAY TO, TO UPTOWN TO GET THE EDUCATION THAT YOU THINK YOUR STUDENTS NEED AND DESERVE?

YOUR CHILDREN?

>> YEAH, IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE, AS I'VE NOTICED AT THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS IN TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT AT ONE SCHOOL VERSUS ANOTHER, AND IT'S JUST THE HONEST FACT THAT CPS HAS THIS MODEL THAT THEY THINK ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL.

AND SOME THINGS AREN'T OFFERED TO OTHER SCHOOLS, OR SCHOOL IN LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES.

SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IN OUR SCHOOLS, BUT CPS WILL OFFER SOMETHING, AND THEN THEY'LL CLOSE THE WINDOW.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT TWO YEARS BEFORE IT OPENS UP.

AND IT'S REALLY NOT -- THEY REALLY DON'T OFFER THE SAME OFFERINGS TO LOWER INCOME THAT THEY DO FOR KIDS IN THE MORE WEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

SO EVEN AS FAR AS PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN -- >> LIONEL, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEW MAYOR FOR MAKING CHICAGO A MORE EQUITABLE PLACE FOR BLACK RESIDENTS?

>> I THINK WE NEED A SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY.

I THINK WE HAD SYSTEMATIC NEGLECT OF OUR COMMUNITIES, AND LISTENING TO WHAT MAYOR JOHNSON'S ADMINISTRATION IS TALKING ABOUT IN THEIR PLATFORM AND THEIR IDEAS FOR THE CITY, I THINK THAT THERE IS REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PRESS THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART OF THE ISSUE IS THAT WE CAN'T SIMPLY RELY ON THE BLACK MAYOR TO TAKE CARE OF BLACK PEOPLE ISSUES.

WE HAVE TO REMAIN VIGILANT, ATTEND OUR MEETINGS, CONTINUE TO AGITATE FOR CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND I THINK THOSE ARE SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COME OUT OF THE STATE OF BLACK CHICAGO REPORT.

AGITATE, AGITATE, AGITATE.

>> WHAT IMPACT WOULD YOU SAY THE COVID PANDEMIC HAD ON HEALTH POLICY IN CHICAGO, AND DO YOU THINK THERE ARE ANY LESSONS THAT HAVE BEEN APPLIED, THAT COULD BE APPLIED, TO IMPROVE HEALTH EQUITY?

>> SURE.

SO COVID EXACERBATED WHAT WE ALREADY KNEW TO BE TRUE.

THE SAME COMMUNITIES THAT HAD THE HIGHER RATES OF DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, HYPERTENSION, INFANT MORTALITY, ARE ALSO THE SAME COMMUNITIES THAT HAD THE HIGHER RATES OF COVID MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY.

AND SO COVID JUST BLEW THAT OUT OF THE WATER.

AND WHAT WE FOUND AT THE ONSET WAS, THE CITY OF CHICAGO, THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR PREVIOUS MAYOR , COMING TO SAY WESTSIDE UNITED IN PARTICULAR, WE NEED A MODEL TO ADDRESS THE HIGH RATES OF MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

WE BROUGHT HEALTHCARE, COMMUNITY, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND CIVIC GOVERNMENT AROUND THE TABLE FOR A STRATEGY WHERE COMMUNITY LEADERS DICTATED WHERE PPE WAS DISTRIBUTED.

VACCINE, MUTUAL AID, ET CETERA.

SO SOME OF THE LEARNING FROM THAT MODEL IS TO LEAD WITH COMMUNITY VOICE AND PROVIDE RESOURCES, BECAUSE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND THAT LIVE IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED OFTEN HAVE THE MOST VIABLE SOLUTIONS.

AND SO THAT WORK HAS TRANSITIONED TO WHAT WE NOW SEE COMING OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE CHICAGO EQUITY ZONE, AND OTHER INITIATIVES THAT WE WANT TO ALIGN WITH MAYOR JOHNSON AROUND FOR CONTINUITY AND TO CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE THOSE BEST PRACTICES.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL EXPERIENCES.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS DO TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF CPS STUDENTS?

