JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>> WE DO WANT TO SHOW UP AS THE POLICE AND THE SITUATIONS THAT HAVE THE SITUATION ESCALATE.

>> COMMUNITY REACTION TO JOHNSON'S NEARLY 2 BILLION DOLLARS.

HOSE POLICE BUDGET AND WHAT IT ENTAILS.

BLACK WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM CANCER THAN WHITE WOMEN.

A LOOK AT THE BARRIERS TO TREATMENT AND MUCH MORE.

>> GARDENING IS THE BEST WARM-UP THERE.

THAT INSURANCE COVER.

>> AND A LOCAL POLICE OFFICER TURNED HIS BACKYARD INTO AN AWARD-WINNING GARDEN.

NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FINALLY HAS A SPEAKER 3 WEEKS AFTER THE HISTORIC OUSTER OF FORMER SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY.

>> WE WANT OUR ALLIES AROUND THE WORLD TO KNOW THAT THIS BODY OF LAWMAKERS IS REPORTING AGAIN TO OUR DUTY STATIONS.

LET THE ENEMIES OF FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD.

HEAR US LOUD AND CLEAR THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE IS BACK IN BUSINESS.

>> THAT'S LOUISIANA REPUBLICAN MIKE JOHNSON WHO'S BEEN A VOCAL SUPPORTER OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND A KEY CONGRESSIONAL FIGURE IN EFFORTS TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION.

JOHNSON, WHO IS THE 4TH MEMBER TO SEEK THE OFFICE IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS RECEIVED 220 VOTES WITH UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM GOP MEMBERS.

ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS HAVE RESPONDED WITH CRITICISM FOR JOHNSON FOR HIS EFFORTS TO OPPOSE ABORTION AND LGBTQ RIGHTS ON THE AGENDA, PASSING LEGISLATION TO FUND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BEYOND NOVEMBER.

17TH AND PROVIDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN AID TO ISRAEL, UKRAINE AND THE U.S. BORDER WITH MEXICO.

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN A NATIONWIDE WALKOUT ACROSS 100 UNIVERSITIES PROTESTING THE VIOLENCE IN GAZA AND CALLING ON THEIR UNIVERSITIES TO DIVEST FROM WEAPONS MANUFACTURERS THAT SELL TO ISRAEL.

THE STUDENT GROUPS ARGUE THAT NORTH AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES PROFIT OFF THE WAR THROUGH ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIPS, VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND INVESTMENT IN ARMS MANUFACTURERS THAT ISRAEL USES TO STRIKE GAZA.

>> STUDENTS AT OTHER CHICAGO AREA SCHOOLS PARTICIPATED TODAY AS WELL, INCLUDING DEPAUL UNIVERSITY.

THE U.S.

POSTAL SERVICE SAYS EFFORTS TO PROTECT LETTER CARRIERS AND PREVENT MAIL THEFT ARE PAYING OFF.

USPS SAYS MORE THAN 600 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH POSTAL CRIME SINCE THE LAUNCH OF OPERATION SAFE DELIVERY IN MAY.

THE CRACKDOWN WAS IN RESPONSE TO AN INCREASE IN ARMED ATTACKS AGAINST MAIL CARRIERS IN MAIL THEFT NATIONWIDE.

NEARLY 500 LETTER CARRIERS WERE ROBBED LAST YEAR.

THE POSTAL SERVICE SAYS IT'S REPLACED SO-CALLED ARROW KEYS WITH ELECTRONIC LOCKS IN SOME CITIES IN DEPLOYED MORE THAN 10,000 HIGH SECURITY BLUE BOXES TO PREVENT CRIMINALS FROM FISHING.

THE MAIL OUT OF THEM.

WE BREAK DOWN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY 5TH 3005TH BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> WE BELIEVE WOULD DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER A FUTURE HOLDS GREAT PROMISE FOR ALL.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO.

TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES TOGETHER.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER.

WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>> MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON AND THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT SAY THEY'RE MOVING INTO A NEW AGE OF POLICING WHILE REBUILDING THE DEPARTMENT, BUT ARE CALLING FOR MORE MONEY, PATIENCE AND TIME.

