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.

I AM ANGEL IDOWU.

BRANDIS FREEMAN HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT WE HEAR FROM FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA AT THE GROUNDBREAKING OF HIS NEW PRESIDENTIAL CENTER IN JACKSON PARKER.

>>> IT IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

LOCAL DOCTORS BREAK DOWN WHAT IS BEHIND THE DISPARITIES AND OUTCOMES FOR BLACK WOMEN.

>>> GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES.

REACTION TO THE R KELLY VERDICT FROM CHICAGOANS WHO HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORIES OF SURVIVORS FOR YEARS.

>>> MEET ONE OF THE NEW MACARTHUR GENIUS GRANT RECIPIENTS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HER COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE.

>>> MEET A GROUP OF STUDENTS TO SAYING YES TO CLEAN ENERGY AND WORKING TO BRING SOLAR PANELS TO THE WEST SIDE.

>>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER IS A BIT CLOSER TO REALITY AFTER THE FORMER FIRST FAMILY BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA RETURNED TO CHICAGO THIS WEEK TO BREAK GROUND ON THE CENTER IN JACKSON PARKER.

THE MOVE COMES AFTER LEGAL BATTLES, GENTRIFICATION CONCERNS AND A FEDERAL REVIEW.

WE WERE ON SITE THE GROUNDBREAKING.

HERE IS WHAT THE OBAMA'S SET ABOUT CHOOSING THE CENTER'S LOCATION.

>> ONE OF MY GREATEST HONORS IS BEING A PROUD CHICAGOAN.

A DAUGHTER OF THE SOUTHSIDE.

[APPLAUSE] I STILL LEAD WITH THAT DESCRIPTOR.

I WEAR IT BOLDLY AND PROUDLY LIKE A CROWN.

>> THIS IS CLOSE TO WHERE SHELL GREW UP.

WHERE I STARTED MY POLITICAL CAREER.

IT IS SURROUNDED BY VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS AND A COMMUNITY WHERE WE BELIEVE WE CAN HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AT JACKSON PARK, IT HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART BECAUSE IT WAS LITERALLY MY ENTRYWAY INTO CHICAGO.

>> FOR MORE ON THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER GROUNDBREAKING AND REACTION FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

ASK FOR WOMEN IN THE US REST CANCER IS DEVASTATINGLY COMMON.

WHEN EIGHT WOMEN DEVELOPED BREAST CANCER OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR LIFETIMES AND FOR BLACK WOMEN IN THE US AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS IS ESPECIALLY WORRYING THE MORTALITY RATE FOR BLACK WOMEN DIAGNOSED WITH REST CANCER IS 42 PERCENT HIGHER THAN A WHITE WOMAN.

AND A PARTICULAR AGGRESSIVE BREAST CANCER IS MORE LIKELY TO PRESENT ITSELF IN BLACK WOMEN.

RUNNING IS NOW WITH MORE ARE MICHELLE HICKS-TURNER CANCER CONTROL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP MANAGER FOR THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S CENTRAL REGION.

DR. SURBHI WARRIOR, A PHYSICIAN AT RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER.

AND DR. ARLENE RICHARDSON A RADIOLOGIST AND CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF RADIOLOGY AT JACKSON PARK HOSPITAL.

LADIES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

LET'S GET INTO IT.

DOCTOR RICHARDSON WHY ARE WE SEEING THESE DISPARITIES IN BLACK WOMEN?

>> Guest: I THINK ONE BIG REASON IS LOW RESOURCES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

IT CONTRIBUTES TO ALL THE DISPARITIES WE SEE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT ECONOMIC INSTABILITIES TO UNEMPLOYMENT, LOWER QUALITY ENVIRONMENT INCLUDING HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

LOWER QUALITY AND LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND LOWER ABUNDANCE OF HIGH-QUALITY FOOD AND HEALTHCARE IN OUR COMMITTEE.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.

>> Host: ABSOLUTELY.

DR. SURBHI WARRIOR YOU'VE DONE RESEARCH AT RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER ON DISPARITY AND CANCER RESEARCH.

ONE OF YOUR FINDINGS WAS THAT TRIPLE NEGATIVE REST CANCER HAS A HIGHER OCCURRENCE IN BLACK WOMEN.

CAN YOU GIVE US A BREAKDOWN TO WHAT THAT IS AND WHY IT IS PARTICULARLY CONCERNING?

>> Guest: WE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE DISPARITIES EXIST IN THE CHICAGO POPULATION AND ESPECIALLY IN BLACK WOMEN WHO ARE BEING TREATED FOR BREAST CANCER.

WE LOOKED AT THAT DATA FOR 20 YEARS FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH OUR COMPREHENSIVE BREAST PROGRAM, OVER 8000 WOMEN.

TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF DISPARITIES AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT BLACK WOMEN ARE MORE PRONE TO HAVE FOR AGNOSTIC PROBLEMS FOR BREAST CANCER.

WE FOUND THAT BLACK WOMEN ARE ONE AND HALF TIMES LIKELY TO PRESENT WITH METASTATIC DISEASE NEEDING THE CANCER HAS ALREADY SPREAD TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THEIR BODY.

IT WAS MUCH LESS CURABLE.

WE ALSO FOUND THAT BLACK MEN WERE 2.1 TIMES LIKELY TO HAVE A TRIPLE NEGATIVE REST CANCER AND OATH OF THESE ARE BIG AREAS THAT LEAD TO HIGHER OCCURRENCE AND MORTALITY RATE.

ESPECIALLY FOR TRIPLE NEGATIVE REST CANCER.

IT MEANS THESE BREAST TUMORS DON'T EXPRESS THE ESTROGEN OR PROGESTERONE OR THE PROTEINS AND THAT IS WHAT BREAST CANCER DIRECTIVE THERAPIES TARGET WHICH MAKES THIS TYPE OF CANCER IS OCCULT TO TREAT.

TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCERS ARE ALREADY A HIGHER GRADE TUMOR AND MORE AGGRESSIVE AND HAVE AN OVERALL POOR PROGNOSIS.

IF YOU RISK FACTORS RELATED TO TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER, STUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT HIGHER NUMBER OF PREGNANCIES AND DECREASED BREAST-FEEDING WHICH IS MORE COMMON IN BLACK WOMEN WITH THIS IT PUTS THE POPULATION AT A HIGHER CHANCE OF TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER.

>> THESE NUMBERS ARE HIGH.

I WANTED TO ASK, TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER SEEMS LIKE A RELATIVELY NEW TERM.

CAN YOU TELL US WHY WE ARE JUST LEARNING MORE ABOUT IT?

>> Guest: ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THESE DISPARITIES IS WE HAVE REALIZED THAT THE DIFFERENT POPULATIONS DON'T DON'T HAVE AS GOOD OF ACCESS TO CARE MEANING THEY ARE HEADING FOR A PROGNOSIS AND OVERALL TREATMENT.

ONE THING WE FOUND IS THAT MUTATIONS ARE DOING FOR OVERALL AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT BLACK WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER AND A LOT MORE RESEARCH IS BEING DONE IN THE FIELD.

A LOT OF FUNDING AND RESOURCES ARE BEING ALLOCATED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER AND TREATMENT FOR THIS AREA.

THE PATIENT POPULATION THAT IS MOST LIKELY TO HAVE TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER, BLACK WOMEN, DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THESE TRIALS IN THE RESEARCH MAKING THIS AREA OF RESEARCH DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND.

>>.

>> Host: THAT IS A GOOD POINT.

MICHELLE HICKS-TURNER LET'S TOSS IT OVER TO YOU.

WHAT ARE HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS DOING TO ADDRESS THE DISPARITIES?

>> Guest: FIRST, YOU HAVE TO KNOW, WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE DISPARITIES IN SCREENING AND MORTALITY RATES BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE WOMEN AND THEN TAKE EQUITABLE STEPS TO ELIMINATE THOSE BARRIERS.

FOR ONE, WE KNOW THESE DISPARITIES ARE ROOTED IN POLICIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE BARRIERS.

ONE IS THAT SIMPLE THINGS THAT HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS CAN DO, NOT EVERYONE CAN TAKE THE TIME OFF DURING THE WEEK TO GO TO A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT SO OFFERING WEEKEND MAMMOGRAM APPOINTMENTS AND EVENING APPOINTMENT ARE CRUCIAL.

ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT UNINSURED WOMEN GET THE CARE THEY NEED.PARTNERSHIP WITH FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS, REFER PROVIDERS AND PROMOTE THE UTILIZATION OF THE ILLINOIS REST AND CERVICAL CANCER PROGRAM.

THIS WOULD ALLOW LOW INCOME ACROSS THE STATE TO CARE.

HOSPITALS CAN ALSO.

THINK ABOUT YOUR LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS.

PARTNER WITH THE LOCAL AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE ARCHER EMPLOYER-BASED.

FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

THINK ABOUT WAYS TO UTILIZE YOUR COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS TO REDUCE DISPARITIES RATHER THAN ADDING NAVIGATION SERVICES, COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND TRANSPORTATION CARE OR CHILDCARE.

THESE ARE SOME THINGS THAT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM CAN DO TO CHANGE THE DISPARITY RATE IN ILLINOIS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

DOCTOR RICHARDSON THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO MENTION THE NEWTEK ELEGY THAT YOU ALL ARE WORKING WITH TO HELP WITH EARLY DETECTION.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PROJECT HEALTH EQUALITY AT JACKSON PARK HOSPITAL?

>> Guest: WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

PROJECT HEALTH IS A COLLABORATION WHERE BLACK WOMEN WORK WITH THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE AND THROUGH THIS PROGRAM THE HOSPITAL HAS RECEIVED 3D MAMMOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT AND 3D MAMMOGRAPHY HAVE BEEN SUPERIOR COMPARED TO JUDY TECHNOLOGY TO DETECT BREAST CANCER.

PARTICULARLY THIS WHICH IS COMMON IN THE BLACK AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS TECHNOLOGY, THOSE OTHER SUPPORTIVE TECHNOLOGY CARE INCLUDING PUBLIC EDUCATION AND NURSING THAT WILL BE ADDED TO IMPROVE OUR SCREENING AND TREATMENT FOR WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO WITHOUT.

>> Host: ABSOLUTELY.

DOCTOR WARRIOR, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ON WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW-UP ON THE AFTERCARE WITH OUTCOMES FOR BLACK WOMEN?

>> Guest: YES.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND IS THAT BLACK MEN, ESPECIALLY BLACK WOMEN HIM THE LOWER ECONOMIC STATUS COMMITTEES HAVE DIFFICULT ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

EVEN THE WOMEN YOU GET INVOLVED WITH THAT GET ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH FOLLOW-UP THROUGHOUT THE TREATMENT.

I THINK WE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS BUT WHEN WE DID OUR ANALYSIS OF WHY THERE'S A LOT OF AREAS FOR PATIENTS WHERE THEY WERE FOLLOWING UP WE FOUND IT WAS DUE TO DIFFICULTY WITH CHILDCARE AND TRANSPORTATION AS WELL AS DIFFICULTY GETTING TIME OFF WORK TO GO TO THEIR DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS.

A LOT OF THESE COMPETING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMANDS MAKE IT DIFFERENT FOR PATIENTS THAT ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH ADVANCED DISEASE WITH CHEMOTHERAPY CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIATION.

THIS LONG-TERM IMPACT OR OVERALL MORTALITY IMPACTS THEIR CANCER DIRECTLY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MICHELLE HICKS-TURNER I WANT TO WRAP WITH YOU.

TELL ME WHY YOU THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR BLACK K WOMEN IN PARTICULAR TO GO AND GET THOSE SE MAMMOGRAM M OR IS THERE A GENERAL STIGMA THAT'S AFRAID TO GO TO THE DOCTOR OR LEAVING WITH SOME PARTYING AND ENCOURAGING WORDS.

>> EXACTLY.GO GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND IT SAVES LIVES.

IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT YOU DO IT AND I KNOW INITIALLY IT CAN BE SCARY BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW THE OUTCOME BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE SCARY IF YOU DIDN'T DO N'T DO IT AT ALL AND YOU HAD A CHANCE TO PREVENT RELEASE DATE DIAGNOSIS.

THE EARLIER YOU CATCH IT THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES ARE TO SURVIVE.

SO, PLEASE, GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU TWO MICHELLE HICKS-TURNER, DR. SURBHI WARRIOR AND DR. ARLENE RICHARDSON.

>>> ANOTHER MAJOR STORY THIS WEEK WAS THE CONVICTION OF DISGRACED R&B SINGER R KELLY.

A JURY FOUND KELLY GUILTY OF ALL CHARGES HE WAS FACING IN THE FEDERAL COURTROOM IN BROOKLYN'S.

THE 54-YEAR-OLD FACE RACKETEERING AND SEX TRAFFICKING CHARGES FOR 13 YEARS AFTER BEING ACQUITTED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES HERE IN COOK COUNTY WHERE FURTHER CHARGES AWAIT HIM.

EARLIER THIS WEEK WE SPOKE WITH A LONG WALK HOME WHICH MOVES TO END VIOLENCE BETWEEN WOMEN AND GIRLS.

SHE WAS ALSO A CONSULTANT FOR THE LIFETIME DOCUMENTARY, SURVIVING R KELLY.

WE ALSO SPOKE WITH MUSIC JOURNALISTS WHO WERE FIRST TO REPORT THE R KELLY ALLEGATIONS.

HERE ARE THEIR REACTIONS TO THE VERDICT.

>> IT WAS HISTORIC ON TWO LEVELS.

NUMBER 1, WE'VE NEVER HAD A BIGGER MORE DANGEROUS PREDATOR IN THE HISTORY OF POPULAR MUSIC.

IT IS NOW A FACT AND PROVEN AND CONVICTED.

NUMBER 2, THIS WAS THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT PROSECUTION OF A PREDATOR THAT FOCUSED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON BLACK WOMEN.

WE HAD THE NEED TO MOVEMENT SEE SEVERAL POWERFUL MEN COME DOWN.

THEIR VICTIMS WERE OFTEN FAMOUS WHITE ACTRESSES.

THESE WERE BLACK GIRLS DATING BACK TO THE FIRST 15-YEAR-OLD.

>> VERDICT FOR ME WAS BITTERSWEET.

MERELY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SO LONG IN THE MAKING AND I REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT JUSTICE HAS LOOKED LIKE OR WHAT JUSTICE SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND THIS IS ONE PART OF IT.

REALLY WHAT WE NEED TO EXAMINE IS WHY SO LONG?

WHY THIS WEEK FOR BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS?

HOW MANY SYSTEMS HAVE REALLY FAILED THESE GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS.

>> TO WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW, VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN INTRODUCES US TO ONE OF THE MACARTHUR GRANT RECIPIENTS IN A CONVERSATION THAT WAS RECORDED EARLIER.

>> THE MACARTHUR FELLOWSHIP THE SO-CALLED GENIUS GRANTS ARE AWARDED ANNUALLY TO INDIVIDUALS WHO SHOW ORIGINALITY AND DEDICATION IN THEIR CREATIVE OR SCHOLARLY PURSUIT.