BLACK STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR.

>> YES, IN PARTICULAR, I MEAN, DEFINITELY OFFER OUR SCHOOLS THE SAME MODEL WHICH YOU WOULD IMPLEMENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE AT SCHOOLS ON THE NORTH SIDE ARE STEAM INITIATIVES THAT ARE OFFERED AT THE SCHOOL WHERE THEY GET MORE FUNDING, THEY GET, YOU KNOW, MORE RESOURCES, THEY RENOVATE THOSE SCHOOLS, THEY HAVE ACTUAL OFFERINGS.

AND I HAVE SEEN MANY SCHOOLS, IF ANY, ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO WITH THE SAME PLAN.

SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD TRY TO IMPLEMENT ACROSS NOT JUST AT SELECTED PLACES OR AT SCHOOLS WHERE THEY HAD THAT PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT THAT PUSH FOR THESE THINGS TO GET DONE.

IT SHOULD BE A PUSH TO GET GIVE KIDS QUALITY EDUCATION.

>> OKAY.

THAT'S WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO BELIEVE IT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, A DECADE-OLD CONTRACT SCHOOL CLOSES ITS DOORS , DESPITE EFFORTS TO KEEP IT OPEN.

>>> A SCHOOL ON THE NEAR WEST SIDE THAT COMBINES GENERAL EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOM FOR MORE THAN A DECADE CLOSED ITS DOORS THIS WEEK.

THIS AFTER MONTHS OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS PLEADING FOR SOMEONE TO STEP IN AND HELP KEEP THE UNIQUE CURRICULUM ALIVE.

HOPE LEARNING ACADEMY CHICAGO ORIGINALLY GOT APPROVAL IN FEBRUARY FROM CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO RENEW ITS CONTRACT.

BUT A FEW WEEKS LATER, ANNOUNCED THAT INSTEAD, THE SCHOOL WILL CLOSE ITS DOORS.

JUST WEEKS AFTER STAFF VOTED TO UNIONIZE.

CHICAGO TONIGHT'S AMANDA BENEKE HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: SIX-YEAR-OLD CARRIGAN IS DOWN FOR A GOOD TICKLE AND LAUGH WITH HER PARENTS.

BUT SHE WASN'T ALWAYS LIKE THIS.

>> SHE WAS VERY SHELTERED.

SHE WOULDN'T LET ANYONE TOUCH HER OR ANYTHING.

>> Reporter: NOW, THE RUSSELL'S SAY THEIR DAUGHTER HAS OPENED UP, AND NOT JUST TO THEM.

>> SHE HAS THIS ONE BEST FRIEND.

SHE HAS DOWN SYNDROME.

BUT THEY LOVE EACH OTHER TO DEATH.

SHE'S SO SWEET.

>> Reporter: KEITH RUSSELL AND MEGAN MILLER RUSSELL CREDIT HOPE LEARNING ACADEMY.

IT'S AN UNCONVENTIONAL SCHOOL, OPERATED BY HOPE, A NONPROFIT BASED IN SPRINGFIELD.

IT FOCUSES ON STUDENTS WHO HAVE DEVELOP MENTAL DISABILITIES.

CONTRACTED BY CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO OPERATE OUT OF CPS'S SPALDING CAMPUS ON THE NEAR WEST SIDE.

ABOUT 240 KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED AT CHICAGO'S HOPE ACADEMY.

A MIX OF GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENTS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, LIKE CARRIGAN.

>> BEFORE HOPE, SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHANCE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

NOW, SHE HAS A FORM OF COMMUNICATION.

NOW, THEY'RE TEACHING HER SIGN LANGUAGE.

SO SHE HAS A WAY TO COMMUNICATE MORE.

