>>> HEY THERE, THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE IN CHICAGO HOPE TO SEE FROM THEIR NEW MAYOR.

>>> RESOURCES FOR CITIZENS RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION.

>>> AND WHAT'S BEING DONE TO MAKE THE TECH FIELD MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE?

>>> AND MEMORIES OF A SCHOOL FIELD TRIP SHAPE A SUBVERSIVE PLAY.

>> THE HAND MOVEMENT.

AND THE FINGER SPELLING.

IT'S FASCINATING.

>> AND MEET THE MAN BEHIND THE HANDS TEACHING SIGN LANGUAGE AT A SOUTH SIDE LIBRARY.

ALL THAT COMING UP.

BUT OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT, WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE IN CHICAGO HOPE TO SEE FROM MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON.

THAT'S RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK.

AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> WE BELIEVE WHEN DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED, COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER.

LIVES ARE MADE BETTER AND THE FUTURE HOLDS BETTER PROMISE FOR ALL.

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TOGETHER WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>>> THE FUTURE OF CHICAGO IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF BRANDON JOHNSON AS HE GETS SWORN IN AS MAYOR ON MONDAY.

A LOT OF ISSUES WILL BE AWAITING CHICAGO'S 57th MAYOR INCLUDING CHOOSING THE LATEST POLICE SUPERINTENDENT, A GROWING MIGRANT CRISIS AND CRIME AS SUMMER APPROACHES.

WE SPOKE WITH SOME OF CHICAGO'S YOUNGER RESIDENTS ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE FROM THEIR NEXT MAYOR AND THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF THE CITY.

JOINING US ARE 14-YEAR-OLD KAZIAH BURKE, 20-YEAR-OLD CHASE IRVIN, A PREVENTION SPECIALIST, AND, AN AUSTIN RESIDENT AND 17-YEAR-OLD CANTON LONDON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

CHASE, LEST START WITH YOU.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION COMING INTO OFFICE?

>> FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGE.

THAT IS SOMETHING VERY BIG ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO.

AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN CHICAGO.

THAT I GREW UP IN CHICAGO ALL MY LIFE, ALL I HAVE BEEN HEARING IS WE WANT TO SEE CHANGE.

MOST PEOPLE SAY THEY CAN DO CHANGE BUT DON'T WANT TO DO IT.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE CHANGE AND THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU WANT TO HONOR THESE PEOPLE'S WORDS AND CREATE CHANGE.

>> KAZIAH, YOU'RE CAN YOUNGEST PANELIST HERE.

GLAD TO HAVE YOU, SO WHAT ARE YOU HOPING THE JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION WILL ADDRESS?

>> WELL AS I AM A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, I ASKED MY PEERS WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US WHERE WE CAN GO GET WHAT WE NEED.

MORE SAFE THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES CURRENTLY?

>> I DON'T.

>> WHY DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT IS?

>> I FEEL AS IF THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON IN OUR CITY AND THAT WITH ALL OF THE GUN VIOLENCE AND EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON AROUND US, IT IS HINDERING US FROM BECOMING WHAT WE COULD BE.

AND I FEEL THAT IF WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE CONNECTIONS WHERE EVERY HAD IT, THE CITY WILL LOOK BETTER AS A WHOLE AND US YOUNG PEOPLE, WE CAN TURN INTO BETTER PEOPLE OURSELVES.

>> CANTON, LET'S JUMP TO YOU.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MORE INVESTMENT.

AND I APOLOGIZE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MORE INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE?

WHAT >> WHAT DOES SOME OF THAT LOOK LIKE?

WHAT AREAS SPECIFICALLY NEED MORE ATTENTION?

>> I THINK THE AREAS THAT NEED MORE ATTENTION WOULD BE LITERALLY EDUCATION.

ACADEMICS.

MORE INVESTMENT INTO SCHOOLS.

AND PROGRAMS THAT CULTIVATE THE MIND OF THE NEXT GENERATION.

SUMMER PROGRAMS, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS.

