IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> 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 AND ANALYSIS ON THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT USE OF FORCE.

ACTIVISTS WEIGH IN ON THE DATA AND IMPACT ON BLACK CHICAGOANS.

>>> A PUSH FOR REPARATIONS IN CHICAGO AT A STANDSTILL.

WE DIG INTO THE HOLDUP AND WHAT IS NEXT.

>>> AND WOMEN IN TRADE.

A MOM AND DAUGHTER SHOW US BUILDING INTO NIGHTS LAST WORD.

>> THE ART OF LIFE AND DEATH IS AFFIRMATIVE.

>> AFTER 2 YEARS DANCERS WITH THE ALVIN AILEY DANCE THEATER PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF.

>>> 1ST OFF TONIGHT CHICAGO POLICE ARE MORE LIKELY TO STOP AND USE FORCE AGAINST LAX CHICAGOANS ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT FROM THE OFFICER OF INSPECTOR GENERAL.

THE OVERSIGHT AGENCY REVIEWED THE DEPARTMENTS STOP AND USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS BETWEEN 2017 AND 2020 AND FOUND THAT BLACK PEOPLE WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY STOPPED BY CPD REGARDLESS OF THE CRIME LEVEL IN THE AREA.

LACKED PEOPLE WERE SUBJECTED TO FORCE AND CPD WAS MORE LIKELY TO USE HIGHER-LEVEL FORCE OPTIONS AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE THEN AGAINST NON-áUNTRAN4á PEOPLE.

JOINING US NOW ARE ANTHONY DRIVER A MEMBER OF THE ALLIANCE AGAINST RACIST AND POLITICAL REPRESENTATION COMMITTEE AND XAVIER RAMEY CEO OF JUSTICE INFORMED.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

GET INTO THE DATA WITH THE MORE SPECIFICS.

WHEN A POLICE STOP LED TO THE USE OF FORCE MORE THAN 83 PERCENT OF THOSE INCIDENTS INVOLVED A BLACK PERSON.

IN THE NEAR NORTH POLICE DISTRICT WHERE BLACKS MAKE UP MORE THAN 8 PERCENT OF RESIDENTS THEY MADE UP 73 PERCENT OF POLICE STOPS BUT ALSO IN GRESHAM WHERE BLACKS ARE THE MAJORITY AT 86 PERCENT THEY MADE UP 97 PERCENT OF POLICE STOPS.

THE IG REPORT THAT OFFICE SAID THAT THIS REPORT DOES NOT CONCLUDE THAT POLICE OFFICERS MADE THE STOPS OR USED FORCE BECAUSE OF RACIAL OR ETHNIC BIAS BUT ANTHONY DRIVER LET'S COME TO YOU 1ST PLEASE LET'S HEAR YOUR REACTION TO THIS REPORT.

WHAT DO THESE NUMBERS SAY TO YOU?

>> THESE NUMBERS FOR ME SAY WHAT I ALREADY HAVE KNOWN.

I GREW UP ON THE SOUTH SIDE I AM STILL A SOUTHSIDE RESIDENT AND I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY MY WHOLE LIFE.

THESE NUMBERS JUSTIFY WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR ALL OF MY LIFE THERE IS A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF BLACK PEOPLE WHO ARE STOPPED AND HARASSED MANY TIMES.

BASED ON THE OUTCOMES OF THIS CITY.

IT IS GREAT THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS GETTING A VIEW OF THIS BUT AS A BLACK MAN WHO GREW UP ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO THESE ARE NUMBERS THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW.

LET'S AND XAVIER, SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

IS THIS EVIDENCE OF BIAS DESPITE THE IG OFFICE STATEMENT THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE NECESSARILY THAT BIAS WAS USED.

>> XAVIER, THERE YOU ARE.

>> SORRY ABOUT THAT I DON'T THINK THERE IS A PURPOSE OF 1 OF THESE REPORTS JUST TO DRAW A CAUSAL LINK.

I THINK IT'S TO SHOW EVIDENCE OF THE PATTERN AND PRACTICE IN AN EMPIRICAL IN SAN I THINK THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE.