>> Reporter: THEY'RE WORRIED THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE HOPE IS CLOSING ONCE THE SCHOOL YEAR IS DONE.

HOPES LEADERSHIP GAVE WARD IN MARCH OF A SURPRISE TO PARENTS AND STAFF GIVEN THAT IT HAD JUST INKED A FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT WITH CPS.

HOPE FAMILIES AND STAFF PUSHED BACK ON THE DECISION AT CPS'S APRIL BOARD MEETING.

>> ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH 10+ YEARS WORKING HERE, WE TRAVELED LONG DISTANCES PAST OTHER HIGH- PAYING SCHOOLS, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE CHILDREN THAT THEY SERVE.

>> Reporter: CASTRO SAYS CHICAGO FAMILIES DESERVE BETTER, ESPECIALLY BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS, WHO MAKE UP 97% OF HOPES POPULATION.

MILLER RUSSELL STARTED A PETITION THAT'S RECEIVED MORE THAN 1200 SIGNATURES.

CPS SAYS BECAUSE OF THE LATE NOTICE HOPE GAVE, THE DISTRICT DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO START HIS OWN HOPE STYLE PROGRAM.

BUT CPS SAYS IT'S ACTIVELY WORKING TO DEVELOP A PLAN THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES.

WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE DISTRICT WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE PROVIDING SERVICES WITHOUT INTERRUPTION, AND THAT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WILL HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE COMING YEARS.

CPS SAYS IT OFFERS MANY OF THE SAME SERVICES AS HOPE DID AT SCHOOLS THE DISTRICT RUNS, AND IS HOPING TO PLACE STUDENTS, BUT FAMILIES LIKE THE RUSSELL DON'T WANT OTHER SCHOOLS.

>> IT HAS TO STAY FOR OUR, OUR CHILDREN.

THEY NEED IT.

THERE'S NO OTHER CHOICE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

IT HURTS, AS A PARENT, TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS.

BECAUSE OUR CHILD LOVELESS SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: HOPE EXECUTIVES DIDN'T RESPOND TO OUR REPEATED REQUESTS FOR ANSWERS, BUT IN PREVIOUS PUBLIC COMMENTS, BLAME CPS.

AND IN THE MARCH LETTER TO STAFF, CITED CONCERNING TRENDS.

THIS DATA INCLUDES DOWNWARD TRENDING STUDENT ENROLLMENT, INCREASED SPECIAL EDUCATION RE- ENROLLMENT AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL STUDENT POPULATION, LESS THAN SATISFACTORY ACHIEVEMENT RESULTS, CONSISTENT DENIAL FOR GREAT EXTENSIONS BY CPS, AS WELL AS CONTRACT ISSUES WITH CPS.

CRITICS BELIEVE THERE'S ANOTHER REASON.

SCHOOL STAFF RECENTLY VOTED TO JOIN THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION.

>> IT LOOKED LIKE THE UNION, THE UNIONIZE OF THE TEACHERS IS THE REASON.

WE CAN SAY THAT'S WHAT WE RESPECT, AND WE GOT WHAT THEY'VE GOT TO PROVE.

THE NEXT WEEK, THEY DECIDED ABOUT THE CLOSURE.

>> HOWARD SAYS IT'S A DOUBLE SLAP IN THE FACE FOR HOPE TO EXIT, THEN FOR CPS TO TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT.

>> OUR FAMILIES ARE ABSOLUTELY DISTRAUGHT.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR, WHERE THEY'LL BE SENDING THEIR STUDENTS.

>> MEANWHILE, THE MILLER RUSSELL'S HAVEN'T LOST, WELL, HOPE.

>> PSALMODY, PLEASE REACH OUT.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE PRINT AND HELP US STAY AT THIS SCHOOL.

THIS IS OUR LAST, LAST HOPE.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M AMANDA.

