CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES 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 AND THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE A GROWING PUSH TO GET MORE PEOPLE ONLINE AND WHAT NEW DATA REVEALS ABOUT INTERNET DISPARITIES IN CHICAGO.

THERE WE ARE ONE-ON-ONE WITH JUSTICE LISA HOLDER WHITE THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO SIT ON THE JUSTICE LISA HOLDER WHITE.

ALSO WE HAVE OUR CHICAGO SYMPHONY COMPOSER IN RESIDENCE.

>> I LOVE COFFEE!

I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT MY DAILY ROUTINE WITH COFFEE.

>> THE OWNER OF CHICAGO FRENCH PRESS SHARES HER PASSION ON UNIQUE COFFEE BLENDS AND HOW HER BUSINESS IS EXPANDING INTO NIGHTS LAST WORD.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT THERE IS A RENEWED EFFORT TO GET MORE PEOPLE ONLINE AND GET HIGH-SPEED INTERNET TO MORE FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS ANNOUNCING A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT COULD MAKE TENS OF MILLIONS OF HOUSEHOLDS ELIGIBLE FOR FREE INTERNET.

MOVE COMES AS THE COVID PANDEMIC HIGHLIGHTED INEQUITIES IN ACCESS WHEN FAMILY SWITCH TO REMOTE WORKING AND LEARNING.

HERE IS WHAT THE VICE PRESIDENT HAD TO SAY THIS WEEK.

>> IN THE 21ST CENTURY ACCESS TO THE INTERNET IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS.

EVERY PERSON IN OUR NATION NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY EARN SHOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD HIGH-SPEED INTERNET.

AND A HIGH-SPEED INTERNET PLAN.

[APPLAUSE] >> MEANWHILE, RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO BY ANALYZING INTERNET ACCESS THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN HOPES OF DETERMINING THE BEST WAY TO USE $65 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS.

JOINING US NOW ARE DWAYNE DOUGLAS WHO OPERATES THE CHICAGO AREA BROADBAND INITIATIVE ANSWERS ON THE WRITING TEAM FOR THE CITY'S EQUITY COUNCIL.

DANIEL ANELLO, CEO OF KIDS FIRST CHICAGO AND NICK FEAMSTER, A LEAD RESEARCHER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO INTERNET EQUITY INITIATIVE GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH YOU.

YOUR RESEARCH STARTED AND 80 PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET BUT WHEN YOU EXAMINE CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS THE PERCENTAGE WAS LOWER WITH 35 TO 40 PERCENT OF HOMES OFF-LINE IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT DATA AND WHAT IT REVEALED, PLEASE.

>> THAT DATA ACTUALLY COMES FROM THE CENSUS.

THAT DATA HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR SOME TIME.

I THINK WHAT WE DID IN THAT STUDY WAS DUE TO THE ANALYSIS NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS CHICAGO WHICH, I THINK CAST A PARTICULAR LIGHT ON WHICH NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE GREATER LEVELS OF ADOPTION OF INTERNET ACCESS VERSUS THOSE THAT DON'T.

I THINK SLICING THE DATA IN THAT PARTICULAR WAY HIGHLIGHTS THOSE DISPARITIES PERHAPS IN WAYS THAT WE HADN'T LOOKED AT BEFORE.

IT CERTAINLY UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROBLEM THAT DUANE AND DANIEL AND ALL OF US ARE WORKING ON TOGETHER TO REACH THAT GAP AND ADOPTION.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

WE KNOW THE MAYOR'S OFFICE CALLED CHICAGO'S DIGITAL DIVIDE A RACIAL EQUITY ISSUE AND SAID ON AVERAGE COMMUNITIES WITH THE LOWEST CONNECTIVITY RATES ARE BLACK.

TO YOU IS THIS A RACIAL EQUITY ISSUE?

>> IT IS.