THE PATTERN AND PRACTICE THAT ANTHONY BROUGHT UP EARLIER AND THAT I HAVE LIVED THROUGH AS A CHICAGOAN MY ENTIRE LIFE IS APPROVED POSITIVE THAT NUMBER 1, THE FINDINGS IN THE REPORT SHOULD NOT BE NEWS TO ANYONE AND SECONDLY AS IT PERTAINS TO RACIAL DISPARITIES IN POLICING IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE MORE SERIOUSLY AND WE SHOULD LOOK THROUGH THE LENS OF THE VARIOUS STATUTES SUCH AS THE CONSENT DECREE AND OVERSIGHT BOARD THAT WE HAVE HERE IN CHICAGO AS WELL AS THESE FINDINGS FROM OTHER REPORTS ON THE CHICAGO POLICE AS IT RELATES TO RACIAL DISPARITIES, STOCKS AND USE OF FORCE.

IN TERMS OF INCARCERATION, ARREST ETC.

THIS IS MORE FUEL TO THE FIRE THIS IS WE NEED REFORM NOW.

>> IN THIS ANALYSIS CPD DID SEND AN INSPECTION TO THE ATTORNEY PHILLY OFFICE.

IT WAS 2017 TO 2020 THAT THE DATA WAS USED FOR THIS REPORT.

SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN REITERATED THAT POINT AT A NEWS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY AND HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> WHAT IT DID OUTLINE THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS NUMBER 1 WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK AS IT RELATES TO THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE IN THE DISTANT DECREE SINCE FEBRUARY 2020.

WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS BY WAY OF POLICY IMPROVEMENTS, TRAINING AT THAT POINT EDWARD 2020 WAS 0 4 OFFICERS.

MANDATORY TRAINING SINCE THEN EVERY OFFICER IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE 40 HOURS OF TRAINING ANNUALLY IN ADDITION AT THAT POINT DURING THIS ANALYSIS 17 TO 2020 WE HAD NOT COME INTO COMPLIANCE AS IT RELATES TO OUR USE OF FORCE POLICIES.

TODAY WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSENT DECREE AS FAR AS OUR USE OF FORCE POLICIES.

TEXT TO BE CLEAR THE CONSENT DECREE IS A FEDERAL COURT ORDER REQUIRING THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REFORM TRAINING POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN A NUMBER OF AREAS INCLUDING USE OF FORCE.

XAVIER COME BACK TO YOU.

DOES SUPERINTENDENT BROWN HAVE A POINT DO YOU BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE CPT SINCE THE REPORT IN 2020?

A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN.

>> THE QUESTION DIRECTLY IS DO I BELIEVE THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES.

I DO.

DO I BELIEVE THOSE CHANGES AREN'T SUFFICIENT?

ABSOLUTELY.

SUPER SUPERINTENDENT BROWN NOTED THERE WASN'T ANY TRAINING BEFORE 2020 NOW THERE'S 40 HOURS OF TRAINING.

WE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR CENTURIES SPECIFICALLY IN TERMS OF MY LIFE FOR DECADES.

THREAT THIS HISTORY OF CHICAGO POLICE WE'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM THE SUPERINTENDENTS WERE DOING MORE THEY ARE DOING BETTER WE ARE INCREASING REFORMS WE HEARD THAT AS FAR BACK AS JODI WEISS AND HIM SUPERINTENDENTS FOR YEARS.

THIS IS NOT OVER GOING AFTER.

IT'S A REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE IN THE WAY WE LOOK AT THE ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT CHANGING POLICIES.

ELSIE'S ARE IMPORTANT TO CHANGE BUT WERE TALKING ABOUT IS THE STRATEGY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

STRATEGY CHANGE IS TRULY REVOLUTIONARY AND THAT MEANS WE MOVE AWAY FROM POLICING AS A PRIMARY SOURCE OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT MEANS WE INVEST IN MORE DEEPLY IN COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS RATHER THAN THE DEPUTIZATION OF PEOPLE USING GUNS AND BATONS AND HOPEFULLY CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT KEEPS PEOPLE SAFE AND WE SEE IT YEAR AFTER YEAR.

WE NEED THIS FOR BLACK AND BROWN CHICAGOANS.

IT'S DESPERATELY TRUE.