>> THE MILLERS TELL US CPS HAS OFFERED THEM OTHER SCHOOL OPTIONS FOR THEIR DAUGHTER, BUT NONE THAT THEY'VE FOUND SUITABLE.

THEY'RE INSTEAD GOING THEIR OWN ROUTE TO FIND THE RIGHT PLACEMENT.

AND AS FOR STAFF, MANY OF THEM ARE OUT OF A JOB.

>>> EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE STATE VIABLY FORMED A REPARATIONS COMMISSION.

IT'S TASKED WITH RESEARCHING AND REPORTING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON REPARATIONS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN DESCENDENTS OF SLAVERY.

HOLDING HEARINGS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REPARATIONS, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT REPARATIONS, RECOMMENDING HOW TO PRESERVE AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING BUILDING A VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, AND ENSURING PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION IN ALLSTATE CONTRACTS.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE LATEST IS MARVIN SLAUGHTER, WHO CHAIRS THE ILLINOIS AFRICAN DESCENDENTS CITIZENS REPARATION COMMISSION, AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE SONYA HARPER, A DEMOCRAT FROM THE SOUTH SIDE WHO IS ALSO ON THE COMMISSION.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

REPRESENTED IN HARBOR, LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE.

HOW DID THIS COMMISSION COME TO BE?

>> SURE.

SO IN JANUARY 2021, THE CAUCUS PASSED OUR FOR PILLORIED TO STOP SYSTEMIC RACISM.

AMONG THEM, AND AS PART OF THE EXPENSIVE ECONOMIC PILLAR, WAS THE CREATION OF THE AFRICAN DESCENDENTS CITIZENS REPARATION COMMISSION.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATIVE WILL DAVIS FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE PILLAR, AS HE WAS THE ONE WHO ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED THE BILL.

SO IN ORDER TO BUILD THAT PILLAR, WE USED ACCOMMODATION OF LEGISLATION THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN INTRODUCED BY MEMBERS.

THAT'S BEEN OUR SUBJECT MATTER.

ALONG WITH THE CREATION OF THE INITIATIVE.

SO THE BLACK CAUCUS REPARATIONS COMMISSION WAS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WHILE WE WANTED TO COME UP WITH A ROBUST AGENDA RIGHT THEN, THAT WOULD WRITE ALL THE WRONGS THAT PEOPLE HAD EXPERIENCED IN ILLINOIS, AS A RESULT OF SLAVERY, WE KNEW THAT IF WE WANTED TO DO IT RIGHT, THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER A TASK FORCE OR A COMMISSION TO GIVE IT THE ATTENTION IT DESERVED.

THAT'S HOW WE GOT WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

>> CHAIRMAN MARVIN SLAUGHTER, CALIFORNIA IS CLOSER TO STATEWIDE REPARATIONS.

YOU THINK THAT'LL BECOME A MODEL FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS?

>> YUP, I DO.

I BELIEVE THAT CURRENTLY THE COMMISSION IS ALREADY UTILIZING SOME OF THE FRAMEWORK OUTLINED BY THE CALIFORNIA TASK FORCE, INCLUDING THE 11 POLICY AREAS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT TO DISCERN THE IMPACT OF HARM ON BLACK AMERICAN DESCENDENTS OF SLAVERY.

>> A FEW EXAMPLES.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE POLICY AREAS?

>> WHAT I THINK ABOUT IT, I THINK ABOUT DIFFERENT DISPARITIES IN CONTRACTING.

EDUCATION, BLACK PATHOLOGY.

WE'RE ACTUALLY UTILIZING EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR AREAS.

>> WE ALSO SOFTEN EXPLOSIVE DEBATE RECENTLY IN CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL OVER GIVING AID TO MIGRANTS.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT TENSION EXISTS, AND YOU THINK WE COULD SAY SORT OF A SIMILAR ARGUMENT MADE ABOUT REPARATIONS FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY?

