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

[MUSIC] >> Brandis: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT THIS MONTH MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY OF PANDEMIC INDUCED SHUTDOWNS ACROSS ILLINOIS.

AS WE CLOSE OUT A YEAR OF COVID, WE WILL ASSESS THE ROAD BEHIND US AND THE JOURNEY AHEAD.

CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND MORE COMMUNITY RESOURCES AFTER A MASS SHOOTING IN GREATER GRAND CROSSING LAST WEEKEND.

OUR CORRESPONDENT ANGEL IDOWU CHECKED IN WITH A BLACK THEATER COMPANY TO SEE HOW THEY BEEN MANAGING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY HOWEVER YOU CAN.

>> Brandis: PLUS, AFTER TRAN 25 GIVES US A WORD ON THE LAST YEAR SPENT AT HOME.

>>> THIS TIME LAST YEAR FEW COULD HAVE PREDICTED HOW TERRIBLE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WOULD BE AND HOW LONG IT WOULD LAST.WITHIN HALF A MILLION AMERICANS A DEAD OR 23,000 OF THEM IN ILLINOIS.

HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS STRAINED TO THEIR BREAKING POINT.

MILLIONS OF JOBS LOST AND FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO STAY FED AND HOUSED.

NOW VACCINATIONS ARE BRINGING SOME LIGHT TO WHAT WAS A VERY DARK LANDSCAPE BUT CHALLENGES CONTINUE TO LIE AHEAD.

JOINING IS NOW WITH MORE ARE DR. MAYA GREEN REGIONAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF HOWARD BROWN HEALTH CLINIC AND AUDRA WILSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO AT THE SHRIVER CENTER ON POVERTY LAW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US SO MUCH COULD THE FIRST VACCINES WERE ADMINISTERED TO HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN DECEMBER AND SINCE THEN NEARLY 13 PERCENT OF ILLINOIS PROVIDENCE ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

HERE IS WHAT MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SAID ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK.

>> THINK ABOUT WHERE THIS STARTED WITH BLACK AND LATIN X CHICAGO BEING IN THE LOW TEENS AND NOW BEING OVER 50 PERCENT CONSISTENTLY WEEK AFTER WEEK BUT ALSO IN CASES THAT ARE DIMINISHING EXPONENTIALLY IN BLACK AND LATIN X CHICAGO.

IT IS A GOOD NEWS STORY BUT WE HAVE TO REMAIN DILIGENT.

>> Brandis: AUDRA WILSON DO THINK THE CITY IS DOING ENOUGH TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE VACCINE?

>> Guest: I THINK IT IS A MIXED BAG.

THERE WAS DEFINITELY SOME GOOD THINGS.

THERE WAS SOME PROLIFERATION WITH THE CATEGORY OF PEOPLE TO BE VACCINATED.

THERE WERE SOME GOOD WEBSITES THAT WERE EASY TO NAVIGATE THAT WOULD LAY OUT THE CATEGORIES AND THE NEXT STEPS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE BEING AS STRICT AS POSSIBLE LAYING OUT THE GUIDELINES AND PRIORITIZING THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

THE ROLLOUT HAD A LOT OF MUDDLED INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER PEOPLE COULD GO AND GET VACCINATED.

THERE WAS A LOT OF DIFFICULTY SECURING SPACES ONLINE.

I'M SURE PEOPLE FOUND HORROR STORIES OF WEBSITES CRASHING OR SENIOR SIGNING UP AT MIDNIGHT TO GET APPOINTMENTS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE COMING OUTSIDE OF NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THERE WERE CLINICS TO GET VACCINES.

I DEFINITELY THINK THERE WAS A MIXED BAG IN TERMS OF THE ROLLOUT.

>> Brandis: DR. MAYA GREEN AFTER A YEAR OF THE VACCINE ROLLOUT, WHERE DID YOU THINK WE WOULD BE A YEAR AFTER THIS STARTED?

>> Guest: A YEAR AGO I THINK WE WERE IN A TIME OF MORE SHOCK.

RIGHT?

IF YOU LOOK AT HOW THE TESTING ROLLED OUT IN THE ALGORITHMS THAT INCLUDED IMPLICIT BIAS ROLLED OUT I THINK WE ARE IN A TIME OF SHOCK AND LEARNING HOW WE IN AMERICA PATHOLOGICALLY THINK ABOUT EQUITY OR DON'T THINK ABOUT EQUITY I SHOULD SAY.

