>>> HELLO.

THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

>>> LEADERS OF VIOLENCE GROUPS COME TOGETHER TO SHARE ADVICE.

>> I WANT OUR CHILDREN TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE OUR FUTURE LEADERS.

>> HOW A LOCAL EARLY EDUCATION ORGANIZATION HONORS THE GOALS LOST IN THE 1963 BOMBING OF THE 16th STREET BAPTIST CHURCH IN ALABAMA ON THAT COMING UP.

>>> OUR FIRST START TONIGHT, HOW PRETRIAL ATTENTION WORKS WITH CASH BAIL IN ILLINOIS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

>>> COURTROOMS ACROSS ILLINOIS ARE SAID TO ELIMINATE CASH BAIL BEGINNING MONDAY.

THAT MEANS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND ARE AWAITING TRIAL WILL NO LONGER BE HELD IN JAIL UNLESS THEY ARE CHARGED WITH CERTAIN FELONIES OR POSE SAFETY OR FLIGHT RISKS AFTER THE ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT UPHELD A CONTENTIOUS PORTION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ACT KNOWN AS THE SAFE ACT.

CRITICS SAY, THE LAW MAKES THE STATE LESS SAFE AND WANT REFORMS .

OUR REPORTER POINTS TO THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT PRETRIAL ATTENTION HAS ON COMMITTEES OF COLOR.

JOINING US WITH MORE ON THIS NOW ARE DIRECTOR OF ILLINOIS JUSTICE PROJECT, AMADU GERMAIN, AND A PASS FROM THE SIDE NETWORK CHURCH, FROM PRETRIAL JUSTICE, WORKING FOR PRETRIAL ATTAINMENTS AND PRETRIAL DEFENDER, SHARON MITCHELL JR.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

PASTOR, LET'S START WITH YOU .

YOU'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR PRETRIAL AXIS SINCE THE BEGINNING.

WHEN DID YOU START ASKING FOR THIS REFORM?

>> WE STARTED HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF PRETRIAL DETENTION ON THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE SERVED OVER SEVEN YEARS AGO.

TALKING ABOUT HOW POOR PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WERE IMPACTED BY NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY BAIL.

AS WE DUG A LITTLE DEEPER AND STARTED TO TALK TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE FACT THAT BEING HELD IN PRETRIAL DETENTION DID NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAD COMMITTED A CRIME, IT DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING OTHER THAN YOU WERE TOO POOR TO PAY BAIL AND TO GO FREE, AND THAT PEOPLE WERE RICH, AND THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES DIDN'T HAVE NEARLY AS BIG AN IMPACT.

SO, AS WE WORK OUR WAY THROUGH CHURCH, I THINK COMMITTEE CONVERSATIONS, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE STARTED TO REALIZE HOW UNFAIR, HOW UNJUST AND EVEN RACIST THE SYSTEM WAS WHEN IT LED TO PRETRIAL DETENTION.

IT STARTED A MOVEMENT.

THAT MOVEMENT HAS LED TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.

CASH BAIL IN ILLINOIS.

>> WHAT WAS THE ILLINOIS INJUSTICE ROLE FOR YOU, JERMAINE?

>> BACK WHEN OUR COOK COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER, MITCHELL, WAS INVOLVED IN THIS WORK, WE WERE AT THE FOREFRONT OF PUSHING THIS ENVELOPE ON THE ISSUE.

WE HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO THIS WORK AS A MEMBER, ORIGINALLY, THE COALITION FOR THE ENTIRE NETWORK IT HAS EXPANDED TO INTO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

IT'S AN ISSUE WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO TODAY.

WE RECENTLY HAD A JOURNALISM SEMINAR FOR JOURNALISTS ACROSS THE STATE , WITH JUDGES AND ADVOCATES AND RESEARCHERS AND SCHOLARS WHO WERE PART OF A PANEL DISCUSSION -- SEPARATE PANEL DISCUSSION, IN FACT -- TO REALLY TALK ABOUT HOW JOURNALISTS OUGHT TO BE COVERING SUCH ISSUES , AND HOW WE SHOULD REALLY TAKE A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH ON MEASURED APPROACHES TO REALLY UNDERSTANDING EACH INDIVIDUAL ELEMENT, BECAUSE THIS IS A UNITY FORM THAT WE NEED TO WORK MORE METICULOUSLY TO REFORM.

WE NEED TO WORK METICULOUSLY FROM DAY ONE , AND CONTINUE.