THE MAYOR'S 2024 SPENDING PLAN WOULD INCREASE THE OVERALL CPD BUDGET TO NEARLY 2 BILLION DOLLARS ACCOUNTING FOR MORE THAN 31% OF THE CITY'S 5.7 BILLION DOLLAR CORPORATE FUND.

THAT'S BY FAR THE MOST OF ANY CITY AGENCY OR DEPARTMENT JOHNSON SAYS THE BUDGET WILL INCREASE BY 91 MILLION DOLLARS TO COVER THE COSTS OF CONTRACTUALLY REQUIRED BREEZES FOR EMPLOYEES.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THIS BUDGET AND SHARE THEIR INPUT ARE A SMALL DO GOMEZ, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

THAT'S NOT HIM.

MARK LEHMAN, SENIOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WITH THE CHICAGO TORTURE JUSTICE CENTER AND HIMSELF, A SURVIVOR ERIC WILKINS SURVIVORS ALLIANCE FOR HEALING AND JUSTICE AND BROKEN WINGS COORDINATOR WITH COMMUNITIES UNITED AND VIJAY FRANKLIN YOUTH ORGANIZER WITH GOOD KIDS, MAD CITY.

JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR.

THAT'S JAY, THAT'S A SWELL, THOUGH.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

THANKS TO YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

SO AS WE MENTIONED, CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SUPERINTENDENT DEFENDED THEIR BUDGET PROPOSAL DURING A CITY COUNCIL HEARING JUST YESTERDAY.

YOU SPOKE AT THE HEARING.

WHAT ARE THE POINTS HE WANTED TO GET MY POINT, I WANT GIVE YOU WANT TO CONVEY CITY COUNCILMAN.

I WANT TO GIVE A ARE WE USING 2% ITS BUDGET OR INCREASE IN HIS TO THE POLICE, WHETHER THIS CAN BE USED FOR OTHER RESOURCES AND BLACK PEOPLE.

>> THAT'S WHY WANT TO GET ACROSS ANOTHER THING WAS ARE HEARD ABOUT THE NEW LIKE BUDGET FOR IMMIGRANTS AND I'M NOT SAYING THEY DON'T DESERVE ONE.

AND JUST SAYING WHAT HAS BEEN PEOPLE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

I MEAN, WORSE CONDITIONS.

THE SAME CONDITIONS ON THIS RACE STILL SAYING.

NOTHING'S CHANGED.

BUT WHEN THEY CAME LISTEN 180 MILLION DOLLARS.

BUT YOU I DON'T I BE FOR BETTER RESOURCES, MY PAIN AND HERE >> AS WELL YOU'RE PART OF THE COMMISSION THAT HELPED SHAPE CPD NEW ERA, OF COURSE, BY NOMINATING SUPERINTENDENT SNOWING.

DO YOU THINK THIS 2 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET PLAN IS THE RIGHT PLAN?

>> I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S THE MAYOR AND THE DEPARTMENT AND THAT PUT TOGETHER THE BUDGET.

MY ROLE IS TO GIVE SOME CLARITY AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IT IN DEPTH AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GIVE THE COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE IN IT.

THERE HAS BEEN CHANGES THAT I THINK ARE POSITIVE.

THERE'S BEEN MORE INVESTMENT IN VICTIM SERVICES AND OTHER COMMUNITY POLICING THINGS.

ALL OF THOSE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN LARGELY EXPENDED OUR CIVILIAN POSITIONS, MEANING COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIKE EVERY ONE OF THE TABLE COULD APPLY TO DO THAT JOB.

WE DON'T NEED OFFICERS TO DO THOSE JOBS ANYMORE.

AND I THINK THERE'S A POSITIVE STEP THAT WEIGHT.

THERE'S ALSO BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DETECTIVE UNITS AND THEIR SUPERVISORS.

I THINK THAT'S TRYING TO ADDRESS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IMPUNITY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO ARE FEELING BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CRIMES THAT GONE SOFT.

AND I THIS BUDGET IS AT LEAST AN ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS I WILL SAY THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT TO BE SAID ABOUT THE INCREASE ACCORDING TO MY OFFICE, ESTIMATION.

THE INCREASE, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU COUNT, IT FALLS BELOW 5%, WHICH IS STILL BELOW INFLATION.