ONE THING THAT I LOVE THAT I SEE AND I SEE THAT WE HAVE EVOLVED TO IS WE STARTED VACCINATING.

WE SAW THE MAP AND WE SAW THAT WE WERE NOT GETTING THE HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES AND WE DID CHANGE COURSE QUICKER THAN I THOUGHT WE WOULD.

I THINK AS FAR AS LOOKING THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS IT'S GOOD TO SEE US MOVE FROM A POINT OF SHOCK TO ACTION.

I LOVE THAT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WAYS TO GO.

I DON'T WANT US TO THINK THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED EQUITY.

WE HAVE MOVED THE NEEDLE AND I AM GLAD TO BE A PART OF THAT.

>> Brandis: I WANT TO GET TO THE ROAD AHEAD WITH THE TWO OF YOU AS WELL WELL I HAVE YOU.

THE FIRST, AUDRA WILSON WHEN DID YOU FIRST BEGIN TO REALIZE THE SCALE OF THE DISASTER THAT WAS COMING TOWARDS US?

>> Guest: FORTUNATELY IT WAS ALMOST IMMEDIATE.

THE IMPACT ON THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING.

THERE WERE ALREADY PEOPLE MARGINALIZED WITH COVID WITH HEALTHCARE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, LIVING WAGES AND EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY.

FOR THIS FLEETING MOMENT THAT OUR COUNTRY HAD RESPONDED IN GRATITUDE TALK ABOUT FRONT-LINE WORKERS, HEALTH PLAN WORKERS, CHILDCARE WORKERS, ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO MADE OUR LIVES EASIER DURING SHUTDOWN NEVER HAD THE LUXURY FROM WORKING FROM HOME.

THE TRUTH IS THESE ARE MANY OF THE PEOPLE PRIOR TO COVID LACKED EMPLOYER-BASED HEALTH INSURANCE OR BASIC NEEDS.

QUITE FRANKLY KNOWING THIS WAS GOING TO BECOME A PANDEMIC IT WAS CLEAR TO US THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE VERY SERIOUS.

>> Brandis: DR. MAYA GREEN A SIMILAR QUESTION AS A CLINICIAN WHAT HAS THIS LAST YEAR TAUGHT YOU ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE?

>> Guest: I AM FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO AND OUR COMMUNITY IS RESILIENT, VIBRANT AND DESERVES SO MUCH MORE THAN WE HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN GIVING THEM.

I HAVE SEEN COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER.

BUT, I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT WHAT I HAVE LEARNED, THEIR WILLINGNESS, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS I HAVE LEARNED IS THE WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN A HEALTHCARE EXCHANGE THAT THEY TRUST.

ONE THING THAT BURNS IN MY MIND OVER THIS LAST YEAR, CHANGING THE NEEDLE FROM THE GAS LIGHTING OF THING AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE A MISTRUST IN THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY TO NAMING THAT THE MEDICAL IS INDUSTRY HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY NON-TRUSTWORTHY TOWARDS BLACK AND BROWN BODIES.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT AND LEAD WITH WHEN I AM NOT DOING A VACCINE TEACHING OR EDUCATION PEER LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY TO ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO FURTHER EDUCATE ME AND DESIGNING SERVICES AROUND THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

DESIGNED BY THE COMMUNITY.

>> Brandis: STICKING WITH YOU FOR A SECOND, DR. MAYA GREEN, LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEXT YEAR WHAT IS THE PANDEMIC'S LONG-TERM EFFECT ON THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY?

>> Guest: LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS.

WE HAVE TO LOOK, THERE'S A PANDEMIC BUT THERE WAS ALSO A RISE, IF YOU LOOK HISTORICALLY AT THE PANDEMIC THERE IS A RISE IN RACIAL PROFILING AND INJUSTICES THAT ARE STILL THERE TODAY.

WITHIN THAT WE KNOW THAT THE BLACK LITERALLY WATCHED, WATCHED AS SOME PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WERE MURDERED, HARMED, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THEN, THE VIOLENCE WAS OVERLOOKED OR CASTED.