>> MITCHELL, AS YOU SAID, YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR SOME TIME.

WHAT WILL PRETRIAL DETENTION LOOK LIKE COME MONDAY?

WHAT WILL LOOK DIFFERENT FOR WORKERS?

>> WE KNOW THAT MONEY WILL NO LONGER BE A FACTOR FOR INFORMATION ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE IN OR SHOULD BE OUT OF JAIL.

THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IS THAT IT IS AN AFFORDABLE PRACTICE?

WAIT PRICKLY, IT HAS VERY CLOSE TIES TO SLAVERY, WHERE WE ARE PUTTING DOLLAR AMOUNTS ON PEOPLE'S FREEDOM .

WE ARE VERY EXCITED THAT WE'RE MOVING TO A NEW PROCESS THAT DOESN'T ASK PEOPLE TO BUY THEIR WAY OUT OF FREEDOM OR THEIR MOTHERS OR GRANDMOTHERS OR DAUGHTERS OR CHURCHES TO BUY THEIR FREEDOM.

THEREFORE, TO ACTUALLY HAVE A DECENT SHOT AT RECEIVING ALL THE RIGHTS THAT WE ALL DESERVE , RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTRY.

>> SO, WTTW NEWS OBTAINED DATA THAT SHOWED, AS OF SEPTEMBER 13th, 835 PEOPLE ARE BEING HELD IN COOK COUNTY JAIL ON NOTHING MORE THAN AN UNPAID CASH BAIL.

NO OTHER CONDITIONS OR HOLDS.

49% OF THEM, LESS THAN $5000 IS OWED LESS THAN $5000 FOR 49%.

85% OF BETWEEN $25,000 AND $30,000.

13% OF BETWEEN $30,000 IN $100,000.

ANOTHER 13% OH MORE THAN $100,000.

MITCHELL, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN HANDLING THE HEARING ARRESTS FOR PEOPLE ALREADY IN CUSTODY?

>> FOR THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN MARKETING FOR PREPARATION FOR THE PRETRIAL FAIRNESS ACT.

WHAT THIS MEANS IS STAFFING UP , WE'VE EDITED A NUMBER OF POSITIONS AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR THE LAST TWO AND HALF YEARS , MORE STUDENT TRAININGS WITHIN OUR OFFICE, WE HAVE HAD OVER A DOZEN HOURS OF TRAINING FOR OUR ATTORNEYS , AND WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUALLY MAKING DECISIONS ON THESE HEARINGS, INDIVIDUALS WILL BE WORKING WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL ATTORNEYS AND CREATE A GAME PLAN TO CREATE CONVERSATIONS ON WHETHER MOTIONS WILL BE FILED OR WANT BE FILED.

THEY WILL ACTUALLY HAVE DECISIONS TO BE MADE , BUT THOSE WILL BE HAPPENING INDIVIDUALLY WITH THEIR ATTORNEYS.

>> A 2020 FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS REPORT FOUND THAT COURTS TEND TO IMPOSE HIGHER PRETRIAL DECISIONS ON BLACK AND LATINO PEOPLE, CITING A STUDY THAT SHOWED BLACKMAN RECEIVED BAIL AMOUNTS 35% HIGHER THAN WAITMAN.

IS THE AMOUNT SET FOR BAIL THAT A JUDGE IMPOSES ARBITRARY OR HOW REALISTIC IS IT, SHARONE?

>> TO BE HONEST, THE SITUATION, WE HAVE A NUMBER OUT OF THE HEARING THAT LASTS A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

THE IDEAL MAY BE AFFECTED OR MAY BE BASED UPON $5000 OR $10,000 OR $25,000, REALLY, WE'RE JUST POINTING OUT NUMBERS -- I WANT TO SAY, PULLING THEM OUT OF A HAT, BUT IF IT IS SOMETHING CLOSE TO THAT -- THAT'S WHY WE ARE SO HAPPY TO PROVIDE A LOT OF BENEFITS.

I THINK ONE OF THOSE BENEFITS, ALONG WITH SAVING PEOPLE MONEY, IS A CLEAR CONVERSATION ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE IN AND WHO SHOULD BE ON.

THINK ABOUT THE MONEY LOST, BUT ALSO, IT INCLUDES A TON OF CHANGES FOR THE HIRING AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.

THE LAWS THAT EXISTS NOW ARE CONFUSING, CONFLICTING, AND THEY ARE JUST KIND OF A PATCHWORK OF LAWS BUILT OVER DECADES, AND DECADES, AND DECADES.

THIS NEEDS A FACELIFT.

ALTHOUGH, IT IS A MAJOR CHANGE, CERTAINLY, IT TAKES TIME TO GET USED TO.

WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE IN A BETTER PLATFORM, IN A BETTER POSITION .

>> AMADU GERMAIN, YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS FOUND THAT CASH DISTRIBUTION HAS HAD A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT WITH CASH BILLS ON AREAS OF COLOR.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THIS?

>> CERTAINLY.

THE USE OF MONEY AS AN UNFORTUNATE ADVERSE AND DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON COMMUNITY IS OF LOW INCOME.

IT JUST HAPPENS TO BE THAT BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY STAND TO BE MOST LIKELY TO BE THOSE THAT ARE LOW INCOME.

SO, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'LL BE MOVING AWAY FROM THAT SYSTEM, BECAUSE HE REALLY HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON OUR PUBLIC DEFENDERS.

AS WE STATED EARLIER, PRIMARILY ON BLACK WOMEN, BROWN WOMEN, WHO ARE PAYING THE CASH BAIL AND PUTTING UP THE POSTED BOND FOR PEOPLE TO BE RELEASED.

MOVING AWAY FROM THAT SYSTEM, AND MOVING TOWARDS ONE TO REALLY FOCUSES ON A CASE-BY-CASE ASSESSMENT IN THOSE INDIVIDUAL HEARINGS FOR THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS, AS THEY JUST MENTIONED, IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IF WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO RESTORE TRUST IN OUR CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, WHICH A LOT OF IT WAS LOST IN OUR SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY WITHIN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY'S.

WITH THAT TRUST, I THINK WE CAN MOVE TOWARD THE MORE JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHICH WILL ALSO MOVE US TOWARDS A SAFER UNITY.

>> OPPONENTS OF THE LAW HAVE SAID BAIL EXISTS AS A WAY TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP TO THE CHORDATES.

THEY ARGUE THAT WITHOUT BAIL, FEWER WILL SHOW UP.

OTHER STATES LIKE NEW JERSEY AND KENTUCKY HAVE ALREADY PLUMMETED SOME SORT OF CASH BAIL REFORM, THE ILLINOIS IS THE MOST COMPLETE.

AMADOU, WHAT ELSE HAS THE DATA SHOWN?

>> FOR SURE.

I WAS SAY, IN RESPONSE TO THOSE OPPONENTS AND CRITICS OF THIS REFORM , FOR YEARS IN COOK COUNTY NOW, WE HAVE HAD TEXT MESSAGE REMINDERS FOR INDIVIDUALS.

A FEW YEARS AGO, WE STARTED A GENERAL ALERT THAT STARTED TO MOVE US TOWARDS A SYSTEM THAT RELIES MUCH LESS ON CASTEEL -- CASH BAIL AS A SYSTEM OF RELIEF.

PRICKLY, THE THREAT OF LOSING ONE'S FREEDOM IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO BRING PEOPLE BACK INTO COURT AND TO SHOW UP IN POTENTIAL AREAS.

>> PASTOR STRAIT, YOU HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR WAYS TO GET THROUGH BARRIERS THAT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM SHOWING UP TO COURT, LIKE TRANSIT FOR EXAMPLE.

WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

BUT WE DON'T SHY AWAY FROM PROBLEMS THAT ARE THIS BIG WE HAVE A LOT TO WAY THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT SAFETY NETS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR THEIR COURT DATE.CASH BAIL WAS NEVER THE ANSWER, BECAUSE IT CREATE MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES.

WHEN A PERSON IS LOCKED UP WITH OUT THE ABILITY TO PAY THEIR BONDS , THEY LOSE THEIR HOUSE AND CHILDREN, LOSE THEIR JOBS, IT CAUSES WAY BIGGER PROBLEMS THAN SIMPLY TEXTING OR CALLING TO IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM AND GET PEOPLE INTO COURT .

SO, WE DON'T SHY AWAY FROM A PROBLEM SOMETHING BECAUSE IT REQUIRES US TO DO A LITTLE ADDITIONAL WORK IN ORDER TO MAKE IT WORK.

IN ILLINOIS, BECOME THE FIRST STATE TO LEAD THE NATION AND TO SHOW HOW WE CAN BE A COUNTRY THAT REALLY DOES HELP ITS CITIZENS INSTEAD OF UNFAIRLY TREAT POOR AND BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE .

>> 15 SECONDS LEFT, PASTOR.

WHAT ARE YOU KEEPING AN EYE ON?

>> JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT, SINCE THIS IS THE LAW OF THE LAND, THE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING OUT AND DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

CASH BAIL HAS ENDED, AND JUDGES ARE FAIR, AND THAT THE OPPONENTS WHO WOULD TRY AND CONTINUE TO PUT LIVES OUT THERE, TALK ABOUT HOW THE SYSTEM WILL CAUSE PROBLEM, MAYBE DON'T OVER TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

>> MAKING SURE FOLKS ARE DOING THEIR PART AS FAR AS IMPLEMENTATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THAT'S CHARLES STRAIT, AMADOU GERMAIN, JEROME MITCHELL.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> COMING UP NEXT, HOW THEY'RE HONORING A GIRL KILLED IN THE BOMBING OF AN ALABAMA CHURCH.

>>> THIS SEPTEMBER 15, 1963 BOMBING OF THE 15 STREET BAPTIST CHURCH THAT KILLED 4 YOUNG GIRLS SHOCKED THE COUNTRY.

IT BECAME YET ANOTHER GALVANIZING EVENT FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

IN CHICAGO, THE NAME OF ONE OF THOSE FOUR LITTLE GIRLS HAS REACHED FULLY EDUCATION CENTERS SINCE 1976.

EVERY FIVE YEARS, THEY DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO CARRYING ON THE GIRLS' LEGACY.

PRODUCER ERICA GUNTHER HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: THE KARA FOR SIN CENTER FOR LEARNING HAS HONORED THE LITTLE GIRL BY GIVING SOME CHICAGO'S YOUNGEST LEARNERS A START TO THEIR EDUCATION.

>> WE HAVE A BASIC K PROGRAM, WHICH IS SOCIOEMOTIONAL REPORT.

PREPARED KIDS IN KINDERGARTEN, GIVEN THAT LANGUAGE.

GIVING THEM THAT REGULATION, GIVING THEM THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO THINK ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL AND EXPRESS THOSE THOUGHTS.

WE ARE DOUBLY GOING TO SEE CHILDREN ENJOY LEARNING, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE CHILDREN PLAYING ABOUT LIFE, EXCITED.

>> Reporter: EVERY YEAR, THERE'S SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVITIES HOSTED IN A NUMBER OF CALLUM ROBINSON, EDDIE COLLINS, CYNTHIA WHITLEY AND CAROL McNAIR.

THE FOUR LITTLE GIRLS WERE KILLED IN A 1963 ONCE PREMISES TO ATTACK ON THE 16th BAPTIST CHURCH IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

CAROL ROBERTSON'S SISTER DIANE ROBERTSON BRADIC SAYS, WHEN A GROUP OF CHICAGO PARENT ASKED HER FAMILY FOR PERMISSION TO NAME THEIR NEW AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM TO HONOR CAROL, THEY WERE INTRIGUED.

>> WE, A FAMILY OF EDUCATORS, WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND OF A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

SO, AND WE WERE VERY, VERY HAPPY -- AND I WILL NEVER FORGET -- MY MOTHER DESCRIBED, YOU KNOW, AFTER SHE MADE THE DECISION THAT WE WOULD ALLOW FOR THE PROGRAM TO USE 'S NAME -- I THINK THAT IT MEANT SO MUCH TO MY MOTHER >> PROGRAM SPECIALIST LATOYA HAZARD SAYS, THE GIRLS' LEGACY CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A GUIDING LIGHT FOR THE CENTER.

>> EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE LEGACY WEEK.

RIGHT?

THAT PAYS HOMAGE TO THE FOUR LITTLE GIRLS AND MAKES SURE TO ALWAYS EDUCATE AND ENRICH OUR FAMILIES ON SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES .

I WANT OUR CHILDREN TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE FUTURE LEADERS IN THEM.

>> ROBERTSON BRADIC SAYS, SHE AND HER FAMILY HAVE BEEN PROUD TO WATCH THE CENTER'S GROWTH OVER THE YEARS.

>> I THINK THAT WHEN WE HAVE THE INFORMATION ABOUT EACH OTHER, WE FEEL DIFFERENTLY ABOUT EACH OTHER.

WE CARE FOR EACH OTHER IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

THAT'S WHAT THE CENTER IN BED, FINDING THOSE AREAS THAT BIND US TOGETHER.

>> WE STARTED FROM THE AFTER COOL PROGRAM.

THAT WAS 40-SOMETHING YEARS AGO.

NOW, WE ARE FIRST THROUGH FIVE PROGRAMS, WE HAVE THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, WE HAVE THE SUMMER PROGRAM AS WELL.

WE HAVE SAID WE HAVE FAMILY SUPPORT, AND JUST THE FACT THAT WE CAME SO FAR TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THIS UNDER-PRIVILEGED COMMUNITY FOR SO MANY YEARS IS A BIG THING.

>> Reporter: FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT : BLACK VOICES," I'M ERIN GUNDERSON.

>>> BY NO MORE ON THIS ON OUR WEBSITE.

DISPLACED COMMUNITIES OFTEN DON'T SUPPORT THEMSELVES.

FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE SOUTHLAND RISE COLLABORATIVE HAS AWARDED FUNDING TO SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS TO HELP , BUT THIS SUMMER, THE COLLABORATIVE WENT A STEP FURTHER AND BROUGHT TOGETHER HOSPITAL TRAUMA CENTER STAFF , AS WELL AS STREET OUTREACH WORKERS FOR A SHARED TRAINING WORKSHOP IN AN EFFORT TO CURB VIOLENCE ON CHICAGO'S'S OUTSIDE.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE COLLABORATION, MARLON RILES, STREET OUTREACH SUPERVISOR TOGETHER CHICAGO, FRANKLIN GATES, DIRECTOR FOR THE VIOLENCE OF RECOVERY PROGRAM AT CHICAGO YOUTH MEDICINE, AND CHARLES McKENZIE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF THE INGLEWOOD FIRST RESPONDERS.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FRANKLIN GAINES, GIVE US AN IDEA, PLEASE, WHAT THIS TRAINING WORKSHOP LOOKS LIKE.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS?

>> ABSENTLY.

FIRST OF ALL, WE RECOGNIZE THE STRENGTH OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT WHEN IT COMES TO COPPERHEADS OF RECOVERY, AS WELL AS PREVENTING REENTRY.

HOSPITALS , ITSELF, DURING THE VIOLENCE RECOVERY PROGRAM, ARE AN IMPORTANT LOCATION AND SPOT THAT FOCUSES ON RECOVERY, AS WELL, RECOGNIZING THAT PREVIOUS WAYS OF ENGAGING PATIENTS OF VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AND SEWING THEM UP AND THROWING THEM BACK OUT ACTUALLY INCREASES RISK.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM THAT HIGHLIGHTS HAVING INDIVIDUALS WHO COME FROM THESE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE, IN MANY CASES, ALSO SURVIVORS OF TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES.

AT THE VERY LEAST, CONNECTING THEM TO LOVED ONES.

IMPORTANT FOR THE CONNECTION WITH OUR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE CENTER IS REALLY CRUCIAL FOR RECOVERY.

>> MARLON, HOW DOES CHICAGO RECOVERY HELP AGAINST VIOLENCE?

>> CHICAGO HELPS IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT MATTERS.

GOT TO THINK ABOUT THE VICTIM ADVOCACY, OUTREACH, AND CASE MANAGEMENT.

UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CORRECTIVE VIOLENCE TREATMENT, WE ARE ON THE STREET, CANVASSING WITH LOCAL, CRITICAL MESSAGES, BECAUSE OTHERS THAT COME FROM THAT BACKGROUND WHO WERE, ONCE UPON A TIME, VIOLENT, CREATING CHAOS OURSELVES.

WE ARE RETURNING AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> CHARLES, HOW DID THE SOUTH END RISE GRANT, HOW DID IT HELP INGLEWOOD RESPONDERS DO MORE WORK?

>> IT HELPED US OUT A LOT.

JUST CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP YOUNG INDIVIDUALS AROUND THE CITY OF CHICAGO TO KEEP THEM OFF THE STREETS, FROM DOING BAD ACTIVITY, LIKE MYSELF.

I ONCE WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM, NOT SOLUTION TO MAKE A CHANGE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE, HELP OTHER INDIVIDUALS.

KNOWING THAT GRANT MADE A BIG IMPACT TO DECREASE THE VIOLENCE WITH OUR YOUNG YOUTH ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL.

>> FRANKLIN GAINES, YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING IN VIOLENCE RECOVERY FOR A LONG TIME .

YOU TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT ALREADY.

GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE ON WHAT ROLE YOU SEE HOSPITALS PLAYING IN THIS VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

>> AGAIN, BEFORE, HOSPITALS WERE ANCHORS IN COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO HIGH LEVELS OF VIOLENCE.