LIKE COLLEGES, STUDYING ABROAD.

THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT INVESTMENT.

>> JUMPING GEARS, CHASE, I WANT TO GO BOOK BACK TO YOU, HOW COULD THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT STRENGTHEN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHICAGO'S YOUTH?

>> THEY CAN STRENGTHEN THEIR RELATIONSHIP BY DOING WHAT CHICAGO HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF.

EVERY EVENT, WE MAKE SURE WE STAND OUT TO THE DISTRICT, ANYONE IN THE NEAR AREA AND WE HAVE EVENTS SURROUNDING POLICE SO KIDS CAN NOW HAVE A ONE ON ONE CONVERSATION WITH THE CHIEF OR THE COMMISSIONER AND JUST HAVE THAT ONE ON ONE BOND SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE ARE HERE TO PROTECT US.

>> WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF YOUTH DOWNTOWN RECENTLY.

THE CITY RESPONDED BY KIND OF ENFORCING CURFEWS.

DO YOU THINK THIS IS THE BEST SOLUTION?

IF NOT, WHAT IS THE BETTER ALTERNATIVE?

>> I THINK THE CURFEWS ARE A STEP TOWARD ENDING THE TRENDS BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THE TRENDS HAPPEN BECAUSE WE DON'T, WE ARE NOT BUSY AS YOUNG PEOPLE IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

I BELIEVE IF WE WERE BUSY DOING GOOD THINGS, DOING WHAT WE LOVE, DOING AN INTERNSHIP, HAVING A JOB TO GO TO OR A SPORT OR SOME COMMUNITY EVENT, THEN I THINK THAT THOSE TRENDS WOULD CHANGE AND BECOME TRENDS FOR BETTER.

>> I WANT TO JUMP BACK TO YOU KENTON REALLY QUICKLY.

WHAT DO YOU SEE THE VALUE IN, IN INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL GIVING OUR STUDENTS AND YOUTH A PLACE TO CONGREGATE AND BE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL?

>> I THINK THAT IS A GREAT IDEA.

I THINK THAT HOLDS GREAT VALUE.

OCCUPYING THE YOUTH AND GIVING THEM THE RIGHT RESOURCES OR THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITIES TO USE THEIR TIME TO MAKE GOOD FOR NOT ONLY THEMSELVES BUT FOR OTHERS.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA IN INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE OR BUILDING THAT CAN HOLD PROGRAMS LIKE SUMMER PROGRAMS OR HOST PROGRAMS LIKE THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.

LIKE BUILD IS DOING CURRENTLY NOW IN CHICAGO.

WOULD BE BEYOND OR VERY, VERY CLOSE TO A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> ABSOLUTELY, CHASE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT RESOURCES THAT BUILD PROVIDES TO ENSURE THAT CHICAGO'S YOUTH HAVE THE SPACE TO BE OUTSIDE OF JUST OUTSIDE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BUILD HAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.

WE SEE NOWADAYS KIDS ARE LEANING MORE INTO THEIR ARTISTIC SIDE.

A LOT OF KIDS LOVE TO DRAW, DO GRAFFITI AND TATTOOS.

WE HAVE AN ART PROGRAM WE ARE IN THE WORKS OF TRYING TO GET IT TO EXTEND FROM 4:00 P.M.

WHICH IS AFTER SCHOOL HOURS TO 12:00 A.M.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO EXTEND THE HOURS.

SAYING NOW KIDS HAVE LONGER TO DO WHAT THEY LOVE.

WE ALSO HAVE A MEDIA PROGRAM BECAUSE A LOT OF KIDS ARE FOCUSING INTO SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE ARE LEANING INTO PODCASTS.

HELPING KIDS BE ENTREPRENEURS IF THEY WANT TO BRAND THEMSELVES ON YOUTUBE.

WE HAVE A STUDIO TO HELP KIDS IF THEY REALLY WANT TO LEAN INTO MUSIC AND MARKET THEMSELVES AS A RAPPER OR AN R AND B SINGER.