AND I THINK THE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS ARE STILL THERE AND WE NEED TO BE CONSIDERATE OF THAT.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW THE EXPANSION OCCUR.

>> MARKET PRIORITIES.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE CPD BUDGET SET?

>> FIRST OF ALL, GIVEN KABUL POLICE DEPARTMENT, ANYTHING BASED OF THE FACT THAT SINCE 1972, IN THE CITY CHICAGO.

WE HAVE NOT RESOLVED WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS POLICE TORTURE.

WE PAYING OUT MUCH AS 100 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO DEAL WITH POLICE OFFICERS THAT BREAK THE LAW THAT COMMIT CRIMINAL ACTS THAT TAKE EVEN WOMEN TO POLICE STATIONS SLAM THEM UP AGAINST WALLS, CAUSING THEM TO LOSE THEIR CHILDREN.

>> WHAT WE TELL YOU, I AM NOT FORGIVING.

THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ONE PENNY UNTIL ONCE IT HAS BEEN FIRMLY CLEANED UP.

>> ERICKSON QUESTION TO YOU.

WHAT'S WHAT'S TOP OF MIND FOR YOU WHEN IT COMES TO THIS POLICE BUDGET?

>> I LOOK AT IT AS AS REALLY LIKE SIMILAR WHAT WILL MARK WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, HAVING A BROTHER WHO WAS WRONGFULLY AND CAUSED 2.80 AND TO HAVE A CONSENT DECREE.

THAT THEY CAME BEHIND THE MOTIVE.

THE CLIMBING DOWN 2014, YOU KNOW, AND THE MONEY THAT IS BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM FROM FROM THE CONSENT DECREE YOU WANT TO MONITOR IN PART TO 1.7 MILLION AND JUST GIVEN OFFICES.

I WAS IS GOT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

YOU NOTHING YOU KNOW, THOUGH, THE SETTLEMENTS TO TAPE WAY TO ME.

AND I DON'T THINK THE PRICES GIVING PEOPLE IS IS ENOUGH.

YOU KNOW, I THINK SHOULD BE A TEACHING A TEACHING MECHANISM FOR THE THE OFFICES, YOU KNOW, TO TO, LET THEM KNOW THAT SOME THINGS AND GOING TO BE ASSESSED.

I MEAN, A YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU WANT TO SEE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY, AS HE SAID FROM THE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

OH, YOU DID WELL, THOUGH, JUST REFERRED TO THE 91 MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE.

JOHNSON HAS SAID THIS IS ABOUT WORKERS GETTING THE RAISES.

AND YOU SAID IT'S LESS THAN 5% ON.

AS WE ALSO MENTIONED, THOSE CPD IS BUDGET ACCOUNTS FOR NEARLY A 3RD OF THE CITY'S DISCRETIONARY FUND.

ARE WE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON POLICING 2 BILLION DOLLARS?

NEARLY 2 BILLION I BEGUN WHETHER OR NOT IT'S TOO MUCH OF TOO MANY.

I THINK THAT EVERY RESIDENT WILL PROBABLY HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON IT ARE SOME RESIDENTS THAT ARE FEELING REALLY IMPACTED BY PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS AND FOR THEM, THE POLICE MAY BE THE ANSWER.

AND I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE HEARD OTHER RESIDENTS THAT ONE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOT POLICE AS AN ALTERNATIVE MODELS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOT HAVE EITHER OR MINDSET AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW CHICAGOANS WE DESERVE PUBLIC SAFETY IN A HOLISTIC WAY.

I THINK YOU KNOW, WE CAN AGREE THAT THAT'S THE PATH FORWARD AND WE CAN READ THAT A LOT OF OTHER PLACES DO A BETTER JOB US THERE ARE.

I THINK A LOT OF CONCERNS IN THE BUDGET.

AND IN GENERAL, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

I THINK THE LEGAL SETTLEMENTS ARE HUGE CONCERN TO US BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT'S JUST MONEY THAT RACING ON BAD THINGS THAT WE ARE GIVING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MONEY TO PAY FOR ITS ALLOCATED EVERY YEAR.

IT'S 1.5 THIS YEAR MILLION DOLLARS.

IT'S HEARTS.

I THINK COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SEE THAT THERE'S AN ALLOCATION FOR POLICE OFFICERS TO DO WRONG THINGS.

