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

>> Host: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO TONIGHT'S CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, BLACK HAIR HAS BEEN PUBLICIZED, PENALIZED AND LEGISLATED THROUGHOUT HISTORY.A BILL WITH HAIR DISCRIMINATION HEADING TO THE ILLINOIS HOUSE WILL BREAK DOWN THE POLITICS OF BLACK HAIR.

WE LOOK AT HOW CHICAGO'S INSTITUTIONS REACTS WITH IT'S PUBLIC.

TOSHA AND SIMONS JOINS US WITH MORE.

>> WE ARE THE ENGINE THAT RULES THINGS ALL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY.

>> WE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE CDC'S OVERHAUL OF THE RED AND PURPLE LINE.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT BLACK AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE RULES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPOSED ON THEIR HAIR THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

STILES TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH NATURAL BLACK HAIR LIKE BOX, RAIDS, TWIST AND AFROS HAVE BEEN CALLED DISTRACTING TO UNPROFESSIONAL IN SCHOOLS AND WORKPLACES, LEAVING MANY BLACK AMERICANS PRESSURE TO STYLE THEIR WAYS IN ELITE THAT CONFORM TO EUROCENTRIC IDEALS.

NOW A BILL RECENTLY PASSED IN THE ILLINOIS SENATE TO ADDRESS BLACK HAIR DETERMINATION IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.

JOINING US NOW, PATRICE JARRELL WRITING OF THE BEAUTY BLOG.

AND THE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND STATE SENATOR MIKE SIMMONS, WHO INTRODUCED A BILL AND WHOSE DISTRICTS INCLUDES NEIGHBORHOODS ON CHICAGO'S FAR NORTH SIDE.

ALL THREE OF YOU, WELCOME BACK TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

SENATOR SIMMONS LET'S START WITH YOU.

PLEASE HEAR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PROPOSE THIS BILL?

>> I HAVE READ SO MANY STORIES IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO WITH BLACK STUDENTS WHO HAD BEEN TRAUMATIZED BY BEING FORCED TO TAKE OUT A NATIONAL HAIRSTYLE, SUCH AS THE STYLE I WEAR.

DREADS, FREE-FORM, LOCKS AND BRAIDED.

THEN I READ ABOUT JEFF HAWKINS, A FOUR-YEAR-OLD ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO, WHO WAS EXCITED TO GO TO SCHOOL EXCITED ABOUT HIS NEW BRAIDS AND HIS MOM TOOK HIM TO SCHOOL AND IT WAS THAT HE WAS FORCED TO TAKE OUT HIS BRAIDS.

I WANT TO TURN THE PAGE ON THIS HISTORY.

>> YOU HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT DISCRIMINATION OF BLACK HAIR IN THE WORKPLACE, ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK WOMEN.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> THERE IS A REAL HISTORY BEHIND THAT, PARTICULARLY IN TELEVISION WHERE IMAGE TENDS TO BE EVERYTHING.

WE HEAD BACK IN 1971.

NOAH, WHO WORE HER HAIR IN AN AFRO AND WAS TOLD YOU DON'T LOOK FEMININE CHANGE HER HAIRSTYLE AND SHE WAS DEFIANT.

SHE DECIDED SHE WAS GOING TO KEEP HER HAIR THE WAY IT WAS.

SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERING A STORY ON RICHARD NIXON'S DAUGHTER'S WEDDING AND SHE DECIDED SHE WAS GOING TO WEAR HER AFRO AND THEY TOLD HER NO, YOU CAN'T AND THEY DELETED HER PORTION.

WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THE 1970S, BUT WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO AND IT STARTS WITH CHILDREN BEING ABLE TO BE THEMSELVES FULLY IN SCHOOL AND AM HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION FROM SENATOR SIMMONS.

>> YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT MODERN DAY INSTANCES SIMILAR BUT NOT THE SAME THING BUT MODERN DATE INSTANCES THAT STILL HAPPEN TO T.V.

NEWS REPORTERS.

PATRICE GRELL, THERE IS MORE LEGISLATION ON THE HORIZON REGARDING THE HAIR.WHAT WOULD THING LIKE THE CROWN ACT MEAN?