>> YOU KNOW, I FEEL AS THOUGH THE STATUTE OUTLINES FOR US WHAT COMMUNITY WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING INTENTLY ON, THE HISTORICAL BLACK COMMUNITY HERE IN AMERICA, RIGHT?

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT BLACK AMERICANS OF CHATTEL SLAVERY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO WERE IMPACTED, AND THEY HAVE THIS HISTORICAL JUSTICE CLAIM.

I DON'T ENVISION HAVING THOSE DISPUTES, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY, AS WE PUSH FORWARD, AS WE'RE PUSHING FOR EQUITY, THE MISSION IN AND OF ITSELF WILL BE FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON BLACK AMERICANS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE HARPER, WHAT ARE THE COMMISSION'S GOALS, AND HOW DO YOU MEASURE THEM?

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE EXCEEDING THE SUCCESS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO GET TO?

>> YEAH, SO RIGHT NOW, OUR COMMISSIONS GOAL IS TO DO OUTREACH AMONG THE STATE, AROUND THE STATE, AND WE WANT TO WORK TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT MEASURES THAT ENSURE EQUITY, EQUALITY, AND CHARITY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE HOLDING HEARINGS THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON WHAT REPARATIONS LOOK LIKE, BUT TO ALSO GIVE FEEDBACK FROM THEM ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

SO WE HAVE A LONG, WE HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD OF US.

I THINK IT'S TOO PREMATURE TO SAY WHAT ANY OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE AT THIS POINT, BUT I DO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING THROUGH THAT.

>> OF COURSE.

CHAIRMAN SLAUGHTER, THE EVIDENCE OF THIS REPARATIONS PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT HOME REPAIRS OR PURCHASES FOR DESCENDENTS OF SLAVERY WHO ARE -- NOT EVEN DESCENDENTS OF SLAVERY SO MUCH AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED THERE OVER A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS AND DISSENTED FROM OTHER RESIDENTS.

BUT IT WAS ALSO CRITICIZED FOR NOT BEING TRUE REPARATIONS, AND BEING MORE ABOUT GIVING MONEY TO THE BANKS THAT ARE PROVIDING FOR HOME PURCHASES.

THE CITY ALSO MORE RECENTLY ADDED A $25,000 DIRECT CASH BENEFIT TO RECIPIENT OF THE REPARATIONS.

WHAT COULD TRUE REPARATIONS LOOK LIKE FOR ILLINOIS RESIDENTS?

>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO THE DRAWING BOARD ON THAT.

WE WANT TO LOOK AT A BROAD SWATH OF RESEARCH THAT IS AVAILABLE IN REGARDS TO WHAT REPARATIONS ACTUALLY IS.

WE WANT TO ENGAGE WITH ACADEMICS AND, YOU KNOW, GRASSROOTS ACTIVISTS ON THE GROUND TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE RIGHT WEIGHT TO DEAL WITH REPARATIONS HERE IN ILLINOIS, AND WHEN WE DO THAT, WE WILL MAKE SHORT THAT WE BRING THE COMMUNITY ALONG WITH US.

>> REPRESENTATIVE HARPER, IF AT SOME POINT IT MEANS, YOU KNOW, CASH BENEFIT, OR A CASH PAYMENT FOR REPARATIONS, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE GOING TO SAY, WHERE'S MY MONEY COMING FROM?

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT ARGUMENT?

>> I THINK IT'S STILL TOO EARLY TO SAY.

AND WE'VE HEARD THAT QUESTION A LOT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TO PASSING OUR SYSTEMIC -- TO STOP SYSTEMIC RACISM.

AND WE'RE GOING TO FIND MONEY TO FUND REPARATIONS THE SAME WAY THAT WE DO TO FUND EVERYTHING ELSE HERE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, TELL ME A LITTLE OF IT ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT YOU THINK THE CONVERSATION ABOUT REPARATIONS HAS MADE, BECAUSE THERE WAS A TIME, MAYBE EVEN JUST 10 YEARS AGO, IT WAS A NONSTARTER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE ON THE, THE PROSPECT OF REPARATIONS TODAY?