ANYTHING THAT THAT COMES FROM PRODUCING, MIXING AND MASTERING.

THEY MAKE SURE WE HAVE EVERY SINGLE THING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO PUSH THEM.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO EXTEND LONGER.

>> NOW, KAZIAH, YOU AND YOUR PEERS ARE NOT ABLE TO DRIVE SO YOU ARE RELYING ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THESE PLACES OFFERING RESOURCES.

BUT WE FEEL THEY ARE OFTEN DANGEROUS.

SO WHAT DO YOU FEEL ABOUT CREATING RESOURCES THAT ALLOW FOR MORE SAFE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION?

>> I BELIEVE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A GOOD WAY OF TRANSPORTATION.

MY PARENTS, I AM BLESSED ENOUGH TO HAVE PARENTS THAT CAN DRIVE ME.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE MISSED OUT ON A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THEY COULD BETTER THEMSELVES OR BETTER WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR WHAT THEY LOVE.

SO I FEEL THAT IF THEY HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION IN A SAFE WAY WHERE THEY CAN GO TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO, THEN THEY CAN HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND THEN BECOME A BETTER THEM.

>> FANTASTIC.

WELL, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

OUR THANKS TO YOU, KENTON, KAZIAH, AND CHASE.

>>> NOW, CAMERON HUCKLEBEE IS ON THE ROAD HOME AFTER INCARCERATION AND ON THE ROAD TO HELPING OTHERS DO THE SAME AS THE REENTRY NAVIGATOR.

HE WILL BE CONNECTING RETURNING RESIDENT TO JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

AS A PART OF WTTW'S ONGOING INITIATIVE FIRSTHAND, LIFE AFTER PRISON, WE SPOKE WITH HUCKLEBEE ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE.

>> I WAS FRESH OUT OF COOK COUNTY JAIL.

I WAS WORKING ON BEING BACK STABLE.

I KNEW FRANKIE FOR OVER TEN YEARS AT THIS POINT.

HE WAS ACTUALLY COMING TO VISIT ME INSIDE THE JAIL.

WHEN I CAME HOME, HE INTRODUCED ME TO THE PROGRAM.

I HAVE TWO CHILDREN.

JUST TO GET MY LIFE BACK ON TRACK.

WE NEED RESOURCES AND PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY SHOWING YOU THAT THEY CARE.

AND THE SUPPORT.

BECAUSE YOU COULD FEEL LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE ANYONE.

WHEN YOU COME FROM OUT OF THAT PLACE.

IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE ANYONE, IT COULD EASILY PUT YOU BACK IN THAT SITUATION.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS DIGGING DEEPER INTO YOURSELF.

WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS AND ASPIRATION INS WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO FOR YOURSELF?

THAT'S BASICALLY IT.

ONCE YOU FIGURE THAT OUT, THE WORLD IS YOURS AND THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.

>> NOW, THE FRANKIE CAMERON HUCKLEBEE MENTIONED, HIS MENTOR, FRANCISCO PEREZ, WATCH THIS WEEKEND'S LATINO VOICES TO HEAR WHAT PEREZ HAD TO SAY ABOUT HELPING RESIDENTS' DRIVE.

AND THERE IS MUCH MORE ON WTTW'S FIRSTHAND LIFE AFTER PRISON INITIATIVE.

THAT'S ON WTTW/FIRSTHAND.

WE'LL BE BACK RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> MEMORIES OF A FIFTH GRADE FIELD TRIP TO GETTYSBURG ARE AT THE HEART OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD PLAY.

IT TOUCHES ON HEAVY THEMES LIKE RACE, POWER, SEX, AND THE AMERICAN PSYCHE.

BUT ITS CREATORS SAY IT WILL ALSO MAKE YOU LAUGH.

>> SO I GREW UP IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

AND, IT IS A SMALL TOWN CALLED HANOVER, PENNSYLVANIA.

WE WOULD TAKE FIELD TRIPS TO GETTYSBURG WHERE THERE WERE LOTS OF REINACTMENTS AND GAMES.