>> CROWN ACT STANDS FOR CREATING AN OPEN WORLD FOR NATURAL HAIR.

27 STATES HAVE PASSED SIMILAR LAWS AND IT MEANS PROTECTION FOR US TO NOT BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN THE WORKPLACE AND IN SCHOOLS.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

WHAT SENATOR SIMMONS IS INTRODUCING AND FINDING THIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO PROTECT OUR RIGHT.

>> SENATOR SIMMONS HOW WOULD THIS BILLS WORK?

>> THE BILL FD 17 WOULD EXCLUDE SCHOOLS FROM USING EXTREME HAIRSTYLE LANGUAGE WITH RACE AND ETHNICITY, I.E.

PEOPLES WHOSE HAIR IS OF AFRICAN DESCENT .

THE LEGISLATION SAID YOU CANNOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST DREADS, BRAIDS, AFROS AND PROTECTIVE HAIRSTYLES.

THE ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY IS ONCE EVERY YEAR.THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL DO A COMPLIANCE AUDIT OF ALL SCHOOLS IN THE STATE AND THE HANDBOOKS WILL REMOVE ANY LANGUAGE THAT WOULD SAY THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE THOSE KINDS OF HAIRSTYLES.

IF THEY ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE.

THERE WOULD BE CONSEQUENCES.

HERE, THE SCHOOL COULD EVEN LOSE THE RECOGNITION BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

>> AND, SENATOR SIMMONS.

YOU SAID YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS AS WELL?

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT IT.

HE MET.

>> YES.

IT IS A CHRONIC THING.I EXPERIENCED MORE SO IN MY EARLY YEARS WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER.

THERE WAS A SENSE FROM AUTHORITY FIGURES IN SCHOOL SETTINGS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE I WOULD HEAR THOSE RANDOM COMMENT ABOUT MY HAIR.

IRAN TRACK AND FIELD, AND I DID A LOT FOR PEOPLE ON MY TEAM AND THE COACH WOULD SAY THE MOST INAPPROPRIATE THINGS.

BACK THEN I KNEW IT WASN'T RIGHT AND I FELT LIKE A BOUNDARY WAS BEING CROSSED BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE LANGUAGE TO NAME IT.

A BIG PART OF THIS LEGISLATION IS ALSO ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

THE PANDEMIC HAS BESIEGED OUR YOUTH TO SUCH A DEGREE.

THE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO IS TO DISAGREE ABOUT HAIRSTYLES.

WE HAVE MUCH BIGGER FISH TO FRY.I HAVE FELT, HOW IT IS TO BE BELITTLED IN FRONT OF YOUR PEERS.

AS AN ADULT I HAVE HAD INSTANCES WHERE OTHER ADULTS HAVE MADE INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS OR THEY WILL REACH OUT AND TOUCH ONE OF MY LOCKS WHICH IS ENTIRELY INAPPROPRIATE.

IF THEY SAW THEIR MOTHERS DOING IT.

THEY WOULD CRINGE AND THAT TO ME IS THE TYPE OF BEHAVIOR AND HOW UNACCEPTABLE IT IS.I DON'T KNOW IF ANY KIND OF CULTURAL SENSITIVITY WOULD CHANGE THAT.

IF YOUR MOM WOULD BE EMBARRASSED BY THAT BEHAVIOR THAT IS A LINE WE SHOULDN'T CROSS.

>> EVERYONE IN THIS CONVERSATION CAN RELATE TO THIS EXPERIENCE.

BLACK HAIR HAS A POLITICAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY, OBVIOUSLY.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF THAT CULTURAL DISCRIMINATION THAT WE HAVE FELT OF OUR HAIR?

>> THERE'S ALL KINDS OF AREAS THAT WERE NOT PROMOTED OR DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF THEIR HAIR.

THIS AFFECTS OUR LIVELIHOOD.

CERTAINLY IT IS AFFECTING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AS THE SENATOR MENTIONED BUT YOU KNOW, IT IS REALLY IMPACTING THEIR WALLET.

I THINK WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE.