ON TOP OF WATCHING OUR LOVED ONES DIE, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES BEAR THE BRUNT OF ADVERSE OUTCOMES FROM COVID BUT ALSO AT THE SAME TIME HAD TO WATCH NOT ONLY COVID HARMING OUR BODIES BUT DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM.

AND SO, MENTAL HEALTH I THINK DEFINITELY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE GOING TO BE IN NEED.

NOT ONLY NOW, THEY WERE ALREADY IN NEED BUT IN THE LONG RUN IN SPACES WHERE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE NOT ONLY FEEL SAFE ARE SAFE.

>> SORT OF TOOTH AT INS, AUDRA WILSON THE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL EFFECTS.

MANY MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAVE DEALT WITH MANY OTHER CHALLENGES AS WELL BESIDES HEALTH RELATED ISSUES.

>> Guest: ABSOLUTELY.

WE STILL HAVE YET TO SEE THE FULL IMPACT OF COVID ECONOMICALLY.

OUR ECONOMY IS STILL WEAK, THE JOBS RECOVERY HAS LOST MOMENTUM AND THERE ARE 9.5 FEWER JOBS THAN IN 2020.

WE KNOW THAT LACK EMPLOYMENT IS AT 9 PERCENT WHICH IS WELL ABOVE WHITE EMPLOYMENT WHICH IS 5.6 PERCENT.

THEY SAY THE ECONOMY WILL NOT REACH IT'S FULL POTENTIAL UNTIL 2025.

THAT'S WHY THERE'S SO MUCH TO BE THINKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF HOW WILL WE RECOVER.

THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WILL BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT RECOVERY.

MANY OF THE ISSUES CONTAINED WHEREIN NEED TO BE MADE PERMANENT LIKE THE CHILD INCOME CREDIT AND TAX EARNED INCOME CREDIT.

THESE CAN MAKE A SIZABLE DENT IN ADULT POVERTY AND REALLY GO A LONG WAY IN STABILIZING OUR COMMUNITY.

NOT JUST THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMITTEE BUT COMMUNITIES AT LARGE.

>> Brandis: AND, DR. MAYA GREEN WE HAVE A FEW SECONDS LEFT, WHAT DO YOU SEE IN TERMS OF RECOVERY IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AS THE VACCINES RAMP UP?

>> Guest: I EXPECT AND I HOPE FOR, WE MENTIONED EARLIER, I EXPECT AND HOPE FOR THE LINKS TO BE ROOTED IN MASTERS ORGANIZATIONS AND THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY BOTH NEED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR HEALTHCARE INSTITUTION TO LINK UP.

YOU HAVE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.

BLACK AFRICAN-AMERICANS STILL MOVE IN TRIBES SO YOU HAVE TO PROTECT THE TRIBES.

>> Brandis: A BETTER WAY TO ACCESS THAT IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE SAYING.

MY THANKS TO BOTH DR. MAYA GREEN AND AUDRA WILSON FOR JOINING US.

>> Guest: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Brandis: 2020 WAS MARKED NOT ONLY BY THE PANDEMIC AT A NATIONWIDE PANDEMIC FOR RACIAL JUSTICE THAT CONTINUES TODAY IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT FUELED THE MOVEMENT ON IT'S ANNIVERSARY.

[MUSIC] C] >> Brandis: 15 PEOPLE WERE SHOT INTO KILLED A WEEK AGO AND WHAT POLICE DESCRIBED AS A POP UP PARTY IN THE PARK MANOR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE BUSINESS WHICH OPERATES AS A TOWING COMPANY NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

>> WE CANNOT HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF STANDARDS FOR SOME COMMUNITIES THAN OTHERS.

THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IN LINCOLN PARK NOT IN A MILLION YEARS.

THERE'S NOT A THOUGHT IN MY MIND.

WHY DOES THIS TO HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY?

WE HAVE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OVER WHAT HAPPENED AND DO A BETTER JOB AT ACTUALLY FIXING IT.

ALL I HAVE IS MY WORD TO THESE FAMILIES THAT THIS LEGISLATION, WHATEVER IT IS WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

IT'S NOT GIVING PEOPLE A SLAP ON THE WRIST.

>> Brandis: EARLIER THIS WEEK WE SPOKE WITH PASTOR ANTHONY RIGHT WITH RING OF HOPE YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTER AND A MENTAL PROGRAM FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO MEN.