IT IS A PINPOINT IN CREATING TRUST IN THE CITY ITSELF BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY'S AND CITY LEADERSHIP.

>> ANTHONY DRIVER, WHAT ABOUT YOU: HOW DO YOU THINK CHICAGO IS DOING IN FORMING POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY?

>> FOR ME WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS ACCOUNTABILITY.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT BEING HELD TO MORE THAN ORDINARY STANDARDS THAN NORMAL HUMAN BEINGS.

WHAT THIS DID WAS ALLOW US TO PUT IT INTO NUMBERS AND SEE DATA POINTS.

WHAT SUPERINTENDENT BROWN DID WAS RESPOND WITH WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A PRESS RELEASE STATEMENT.

I WOULD LIKE HIM TO HOLD HIMSELF TO A HIGHER STANDARD AND RELEASE CURRENT NUMBERS.

HE SAID THERE'S BEEN PROGRESS I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE HIM TO SHOW US THE PROGRESS TO THE DATA AND SINCE THE RETURNING 20 WHEN THERE WAS 70 PERCENT OF CONSENT DECREE DEADLINES MISSED THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT UPDATED FOR THE YEAR 2021 AND 2022.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT IF IT IS TRUE THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

THERE'S A LOT MORE TO DO BUT THERE'S NO OTHER PROFESSION IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE YOU CAN MISS A DEADLINE 70 PERCENT OF THE TIME AND STILL KEEP YOUR JOB.

>> ANTHONY, THE CREATION OF A CIVILIAN POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD WE KNOW IT'S IN THE WORKS OF THE COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND OF COURSE THIS GROUP IS INTENDED TO GIVE CIVILIANS OVERSIGHT ON POLICING AND IN PARTICULARLY POLICE MISCONDUCT.

DO YOU THINK THIS WILL LEAD TO THE CHANGE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE?

>> I THINK IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IN THE CITY OF ILLINOIS SPECIFICALLY WE ASK FOR COMMUNITY CONTROL OF THE POLICE.

THE OVERSIGHT BOARD IS NOT CONTROLLING THE POLICE BUT IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION PEERED WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A DIRECTLY ELECTED BOARD ROOM CITIZENS OF CHICAGO THAT OVERSEE THIS SIMILAR TO HOW THE SCHOOL BOARD IS.

I DO THINK IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I THINK IT GIVES RESIDENTS A VOICE AND IT DECENTRALIZES POWER.

IN CHICAGO IT'S USUALLY A STRONG MAN OR STRONG WOMAN AS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THEY ARE ALL POWERFUL ENOUGH NOT THE WAY THAT DEMOCRACY SHOULD FUNCTION.

WE NEED TO PUT POWER BACK IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE.

THIS IS A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS BOARD GETTING UP AND RUNNING.

>> A LOT OF WORK LIES AHEAD FOR THAT BOARD, FOR SURE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING BOTH OF YOU BACK AS IT PROGRESSES.

THAT'S WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

I THINK XAVIER RAMEY AND ANTHONY DRIVER FOR JOINING US.

YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE FULL WATCHDOG REPORT ON THE CBD USE OF FORCE ON WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS.

>>> CONFIRMATION HEARINGS FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON TO THE SUPREME COURT ARE SET TO BEGIN MARCH 21ST.

ILLINOIS SENATOR DICK DURBIN WILL LEAD THE OVERSEEING OF THE NOMINATION PROCESS.>> I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS IT IS AN AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY AND POSSIBLY THE GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SENATE DUE TO JERRY COMMITTEE TO ADVISE AND CONSENT TO A PRESIDENT'S NOMINEE FOR A LIFETIME OF APPOINTMENT TO THE HIGH SCORE ON THE LANDS.

I WANT THIS TO BE FAIR, TIMELY AND PROFESSIONAL.

>> JACKSON SPENT THE WEEK MEETING WITH TOP SENATORS INCLUDING SENATOR DURBIN.