THEIR PARTICULAR RACIAL IDENTITY SHOULD TAKE THE KIND OF WORK YOU CAN DO AND IT SHOULDN'T LIMIT THEM IN TERMS OF THEIR POSSIBILITIES, PROFESSIONAL OR PERSONALLY.

>> PATRICE YOU SAY IS NOT JUST AN AMERICAN ATTITUDE, TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE GROWING UP IN TRINIDAD.

>> GROWING UP IN TRINIDAD.

I'VE DEFINITELY SEEN THE STORIES OVER THE YEARS.

THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH DISCRIMINATION OVER THE LOCKS, DREADLOCKS, AS WE HAVE CALLED IT IN THE CARIBBEAN.

TRADITIONALLY, OR BRAIDS.

THE WAY THAT PEOPLE TRADITIONALLY HAVE LEARNED TO STYLE OUR HAIR.

THERE IS A EUROCENTRIC STANDARD THAT HAS BEEN IMPOSED AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO EXAMINE AND TRY TO ROOT OUT OURSELVES AND IT IS DISCRIMINATION THAT HAPPENS IN SCHOOLS.

IT IS DISCRIMINATION THAT HAPPENS IN WORKPLACES.

EVEN WHEN PEOPLE ENTER THE PRISON SYSTEM.

FIRST THING THEY DO IS SHAVE OFF THEIR HAIR IF THEY HAVE LOCKS.

AND IT IS STILL USED IN CARIBBEAN ISLANDS AND STOPPED.

>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD.

I RUN A PROGRAM IN SOUTH AFRICA WHERE STUDENTS GO AND WORK AS JOURNALISTS.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS EVEN IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES.

THIS EUROCENTRIC IDEA OF HOW YOU WEAR YOUR HAIR EXISTS.

YOU WOULD THINK IN AN AREA THAT IS 80 PERCENT BLACK THAT PEOPLE WOULD REALLY EMBRACE THEIR NATURAL HAIR.

I THINK THEY EMBRACE IT MORE THAN WE DO IN THE UNITED STATES.

ON TELEVISION THERE YOU WILL SEE ALL KINDS OF HAIRSTYLES.

YOU WILL SEE NO HAIR, HEAD WRAPS AND THE LIKE THAT.

THERE IS MORE OF AN ACCEPTANCE OF A VARIETY BUT EVEN STILL IN SOUTH AFRICA AND IN KENYA WHERE I HAVE VISITED, I HAVE BEEN SHOCKED BY THE NUMBER OF LEAVES, WIGS AND UNNATURAL HAIR THAT I HAVE SEEN WORN BY, PARTICULARLY BY WOMEN.

THERE.

I THINK IT IS AGAIN IT GOES TO THIS IDEAL THAT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER.THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH BLACK HAIR.

WHEN IT IS UNALTERED.

WHAT THIS LEGISLATION CAN DO IS TO CHANGE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ALL PEOPLE.

NOT JUST BLACK PEOPLE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT BLACK PEOPLE DISCRIMINATE AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE IN THE WAY THEY WEAR THEIR HAIR AND THAT IS INTERNALIZED RACISM WHERE PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH OR PLEASING ENOUGH, BY THE WAY THEY WORK.

THIS KINDS OF LEGISLATION AND OTHER LEGISLATION LIKE THE CROWN ACT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SENATOR SIMMONS BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME.

WHAT IMPACT DO YOU HOPE THIS BILL HAS ON BLACK CHILDREN ESPECIALLY?

>> I WANT BLACK YOUTH TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAIR IS BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO WHO YOU ARE AND YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF HOW YOU WEAR YOUR HAIR.

IT IS SUCH A BASIC ELEMENT OF FREEDOM.

I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS THERE PROVIDENT.

RIGHT.

>>> I AS A HISTORIC FIRST LG BQ MEMBER IN THE SENATE.

I AM BLACK AND ETHIOPIAN.

IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND VISCERAL MESSAGE TO BLACK YOUTH THAT THE FUTURE IS THEIRS AND THEY CAN WEAR THEIR HAIR ANYWAY THEY SEE FIT.

IN 2021 IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT WE TOOK THAT TO HEART.

>> THE CONVERSATIONS WE COULD HAVE ALL NIGHT.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LET YOU GO BECAUSE WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

MY THANKS TO AVA THOMPSON GREENWILL, SENATOR MIKE SIMMONS AND PATRICE GRELL YURSIK FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

>> THE AMBITIOUS OVERHAUL OF THE RED AND PURPLE LINE ON THE NORTH SIDE ENTERS IT'S NEXT MAJOR PHASE TODAY.

THE BRYN MAWR OR WHEN ARGYLL'S AND LAURENCE STATIONS ARE SET TO SHUT DOWN UNTIL 2024 WITH TEMPORARY STATIONS OPENING UP AT BRYN MAWR AND ARGYLL.

THE REVAMP OF THE REAL SYSTEM IS BEING OVERSEEN BY THREE FIRMS, INCLUDING ONE THAT STARTED IN A SOUTH SIDE ATTIC AND HAS GROWN TO HAVE NATIONAL GOALS.

CHICAGO TONIGHT'S NICK BLUMBERG REPORTS.

>> THE TWO.1 BILLION DOLLAR PURPLE, RED, MODERNIZATION PROJECT IS THE BIGGEST PROJECT IN THE CTAS HISTORY.

SOMETHING SO MASSIVE.

THE TRANSIT AGENCY NEEDED TO HIRE EXTRA HANDS TO OVERSEE THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.

>> IT IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR FIRM TO BE A PART OF THIS PROGRESS.

NOW THAT WE ARE AT A CRITICAL MOME.

YOU CAN SEE THE DESIGN COME TO LIFE AND THAT'S WAS EXCITED REALLY EXCITING FOR ME.

>> HIDDEN FOR MATH AND SCIENCE.

HIS PHYSICS TEACHER SUGGESTED ENGINEERING.

>> I WAS LIKE NO, I'M GOOD.

I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE TRAINS FOR A LIVING AND HE SAID IT'S NOT THE KIND OF ENGINEER.

>> JOHNSON TOOK AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND LEARNED HE LOVED CIVIL ENGINEERING.

>> ANYTHING TO DO WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHETHER OR NOT IT'S BRIDGES, ROADS, BUILDINGS, TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOMOBILES, CIVIL ENGINEERING HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.

>> AFTER COLLEGE, HE WORKED FOR A TRADE ASSOCIATION BUT HE SAID HE ALWAYS HAD AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AND HE SAW AN OPENING AND HE STARTED THE RODRICK GROUP.

RODRICK IS HIS MIDDLE NAME.

>> I STARTED IN MY ATTIC AND NOW TODAY WE HAVE GROWN TO HAVING OVER 200 EMPLOYEES.>> EVEN THOUGH HE HAS EXPANDED.

HE SAID HE DOESN'T FORGET WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN THE STAFF WAS TINY.

>> I DID THE MARKETING, PR, THE ENGINEERING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.

NOW THAT WE'VE GROWN INTO THIS COMPANY WHERE I DON'T DO A LOT OF THE WORK I UNDERSTAND THE VALUE.

I LIKE THE ENVIRONMENT THERE.

YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU ARE JUST A NUMBER.

>> ROBERT WAS ONE OF THE COMPANY'S VERY FIRST EMPLOYEES.

>> WERE SHOT MADE US AN EFFORT TO BE MORE DIVERSE AND IT BEEN GREAT FOR COMPANY.

WHEN YOU KNOW PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, IT OPENS YOUR EYES TO A LOT OF THINGS AND YOU GROW AS A PERSON AND NOT JUST AN ENGINEER.

>> JOHNSON SAID HE DOESN'T WANT JUST A DIVERSE FIRM, HE WANTS TO HELP ENGINEERS LIKE HIM WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND RAISING MONEY TO GET STUDENTS INTERESTED IN STEM.

>> I DON'T THINK MINORITY STUDENTS BLACK STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR SEEM TO BE AFRAID O .

MATH AND SCIENCE.

YOU CAN'T CREATE A LOVE FOR MATH AND SCIENCE IN COLLEGE.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE A KID THAT LOVES MATH AT 5 AND 6 AND 7 YEARS OLD.

THAT'S WHERE THE FUTURE COMES FROM.

>> AS FOR RODERICK, HE WANTS THE COMPANY TO BE NATIONWIDE BY 2025 AND STAY CLOSE TO IT'S VALUES.

>> 60 PERCENT OF OUR FIRM IS DIVERSE AND IS PURPOSEFUL.

WE GIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT HAVE OPPORTUNITIES IN ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION GOOD.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOWER QUALITY.

IN FACT, I WOULD TELL YOU WE HAVE BETTER QUALITY BECAUSE OF OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY WITHIN THE FIRM.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I AM NICK BLUMBERG.

>>.

BY THE WAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY THAT RASHAD JOHNSON INTERN FOR WAS CALLED WALSH CONSTRUCTION AND IS A MASS JOINT VENTURE.

WALSH FLOOR WORKED ON THE REVAMP THAT THE JOHNSON COMPANY HELPED TO OVERSEE.

>> HOW DO CHICAGO INSTITUTIONS AND FEED THE POWER WORK FOR OR AT TIMES AGAINST THE CITY'S RESIDENCE?

THAT QUESTION IS ONE OF SEVERAL AT THE HEART OF A NEW WB T.V.

SERIES DID THE SERIES IS CALLED REIMAGINE CHICAGO.

IT IS HOSTED BY OUR NEXT GUEST WHO JOINED THEM IN DECEMBER AS HOST OF THE STATION'S FLAGSHIP MIDDAY SHOW RESET AND SASHA, AND SIMONS JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME SASHA.

I AM EXCITED YOU ARE HERE.

I KNOW YOU RECENTLY GRADUATED WITH A MASTERS DEGREE.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT AS WELL.

I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THE JOB AS THE RESET PROJECTS.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED OR WHAT HAS BEEN SURPRISING ABOUT THE FIRST FEW MONTHS YOU'VE BEEN ON THE JOB?

>> OH MY GOSH, WHAT HAVEN'T I LEARNED BRENDA'S.

CHICAGO IS AN AMAZING CITY FULL OF SO MUCH EXCITEMENT.

GOOD OR BAD.

I HAVE LEARNED HOW THINGS WORK IN THE CITY.

I HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED AT CHICAGO FROM THE OUTSIDE IN, AND HIGH ONLY HEARD THE TOP HEADLINES.

I'VE ONLY HEARD ABOUT THE BAD REP, THE VIOLENCE, I'VE HEARD THINGS ABOUT MAYOR LIGHTFOOT.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THINGS WERE PUT TOGETHER AND HOW EXACTLY THAT PLAYED OUT FROM INSIDE.

I KNOW WHO IS IN POWER AND WHO IS NOT AND THE DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS AND DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND HOW THINGS ARE WORKING TO COMMUNITY RESIDENTS IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.

DIFFERENT FOODS JUST EVERYTHING.

I HAVE DEFINITELY TAKEN THE TIME TO EXPAND MY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE CITY BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT ONE.

IT REMINDS ME OF MY HOME.

I AM FROM TORONTO.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN I CAME HERE IS HOW THIS FEELS LIKE THE ENVIRONMENT I GREW UP IN, AND IT IS NOT DISAPPOINTED JUST YET.

>> THERE'S SOMETHING NEW TO LEARN ABOUT CHICAGO EVERY DAY.

I AM STILL LEARNING ABOUT IT, TOO.

WHEN YOU WERE A REPORTER FOR WASHINGTON D.C.'S NPR STATION, YOU COVERED RACE AND AFFORDABILITY THERE.

HOW DID THAT KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TRANSLATE INTO HOW YOU WILL COVER THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

NOW YOU MET.

>> THAT KNOWLEDGE HELPED ME REALIZE THAT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE PLAYING OUT IN WASHINGTON DID A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE PLAYING OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THERE AND WHEN I SAY WASHINGTON I MEAN EVERYTHING OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE PRESIDENT AND ALL THAT.

AS IF THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT WASHINGTON HAS TO OFFER.

I AM TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY RESIDENTS OF D.C., THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

THINGS THAT PLAYED OUT.

FOOD INSECURITY, POVERTY, MATERNAL MORTALITY.

THINGS THAT WERE AT A RAMPANT RATE HAPPENING THERE ARE ALSO PLAYING OUT IN CHICAGO.

I REALLY GOT TO EXTEND AND OPEN UP MY LENS AND FIND OUT IN HOW MANY WAYS WE ARE JUST THE SAME, OR THE PROBLEMS AND THE ISSUES ARE JUST THE SAME.

COMING TO CHICAGO.

IT WAS NICE TO EXPAND THAT AND TAKE THE REPORTING THAT I LEARNED AND THAT EXPERIENCE IN WASHINGTON, AND BRING THAT HERE.

I BROUGHT THAT LENS TO RESET AS WELL.

RESET WAS A SHOW THAT WAS FOCUSED ON THESE ISSUES, BUT SO FAR, AND THEY ARE CONTINUING TO MAGNIFY THAT THE COVERAGE THEY ARE FOCUSED ON.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS THAT FOCUS ON RESIDENCE AND THE PEOPLE WILL AND FOCUS ON THE SOLUTION.

WE FOCUS ON A LOT OF THAT THAT DOESN'T SHOW ON NPR.

NEXT TO THAT AND YOU ALL ROLLED OUT A COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CALLED REIMAGINE CHICAGO.

HOW DOES THIS SERIES DIG INTO THE CITIES OPERATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS?

>> IS DOING EXACTLY THAT.

IS LOOKING AT THE INSTITUTIONS AND SYSTEMS HERE IN CHICAGO WHICH HAVE BEEN RUNNING FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND RUNNING IN A SPECIFIC WAY.

WE ARE ASKING HOW CAN THESE SYSTEMS WORK BETTER.

>>> .WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW THEY WORK, WE LOOK AT THE ROOT AND THEN INCORPORATED OF HOW THEY COULD WORK BETTER.

WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR CITY AND CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WELL.

WE LAUNCHED LAST WEEK FOCUSING ON CITY GOVERNMENT AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW ALDERMAN'S WORK, WHAT THEIR ROLE IS AND WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE MAYOR AND HOW MUCH POWER DOES THE MAYOR HAVE?

HOW IS THIS THAT THE CITY OF CHICAGO IS FUNCTIONING ON?

WE TAKE THE INFORMATION AND IDEAS THAT COME UP AND WE TALKED TO CHICAGO RESIDENTS.

THEY ARE SO MUCH PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND WE TAKE THE IDEAS TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS DID LAST WEEK WE TALKED TO A LONG TIME ALDERMAN AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND WE SHARED THE IDEAS TO GET THEIR REACTIONS AS WELL.

THIS SERIES WILL RUN THROUGHOUT THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

WE WILL GO FROM CITY GOVERNMENT TO FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS TAKE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND SCHOOLS IN THE SAME MANNER.

>> SOME OF THE GUESS YOU'VE SPOKEN TO SO FAR AND DISCUSSED, THE CHICAGO MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE ALDERMAN APPROACH TO COMMUNITY INVESTMENT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIG TAKEAWAYS AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU FOCUSED ON LAST WEEK, BUT WHAT WERE YOUR TAKEAWAYS?

>> SOME OF THE THINGS WE LOOKED AT.

WE LOOKED AT PHOENIX, ARIZONA, THEY OPERATE ON A WEEK MAYOR SYSTEM AS OPPOSED TO OUR STRONG MAYOR SYSTEM.

HERE, THERE CITY COUNSELORS WERE ALDERMAN AS WE CALL THEM IN CHICAGO, THEY HAVE MORE POWER THAN OUR ALDERMAN HERE.

THEY ARE ABLE TO AFFECT CHANGE MORE THAN WE ARE HERE.

IN MY HOMETOWN.

WE TALK TO FOLKS IN TORONTO ON HOW THE CITY COUNCIL WORKS THERE AND SOME OF THE BIG TAKEAWAYS ARE THAT THE MAYOR CAN BE.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY, STRIPPED OF CERTAIN POWERS, BUT THERE ARE SOME WAYS TO REALLOCATE JUST HOW THINGS WORK AT CITY HALL.

THERE ARE SOME WAYS TO GET RESIDENTS MORE INVOLVED AND GET VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY MORE IMPACTED FOR THIS ALEUTIANS THAT BASICALLY AFFECTS US ALL.

THEY ARE A WAY TO GET MORE RESIDENCE INPUT AND TO GET ALDERMAN TO DO THINGS OUTSIDE THEIR JURISDICTION.

>> OBVIOUSLY THERE'S MORE TO COME FROM RESET AS YOU CONTINUE THE SERIES.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING IT, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.SASHA ANN SIMONS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE ARE BACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST SUFFRAGISTS.

IDA B WELL'S LEGEND LOOMS LARGE IN CHICAGO, WHETHER IT IS TO LEAVE A SEGREGATED TRAIN CAR OR INVESTIGATING LYNCHING IN THE SOUTH.

SHE PUT HERSELF IN HARMS WAY TO ENACT CHANGE.

A NEW WTTW CHICAGO STORY SPECIAL ON WELLS TELLS HER STORIES WITH INTERVIEWS WITH HER DESCENDENTS, AND HISTORIANS.

THEY LOOK AT HER BEGINNINGS AS A JOURNALIST IN THIS SNEAK PEEK.

>> IDA B WELL WAS STARTING TO MAKE A NAME FOR HERSELF.

SHE TOOK A TEACHING JOB IN MEMPHIS AND JOINED A GROUP OF BLACK TEACHERS.

>> IT WAS A COMMUNITY OF THINKERS, ARTISTS, AND SHE TOOK ALLOCUTION CLASSES WHICH IS SPEAKING CLASSES.

IN HER DIARY.

SHE WRITES BACK ABOUT HOW SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE WAS GOING TO PAY FOR HER NEXT LESSON.

YOU WONDER WHAT SHE WAS PREPARING HERSELF FOR.

SHE WAS HONING HER SKILLS.

>> EACH PROGRAM ENDED WITH A READING FROM THE EVENING STAR, A GOSSIP FILLED NEWSPAPER OR WHICH IDA CALLED A SPICY JOURNAL.

SHE WAS SHOCKED WHEN SHE WAS ASKED TO START WRITING FOR IT.

AS IDA B WELL FIRST PUT PEN TO PAPER.

SHE FOUND WRITING TO BE NOTHING SHORT THAN A REVELATION.

>> SHE FELT LIKE SHE COULD EXPLORE MORE OF WHO SHE WAS AND EXPRESS WHO SHE WAS THROUGH WRITING MORE THAN SHE EVER COULD IN TEACHING.

>> I WROTE IN A PLAIN AND COMMON SENSE WAY ON THE THINGS THAT CONCERN OUR PEOPLE.

KNOWING THAT THEIR EDUCATION WAS LIMITED.

I NEVER YOU'D REALLY USE A WORD OF TWO SYLLABLES WHEN ONE WOULD SERVE A PURPOSE.

I SIGNED THESE ARTICLES IOLA.

>> WHEN IDA B WELL FIRST STARTS WRITING.

SHE WROTE ABOUT MEANS THAT PEOPLE WOULD EXPECT A WOMAN WHO IS WRITING FOR A CHURCH PUBLICATION TO WRITE BUT THAT CHANGED EARLY ON.

AS A SCHOOLTEACHER.

SHE STARTS TO DOCUMENT THE SEGREGATION IN THE SCHOOLS AND HOW THE BLACK SCHOOLS WERE NOT GETTING THE SAME RESOURCES AND THE EDUCATION AND INEQUITIES.

>> SHE WROTE AN ARTICLE IN 1889 ABOUT THE MEMPHIS SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THE ARTICLE COULD LITERALLY BE PRINTED TODAY AND YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

>> IDA B WELL A CHICAGO STORY SPECIAL AIRS ON WTTW ON FRIDAY AT 8:00.

WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THE DOCUMENTARY NEXT WEEK ON CHICAGO TONIGHT AS WELL.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THE SUNDAY NIGHT.

YOU'D BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE WTTW.com/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST IN NEWS FROM WTTW AND JOIN PARIS SCHUTZ AND MEET TOMORROW AT 7:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

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

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND GOOD NIGHT.

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