>> I THINK THAT WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY, WHERE FOLKS AND WHERE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE DECISIONS ARE ACTUALLY HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND REPARATIONS.

SO I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

AS WE KNOW, WE COULD NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT ISSUES SUCH AS GUN VIOLENCE, YOU KNOW, NOT TOO LONG AGO.

AND NOW, WE'RE STARTING TO ACT ON THOSE AS WELL.

SO I'M, I'M HAPPY, RIGHT?

I'M HAPPY THAT EVEN, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH COVID AND GOING THROUGH THE CIVIL UNREST, IT WAS KIND OF A WORLD SHIFT ACROSS THE NATION, AND I THINK THAT SHIP IS NOW HELPING US HAVE CONVERSATIONS, DEEPER CONVERSATIONS, A KIND THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE, THAT CAN REALLY PROVIDE RELIEF FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES, OR THAT WE HOPE WILL PROVIDE RELIEF FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES.

>> MARVIN SLAUGHTER, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALSO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT REPARATIONS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

HOW DO YOU THINK THESE TWO EFFORTS MIGHT SORT OF EITHER WORK TOGETHER, BALANCE EACH OTHER OUT, OR, OR ONE MIGHT SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WHY NOT.

THE FEDS ARE TAKING CARE OF IT.

WE DON'T NEED REPARATIONS IN ILLINOIS.

>> I BELIEVE THAT THE COMMISSION IS GOING TO DEAL INTENTLY WITH THE ISSUE OF REPARATIONS.

WE'RE GOING TO WORK AND ENSURE THAT WHATEVER FRAMEWORK WE DEVELOP DOESN'T COLLIDE WITH ANY FEDERAL REPARATIONS PUSHES, AND I THINK THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE TRAPPINGS OF DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPING A PROCESS FOR ELIGIBILITY, LOOKING AT VITAL RECORDS AND HOW TO DETERMINE WHO IS THE IMPACT THE COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE USEFUL ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, SOBERED >> BUT THE OTHER TRICKY PART, OF COURSE, IS TRACING OUR ANCESTRY AND PROVING THAT WE ARE DESCENDENTS OF SLAVES.

I'M SURE, IS THAT PART OF THE COMEDY CONVERSATION, THE DISCUSSION FOR YOU ALL IS WELL GOING FORWARD?

>> WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO BE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AND THAT DISCUSSION, BUT WE WILL BE LEAVING THAT, THAT DEBATE TO EXPERTS, AND TAKING THE LEAD AS FAR AS, HOW CAN WE GO ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TARGETING THE RIGHT COMMUNITY?

>> OKAY.

THAT'S WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO BELIEVE IT.

OBVIOUSLY WE LOOK TO HEARING MORE FROM YOU ALL IS YOUR WORK CONTINUES.

MARVIN SLAUGHTER AND SONYA HARPER, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>>> UP NEXT, COOKING ETHIOPIAN FOOD FOR A CAUSE.

THERE >>> ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIAN ORIGIN LIVE IN CHICAGO.

A NUMBER THAT HAS INCREASED OVER THE YEARS AS POLITICAL TURMOIL ROILED THE EAST AFRICAN REGION.

ABOUT 60% OF THEM LIVE IN THE UPTOWN EDGEWATER AREA ON THE CITY'S NORTH SIDE, MAKING THE NEIGHBORHOOD THE PLACE TO GO FOR ETHIOPIAN FOOD.

CHEF AND OWNER OFFERS A TASTE OF HER HOME COUNTRY FOR SCENE, AND NOW SHE'S COOKING UP RELIEF FOR THE PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA TOO.

IT IS ERIKA GUNDERSON HAD THE SCOOP.

>> THE SPICES ARE, I WOULDN'T SAY SO SPICY, BUT IT'S ALSO SEASON WELL.

