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, IM ANGEL IDOWU.

BRANDIS FREEMAN HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

INCORPORATED YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT LOOKING UP THE ROLE OF RACE IN THE KYLE RITTENHOUSE PROSECUTION AND TRIAL.

BREAKING DOWN THE VERDICT AND ITS IMPACT ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AS WE HEAD INTO THINGS GIVING THE PRICE OF FOOD IS GOING UP SO IS THE DEMAND AT FOOD BANKS.

WE CHECK IN WITH THE CHICAGO CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY TO SEE HOW THEY ARE PREPARING.

CELEBRATING MAMIE TILL-MOBLEY.

WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE CHICAGO ACTIVISTS IMPACT AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HER 100 EARTH DAY.

>>> WHY A LOCAL ARTIST IS PROMOTING VACCINE AWARENESS IN INGLEWOOD.

>> CONNECTING PEOPLE TO PEOPLE AND PEOPLE TO NATURE WHICH ENDS UP BEING THE MUTUAL BENEFIT.

>> A TEAM OF CONSERVATIONISTS OFFER THE LAST WORD ON HOW THEY SAY INCLUDING DIVERSE VOICES AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS EFFORT LEADS TO BETTER SPACES FOR ALL.

>>> 1ST OFF TONIGHT, THE MURDER TRIAL OF KYLE RITTENHOUSE IS FORCING THE NATION TO REVISIT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE AND PRIVILEGE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WITH MANY WONDERING IF RITTENHOUSE WOULD'VE RECEIVED THE SAME TREATMENT IF HE WAS BLACK.

RITTENHOUSE WAS ACQUITTED ON ALL CHARGES ON FRIDAY LET'S TAKE A LOOK BACK FOR A MOMENT.

>> IN THIS INFORMATION, WE THE JURY FIND THE DEFENDANT KYLE RITTENHOUSE NOT GUILTY.

AS FOR THE 2ND COUNT OF INFORMATION RICHARD McGINNIS WE THE JURY FIND KYLE RITTENHOUSE NOT GUILTY.

AS TO THE 3RD COUNT OF INFORMATION UNKNOWN MALE WE THE JURY FIND THE DEFENDANT KYLE RITTENHOUSE NOT GUILTY.

AS FOR THE 4TH COUNT OF INFORMATION OF ANTHONY HUBER WE FIND THE DEFENDANT NOT GUILTY.

AS FOR THE 5TH COUNT OF INFORMATION ON GAIGE GROSSKREUTZ WE THE JURY FIND THE DEFENDANT KYLE RITTENHOUSE NOT GUILTY.

>> RITTENHOUSE FACED MULTIPLE CHARGES FOR SHOOTING 3 MEN AND KILLING 2 OF THEM IN PROTEST AFTER THE POLICE SHOOTING OF JACOB LIKE.

SOME ANALYSTS AND PROTESTERS PUSH FOR CONVICTION AND ACCUSE THE JUDGE OF FAVORING THE DEFENSE AND ARE QUESTIONING FAIRNESS OF NEARLY AN ALL-WHITE JURY.

THAT JURY APPARENTLY AGREED WITH RITTENHOUSE SUPPORTERS THAT THE TEEN ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ARE THE FENCE ATTORNEY TONY BEDFORD AND XAVIER POPE LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR FOR ESPN LAS VEGAS AND HOST OF SUIT UP.

1ST I WANT TO HEAR FROM BOTH OF YOU.

WHAT ARE YOUR REACTIONS OF THE VERDICT AND LET'S START WITH YOU XAVIER.

>> I'M NOT SURPRISED.

NONE OF US ARE NOT SURPRISED.

MY REACTION IS THIS IS A LANDMARK CASE IN OUR COUNTRY WHICH BASICALLY MEANS IF YOU ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN YOU CAN BE SHOT BY POLICE AND POLICE WILL NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

IF THERE'S PROTEST OF THE INJUSTICES THE POLICE HAVE PRESENTED THE WHITE PROUD BOYS CAN COME AND USE THE PROTESTERS THAT ARE EITHER BLACK OR SYMPATHETIC TO THE CAUSE OF TARGET PRACTICE AND THEY CAN EVEN BE EARNED IN INTERNSHIP AND HAVE A BIASED JUDGE IN THEIR FAVOR.

