THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

VOICES.

I'M ENJOYING IT OUT FOR IS ON ASSIGNMENT ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> HERE IN ILLINOIS, BLACK RESIDENTS ARE NEARLY 8 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS THAN WHITE RESIDENTS.

>> THE STATE'S NEW ACTION PLAN ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

AND TASK.

TELLS US WHY WE SHOULD GIVE BACK ISIS K PROMISE IT'S NICER THAN IT SOUNDS.

>> AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, STUDENTS AT JONES COLLEGE PREP HELD A WALKOUT TODAY TO SUPPORT PALESTINIANS AMID THE ONGOING WAR IN GAZA.

NOW, SOME JEWISH PARENTS AND STUDENTS EXPRESSED SAFETY CONCERNS AHEAD OF TODAY'S DEMONSTRATION.

THE WALKOUT COMES AMID DEMONSTRATIONS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING IN CHICAGO.

AND THE FAMILY OF A 10 YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO WAS KILLED IN A CAR CRASH WANTS TO USE A DEPOSITION FROM FORMER MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT AT TRIAL.

THE FAMILY'S ATTORNEY SAYS TO CARA SPICER WAS COLD AND 2020 AFTER A VEHICLE THAT HAD BEEN PURSUED BY CHICAGO POLICE RAN A STOP SIGN AND HIT HER FAMILY'S CAR.

THE SPICE OF FAMILY CLAIMS THE OFFICERS AND PROPERLY ENGAGED IN A VEHICLE PURSUIT.

NOW ATTORNEYS ARE LOOKING TO MAKE LIGHTFOOT'S DEPOSITION PUBLIC A DAY AFTER SPICES LIGHTFOOT SPOKE AT A NEWS CONFERENCE WHERE SHE PUSHED BACK ON THE NOTION THAT THE POLICE PURSUIT CAUSED THE FATAL COLLISION.

>> WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IN THE COURSE OF THE LITIGATION IS THAT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY THE PURSUIT WHICH LED TO THE DEATH IKARIA.

SPICER.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY UTTER LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT FOLLOWED AND WORKS.

>> CITY ATTORNEYS HAVE FILED A MOTION SEEKING TO PREVENT THE FORMER MAYOR SUPPOSITION FROM BEING USED AND THE FAMILY'S WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT.

THERE'S MORE ON THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND RIDESHARE WORKERS ARE TAKING TO THE STREETS TODAY PROTESTING DRIVER D ACTIVATIONS.

THE JUSTICE FOR APP WORKERS.

COALITION SAYS DRIVERS ARE BEING UNFAIRLY TERMINATED AND NOT GIVEN A CHANCE TO SHARE THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY.

>> WAS THAT SPEEDING WAS I MEAN, YOU WAS BE A GREAT WHAT ALL THE WAY.

WE KNOW CAN HE I YOUR OR WHAT DID I DO?

CAN I TO?

>> NOW THE WORKERS ARE CALLING ON MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PASS AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING DRIVERS WITH MORE GROUP.

ALSO RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE PHYSICAL SAFETY OF THE DRIVERS.

TODAY'S RALLY WAS PART OF A WORKER DEMONSTRATIONS ACROSS THE CITY FROM A DAY.

AND ALSO TODAY, LABOR ORGANIZERS ARE CALLING ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO EXTEND WORK PERMITS FOR LONG TERM UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN ILLINOIS.

NOW ADVOCATES SAB LISH IN WORK PERMITS FOR LONG TERM UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WOULD HELP ADDRESS THE STATE'S LABOR SHORTAGE.

THEY SAY WORK PERMITS WOULD ALSO PROTECT WORKERS FROM EMPLOYERS WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

AND LAUREN, CHICAGO'S DEFAULT SPEED LIMIT WHAT SAVE LIVES, ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK AND LATINO RESIDENTS WHO ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN A FATAL CRASH.

THAT WAS THE MESSAGE AT A CITY COUNCIL HEARING EARLIER TODAY WHERE ADVOCATES AND OFFICIALS DISCUSSED REDUCING THE CITY SPEED LIMIT FROM 30 MILES PER HOUR TO 25 MILES.

ADVOCATES SAY STUDIES SHOW LOWER SPEED LIMITS MAKE IT FAR MORE LIKELY FOR DRIVERS, PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS TO SURVIVE A CRASH.

TRAFFIC DEATHS HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE IN CHICAGO AND NATIONWIDE OVER THE LAST DECADE.

THERE ISN'T YET ORDINANCE FOR ALL THEIR PEOPLE TO CONSIDER.

BUT THE CHAIR OF TODAY'S MEETING ALDERMAN DANIEL, CALLED LAUREN SPEED LIMITS A, QUOTE, MORAL OBLIGATION.

AND UP NEXT, HOMELESSNESS AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND HOW THE STATE PLANS TO ADDRESS IT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> ILLINOIS OFFICIALS ARE ANNOUNCING A NEW ACTION PLAN AIMED AT FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS AND THE RACIAL DISPARITIES THAT CAUSE IT.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AFTER A NEW STUDY BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO SHOWING BLACK AMERICANS ARE 4 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS THAN WHITE AMERICANS.

BUT ILLINOIS, THE SITUATION IS EVEN WORSE WITH 8 WITH BLACK RESIDENTS.

8 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BECOME HOMELESS AND IN CHICAGO, WHILE AFRICAN-AMERICANS MAKE UP A 3RD OF THE POPULATION, THEY ACCOUNT FOR ALMOST 3 QUARTERS OF THOSE WHO ARE UNHOUSED.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE OUR ARI, I SHOULD LEHMAN, A DOCTORAL STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO AND ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THE STUDY, SHERRY ALLEN REEVES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION WHICH PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE HOMELESS GIANNA BAKER CALL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE CHICAGO AREA.

FAIR HOUSING ALLIANCE AND JOINING US VIA ZOOM FROM SPRINGFIELD, CHRISTINE HALEY, CHIEF HOMELESSNESS OFFICER FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING SO, CHRISTINE, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

YOU WERE DESCRIBED AS BEING THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE STUDY.

TELL ME WHAT PROMPTED IT AND WHAT WERE SOME OF THE KEY FACTORS THAT YOU WANT FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND?

>> IF YOU GO INTO A SHELTER WITHIN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THAT.

AND THE 3.75% OF THOSE IN OUR TRADITIONAL SINGLE ADULT SHELTERS ARE BLACK.

BUT IF YOU GO TO FAMILY SHELTERS, PARENTS WITH THEIR CHILDREN, ABOUT 90%.

THE RESIDENTS IN CHICAGO SHELTERS TRADITIONAL SHELTERS ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT CHARITY AND WHY IT WAS SO IF YOU PULL BACK TO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, WE SEE THAT THAT LACK MILLIONS ARE ABOUT 14% OF THE POPULATION.

30% OF THOSE WHO EXPERIENCED POVERTY.

YES, 61% OF THOSE ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

THE DOMINANT DRIVERS THAT THE DOMINANT NARRATIVE WE HEAR ABOUT WHAT CAUSES ALMOST THAT DECISION MAKING OR MENTAL ILLNESS OR SUBSTANCE USE.

BUT IF WE THINK ABOUT THE RACIAL DISPARITIES THAT EXIST.

THAT DOESN'T LINE UP.

THAT DOESN'T RING.

ALSO IN THEIR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT.

THE ROOT CAUSES I'VE EQUITY WITHIN HOUSING.

HE THAT REDLINING.

LACK GENERATIONAL WEALTH.

PER SE ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AREN'T PART OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS, EITHER.

SEPTEMBER OF 2021.

GOVERNOR PRITZKER SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO FIGHT HOMELESSNESS WHICH CREATED THE OFFICE TO PREVENT AND WHO AND ONE OF THE FIRST ACTIONS THAT WE TOOK WITHIN THE OFFICE, TO CREATE THE RACIAL EQUITY ROUND TABLE ON BLACK HOMELESSNESS SO THAT WE BE ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER BLACK LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

WHO FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAYOR OF PEORIA, MIR ALI, ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH LIVE EXPERTISE OF HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING INSECURITY.