AND IT HAS A LOT OF CARD AMONG, CAYENNE PEPPER, CINNAMON, THAT NATURE.

>> Reporter: ON A BUSY CORNER IN THE UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD, THE RESTAURANT HAS BEEN INTRODUCING CHICAGOANS TO ETHIOPIAN CUISINE SINCE 2007.

>> AND WHAT I'M GOING TO BE -- SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE -- WE USE OUR HAND OR THE SPICES.

BUT IN OUR RESTAURANT, IT'S THE MOST POPULAR ONE, AND COMMON ONE, WHICH IS, LIKE, YOU GET A TASTE OF THE MENU WITH THREE VEGGIES AND STREAMING PRINT >> BEFORE OPENING THE RESTAURANT, THE CHEF AND OWNER SAID SHE HAD SOME PROFESSIONAL HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCE, MOST OF HER COOKING EXPERTISE WAS HOMEMADE.

>> I GOT A NUMBER SEVEN OF 11.

AND WE HAVE TWENTYSOMETHING PEOPLE LIVE IN ONE HOUSE.

SO WE ALWAYS COOKED, AND THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING GOOD.

A LOT OF PEOPLE AT HOME, AND MY FORMER HUSBAND AT THE TIME SAID WE SHOULD OPEN A RESTAURANT.

THE PLACE WAS AVAILABLE, AND SIX MONTHS LATER, WE WERE OPEN.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THE PANDEMIC TESTED THE RESTAURANT, EDITED ALL CHICAGO RESTAURANTS.

BUT SHE SAID IT ALSO INSPIRED HER TO DO MORE HUMANITARIAN WORK WITH HER PLATFORM.

>> I THINK SOMETHING GOOD CAME OUT OF IT, WHERE MENTAL HEALTH BECAME MORE IMPORTANT, THE WAY WE DO THINGS BECAME MORE MINDFUL.

ALL OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF IT, IT WAS A HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE, BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF IT AS WELL.

>> SINCE WAR BEGAN IN THE REGION OF ETHIOPIA IN 2020, SHE HAS PARTICIPATED IN A NUMBER OF FUNDRAISING EVENTS FOR VARIOUS CAUSES, SOMETHING SHE SAYS SHE PLANS TO CONTINUE DOING IN THE FUTURE.

>> IT'S BEEN A WAY OF -- ONE, WE'RE MAKING AWARENESS.

TO BECOME A BETTER TEAM.

WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED.

AND WHEN THE WAR HAPPENED, WHAT I KNOW IS TO COOK.

AND FEED PEOPLE.

AND I WANTED TO USE THAT AND SUPPORT OTHERS THAT ARE IN NEED.

SUPPORT PEOPLE, AND TO DO WHAT I LOVE AND HAVE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE A BETTER LIFE.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, THIS IS ERIKA GUNDERSON.

>>> IN ADDITION TO THE UPTOWN LOCATION, IT RECENTLY OPENED A TIME-OUT MARKET, AND IS PLANNING A BROWNSVILLE LOCATION FOR 2025.

ALSO ONE OF FIVE WOMEN CHEFS PARTICIPATING IN THE FUNDRAISING POP-UP A NIGHT OF HOPE, BENEFITING 600 CHILDREN LIVING IN SUDANESE REFUGEE CAMPS.

GUILD ROW ON SUNDAY, JUNE 11th.

FIND MORE OF THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

WE RAN OUT OF TIME TO BRING YOU A PREVIEW OF THE MUSEUM'S EXHIBIT ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF EMMETT TILL, BUT WE'LL HAVE THAT STORY FOR YOU NEXT WEEK.

AND IF YOU'RE WATCHING US ON FRIDAY NIGHT, KNOW THAT YOU CAN ALSO CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES ON SATURDAYS BEGINNING AT 6 P.M. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE, AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A PROUD SPONSOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION FOCUSED FREE CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION