.

>>> HI, THERE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES.

ON THE SHOW, ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF BLACK VETERANS STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

THE HEALING POWER OF ARTWORK MADE BY CHICAGO VIETNAM WAR VETERAN THAT YOU WILL NOT SOON FORGET.

>>> A NEW BOOK ABOUT THE MANY FACES OF FRAUD IS THIS COLLECTION.

A WOMAN IS HELPING OTHERS WHO CAN NOT EAT GLUTEN SAFELY.

>> TAKING DOWN BASKETBALL HOOPS IS NOT MAKING A NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER.

>> WHY HE SAYS BRINGING BASKETBALL BACK TO THE PARK WILL MAKE CHICAGO STREETS SAFER.

ALL OF THAT COMING UP, KEEPING BLACK VETS HEALTHY, PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY, THAT IS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

>>> WE BELIEVE WHEN VOICES ARE HEARD COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER.

THE FUTURE HOLDS GREATER PROMISE FOR ALL.

WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TOGETHER WE CAN DRAW CHANGE.

>>> ORGANIZATIONS ARE HELPING BLACK VETERANS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES GET THE HELP THEY NEED THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOUND BLACK VETERANS MAY BE MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS, A DA REPORT SHOWS THEY WERE MORE OFTEN DENIED BENEFITS FOR PTSD.

JOINING US NOW IS FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE VETERANS INITIATIVE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BLACK VETERANS COALITION, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHAT LED YOU TO START THE MULTIFACE VETERANS INITIATIVE?

>> I LOST MY SON TO SUICIDE WHO WAS A VET.

AT THE TIME I ASK THE QUESTION, WHERE IS THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT THEY DOING?

I FELT WHEN VETERANS COME BACK THEY COME BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY LEFT.

BUT IT IS INVISIBLE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO, WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS TO CREATE A SPACE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT COULD HELP THEM NAVIGATE AND HAVE A SAFE SPACE TO JOIN AND CONNECT THEM TO NATIVE RESOURCES, THAT IS WHY WE STARTED.

>> YOU STARTED HERE AFTER THE LOSS OF YOUR SON.

>> HIS NAME IS SAAED MOHAMMED, HE SERVED IN THE MILITARY, HE WAS SPECIAL FORCES, DISCHARGED, HE GOT OUT, WORKED FOR INTELLIGENCE, CARRYING WHAT YOU SEE AND CAN'T BE UNSEEN, WHAT YOU HAVE DONE CAN NOT BE UNDONE.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE VA AND POST TRAUMATIC STRESS YES, THAT IS THERE, BUT WHAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IS THE MORAL INJURIES, THAT IS WHAT MANY VETERANS CARRY AND THAT, OFTENTIMES IS WHAT LEADS THEM TO TAKE THEIR OWN LIVES.

>> YOU SERVED IN THE NAVY AS AN INFORMATION TECHNICIAN FOR 6 1/2 YEARS WHAT ARE THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT BLACK VETERANS FACE?

>> WE TALK ABOUT RECRUITMENT BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE A LOT OF FOLKS ARE COMING FROM.

SO, WHEN AFRICAN AMERICAN VETERANS JOIN THE SERVICE IT IS A CULTURE SHOCK WITH IT BEING THE MILITARY AND A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T LOOK LIKE THEM AND NOT THE SAME PLACES THEY COME FROM.

THE BIGGEST THING IS JUST HAVING OTHER BLACK SAILORS PULLED ME ASIDE AND HAD BEEN THERE FOR AWHILE, SAY HEY, STAY AWAY FROM THIS OR NAVIGATE THINGS THIS WAY.

>> HOW IS YOUR ORGANIZATION CONNECT VETS, ESPECIALLY BLACK VETS WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THEY NEED >> WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO OVER 10 YEARS IS DEVELOP 14 COMMUNITY HUBS, WHAT WE CALL COMMUNITY HUBS THAT SPANS ABOUT 18 COMMUNITIES.

WHAT WE DO IS WE CONNECT AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN TO FIND OUT WHERE THOSE RESOURCES ARE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN CONNECT THOSE VETERANS TO THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

SO WHEN THEY COME INTO THOSE COMMUNITY SPACES EACH OF OUR COMMUNITY SITES HAS ACCESS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN AND THEY CAN CONNECT THEM WITH THE NEEDED SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

WE ALSO RECOMMEND THE VET CENTERS, THE VET CENTERS WILL SERVICE VETERANS IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR DISCHARGE STATUS, ALL VETERANS, SOME DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE VA, SOME CAN NOT GIVE THEIR DISCHARGE STATUS.

>> MANNY WHAT EXPERIENCES HAVE YOU HEARD FROM BLACK VETS TRYING TO ACCESS MENTAL SERVICES THROUGH THE VA?

>> ONE OF THE MOST TRAUMATIC STORIES THAT I HEARD IT WAS A VETERAN WHO IS A VETERAN OF SPECIAL FORCES AS WELL LOOKING INTO MENTAL HEALTH AND SEEKING COMPENSATION FROM THE VA.

THE VA TRIED TO CONNECT THEIR POST TRAUMATIC STRESS FOR THEIR TIME IN CHICAGO GROWING UP VERSUS THEIR TIME IN THE MILITARY WHEN THEY WERE ON THE FRONTLINES.

THOSE WERE SOME OF THE BARRIERS AFRICAN AMERICAN VETERANS ARE EXPERIENCING.

A LOT OF TIMES IT IS DIFFERENT TO SIT ACROSS FROM SOMEBODY WHO ASK NOT UNDERSTAND YOUR EXPERIENCES PRIOR TO THE SERVICES AND YOUR EXPERIENCE AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN IN THE SERVICE AND TALK ABOUT THE DISABILITY CLAIM THAT YOU HAVE.

WE HAVE 14 TRAINED HERE IN COOK COUNTY TO GIVE BLACK VETERANS BY GETTING THEIR BENEFITS BY SITTING ACROSS FROM ANOTHER BLACK SERVICE MEMBER.

>> YOUR ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON THE SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT FEMALE VETERANS FACE, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> FEMALE VETERANS, MANY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED WITH SUFFER FROM POST TRAUMATIC STRESS.

WE TALKED TO ONE FEMALE VETERAN RECENTLY WHO'S HUSBAND KILLED THEIR CHILD.

THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE SEE WITH FEMALE VETERANS WHEN THEY COME BACK IS REALLY RECONNECTING WITH THEIR CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY IF THEY HAD CHILDREN BEFORE.

WE HAD NEVER ABLE TO RECONNECT WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

WE WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY GET HER INTO THE VA TO GET SERVICES AND SHE DIED ON THE OPERATING TABLE WHEN THEY HAD HER SERVICES, NONE OF HER CHILDREN WERE THERE.

SO, THIS BECOMES A HUGE ISSUE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW WE SERVICE FEMALE VETS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WOMEN VETERANS, ALTHOUGH THE VA IS DOING MUCH BETTER IN TERMS OF SERVICING, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE WOMEN'S CLINIC WAS IN THE BASEMENT AND AS THEY ARE WALKING THROUGH THEY ARE WALKING THROUGH CATCALLS.

>> OH, GEEZ.

>> THEY GO TO THE VA AND THEY ARE NOT RECOGNIZED AS A VET.

THEY ARE ASKING WHO IS YOUR SPOUSE.

>> HEARTBREAKING STORIES THERE.

BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIMES, MANNY, WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE?

WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE TO SUPPORT BLACK VETERANS STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES?

>> WE NEED SERVICES, SHE WORKS ON FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

A LOT OF FOLK'S FAITH IT WAS THEIR PRIMARY SOURCE OF ENERGY AND STRENGTH PRIOR TO SERVICE.

IF WE NEED TO WORK WITH VETERANS WE ARE DOING THEM A DISSERVICE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, RIGHT?

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WHITE VETERANS RETURN HOME THERE ARE PARADES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

A LOT OF TIMES WE RETURN HOME TO OUR COMMUNITIES FOLKS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH US.

WORKING MORE WITH BLACK ORGANIZATIONS TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO WORK WITH THE VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

BIGGER POINT TO LAY OUT FOR THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IS IF YOU ARE ASKING HAVE FOLKS IF THERE ARE VETERANS THERE ARE A HOST OF SERVICES THAT EXIST AND THE VA THAT HELL HELP CHANGE THE OUTCOMES.

WE KNOW OUR SOCIAL SERVICES ARE OVERBURDENED.

IF WE ARE ASKING FOLKS, HAVE THEY SERVED IN THE MILITARY?

THERE COULD BE A SOURCE OF RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP THEM AS WELL.

>> THAT IS WHERE WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

MANNY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> IN 1968 A U.S. MARINE WAS WOUNDED AND EVACUATED FROM VIETNAM.

HE RETURNED TO CHICAGO AND FOUND HIS CALLING IN AN ARTWORK THAT MIGHT BE CALLED OBSESSIVE.

HE NOW LIVES IN LOUISIANA BUT HE CONTINUES TO CREATE.

HE OPENED A SHOW AT THE NATIONAL VETERANS ART MUSEUM.

BE WARNED THERE IS A DESCRIPTION OF VIOLENCE IN THE STORY THAT MAY BE UPSETTING.

>> ç0 IS TO GUIDE THE FOCUS AND ATTENTION TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE SO THAT THE WORD WILL KNOW THE UNDERSTANDING OF US AS A PEOPLE FROM ITS VERY EARLY BEGINNINGS AND THAT IS WHY THE PIECES TELL THE STORY OF A PERIOD IN TIME CAPTURED IN ART.

>> Reporter: DR. CHARLES SMITH GAVE HIMSELF THE TITLE DOCTOR TO HONOR THE LIFETIME OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.

HE MADE THOUSANDS OF THESE FIGURES FROM A BLEND OF CONCRETE, WOOD PULP AND REBARB.

IN 1990s HIS HOME BECAME A ROADSIDE ATTRACTION AND NOW HE RUNS A MUSEUM NEAR NEW ORLEANS.

CALL ME DOC, HE SAID, AND TOLD ME ABOUT HIS LIFE BEFORE HE WAS AN ARTIST.

HIS DESCRIPTION OF WAR IS HEROING.

>> IN MY LIFE IN 1968 WHEN I CAME HOME FROM VIETNAM THERE WERE USING OF DRUGS, MARIJUANA, AND VERY MUCH FULL OF HATE FOR THE KILLING THAT I DID OF FAMILIES, WOMEN, CHILDREN, WATER BUFFALO, NORTH VIETNAMESE, ANYTHING THAT DID NOT HAVE U.S. MC ON THEM I WAS KILLING THEM.

YOU CAN FEEL IT IN YOUR HEART.

YOU FEEL THE CHANGE IN THE HATE TAKING OVER YOU AND AFTER AWHILE YOU GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT.

THAT IS WHY THEY CALL IT PTSD.

IT DON'T BOTHER YOU NOW BUT AS YOU GET OLDER AND AS YOU COME OUT IT BOTHERS YOU.

I AM UNDER VA CARE RIGHT NOW FOR POST TRAUMATIC STRESS AND SITUATIONS OF THAT WAR AND YOU NEVER GET OVER IT.

>> Reporter: HE IS VOCAL ABOUT WHAT HE HAS NOT SEEN OVER THE YEARS IN TERMS OF POLITICAL CHANGE AND LEADERSHIP.

>> I AM 82 NOW AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

I REPRESENTATIVES DO NOT TALK TO US, THEY DON'T INCLUDE US, THEY DON'T COME AND ASK OUR OPINION, WHAT ARE OUR NEEDS.

ALL I KNOW ABOUT A LEADER IS MALCOMX, MARTIN LUTHER KING, FREDERICK DOUGLAS, THOSE PEOPLE OF THE PAST BUT TODAY'S LEADERS FAILED THAT LEADERSHIP.

THEY DON'T MEASURE UP.

>> Reporter: YEARS AGO SMITH WAS A PASTOR IN TENNESSEE.

HE NO LONGER MINISTERS A CHURCH BUT HE HAS NOT STOPPED PREACHING.

>> THE CALLING COMES FROM GOD, GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE.

GOD WORKED WITH ME, z ART IN MY HEART AND SAY THAT IS THE PLATFORM YOU USE.

SO THAT IS WHAT MY ART DOES.

IT CREATES CONVERSATIONS, IT GIVES INFORMATION AND IT GIVES DIRECTIONS IN TERMS OF WHERE WE NEED TO BE AT EVERY LEVEL, POLITICALLY, COMMUNITY, AND THAT TYPE OF A THING.

THE MESSAGE MUST CONTINUE TO GO OUT.

IT MUST CONTINUE TO POWER ON WHAT IS WRONG.

I POUND ON ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, PRINCIPALS, I AM LIKE THE RADIO.

IF YOU DON'T CHANGE THE CHANNEL OR CUT IT OFF I AM GOING TO KEEP GOING.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, THIS IS MARK VATELLI.

>> HE IS GOING TO KEEP GOING.

>> IT IS CALLED DR. CHARLES SMITH: HOLDING THE DREAM IN MY HAND.

IT IS SAT THE VETERANS ART MUSEUM UNTIL JUNE 1st, A FEW MORE DAYS, THERE IS MORE ON OUR WEBSITE INCLUDING HIS ENCOUNTER MEETING MARTIN LUTHER KING.

WE ARE BACK RIGHT AFTER THIS .

>>> KELLY RICHMOND'S POKE ABOUT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT FRAUD.

SHE PRODUCED A DOCUMENT ABOUT THE WOMAN WHO DEFRAUDED DIXON, ILLINOIS, OUT OF $64 MILLION IN THE LARGEST MUNICIPAL FRAUD IN U.S HISTORY.

IN THIS MONTH'S BLACK VOICES BOOK SELECTION WANTS TO TEACH YOU ABOUT FRAUD IN "FOOL ME ONCE: SECRETS FROM THE TRILLION DOLLAR FRAUD INDUSTRY.

EXPLORING THE MANY WAYS FRAUD CAN TAKE AND THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE THAT PERPETRATOR.

WELCOME TO CHICAGO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

>> TELL US ABOUT THE CATEGORIES.

>> SURE, I WANTED TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE FACES OF FRAUD.

PERPETRATORS, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES, NOT EVERYONE STEALS FOR GREED.

SO, YOU CAN BE AN INTENTIONAL PERPETRATOR, WHICH YOU ARE PROBABLY NOT, YOU CAN BE AN ACCIDENTAL PERPETRATOR WHICH YOU MIGHT MAKE A MISTAKE AND FIND YOURSELF EMBEDDED IN A FRAUD OR A RIGHTIOUS PERPETRATOR.

ALL OF THOSE ARE THE DIFFERENT PROFILES, I WANTED TO OFFER A NEW WAY OF THINKING ABOUT A PERPETRATOR.

EVERYONE DOES NOT STEAL FOR MONEY.

>> YOU OPEN YOUR BOOK WITH THE RITA CRONWELL THOUGH, THE LAST TIME YOU JOINED US HERE WAS TO TALK ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY THAT YOU DIRECTED ABOUT HER.

YOU ALSO INCLUDE STORIES OF, YOU KNOW, THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT THINK OF AS FRAUDS, RETAIL RETURN FRAUD.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOLKS TAKEAWAY FROM THIS FRAUD?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

I OPENED THE BOOK WITH HER.

RITA'S STORY REALLY INSPIRED THE BOOK.

SO, YOU WILL READ THAT THROUGHOUT THE BOOK.

SHE IS AN INTENTIONAL PERPETRATOR.

WHAT I WANTED PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE ALL CAN RATIONALIZE THINGS THAT WE WANT.

RITA RATIONALIZED ON A LARGER SCALE.

IF YOU ARE AT WORK AND NEED TO MAKE A PHOTOCOPY FOR YOUR KID'S BIRTHDAY AND YOU USE THE COPY MACHINE OR YOU ARE GOING ON VACATION TO A CONFERENCE AND YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS AND THEY STAY IN THE HOTEL ROOM, OR YOU REGISTER AND DO NOT SHOW UP.

FORMS OF FRAUD, TOO.

THIS IDEA THAT THIS IS THEM, I WANTED TO CHANGE THAT NARRATIVE.

I WANTED PEOPLE TO REALIZE THIS IS US.

WE ALL CAN RATIONALIZE THINGS THAT WE WANT.

>> CLEARLY AT SOME POINT IT GETS AWAY.

>> IT CAN GET AWAY.

>> THE TRAIN GETS OFF OF TRACK.

>> IT CAN GET OFF OF THE TRACK.

IN THE BOOK I TALK ABOUT A LOT OF PERSON STORIES, I HAD AN EXPERIENCE WHERE A RETAILER SENT ME A PURSE THAT I PURCHASED AND THE NEXT DAY THEY SENT ME ANOTHER ONE.

THE COMPANY SENT TWO BAGS, I WAS THINKING SHE WOULD SAY, AND THAT IS AWFUL.

WHAT SHE SAID WAS, YOU SHOULD SELL IT.

SELL IT ON EBAY GET YOUR MONEY.

I AM LIKE WAIT A MINUTE AND I DID A SURVEY AND I STARTED ASKING PEOPLE, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

NOT YOUR FAULT THEY SENT THE BAG, SELL IT.

THESE SMALL MISSTEPS CAN GROW AND GROW AND GROW.

YOU THINK OF RITA'S CASE IT DID NOT START OFF BECAUSE SHE STOLE THAT IT STARTED OFF SMALL.

MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BAG SHE GOT AND DECIDED TO KEEP.

WHO KNOWS, THAT IS WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE.

WE ALL ARE RESENTED.

A LOT OF US DO NOT TAKE, A LOT OF US DO NOT GET CAUGHT DOING THINGS.

>> ANOTHER STORY CHICAGOANS CAN BE AWARE OF, SOUTH SIDE LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM, TAKEN OUT OF THE TITLE FOR HAVING INELIGIBLE PEOPLE ON THE TEAM.

>> IN THE BOOK JUST LIKE I TALK ABOUT PERPETRATORS I TALK ABOUT WHISTLE-BLOWERS, IT IS A LOADED WORK.

YOUR REACTION MIGHT SAY SNITCH, RAT, TRADER, SOMEONE THAT IS NOT TRUSTWORTHY.

JUST LIKE I DID WITH THE PERPETRATORS I WANTED TO CREATE WHISTLE-BLOWERS, YOU COULD BE ACCIDENTAL, NOBLE, OR VYINGEL YOU WANT SOMEONE THAT KNOWS THE RULES THAT KNOWS SOMEONE AROUND YOU GETS OUT OF LINE.

SO WHEN I THINK OF THAT.

WHISTLE-BLOWER HALF OF THEM HATED THE MAN AND THE OTHER HALF COULD EMPATHIZE WITH HIM.

THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT FOLLOW THE RULES, HE KNEW IT.

HE FELT LIKE SOMEONE NEEDED TO SAY SOMETHING.

WAS HE WRONG?

NOT REALLY.

WHEN HE DID, PEOPLE ATTACKED HIM.

IT WAS AN INTERESTING CLASS, SOME PEOPLE WERE SUPPORTIVE OF HIM AND OTHERS WERE ANGRY ABOUT HIS ACTIONS.

>> SO, WE HAVE 20 SECONDS LEFT WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOUR AVERAGE PERSON CAN DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST FRAUD?

>> FOLLOW YOUR GUT.

YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT, THAT IS THE FIRST THING.

IF IT IS, IF THERE IS SMOKE THERE IS FIRE.

AND SO JUST FOLLOW YOUR GUT.

TAKE THE TIME, RETAKE THE TIME TO JUST, IF YOU ORGANIZATION ASK QUESTIONS, MAKE SURE ALL OF THE INTERNAL CONTROLS YOU WORK.

THERE IS SOMEONE IN YOUR PROBABLY ION THAT IS =?o THINKING ABOUT HOW TO DEFRAUD YOU.

>> OH, WOW, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> ONCE AGAIN IT IS "FOOL ME ONCE: SCAMS, STORIES AND SECRETS FROM THE TRILLION DOLLAR FRAUD INDUSTRY.

YOU CAN READ AN EXERT ON OUR WEBSITE.

.

>>> THE AUTOIMMUNE SYSTEM.

CELIAC, IT IS IN A SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AND MOST ARE BLACK.

WHEN A WOMAN WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CELIAC DISEASE SHE DECIDED TO COOK UP A SOLUTION HERSELF.

OUR PRODUCER MET UP WITH THE CHEF.

>> I DID NOT GO TO SCHOOL TO BE A CHEF.

I JUST LIKE TO COOK.

I AM HUNGRY.

THEN IT WAS LIKE HOW DO YOU MAKE THAT WORK?

>> HER RECIPE FOR RESTAURANT OWNERSHIP BEGAN WITH AN UNUSUAL INGREDIENT.

A DIAGNOSE.

>> I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CELIAC DISEASE, I FOUND OUT WHEN I WAS THREE MONTHS PREGNANT.

I WENT TO SIX OR SEVEN DIFFERENT SPECIALISTS.

AT THAT TIME I STARTED TO LOSE HEARING IN MY RIGHT EAR, I WAS LOSING MY HAIR, ONCE YOU ARE PREGNANT AND YOU HAVE THESE ALLERGIES THE SYMPTOMS ARE ESCALATED.

NO ONE COULD TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME.

IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IT WAS NOT PREVALENT, THERE WAS NO ONE TO TURN TO SAY HEY, I NEED HELP.

FOR ME IT WAS A JOURNEY OF EXPLORING, YOU KNOW, WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO.

>> SHE SAYS AFTER FACING A LACK OF DIETARY ADVICE SHE DECIDED TO BLAZE HER OWN TRAIL >> I WANTED TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I STARTED A GLUTEN FREE FOOD TRUCK.

>> Reporter: SHE OPEN TODAY IN 2016 LEANED TOWARDS STREET FOOD LIKE WINGS AND TACOS WHEN SHE OPENED HER DINE IN SPOT EARLIER THIS YEAR SHE ROLLED OUT A NEW MENU THAT INCLUDES FOODS YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT TO FIND GLUTEN FREE VERSIONS OF >> I WANTED TO TEST OUT SOMETHING KNEW SOUTHERN TWANGT.

HAD A SPIN ON FRIED CHICKEN, FRIED CATFISH, THE FRIED LOBSTER.

I TRIED OUT RICE FLOUR, POTATO FLOUR, ANYTHING YOU COULD THINK OF THAT WAS GLUTEN FREE TO SEE HOW PEOPLE RESPONDED TO IT.

>> NOW I KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY SAY I LOVE CHICKEN AND WAFFLES.

>> BECAUSE IT IS ENTIRELY GLUTEN FREE CUSTOMERS WITH SEVERE ALLERGIES CAN DINE WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT CROSS CONTAMINATION.

>> I AM HAPPY THAT PEOPLE ARE FINDING ME.

I HAVE NOT HAD FRIED CHICKEN IN YEARS, I HAVE NOT HAD MAC AND CHEESE.

OH MY, I CAN EAT ANYTHING AND NOT WORRY ABOUT AN ALLERGIC REACTION.

A LOT OF PLACES WITH GLUTEN OPTIONS BUT NOT A GLUTEN FREE KITCHEN, THERE IS STILL THE DANGER, HERE THERE IS NO DANGER.

WHEN THEY TELL ME THEY HAVE AN ALLERGY OR THEY ARE CELIAC I AM LIKE, WELCOME HOME >> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

>> AND THE FOOD TRUCK IS STILL ON THE ROAD FOR CATERING, FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> SUMMER IN CHICAGO IS WHEN PARKS COME ALIVE WITH PEOPLE ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS AND ESPECIALLY PLAYING SPORTS.

BUT IN RECENT YEARS BASKETBALL NETS AND EVEN SOME RIMS AT SOME CITY PARKS LEAVING KIDS WANTING TO PLAY WITHOUT A SHOT.

HERE HE GIVES THE LAST WORD ON WHY HE SAYS BRINGING BACK BASKETBALL PARKS OR BASKETBALL BACK TO PARKS WILL LEAD TO A SAFER SPACE.

>> MY NAME IS JAMAL.

WE ARE A SOCIAL IMPACT ORGANIZATION.

OUR MISSION IS TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT.

I AM AT COLUMBUS PARK BECAUSE IT IS SUMMERTIME.

IN ALL OF CHICAGO WE ARE NOTICING BASKETBALL RIMS BEING TAKEN DOWN.

MORE THAN THAT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE ANTI-THEFT STEERING WHEEL LOCKS PREVENTING KIDS TO SHOOT.

I DON'T SEE YOU TAKING DOWN THE VOLLEYBALL NETS OR SOCCER NETS BUT YOU ARE PUTTING STEERING WHEEL LOCKS ON BASKETBALL RIMS, THAT IS NOT FAIR.

AND PARKS BELONG TO EVERYONE.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FIND THE NEXT PLAYER IF YOU CAN NOT PLAYSTREET BALL, RIGHT?

I LOVE BASKETBALL.

IT BROUGHT ME AROUND THE WORLD.

I WITH TONIGHT COLLEGE, I GOT A BUSINESS DEGREE BUT IT STARTED PLAYING BASKETBALL IN THE PARK.

IT IS A GOOD WAY TO MAKE FRIENDS, BUILD LEADER SLP, LEARN TO BE ON TIME AND MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOU RECOGNIZE PEOPLE AND HAVE SMALL TALK IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS WHAT THE PARKS ARE FOR.

TAKING THE NETS DOWN DOES NOT MAKE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER BUT PUTTING THEM BACK UP COULD BE THE START TO A COMMUNITY.

40, 60 KIDS A DAY CAN BE PLAYING AT THOSE COURTS.

THAT IS KEEPING 40 OR 60 KIDS OUT OF GANGS, TROUBLE, OUT OF BREAKING INTO YOUR CRIB.

THAT IS GIVING THEM SOMETHING TO DO, FOR REALS, WE HEAR ABOUT CARJACKINGS GOING ON, THEY ARE ON THE COURT AND THEY ARE NOT BREAKING INTO CARS AND PqñPLE LIKE ME CAN MENTOR THEM.

WE HAVE A SAFE STREET BALL INITIATIVE, RAISING MONEY FOR NETS AND HOOPS, LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK THAT NEEDS A NEW RIM, DONATE TO THE INITIATIVE.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO HAPPEN.

WE WILL WORK WITH YOUR COMMUNITY AND THE PARK DISTRICT, FRIENDS OF THE PARKS, A COUPLE OF YOUR FRIENDS, MY FRIENDS, ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO PLAYSTREET BALL AND HAVE A HEALTHY, SAFE SUMMER.

IF YOU SEE ME ON THE COURT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, PLAY 32 WITH ME, 21, I LOVE CHICAGO, I LOVE CHICAGOANS, COME HOLLER AT ME.

>>> YOU CAN FIND MORE ON HIS SAFE STREET BALL INITIATIVE ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE.

WTTW NEWS.COM.

>>> WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH A PERFORMANCE FROM TINA TURNER, THE QUEEN OF ROCK 'N' ROLL DIED ON WEDNESDAY AT THE AGE OF 83.

SHE PERFORMED ON OUR SOUND STAGE PROGRAM IN 1983.

HERE SHE IS SINGING "RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH" FOR ALL OF US HERE ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT [MUSIC] 9█ [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A PROUD SPONSOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION-FOCUSED FREE CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR LAWYERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.