ONE OF THIS YEAR'S MACARTHUR FELLOWS AND ASSESS WEEK LIVED IN CHICAGO FOR YEARS AND STUDIED AT NORTHEASTERN, NORTHWESTERN AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

HE IS CURRENTLY A PROFESSOR OF AFRICA WRITTEN AMERICAN STUDIES AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY AND JOINS US NOW.

WELCOME BACK AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> FIRST, TELL US ABOUT THE PHONE CALL YOU RECEIVED WHEN YOU FOUND OUT AND MACARTHUR CALLED YOU?

>> I WAS TELLING SOMEONE BEFORE THAT I HAVE, MY PHONE NUMBER STILL HAS A 773 AREA CODE AND I THINK FOR THE LAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN GETTING VERY AGGRESSIVE SPAM FROM THE 773 AREA CODE ABOUT STUDENT LOANS, EXTENDED CAR WARRANTIES AND VARIOUS OTHER THINGS.

SO, WHEN I GOT THE CALL I HAD BEEN ANSWERING THE 773 CALLS OVER THE SUMMER TO DEMAND TO BE TAKEN OFF THE CALL LIST SO WHEN I GOT THE CALL THE NUMBER WAS 773 THE FOUNDATION LOCATION.

I PICKED UP THE PHONE VERY TERSELY, READY TO ENGAGE IN ANOTHER VERBAL CONFRONTATION, TAKE ME OFF THE LIST!

SO, I WAS HOME AND I WAS WITH MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD WHO BETWEEN THE END OF DAY CARE IN THE BEGINNING OF KINDERGARTEN I WAS ABOUT A WEEK BETWEEN THE TWO SO, I GOT THE CALL AROUND LUNCHTIME AND QUICKLY FIGURED OUT.

>> THEIR FACE PROBABLY WENT FROM, THEY WERE PROBABLY WATCHING YOUR FACE CHANGE FROM ANGER TO ALL MY GOODNESS.

>> HE DID LOOK CONCERNED FOR ABOUT A MINUTE.

WHILE I WAS ON THE CALL.

SO, I I DID GO FROM ANGER TO CONFUSION TO BEWILDERMENT.

IN A SPACE OF 10 SECONDS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT IT WAS THAT GOT YOU STARTED IN THE WORK THAT WARRANTED THIS AWARD.

YOU LECTURE ON HISTORICAL PROBLEMS THAT ARE VERY SOME MUCH WITH US.

TELL US ABOUT THOSE.

>> MY WORK IS A CULMINATION OF, I LOOK AT BOTH HISTORICAL ISSUES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH RACISM AND IS COMMON AND PUBLIC POLICY AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.

I AM TRAINED AS A HISTORIAN BUT I ALSO WRITE ABOUT CONTEMPORARY RACE AND POLITICS AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS.

I GUESS THE LINE BETWEEN THE TWO IS I REALLY TRY TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS MEANT BY SYSTEMIC RACISM.

AGAIN, AND PUBLIC POLICY AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR, I LOOK AT THEM HISTORICALLY THROUGH THE LENS OR WINDOW OF HOUSING AND HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.

I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN THE WAY THAT BLACK PEOPLE AND BLACK COMMUNITIES RESPOND TO THESE ISSUES OF DISCRIMINATION AND THE WAY THAT BLACK PEOPLE ORGANIZE THEMSELVES AND THE WAY THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THEIR OPPRESSION AND EXPLOITATION.

THE REASON BEHIND SEGREGATION THAT EMERGES OUT OF BLACK COMMUNITIES AND THE WAY THAT THAT BECOMES ALSO A FOUNDATION FOR POLITICAL OPPOSITION, RESISTANCE, REBELLION AND ORGANIZING AS WELL.

>> YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS A BIT EVEN BEFORE YOU LEFT CHICAGO AND HEADED TO PRINCETON TO GILLY ABOUT REDLINING IN CHICAGO.

THE CITY, OF WORSE, HAS A VERY RICH HISTORY AND MANY OF THE TOPICS THAT YOU EXPLORE, HOW DOES YOUR TIME IN CHICAGO IN THE HISTORY OF CHICAGO FACTOR INTO AND SHAPE SOME OF YOUR WORK?