WHICH MEANS IS THAT THE EXPECTATION THAT POLICE OFFICERS ARE GOING TO RUN THINGS.

JAY, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PEACE BOOK ORDINANCE PROPOSED BY YOUR GROUP.

GOOD KIDS.

CITY.

A PART OF THAT PLAN PROPOSED TAKING 2% OF CPD IS BUDGET.

>> TO FUND NEIGHBORHOOD PEACE KEEPERS IN MEDIATORS.

IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THIS BUT HIS SPENDING PLAN DOES PROPOSE EXPANDING THE CITY YOUTH JOBS PROGRAM UP TO JOBS EXCUSE ME, 20,000 JOBS.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S A FAIR COMPROMISE FOR NOW?

DO YOU TRUST THAT PIECE BOOK MIGHT BE INCLUDED IN A FUTURE >> TO ON I DON'T THINK THAT'S A NO FLY.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A NO FLY.

YOU'RE GIVING OVER A BILLION DOLLARS TO POLICE OFFICERS.

BILL, YOU'RE NOT GIVING LIKE AT LEAST 30,000.

TEENAGE IS JOBS.

DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND LIKE THE YOUTH IN A CITY LIKE THE YOUTH IS THE LAST HOPE.

YOU DON'T GIVE LIKE THE PROPER RESOURCES ON ANYTHING THIS SEASON GET WORSE CAN.

NOBODY BE LIKE.

DES THE KIDS FALL.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IT ONLINE AND PHONES.

THAT'S THAT'S THE MAYOR'S TOLD US THE GOVERNMENT WHILE WE ONLY GETTING 2% OF THAT MONEY AND IT IS LIKE THEY'RE STILL POVERTY, WRITTEN COMMUNITIES.

THERE'S NO NO RESOURCES.

KNOW MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS.

THEY KNOW P CIRCLES.

WHAT OF THE KIDS GET ROUGHED UP BY THE POLICE?

AND THEN THEY'VE BEEN AN ACE IN DIVISION 6 OR IN A SALE.

WAS GOING WITH THEM?

YOU'VE GIVEN MONEY TO THESE OFFICES.

BUT THE SAME OFFICE GOING TO GO OUTSIDE NICE TREES, BUT THE KIDS SOMETHING TO ANYTHING THEY WANT BECAUSE I'M A BE ON HIS POLICES.

ILLEGAL GAME.

IT'S ILLEGAL GAME TO SO YOU THINK OBVIOUSLY SPENDING THIS MUCH MONEY ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RATHER SEE MORE MONEY SPENT THAT THE VARIOUS ON JOBS IN PEACE.

BOOK NEWS SO JOHNSON HAS SAID THAT EVIDENCE OF HIS NEW APPROACH PUBLIC SAFETY CAN BE FOUND OUTSIDE THE POLICE BUDGET, INCLUDING A PLAN KNOWN AS TREATMENT, NOT TRAUMA.

THAT WOULD DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF COUNSELORS WORKING TO RESPOND TO 9-1-1.

CALLS.

>> TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES.

>> THIS IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING I'VE BEEN PUSHING SINCE STEPPED INTO THIS ROLE.

WE DO WANT TO SHOW UP AS THE POLICE AND THE SITUATIONS AND HAVE A SITUATION ESCALATE WHERE OFFICERS AND NOT NECESSARILY TRAIN, EVEN THOUGH WE DO HAVE SEE TRAINED OFFICERS.

BUT IF WE CAN GET IT, SOMEONE TO HANDLE THAT JOB AS A CLINICIAN, SOMEONE WHO HAS THE BACKGROUND IT FREES UP OFFICERS FROM THAT JOB, HE GETS THAT PERSON, THE HELP THAT THEY ACTUALLY NEED AND NOBODY TRAUMATIZING THIS SITUATION.

>> MARK, DO YOU THINK THIS MATCH IS JOHNSON'S CAMPAIGN PROMISES?

>> AND IT DOES NOT MATCH THE CAMPAIGN PROMISES WHEN WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL LANGUISHING BEHIND PRISON WALLS AND THEY ARE SUFFERING.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRAUMA, THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE SET BEHIND PRISON WALLS 4 TO 3 DECADES.

WE TURNED BACK INCLUDE THIS SOCIETY.

WE NEED BETTER PROGRAMS.

WE NEED MORE MONEY ALLOCATED 2 BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

THINK THAT REALLY HIRING A POLICE SUPERINTENDENT IS STATING THAT HE WANTS TO BE AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS RESIDENTS.

WELL, WE WENT THROUGH THAT ERA WITH TINY WE'RE DEALING WITH IT WITH ANOTHER POLICE OFFICER BY THE NAME OF KIND MOVED WELL AND MANY OTHER ONES LIKE RAYMOND, ALL KABBALAH.

AND ME TELL YOU, GUESS WHAT, IT HAS NOT STOPPED.

>> CRIME IN COMMUNITY, MANY JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY AT ERICA.

THE LAST WORD WE GOT JUST COUPLE OF SECONDS.

ERIC, DO YOU THINK THIS INVESTMENT COULD MAKE A DENT IN JOHNSON'S OVERALL PUBLIC SAFETY APPROACH?

>> NO.

>> I AGREE WITH MARK.

YOU KNOW THE NOTE IN THE 4 MILLION DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED 4 MILLION DOLLARS IS SPENT ON THE KIDS ALONE.

I HAVE 2 SMALL CHOOSING TO GET MY MOM ALWAYS SAYS 11, YOU KNOW, AND AND WATCHING GROW UP AND SAYING COMEY CAME UP, MAN AND FACE WOULD DO WITH SAME CHALLENGES.

LIFE IS LIKE, OH, OH, AND WHEN WE GO CHANGE, TELL YOU'D LIKE TO SEE.

>> SOMETHING MORE SOMETHING WE COULD TALK ABOUT THIS A LOT LONGER.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE TO CLOSE IT OUT HERE AS WELL.

DO GOMEZ MARK CLEMENT'S, ERIC WILKINSON, BUDGET FRANKLIN, THANKS TO THE 4 OF YOU FOR JOINING US THINKING BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS WITH FINAL APPROVAL SET FOR NOVEMBER.

15TH.

>> UP NEXT, WHAT'S BEHIND DISPARITIES FOR CANCER PATIENTS?

>> THE >> DEATH RATE FROM CANCER IN THE UNITED STATES DROPPED 43% BETWEEN 1989 IN 2020, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY.

DESPITE THIS HOPEFUL NEWS, CANCER MORTALITY RATES STILL REMAIN 40% HIGHER FOR BLACK WOMEN THAN WHITE WOMEN.

BLACK WOMEN ARE ALSO LESS LIKELY TO BE DIAGNOSED AND LESS LIKELY TO RECEIVE TREATMENT.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON THIS PRESENT DAY DISPARITIES AND HOW TO ADDRESS ARE DOCTOR LAKSHMI, EMORY CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER A BETTER HEALTH OF ILLINOIS.

SHE HERSELF IS A CANCER SURVIVOR AND PARIS THOMAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EQUAL HOPE.

THANKS TO BOTH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

DOCTOR EMERY, LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

AS A CANCER SURVIVOR YOURSELF, GIVE US A SENSE OF WHY EARLY DETECTION IS SO IMPORTANT.

EARLY DETECTION IS JUST THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THIS WHOLE STORY.

>> SO I WAS FOUND AT STAGE ONE BECAUSE I HAD ANNUAL SCREENINGS AND I WAS FOUND AT THE POINT WHERE I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A MASK.

I JUST HAD KALFSBECK HAITIANS.

MY MAMMOGRAM.

SO I WAS ABLE TO HAVE TREATMENT THAT DIDN'T INCLUDE CHEMO.

I HAD SURGERY RADIATION AND WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE MEDICATION FOR 5 YEARS.

THAT HELPS TO PREVENT RECURRENCE.

I'M CURRENTLY A 5 YEAR SURVIVOR.

THANK GOODNESS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT HESITANT ABOUT GETTING SCREENING.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND ARE AFRAID OF GETTING SCREENED.

MAKE SURE TO GET YOUR SCREENINGS ANNUALLY.

STARTING AT AGE 40 AND ALSO MAKE SURE TO GO TO YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU FEEL ANYTHING IF YOU NOTICE ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

IF YOU NOTICE A MASK, IF YOU NOTICE IN THE PEOPLE DISCHARGE, IF YOU NOTICE SKIN CHANGES IN YOUR, GET IT CHECKED OUT.

DON'T PUT YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET TREATMENT EARLY BECAUSE SURVIVAL IS SO MUCH GREATER IF IT'S DONE EARLY AND WANT TO COME BACK TO SCREENINGS AND THAT KIND OF SOMETHING THAT YOU MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT, PARIS.

>> WHY DO THESE DISPARITIES BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE WOMEN EXIST AT ALL?

>> HERE IN CHICAGO, THE DISPARITY OF ACTUALLY GREATER THAN OTHER CITIES.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE GREATEST DISPARITY REALLY BECAUSE OF STRUCTURAL RACISM.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUAL QUALITY OF CARE THAT BLACK WOMEN ARE RECEIVING AS FAR AS CANCER SCREENING AS WELL AS TREATMENT.

IT IS NOT ALWAYS POLITY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT SET UP, SOME STATES HAVE SYSTEMS THAT ARE CONTROLLED BY 2 MAJOR HOSPITALS ARE 2 MAJOR SYSTEMS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MEDICAL SYSTEMS HERE IN CHICAGO, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY'RE NOT FUNNELING THE SAME RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY AND LOW RESOURCE COMMUNITY HOSPITALS.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE SAME RESOURCES.

SOME OF OUR HUGE CREDIT CANCER PROGRAMS, ACADEMIC CENTERS.

>> TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK THAT EQUAL HOPE IT DOES TO ENSURE THAT WOMEN ARE FEELING SUPPORTED.

EQUAL HOPE IS A COMMUNITY-BASED MODEL.

WE'RE DOING OUTREACH, EDUCATION AND PATIENT NAVIGATION, SPECIFICALLY TO WOMEN OF COLOR IN THE WEST AND SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO, ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO SCREENING MAMMOGRAMS AT NO COST ENSURING THEY HAVE.

>> ASSISTANCE WITH AN ARSON OF A GATORS ALL THE WAY.

THE TREATMENT TO BE AN ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THEM.

>> DOCTOR MURRAY STUDY SHOW THAT BLACK PATIENTS ARE TAKEN LESS SERIOUSLY WHEN THEY REPORT A HEALTH ISSUE TO THEIR PHYSICIAN ARE MORE LIKELY TO DISTRUST THEIR PROVIDER HOW DOES THAT MISTRUST HEALTH OUTCOMES?

AND AS AS AS A PHYSICIAN WHO OVERCOME THAT?

WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PHYSICIANS AND PROVIDERS WHO ARE OF THE SAME ETHNICITY, THE SAME CULTURE.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE PIPELINE OF PROVIDERS KNOW COMING THROUGH GOING THROUGH MEDICAL SCHOOL.

WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE LESS MEDICAL STUDENTS NOW THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

WHO ARE OF COLOR.

AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT PROGRAMS.

LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, AT CERTAIN SCHOLARSHIPS AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE FUNDED, KNOW SO THAT WE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR TO BECOME PHYSICIANS AND BECOME PROVIDERS.

IN ADDITION, THOUGH, I THINK AS A PEOPLE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT MISTRUST AND THINK ABOUT WHERE IT COMES FROM.

YOU KNOW, THE TUSKEGEE EXPERIMENT.

THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT EXAMPLES THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS WELL-FOUNDED DISTRUST OF THE MEDICAL SYSTEM, BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER NOW IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY.

AND IF WE'RE TELLING YOU GET YOUR MAMMOGRAMS, GET YOUR SCREENINGS, YOU KNOW, GO AHEAD AND DO IT.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT STEP AND BE AN ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE JUST PUT SOME OF THAT BEHIND US AND GO AHEAD AND TRUST THE SYSTEM.

MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW, THE STATISTICS KNOW OUR BODIES KNOW OUR BASELINE IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR BODY NORMALLY FEELS LIKE.

IF THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WE NEED TO GET CHECKED OUT THAT THAT LOOKED AT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME VIDEO OF MAMMOGRAPHY AT WORK RIGHT NOW.

PARIS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMON >> MYTHS THAT YOU HAVE TO DISPEL ABOUT MAMMOGRAMS?

YEAH, OF THE COMING INCLUDE THINGS SUCH AS THAT MAMMOGRAMS HEART.

YES, THEY'RE JUST COMFORTABLE, BUT THEY DON'T HURT WHEN YOU GET A MAMMOGRAM.

>> OTHER MYTHS INCLUDE JUST EXPOSURE TO RADIATION.

SOME WOMEN BELIEVE THEY GETTING A ANNUAL MAMMOGRAM IS INCREASING THEIR EXPOSURE, INCREASING THEIR CHANCES OF CANCER, WHICH IS NOT TRUE.

WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN A VERY MINIMAL MARCH AS FAR AS WOMEN WHO ARE GETTING ANNUAL SCREENINGS.

AND WE KNOW THAT IT SAVES LIVES.

SO WE KNOW THAT IT IS CRUCIAL TO THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE.

A DOCTOR HIM OR YOU MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, STARTING AT AGE 40 IS WHEN WOMEN NEED TO START GETTING MAMMOGRAMS.

BUT WHAT ABOUT FOR WOMEN THAT MIGHT HAVE A HISTORY AND HOW THAT AGE RECOMMENDATION CHANGES?

YES, GREAT POINT.

SO THAT IS DIFFERENT.

SO IF YOU HAVE A FIRST-DEGREE RELATIVE, SO FOR INSTANCE, YOUR MOTHER, YOUR WHO HAD CANCER THAN YOU NEED TO GET TESTED 10 YEARS EARLIER THAN WHEN THEIR CANCER, KURT.

SO LET'S SAY, FOR INSTANCE, >> THEY HAD CANCER AT AGE 50.

THEN YOU NEED TO START GETTING YOUR SCREENS AT 40.

AND IF THEY HAD A 40 THE NEED TO GET IT AT 30.

SO IT DOES DEPEND.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT RISK FACTORS THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO HIGHER RISK OF CANCER.

SO THOSE FOR ER FOR AVERAGE RISK WOMEN.

IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY HISTORY OTHER RISK FACTORS NEED TO CHECK WITH YOUR PROVIDER OR YOUR PHYSICIAN TO SEE WHEN YOU'RE SCREENING SHOULD BEGIN.

PARIS, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 2030, SECONDS LEFT, BUT HOW CAN WE BETTER THE BARRIERS THAT KEEP BLACK WOMEN FROM GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED?

YES, SO WE CAN ADDRESS BARRIERS BY HAVING COMMUNITY MODELS.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE COMMUNITY BASED COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND PATIENTS HAVE A GATORS IN PLACE AS WELL AS >> EDUCATION SYSTEM.

IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT PEOPLE LOOK LIKE THE INDIVIDUALS BEING SERVED.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST WAYS THAT WE CAN APPROACH THIS PROBLEM.

OKAY.

PARIS, THOMAS DOCTOR, LAKSHMI EMORY, THANKS YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING.

>> UP NEXT, WE INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL POLICE OFFICER FINDING SOLACE IN HIS PLANT OASIS.

>> IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START A HOBBY.

CHICAGO TONIGHT, JOANNA HERNANDEZ HEADS TO GARFIELD PARK TO MEET A POLICE OFFICER USING HIS LOVE OF GARDENING.

>> AS AN OUTLET TO RECHARGE HIS MENTAL HEALTH.

>> BACK THEN I COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE THIS.

NONE OF THIS WAS HERE AGAIN.

WE HAVE TO GO BACK.

I HAVE FOR PLANT I WAS JUST TRYING TO KEEP THOSE ALIVE AND THEN UPON KEEPING THOSE ALIVE, THE KIND OF GREW, IF YOU CAN SEE DIRT AT ANOTHER PLANT IS ONE OF DRAMA, SCOOPERS PHILOSOPHIES ARE WALKING TO PA SITUATION BECAUSE I HAVE SO MANY PLANS ABOUT WHERE.

>> I WASN'T SUCCESSFUL IN GROWING GRASS.

THESE PLANS DRAIN OUT SO MUCH.

IT WAS JUST KILLING MY GRASS.

SO I DECIDED TO PUT PAVERS BACK HERE, MAKING A SEATING AREA.

WHAT STARTED WITH 4 PLANTERS HAS GROWN INTO MORE THAN 50 PLANT SPECIES IN COOPER'S BACKYARD.

WHEN I WAS A KID, I USED ALL MY GRANDMOTHER IN HER GARDEN.

HER GARDEN BASICALLY VEGETABLE GARDEN.

>> AND BACK THEN IT WAS MORE OF A CHORE AS OPPOSED TO A LOT OVER THE YEARS.

COOPER'S LOVE FOR PLANTS GREW LITERALLY.

HE CALLS IT HIS GRANDMA'S GARDEN IN HONOR OF HER MEMORY.

DEEP IN HERE AS A WINE BARREL.

LITERALLY YOU CAN PLANT THEM IN ANYTHING ALMOST.

THE GARFIELD PARK RESIDENT SAYS GETTING HIS HANDS IN THE DIRT.

>> HELPS HIM COPE WITH THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A POLICE OFFICER.

>> YOU CAN COME HOME AND SHARED DURING A FORM.

YOU CAN SAID A DUTY BELT, BUT YOU CAN A JOB RIGHT?

CAN PUT MY BRAIN ON A SHELF AND COME BACK AND PICK IT UP TOMORROW.

SO ALL OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT WE'VE ENDURED DAY IN AND DAY OUT TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND IT STAYS WITH OFFICER COOPER HAS BEEN ON THE FORCE FOR 23 YEARS.

>> AND SHARE SOME HAUNTING STORIES 5, 6, YEARS AGO.

MY TEAMMATES AND OUR SON NOW FOR LUNCH.

>> ONE NIGHT IN HYDE PARK AND THE CALL COMES OUT OVER THE RADIO THAT A CHILD BEEN SHOT.

SO, OF COURSE, NATURALLY WE GET UP, WE TAKE OFF AND GO TO THE SCENE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, A 11 YEAR-OLD BOY WAS PLAYING WITH A GUN THAT HE AND HIS COUSIN A FOUL SHOT.

AND AS WE'RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH THAT WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF BEING ON THAT ANOTHER CALL COMES OUT OF A PERSON SHOT.

>> LITERALLY FEELS.

LIKE YOU'RE BEING TRANSPORTED SOMEWHERE ELSE.

FROM 10 FOOT.

ELLISON EARS TO SUE POTATO VINES COOPER'S VIBRANT NOISES.

EVEN GOT THE ATTENTION OF 2 FURRY FELINES.

HI YOU KNOW.

AND HE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME IN THE GARDEN.

YEAH.

HE SHOWED UP A YEAR AGO IN SEPTEMBER, SMOKY SHOWED UP BACK IN APRIL.

YOU GIVE THEM THAT LOVE AND CARE.

YES, YOU GIVE THEM LOVE.

YOU TALK HIM.

YOU KNOW, I LOOK >> AND I MEAN, IT'S JUST KIND OF FUN WATCHING THEM DO THEM.

WELL, YOU SEE NOW WILL ALL BE GONE COME WINTER, LITERALLY.

EVERYTHING IS GONE.

EVERYTHING IS GONE.

THE PLANTERS HAVE NOTHING ON THEM.

AND WE OVER.

START FRESH.

EVERY KIND OF LOVE SO EVERY YEAR IS KIND OF DIFFERENT.

AS YOU AND I START OUR PLANT PILGRIM.

RIGHT >> YEAH, RIGHT BEFORE MOTHER'S DAY.

AND THAT'S OUR >> START FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES.

I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

COOPER'S GARDEN WAS SELECTED AS ONE OF THE BEST RESIDENTIAL GARDENS BY THE CHICAGO EXCELLENCE IN GARDENING AWARDS.

YOU CAN SEE WHY.

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO GET INTO GARDENING, HIS NUMBER ONE TIP IS TO READ THE LABELS THAT COME WITH THE PLANT.

FOR ALL OF US WITH BROWN FILMS AND THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES, MEMBERS OF CHICAGO'S DELEGATION TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER SHARED VERY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE TRIP.

AND INEQUITIES IN THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON LAKE COUNTY'S LATINO COMMUNITIES.

>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, VOICES, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFF.

A PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM