>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK VOICES.

I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEING NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH HIV AND A.I.D.S.

HAS FALLEN TO THE LOWEST LEVEL IN DECADES.

A LOOK AT WHY AND WHERE DISPARITIES STILL EXIST.

WHAT WENT INTO MAKING TENNIS ICON SERENA WILLIAMS AN ICON?

THE HOST OF WB EASY MAKING PODCAST JOINS US WITH A LOOK AT THAT NEW SEASON.

-- 20th ANNUAL BLACK HARVEST FILM FESTIVAL KICKS OFF THIS WEEK AT J NICHOL FILM CENTER.

FAR SOUTH SIDE RESIDENTS ARE GETTING A NEW -- TO BRING NEW ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

SPEAKING OF PARKS, CHICAGO'S OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAMERA CLUB FOCUSES ON THE HISTORY AND NATURAL BEAUTY OF -- ALL THAT COMING UP, BUT OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT , NEW DIAGNOSES OF HIV DROPPING IN CHICAGO.

WHAT IS BEHIND IT RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF [ INAUDIBLE ] >> [ INAUDIBLE ] FIFTH THIRD BANK [ INAUDIBLE ] TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TOGETHER, WE CAN [ INAUDIBLE ] CHANGE.

>>> THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEING NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH HIV AND A.I.D.S.

HAS FALLEN TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN A DECADE.

A NEW REPORT FROM THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAYS NOT ONLY ARE FEWER PEOPLE BEING DIAGNOSED IN THE CITY, BUT MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY LIVING WITH HIV AND A.I.D.S.

ARE REACHING VIRAL SUPPRESSION, IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE, AND MAKING IT TOUGHER TO SPREAD THE VIRUS.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS ARE DR. MAIA GREEN, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR [ INAUDIBLE ] HEALTH AND JEROME MONTGOMERY, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AT PROJECTS [ INAUDIBLE ].

WELCOME BACK, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

NOW, DR. GREEN, LET'S START WITH YOU [ INAUDIBLE ] THIS LINE?

>> IT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO MULTIPLE THINGS.

SOME -- ATTRIBUTES OF THE SHUTDOWN AND -- ACCESS OF HISTORICALLY [ INAUDIBLE ] WHAT WE KNOW IS THE VIRAL SUPPRESSION RATES ACROSS CHICAGO, INCREASING LEVELS [ INAUDIBLE ] TO 61%.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

UNDETECTABLE MEANS UN-TRANSMITTABLE.

SO, [ INAUDIBLE ] ARE NO LONGER TRANSMITTING THE VIRUS TO OTHER PEOPLE [ INAUDIBLE ] THAT MEANS GETTING CARE, TAKING MEDICINE, AND [ INAUDIBLE ] LIVING WITH HIV GIVEN THE VIRUS TO ANYONE WHEN THE VIRAL LOAD IS SUPPRESSED [ INAUDIBLE ] NOW EASIER TO TAKE MEDICINE.

THE OTHER THING IS, THEIR STATUS [ INAUDIBLE ] MEANING IF I AM LIVING WITH HIV, I HAVE INCREASED ACCESS.

IF I CAN BENEFIT FROM PREP MEDICINES TO PROTECT MY BODY AGAINST HIV, SHOULD I COME IN CONTACT WITH IT.

I ALSO HAVE AN INCREASE IN ACCESS.

THEY ARE HANDLING IT ON BOTH ENDS .

I AM EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> TYPICALLY [ INAUDIBLE ] SAYS THAT 627 NEW HIV DIAGNOSES REPORTED IN 2020 IN CHICAGO, THAT IS THE LOWEST NUMBER SINCE 1987.

AND 269 PEOPLE WERE DIAGNOSED WITH THE MOST ADVANCED STAGE OF HIV INFECTION , THAT IS, OF COURSE, A.I.D.S.

THE LOWEST NEW DIAGNOSES SINCE 1985, BUT STILL, THERE ARE DISPARITIES , HALF OF NEW HIV DIAGNOSES OCCURRED IN BLACK CHICAGOANS.

JEROME MONTGOMERY, TO WHAT DO WE ATTRIBUTE THAT DISPARITY?

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] BY OUR MOST RECENT PANDEMIC [ INAUDIBLE ] ACCESS TO CARE AND SERVICES.

YOU KNOW, AS [ INAUDIBLE ] STATE THERE HAS BEEN [ INAUDIBLE ] DECREASE IN OVERALL INFECTION RATES OF HIV.

HOWEVER, DURING THAT SAME TIME [ INAUDIBLE ] THE BLACK POPULATION MADE LESS THAN 30% OF THE CITY POPULATION.

YET, THEY WERE OVER 45% OF THE NEW DIAGNOSED CASES , WHICH IS DEFINITELY SHOWING AN EXTREME DISPARITY [ INAUDIBLE ] ACCESS TO EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE, ACCESS TO EQUITABLE EDUCATION, CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS INEQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING AMONGST ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN [ INAUDIBLE ], PARTICULARLY THOSE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS [ INAUDIBLE ] SUPPORT AND HELPING TO REACH THOSE HARD-TO-REACH POPULATIONS PROVIDING [ INAUDIBLE ] CARE.

STIGMA IS A HUGE FACTOR IN [ INAUDIBLE ], PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU START [ INAUDIBLE ] IN BLACK OR BROWN CULTURE.

SO, THOSE THINGS [ INAUDIBLE ] CONTRIBUTE TO THE LACK OF INDIVIDUALS [ INAUDIBLE ] OR FEELING THEY COME TO TERMS WITH THEIR DIAGNOSIS OR MAYBE THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION [ INAUDIBLE ] >> THE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION [ INAUDIBLE ] POPULATION CENTER [ INAUDIBLE ] CONTRIBUTORS TO [ INAUDIBLE ] JEROME, TELLS A LITTLE ABOUT [ INAUDIBLE ] >> SO, THE PATIENT'S [ INAUDIBLE ] CREATED TO BE A ONE-STOP SHOP.

WHETHER IT IS [ INAUDIBLE ] OR INDEPENDENTLY, OR THROUGH OTHER RELATIONSHIPS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] INDIVIDUALS WHO GET INTEGRATED CARE CAN BE TREATED HOLISTICALLY, AND THEREFORE IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THEIR [ INAUDIBLE ] DIAGNOSES BUT ALSO LOOKS INTERNALLY, TREATING THE INDIVIDUAL HOLISTICALLY.

[ INAUDIBLE ] WHETHER INDEPENDENTLY OR THROUGH COLLABORATION [ INAUDIBLE ] INDIVIDUALS NOT ONLY MEDICAL SERVICES THEY MAY NEED BUT ALSO INCIDENTAL SUPPORT SERVICES, SUCH AS HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT , MENTAL HEALTH, OR OTHER FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE INEQUITIES , THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.

>> REVISITING SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, DR. GREEN, THE REPORT ALSO SHOWS AN 11% INCREASE IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACHIEVED VIRAL SUPPRESSION FROM 2019 TO 2020.

OF COURSE, THE RACIAL DISPARITY STILL EXIST THERE [ INAUDIBLE ] PERCENT OF BLACK CHICAGOANS WITH HIV OR A.I.D.S.

[ INAUDIBLE ] COMPARED TO 21% OF WHITE CHICAGOANS [ INAUDIBLE ] HIV-AIDS ACHIEVING VIRAL SUPPRESSION [ INAUDIBLE ] DR. [ INAUDIBLE ] ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK.

HERE SHE IS.

>> IF PEOPLE CONSISTENTLY TAKE THEIR MEDICATIONS FOR HIV, HIV BECOMES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SPREAD.

WHEREAS, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY [ INAUDIBLE ] MORE THAN HALF OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV ARE CONSISTENTLY TAKING THEIR [ INAUDIBLE ] VIRALLY SUPPRESSED [ INAUDIBLE ] MORE THAN 90% OF THEM ARE VIRALLY SUPPRESSED.

WHEN SOMEONE IS VIRALLY SUPPRESSED, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET SIGNIFICANTLY SICK, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY ARE UNABLE TO SPREAD HIV.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] MEDICATION DR. [ INAUDIBLE ] IS REFERRING TO THERE IS PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS.

DR. GREEN [ INAUDIBLE ] DISPARITY, THOUGH WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ADDRESS THAT?

>> THIS DISPARITY HAS EXISTED SINCE BEFORE I WAS BORN, BEFORE [ INAUDIBLE ], RIGHT?

SO, THE DISPARITY IS IN THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.

WHAT I MEAN IS, WE CAN PUT HIV HERE, I CAN PUT HEPATITIS B HERE, DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE -- LOOK AT THE OPIOID OVERDOSE, THINGS LIKE THAT.

[ INAUDIBLE ] A CURE.

IF THIS IS A TREE, I CAN CUT THIS BRANCH OFF.

WHAT DOES THAT REDO?

IT GROWS ANOTHER BRANCH.

THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER THE BRANCHES, THE PROBLEM IS THE ROOT.

AND THAT IS IN EQUITY, THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH [ INAUDIBLE ] IF WE CANNOT OPERATE AND TREAT THE ENTIRE PATIENT THROUGH A POPULATION CENTER HEALTHCARE MODEL, THAT MEANS MAKING SURE [ INAUDIBLE ] IS CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR PILL IF THEY ARE HUNGRY, IF THEY CANNOT MAKE A LIVING FOR THEMSELVES.

IF YOU GO BACK TO [ INAUDIBLE ] NEEDS, THOSE THINGS HAVE TO BE SATISFIED BEFORE THE PATIENT EVEN WANTS TO ENGAGE IN ANY CONVERSATION.

THE OTHER BENEFIT OF HAVING A POPULATION CENTER HEALTH MODEL IS MOST OF THEM ARE RIGHT IN THE COMMUNITY.

I AM IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN IT IS BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIME, I AM IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN IT IS GOING TO WORSHIP TIME, I AM IN THE COMMUNITY NOT JUST FOR TREATING THE VIRUS.

>> PROBLEM [ INAUDIBLE ] OBVIOUSLY [ INAUDIBLE ] APPROACH TO A NOT THE SULFATE SO THAT WE CANNOT SOLVE FULLY, OBVIOUSLY [ INAUDIBLE ] DR. MAIA GREEN AND JEROME MONTGOMERY [ INAUDIBLE ] >> THANK YOU.

>> FOR HAVING US, HAVE A GOOD ONE.

>> BACK WITH MORE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK VOICES AFTER THIS.

>>> ON NOVEMBER 4th, THE ANNUAL BLACK HARVEST FILM FESTIVAL KICKS OFF ITS 20th YEAR, CELEBRATING BLACK FILMMAKING IN [ INAUDIBLE ]'S SCREENINGS AND SPECIAL EVENT ORGANIZERS OF THEM ASSERTED THIS YEAR'S EVENT TO [ INAUDIBLE ] WHO DIED EARLIER THIS MONTH.

>> THIS IS THE 28 YEAR WE ARE CELEBRATING THE BLACK HARVEST FILM FESTIVAL.

[ INAUDIBLE ] FILM CENTER, THEY HAVE BEEN AMAZING AT BUILDING AND CULTIVATING THIS COMMUNITY OF CREATORS , LARGEST BLACK FILM FESTIVAL IN THE MIDWEST.

WE ARE [ INAUDIBLE ] SEVERAL YEARS AGO [ INAUDIBLE ] IN THIS INDUSTRY CREATED A LEGACY [ INAUDIBLE ] PLATFORM WE FEEL [ INAUDIBLE ] TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] SHOWCASE BLACK STORIES [ INAUDIBLE ] FILMS , 25 FEATURE PHONES, 25 SHORT FILMS, ABOUT 15 [ INAUDIBLE ] IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL FILMMAKER APPEARANCES AND CONVERSATIONS [ INAUDIBLE ] WE HAVE SOME ANNIVERSARIES [ INAUDIBLE ] SHOWCASING AS WELL.

REALLY ABOUT [ INAUDIBLE ] ESPECIALLY ELEGANCE [ INAUDIBLE ] VERY WELL [ INAUDIBLE ] THE STORY OF A BLACK MAN [ INAUDIBLE ] INTO THE MILITARY, HIS JOURNEY AND EXPERIENCE [ INAUDIBLE ] THE FESTIVAL SHOWCASING NOT ONLY HIS PROJECT BUT TELLING HIS STORY.

I AM SO EXCITED FOR THAT CREATOR TO BE PRESENT.

>> YOU WILL FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> PASSED SEASONS OF WBEZ'S BIOGRAPHIC PODCAST CALLED MAKING [ INAUDIBLE ] THE LIVES OF THREE PEOPLE SO ICONIC YOU KNOW THEM BY JUST ONE NAME.

OPRAH, BEYONCE, OBAMA.

YOU ARE STILL GOING TO GET THE ONE NAME ONLY LEVEL OF LEGEND IN THIS LATEST SEASON, BUT THEY HAVE SHAKEN THINGS UP A BIT.

NOW, EACH EPISODE COVERS A DIFFERENT FIGURE EACH WEEK.

AND THE SHOW HAS A NEW HOST, BRANDON [ INAUDIBLE ] WHO JOINED US NOW TO TALK ABOUT IT.

BRANDON, WELCOMING, GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK VOICES.

THIS IS YOUR FIRST SEASON, THOUGH, AS THE SHOW'S HOST.

EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR.

>> THE IDEA IS WHAT MADE THESE ICONIC BLACK FIGURES WHO THEY ARE?

IT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

IT IS ONE THAT I THINK IS REALLY FASCINATING.

SO, WHAT WE DO, SINCE IT IS A BIOGRAPHICAL PODCAST, WE, WE HEAR THE MAKING STORY.

HOW WAS SERENA WILLIAMS MADE?

HOW WAS REVEREND JESSE JACKSON MADE?

HOW WAS RIHANNA, THE POP SUPERSTAR, MADE?

>> DROPPED A NOOSE ON [ INAUDIBLE ] 'S BACK PRETTY GOOD.

THE TRICK IS HEARING FROM PEOPLE WHO KNEW THEM DURING PIVOTAL YEARS AND HELP THEM GET WHAT THEY ARE.

THEY HAVE THE BEST PERSPECTIVE ON IT, AND WE TRY TO HEAR FROM THEM [ INAUDIBLE ] >> [ INAUDIBLE ] PRODUCER EVAN ROGERS, WHO DISCOVERED RIHANNA [ INAUDIBLE ] UMBRELLA AND HOW IT CHANGED EVERYTHING IN HER CAREER AFTER THAT.

>> WE ALWAYS FELT FROM DAY ONE THAT SHE HAD A RICHER, LOWER PART OF HER TONE THAT REALLY ALLOWED HER TO SHINE.

IN UMBRELLA, EVERYTHING CAME TOGETHER.

A COMFORT ZONE, WHERE SHE COULD SHOW THAT [ INAUDIBLE ] IN HER VOICE.

EVERYTHING BEGAN TO CHANGE QUICKLY WHEN THAT SONG CAME OUT.

>> BRANDON, HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH YEARS ARE THE MAKING YEARS?

>> THAT IS TOUGH, BRANDIS, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE LIKE RIHANNA, WHO HAVE A CAREER THAT IS STILL HAPPENING , STILL VERY MUCH IN THE PUBLIC EYE.

I THINK THE KEY THING FOR US IS TO THINK ABOUT, OKAY, WHAT ARE THE AREAS PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT?

WHAT THINGS MIGHT HAVE THE BIGGEST QUESTION MARKS?

MOST PEOPLE KNOW RIHANNA IS FROM BARBADOS, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW HOW SHE MADE THE LEAP FROM BARBADOS TO THE AND IT IS, SLEEPING IN THE OFFICE OF JAY-Z -- THOSE ARE THE KEY STORIES -- WE ASKED THE QUESTION IN THE GROUP AS WE WERE DECIDING, OKAY, HAS SHE MADE IT AT THIS POINT?

HAS SHE MADE IT?

>> FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY BE SERENA WILLIAMS FANS, NOT NECESSARILY TENNIS FANS [ INAUDIBLE ] RUBIN -- SHE GAVE A LITTLE INSIGHT ON SERENA'S [ INAUDIBLE ], HERE IS A BIT OF THAT.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] EVERY SINGLE SPOT IN THE SERVICE BOX POINT SHE CAN GET OUT WIDE, SHE CAN GET UP, SHE CAN GO IN -- THOSE ARE KIND OF THE PRIMARY THREE, BUT SHE COULD STAY LOW -- YOU COULD NOT READ IT.

IT WAS THE SUM TOTAL OF HER GAME WHAT SHE BROUGHT TO THE COURT.

SO EVEN IF YOU WERE [ INAUDIBLE ] LIKE I WAS, HOW DO YOU MAKE INROADS INTO THAT KIND OF SERVICE GAME?

>> HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO TALK TO ON THAT EPISODE?

PARTICULARLY FOR SERENA?

>> FOR SERENA WILLIAMS IT WAS TOUGH, BECAUSE, LIKE, WHO IS GOING TO GIVE US THE BEST EFFECTIVE?

YOU WANT IT TO BE [ INAUDIBLE ], SO, FOR THIS EPISODE, WE HAVE [ INAUDIBLE ], PLAYED AGAINST HER, CAN TALK ABOUT HOW SCARY IT IS TO PLAY AGAINST SOMEONE LIKE SERENA WILLIAMS, HOW YOU HAVE TO UP YOUR GAME PLAY AGAINST HER [ INAUDIBLE ] FAMILY STORY IS A BIG PART OF HER LEGACY.

[ INAUDIBLE ] OLDER SISTER [ INAUDIBLE ] PRICE THEN FINALLY, WE WANTED TO GET COACHING PERSPECTIVE, SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY SAT WITH SERENA, TAUGHT HER SOME OF THE THINGS SHE KNOWS [ INAUDIBLE ] SAW THE MOVIE, KING RICHARD [ INAUDIBLE ] THE GUY WHO MOVED THE FAMILY LITERALLY FROM CALIFORNIA TO FLORIDA BECAUSE THIS GIRL WAS JUST SO GOOD.

GETTING THOSE PEOPLE TOGETHER, THEY ALL HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, THEY BRING SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE TABLE.

A LOT OF THESE [ INAUDIBLE ] THE THING.

YES, SERENA WILLIAMS IS A TENNIS STAR, BUT SHE IS ALSO A FASHION ICON AS WELL.

CONSIDER THE SLIDER SHE BRINGS TO THE SPORT.

SHE IS A HEROINE TO MANY.

SAME WITH RIHANNA, SHE IS MORE THAN MUSIC, SHE IS A FASHION MOBILE AS WELL.

YOU WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT ALL THOSE DIFFERENT ANGLES TO [ INAUDIBLE ] SMACK YOUR LATEST IS ON REVEREND JESSE JACKSON.

HOW DO YOU APPROACH FIGURES DIFFERENTLY, POLITICAL FIGURES LIKE JESSE JACKSON?

THE ENTERTAINMENT FIGURES?

AND HISTORICAL FIGURES?

>> THE KEY IS TELLING A COMPLETE STORY.

BEASLEY, RIHANNA IS A LITTLE MORE LIGHTHEARTED, WHERE IS REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, THERE ARE ELEMENTS TO THE STORY [ INAUDIBLE ] THE SALVATION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING THAT YOU WANT [ INAUDIBLE ] THE RIGHT RESPECT, THE RIGHT [ INAUDIBLE ].

THE THING ABOUT JESSE JACKSON IS WE TALKED TO A BIOGRAPHER OF JESSE JACKSON, REALLY OBJECTIVE.

SHE GOT A LOT OF HATE AND DEATH THREATS BECAUSE OF THE WAY SHE DOCUMENTED JESSE JACKSON 'S EARLY LIFE AND [ INAUDIBLE ] ASSASSINATION WENT DOWN AND THE AFTERMATH OF THAT.

[ INAUDIBLE ] ACCOUNT THERE, ABLE TO DIVE INTO THAT, BE REALLY OBJECTIVE AND UNBIASED [ INAUDIBLE ] >> [ INAUDIBLE ] ABOUT MOST OF THE FOLKS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, RIHANNA, SERENA WILLIAMS, REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, EACH OF THEM ARE STILL RELEVANT.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE MAKING OF THEM, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I THINK [ INAUDIBLE ] RELEASED SOME WEEKS AFTER SHE ANNOUNCED SHE WAS EVOLVING AWAY FROM TENNIS.

RIHANNA HAS ANNOUNCED SHE IS HEADLINING THE SUPER BOWL [ INAUDIBLE ] DROPPING A NEW ALBUM IT SEEMS LIKE EACH OF THESE ARE STILL RELEVANT.

WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT THE WORK THEY ARE DOING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS THE COOLEST PART, RIGHT?

WE DID NOT WANT TO BE THE HISTORY CHANNEL, WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WITHOUT A LOT OF CURRENT RELEVANCE FOR THERE WILL BE SOME EVERY TALK ABOUT [ INAUDIBLE ] COOL PEOPLE WHO DID GREAT THINGS, BUT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE CURRENTLY IN THE STORY NOT [ INAUDIBLE ] THEY ARE STILL WRITING IT, THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK LATER ON AND SEE WHAT THE NEXT CHAPTER IS.

WHAT ARE THEY MAKING NEXT?

>> BRANDON, YOU ARE PRETTY PLUG-IN.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU LEARNED, ANYTHING YOU ARE SURPRISED BY?

>> ALWAYS A GREAT QUESTION.

THE RIHANNA EPISODE, TO ME, I LEARNED THE MOST.

IT WAS THE MOST ENLIGHTENING, BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF RIHANNA, BUT I DID NOT REALIZE THE EFFORT SHE PUT IN, THE WORK ETHIC.

IT IS SUCH AN UNCONVENTIONAL STORY.

EVERY [ INAUDIBLE ] YOU'VE HEARD FROM THIS WHITE GUY , PRODUCER, GOES TO BARBADOS, HE HEARS A YOUNG GIRL SING AND SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I AM GOING TO BRING YOU TO THE UNITED STATES WITH.

OUR PARENTS AGREED TO THAT, HOW SHE REACTED -- THAT JUST DOES NOT HAPPEN, RIGHT?

THEN TO HAVE THAT TALENT BE DEVELOPED [ INAUDIBLE ] NOT OVERNIGHT, THEY WORKED YEARS TO GET [ INAUDIBLE ] ON THE REPLAY SINGLE.

THAT PROGRESSION, THAT DRIVE [ INAUDIBLE ] REALLY INSPIRED.

LEARNING THOSE DETAILS, I LEFT EACH CONVERSATION INSPIRED BUT IF THEY CAN DO THAT [ INAUDIBLE ] A LOT HAVE SIMILAR STORIES, TOO.

IF THEY CAN HAVE THAT STRUGGLE , THOSE OBJECTS IN THEIR PATH, HEY, WE CAN DO THE SAME.

WE CAN GET PAST OUR THINGS AS WELL.

WE HAVE GOT MAKING, OURSELVES, RIGHT?

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] SOUND LIKE FAIRYTALES, BUT IN THE MAKING PODCAST , THERE IS A PROCESS.

NOTHING HAPPENS OVERNIGHT.

BRANDON, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> MAKE YOU SO MUCH.

>> UP NEXT, THE PREVIEW OF THIS YEAR'S BLACK HARVEST FILM FESTIVAL.

STAY WITH US.

>> THE [ INAUDIBLE ] COMMUNITY IS GETTING A PUBLIC PARK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS, THANKS IN PART TO A GRANT FROM THE CHICAGO RECOVERY PLAN COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND DESIGN TEAM WORKED WITH THE SHELDON HEIGHTS CHURCH OF CHRIST, WHICH OWNS [ INAUDIBLE ] TO CREATE A VACANT LOT [ INAUDIBLE ] SOUTH HEIGHTS PARK.

>> THIS PARK IS JUST ONE ENTITY OF A LARGER PLAN, THAT PARK SOUTH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HAS, TO REALLY FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THIS COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO THRIVE AND GROW THROUGH OUR BRINGING COMMUNITIES BACK INITIATIVE.

IT IS REALLY DESIGNED TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THE VACANCIES WE HAVE HERE, IN THE ROSELAND COMMUNITY.

>> PARKS PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THERE IS DATA SHOWING THAT THE MORE PARKS AND HIGHER TREE CANOPY COVERAGE A NEIGHBORHOOD HAS, THE HIGHER PROPERTY VALUES THE HOUSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE.

SO, THIS PARK REALLY ADDS ANOTHER LAYER TO FAR SOUTH [ INAUDIBLE ] INITIATIVE TO ELEVATE THE VALUE AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE AREA.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] HEIGHTS PARK AT 112 AND HALLSTEAD IS ONE OF 12 NEW PUBLIC SPACES FUNDED BY THE CITY'S PUBLIC OUTDOOR PLAZA PROGRAM, INCLUDING A STAGE, A ROLLER SKATING RINK, BASKETBALL COURT, AND COMMUNITY GARDENS, AMONG OTHER [ INAUDIBLE ] ALL AGES, ESPECIALLY RESIDENTS IN ROSELAND, [ INAUDIBLE ] PARK AND [ INAUDIBLE ] , IT OFFICIALLY OPENS THIS AFTERNOON.

>>> SPEAKING OF PARKS AND THE IMPACT THEY CAN HAVE ON RESIDENT, THIS NEXT STORY IS ABOUT A GROUP OF PHOTOGRAPHERS OPENING THEIR CAMERAS ON PEOPLE AND THE LANDSCAPED BEAUTY OF SOUTHSIDE PARK.

NOW, THEY ARE COMBINING THEIR PASSION FOR PICTURES WITH EARLY CHICAGO HISTORY.

THE WASHINGTON PARK CAMERA CLUB WAS ORGANIZED IN 1955.

IT IS THE OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAMERA CLUB IN THE CITY.

WE MET THEM EARLIER THIS YEAR TO FIND OUT ABOUT THEIR PRESENT DAY DIVE INTO THE CITY'S PASS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] HAS THE STORY.

>> I GREW UP HERE, I MOVED IN [ INAUDIBLE ] FOUR YEARS OLD .

FOR US, WHEN YOUR PARENTS SAID YOU CAN GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY, THAT MEANT GOING TO THE PARK [ INAUDIBLE ] THE WAY.

THIS WAS MY BACKYARD.

WHY PLAY IN THE ALLEY WHEN YOU CAN COME OUT HERE AND PLAY IN THE GRASS?

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS, BUT NOW, IT IS MORE OF A JOY.

YOU CAN SIT BACK AND TAKE WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT TO TAKE.

>> WE SPOKE WITH A FEW OF THE 40+ MEMBERS OF THE WASHINGTON PARK CAMERA CLUB AND THE 45 ACRE PARK THAT GIVES THE CLUB ITS NAME.

THE LATEST PROJECT [ INAUDIBLE ] PAST AND PRESENT, THEY ARE CAN PAIRING OLD [ INAUDIBLE ] PARK WITH NEW INSPIRATIONS.

THE TRIP TO THE PARK'S CREATORS, 19th CENTURY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT [ INAUDIBLE ] WHO COMMITTED THE PARK IN 1871.

>> WE ANNOUNCED THIS WAS A CELEBRATION [ INAUDIBLE ] AND FOR THIS MAGNIFICENT PLACE, STILL HERE, STILL PRETTY MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT HE LEFT IT.

[ INAUDIBLE ] CHANGES.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT IS THAT HE GAVE THE COMMUNITY AS A SPACE.

>> IN ORDER TO APPRECIATE THE PARK, YOU HAVE TO GET INTO THE ALLEY OF IT.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT SPACES, THAT IS WHAT OLMSTEAD WAS KNOWN FOR.

YOU WILL WALK THROUGH A PATH, THEN SUDDENLY THE PATH OPENS UP TO A LAGOON, OR IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE CREEK OR GREEN SPACE.

>> ONSET WAS AN ARTIST, CONSERVATIONIST, AND AN EARLY ABOLITIONIST.

HIS PHOTOGRAPHS [ INAUDIBLE ] SPONSORED BY THE HYDE PARK HISTORICAL [ INAUDIBLE ] A CHICAGO-BASED [ INAUDIBLE ] FOUNDATION FOR AMERICAN [ INAUDIBLE ].

THE PROJECT HAS ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT AND A LOCAL STORE.

>> FREDERICK OLMSTED WAS A REALLY REMARKABLE HUMAN BEING, HE IS CONSIDERED THE FOUNDER OF AMERICAN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE.

HE HAD THE IDEA THAT AMERICAN PARKS [ INAUDIBLE ] THIS TREMENDOUS DEMOCRATIC EXPERIMENT.

DURING VICTORIAN SOCIETY, THERE WERE A FEW PLACES WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND CLASSES COULD ACTUALLY MINGLE OR MEET, OR EVEN SEE EACH OTHER.

BUT PARKS WERE THE SPACES , PARKS THAT BELONGS TO ALL THE PEOPLE.

>> THE WASHINGTON PARK CAMERA CLUB IS MADE UP OF BOTH BEGINNERS AND PROFESSIONALS.

IT IS AS THEY PUT IT, WHERE GREAT MINDS CLICK.

>> WE FORM OUR OWN COMMUNITIES.

SHOULD YOUR NATURAL INSTINCT.

I WILL SAY IT THIS WAY.

NO MATTER WHAT MY ASSIGNMENT IS, IF A CHILD WALKS BY OR A FAMILY WITH THEIR CHILDREN, I WILL STOP AND TAKE THEIR PICTURE.

BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME, SEEING FAMILIES OUT ENJOYING THE COMMUNITY.

>> WHEN I COME OUT, I AM TALKING TO PEOPLE, THEY ARE SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES OF THE PARK.

SO, I AM SHOOTING THEM, AND THEN THE LANDSCAPES.

WHEN YOU COME TO THIS PART, YOU TAKE A LOT OF THIS FOR GRANTED, BUT THIS ENTIRE THING WAS ACTUALLY A GIFT FROM OLMSTED.

HE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS 150 YEARS AGO.

>> THE CHICAGO PARK SYSTEM IS AN AMAZING RESOURCE FOR THE CITY, NOT ONLY SOME OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE PLACES TO GO, BUT THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY LIVING WORKS OF ART.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] HAS NOT CHANGED.

THESE ARE THE SAME LOCATIONS.

SOME OF THESE TREES ARE OLDER THAN THE PARK ITSELF.

WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ALL OF IT, I REALLY ENJOY THIS.

THANK YOU ALL.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT LIKE VOICES, THIS IS MARK [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> LET'S GIVE ARTIST FREDERICK LAUZON ALSO DESIGNED CENTRAL PARK IN NEW YORK AND THE GROUNDS OF THE U.S. CAPITOL IN WASHINGTON, D.C. VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS AND A VIRTUAL EXHIBIT BY THE WASHINGTON PARK [ INAUDIBLE ] .

THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS -- IF YOU'RE WATCHING SATURDAY, ALSO YOU CAN CATCH LIKE VOICES AND LATINA VOICES ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 2:00 P.M. JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ NEXT WEEK AT SEVEN:00.

FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK VOICES, I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

BE SAFE, AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.