SENATOR SHERBORN SAYS HE'S HOPING FOR A BIPARTISAN VOTE THOUGH DEMOCRATS DON'T NEED REPUBLICAN SUPPORT TO CONFIRM JACKSON THEY CAN DO SO WITH THEIR 50 VOTES AND VICE PRESIDENT KEMAL HAIRSPRAY HEMATITE.HE SAID THAT HE KNOWS OF AT LEAST ONE REPUBLICAN VOTING IN FAVOR FOR JACKSON AND HE'S REACHING OUT TO OTHERS.

IF CONFIRMED JACKSON WOULD BE THE 1ST BLACK WOMAN TO SERVE ON THE NATION'S HIGHEST COURT.

THE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS ARE EXPECTED TO LAST FOR DAYS.

>> UP NEXT LOOK AT THE STATUS OF REPARATIONS IN CHICAGO.

STAY WITH US.

>> IT'S BEEN NEARLY 2 YEARS SINCE CHICAGO OFFICIALS SET A PLAN IN MOTION TO STUDY WHETHER AND HOW THE CITY SHOULD PAY REPARATIONS TO THE DESCENDENTS OF ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICANS.

A SUBCOMMITTEE WAS CRATED IN JUNE OF 2020 BUT SINCE THEN LITTLE HAS HAPPENED.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON DUG INTO THIS AND HEATHER, WHY HASN'T THIS EFFORT TO MAKE REPARATIONS TAKEN OFF?

>> THE SUB COMMITTEE THAT YOU MENTIONED MET ONLY ONCE NEARLY A YEAR AGO AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT SUBCOMMITTEE ALDERMAN STEPHANIE COLEMAN SAID SHE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET A 2ND MEETING SCHEDULED IN PART BECAUSE THE PUSH DOES NOT ENJOY THE FULL THROAT OF SUPPORT OF MAYOR LIGHTFOOT WHO BLOCKED OLDER PEOPLE FROM CREATING A FULL COMMISSION TO STUDY THE ISSUE OF REPARATION AND FORCED THEM INSTEAD TO SETTLE FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE NEVER REALLY GOT OFF THE GROUND AND NOW HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED.

>> WE SPOKE WITH 6 TOWARD ALDERMAN'S WARRIOR WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING THE SUBCOMMITTEE.

HERE IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS DELAY.

>> THE ISSUE AS IT RELATES TO THE CITY IS THAT THERE SEEMS NOT TO BE A REAL INTEREST IN WHAT WE COMMONLY REFER TO AS REPARATIONS.

THERE'S INTEREST IN THINGS LIKE A GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT AND THERE ARE OTHERS BUT ABOUT 2 REPARATIONS WERE COMING TO A BIT OF A HEAD.

I AM SATISFIED WITH THE GROUP THAT BROUGHT ME IN.

THE REPARATIONS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN FORMED AND IT IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT.

WE ARE STILL FIGHTING AND I WANT TO THANK MY CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE STEPHANIE COLEMAN WHO'S BEEN WORKING EXTREMELY HARD TRYING TO GET THE MEETING SCHEDULED.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE COME UP WITH ROADBLOCKS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

WE MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE OUR MEETINGS OUT ON THE ROAD AND TAKE THEM TO LOOK SPACES FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE.

>> AND, SAWYER THERE SAYING BE ADMINISTERED AND IS NOT MAKING REPARATIONS A PRIORITY.

WHAT DOES MAYOR LIGHTFOOT'S OFFICE HAVE TO SAY?

>> WHEN I ASKED THEM WHY THE PUSH HAD BEEN STALLED FOR SO LONG THE MAYOR SPECIFICALLY DID NOT ACT STUDYING REPARATIONS.

INSTEAD SHE SAID THAT SHE HAS CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED WHAT SHE CALLED A " REPARATIVE AGENDA " AND SHE SAID THAT AGENDA IS THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF BLACK AND CHICAGOANS.

NOW DOES THE CITY OA DEBT TO THE DESCENDENTS OF ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICANS?

IF YOU SAW OUR FIRSTHAND DOCUMENTARY ON SEGREGATION YOU WOULD KNOW THAT THE LEGAL APPARATUS THAT HAS REDUCED INVESTMENTS ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE WAS FIRMLY ENTRENCHED IN CHICAGO EITHER GOVERNMENT AND THAT IS WHAT ALDERMAN SAWYER AND ALDERMAN COLEMAN WANT THE CITY TO ADDRESS IN THE CITY SO FAR HAS NOT.