ONE WAS CALLED THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD GAME WHICH THEY SET UP AND THEY HAD US SNEAKING THESE DOLLS AROUND.

AND THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS HAD TO CAPTURE THE DOLLS.

AND THE UNION SOLDIERS HAD TO LIKE SNEAK THE DOLLS IN THEIR BACKPACKS AND UNDER THEIR SHIRTS TO THE DIFFERENT SAFE HOUSES.

IN THE CLASSROOMS.

>> IT IS AN ALL WHITE SCHOOL.

AN IMPORTANT THING TO SAY.

>> PRETTY MUCH AN ALL-WHITE SCHOOL.

SO I TOLD THIS STORY TO JEN IN 2012, 2013.

>> I REMEMBER SAYING THAT IS THE CRAZIEST I HAVE EVER HEARD.

THAT IS JUST WILD.

AND SO I WAS FLOORED AND WE CAME UP WITH THESE TEACHER CHARACTERS.

FROM A PLACE OF LIKE, OKAY, CRAVEN PEDAGOGUEY, WHAT MIGHT THESE PEOPLE DO?

HOW MIGHT THEY BE TREATING HISTORY FROM A PLACE OF INABILITY TO ACTUALLY CONTEND WITH IT?

>> IF I'M GOING TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO CANADA FROM HANOVER, I'M GOING TO NEED SOME HELP.

>> YOU HANOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WANT TO HELP TEACHER CAROLINE GET TO FREEDOM?

>> IT'S A TRICKY PLAY TO DESCRIBE.

THE FICTIONS ARE A ROMANCE IN A SCHOOL AND SOME DRAMAS THAT ARE HAPPENING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER.

>> AND I THINK THE RUNNING THEME IS COMPETITION.

THERE'S THE COMPETITION BETWEEN THE STUDENTS AND THERE'S A COMPETITIVE EDGE BETWEEN THE TEACHERS AS WELL.

THAT'S LIKE PART OF THE LARGER CRITIQUE.

YOU KNOW.

>> NOW UNDERGROUND RAILROAD GAME IS IN A LIMITED RUN AT NORTH WESTERN'S WARD CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING AND MEDIA ARTS MAY 18th THROUGH THE 20th.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS ABOUT TICKETS.

>>> NOW THE TECH INDUSTRY IS FACING A DIVERSITY GAP IN ITS WORK FORCE.

IN A STUDY BY THE CAPER CENTER AND THE NAACP FINDS THAT BETWEEN 2014 AND 2021, THE INDUSTRY PRODUCED ONLY A 1% INCREASE IN BLACK REPRESENTATION WITHIN TECHNICAL ROLES AND LARGE TECH COMPANIES.

NOW BLACK TALENT REPRESENTS ONLY 3.7% OF THOSE ROLES DESPITE ACCOUNTING FOR 13% OF THE U.S. LABOR FORCE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE BRONSKY ARMSTRONG, SENIOR SOFTWARE ENGINEER AND ENGINEERING MANAGER AT THE TRADING FIRM DRW AND JASMINE SHELLS, CEO OF THE SOFTWARE BETWEEN 5 TO 9.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WHY DO YOU THINK DIVERSITY IN THE TECH INDUSTRY IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT THE NEED FOR DIVERSITY IN EVERY AREA?

>> WELL, TECHNOLOGY IS A PART OF EVERY COMPANY NOWADAYS.

EVERY FIRM IS A TECH FIRM.

TECH IS A GOOD PLACE TO START.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, TECHNOLOGY IS THE NEWEST KIND OF LIKE INNOVATION FACTOR IN BUSINESSES.

SO IT IS A GOOD PLACE TO START.

>> JASMINE, LET'S JUMP TO YOU, WHAT ARE SOME BARRIERS THAT EXIST THAT MIGHT LEAD TO A LACK OF REPRESENTATION NOT BEING REPORTED?

>> ONCE WE HAVE THAT, THERE IS AN EXTREME LACK OF MEASUREMENT.