THAT IS WHAT THIS IS.

IT'S A TERRIBLE OUTCOME AND I DO BELIEVE THE PROSECUTION ITSELF HAD NOT PUT ON THE BEST CASE AND OVER THE COURSE OF DOING SO THEY HAD TO CLEAN IT UP ON THE CLOSE BUT THERE WAS A JUDGE WHO OBSTRUCTED JUSTICE AND HE WAS BASICALLY HAD AN UPHILL BATTLE TO GET THIS CASE THROUGH.

WE ARE NOT SHOCKED BUT WE ARE TIRED.

>> TONY, WHAT ABOUT YOU WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> MY THOUGHTS ARE SIMILAR TO BIT DIFFERENT.

I AM NOT SHOCKED BY THE RESULTS.

AT LEAST AS TO THE MURDER CHARGES.

I DID THINK THIS JURY HAVING TAKEN THAT LONG TO DELIBERATE OR ATTEMPTING TO COME UP WITH A COMPROMISE AS TO THE LESS IMPORTANT SEVERE CHARGE.

I THOUGHT THEY WOULD COME BACK WITH SOMETHING ON THE RECORD.

I REALLY DID GOOD I AM SHOCKED THAT IT TOOK 4 DAYS TO ON ALL 4 COUNTS.

MY BELIEF WAS THAT IF THEY WERE GOING TO ACQUIT RITTENHOUSE WOULD'VE BEEN IN THE 1ST 2 DAYS OF DELIBERATION.

I AM SHOCKED BECAUSE OF THAT, YES.

>> I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT THE DEFENSE ARGUED SELF-DEFENSE THE PROSECUTION ARGUED THAT RITTENHOUSE WAS THE AGGRESSOR IN TONY, AS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY WHY DO YOU THINK THE DEFENSE WON THE CASE?

>> THEY WON THE CASE BECAUSE THEY HAD ENOUGH INFORMATION FROM THE VIDEO THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO ARGUE THAT THIS WAS SELF-DEFENSE AND THEY CLEANED IT UP.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SCRUTINY OF THE TESTIMONY AND CRITICISM OF WHAT PEOPLE DEEMED TO BE CROCODILE TEARS BUT REGARDLESS OF THAT FACT, HE NEEDED TO TESTIFY AND ACQUIT HIMSELF WELL IN ORDER TO BE ACQUITTED AND PASTE ON THE RESULTS HE DID.

>> XAVIER A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY RACE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS TRIAL.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> JACOB LAKE IS PARALYZED AT THIS MOMENT.

THIS WHOLE TRIAL HAD EVERYTHING TO DO WITH KYLE RITTENHOUSE GOING AND FEELING HE NEEDED THE POLICE A CERTAIN SPACE BECAUSE OF RIOTERS AND LOOTERS OF THOSE WHO WERE FRANKLY, AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND FELT HE NEEDED TO GO THERE.

THE FACT THAT HE WAS A VISUAL ANNIE AND RAN UP AGAINST SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T HAPPEN TO BE BLACK DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THIS WAS NOT A RACIALIZED SITUATION.

I THINK OTHERWISE THIS WOULDN'T BE AS BIG AS IT WAS.

HE MADE THIS PROTEST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS, PROTESTS WITH GUNS ARE PROTEST THAT IS WAR.

THE JURY HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO SAY DO WE WANT PROTESTS WITH GUNS OR DO WE WANT PROTESTS BE ABLE TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S RIGHTS ANYTHING THE JURY MADE A MISSTEP IN SAYING IT THAT WAY.

>> SPEAKING OF THE JURY THEY WERE MADE UP OF 7 WOMEN AND 5 MEN AND ALL OF THEM WERE WHITE EXCEPT FOR ONE PERSON OF COLOR.

EXHIBIT IN YOUR OPINION WHAT ROLE DID YOU FEEL THAT THE JURY'S DEMOGRAPHIC PLAN TO THE TRIAL?

>> IN TERMS OF THE DEFENSE I THINK THE DEFENSE WAS REALLY WEAK.