>> RIGHT.

THAT SOMETHING HEATHER THAT YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF REPORTING ON AND PEOPLE CAN VIEW THAT ON A WEBSITE.

SAWYER SAID HE BELIEVES THE LIGHTFOOT DEMONSTRATION IS MORE FOCUSED WITH QUOTABLE TREATMENT AND PROGRAMS LIKE GUARANTEED INCOME AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVESTMENT BUT HE SAID THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN REPARATIONS.

HERE HE IS AGAIN.

>> IS NOT INTENDED FOR THE DESCENDENTS OF ENSLAVED AFRICANS.

I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING IS TOTALLY WRONG WITH THE PILOT PROGRAM I'M SURE IT COULD BENEFIT SOME PEOPLE AND IT MAY INADVERTENTLY BENEFIT SOME DESCENDENTS OF ENSLAVED AFRICANS BUT WE WANT TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT WE DO.

WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS FOCUS ON THE ILLS THAT WE HAVE BEEN FACING ALL OF THESE YEARS AND THE REPAIR FOR THE DESCENDENTS OF ENSLAVED AFRICANS.

>> SPEAKING OF THE CITY'S BASIC INCOME PILOT PROGRAM WE HAVE COVERED IT ON THE SHOW A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND YOU COVERED IT AS WELL HEATHER.

WHERE DOES THAT INITIATIVE STAND?

HAVE THERE BEEN DEVELOPMENTS?

>> THE CITY WILL START ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FROM CHICAGOANS WHO WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT PROGRAM IN APRIL AND THEY WILL HAVE TO MEET A CERTAIN SET OF CRITERIA INCLUDING A MAXIMUM INCOME LEVEL AND WHETHER THEY SUFFERED ECONOMIC HARM BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO LAUNCH IN APRIL AND THE CITY ONLY HAS $31.5 MILLION TO SPEND ON THIS PROGRAM AND THAT WILL HELP ABOUT 5000 FAMILIES BUT THEY EXPECT THAT DEMAND TO BE MUCH GREATER.

FAMILIES WILL BE SELECTED THROUGH A LOTTERY TO PARTICIPATE IN IT.

ALSO THIS WEEK COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED THAT THE COUNTY WILL RUN A SIMILAR TEST PROGRAM WITH $41.5 MILLION AND THE COUNTY PROGRAM BEING THE BIGGEST TEST OF BASIC INCOME IN THE UNITED STATES TO DATE.

>> ALL RIGHT, SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON GOING FORWARD.

HEATHER SHARON, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU CAN REACH HEATHER'S FULL STORY ON A WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS.

>>> A POPULAR DANCE COMPANY CONTOUR AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS.

>> IT WAS AT THE CITY'S AUDITORIUM THEATER WHERE DANCERS WITH THE ALVIN AILEY DANCE THEATER WOULD UNKNOWINGLY PERFORM FOR THE LAST TIME BEFORE A NEARLY 2 YEAR HIATUS.

FAST FORWARD TO TODAY AND THEY ARE BACK ON THEIR 1ST NATIONAL TOUR.

OUR CORRESPONDENT ANGEL IDOWU SHOWS HOW THEY RETURN TO THE STAGE.

>> DANCERS OF THE ALVIN AILEY THEATER SAY THEY ARE EXCITED TO BE BACK ON STAGE.

>> NOW AFTER THE EMERGENCE WE COME BACK EVEN MORE RESILIENT AND DEFIANT AND MORE MISSION DRIVEN, RIGHT, TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT ALVIN AILEY SAID HE WAS TRYING TO DO IN THE 1ST PLACE.

WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS HOLD THE MIRROR FOR SOCIETY SO PEOPLE CAN SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL THEY ARE.>> THE TOUR COMMEMORATES THE 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ROBERT BATTLE FEATURING NEARLY EVERY WORK HE HAS CHOREOGRAPHED SINCE JOINING THE COMPANY.

>> I HAVE A SOLO TO THE MUSIC OF NINA SIMONE, A DANCE LOVE STORY IN THE MUSIC OF STEVIE WONDER.