I ASKED SINGLETON ABOUT THE ROLE THAT MENTAL HEALTH PLAYS IN PREVENTING VIOLENCE AND FROM PREVENTING PEOPLE TO BECOME DESENSITIZED TO IT.

>> Guest: I THINK IT IS EVERYTHING.

I DON'T THINK WE DO ENOUGH OF MAKING THAT COOL AND POPULAR.

BECAUSE OF THE TRAUMA.

WHEN TRAUMA HAPPENS THERE NEEDS TO BE A HEALING PROCESS.

THAT IS THE NORMALCY PART OF TRAUMA, RIGHT?

THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS, WHILE YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING TOWARD THAT SOMETHING ELSE MOVES TOWARDS THAT.

YOU NEVER GET THE FULL DEVELOPMENT TO BECOME WHOLE.

I THINK IT IS UNFAIR.

I THINK WE HAVE TO DO MORE TO SOUND THE DRUM.

I AM SURE THAT THE SHOOTER HAD MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

>> Brandis: PASTOR WRIGHT, HAVE YOU SEEN SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM VIOLENCE PREVENTION EFFORTS OR HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN PATCHWORK IN RESPONSE TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> Guest: IT HAS BEEN MOSTLY PATCHWORK IN MY EXPERIENCE.

WE'VE BEEN REACTIVE INSTEAD OF PROACTIVE AND WE NEED TO BEGIN TO INVEST IN ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BOOTS AND ROOTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

OFTEN TIMES THESE PEOPLE MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE ROOTED IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE RELATIONSHIP IS NOT THERE.

I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING IN CONNECTION WITH GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALREADY HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY.

>> WHEN WE SPOKE WITH OLDER WOMAN JEANETTE TAYLOR WHO WE HEARD JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO EARLIER SHE SAID IT'S IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SHARE WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE.

>> Guest: I GET THAT PEOPLE DON'T TELL POLICE.

I GET THAT POLICE HAVE NOT BEEN FRIENDLY TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE PEOPLE WHO ULTIMATELY KILLED AND SHOT THESE FOLKS NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL.

WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF NOT WORKING IN SILOS BUT WORKING TOGETHER.

WORKING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND VIOLENCE ORGANIZATIONS.

WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO DIFFERENT.

>> Brandis: RONDELL SINGLETON HOW DO YOU BUILD THAT TRUST WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS?

>> Guest: THERE NEEDS TO BE COMMUNICATION AROUND HOW WE HOLD EVERYBODY ACCOUNTABLE.

THERE'S NO WAY THAT SHOOTERS SHOULD BE HIDING WITHIN THE VERY COMMUNITIES THAT THEY ARE BRINGING DEMISE TO.

THERE NEEDS TO BE AN APPROACH WHERE WE AS STAKEHOLDERS SAY, HEY, HERE WE ARE.

WE ARE BEING CONSISTENT.

WE ARE HERE AND WE NEED EVERYBODY TO PLAY A PART.

EVERYBODY TO PLAY A PART.

HERE IS WHY.

IT IS A TRICKLE EFFECT WHEN IT HAPPENS.

THE TRAUMA SPREADS TO THE FAMILY BOTH ON THE INSIDE AS WELL AS THE SHOOTER SIDE.

THERE ARE RIPPLE EFFECT THAT WE FEEL AS A RESULT OF WHAT HAPPENS AND I THINK IF WERE GOING TO HEAL AS A COMMUNITY EVERYBODY HAS TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THE TABLE AND HAVE SOME REAL AUTHENTIC ASSISTANCE.

>> Brandis: AND, PASTOR WRIGHT, HOW DO YOU FEEL IF IT'S MENTAL HEALTH THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY?

>> Guest: I THINK IT GOES BACK TO RESOURCES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY BUT THE PROBLEM IS SUSTAINABILITY.

THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO WITHOUT RESOURCES.

RESOURCES ARE BEING DISPERSED BUT THEY AREN'T ALWAYS BEING SENT TO THE RIGHT PLACES AND THAT'S THE THING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING HELD HOSTAGE IN HER OWN COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF YOUR.

IF I SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL SAFE I MIGHT BE RETALIATED AGAINST.

YOU MIGHT HAVE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TELL BUT THEY ARE BEING HELD CAPTIVE OR HELD HOSTAGE IN THERE OWN COMMUNITY.

>> Brandis: YOU TALK ABOUT THE ALDERMEN, LET ME ASK YOU, BRIEFLY ABOUT CHANCE AND HOW YOU ALL WORK.

>> Guest: CHAMPS STANDS FOR CULTURALLY HELP AND MAKING POSITIVE SUCCESS.

WE ARE A MALE MENTORING GROUP AND WE HELP BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR.

WE HOPE THERE ARE THREE EASE.

EMPOWERMENT EXPOSURE AND EMPOWERMENT.

WE HELP VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON SUPPORT.

>> Brandis: AND PASTOR, YOU HAVE A VISION OF HOPE?

>> Guest: WE STARTED OUT IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO WITH A BOXING PROGRAM.

WE WANTED TO ALLOW YOUNG MEN TO CHANNEL THEIR ENERGY AND PROGRESS IN A MORE POSITIVE WAY.

AND, WE HAVE A MEDIA LAB, FAMILY WRAPAROUND SERVICES.

WE ARE, TRYING FOR THE MOST PART TO FORGET VIOLENCE AND FIND ALTERNATIVES TO PROVIDE A SAFE COMMUNITY.

>> Brandis: OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> Guest: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Guest: THANK YOU.

>> Brandis: WE ARE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Brandis: WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT THEATERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE HIT WITH THE HARDEST REALITY THAT THEY WERE THE 1ST TO CLOSE AND THE LAST TO OPEN.

OUR CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU SHOWS US HOW A CHICAGO THEATER COMPANY HAS TAKEN THE STAGE ONLINE.

[MUSIC] >> I DONE TOLD YOU YOU AREN'T TOUCHING THAT PIANO!

>> Reporter: AS THE TESTING, TESTING CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES IS WORKING, THEY ARE MAKING SURE THAT BLACK STORIES ARE TOLD ONSTAGE EVEN VIRTUALLY.

>> THE EXTENT OF THE BLACK STORY IS NEVER LIMITED.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MUCH RANGE OF WHAT WE DO.

WE GO FROM CLASSIC WORK TO SKETCH COMEDY TO MUSICAL TO FILL THE WIDE VARIETY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PRODUCE BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR BLACK THIS AND WE CELEBRATE IT EVERY MOMENT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO WHICH IS ALL THE TIME.

>> THE CELEBRATION WAS MOSTLY SEEN ON HIT THEM ON THE BLACK SIDE, A BIWEEKLY SKETCH STREAMED VIRTUALLY.

>> EVERYONE HAD THEIR OWN GENRE.

AND ALSO, THEY HAD DIFFERENT THEMES GOING ON IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

WE WOULD TOUCH ON POLICE BRUTALITY, NO KNOCK RAIDS.

WE WOULD TOUCH ON WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE WORLD OF COVID AND REMOTE LEARNING IN SCHOOLS.

COMMENTING ON THE WORLD IN A FUN WAY.

THE PIECES ARE FUNNY BUT IT IS CONGO SQUARE AND WE ARE HITTING THEM IN WAYS THAT CAN CHALLENGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE AS PEOPLE OF COLOR VIEW AND INTERPRET WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AROUND AROUND US.

>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD I'M DRAMATIC.

>> HE IS DRAMATIC!

>> ENSEMBLE MEMBERS AND HUSBAND AND WIFE DUO ALEXIS J. ROSTON AND KELVIN ROSTON SAY THE VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN EMPOWERING TO SAY THE LEAST.

>> OUR VOICES HAVE NOT BEEN HEARD ENOUGH ACROSS MOST MEDIUMS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.

SO WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE HONOR TO TELL OUR STORY FROM OUR PERSPECTIVES.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WORKING AT OTHER THEATER COMPANIES TO CREATE A FAMILY FOR A MOMENT.

BUT WORKING WITH CONGO, I AM ALREADY WITH THE FAMILY.

>> YOU ARE A LIFER!

[LAUGHTER] >> ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE ARE SEEING MAJOR GRIDLOCK HERE.

>> WITH MORE VIRTUAL SHOWS AND FESTIVALS IN THE WORKS FOR THE NEW YEAR THE BLACK THEATER COMPANY SAID THEIR OVERALL GOAL REMAINS THE SAME.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE THINK ABOUT IS THE LEGACY THAT WE ARE BUILDING AS AN ORGANIZATION BUT THE LEGACY THAT WE ARE BUILDING IN THE PEOPLE AND IMPACTING FOR IN THE COMMUNITY.

NOT JUST CONGO'S LEGACY BUT THE BLACK ARTS LEGACY AND HOW WE ARE ABLE TO POUR INTO THE NEXT GENERATION OF BLACK VOICES.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM ANGEL IDOWU.

>> THE TESTING, TESTING CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES'S NEWEST EPISODE OF HITTING THEM ON THE BLACK SIDE DROP SUNDAY.

CHECK US OUT ONLINE WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT.

>> CHICAGO BASED COMIC AND ACTOR HAD A LOT OF DOWN TIME WASTED ON HER OVER THE LAST YEAR.

NOW SHE HAS THE LAST WORD ON HOW TO USE THAT TIME ON YOURSELF.

>> Guest: MY NAME IS I AM AN ACTOR, COMIC AND PART-TIME HOT MESS.

MY BIRTHDAY IS MARCH 13.

I GO HOME FOR MY BIRTHDAY AND MY BROTHER IS DRIVING ME TO THE AIRPORT TO COME BACK TO CHICAGO AND DAYS UP TO IT, ALL THAT WAS ON THE NEWS WAS CORONAVIRUS.

CARDI B YELLOW AND CORONAVIRUS.

THE FIRST MONTH FOR EVERYONE IT WAS A VACATION.

RIGHT?

IT WAS LIKE YES!

I CAN SIT DOWN, I DON'T HAVE TO WEAR PANTS AND MY ROOMMATES AND I WENT TO A CRAFT STORE.

I BOUGHT $100 WORTH OF YARN.

I WAS THINKING, OKAY, I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS BIG, GIANT INTRA-STYLE YARN MURAL SAYING TO GO ON A VERY EMPTY WALL.

I HAVE LEARNED HOW TO MACRAMI, MICHAEL MOORE IS A RAPPER AND IT LOOKED INTRICATE AND COMPLICATED AND I THOUGHT THIS IT IS GOING TO TAKE AT LEAST A MONTH.

IT TOOK THREE DAYS.

THEN I BLEW THROUGH ALL THE OTHER STUFF IN LIKE TWO DAYS.

I WAS LIKE OKAY GIRL, YOU HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO GOOD THEN I HAD TO START THINKING IT OUT.

WHAT DO I ACTUALLY LIKE?

WORKING ON YOURSELF IS PROBABLY DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON MY CRAFT.

I HAVE BEEN WRITING MORE OFTEN AND TRYING TO SHOOT LITTLE 32ND SKETCHES AND WRITING AND PUTTING MYSELF OUT THERE TO CREATE WORK THAT I NEVER WOULD'VE DONE BEFORE.

SO MANY PEOPLE AREN'T DOING THAT AT ALL.

BY THE TIME IT IS OVER, YOU ARE LEAPS AND BOUNDS AHEAD OF IT.

SO, 23 HITS OR WHATEVER WE GET TO GO BACK OUTSIDE AGAIN.

I WILL BE READY.

I AM READY TO LITERALLY SPRINTS OUT THE GATE.

BEFORE, I WAS SAYING I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT OR I DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH IT, I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT.

I THINK IT IS ALLOWING YOURSELF TO BE SELFISH IN TERMS OF YOURSELF AND IT IS DOING THOSE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY.

IF YOU ARE WAITING ON SOMETHING IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

IF PEOPLE HAVE CHINA IN THERE HOUSE AND THEY ARE WAITING ON SPECIAL OCCASION, BARACK OBAMA IS NOT COMING OVER.

TAKE THE CHINA OUT OF THE CABINET!

[LAUGHTER] >> Brandis: YOU CAN WATCH MORE FROM REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SUNDAY NIGHT.

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE VERY LATEST ON WTTW INCLUDING C.P.S.

DATA FOR BLACK STUDENTS ATTENDING CLASSES AND JOIN PARIS SCHUTZ AND MEET TOMORROW AT 7:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

WILL THE ALDERMEN VOTE YES TO TIGHTEN RESTRICTIONS ON INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS LIKE IRON?

AND, THERE'S A SOCIALLY DISTANT CREATIVE OUTLET.

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

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.