>> MY EXPERIENCES IN CHICAGO WERE A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND ME EVEN MAKING A DECISION TO GO TO GRADUATE SCHOOL.

I LIVED IN CHICAGO FOR LONG BEFORE I HAD DECIDED TO RETURN TO SCHOOL AND THE QUESTIONS THAT EVENTUALLY PUSHED ME IN THAT DIRECTION REALLY HAD TO DEAL WITH WHY IS CHICAGO SO SEGREGATED?

WHEN I MOVED TO THE CITY IN 1998 IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT STRUCK ME.

I WAS MOVING FROM NEW YORK STATE WHERE THERE ARE DEGREES OF RACIAL SEGREGATION AND RESIDENTIAL SEGREGATION BUT BECAUSE OF THE COMPACT NATURE OF THE CITY IT IS REALLY BLOCKED, IT CAN BE RADICALLY DIFFERENT AND CHICAGO, WHEN YOU ARRIVED IN THE CITY AND EXITED THE HIGHWAY TO CONEY ISLAND YOU ARE LITERALLY DRIVING FOR MILES IN ALL BLACK ENCLAVES.

I GREW UP IN THE SOUTH IN DALLAS TEXAS AND I HAD NEVER SEEN THIS LEVEL OF RACIAL SEPARATION IN MY LIFE.

AND SO, I LIVED IN HYDE PARK FOR A WHILE AND MOVED TO PILSEN AND THEN I MOVED TO LOGAN SQUARE AND YOU SEE THIS KIND OF RACIAL ENCLOSURE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THAT WAS REALLY IT.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY BEFORE WE LET YOU GO BECAUSE WE HAVE 35 SECONDS LEFT.

$625,000 OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE YEARS COMES WITH THIS AWARD?

ANY PLANS FORMING JUST YET ON HOW YOU WILL PUT THAT TO USE?

>> SURE.

I AM WORKING ON A COUPLE OF BOOKS, THIS IS LIKE RESEARCH MONEY WINDFALL.

AND, I AM ALSO WORKING ON A MULTIMEDIA PROJECT WITH A STAFF EDITOR FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES.

WE LOOK AT RACE AND POLITICS AND ORGANIZING FROM A BLACK LEFT-WING PERSPECTIVE.

WE ARE HOPING TO LAUNCH THAT SOMETIME IN 2022.

BUT, IT IS AN EXCITING PERIOD TO JUMP INTO THESE ISSUES OF RACE, POLITICS AND ORGANIZING.

>> IS GREAT WORK YOU DO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.

IN Q FOR JOINING US AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU DO NEXT.

>> INCORPORATED YOU SO MUCH.

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

SIDE ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE A BIG CHANGE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY CONFRONTING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND WORKING TO BRING SOLAR ENERGY TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

CHICAGO TONIGHT'S JOANNA HERNANDEZ MET WITH SOME STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR VISION IN GARFIELD PARK.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND HOW YOU SOLVE BAD THINGS LIKE ABOUT ENERGY.

>> IF WE HAD A WHOLE ACRE OF SOLAR PANELS WE COULD ACTUALLY POWER THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> SENIOR KIERRE TURNER IS ONE OF THE STUDENTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL IN GRANITE PARK THESE KIDS PUT WHAT THEY LEARNED IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CLASS INTO ACTION.

>> WE LEARNED ABOUT LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND ASTHMA COMES FROM THE COMMUNITY YOU ARE IN HERE DIE DID NOT KNOW THAT BUT I LEARNED IT.

>> A CLASS THAT HAS OPENED THEIR EYES TO ISSUES THAT IMPACT HER DAILY LIFE.

>> I WOULD SAY 90 PERCENT OF CHILDREN COME OUT WITH ASTHMA DUE TO POLLUTION WHEN THEIR MOTHER IS PREGNANT.

>> IT ALL STARTED THAT SHE WANTED TO CHALLENGE HER STUDENTS IN THE WAY THEY DO SCIENCE IN INVOLVING THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

>> I WANTED TO MAKE IT A REAL LIFE SITUATION.

HOW IS IT A JUSTICE CENTER?

HOW IS THIS USING SCIENCE AS A TOOL TO INTERVENE IN THE SOCIAL POLITICAL FEAR AND REALLY IMPACT STUDENTS LIVES?

>> IMAGINE HOW MUCH WORK WE COULD GET DONE?

>> JONES LAUNCHED A SOLAR PANEL PROJECT SO STUDENTS COULD THINK LIKE BELLA BRUCE.

THEY QUICKLY REALIZE THE BENEFIT OF HAVING SOLAR PANELS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> IS A GREAT IDEA OVERALL IN GENERAL BECAUSE OF POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE GOING ON.

HAVING IT HERE IN GARFIELD PARK IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT GOES ON AROUND HERE THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

>> THEY HAVE THEIR EYES SET ON THE GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THE SOLAR PANELS WILL PROVIDE CLEAN ENERGY WITHOUT REDUCING AIR POLLUTION.

>> OVER THE COURSE OF 14 YEARS THE CONSERVATORY WILL SAVE OVER HALF $1 MILLION THIS FROM THE ENERGY-SAVING.

>> JOINING THE ILLINOIS FOR ALL PROGRAM THEY'VE WORKED WITH CONTRACTORS AND ENGINEERS AND WILL BECOME PART OF THE DESIGN PROCESS.

>> IT IS A PROGRAM THAT KISSES ON HELPING TO GET SOLAR PANELS IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE OURS WHAT WE CALL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY.

THESE ARE COMMUNITIES WHERE IF YOU RESEARCH IT IS VERY UNHEALTHY.

>> THE STUDENTS HOPE TO SUBMIT THEIR FINAL PROPOSAL BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AS THEY WORK ON FUNDING FOR A BIG PROJECT THAT THEY SAY WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> WERE GOING TO SEE CHANGES AND STUFF IS GOING TO TURN AROUND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

IT WON'T JUST BE WE ARE STANDING BY, WE ARE ACTUALLY TAKING PRECAUTIONS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER FOR US.

>> ALONG THE WAY THIS PROJECT IS EMPOWERING THE STUDENTS TO FIND THEIR VOICES.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY GOOD.

I FELT LIKE I WAS HELPING THE COMMUNITY AND MADE ME A LEADER.

>> IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A BOSS LIKE I'M DOING SOMETHING THAT DOES SOME GOOD FOR ME AND OTHER PEOPLE.

>> THE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE GARFIELD PARK OBSERVATORY REGARDING THEIR VISION PEERED RIGHT NOW A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PARK DISTRICT SAID THEY ARE OPEN FOR THE IDEA AND ARE WAITING TO REVIEW A FINAL PROPOSAL FROM THE STUDENTS TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE BENEFITS BEFORE PROVIDING FINAL APPROVAL.

>> IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE LIVE HERE.

FOR SO LONG, OTHER INDUSTRIES AND PEOPLE, HONESTLY COMMUNITIES WHO DON'T LIVE HERE HAVE BEEN DICK HATING THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH WE LIVE.

I THINK IN THE FUTURE I WOULD SAY TO THE COMMUNITY TO LOOK FORWARD TO LEARN MORE FROM STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES TEACHING, COMMUNICATING AND SHARING.

>> FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I AM JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> JONES AND ONE OF HER STUDENTS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO ATTEND THE UN CLIMATE SUMMIT NEXT MONTH.

MORE DETAILS ON THE STUDENTS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

JOIN RANDY FRIEDMAN AND PARIS SCHUTZ NEXT WEEK AT 7:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, I AM ANGEL IDOWU.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

GOOD NIGHT.