OVER 90% OF THE FORTUNE 500 HAVE DIVERSITY PROGRAMS.

LESS THAN 10% OF THEM HAVE ANY WAY TO TRACK IF THE PROGRAMS ARE SUCCESSFUL OR NOT.

THE FACT THERE IS NO TECHNOLOGY OR SOFTWARE MEASURING THIS WORK IS VERY HARD TO JUSTIFY ITS IMPORTANCE.

>> WOW, THAT'S VERY INTERESTING.

NOW I UNDERSTAND YOUR COMPANY HAS AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND HOW WOULD YOU SAY THIS PROGRAM AND OTHERS LIKE IT CAN HELP CLOSE THE GAP?

>> YES.

SO IT IS ON THE JOB TRAINING.

WITH TECHNOLOGY, YOU NEED SALES AHEAD OF TIME TO BE ON SITE.

SO WE OFFER AN 18-MONTH PROGRAM.

PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

PROVIDE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND JOBS ANYWHERE IN CHICAGO AFTER THEY GRADUATE.

AND SET THEM UP FOR A FUTURE IN TECHNOLOGY.

>> GOING OFF OF WHAT JASMINE MENTIONED, ARE YOU ABLE TO GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT THE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT THAT YOUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IS OFFERING?

>> SURE THING.

SO WE HAVE A CASE OF THE STUDENT, THE APPRENTICESHIPS WE HAVE, WE HAVE TWO COHORTS ON SITE OUT OF THE 14 PEOPLE.

HALF ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

OVER HALF ARE WOMEN.

WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE WHO ARE IN UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.

UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY ARE, WE DON'T PARTICULARLY TRY TO LIMIT OUR OPPORTUNITY TO ANYONE.

BUT IF WE FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS, PEOPLE WILL COME.

>> JASMINE, HOW WILL YOU SAY AS A BLACK WOMAN IN TECH HAS GUIDED THE WORK YOUR COMPANY HAS DONE?

>> I WAS THE LEADER OF THE DIVERSITY PROGRAM.

WHEN IT CAME TO PERFORMANCE REVIEW TIME, I HAD NO WAY TO REALLY MEASURE THE WORK AND KIND OF GET THAT PROMOTIONAL RAISE I DESERVED.

THAT IS WHEN I REALIZED HEY, WHEN THERE'S LAYOFFS WE ARE SEEING IN OUR CUSTOMERS THAT A LOT OF DIVERSITY INCLUSION LEADERS ARE BEING LAID OFF BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO MEASURE THE WORK.

SINCE WE REALLY BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, WE ARE TRYING TO GIVE AMMO AND MORE MEASUREMENTS.

SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY KEEP PEOPLE IN THOSE ROLES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THE PROMOTIONS THEY DESERVE.

>> BRONSKY, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT THE LACK OF DIVERSITY IN TECH INFLUENCES THE WORK THAT IS DONE OR EVEN IN WORKPLACE CULTURE?

>> THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVE TOUCHED UPON A LOT.

JUST TALKING ABOUT CHAT GBT AND OTHER INNOVATION AS OF LATE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT PER KIND OF HOW WE TALK WITH HAVING A MORE DIVERSE WORK FORCE.

WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR FEEDBACK SOONER.

>> JASMINE?

>> ONE THING WE ARE SEEING WITHIN THE TECH SPACE IS THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT ONLY HAVING DIVERSITY WITHIN THE ACTUAL ORGANIZATION, BUT THE FOUNDERS OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.

IT IS AN ECO SYSTEM.

RIGHT NOW, LESS THAN 1% OF BC FUNDING GOES TO BLACK FOUNDERS.

FOR BLACK WOMEN IT IS .0006%.

SO, THAT IS I THINK ALSO REALLY A BIG GAP WE ARE SEEING.

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE COMPANIES ITSELF.

BUT THE PEOPLE FOUNDING THOSE COMPANIES.

>> AND THAT WAS .000%?

WOW.

THAT IS SMALL.

>> RIGHT.