THIS IS DIVIDED INTERWOVEN WITH ISSUES OF RACE, EDUCATION AND POVERTY WITH AWARENESS OF THE INTERNET THING A LEGACY PROBLEM WHICH DISPROPORTIONATELY ATTRACTS PEOPLE IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.

EVEN IN AREAS COVERED BY THE INTERNET PEOPLE REMAIN UNCONNECTED DUE TO THE CHOICE, AWARENESS OR ADOPTION.

MANY HOUSES DON'T HAVE A COMPUTER.

MANY PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO SEARCH FOR EMPLOYMENT, ACCESS SCHOOL WORK, THAT WAS GREATLY REDUCED AND A REDUCED SELF EMPOWERMENT.

>> WHAT IS THE LAKH OF INTERNET AND DIGITAL SKILLS PUTTING SOMEONE AT A DISADVANTAGE?

>> IT PUTS THEM AT A DISADVANTAGE FOR EXAMPLE FOR SCHOOL WORK.

INDIVIDUALS GOING TO DO SCHOOL WORK.

I WORK WITH A VETERAN AND TRIED TO PUT IN A COMPUTER RESUME AND HE DID NOT HAVE ACCESS AT HOME.

DURING COVID THE LIBRARY WAS CLOSED SO HE COULD NOT COMPLETE A RESUME FOR A JOB.

SO COMPETING FOR JOBS AND WORK SKILL DEVELOPMENT PUTS THEM AT A HUGE DISADVANTAGE.

>> DANIEL ANELLO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

WHEN SCHOOLS PIVOTED TO REMOTE LEARNING THEY FOUND THAT ONE IN FIVE CHILDREN LACKED ACCESS TO RELIABLE IN-HOME INTERNET AND MOST OF THOSE KIDS BEING BLACK OR LATINO BUT THEY HAVE BEEN BACK IN PERSON LEARNING FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.

DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS THAT THAT SORT OF RELIEVED SOME OF THE PRESSURE TO BRIDGE THE DIVIDE WOULD WE ARE NOT IN REMOTE LEARNING?

>> YES, ACTUALLY I DO.

ONE OF THE BENEFITS IF YOU CAN THINK OF A BENEFIT OR A SILVERLINING TO A PANDEMIC IS THAT WE FOCUSED ON WHAT PEOPLE TOLD US AND THE INTERNET THE DIGITAL ACCESS ISSUE WENT FROM NUMBER 10 ON THE LIST OF PRIORITIES FOR PARENTS TO NUMBER 1.

AND SO, FOR THOSE WHO WONDER WHY WE ARE ON THEIR, WE HELP THE CITY LAUNCH A FREE INTERNET PROGRAM CALLED CHICAGO CONNECTED WHICH IS CONNECTING 7000 CPS KIDS TO THE INTERNET.

PART OF THAT CAME OUT AS AN URGENCY WHERE WE ARE TALKING TO PARENTS AND SAY WHAT IS MY NEIGHBOR DOING?

THEY ARE USING A PHONE.

THEY USED TO GO OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY AND PARK OUTSIDE THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE SOME DEGREE THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A SHAME ON ALL OF US TO THINK IT WAS OKAY TO GAIN ACCESS THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT JUST CALLED IT ESSENTIAL.

THAT'S WHAT FOLKS HERE HAVE ALREADY SAID.

BUT I DO REALIZE THAT AS WE GO TO MORE IN PERSON IT JUST STARTS TO SLIDE DOWN THE LIST IN TERMS OF ARE WE GOING TO LOOK AT IT BUT IN REALITY IF ARE GOING TO DO ANYTHING IN MODERN SOCIETY YOU NEED HIGH-SPEED INTERNET YOU NEED A GOOD CONNECTION AND HAVING THAT GETS ALL THE RESOURCES THAT COME WITH IT.

TRAINING TO THE DIGITAL EQUITY PIECE AND TOOLS LIKE COMPUTERS TO JUST GET ONLINE.

>> NICK FEAMSTER IS NOT JUST ACCESS BUT YOU ARE LOOKING AT PERFORMANCE ACROSS CHICAGO.

WHAT HAVE YOU ALREADY LEARNED AND WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO LEARN?

>> WRIGHT, TANKS FOR THAT QUESTION.

IT DRAWS IN A NICE EXTENSION TO THE EARLIER QUESTION YOU ASKED ABOUT THE CENSUS DATA.

AT THE TOP OF THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT STUDY POINTED OUT IS CHICAGO IS A PATCHWORK OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND THERE ARE HUGE VERY ABILITIES AND WHAT IS GOING ON FROM NEIGHBORHOOD TO NEIGHBORHOOD.

UNFORTUNATELY, AT THE MOMENT WE JUST HAVE NO DATA ON HOW THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CONNECTIONS VARY ACROSS HOUSEHOLDS, ACROSS CITIES, ETC.

WHAT WE KNOW ALREADY IS WE KNOW THAT THEY VARY.

OKAY?

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN CHECK OUT ON OUR SITE, IS, TO HOUSEHOLDS SIGNING UP FOR THE SAME SERVICE, SAME ISP CAN ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE VASTLY DIFFERENT PERFORMANCES.

THAT IS INTERESTING.

THAT IS PERHAPS CONCERNING.

WE DON'T YET KNOW WHY.

THAT COULD BE A WHOLE VARIETY OF FACTORS EVERYTHING FROM CONDITIONS INSIDE THE HOME TO THE TYPE OF THE DWELLING TO THE AGE OF THE MODEM THAT THE SUBSCRIBER IS USING TO THE ISP.

SO WHO KNOWS WHAT.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS, I THINK FIRST, WE HAVE TO GET A HANDLE ON THERE IS A DISPARITY.

NOW WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON NOW IS IMPROVING THE SAMPLE AND GETTING MORE DATA ACROSS THE CITY TO MORE HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS MORE NEIGHBORHOOD SO WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND AND EXPLAIN WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON BECAUSE WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO DIRECT IT.

WHAT PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

I WOULD INVITE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS STUDY AS WELL.

>> JUST THIS WEEK PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED THAT 20 INTERNET PROVIDERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A FEDERAL PROGRAM TO PROVIDE DISCOUNTED SERVICE TO PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOME PRETTY MUCH MAKING IT FREE FOR PEOPLE WHO ALREADY QUALIFY FOR EXISTING FEDERAL SUBSIDIES.

DUANE, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS INITIATIVE?

>> IT IS GREAT.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE INTERNET IS NOT JUST ABOUT INTERNET ACCESS, IS ABOUT USING IT TO EMPOWER YOURSELF IN YOUR COMMUNITY BUT WE ALL HAVE TO BE CONNECT DID.

THESE ARE GREAT BUT THEY HAVE TO REACH THE HOUSEHOLDS AND UNDERSTAND WHERE THE ACTUAL PROBLEMS EXIST.

SOME OF IT IS WITHIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE PROPERTY.

SOME OF THEM AREN'T EVEN WIRED PROPERLY TO RECEIVE BROADBAND INTERNET KID THAT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK INTO.

WITH OUR ORGANIZATION WE HAVE TO LOOK INTO THOSE GROUPS AND WE HAVE TO PARTNER WITH THEM SO WE CAN PROVIDE SOLUTIONS THAT HELP ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS.

>> DANIEL, WE HAVE 20 SECONDS LEFT DO YOU THINK WE WILL EVER GET TO THE PLACE WHERE INTERNET IS FREE AND AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE?

>> I HOPE SO.

I THINK THERE IS A COST TO NOT.

WE ARE FOCUSING ON CONNECTING STUDENTS IN HOUSEHOLDS RIGHT NOW BUT FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD WITH A KID IN IT THAT HAVE IT THERE'S TWO THAT DON'T.

THERE IS A COST TO US AS SOCIETY IF WE ARE NOT CONNECTING PEOPLE TO SOMETHING SO ESSENTIAL.

>> OKAY, WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

MY THANKS TO MY GUESTS, DANIEL ANELLO, DWAYNE DOUGLAS AND NICK FEAMSTER FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>, JUSTICE LISA HOLDER WHITE SET TO BE THE FIRST ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT BLACK WOMAN.

SHE JOINS US.

>> THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT WILL FIRST HAVE THEIR FIRST BLACK WOMAN JUSTICE.

JUSTICE LISA HOLDER WHITE IS SET TO REPLACE JUSTICE RITA CARMEN WHO IS RETIRING THIS SUMMER.

JUSTICE LISA HOLDER WHITE TERM WILL BEGINS IN JULY AND WILL EXPIRE IN 2024 WHEN A FULL-TIME REPLACEMENT IS SELECTED IN THE NOVEMBER 2024 ELECTION.

JUSTICE LISA HOLDER WHITE JOINS US NOW.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW APPOINTMENT AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.YOU ARE THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO SERVE ON THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BREAK THAT BARRIER?>> IS VERY EXCITING.

I'VE BEEN ASKED THAT QUESTION QUITE A BIT IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND MY RESPONSE HAS BEEN THAT IT REALLY MAKES ME COLLECT ON HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS AND THE FACT THAT THERE WERE SO MANY WHO CAME BEFORE ME WHO DID NOT HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I AM VERY THANKFUL AND EXCITED.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK THIS HAS TAKEN SO LONG?

WHY DO YOU THINK THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY WHO COME BEFORE YOU AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN THIS OPPORTUNITY?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I AM GLAD THIS BARRIER HAS BEEN BROKEN.

I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN WE DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT'S FIRST THIS OR FIRST THAT IS JUST COMMONPLACE.

>> YOUR APPOINTMENT COMES WITHIN A HISTORIC YEAR FOR THE US SUPREME COURT.

JUSTICE JACKSON BECOMES THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO SIT ON THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE NATION AND SHE WILL TAKE THE OATH LATER.

DO YOU THINK WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS IN DIVERSIFYING AUTHORITY PARTICULARLY IN GOVERNMENT?

>> I DO THINK WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ALL HAVE ALL PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES REPRESENTED.

PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF A SERVING GROUP MIGHT BE OF A COMMUNITY OR POPULATION.

EVERYBODY DESERVES TO BE REPRESENTED.

>> SPEAKING OF REPRESENTATION, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND POINTS OF VIEW ON A COURT?

>> IT IS VITAL.

THE THING ABOUT IT IS ON THE SUPREME COURT YOU HAVE SEVEN JUSTICES AND EACH JUSTICE WILL BRING WITH THEM THEIR EXPERIENCES, THEIR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND EVERYTHING THAT MAKES THEM WHO THEY ARE.

AND SO, WHEN YOU COMBINE ALL OF THESE PERSPECTIVES THERE MAY BE SOMETHING THAT BASED ON YOUR BACKGROUND YOU ARE NOT REALLY THINKING ABOUT OR DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AN ISSUE AND SOMEONE ELSE WITH A DIFFERENT BACKGROUND WILL BRING THAT TO YOU AND BRING THAT UP AND, YOU KNOW, SEE THAT THAT IS A RELEVANT DECISION.

WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE VOICES AND YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES WE LOSE THE BENEFIT OF THAT AND MAKE THE DECISION.

>> JUSTICE YOU ARE ALSO A REPUBLICAN.

WHAT PERSPECTIVES WITH YOUR POLITICAL IDEOLOGY, HOW DOES THAT FACTOR INTO THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE AND HOW DO YOU VIEW CASES THAT COME BEFORE YOU?

>> OF COURSE ILLINOIS IS UNIQUE ON HOW WE ELECT OUR JUDGES AT THE CIRCUIT COURT LEVEL AND THE PELLET AND SUPREME COURT LEVEL.

WE HAVE TO DECLARE A PARTY AFFILIATION TO RUN BUT AS JUDGES, WHO WOULD WANT TO LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE YOU GO BEFORE A REPUBLICAN JUDGE OR A DEMOCRAT JUDGE.

ANYONE WHO COMES BEFORE THE COURT DESERVES TO BE HEARD AND DESERVES TO HAVE THEIR DAY IN WORD AND TO HAVE THEIR MATTER RESOLVED FAIRLY AND ACCORDING TO LAW AND THAT IS WHAT MICHAEL IS AS A JUDGE, ALWAYS.

>> ONE OF THE CASES THAT THE ILLINOIS COURT IS HEARING NOW IS GREEN VERSUS THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

CHARLES GREEN IS OUT OF PRISON AFTER SERVING 20 YEARS FOR A QUADRUPLE MURDER.

HE MAINTAINED HIS INNOCENCE AND HE SAID HE WAS COERCED INTO A CONFESSION.

HE WANTS CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO RELEASE DECADES OF MISCONDUCT RECORDS IN ORDER TO CLEAR HIS NAME.

WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THIS KIND OF CASE COMING BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT?

>> WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT THAT IS ONE OF THE MANY THINGS I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO AS A JUDGE IN ADDITION TO EATING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO ALLOW THEM TO GET TO KNOW US SO WE CAN GET TO KNOW THEM AND HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE SERVING IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC WITH RESPECT TO OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND AS JUDGES, UNLIKE THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION LATELY ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES NOT HAVING ANY ETHICAL RULES THAT THEY ARE CONSTRAINED BY OR THAT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW.

WE IN ILLINOIS HAVE RULES AND THOSE RULES PROHIBIT US FROM DISCUSSING PENDING MATTERS OR MATTERS THAT MAY COME BEFORE THE COURT.

BASED ON THAT, AND MY ADHERENCE TO THOSE ETHICAL STANDARDS I REALLY CAN'T.

>> Guest: THAT CASE.

>> UNDERSTOOD.

OF COURSE AS YOU SAID THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT LATELY WITH THE LEAKS IN REGARDS TO ROE VERSUS WADE.

I'M SURE YOU CANNOT DISCUSS THAT CASE AS WELL BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE COURT ESPECIALLY WITH THE SAME SHALL BE HOLDER DECISION AND LOADING ACTS BUT THE ROLE OF THE COURT.

HOW DO YOU VIEW THE ROLE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM?

>> AS A JUDGE I VIEW MYSELF AS A SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE.

IT IS QUITE AN HONOR AND RESPONSIBILITY TO RESOLVE ISSUES FOR PEOPLE WHO COME BEFORE YOU.

I TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO KNOW ABOUT DECISIONS, HAVE ACCESS TO DECISIONS TO HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT AND BE RESPECTED AND HEARD.

I VIEW IT AS I AM A SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE AND IT'S MY OBLIGATION OR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE VERY BEST I CAN SO THAT THEY DO RECEIVE JUSTICE.

>> BEFORE YOU GO JUSTICE YOUR TERM ENDS IN 2024 AFTER THE ELECTIONS, DO YOU PLAN TO RUN FOR THAT POSITION?

>> YES I AM PLANNING TO RUN FOR THAT POSITION, YES.

>> OKAY.

SO MUCH LUCK TO YOU, JUSTICE LISA HOLDER WHITE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>> UP NEXT THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA COMPOSER AND RESIDENTS AIMS TO DIVERSIFY CLASSIC MUSIC.

[MUSIC] >> AS HER SPRING RESIDENCY AT THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA COMES TO AN END, A NEW YORK-BASED COMPOSER HOPES HER TAKE ON CLASSICAL MUSIC IS LONG-STANDING.

WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE ROBERTA BROWN.

>> AND SHE WAS FOUR YEARS OLD, JESSIE MONTGOMERY HAS ALSO USED MUSIC TO BRING HER SOLACE.

>> MUSIC TO ME HAS BEEN A WAY OUT FOR A WAY THROUGH FOR MY WHOLE LIFE.

[MUSIC] MUSIC IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN LET YOUR THOUGHTS GO.

YOU ARE THERE TO BE QUIET AND LISTEN AND BE IN A SPACE OF THE SOUNDS AND LET IT WASH OVER YOU.

IT CAN BE VERY THERAPEUTIC AND BERRIES EMULATING.

>> BY AGE 11 MONTGOMERY HAD COMPOSER FIRST BASE.

EVERYTHING THAT SHE HAS LEARNED SINCE THEN IS WHAT LED HER TO THE CSO WHERE SHE IS THE MAIN COMPOSER RESIDENTS A ROLE SHE TOOK ON LAST FALL.

>> IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE IMMUNITY AND TO BRING MY EXPERIENCES AS A MUSICIAN, VIOLINIST, COMPOSURE FOR AN ADVOCATE FOR DIVERSITY IN THE CLASSICAL MUSIC.

>> SOME OF MONTGOMERY'S PIECES INCLUDE STRONG, HIM FOR EVERYONE AND OVERTURE.

BECAUSE OF HER WORK AS A VIOLINIST AND OTHER ORCHESTRA SHE LEARNED TO COMPOSE FOR OTHER INSTRUMENTS.

>> IN ORDER TO LEARN FOR THE SYMPHONY I HAD TO STUDY SCORES FROM COMPOSERS I LOVE TO AND KIND OF RECALLING AND REMEMBERING WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO SIT INSIDE OF AN ORCHESTRA AND TO HEAR WHICH SOUNDS ARE COMING FROM WHERE.

THE OVERTURE THAT IS GOING TO BE PERFORMED ON MAY 23 IS UNIQUE IN THAT THE WHOLE ORCHESTRA IS IN UNISON.

MEANING THEY ARE PLAYING THE SAME RHYTHM THE ENTIRE TIME.

IT'S A WHOLE ORCHESTRA BREATHING THIS ONE SORT OF RHYTHMIC GESTURE TOGETHER WITH THE EXTREMITIES OF THE STRING ORCHESTRA.

WE ARE COVERING A LOT OF SPACE, SONNET SPACE IN BETWEEN THE ORCHESTRA.

AGAIN, THAT IS ANOTHER THING THAT I WAS PLAYING WITH IN TERMS OF ORCHESTRATION.

LIKE, HOW CAN I GET THE MOST RESONANCE OUT OF THIS ENSEMBLE.

>> MONTGOMERY'S WORKS HAVE BEEN PLAYED BY THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL MUSICIANS.

STUDENTS WITH THE CHICAGO MUSICAL PATHWAYS INITIATIVE.

[MUSIC] THAT'S REALLY THE POINT OF WHAT I DO.

I MAKE MUSIC SO THAT THEY CAN TRANSFER BEYOND THE TIME THAT I AM HERE AND IT IS JUST VERY AFFIRMING TO HAVE THAT EXCHANGE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

>> AS THE RESIDENCY COMES TO AN END, MONTGOMERY SAID SHE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE YOU SICK AS WELL AS A COMPOSER AND VIOLINIST WITH ONE GOAL IN MIND.

>> I WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON NEW MUSIC THAT THEY FEEL THEY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN SOMETHING SPECIAL.

THERE'S NO RIGHT WAY TO HEAR MUSIC IT'S JUST WHAT WE DO AS COMPOSERS.

WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE A SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO BOTH CREATE SOMETHING THAT THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT AND THAT THEY HAVE A NEW AND OPEN-MINDED EXPERIENCE FOR THE AUDIENCE.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, I AM ANGEL IDOWU.

>> JESSIE MONTGOMERY'S OVERTURE DEBUTS AT THE THEATER MAY 23.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

>>> A CHICAGO COFFEE SHOP IS SEEING A BOOST IN BUSINESS AS MORE PEOPLE ARE MAKING AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES.

CHICAGO FRENCH PRESS SAW THEIR SALES SKYROCKET DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THEIR COFFEE CAN BE FOUND ON AMAZON AND SEVERAL CHICAGO AREA TARGETS THAT STARTED TELLING THEIR PRODUCT IN FEBRUARY.

THE FOUNDER AND CEO, KRIS CHRISTIAN FINDS HER GROWTH AND SUCCESS IN TONIGHT'S LAST WORK.

>> I AM KRIS CHRISTIAN FOUNDER OF TRAN 24.

I LOVE COFFEE.I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT MY DAILY ROUTINE ABOUT COFFEE.

I CAN DRINK IT IN THE MORNING AND AT NIGHT.

I GOT INTO THE COFFEE BUSINESS BY FINDING A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT I WAS FACING AS A CONSUMER.

WHEN I WAS IN MY 20S WORKING ON WALL STREET I WAS DRINKING SO MUCH COFFEE EVERY DAY AND I WOULD POUR LOADS OF SUGAR AND CREAMER INTO MY COFFEE JUST TO TOLERATE IT AND I WAS THINKING THAT I REALLY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SAVOR MY CUP.

I HAD AN EPIPHANY ONE DAY THAT I SHOULD BLEND MY COFFEE BEANS WITH REAL INGREDIENTS TO ACHIEVE THE AUTHENTIC FLAVORFUL TASTE.

WE HAVE UNIQUE FLAVORS LIKE PEACH NECTAR AND CHAPEL BLUEBERRY, FLAVORS THAT YOU HAVE NOT HEARD OF BEFORE.

THE THING IS WE WANT YOU TO DRINK THE COFFEE BLACK, YOU DON'T NEED TO ADD R SUGAR TO IT.

DURING THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT AND SUPPORTING BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES WAS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WERE FOCUSED ON RIGHTFULLY SO BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE MOVEMENT.

THAT REALLY AFFORDED US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE NEW EYES AND BE SEEN AND BE IN STORES.

IT WAS A BITTERSWEET TIME BECAUSE IT WAS A STRUGGLE FOR THE ECONOMY BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE THRIVING.

THAT BEING 500 PERCENT HIRES BEFORE.

IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COME OUT AND SUPPORT AND BE SO INTENTIONAL.

WHEN YOU COME TO TRAN 24 YOU HAVE PASSED SO MANY COFFEE SHOPS AND THAT'S HOW I KNOW THAT WE ARE SUPPORTED BECAUSE YOU HAVE LOOKED US UP ON GOOGLE, FOLLOWED US ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THEN YOUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR DOLLARS ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND IT HAS EVEN INFLUENCED ME TO BE ABLE TO, NOT ONLY FOR MY BUSINESS BUT DO THE SAME FOR OTHERS BECAUSE EVERY PENNY, EVERY DOLLAR DOES MATTER AND IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS I DID NOT SEE A ROCKFACE OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN DEFINITELY NOT OWNING ONE BUT BEING A CONSUMER IN THE AD.

SO, TO SEE ME AND PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME IN WHATEVER INDUSTRY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE REPRESENTED AND SHOWN BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING.

I AM SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE FRUITS OF MY LABOR BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN LIKE A JOURNEY AND WE ARE STILL ON IT YOU KNOW MAC IT NEVER STOPS IT NEVER IN.

BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE SPACE THAT WE DREAMED ABOUT THIS WAS A DREAM IT WAS AN IDEA AND IT GOES TO SHOW THAT TO TAKE OUR WORK AND HUSTLE AND FOCUS TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOMETHING THROUGH THAT IS THE PROUDEST THING FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SEE JUST THE IDEA COME TO FRUITION.

>> TRAN 24 HAS A STORE IN THE SOUTH LOOP.

OWNER, KRIS CHRISTIAN SAID FIVE PERCENT OF EVERY BAG SOLD SUPPORTS LOCAL AND NATIONAL NONPROFITS.

>>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST ON WTTW NEWS.

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

JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ NEXT WEEK ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

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

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY, STAY SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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