THE FORMER AROUND PEOPLE THAT COULD ANSWER SOME OF QUESTIONS TOO, WHAT IS WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL STOMACH DRIVERS THAT CAUSED WITH AND THE AND THE SECOND HIGHEST, THE CHARITY IN THE COUNTRY.

>> SHERRY, I WANT TO JUMP TO US SOMEONE THAT IN FIELD.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT MAYBE SOME OF THAT RECURS OR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MIGHT LEAD TO SOMEONE BECOMING HOMELESS FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> SO, I WOULD SAY THE NUMBER ONE DRIVERS PARTY.

ALL RIGHT, LACK AND LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I THINK THAT THOSE 2 THINGS, ONE HAND IN HAND.

AND I ALSO THINK IT'S DYSFUNCTIONAL BY DESIGN RIGHT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED WITHIN THE CITY OF CHICAGO WITH THE DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE PUBLIC WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT AND THE IMPACT OF THOSE THOUSANDS THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WHO GET DISPLACED FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES, THOSE PEOPLE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE PLACE AND SOME OF THEM WHO COULD MATTER OF FORD, WHO WHO GET PUBLIC HOUSING SECTION 8 VOUCHERS COULDN'T TAKE CERTAIN FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THEM BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT NOW THEY REACH CHECKING AND MAKING SURE SOMEBODY WHO HAD A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CAN COME INTO THE SO THAT MEANT MORE AND MORE FAMILIES WERE AND THEY LOST THEIR SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

SO WE KNEW.

SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY OUR CHRISTINE COUNTER POINTED OUT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE OFTEN THINK BECAUSE OF SUBSTANCE USE MENTAL HEALTH.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST THAT JUST THE SYMPTOM THAT HAPPENS AFTER SOMEBODY THIS PLACE AFTER PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST A SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS.

WHAT I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE ASKING WHAT HAPPENED.

I WHAT WAS THE TRAUMA THAT HAPPENED TO CAUSE THIS TO HAVE YOU BECOME HOMELESS?

BECAUSE IT'S MORE NOBODY SETS OUT ON A LIFELONG AMBITION TO BECOME HOMES.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE, OH, I WANT TO DO THAT.

KNOW SOMETHING HAPPENED.

SOMETHING TRIGGERED THAT AND WE NEED TO GET BACK TO WHAT WHAT WAS THE THING THAT HAPPENED?

ACOSTA.

>> AND I I WANT TO JUMP TO BECAUSE YOU ARE ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THE OF THE STUDY AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME KIND OF TALKING WITH PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES.

WHY DO WE SEE SUCH A PROFOUND RACIAL WITHIN THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY AND CHICAGO AND ILLINOIS?

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE SOME OF THOSE KEY DRIVERS?

YES.

SO AFTER LOOKING AT QUANTITATIVE DATA AND QUALITATIVE DATA SPEAKING WITH FOLKS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS, THE MAIN FACTORS WHERE STRUCTURAL LIKE CHRISTINE HALEY BROUGHT UP.

SO THAT BEING AFFORDABLE HOUSING EVICTIONS AND EVICTION INCARCERATION IN PARTICULAR PROGRAMMING AFTER IS RELEASED FROM PRISONS OR JAILS >> ALSO >> THE FOSTER SYSTEM AND HAVING PROGRAMS AFTERWARDS TO SUPPORT FOLKS, HEALTH CARE AS WELL AS A HUGE DRIVERS.

IF YOU LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO HOSPITALS ARE HEALTHY FOODS, BUT THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU'RE FAR MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE HEALTH CONCERNS, WHICH WILL AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO BE EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYMENT WAS THE LAST ONE ACCESS TO UNEMPLOYMENT IS SIGNIFICANTLY HARDER FOR BLACK FOLKS ACCESS THAN WHITE FOLKS.

AND JOHN, I WANT TO JUMP TO THIS.

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO TOUCH ON ANOTHER ISSUE, WHICH IS PROBABLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, RIGHT?

WHAT ROLE?

BUT YOU SAY THAT THAT RACIAL DISPARITIES SIGNIFICANT.

SO WHEN WE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, WE KNOW THAT A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN WHAT I WOULD SAY ABOUT THAT AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE HOUSING.

>> AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT AND WHAT THAT MEANS BECAUSE WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE REPORT, IT FOCUSES ON FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING RENT RENT BURDEN.

>> AND THE EASIEST WAY TO LOOK AT THAT IS THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE PAYING MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR HOUSING OR HOUSEHOLD BUDGET HOUSING.

AND SO WHAT THAT REALLY LOOKS LIKE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IS THAT WHAT YOU THAT PAY YOUR RENT?

YOU ARE IN THE PREDICAMENT OF DECIDING.

AM I GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY PAY FOR GROCERIES FOR CHILD CARE FOR WHAT I MEAN, ME FOR MY HEALTH.

AND SO EVEN JUST ANY EMERGENCY COULD END UP LEADING TO YOU BECOMING I WOULD ALSO SAY I'M NOT ONLY FROM THE LANDS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS GOING BACK TO SOME OF THE HISTORY THAT SHERRY, AS WELL AS CHRISTINE TALKED ABOUT WITH THINKING ABOUT JUST THE CONTEXT, SPECIFIC LEA BLACK HOMELESSNESS.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT HISTORIC LEGACY OF DISCRIMINATORY HOUSING POLICIES AND PROGRAMS, WHETHER WE'RE GOING BACK TO RELY OR IF WE EVEN TALK ABOUT A MORE POLICIES THAT WE'VE HAD WITH PUBLIC HOUSING.

AND AND IT'S NOT ONLY THAT IT'S DISPLACING BLACK HOUSEHOLDS, BUT IN EVEN TALKING THE REPORT TALKS ABOUT EVICTIONS AND IT TALKS ABOUT CARS INCARCERATION.

AND THOSE ARE SIMILAR AND THERE WAS AN THAT I KNOW OF WHO WAS RENTERS.

AND SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW THE EXPERIENCES OF THE BLACK FAMILY SAYS SHE WAS WORKING WITH WAS VERY AND SO WAS SHE WAS SAYING THEY WERE NOT EXPERIENCING LANDLORDS, OBVIOUSLY NOT SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO READ TO YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE BUT WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS LOOK EVICTION FILINGS, WHICH AN EVICTION FILING IS JUST A COURT RECORD.

DOESN'T SAY WHETHER OR THERE WAS ACTUALLY NEGATIVE JUDGMENT AND AN ADDICTION WRECKER FOLLOWS YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO FEW OPPORTUNITIES ACTUALLY GET A SEALED OR IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ARREST OR CONVICTION RECORD.

AND WE KNOW THAT MANY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE RETURNING HOME, THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE MOTHERS AND AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY'RE SCREENED OUT BEFORE THEY EVEN GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET ACCESS TO HOUSING.

SO YOU GET SCREENED OUT BECAUSE OF THE EVICTION FILING.

YOU GET SCREENED OUT BECAUSE OF THEIR ARREST OR CONVICTION.

RECORD IN COOK COUNTY.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET A LAW PASSED THAT ENSURES THAT PEOPLE HAVE A FAIR CHANCE TO ACCESS HOUSING IF THEY HAVE AN ARREST OR CONVICTION PROTECTIONS IN URBANA CHAMPAIGN TO FOR WITH THE REST OF CONVICTION RECORDS WE HAVE AT THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, SOME JUST ON ARREST, BUT IT DOES NOT COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESS THE KINDS OF CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

I WAS GOING TO ASK BECAUSE YOU JUST MENTIONED LET FUNDING LOOKS RIGHT.

SO WE KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR RECENTLY ANNOUNCED AN ACTION PLAN AND AN EXTRA 50 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE 2025 BUDGET.

>> CHRISTINE, I WANT TO JUMP TO YOU BECAUSE I WONDER WHAT WHAT YOU THINK.

I SOME KEY ELEMENTS OF THAT PLAN, RIGHT?

DO YOU HOPE THAT THIS WELL, SEE THIS IMPROVING THE SITUATION.

THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE WERE PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH IN THE ALLOCATION OF THE PROPOSED ALLOCATION OF THE 50 MILLION, THE BULK OF THAT FUNDING WOULD GO FOR A COURT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO SUPPORT FAMILIES WHO ARE IN EVICTION COURT.

SO THAT THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOME.

SO PREVENTING FAMILY BECOMING HOMELESS IN THE FIRST PLACE THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT CORE BASE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AREA THAT WOULD IMPACT THAT IMPACT.

CHARITY WAS ONE THAT FEATURED FROM THE REPORT.

WE'RE ALSO INVESTING OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT IN COMMUNITY FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THREE-BED OF PLATE.

FOOD ASSISTANCE.

CASH ASSISTANCE AND OTHER MEDICAL THAT AND IN TURN TO THAT, PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO >> RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR.

AND THEN IN THE PAST AND AND HOW WE CAN HIGHLIGHT IT IS APPROACHES.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AS THEY'RE EXITING CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AS THEIR YOUNG ADULT WHO MAY BE EXITING FROM BEING WITHIN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM AND HOW WE CAN BEST SUPPORT PEOPLE FOR THAT PREVENTION KEY.

SO THAT FOLKS YOU NOT BECOME HOMELESS GO THROUGH THE TRAUMA BECOMING HOMELESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> AND CHRIS AND I HAD TO CUT YOU THERE.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

MANY THANKS TO OUR GAS AND WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER IT'S TIME TO GIVE EFFECT.

YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT?

THAT'S F E C K FOR FORGIVENESS, EMPATHY, COMPASSION AND KINDNESS.

>> NOW CHAZ EBERT WRITES ABOUT THESE PRINCIPLES AND HER NEW BOOK WHERE SHE MAKES THE CASE FOR HOW TO ELEVATE HUMANITY.

NOW, THE BOOK IS PART AUTOBIOGRAPHY, PART SELF-HELP AND 100%.

WHAT SHE SAYS THE WORLD NEEDS RIGHT NOW.

JOINING US NOW IS OFF THEIR KEIBERT WHOSE LATE HUSBAND IS MOVIE CRITIC ROGER EBERT.

SHE DEDICATES BOOK TO BRETT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU.

FOR INVITING ME.

I'M REALLY GLAD TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO LET'S GET RIGHT INTO IT.

I FOUND MYSELF WHEN I WAS READING THIS TO BE.

>> I'M GETTING VERY EMOTIONAL, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU ARE REFLECTING ON YOUR LATE HUSBAND.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT HE INFLUENCED A LITTLE BIT WHY YOU DECIDED TO WRITE THIS WILL IN THE GIVE EFFECT STANDS FOR I SAY INPUT THE IT ALSO STANDS FOR A BIRD BECAUSE IT WAS HIS TALK ABOUT MOVIES A MACHINE THAT GENERATES.

BUT THAT STARTED US ON THIS WHOLE TRACK ABOUT GIVING AND THEN AFTER PASSED AWAY, I CAME UP WITH THE FEC PRINCIPLES OF THE FORGIVENESS, COMPASSION AND KINDNESS, BUT BECAME SCARCE BUT OUR LIFE'S MISSION WAS TOGETHER WAS TO OUT HOPE.

PUT YOU IN THE SHOES OF ANOTHER HELP YOU TO FIT ITS FIGURE OUT.

BUT IT FELT LIKE TO BE SOMEONE ELSE OTHER THAN SAY INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING.

IT'S IT'S IT'S A MULTI-LAYERED.

QUEST ANSWER THE COSTS.

I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING IT WAS THE PANDEMIC.

STARTED WRITING.

BUT DURING THE PANDEMIC AFTER WE CAME OUT, I SAW HOW ANXIOUS PEOPLE WERE GETTING.

THERE WAS LIKE A 40% UPTICK INNINGS.

PEOPLE WERE FEARFUL.

THEY WERE ISOLATED.

THEY WERE LONELY.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO CONNECT.

AND I WANTED TO HAVE A BOOK.