AND EVEN AS OF 2020, JUNE OF 2020, YOU KNOW, CHICAGO PUT OUT THIS REPORT OF THE BLACK FOUNDERS THAT RAISED OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.

AND THERE WERE GUESS HOW MANY ON THERE?

NINE.

RIGHT?

>> OUT OF HOW MANY?

>> THAT WAS IT.

30% OF THE POPULATION, THERE IS A HUGE GAP WHEN IT COMES TO EQUITY AND FUNDING CURRENTLY.

>> WOW.

BRONSKY, GOING BACK TO YOU, I MEANT TO ASK THIS WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

BUT WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR FOLKS LOOKING TO GET INTO TECH AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET STARTED?

>> SURE.

PERSEVERANCE, PROBLEM SOLVING.

THESE ARE THINGS WE LOOK FORWARD TO WITH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

WE DON'T LOOK AT RESUMES.

WE TRY TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES BECAUSE WE FIND THOSE ARE IMPORTANT IN ANY DISCIPLINE, BUT ESPECIALLY TECHNOLOGY.

STICK WITH IT.

>> WHAT ABOUT YOU?

>> ONE THING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT NOT ONLY JUST FOR UNDERREPRESENTED BUT WE SHIFTED IT TO SAY UNDERESTIMATED.

RIGHT?

FOUNDERS OR EVEN PEOPLE LOOKING TO GET INTO TECH IS KNOW.

KNOW ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS YOU HAVE HAD TO DATE.

THAT GIVE YOU THAT SEAT AT THE TABLE.

IT IS HAVING THAT CONFIDENCE TO KNOW THE WORK YOU ARE DONE AND KNOWING YOU BELONG THERE.

THERE IS NO REASON TO HAVE IMPOSTER SYNDROME.

>> BRONSKY, HOW WOULD YOU SAY COMPANIES CAN IMPROVE WORKPLACE DIVERSITY ENSURING THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE THRIVING?

>> JUST LISTEN.

START THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.

THEY STARTED BECAUSE WE FELT THE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

STARTED IN SUMMER OF 2020.

WE STARTED AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WITH A TEAM OF INDIVIDUALS.

ALL LIKE MINDED INDIVIDUALS WHO WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE DID.

SO LISTEN TO YOUR EMPLOYEES.

>> UH-HUH, AND WHAT SPECIFIC PROGRAMS DO YOU ALL HAVE IN PLACE WITH YOUR COMPANY TO ENSURE THAT YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE FEELING HEARD, RECEIVED, AND ARE PROGRESSING?

>> ONE OF OUR CORPORATE VALUES, YOU KNOW, START-UP VALUES I SHOULD SAY, WE ARE A TEAM OF 11.

SO WE ARE SMALL.

IS COLLABORATION.

NO MATTER IF YOU ARE A JUNIOR ENGINEER OR MY COFOUNDER.

EVERYONE HAS THE ABILITY TO SPEAK TO THE IDEAS THEY HAVE.

BECAUSE THE WAY WE BUILD THIS COMPANY AND THIS CULTURE IS THROUGH COLLABORATION.

THAT IS REALLY A BIG VALUE OF OURS AND WE BUILT THAT TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

>> THAT'S FANTASTIC.

JASMINE, I KNOW THAT YOUR WORK ALSO INVOLVES BRINGING IN INVESTORS AND RAISING MONEY FROM YOUR COMPANY.

AND YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RAISE MILLIONS.

WHAT WAS THE MAJOR LESSON YOU LEARNED THERE WHEN LOOKING AT OUTSIDE COMPANIES INVESTING?

>> WE RAISED ALMOST 6 MILLION TO DATE.

I THINK THE BIGGEST THING I LEARNED WHEN IT COMES TO BRINGING ON PARTNERS OR TEAM MEMBERS, YOU TO WORK WITH THOSE WHO BELIEVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE.

WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH.

WHEN THERE IS A RECESSION, WHEN THERE IS A PANDEMIC AND BUILDING A START-UP IS HARD, YOU NEED PEOPLE WHO WILL HAVE YOUR BACK.

WE PICKED INVESTORS AND THEY PICKED UP BECAUSE WE HAD ALIGNED VISION IN BUILDING BETTER WORKPLACES.

MORE DIVERSE WORKPLACES.

PICK PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN YOU.

>> ABSOLUTE LY.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

>>> AND UP NEXT, A SIGN TO STOP IN AT THE SOUTH SIDE LIBRARY.

>>> CHICAGOANS CAN LEARN ALL KINDS OF THINGS AT LOW OR NO COST ACROSS THE CITY AT LIBRARIES INCLUDING A BEGINNER FRIENDLY COURSE IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE TAUGHT BY A LIFELONG RESIDENT.

PRODUCERERICA GUNDERSON MET UP WITH JERRY OWEN.

HE SAID IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN THE BASICS OF SIGN LANGUAGE, HE WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU A HAND.

>> THAT'S HOW I INTRODUCE THE CLASS, I SAY HELLO.

>> Reporter: EVERY TUESDAY AFTERNOON AT THURGOOD MARSHALL LIBRARY, RETIREE JERRY SIGNS HELLO AT THE SIGN LANGUAGE CLASS.

>> I FEEL LIKE I'M AT BASIC LEVEL BUT I KNOW ENOUGH TO TEACH SOMEBODY AT ZERO.

BECAUSE I TRY TO LET THE STUDENTS HELP.

I DON'T JUST TALK TO THEM.

I TRY TO GET THEM TO JOIN IN, HELP OUT.

MAKE IT INTERESTING.

>> Reporter: HE FIRST BECAME FASCINATED WITH SIGN LANGUAGE BY SEEING IT ON TV.

BUT HE DIDN'T EXPECT TO EVER LEARN IT.

THAT CHANGED WHEN HE SAW A FLYER FOR A CLASS AT THE LIBRARY TAUGHT BY MISS BERNICE MCAFEE.

>> I WALK IN THE DOOR, DON'T KNOW IF I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

I'M IN SOME PLACE NEW.

CAN I DO THIS?

ALL THIS STUFF IS GOING THROUGH MY HEAD.

HERE IS THE THIS LITTLE OLD LADY.

90 YEARS OLD STANDING UP THERE TALKING.

HAD A LITTLE WIG ON.

SO I WALK IN.

AND SHE JUST TOLD SOME KIND OF LITTLE FUNNY JOKE.

AND SHE STARTS LAUGHING, HA, HA, HA, HA.

AND, HER TEETH ALMOST FELL OUT.

AND WHEN SHE GOT THROUGH LAUGHING AND SAID OH, PUT HER TEETH BACK IN.

SAID OH, THAT'S GOOD FOR MY HEALTH.

>> Reporter: HE ATTENDED HER CLASS FOR YEARS.

AND THEN SHE HANDED HIM THE TORCH IN 2020.

>> SO SHE SAYS, I'M NOT GOING TO BE COMING MUCH LONGER.

AND, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START DOING THE CLASS.

SHE DRAFTED ME.

I WAS DRAFTED.

SHE PASSED AWAY ABOUT TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT.

AND HERE I AM, STILL HERE.

>> Reporter: BOWEN SAYS ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN A BASIC COURSE IS WELCOME TO JOIN HIM.

>> COME ONE TIME.

COME A FEW MONTHS.

JUST KEEP COMING.

I HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE COME IN THAT KNEW WAY MORE THAN I DID.

I GUESS THAT'S WHY THEY DIDN'T COME BACK.

[ LAUGHTER ] OH, THAT'S GOOD FOR MY HEALTH.

THANK YOU!

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

>> HE WOULD LIKE MORE EXPERIENCED SIGNERS TO JOIN HIS CLASS.

WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO REGISTER ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS EVENING.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

KNOW YOU CAN ALSO CATCH BLACK AND LATINO VOICES ON SATURDAYS BEGINNING AT 6:00 P.M. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES, I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES.

A PROUD SPONSOR OF DIVERSITY,