THEY WENT AFTER THE PROSECUTOR MADE COMMENTS ABOUT THE PROSECUTOR DURING HIS CLOSE AND TALKED ABOUT THE MOB AND BASICALLY HIS GOAL WAS TO MAKE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE THE AGGRESSORS.

NOT JUST TO PEOPLE THAT WERE SHOT.

I BELIEVE THAT WAS ENFORCED UPON THE JURY AND PLAYED ON MAY BE BIASES TO WHAT THEY USED THE SITUATION AS AND HOW THE COMMUNITY WAS SAFE AFTER THE SHOOTING OF JACOB LAKE AND WHETHER THE PROTESTERS THAT WERE THERE HAD THE RIGHT TO BE THERE AND THEN LEANING INTO THE FACT THAT SOMEONE HAD A RIGHT TO GO THERE AND BE THERE WITH AN AR 15 AND DO WHATEVER HE WANTED WITH IT.

>> TONY DO YOU THINK RACE IS A FACTOR HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS CASE, THE VICTIMS IN THE CASE AS WELL AS THE DEFENDANT IN THE CASE WERE ALL WHITE.

SO AS XAVIER INDICATED THIS WAS BASED ON THE SHOOTING OF JACOB LAKE.

THAT WAS THE GENESIS!

OF THE PROTEST THAT LED TO THIS MOMENT.

I THINK IN PARTICULAR NO ONE WILL DEBATE THAT WHEN A YOUNG MAN IS WALKING UP AND DOWN THE STREET DURING A PROTEST WITH AN AR 15 AND NOT BEING ADDRESSED AT ALL BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, NOT QUESTIONED IN FACT OFFERED WATER AND SUPPORT AND PRAISE FOR HIS PARTICIPATION WITHOUT ANY VETTING WHATSOEVER OTHER THAN THE FACT OF HIS SKIN COLOR CLEARLY MAKES THIS ABOUT RACE.

IT IS EASY TO ARGUE THAT IF HE WERE A MAN OF COLOR HE CERTAINLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THAT POSITION.

YES IT IS ABOUT RACE.

>> SO, I WANT TO JUMP AHEAD.

WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

WE HAVE OUR 6TH QUESTION HERE, LOOKING AT THE JUDGE IN THE CASE, HE KIND OF SEEMS TO GET A BIT OF PRAISE TO THE JURY AND THANKED THEM.

HERE IS A PART OF THAT.

>> WITHOUT COMMENTING ON YOUR VERDICT THEMSELVES IN TERMS OF YOUR ATTENTIVENESS AND COOPERATION THAT YOU GAVE TO US JUSTIFIES THE CONFIDENT THAT THE FOUNDERS OF OUR COUNTRY PLACED IN YOU.

>> QUICK REACTIONS HERE WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME BUT WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS TO THE JUDGE'S REMARKS HERE?

>> THE JUDGES HAS BEEN BIASED THE ENTIRE TIME BY NOT ALLOWING, KYLE RITTENHOUSE TO GO BACK TO JAIL TO INTERRUPTING HIM ON THE WITNESS STAND.

HIS BEHAVIOR THE ENTIRE TRIAL COMMENTING ON JOURNALISTS THIS JUDGE HAS SHOWN HIS BIAS IN HAS SHOWN IT'S ABOUT HIM THE ENTIRE TIME HE'S A DISGRACE TO THE ENTIRE BAR IN THE BENCH.

NEXT WITH JUST A FEW SECONDS LEFT IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?

>> THE JUDGE'S COMMENTS ARE PRETTY STANDARD THEY ALWAYS THINK THE JURY BUT I DO AGREE WITH HIS COMMENTS REGARDING THE JUDGE'S BEHAVIOR THROUGHOUT THE TRIAL IN A FORTUNATELY BECAUSE THERE WAS A NOT GUILTY VERDICT NONE OF THOSE WILL BE ADDRESSED IMPORTANT FIELDS OF HOW THAT MIGHT HAVE IMPACTED THE VERDICT.

THERE IS NO DOUBLE JEOPARDY IN THIS COUNTRY AND YOU WILL NOT BE TRIED OR ADDRESSED AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

OUR THANKS TO XAVIER POPE AND ATTORNEY TONY BEDFORD.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THIS NOVEMBER 23RD MARKS WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN 100TH BIRTHDAY OF MAMIE TILL-MOBLEY THE MOTHER OF EMMETT TILL.

"COLIN IN BLACK & WHITE" WAS A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY FROM CHICAGO WHO WAS ABDUCTED AND BRUTALLY MURDERED AFTER HE WAS ACCUSED OF FLIRTING WITH A WHITE CASHIER WHILE VISITING FAMILY IN MISSISSIPPI.

MAMIE TILL-MOBLEY INSISTED HER SONS FUNERAL BE OPEN CASKET SAYING QUOTE I 1 OF THE WORLD TO SEE WHAT THEY DID TO MY BABY.

SHE REFLECTED ON THAT DECISION IN A 1986 INTERVIEW THAT AIRED ON CHICAGO TONIGHT IN 2003.

THE INTERVIEW WAS PRODUCED BY THEN CHICAGO TONIGHT REPORTER RICH SAMUELS BACK WHEN HE WAS REPORTING FOR NBC 5.

>> I REMEMBER FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY BEGAN TO UNLOAD THE BODY I LOOKED AND I SAW THE BIGGEST BOX I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.

AND, I REALIZED THAT THAT BOX HAD MY BABIES BODY IN IT.

I WAS OVERWHELMED WITH GRIEF.

IT WAS A 1ST, YOU KNOW?

THE NEWS MEDIA DID NOT PUBLISH PICTURES OF THAT NATURE BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING TO HORRIBLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE.

BUT, IF THE WORLD HAD NOT SEEN WHAT HAD HAPPENED, THE WORLD NEEDED THIS SHOCK, THEY NEEDED IT.

FROM THESE PICTURES OF EMMETT WHEN THEY HIT THE NEWSSTANDS AND PEOPLE WERE REALLY ABLE TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO A YOUNGSTER SIMPLY BECAUSE OF HATE AND RACE DISCRIMINATION I THINK IT REALLY LET US SEE THE UGLY MONSTER THAT HE IS.>> AFTER HER SON'S MURDER, SHE BECAME A TEACHER AND ACTIVIST TRAVELING THE COUNTRY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE WHAT HAPPENED TO HER SON.

SHE DIED IN 2003 AT 81 YEARS OLD.

>>> UP NEXT HOW LOCAL FOOD BANKS ARE PREPARING FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

>> THANKSGIVING IS JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY AND THIS YEAR'S DINNER CELEBRATION IS EXPECTED TO BE 1 OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOLIDAYS EVER.

IT'S LARGELY DUE TO INFLATION AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES DRIVING UP PRICES AND AS THE COST OF FOOD RISES THE NEED IS ALSO INCREASING.

ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY ABOUT 14 PERCENT OF CHICAGOANS EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY.

BLACK AND LATINO HOUSEHOLDS ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO BE FOOD INSECURE COMPARED TO WHITE HOUSEHOLDS AND DATA FROM FEEDING AMERICA SHOWS 24 PERCENT OF BLACK INDIVIDUALS WERE FOOD INSECURE IN 2020.

JOINING US NOW ARE MONICA MOSS OF THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY AND JAMIL WRIGHT MANAGER OF EMON FOOD AND WELLNESS CENTER IN WEST INGLEWOOD.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

MONOCOT LET'S START WITH YOU.

THE PANDEMIC HAS ASKED OR BAITED FOOD INSECURITIES AND DISPARITIES.

WHAT IS THE FOOD DEPOSITORY EXPERIENCING AS WE HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON?

>> THANK YOU FOR DISCUSSING FOOD INSECURITY.

I WOULD SAY THE DEMAND WE ARE EXPERIENCING IS UNPRECEDENTED.

OF THE 40+ YEARS OF THE FOOD DEPOSITORY WE NEVER SEEN THE NUMBERS LIKE THESE.IN THE PAST YEAR WE'VE GIVEN OVER THE EQUIVALENCY OF 97 MILLION MEALS TO HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY IN THE CHICAGO AREA.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WE ARE EXPERIENCING EVEN PRE-PANDEMIC NEED TO DEAL WITH AN ISSUE OF FOOD SECURITY ISSUES BUT WERE NOW SEEING FOOD INSECURITY AT LEVELS THAT ARE AT LEAST TWICE THAT OF WHAT WE EXPERIENCED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

THE NEED CONTINUES AND WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO RESPOND TO EVERYONE WHO IS IN NEED OF FOOD IN CHICAGO.

>> AND, JAMIL WRIGHT YOUR FOOD PANTRY IS RELATIVELY NEW IT JUST OPENED THIS SUMMER.

WHAT ARE YOU ALL SEEING AT THE FOOD BANK?

WHAT HAS THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE BEEN SO FAR?

>> INITIALLY BEFORE PEOPLE KNEW WE WERE HERE THE NUMBERS WERE SLOW AND NOW WE SEE AN INCREASE EVERY WEEK.

WE SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE, WE ARE OPEN 3 TIMES A WEEK AND WE ARE NOW CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF LEAVING AFORETIME BECAUSE THE NEED IS DEFINITELY THERE.

>> HOW ARE YOU ALL PREPARING FOR THE HOLIDAY?

>> TOMORROW WE ARE HAVING A TURKEY DISTRIBUTION, TURKEY BASKETS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE SERVING, THE ORGANIZATION IS GOING TO MAKE 700 TURKEYS FOR THIS THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

TOMORROW WERE GOING TO DO 125 AND SO WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS GETTING PEOPLE TO COME AND SIGN UP AT ALL.

>> THAT'S DEFTLY GREAT TO HEAR.

MONICA, SWITCHING OVER TO YOU THE PANDEMIC AND RISE IN FOOD COSTS CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR FOOD BANKS.

HAVE YOU ALL BEEN DEALING WITH THOSE CHALLENGES?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

WE'VE HAD SONY DISRUPTIONS WITH SUPPLY CHAINS AND WE ARE ALL DEALING WITH THE RISE IN FOOD COSTS.THE FOOD DEPOSITORY IS DOING EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE STILL PURCHASING SO WE CAN GET FOOD OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE BUYING ENOUGH FOOD THAT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OUR 700+ ANTI-PARTNERS, SHELTERS AND THE DIFFERENT WAY WE PROVIDE MEALS IN THE COMMUNITY PEERED WE ARE MAKING SURE WE PURCHASE THAT FOOD AND MAKE SURE WE CAN GET IT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> MR. WRIGHT, SAME FOR YOU ARE YOU EXPERIENCING ANY CHALLENGES DUE TO THE RISE IN FOOD COST?

WHAT OF DONATIONS BEEN LOOKING LIKE?

>> THANKS TO THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY WE BEEN ABLE TO GET OFF TO A GOOD RUNNING START AND PEOPLE ARE FINDING OUT ABOUT US AND WE BEEN ABLE TO GET EVEN MORE AND MORE DONATIONS.

WE OPENED UP IN JUNE AND SO EVERY MONTH WE BEEN SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WANTED TO CONTRIBUTE BUT AS THE NUMBERS INCREASE THE NUMBERS ARE INCREASING FASTER THAN THE DONATIONS ARE COMING.

>> I WANT TO ASK, STOCKING PANTRIES WITH CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD IS IMPORTANT.

HOW IS THIS BEING ADDRESSED?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

IT IS 1 OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN PEOPLE GET FOOD IN THE COMMUNITY IT IS TRUE THAT THEY WANT AND IS CULTURALLY RELEVANT.

YOU'RE MAKING SURE DEPENDING ON THE COMMUNITY WE ARE GETTING FOOD THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT.

THAT IS IMPORTANT.

NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO GET NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND SWEET POTATOES, GREENS OUT THIS THANKSGIVING AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR PANTRY PARTNERS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE REAL HEROES PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY AND THEY LET US KNOW WHAT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE.

WHEN WE HEAR THAT PEOPLE NEED AVOCADOS OR CILANTRO OR SWEET POTATOES OR COLLARD GREENS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT FOOD OUT AND THAT'S A BIG PRIORITY AT THIS POINT.

>> ABSOLUTELY YOU WANT TO HAVE DIVERSE OPTIONS IN WHAT YOU'RE PROVIDING.

ABSOLUTELY.

MY LAST QUESTION, THINKING ABOUT THE BEST WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN SUPPORT YOU ALL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON MR. WRIGHT, WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO HELP YOU AND THE FOOD BANK?

>> 1ST OF ALL MAKING CASH DONATIONS ARE THE BEST.

THEY GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE WHICH SOMETIMES ARE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE LETTING PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THINGS LIKE AVOCADOS AND CASH DONATIONS.

MAINLY THE CASH DONATIONS COMING IN WITH NONPERISHABLE'S BECAUSE WE HAVE REFRIGERATION.

WE ARE JUST SUPPORTING THEM IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME BUT MONICA I WANTED TO JUMP TO YOU AS WELL ARE THERE ANY TIDBITS YOU CAN SHARE ON HOW PEOPLE CAN INVOLVE THEMSELVES WITH THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY?

>> AT THE FOOD DEPOSITORY WE ARE ALWAYS IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PACK FOXES AND GET THE FOOD OUT AND WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO CASH DONATIONS AND MONEY IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO BUY FOOD BUT LIFT YOUR VOICES AND RADIO AWARENESS ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY AND HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT'S HOW WE CAN GET THE WORD OUT TOGETHER.

IT MAKE CHICAGO A BETTER CHICAGO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

MY THANKS TO MONICA MOSS AND JAMIL WRIGHT FOR JOINING US.

>>> THEY SAY A PICTURE IS WORTH 1000 WORDS BUT IN THIS CASE SOME COMMITTEE MEMBERS HOPE A PICTURE WILL SAVE A LIFE.

IN THIS STORY I TAKE YOU TO INGLEWOOD WHERE A MURAL IS BRINGING AWARENESS TO THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

>> ON 63RD AND INGLEWOOD FAMILY STANDS WITH AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE THAT READS OLD YOU LOVE.

>> COMMISSIONED BY AMPLIFIER A NONPROFIT COMMITTED TO HIGHLIGHTING COMMUNITY ISSUES THROUGH ART AND MEDIA, CHICAGO ARTIST RENDON ROQUE CREATED A DIGITAL MURAL THAT WAS PRINTED AND HUNG TO PROMOTE TAXING AWARENESS.

HE SAYS IN A MEDIA DRIVEN WORLD WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF FALSE INFORMATION HE WANTED TO USE HIS ART TO EDUCATE.

>> WEAVES ART AS A MECHANISM TO CUT THROUGH THE NOISE AND ART HAS A HISTORY IS VERY GOOD TRACK RECORD OF BEING ABLE TO DO SO.

SO WE BEAUTIFY OUR COMMUNITY AND CREATE THIS WORK IN THE HOPES THAT IT LEAVES PEOPLE INFORMED AND UPLIFTED AT THE SAME TIME.

>> THIS IMAGE DISPLAYS THE EVANS FAMILY FATHER DALE, MOTHER CHARLIE AND THEIR 18-YEAR-OLD SON, JOHN.

THEY ARE FOUNDERS OF A NEW GENERATION, HARVEST CHURCH.

>> WE ARE HERE HELPING THAT ASPECT WE MIGHT NOT KNOW EACH OTHER BY NAME BUT WE GO THROUGH SOMETHING WE ALL GO THROUGH THE SAME THING.

>> THEY HOPE THEIR ADVOCACY WILL NOT ONLY STRETCH BEYOND THE HOMES OF THEIR NEIGHBORS BUT WITHIN THEIR FAMILY AS WELL.

LIKE WITH THEIR ELDEST SON WHO WASN'T FEATURED IN THE MURAL.

>> OUR GRANDCHILDREN ARE VACCINATED, EVERYBODY IS VACCINATED.

MY SON IS NOT VACCINATED AND I HOPE HE SEES THIS.

>> WALLACE MURAL MIGHT BE TEMPORARY HE SAID HE HOPES THE MESSAGE BEHIND IT LIVES FOREVER.

>> WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD AND SHOW UP.

HAVING THAT STORY SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.

>> AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THAT MURAL AT THE CORNER OF 63RD AND HALLSTEAD.

>> THE COLORS OF NATURE ARE BOUNDLESS BUT THE AMERICAN CONSERVATIONIST MOVEMENT HAS HISTORIC BEEN MOSTLY WHITE.

BLACK PEOPLE ARE ALMOST 3 TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN WHITE PEOPLE TO LIVE IN NATURE DEPRIVED AREAS.

HERE THE ILLINOIS COMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAM HAS THE LAST WORD ON HOW THEY SAY RINGING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES TO CONSERVATIONISM CAN BRING ABOUT A NATURAL CHANGE.

>> MY NAME IS MRS. GOMEZ THE FOOD MANAGER WITH THE SHARED POSITION AT THE NATURE CONSERVANCY.

>> MY NAME IS DEBORAH WILLIAMS I AM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST.

>> MY NAME IS FORCE CORTEZ I'M THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR NATURE CONSERVANCY VERY IN ILLINOIS OUR GOAL IS TO FOSTER THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE AND NATURE.

>> NATURE IS ALL AROUND US WHETHER IT'S THE TREE IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE OR THE PARK AT THE FORESTRY PRESERVE IT IS TO ME MEDICINE TO OUR SPIRIT, OUR SOUL, OUR BODY.

>> THE TEAM IS PRETTY DIVERSE.

DEBORAH AND I DON'T HAVE A CONSERVATORY BACKGROUND.

WE COME FROM THE COMMUNITY WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS.

>> HERE MY ROLE IS WIELDING A BRIDGE WITH THE PEOPLE IN NATURE AND MY MANTRA IS CONNECTING PEOPLE TO PEOPLE AND PEOPLE TO NATURE.

I THINK WHAT WE DO SPECIFICALLY IS TO ORIENT IT SO THAT THE PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN VERY INSULAR SOMEWHAT ARE GETTING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE AND GETTING THAT BRIDGE BUILT SO THAT THERE IS A MUTUALITY ONCE AGAIN IN BENEFIT AND KNOWLEDGE.

>> THE EXPERTISE AND LIVED EXPERIENCES OF OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN REPRESENTED IN THE MAINSTREAM CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORK.

IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO SUCCEED WITH THINGS LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPOSSIBLE TO SUCCEED IN IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE PEOPLE'S CONNECTIONS ARE IN THE ROOTS THEY'VE ALREADY HAD WITH THESE PLACES.

>> I GOT KEENLY INTERESTED AT MY PREVIOUS JOB THAT SPECIFICALLY LOOKED AT MONARCHS AND MIGRATION AND AS I LEARNED ABOUT MONARCHS AND THEIR LIFECYCLE AND THEN GOING FROM JUST REALLY BEING ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR GROWTH TO BEING A POLLINATOR THAT IMPACTED OTHERS IT REALLY BROUGHT ME IN NOT JUST TO THE INSECTS BUT THE MAGNITUDE OF THE MESSAGE AND ALSO, WHEN I WOULD SHARE IT WITH OTHERS IT WAS LITERALLY A MOMENT THAT I COULD NOT RE-CREATE.

IT WAS MORE SUPERNATURAL THAN NATURAL.

HE WILL MAKE IT PERSONAL BECAUSE EVEN WHEN I TALK TO KIDS AND SAY THEY THINK ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR LIFE PROCESS TEENAGERS IS LIKE ARE YOU AT THE CATERPILLAR PLACE OR ARE YOU FLYING NOW?

SO ACKNOWLEDGING EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY HAS A PURPOSE AND ORIENTING IT IN SUCH A WAY WHERE WE SEE THE PEOPLE PART IN THE NATURE PART THEY REMEMBER.

I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT LIKE THAT SO THERE'S THAT CONNECTING PEOPLE TO PEOPLE.

AND PEOPLE TO NATURE WHICH IS THAT MUTUAL BENEFIT.

>> BY BRINGING DIVERSITY WERE ALLOWING THE INTERCHANGE TO HAPPEN AND GETTING FOLKS TOGETHER HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE IN A WAY THAT WOULD BENEFIT EVERYONE AROUND THE TABLE.

>> WE WILL HEAR MORE FROM THE NATURE CONSERVANCY TEAM ON CHICAGO TONIGHT LATINO VOICES EPISODE.

THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES I AM ANGEL ITO.

IN THANK YOU SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US, GOOD NIGHT.

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