>> TO HELP US CONNECT AGAIN AND TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

>> ALSO, I HAVE TO SAY IT WAS SEEING WHAT HAPPENED DURING >> POLITICAL SEASONS PEOPLE ARE DIVIDED.

I JUST THINK IT'S TIME FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE MORE COMPASSION FOR EACH OTHER.

AND ONE OF THE OTHER PRINCIPAL CHINA IN YOUR BOOK IS FORGIVENESS AND YOU KIND OF LEAN INTO THAT BASED RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU DEVELOP WITH TO TO AND USE YOU SAY HE INSPIRED A PORTION OF THAT CHAPTER.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ABSOLUTE AND DO IT?

THEY'RE 2 THINGS >> ACTUALLY TOO.

ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU, ARNETT THEM IN SOUTH AFRICA.

WHEN I WAS THERE I THINK PUBLIC FIRST, SOMETHING HAVING TO DO WITH WE GOT ALONG VERY WELL AND NOMINATED HIM TO RECEIVE THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN LEADERSHIP PRIZE AWARD.

SO WHEN IT CAME TO AMERICA, WE'RE GIVING THEM THE LEADERSHIP PRIZE.

BUT WE TOOK HIM TO THE VAULT WHERE ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S LETTERS WERE.

AND AS HE WAS READING THE LETTERS, HE SAID, EXCUSE HAHA.

HE SAID.

HE WAS ACTUALLY TEARING UP AND HE SAID ABRAHAM LINCOLN WENT THROUGH SOME OF THE SAME THINGS THAT NELSON MANDELA AND AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE TRUTH RECONCILIATION COMMISSION.

I LOST FRIENDS WHO DID NOT WANT US TO FORGIVE.

PEOPLE WERE COMMUTED COMMITTED EGREGIOUS ACTS UNDER BUT WE KNEW THEY CONFESSED THERE HAD TO BE A PATHE TO REDEMPTION.

YOU MUST FORGIVE.

YOU MUST FORGIVE TO TAKE THE WEIGHT OF.

THE BURDEN OFF YOUR SHOULDERS LET YOU OPEN YOUR HEART AND LET IN LOVE AND LIGHT AGAIN.

AND SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

THOSE STEPS TOWARD FORGIVENESS CAN LOOK LIKE FOR MAYBE SOMEONE THAT IS KIND OF HAVING THAT INTERNAL BATTLE.

SO FIRST OF ALL, I SAY YOU YOU YOU MUST LIKE SIT DOWN AND I DO A MEDITATION.

I SOMETIMES DO A PRAYER.

ON MY KNEES.

I DO A JOURNAL E AT THE END OF EACH SECTION OF THE BOOK, I HAVE JOURNALS SO THAT YOU CAN WRITE.

BRADY AND THE PERSON WHO YOU EITHER WHAT FORGIVENESS FROM OR WHO YOU FEEL.

YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE, MAKE PROS AND CONS.

BUT WHAT I FEEL LIKE IF I RELEASE THIS.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S A FEELING OF REVENGE.

IS THAT YOU WANT?

HOW WOULD I HOW LIGHT WHAT I FEEL?

WHAT WOULD I DO IF SOMEBODY FORGIVES SO THE PROS AND CONS IT'S A PROCESS, BUT SOMETIMES.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU, FORGIVENESS IS ONE OF THE BIGGIES.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE TO FORGIVE.

FOR YOU TO NEVER GIVE UNTIL THEY REALLY FEEL LIKE IT'S REALLY RELIEVED THAT BURDEN.

WHAT ROLE DO YOU SEE?

MAYBE LIKE JOURNALING OR WRITING DOWN HOW YOU'RE FEELING PLAYING IN THESE KIND OF FEC PRINCIPLES ARE OK?

I TELL YOU, IN THE JOURNAL WING.

>> ESSENTIAL BECAUSE IT ALLOWS YOU 2.

I CALL ALMOST LIKE A VIRTUAL YOU IMAGINE YOU ALMOST OR ROLE PLAY IS THAT PERSON THERE?

BUT WHAT I HEARD, BUT I FEEL IF I SEE THE I SAY HOW LIFE STAY AND HOW LIFE SET THE BIG THING IS ONCE IT'S RESOLVED, HOW WILL I FEEL?

CAN I GO FORWARD WITH MY LIFE?

THAT'S THE THING THAT I THINK REALLY.

AND THEN I WANT PEOPLE TO IMAGINE WHAT EVERYTHING WAS RESOLVED IN FORGIVEN.

HOW WOULD MY LIFE MOVE FORWARD AND I WANT YOU ACT AS ACT AS IF IT'S.

IT'S ALWAYS ALL THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE THING.

MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS TOLD ME YOU ARE.

FIGHTING FORGIVENESS, YOU WRITE A LETTER TO THAT PERSON THAT YOU FEEL LIKE.

RON, DO FEEL THE LATTER MAIL IT OFF, QUOTE, UNQUOTE.

AND THAT IS KIND OF LIKE THAT RELEASING OF HOW YOU FEEL AND HOPEFULLY OF THAT SITUATION, OK?

BUT IF YOU WRITE A LETTER, IF YOU ARE THE REAL MILLET TO YOURSELF, IMPORTANT.

SO I'M NOT A QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS ANOTHER PRINCIPLE THAT YOU FOCUS ON AND THE BOOK IS COMPASSION.

SO YOU KIND OF BREAK THAT INTO 3 ELEMENTS OF >> SOUTH COMMON HUMANITY AND MINDFULNESS.

YEAH.

HOW DO YOU FIND COMPASSION FOR YOURSELF WITH OTHERS?

>> OKAY.

SO SELF-COMPASSION ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TALK ABOUT IS HOW I HAD TO FORGIVE MYSELF AND EVEN HAVE COMPASSION FOR MYSELF.

WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER, I WAS IN COLLEGE LIKE 16 OR 17 YEARS OLD.

AND DISCOVERED I PREGNANT I WAS THE FIRST PERSON OUT OF 9 CHILDREN AND MY FAMILY TO GO TO A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE.

SO I FEEL LIKE I WAS LETTING MY FAMILY I WAS SO AGAINST MYSELF, I BELIEVE RATE AT MYSELF IN.

I HAVE NO COMPASSION FOR MYSELF.

I JUST WHAT AM I DOING?

I WAS ALWAYS THE GOOD GIRL.

I WAS THE ONE THAT MY FAMILY, YOU KNOW, JUST SO MUCH MY FAMILY LOVED ME SO MUCH.

THEY WERE SO CALMING.

THEY SHOWED ME THE COMPASSIONATE COULDN'T SHOW MYSELF AND THAT HELPED ME TO GO.

THEY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT BABY.

AND WE'RE WE'RE FAMILY AND THAT HELPED ME TO.

THAT'S WHY I SO MANY PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE COMPASSION AND THE LOVE THAT WAS SHOWN TO WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER WILL HOPEFULLY FOLKS THAT ARE WATCHING THIS ARE ABLE TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHY SELF-COMPASSION IMPORTANT AND >> IF NOT, MAYBE THEY CAN LOOK TO YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND REALIZE THAT MAYBE KIND BEING SO THEMSELVES NECESSARY WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

THE BOOK IS CALLED.

IT'S TIME TO GIVE EFFECT ELEVATING HUMANITY THROUGH FORGIVENESS, EMPATHY, COMPASSION, AND KINDNESS.

AND IT'S COMING OUT.

MAY 7TH AND YOU CAN CATCH MISS TOMORROW AT ANDERSON'S BOOK SHOPS IN NAPERVILLE AT 07:00PM, WE'LL SHOULD BE SHOULD BE DOING A BOOK SIGNING.

WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 FOR THE LATEST IN OUR SERIES W T TW NEWS.

A SAFER CITY WHERE WE DEVOTE THE ENTIRE PROGRAM TO ISSUES A PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SAFETY.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE IN CHICAGO TONIGHT, BY PLACES I'M ANGEL.

YOU HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A AND A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH AND PROUD SPONSOR, PROGRAM THAT OFFERS ADVICE AND STRATEGIES TO