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

>> Host: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES.

I AM BRANDIS FREEMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT MAYOR LIGHT WAS RECENTLY PASSED A JET IS CALLED THE MOST PROGRESSIVE SPENDING PLAN EVER.

WE WILL.

>> Guest: THREE OLDER PEOPLE IN WHAT IS IN IT AND IF IT DOES ENOUGH FOR CHICAGO COMMUNITY OF COLOR.

>>> VACCINE HESITANCY IS A BIG ISSUE IN LACKED NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE APPROACH OF VACCINATIONS FOR KIDS.

>>> AND HOW A TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE CAN LEAD TO A BETTER CHICAGO.

>> I LOVE HOW CLOSE TO MY HEART PEERED.

>> THIS YOUNG VIOLINIST IS ONE OF DOZENS RECEIVING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN GRANT MONEY FOR HER CAREER.

SHE SHARES HER PASSION IN MUSIC AND HOW SHE PLANS TO PAY IT FORWARD.

>>> TONIGHT CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMED LORI LIGHTFOOT 16.7 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET INCLUDING SEVERAL INVESTMENTS PROPOSED AND BACKED BY REGRESSIVE SPIRIT SOME OF THE KEY COMPONENTS INCLUDE A UNIVERSAL INCOME PILOT PROGRAM THAT WILL GIVE $500 PER MONTH TO 5000 LOW INCOME FAMILIES FOR A YEAR.

$6.3 MILLION TO HIRE 29 EMPLOYEES AT THE CITY'S PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC, 5 MILLION TO EXPAND EFFORTS TO RENOVATE SINGLE OCCUPANCY ROOM HOTELS TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS.

PLUS INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND JOBS PROGRAMS.

JOINING US ARE FIFTH WARD ALDERMAN ALD.

JASON ERVIN, ALD.

LESLIE HAIRS AND ALD.

DAVID MOORE.

ALD.

LESLIE HAIRS YOU VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE BUDGET, WHY DID YOU VOTE IN FAVOR?

>> I THINK IT HAS A LOT OF WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR.

WE STARTED THIS PROCESS MONTHS AGO WHEN THE MAYOR CAME TO THE COMMUNITY AND BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN.

I ACTUALLY SAT AT THE TABLE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THEY TOLD US WHAT THEY WANTED.

WE ACTUALLY HAD A MOCK BUDGET AND THEY GOT TO EXPERIENCE THE DIFFICULTIES IN MAKING THE DECISIONS WHEN YOU HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF DOLLARS.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD AGREE ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES FACING CHICAGO IS THE VIOLENCE.

WE TAKE A BIG CHUNK OF MONEY AND DIRECTED TOWARDS VIOLENCE PREVENTION, VIOLENCE INTERVENTION TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE NEEDS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WON'T JUST BE A ONE TIME DEAL.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE BUT IT BEGINS TO READDRESS THE WRONGS THAT HAVE PLAGUED THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE FOR A LONG TIME.

>> ALD.

DAVID MOORE YOU VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET WHAT WAS YOUR CRITICISM OF IT?

>> TO START OFF I AGREE WHAT ALD.

LESLIE HAIRS IS SAYING.

THOUGH IT WAS BROUGHT YOU WANT TO BE TRUSTING OF THE MINISTRY SHOULD, YOU WANT MORE AND NEED MORE DETAIL AS YOU CAN GET IN TERMS OF WHERE THIS MONEY IS GOING IN THE COMMUNITY AND IF YOU CAN'T GET A FULL SCOPE OF IT BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT IS A CHALLENGE, YOU WANT SOMETHING TO BE ABLE TO TOUCH AND SAY THIS IS WHAT I AM BRINGING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY NOT JUST IN A BROAD SENSE.

YOU CAN'T GET THAT ON EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE MAYOR HAS IN THE BUDGET BUT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO POINT TO SOMETHING.

NOT BE ABLE TO POINT TO SOMETHING, WHAT I'M DOING IS I'M FLYING BLINDLY AND SAYING I'M GOING TO TRUST YOU.

ONE THING THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR WHICH WAS A VERY TOUGH BUDGET, WE HAD CONVERSATION AND EVERYBODY GOT COMMITMENTS FROM OM THE ADMINISTRATION AND IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE THIS IS GOING TO BE DONE OR THIS IS GOING TO BE BE DONE.

I WAS ABLE TO POINT LAST YEAR TO LOOMIS AND POINT TO THOSE THINGS.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT THIS YEAR WE ARE ALSO A MEMBER OF THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS WHICH WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING SOME OF THE LARGER INVESTMENTS LIKE INCREASE IN MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTIONS.

SOME OF YOUR ALDERMAN PRAISED THE EFFORTS DURING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

LET'S TAKE A LISTEN TO THAT.

>> THIS IS A TENSE AND PRODUCTIVE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE LIGHTFOOT GROUP.

ONCE AGAIN, THE BLACK AND LATINO CAUCUSES BUILT A COALITION TOGETHER TO COME TO THE TABLE.

OUR COLLECTIVE VISION WAS CLEAR.

FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEED TO BE INVESTED IN THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO.

>> THIS IS THE STRONGEST BUDGET IN MY SHORT TIME THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS AND MAKING SURE OUR WORKING FAMILIES, OUR CHILDREN AND ELDERS ARE TAKING CARE OF.

>> THAT WAS ALD.

ANDRE VASQUEZ AND ALD.

MARIA HADDEN SPEAKING THERE.

ALD.

JASON ERVIN DOES THIS BUDGET PLAN DO ENOUGH TO ADDRESS INEQUITIES IN CHICAGO?

>> I THINK ON THE LARGE-SCALE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE MAYOR PUT OUT I THINK IT DOES.

AGAIN, IF MY COMMUNITY ASKED ME SPECIFICALLY AND I KNOW I CAN'T GIVE SPECIFICS ON EVERYTHING HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SAY AT LEAST A, B AND C EVEN IF I CAN'T GET ALL THE WAY TO Z.

>> ALDERMAN YOU SAID THE BUDGET WASN'T PERFECT BUT ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VOTE FOR IT.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF CHOICE HERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIONS HERE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN WORK WITH HERE.

I DON'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING IN THE BUDGET.

PEOPLE KNOW WHERE I STAND ON CERTAIN ISSUES.

WE CANNOT ALLOW ONE PIECE OR EVEN TWO PIECES TO STOP MOVING THE BALANCE OF THE PROGRAM FORWARD.

>> ALD.

JASON ERVIN I KNOW THE $500 PER MONTH FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES THAT COMPONENT OF THE BUDGET WAS A MAJOR STICKING POINT FOR YOU.

WAS THAT WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO THERE?

>> YES IT WAS.

THAT STILL STICKS IN MY CROP.

THOSE DOLLARS NEED TO BE TOWARDS VIOLENCE PREVENTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND STIPENDS FOR JOB TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COUNSELING VERSUS HANDING OUT A CHECK ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

WERE THE NEEDS THAT WE ADDRESSED IN THE BUDGET.

>> ALD.

LESLIE HAIRSTON WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THESE PAYMENTS?

>> YOU KNOW, YOU GIVE PEOPLE A HELPING HAND.

ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC TIMES.

YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE SOMEONE THAT NEEDS DAYCARE ASSISTANCE.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET AT WITH THIS.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW AT THE END OF THE MONTH OR THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH A LOT OF PEOPLE TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT GETS PAID AND WHAT DOESN'T GET PAID.

TO PROVIDE THIS ADDITIONAL INCOME ALLOWS THEM TO AT LEAST TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF STRESS OFF AND TRIED TO GET SOME THINGS DONE THAT THEY NEED TO GET DONE AND I THINK IT'S MUCH NEEDED.

NEXT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS.

ALD.

DAVID MOORE WHY WAS THAT IMPORTANT TO PROGRESSIVES IN PARTICULAR?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROGRESSIVES BECAUSE WHEN WE INVEST MONEY INTO MENTAL HEALTH THE INCREASE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMES TO THOSE CLINICS AND THE ADMINISTRATION WAS ABLE TO SHOW THAT.

THE MORE WE INVEST IN MENTAL HEALTH AND THE MORE PEOPLE ARE USING THOSE SERVICES WHEN WE DON'T INVEST IN THEM UNLESS PEOPLE USE THOSE SERVICES AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT.

>> ALD.

JASON ERVIN WHAT YOU THINK?

WILL THIS BUDGET HELP THE COMMUNITY'S THAT ARE OFTEN UNDERSERVED?

>> MOST DEFINITELY.

WITH EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE ONLY TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CHILDCARE, VIOLENCE PREVENTION, SOME OF THE VARIOUS NEEDS THAT COMMUNITIES HAVE TALKED ABOUT NOT JUST BLACK COMMUNITIES BUT ALL OVER THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

OUR NUMBER 1 CONCERN IS TO WORK WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HELP THEM MAKE OTHER CHOICES AS IT RELATES TO THE ACTIVITIES IN WHICH THEY ENGAGE IN.

I THINK THIS BUDGET DOES DO A GREAT JOB OF GETTING THERE.

I JUST WISH WE HAD THAT EXTRA $35-$40 MILLION TO GIVE STIPENDS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO SOMETHING IN RETURN FOR THOSE DOLLARS.

AGAIN, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH WHAT MY COLLEAGUES STATED AS FAR AS PEOPLE NEEDING HELP, YES PEOPLE NEED HELP BUT WE FIND OUT THE 5000 PEOPLE OVER THE CITY OF CHICAGO VERSUS HELPING A VERY CONCENTRATED OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DRIVING A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR CITY FACES.

THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO HELP THE MOST CHALLENGE SO THEY CAN GET THE LIVES BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

FINALLY, ALDERMAN HARRISON THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS IS UPPED FOR CREATING A MORE EQUAL CHICAGO DO THINK IT GETS THERE?

>> IT DOESN'T GET YOU ALL THE WAY THERE.

IT IS A PROCESS.

THE CITY DIDN'T GET INTO THIS OVERNIGHT AND WE WON'T GET OUT OF IT OVERNIGHT BUT WHAT IT DOES DO IS ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES WE FACE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND IT'S NOT JUST VIOLENCE BUT THE INTERACTION AND RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND POLICE DEPARTMENT.

TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH TREATMENT AND GETTING NEEDED SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE, YES.

DOES MOVE THEM NEEDLE AHEAD AND THIS IS THE MARK.

>> A LONG WEEK FOR THE THREE OF YOU.

ALD.

DAVID MOORE, ALD.

JASON ERVIN AND ALD.

LESLIE HAIRSTON THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> TO GET THE FULL BREAKDOWN OF THE 2022 BUDGET PLAN YOU CAN HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.com/NEWS.

>> CHICAGO OFFICIAL SITE THEY ARE READY TO ROLL OUT A CORONAVIRUS VACCINE KIDS AGE 5 TO 11 NOW THAT ONE HAS BEEN APPROVED TO THE FDA UNDER EMERGENCY USE.

THE CITY'S TOP DOCTORS SAY SHOTS COULD GO INTO YOUNG ARMS ANY DAY NOW.

>> WE MAY HAVE VACCINES FOR CHILDREN AGE 5 TO 11 AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK AND WE'VE BEEN PLANNING FOR MONTHS FOR THIS.

>> THIS COMES FROM A NEW SURVEY FROM THE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION FOUND MOST PARENTS ARE EITHER FOR OR AGAINST THE VACCINE FOR THEIR CHILD.

27 PERCENT SAY THEY ARE EAGER TO OTHER CHILD GET THE SHOT ONE THIRD THAT THEY WOULD WAIT-AND-SEE AND 31 PERCENT SAID THEY WOULD DEFINITELY NOT LET THEIR CHILD GET VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

MEANWHILE, BLACK CHICAGOANS ARE GETTING VACCINATED AT LOWER RATES DESPITE THE VACCINE BEING WIDELY AVAILABLE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAID ONLY 40 PERCENT OF BLACK CHICAGOANS ARE FULLY VACCINATED COMPARED TO 56 PERCENT OF ASIAN AMERICANS AND 53 PERCENT OF WHITES.

JOINING US NOW FOR VACCINE EXPANSION FOR KIDS AND VACCINE HESITANCY FOR BLACK CHICAGOANS ARE DR. WHITNEY LYN AND BETH TADESSE AND WALLACE BRADLEY.

THANK YOU TO ALL THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

DR. WHITNEY LYN LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE EFFICACY OF THESE VACCINES IN CHILDREN?

>> YES.

WITH THE EFFICACY WHAT WERE SEEING WITH THE NEW PFIZER DATA IS THAT OVER 90 PERCENT OF THIS VACCINE IS EFFICACIOUS AS WORKING AND KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE.

OUR GOAL IS TO GET OUR CHILDREN OUT AND OUR PARENTS OUT TO GET EVERYONE VACCINATED.

>> YOU LIKE ME HAVE TWO YOUNG BOYS HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AT YOUR DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE THEM VACCINATED?

>> I CAME TO THAT DECISION LAST YEAR.

PART OF THE REASON WAS WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON AND IN REMOTE WAS VERY DIFFICULT ON MY CHILDREN ESPECIALLY THE ONE WHO IS SEVEN YEARS OLD.

WHEN HE WAS IN KINDERGARTEN IT TOOK HIM, IT REALLY HURT HIM.

I WAS SEEING THAT WE HAD TO GET VACCINATED TO GET NORMAL.

I RECENTLY GOT A CALL, MY KID IS ACTUALLY NOW IN QUARANTINE BECAUSE LAST WEEK I GOT A PHONE CALL SAYING MY KID WAS COVID POSITIVE IN BOTH OF MY CHILDREN WERE COVERED POSITIVE AND IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME TO TAKE.

IT IS HARD AS A PHYSICIAN AND A MOM TO GET EVERYONE TO TRUST US AND GET VACCINATED.

I CAN TELL YOU THE VACCINE WORKS BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I WERE NEGATIVE AND MY MOTHER WHO IS 70 YEARS OLD WAS ALSO NEGATIVE.

THAT LETS ME KNOW AND SHOULD LET EVERYONE ELSE KNOW THE VACCINE WORKS AND IT KEEPS US SAFE.

>> I'M SORRY ABOUT THE DIAGNOSIS FOR YOUR CHILDREN I'M SURE IT'S A SCARY TIME AND OBVIOUSLY VERY PERSONAL FOR YOU.

WALLACE BRADLEY TELL US WHAT YOU BEEN DOING TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

>> OUR COMMUNITY IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS GET VACCINATED.

I AM GLAD THAT PFIZER HAS MADE IT WHERE CHILDREN CAN NOW GET VACCINATED.

I'M VACCINATED.

MY DAUGHTER IS VACCINATED, MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS VACCINATED AND NOW, BY THE GRACE OF GOD WE CAN GET MY GREAT-GRANDSON VACCINATED.

HE IS 13 YEARS OLD.

RIGHT AFTER I GET THROUGH DOING THIS INTERVIEW I'M GOING TO CALL HER TO MAKE SURE THAT HE IS VACCINATED AND I'M GOING TO GO WITH HIM IF HE HASN'T WENT TO GET VACCINATED.

BECAUSE, WE CAN'T PLAY WITH THIS.

IT IS SERIOUS.

>> IT IS.

I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, WHAT IF YOU HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY ARE HESITANT?

HOW DO YOU INFORM THEM AND WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM?

>> WHAT I DO, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I USE CULTURALLY.

IN THE 70S WE ALWAYS SAY LISTEN TO THE BEAT OF THE DRUMS AND FAST-FORWARD, WE ARE IN 2021 AND I TELL THEM BECAUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, TELEPHONES, TELEGRAM AND TELL A NEGRO HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET VACCINATED.

THE THING THAT GETS ME, WHEN YOU SEND YOUR KIDS TO SCHOOL THEY HAVE TO GET ALL TYPES OF SHOTS AND VACCINATIONS TO GO TO SCHOOL.

WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY SAYING THEY DON'T THINK THEY WANT TO GET VACCINATED FOR COVID I'M LIKE YOU ARE BEING IN-SERVICE AND GOING ACROSS THE WORLD TO FIGHT WARS ON OUR BEHALF YOU ARE GETTING ALL TYPES OF VACCINATIONS.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS.

>> GO AHEAD I WILL LET YOU FINISH AND THEN I WANT TO BRING BACK BETH TADESSE.

>> I'M SAYING AFRICAN-AMERICANS STOP LISTENING TO INDIVIDUALS THE TELL YOU NOT TO GET VACCINATED.

OKAY?

YOU ARE SITTING WITH YOUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS, THEY ARE DYING.

YOU'RE SEEING THE SAME THING I'M SEEING ON THE TV.

I HAVE HAD FRIENDS THAT HAVE SURVIVED IT AND MADE VIDEOS OF WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH AND THIS IS REAL.

THIS IS REAL.

I AM FINDING OUT THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE TELLING OTHERS NOT TO GET VACCINATED AND THEN YOU FIND OUT THEY ARE VACCINATED.

>> BETH, WHAT IS THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DOING TO RESPOND TO VACCINE HESITANCY ESPECIALLY AS IT PREPARES TO ROLL THIS VACCINE OUT TO CHILDREN?

>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WERE REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR US IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO WILLFULLY HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUNG KIDS CAN GET VACCINATED.

ONE THING WERE WORKING WITH CULTURAL PROVIDERS AND PEDIATRICIANS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR OFFICES WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH ENOUGH VACCINES AND MAKING SURE THAT PARENTS ARE AWARE THEY CAN GO THERE FOR THE VACCINE.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, PHARMACIES, WALGREENS, CVS, WALMART CAN MAKE PEDIATRIC DOSES AVAILABLE.

SO, ALSO WITH CPS THEY ARE ON ONE ACCORD THEY WILL BE MAKING THE VACCINE AVAILABLE IN SCHOOLS AS WELL.

AND IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE WILL BE SPONSORING CITY COLLEGES THROUGHOUT CHICAGO IN MANY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE LOW VACCINE UP SICK LIKE INGLEWOOD AND THE CANADIAN COLLEGE IN NOVEMBER MAKING SURE THE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE AND THEN HARVEY COLLEGE ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

FOR US IT IS MAKING SURE WE ARE LEVERAGING ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE IN CHICAGO TO GET THE VACCINE TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE ALSO HAVE PROTECT CHICAGO A NEW PROGRAM WHERE IS LIKE A FOOD DELIVERY.

WE WILL LITERALLY RING THE VACCINE TO YOUR HOME TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN GET VACCINATED IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR PLACE.

IT'S BEEN WILDLY SUCCESSFUL.

>> FOR ALL OF THAT SAID FOR PARENTS WHO ARE LOOKING TO GET THEIR CHILDREN VACCINATED, WHAT CAN THEY EXPECT AS THIS MOVES FORWARD IN ABOUT 45 SECONDS YOU MET.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

PRETTY SOON, ONCE WE DO GET THE OKAY FROM THE DIFFERENT ADVISORY COUNCILS THAT THEY ARE READY TO ADMINISTER THE VACCINES TO MAKE SURE IT'S AVAILABLE IN PEDIATRIC OFFICES.

WE WILL THEN START GREEN LIGHTING THE PLAN.

NOVEMBER 16 WE WILL START OFF CITY COLLEGES WE WILL HAVE BIGGER FAMILY CLINICS THOUGH THAT ANYWHERE FROM GRANDMA TO DAD ANYONE CAN GET A COVID VACCINE AND THERE WILL ALSO BE MARKETING IN THE AS WELL.

FOLKS NEED TO KEEP THEIR EYE OPEN.

WE ARE OUT OF TIME BUT THANK YOU TO DOCTOR WHITNEY LYNN, BETH TADESSE AND WALLACE BRADLEY FOR JOINING US.

THEY LOCAL ARTIST SHOWS HER PASSION FOR MUSIC.

>>.

>> DOZENS OF CHICAGO ARTISTS ARE RECEIVING A TOTAL OF $1 MILLION IN CASH GRANTS FROM A CHICAGO-BASED NONPROFIT, WTTW.com/NEWS ONE.

THEY WILL AWARD 10 PEOPLE WITH $30,000.

THIS YEAR EIGHT OF THOSE ARTISTS ARE BLACK.

ONE OF THOSE RECIPIENTS IS VIOLINIST CAITLIN EDWARDS.

>> MY NAME IS CAITLIN EDWARDS AND I PLAY THE VIOLIN.

[MUSIC] I STARTED PLAYING THE VIOLIN WHEN I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD IN THE THIRD GRADE.

MY THIRD GRADE TEACHER CALLED MY HOUSEHOLD AND TALKED ABOUT THIS FREE GROUP CLASS THAT WAS SPONSORED BY THE MUSIC OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA APPEARED GOING TO DIFFERENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND OFFERING THESE FREE GROUP LESSONS AND I SAID YES, OF COURSE I WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT OF MY CLASS AND LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE VIOLIN.

I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

[MUSIC] I LOVE THE TONE OF THE INSTRUMENT.

I LOVE HOW IT IS PLACED ON MY SHOULDERS CLOSE TO MY HEART I FEEL LIKE I CAN TRULY BE SEEN THROUGH MY INSTRUMENT AND EXPRESS WHAT EVER I AM GOING THROUGH, HOWEVER I FEEL.

[MUSIC] I'M CLASSICALLY TRAINED THROUGH AND THROUGH BUT MY MUSIC GOSPEL MUSIC, NEO-SOUL, R&B, HIP-HOP, BACK MUSIC IS A PART OF MY CULTURE AND WHO I AM AS A MUSICIAN.

WHEN I GO TO THE SPACES I TRIED TO BRING ALL OF MYSELF TO THE SPACES.

USING THOSE GENRES TOGETHER AND TRULY BEING WHO IM AS A MUSICIAN.

[MUSIC] >> CAITLIN TELLS US SHE HOPES YOU SOME OF THE $30,000 TO CREATE A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM TO HELP YOUNG MUSICIANS.

SHE ALSO JUST RELEASED HER FIRST SOLO ALBUM ENTITLED EXHALE.

>>> CHICAGOANS HAVE PLENTY OF OPTIONS FOR GETTING AROUND THE CITY ONE OPTION IN PARTICULAR OFFERED IN EQUAL MEASURE TOO MANY CHICAGO COMMUNITIES.

I CAN FOR STRUCTURE.

RESIDENTS IN PREDOMINANTLY ASHLEY WHEATHER NEIGHBORHOODS WON'T HAVE BIKE LANES LEAVE THE CHOICE TO RIDE ON DANGEROUSLY FAST-MOVING STREETS OR ILLEGALLY ON THE SIDEWALK INCREASING THE RISK OF GETTING A POLICE CITATION.

RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CYCLISTS IN A MAJORITY OF BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS ARE EIGHT TIMES LIKELY TO RECEIVE A TICKET FROM RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK FROM THEIR ANNA PARTS IN MAJORITY WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS.

HERE THE MOBILITY ACTIVISTS GIVES US THE LAST WORD ON INTRA-STRUCTURE AND TRANSFORMING THE COMMUNITY.

>> I AM THE FOUNDING PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE EQUITY CITY RACIAL EQUITY MOVEMENT.

WE ARE OPERATIONALIZING RACIAL EQUITY HERE IN CHICAGO AND CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.THE RESEARCH AT C PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY MOBILITY RITUALS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF BLACK, BROWN AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY.

OUR WORK IS EXPLICITLY DESIGNED TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON REDUCING VIOLENCE.

THIS BUILDING, THIS SPACE, REPRESENTS OUR VISION FOR WHAT WE CALL THE GO HUB.

A COMMUNITY MOBILITY CENTER WHERE WE BRING TOGETHER BOTH HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE.

INCORPORATED ABOUT IT LIKE A COMPUTER.

WHEN DID COMPUTERS EXPONENTIALLY BECOME MORE POWERFUL?

WHEN THEY BROUGHT THE HARDWARE AND THE SOFTWARE TOGETHER.

THE HARDWARE REPRESENTS ALL OF THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE PHYSICAL MOBILITY DEVICES ONE NEEDS TO GROW THEIR MOBILITY.

IT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE THE STREETSCAPE, THE TRAIN STATION, BUS STOPS.

PERHAPS WE NEED BETTER LIGHTING AT THE TRAIN STATION.

PERHAPS WE NEED INCREASED BARRIER PROTECTED INFRASTRUCTURE.

PERHAPS WE NEED BRIGHTER PAINT ON THE INTERSECTIONS.

THE SOFTWARE INCLUDES OUR COMMUNITY MOBILITY RITUALS.

COMMUNITY BICYCLE RIDES.

NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING TOURS.

LIKE TRANSIT EXCURSIONS.

OPEN STREET EVENTS.

THOSE COMMUNITY MOBILITY RITUALS NEED TO HAPPEN WITH A RHYTHMIC FREQUENCY.

YOU KNOW HOW AT A PARTY WHERE EVENTUALLY EVERYONE IS NODDING THEIR HEAD TO THE SAME BEAT AND EVERYONE'S GOING WITH THE SAME RHYTHM?

WE ARE ENGAGED WITH MOBILITY JEWELS AND THEY HAPPEN WITH A RHYTHMIC FREQUENCY PEOPLE BEGIN TO IN ESSENCE, HEAD NODDING TO THE RHYTHM BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING OUT ON THIS REGULAR RHYTHM.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, PEOPLE BEGIN TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

THAT CREATES SOCIAL BONDS AND SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, TRUST GOES UP IN A NEIGHBORHOOD.

I AM CONFIDENT WHEN HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE COME TOGETHER WHEN IT IS A PHYSICAL SPACE WHERE THEY MEET IN THE MIDDLE WE WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON REDUCING VIOLENCE RIGHT HERE AT THIS INTERSECTION.

PARTICULARLY THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF NORTH LAWNDALE ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO.

>> YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THAT RESEARCH TITLED BIKING WHILE BLACK.

HOW PLANNING CONTRIBUTE TO UNJUST POLICING AS WELL AS MORE ON THE LAST WORD SERIES.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT KNOW THAT YOU CAN CATCH CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES ON SUNDAY AT 10 PM.

JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH MORE FROM VIOLINIST AND 21 CAITLIN EDWARDS.FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES, I AM BRANDIS FREEMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEK WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>>.

[MUSIC] REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY U.S. CAPTIONING COMPANY