AND, A WORK CALLED ELLA TO THE MUSIC OF ELLA FITZGERALD WHICH RUNS WITH THE SINGING OF LAND TEEN PRICE.

AND SO, IT IS REALLY VARIED.

IT SHOWS THE VERY NATURE OF THE COMPANY.

>> CHICAGO NATIVE AND DANCER SOMOMON DUMAS AGREES.

HE SAID THE WORK IS REFLECTIVE OF ALVIN AILEY'S GOAL TO MAKE A COMPANY THAT CELEBRATES THE FULL AFRICAN DIASPORA.

WTTW.com/NEWS FOR SAID HE IS EXCITED TO SHARE THOSE STORIES ON STAGE AGAIN.

>> HIS WORK SPEAKS TO A DIVERSITY IN BLACK VOICES.

I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT, WHAT SETS US APART AND THAT IS WHAT MAINTAINS THE COMPANY AND KEEPS THE COMPANY MOVING.

AND, IN THESE HARD TIMES.

THE JOY COMES IN THE WORK, BEING BACK ON STAGE IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN.

I CAN'T EVEN ARTICULATE.

>> FROM CLASSICAL, MODERN TO CONTEMPORARY TO AFRICAN TO HIP-HOP EVEN JAZZ.

THAT'LL SAID HE HOPES THE AUDIENCE WILL FEEL THE "FULL GAMUT OF THE COMPANY'S RANGE.

>> YOU FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU LEAVE THE COMPANY YOU HAD AN EXPERIENCE OF ALL THE SENSES NOT JUST VISUALLY.

THE MUSIC, THE DRAMA, THE HISTORY AND THE CULTURE.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH, THE SHOULDERS IN WHICH WE STAND IN ORDER TO GET ON STAGE AND TELL OUR STORY.

IT IS MISSION DRIVEN.

>> THAT MISSION FLEXED MANY HOURS OF HER SOUL WITH VERY LITTLE DOWNTIME BUT WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THAT HE CHOOSES THAT OVER VIRTUAL REHEARSALS ANY DAY.

>> THE BEAUTY OF BEING A PERFORMING ARTIST PERFORMING HIS WORK AND BEING ABLE TO BE A PART OF THAT CONNECTION OF GIVING BACK, RINGING DANCE BACK TO THE PEOPLE IS SOMETHING THAT IS SO DIFFICULT TO ARTICULATE BUT IT IS THE THERAPY THAT I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD.

>> WEATHERBY WHO ARE WORKS CHOREOGRAPHED BY BATTLE OR TRY AND ALVIN AILEY ORIGINAL GROUP IS CONFIDENT THAT THEY RETURNED TO THE STAGE WILL BE WELL RECEIVED.

>> DANCE COMES FROM THE PEOPLE AND SHOULD BE DELIVERED BACK TO PEOPLE AND I THINK THAT'S WHY PEOPLE RELATE TO THIS COMPANY 60 YEARS LATER.

>> 4 CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, IM ANGEL IDOWU.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE ALVIN AILEY DANCE THEATER AT THE AUDITORIUM THEATER NEXT SUNDAY.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT ALVIN AILEY HIMSELF SURE TO CHECK OUT THE CBS AMERICAN MASTERS SERIES ENTITLED ALVIN AILEY.

>>> THE TREES INDUSTRY IS DOMINATED BY MEN.

WOMEN MAKE UP LESS THAN 3 PERCENT OF THE WORKFORCE IN ILLINOIS ACCORDING TO CHICAGO WOMEN IN TRADES A NONPROFIT THAT HELPS WOMEN INTO THE FIELD.

IT OFFERS FREE TRAINING PROGRAMS AND ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS US CITY.

THIS MOM AND DAUGHTER PAIR SHOW US THEIR CAREER PATH.

>> MY NAME IS ZARA HILLS AND I AM A LOCAL PLUMBER.

I AM A TRADES WOMAN AND I CAN TAKE CARE MY FAMILY IS A CAREER AND SOMETHING YOU CAN TAKE WITH YOU YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

>> WOMEN CAN GO INTO THE TRADE BUT SOMEDAY WERE GOING TO BE WOMEN.

GOING TO BE MOTHERS OR BECOME MARRIED AND WE HAVE TO INCORPORATES THAT IN OUR LIVES.

>> A LOT OF CHILDREN KNOW THAT ONCE YOU GO TO AND GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL YOU HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE OR PLAY A SPORT.

THE TRADE WAS AN OPTION AND THE ONLY WAY I KNEW IT WAS AN OPTION IS BECAUSE I SAW MY MOTHER GO THROUGH IT.

WOMEN IN WORKGROUP WAS NOT A SET IN GUEST I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL AND I SAW EVERYONE ELSE'S WOMEN'S WOMEN'S MOMS LIKE YOUR MOM WEARS A SKIRT TO WORK?

MY MOM IS IN WORK BOOTS.

OKAY.

>> WHEN I 1ST ENTERED IT IT WAS A LOT OF SEXISM BUT AS TIME GOES ON WITH THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF MEN THAT ARE COMING UP THEY ARE MORE ACCEPTABLE TO WOMEN WORKING IN THE TRADES.

THEY DON'T CARE.

>> I KNOW THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF SISTERS THAT TOOK THE BRUNT OF THE WORK SO THAT MY WORK EXPERIENCE ISN'T AS BRUTAL AS THEY HAD TO TAKE IT.

I AM STANDING ON SOME TALL, TALL SHOULDERS.

AS A MOTHER, WE REHABBED A FEW BUILDINGS AND SO, IF YOU WERE OLD ENOUGH TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS YOU WERE WORKING.

SHE SET THE BAR HIGH.

SHE HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF US AND WE HAD TO MEET THE BAR.

SHE WANTED ME TO GO TO COLLEGE AND I WENT TO COLLEGE AND I WASN'T VERY SUCCESSFUL IN COLLEGE.

ONE DAY AND I SAY THE STORY TO ANYBODY.

ONE DAY WE WERE CLEANING OUT THE BASEMENT AND I CAME ACROSS HER OLD WELDING GEAR FROM CHICAGO WOMEN IN TRADE AND I THOUGHT WHY DON'T I JUST GO THERE AND SHE WAS LIKE I DON'T KNOW?

LET ME CALL JANE!

THE REST WAS HISTORY.

I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT SHE GEARED ME TOWARDS WORKING WITH MY HANDS BECAUSE IT HAS ALLOWED ME TO TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY.

>> A JOB IS SOMETHING ANYBODY CAN DO IN A TRADE IS SOMETHING YOU BUILD WORK ON.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT THE BUILDING TRADE AS A PAYCHECK AND MOST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AS A PAYCHECK YOU ARE NOT VERY SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT HAPPY IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

I LEGITIMATELY LOVE WHAT I DO THE PAY IS A BONUS.

I LOVE THE FACT THAT IS THE ONLY UTILITY YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT.

YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT KNOWING HOW TO DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY.

PLUMBERS HELP THE HEALTH OF THE NATION.

IT IS A SENSE OF PRIDE BECAUSE WERE THE ONLY LICENSED TRADE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLUMBING LICENSE TO TO BE A PLUMBER EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL.

IT GIVES ME A SENSE OF PRIDE KNOWING THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE ME ESPECIALLY FEMALE AND THEN LACKS FEMALE.

>> ZARA HILLS SAID THAT SHE WANTS TO START A SCHOOL FOR YOUNG CHILDREN SO THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY AT A YOUNG AGE.

JOIN US FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO ANOTHER WOMAN IN THE TRADE INDUSTRY, IRONWORKER ORTIZ.

AND THAT'S IT TONIGHT FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

VISIT US ON WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST ON WTTW NEWS INCLUDING AN EFFORT TO PRESERVE THE L OLD PRAIRIE.

IF YOU WATCH US ON SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW THAT YOU CAN CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES ON SUNDAY AT 10 PM.

JOIN ME AND PARIS SHUTS AT 7:00.

WE LOOK AT IT HERSELF FROM THE ALVIN AILEY THEATER PRODUCTION.

THEY WILL BE PERFORMING THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

FOR ALL OF US TONIGHT AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES I AM BRANDIS FREEMAN THANKS FOR SHARING RIGHT OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US STAY HEALTHY AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

>> REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING