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

>> Host: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

I AM BRANDIS FREEMAN THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT ONE-ON-ONE WITH DR. NGOZI EZIKE AS SHE STOPS DOWN FROM HER ROLE AS ILLINOIS TOP DOCTOR.

A SPECIAL LUCK VOICES LATINO VOICES CROSS REPRESENTATION WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A REFUGEE AND HELP DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE TREATED DURING A CRISIS.

>>> A EMMITT TILL BILL WAS CHAMPIONED BY CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR FUTURE INCHING CASES.

>> THIS IS ONE PIECE OF A GREATER WHOLE.

>> Host: A NEW COMMUNITY DRIVEN MARKET IS JUST STEP 1 OF A REVITALIZATION EFFORT IN INGLEWOOD.

>>> 1ST OFF TONIGHT, THIS WILL BE DR. NGOZI EZIKE'S LAST DAY AT THE HEAD OF THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

SHE HAS BEEN THERE 3 YEARS OF SERVICE MOST OF THAT TIME BEING LEADING THE STATE THROUGH THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

DR. NGOZI EZIKE JOINS US NOW.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS WE ENTER THIS NEW PHASE OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE ARE RELEASING MASK MANDATES AND THERE ARE FEWER SEVERE CASES.

DID YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE SITUATION WAS A BIT MORE STABLE BEFORE MAKING THIS DECISION?

>> Guest: ABSOLUTELY.

THIS HAS BEEN A VERY TAXING, REWARDING BUT VERY TAXING EXPERIENCE.

IT HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND THOUGH IN DEV LAST YEAR AS OMICRON WAS SPEAKING AND IT RECORD NUMBERS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS EVEN MORE THAN ANY OTHER SEARCH.

I KNEW THAT WOULDN'T BE THE RIGHT TIME BUT AS WE ARE COMING OFF OF THE OMICRON SURGE AND HAVE THIS CONTINUOUS DROP IN THE NUMBER OF CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS I FIGURED THIS WAS THE TIME.

THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE WE ARE TAKING A LITTLE BIT OF A BREATHER AND WE CAN SUB OUT AND GET A FRESH PAIR OF LEGS AND A FRESH PAIR OF EYES TO TAKE ON THE INCREDIBLE WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

NOT JUST FOR COVE IT ALL OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES THAT WE ARE RUNNING.

>> Host: YOU ACCEPTED THE JOB IN 2019 AND 2020 WE WERE IN A PANDEMIC.

DID YOU RECOGNIZE THE SEVERITY OF COVID IN THE SIZE OF THE TASK IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT AWAY?

>> Guest: NO.

IN THE MOMENT IT WAS LIKE OKAY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING, WE SEE CASES 1ST IN CHINA AND THEN IN EUROPE.

OH, WE HAVE THE 1ST CASE IN WASHINGTON.

WE KNOW THAT ILLINOIS THERE IS NO WAY THAT ILLINOIS COULD BE SPARED BUT JUST UNDERSTANDING THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS EXPERIENCE AND THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC IS NOT SOMETHING WE COULD REALLY IMAGINE EVEN AS WE HAVE PREPARED WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR SOMETHING JUST AS THIS, MANY PEOPLE HAVE PREPARED THEIR WHOLE CAREERS BUT VERY FEW PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

>> Host: LOOKING BACK WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WERE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES OR FRUSTRATIONS?

>> Guest: NUMBER 1 I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE BIGGEST SETBACK WAS THE POLITICIZATION OF THE PANDEMIC AND THAT PROBABLY COST MANY LIVES TO BE LOST BECAUSE OF HOW POLITICS AND PANDEMICS DON'T GO TOGETHER.

WE SAW THAT VERY CLEARLY.

SO, THAT WAS ONE THING THAT CLEARLY STANDS OUT BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING AND LEARNING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THE RIGHT MESSENGERS TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE.

THERE WERE SO MANY VARIED SECTORS OF THE POPULATION.

MAKING SURE YOU HAVE THOSE TRUSTED MESSENGERS AND ALREADY HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS OR STATE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS PEERED WE KNOW THAT THE RELATIONSHIP WE FORMED WOULD HAVE TO STAY SOLIDIFIED FOR FUTURE HEALTH ISSUES AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT.

>> Host: WHAT HE MOST PROUD OF?

>> Guest: I AM PROUD OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS MADE THE IMPORTANT CHOICE TO GET VACCINATED AND BOOSTED AND TO SEEK OUT TESTING WHEN THEY WERE SYMPTOMATIC OR EVEN SUSPECTED THAT THEY HAD BEEN EXPOSED.

I SALUTE THE PEOPLE WHO ISOLATED AND QUARANTINED TO AVOID SPREADING INFECTION TO OTHERS WITHOUT PEOPLE DOING THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD SO MANY MORE INFECTIONS AND SO MANY MORE HOSPITALIZATIONS AND WORSE.

>> Host: DURING YOUR GOODBYE SPEECH EARLIER THIS MONTH YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND OF COURSE THE SACRIFICES THEY HAVE MADE TO ALLOW YOU TO SERVE IN THIS POSITION.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT.

>> OTHER GROUPS SACRIFICED A LOT AND IT'S TIME I MAKE IN FOR THEIR SACRIFICES.

I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY, I KNOW MY HUSBAND IS HERE AND MY DAUGHTER.

MY 1ST DAUGHTER IS HERE AND MY EXTENDED FAMILY AND MY MOTHER FOR TOLERATING THE ABSENCES.

THE LAST-MINUTE CHANGES IN PLANS.

THE ENDLESS MULTITASKING AND THE EVER PRESENT CELL PHONES.

YOU HAVE STOOD BY AND YOU HAVE SUPPORTED ME AND YOU HAVE NOT COMPLAINED.

YOU'VE MADE DINNERS AND YOU HAVE DONE ALL THE PICKUPS AND THE DROP-OFFS BUT NOW IT IS TIME FOR ME TO MAKE YOU MY PRIORITY.

>> Host: AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT THERE FOR YOU DR. EZIKE.

HOW TOUGH OF A DECISION WAS THIS TO MAKE?

>> Guest: IT HAS BEEN SO TOUGH.

THE LAST 2 WEEKS OF SAYING GOODBYE AND REALLY EXPRESSING WITH THE TEAM AND ALL THE PARTNERS JUST HOW MUCH WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH TOGETHER AND HOW PROUD WE ARE OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE.

THERE IS NO HINGING TO THE WORK.

YOU CAN ALWAYS FEEL LIKE IT IS NOT TIME, THERE IS ALWAYS MORE TO DO.

THERE IS A PUSH, PULL, TUGGING ABOUT MY GOODNESS, CAN I REALLY WALK AWAY FROM THIS?

THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A DEFINING ROLE FOR ME.

SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AS A LEADER.

AND SO IT IS VERY HARD TO STEP AWAY.

EVEN AS I THINK ABOUT AND GREW IN HOW I REALLY DO NEED TO STEP AWAY AND TAKE A BREAK IT IS HARD TO DO THAT.

AND SO IT IS VERY BITTERSWEET.

>> Host: UNDERSTOOD PEERED THERE ARE REPORTS THAT WE HAVE A STATION IN CHICAGO THAT IS RECRUITING APPEARED WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?

>> Guest: I HAVE NOTHING FINALIZED.

I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE MULTIPLE RECRUITERS SEEK ME OUT.

I AM VERY EXCITED NEXT WEEK TO DEFINITELY ENGAGE WITH THOSE RECRUITERS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT IS THE POSSIBLE NEXT OPTION AND WHAT IT COULD BE.

>> Host: NOT GIVING AWAY ANYTHING YET.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES LEFT DR. EZIKE.

YOU ARE LEAVING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS THE 1ST BLACK WOMAN TO LEAD THE AGENCY.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BREAK THAT BARRIER AND BE A ROLE MODEL FOR OTHER GIRLS?

>> Guest: WE ARE JUST ON THE HEELS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AND THE POINT OF THAT IS TO CELEBRATE WOMEN AND I'M GLAD TO BROKEN THAT BARRIER BUT MORE EXCITING TO KEEP THAT DOOR OPEN FOR MORE WOMEN OF COLOR SO WE CANNOT BE CELEBRATED AS THE 1ST, BUT THE 2ND, 3RD AND 4TH AND NOT BE EXCITED TO SEE THIS BECAUSE THIS WILL BE NORMALIZED AS SOMETHING WE SEE FROM WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR.

>> Host: DR. NGOZI EZIKE SO GREAT TO SEE YOU AND THE LUCK IN THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR FUTURE.

>>> RESIDENT BIDEN WILL SIGN THE EMMITT TILL BILL INTO LAW.

BOBBY RUSH WHO SPONSORED THE BILL IS HAPPY TO SEE IT FINALLY PASS AFTER MORE THAN 200 FAILED ATTEMPTS.

>> AFTER ALL THESE ATTEMPTS, WE NEED A FEDERAL INQUIRY AND CASES LIKE AHMAD ARE VERY, THAT CASE, WOULD NEED PROSECUTION BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> Host: THE ANTI-LYNCHING ACT IS NAMED OF COURSE AFTER IMMINENT TILL A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY IN CHICAGO WHO WAS LYNCHED IN 1955 AFTER ACCUSED OF FLIRTING WITH A WHITE CASHIER.

>>> A SPECIAL BLACK ICES LATINO VOICES CROSSOVER WITH THE TREATMENT OF UKRAINIAN REFUGEES AND ACCUSATIONS OF RACISM.

STAY WITH US.

.

>> Host: RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE HAS DOMINATED NEWS HEADLINES WITH STORIES OF FAMILIES THAT ARE DESPERATE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

2 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE LEFT SINCE THE START OF RUSSIA'S ATTACK FINDING REFUGE IN NEARBY COUNTRIES.

NATIONS HAVE OPEN THE BORDERS AND HEARTS TO UKRAINIANS HAPPILY TAKING THEM IN.

IT IS A STARK DIFFERENCE FROM WHAT WE SAW IN 2015 WHEN YOU'RE FACED ANOTHER REFUGEE CRISIS.

SOME OF THE SAME COUNTRIES ACCEPTING REFUGEES NOW WERE REFUSING TO TAKEN PEOPLE FLEEING WAR THAT YOUR REFUGEES FROM SYRIA, OTHER PARTS OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND SOUTH AFRICA.

NOW WITH A CROSSOVER DISCUSSION ARE TRAN 24 DIRECTOR OF WIN WITHOUT WAR.

FASIKA ALEM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF UNITED AFTRICAN ORGANIZATION AND DAYSI FUNES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CENTRO ROMERO AND LAURA WASHINGTON A COLUMNIST FOR THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

REGARDING THE COMPARISON OF HOW REFUGEES ARE BEING COMPARED NOW TO HOW THEY WEREN'T SO WELCOME IN 2015.

WHY DO YOU THINK WE ARE SEEING A DIFFERENCE THIS TIME?

>> Guest: I THINK IT IS VERY MUCH A DIFFERENT YOU CAN ILLUSTRATE WITH 2 VIRAL PHOTOS.

IN 2015 DURING THE HEIGHT THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS THE PHOTO THAT WENT VIRAL WAS 1 OF ELLEN CURRY A YOUNG BOY WHO HAD DROWNED TRYING TO SEEK REFUGE.

TODAY, THE PHOTO THAT IS GOING VIRAL IS ON THE POLISH BORDER WITH MOTHERS LEAVING STROLLER SO THAT IF UKRAINIANS ARE CROSSING THE BORDER WHO NEED THEM CAN HAVE THEM.

THINK THAT DIFFERENCE IS VERY STARK.

BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THAT KIND OF WELCOME WE ARE SEEING FOR UKRAINIAN REFUGEES TODAY EITHER ONE THAT ANYONE FLEEING VIOLENCE CAN EXPECT.

>> Host: FASIKA THE SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

WHY DO YOU THINK WE ARE SEEING A DIFFERENCE?

>> Guest: I THINK IT IS LARGELY A RACE ISSUE.

YOU HEARD IT IN THE MEDIA ABOUT HOW THE IMAGES THAT WE ARE SEEING OUT OF THE UKRAINE HIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY ARE BLUE EYES AND BLONDE HAIR REFUGEES.

RIGHT?

THIS IS NOT PEOPLE WE EXPECT TO SEE AS REFUGEES VERSUS THOSE THAT COME FROM THE GLOBAL SOUTH AS SEEN AS NOT DESERVING OF THE SAME KIND OF TREATMENT AND THE WELCOMING.

I DON'T THINK THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT UKRAINIAN REFUGEES DON'T NEED TO BE WELCOME, THEY SHOULD BE WELCOME.

WE NEED TO SEE THE SAME TREATMENT FROM THOSE THAT ARE FLEEING OTHER CONFLICTS ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD.

>> Host: HERE IN THE US BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAID IT WOULD ACCEPT UKRAINIAN REFUGEES IF AND WHEN NEEDED.

DAYSI FUNES HOW DO YOU FEEL THE US AND GLOBAL COMMITTEE HAVE RESPONDED TO THE UKRAINIAN CRISIS VERSUS THE CRISIS AT OUR OWN BORDER, FOR EXAMPLE?

>> Guest: I CANNOT FATHOM THE IDEA THAT THEY CAN SEE AND UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SOUTH BORDERS, CENTRAL AMERICA, EL SALVADOR WHERE MY HOME COUNTRY IS.

THEY ARE SEPARATING THE CHILDREN FROM THEIR MOTHERS.

KIDS IN CAGES.

SO, WE ARE DISGUSTED ABOUT THE SAME SITUATION BUT NOW WE CAN SEE THE UKRAINIANS LOOKING FOR HELP AND THE MEDIA HAS A DIFFERENT TONE.

WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT SUPPORTING HEALTH, AND IMMEDIATELY THEY ARE GIVING 3,000,000.6 IN SUPPORT OF THE UKRAINIANS AND SUPPORT FOR THEM TO RECEIVE SUPPORT.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE LEAVING THEY WOULD RATHER DIE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING HERE THEN TO STAY IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY AND DO NOTHING AND BE KILLED.

IT IS HEARTBREAKING.

I THINK IT SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE IF YOU PAID YOUR SERVICE.

THOSE ARE THE CONDITIONS FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING.

>> Host: AMERICANS HAVE COME OUT STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF UKRAINIANS WHETHER IT IS ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS.

TRAN 25 HOW DO YOU THINK THE PUBLIC RESPONSE IS COMPARED TO OTHER REFUGEE CRISES?

>> Guest: I THINK IT IS DISHEARTENING TO SEE PEOPLE SHOWING COMPASSION TO OTHERS WHO ARE FEELING LIKE FLEEING VIOLENCE OR FLEEING WAR.

IT WAS FANTASTIC TO SEE THE RESPONSE WHEN WE WERE ACCEPTING REFUGEES FROM AFGHANISTAN LAST YEAR AS WELL AND AGAIN I THINK THERE IS A LOT MORE WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF EXTENDING THAT COMPASSION TO OTHER COMMUNITIES BUT BEYOND THAT, ACKNOWLEDGING THE ROLE THE US GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO PLAYED IN CREATING SYSTEMS THAT ARE CAUSING PEOPLE TO FLEE OTHER REGIONS AS WELL AND TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT BY DOING THINGS LIKE INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF REFUGEES WE ACCEPT OVERALL IN THIS COUNTRY IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

>> Host: I WANT TO SWITCH OVER AND TALK ABOUT THE REPORTS OF DISCRIMINATION THAT WE HAVE HEARD AT THE BORDER.

UKRAINIAN GUARDS OR PEOPLE BLOCKING AFRICANS, INDIANS, OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR BEING ABLE TO CROSS THE BORDER.

THERE IS ONE VIDEO GOING VIRAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHERE IT APPEARS THAT AUTHORITIES ARE BLOCKING AFRICANS FROM GETTING ON A TRAIN.

FASIKA WHAT ARE YOUR REACTIONS BY THIS?

ARE YOU SURPRISED?

>> Guest: I GUESS I AM HORRIFIED REALLY.

SURPRISED?

YES.

BECAUSE WHEN THERE IS CONFLICT OF THAT NATURE YOU WOULDN'T THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE THAT TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION HAPPENING FOR PEOPLE SEEKING REFUGE AND FLEEING THE CONFLICT.

I AM ANGRY.

RIGHT?

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO DESERVE THE SAME TREATMENT.

THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS.

SO THAT SECOND-CLASS TREATMENT THEY RECEIVED WERE THEY WERE ASKED OR PREVENTED FROM BOARDING BUSES OR TAXIS WHO ARE TAKING FOLKS FROM CHECK TO CHECK POINT WERE ONLY FOR UKRAINIANS AND AFRICANS HAD TO WALK FOR MILES IN THE COLD TO FIND REFUGE WAS REALLY UPSETTING.

>> Host: OFFICIALS IN POLAND AND UKRAINE SAY THERE IS NO SPECIFIC POLICY OR PROCEDURE TO PRIORITIZE WHAT UKRAINIANS.

FASIKA DO YOU THINK THESE ARE ISOLATED INCIDENTS?

>> Guest: I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THESE ARE AREAS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RECEPTION OF IMMIGRANTS FROM AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND THE STORIES WE HEAR FROM AFRICANS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THOSE REGIONS, I DON'T THINK IT IS ISOLATED.

IT PROBABLY ISN'T.

THEY PROBABLY DON'T HAVE A POLICY OF DISCRIMINATION BUT IT IS HARD WHEN YOU HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THESE TYPES OF THINGS ARE NOT FROWNED UPON.

PEOPLE WILL ACT ON THEIR BIASES.

>> LAURA WASHINGTON I WANT TO GET THIS FROM YOU.

YOU WROTE AN ARTICLE FOR THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> Guest: IT IS MIRRORING WHAT FASIKA JUST DESCRIBED.

ANY PEOPLE OF COLOR WERE COMING ACROSS THE BORDER.

THEY MAY NOT BE UKRAINIAN CITIZENS BUT THEY WERE PEOPLE LIVING AND WORKING SOMEWHAT LONG-TERM IN THE UKRAINE THEY WERE MEDICAL STUDENTS, STUDENTS MIGRANT WORKER AND HAPPEN TO BE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND DRAMATICALLY MISTREATED.

NOT JUST STOPPED AT THE BORDER AND REFUSED ENTRY BUT IN SOME CASES BEING ABUSED BY BORDER GUARDS OR OTHERS.

THE COUNTRY SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT CONDONING THIS BUT IT IS FAIRLY WIDESPREAD AND IS HAPPENING IN THERE'S ONLY ONE REASON FOR IT, THAT IS RACE.

THESE PEOPLE SPEAK DIFFERENT, LOOK DIFFERENT AND YOU HEAR COMMENTARY FROM PEOPLE IN POLAND SAYING WE ACCEPT UKRAINIANS WHO LOOK LIKE US.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

PEOPLE WHO ARE WHITE AND THE UKRAINE IS FAIRLY A HOMOGENOUS COUNTRY.

PEOPLE OF COLOR WILL STAND OUT MORE IN THESE SITUATIONS.

THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THESE INHUMANE TYPES OF TREATMENT.

PEOPLE ARE FLEEING OPPRESSION, FLEEING FOR THEIR LIVES.

THEY SHOULD ALL BE TREATED EQUALLY AND IT SHOULD ALL BE WELCOME.

>> Host: YOU WROTE AND THIS IS A QUOTE, LATIMER PUTIN IS IN CHARGE OF THIS HEINOUS ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY AND PEACE OVER OPPRESSION AND WAR YET ANYONE WHO DENIES DESPERATE HUMAN BEING SAFETY AT THE BORDER BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE IS NO BETTER THAN PUTIN.

OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF FRUSTRATION AND DISAPPOINTMENT COMING FROM YOU IN THAT STATEMENT, HOW TOUGH IS IT FOR YOU TO HEAR AND SEE THE STORIES OF RACISM?

WE KNOW WE HAVE OUR OWN STORIES IN THIS COUNTRY BUT TO SEE THEM HAPPENING SO FAR AWAY?

>> Guest: IS FRUSTRATING.

WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS INTERNATIONAL CONVERSATION AND EXAMINATION OF RACE BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO GEORGE FLOYD.

HERE WE ARE WHEN WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THIS HEIGHTENED SENSITIVITY WERE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE OF COLOR AND TRYING TO BUILD COMMUNITY WHEN THESE KINDS OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING, I KNOW IT IS A DESPERATE SITUATION BUT EVEN MORE OF A REASON WHY YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WE ARE ALL HUMAN UMAN BEINGS.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A SECOND-CLASS HUMAN BEING.

>> Host: ALL RIGHT THAT'S WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO TO LEAVE IT A DISCUSSION FOR OTHER TIMES.

THANK YOU TO MY GUESS, SARA HAGHDOOSTI, FASIKA ALEM, FOR MORE.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE MEDIA'S ROLE IN COVERING CONFLICTS.

UP NEXT WE TAKE YOU INTO A COMMUNITY MARKET THAT IS PART OF A NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROGRAM.

>> Host: THIS WEEK RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN INGLEWOOD CELEBRATED THE GRAND OPENING OF THE NEW GO GREEN COMMUNITY FRESH MARKET.

IT IS DESIGNED TO BE AS CONVENIENT AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER STORE THAT WITH FRESH PRODUCE, A VARIETY OF OPTIONS FOR MEALS COOKED ON SITE.

AS CHICAGO TONIGHT NICK BLUMBERG REPORTS.

>> A 2019 NYU STUDY FOUND THAT THE AVERAGE RESIDENT LIVES TO 90 AND THE AVERAGE INGLEWOOD RESIDENT LIVES UNTIL 60.

>> THAT HAPPENS TO BE THE LARGEST GAP IN THE COUNTRY.

WE NEED TO BRIDGE THAT GAP.

>> IT IS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT INCLUDING THE INNER-CITY MUSLIM NETWORK, TEAMWORK INGLEWOOD AND MORT THE 1ST PROJECTS, THE GO GREEN COMMUNITY FRESH MARKET AT 63RD AND RACINE.

>> THE GOALS OF THIS MARKET IS TO MAKE HEALTHY FOOD ACCESSIBLE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT LIKE A SPECIALTY FOOD STORE.

WE WANT TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT STILL FEELS LIKE A NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERY STORE.

IT IS THE PLACE THAT THE STOREKEEPER SAYS ANY RESIDENT DON'T HAVE EASY ACCESS TO.

>> MY AUNT LIVES RIGHT THERE.

SHE HAS TO TRAVEL AND SHE IS OLDER.

SHE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE LIKE A PERSON LIKE ME WHO IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO HELP HER.

IT IS GOOD THAT SHE CAN JUST COME HERE.

>> THE MARKET IS SET TO BE TO COMMUNITY EVENTS, CLASSES AND FRESH FOOD MADE ON-SITE.

>> MY FAVORITE RIGHT NOW IS THE CHICKEN TACO WRAP.

WE DO HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF OPTIONS AVAILABLE THAT I THINK THE COMMUNITY WILL LOVE.

>> IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT A PLACE TO BUY ASH PRODUCE AND OTHER HEALTHY GROCERIES, GO GREEN SAID IS TAKING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO TACKLING HISTORIC DISINVESTMENT.

>> JUST SOUTH OF THE MARKET ON RACINE IS THE ACADEMY 1 OF DOZENS OF CPS SCHOOLS SHUTTERED IN A WAVE OF CLOSURES IN 2013.

GO GREEN ON RECEIPT AND IS HOPING TO CHANGE IT INTO THE REGENERATOR OF 32 UNITS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION.>> WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE COMING HOME EVERY YEAR STRUGGLE WITH REENTRY AND ESPECIALLY SUCCESSFULLY REENTERING SOCIETY.

ASK THE REGENERATOR IS SET TO FEATURE HEALTH, WELLNESS AND JOB SUPPORT.

LEADERS ARE ALSO ADVOCATING FOR REOPENING THE RACINE GREENLINE STOCK WHICH HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE 1994 CRATING A MILE-LONG GAP BETWEEN HALLSTEAD AND ASHLAND STATIONS.

>> ENGLAND RESIDENTS ARE ACT WE ABLE TO ACCESS JOBS WITHIN A 30 MILLION TRAVEL RADIUS COMPARED TO 1 MILLION JOBS OF A NORTH SIDE RESIDENT.

>> 8 IS AN EFFORT FOR MANY ANGLES BUT PEOPLE ON GO GREEN RACINE SAID THERE ARE LOTS OF OPTIONS.

>> YOU PROVIDE HOUSING, A PLACE TO SLEEP, HEALTHCARE, A PLACE TO EAT AND GREAT DINING OPTIONS.

IT ALL CIRCULATES WITHIN THE ECONOMY OF THE COMMUNITY WHICH IS A BENEFIT FOR EVERYONE.

>> WHILE THEY ARE CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF THE GO GREEN MARKET LEADERS SAY THERE'S MORE TO DO SINCE THE PROJECT IS DRIVEN BY PEOPLE ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY.

NEXT WE TAKE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN MANY OTHER FOLKS WHO COME THROUGH FOR A ONE-OFF PROJECT.

THERE'S A LONGER-TERM ENDEAVOR AT STAKE.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES, IM NICK BLUMBERG.

>> Host: GO GREEN ON RACINE RECEIVED A TAX CREDIT LAST YEAR.

THEY HOPE TO BREAK GROUND ON THE REGENERATOR IN 2023.

AS FOR THE GREENLINE STATION THEY TOLD US THAT THEY ARE READ FULLY AWARE OF THE REQUEST BUT THE STATION WOULD NEED AN ESTIMATED $100 MILLION OF WORK OR MORE BEFORE IT CAN GO BACK INTO SERVICE WITH NO FUNDING CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.

THE AGENCY SAID A 2018 RIDERSHIP ANALYSIS DOWN THE STATION WOULD SEE YOU ARE AVERAGE WEEK DAY RIDES THEN WHEN IT WAS CLOSED IN THE 1990S.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND PAIRED BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS 2 FIND THE VERY LATEST ON WTTW NEWS.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW THAT YOU CAN CATCH LACKED VOICES AND LATINO VOICES ON SUNDAY BEGINNING AT 10 PM.

JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ AT 7:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, I AM BRANDIS FREEMAN.

INCORPORATED YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

THEY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.