SO, ADVOCATE MEDICAL CENTER AND UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE AND THE TWO HOSPITALS AND ACTUALLY SEE THE HIGHEST VOLUME OF VIOLENCE IN THE CITY , US, BEING ON THE SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO, RECOGNIZING THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE ECOSYSTEM OF RECOVERY, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT HOSPITALS PLAY A ROLE.

PLAYING A ROLE BY ALSO HAVING INDIVIDUALS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING IS NOT OKAY, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY NEED TO BE ENGAGED IN A HEALING-CENTERED WAY TO UNDERSTAND, REALLY, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU, WHAT ARE YOUR MOST IMMEDIATE NEEDS, SO WAS THE CLINICAL TEAM IS STABILIZED, THE SURVIVOR OF VIOLENCE, THEN WHAT WE DO IS REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON WHAT THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS ARE, PROVIDE PSYCHOEDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGICAL PREPARATION , AND VERTICALLY RECOGNIZE FROM 2021 THAT OUR VOLUME LEVELS, LIKE IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO , LIVED EXPERIENCE OF 25% INCREASE.

WE NEEDED TO HAVE COMMITTED RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUTPATIENT TEAMS , AS WELL AS WHAT OUR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTIONISTS WANTED THANKS TO SOUTHLAND RISE, THIS COLLABORATION BETWEEN ADVOCATE AND UNIVERSITY CHICAGO THANKS TO SENATOR DURBIN, CHICAGO HILLS INITIATIVE , ALLOWS US TO COORDINATE AND COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION BECAUSE THEY ARE ALSO TRUSTED, AS WE MENTIONED, TRUSTED INTERVENTIONALISTS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.

WHAT WAYS, WORK TOWARD THE ULTIMATE GOAL TO PREVENT REENTRY ENCUMBRANCE OF RECOVERY WITH CRISIS INTERVENTION IN HOSPITALS?

IT HAS TO ALSO HAPPEN WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

>> TO BOTH OF YOU , WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

DOES THAT MEAN IT IS A SURVIVOR COMES IN WITH AN INJURY, AND AFTER THE MD AND THAT STAFF HAS MADE SURE THAT THAT PERSON IS GOING TO BE OKAY, A VIOLENCE INTERVENTIONIST COMES ALONG AND HELPS THEM FIGURE OUT WHAT'S NEXT?

WE DON'T GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE FIND DIFFERENT HOUSING.

WHATEVER KIND OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT YOU NEED.

>> EXACTLY.

I WILL QUICKLY INDICATE THAT IT IS EXACTLY UNDERSTANDING WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS ARE.

A LOT OF THEM ARE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS.

TALK ABOUT HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION.

IT'S ALSO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH.

AND SO, OUR TEAM, BEING AS A SUPPORT SYSTEM TOWARDS THOSE GOALS , THEN ALSO CONNECTING WITH OUR CBI PARTNERS.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.

VIOLENCE CREATES MORE VIOLENCE.

PEOPLE ARE IN THE COMMUNITIES, AND KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON , THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY'RE -- THEY DON'T HAVE TO CONTACT THE POLICE.

THEY CAN CONTACT THE ORGANIZATION AND EVERYTHING.

BUT THE OUTREACH STAFF, THE AGENCIES GOING ON ON MY BLOCK OVER HERE, TALK TO THESE PEOPLE THERE, AND SOMETIMES, THAT'S ALL IT TAKES.

ONE HELLO, HOW YOU DOING, ET CETERA, STOPPED IT FROM HAPPENING.

>> MARLON, YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME STARTING WITH CEASE-FIRE 20 YEARS AGO.

>> YES.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO HAS CHANGED IN 20 YEARS?

>> WELL, THAT'S KIND OF A DIFFICULT QUESTION.

SO MUCH GOING ON.

I WOULD STILL THINK THAT IT IS ACADEMIC FROM A WORLD -- SORRY -- IT IS AN EPIDEMIC.

IT IS ADDICTIVE.

VIRUS IS ADDICTIVE.

PICK UP A GUN, FIRE A GUN, A TOTALLY DIFFERENT RUSH THAT YOU FEEL.

THE MORE YOU DO IT, FIRE THAT GUN, THE MORE YOU GONNA BE PRONE TO VIOLENT ACTS.

>> CHARLES, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT YOU FOUND THIS TRAINING WORKSHOP HELPFUL FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION?

>> IT CAN JUST TEACH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LIKE ON THE STREET LEVEL.

CERTAIN THINGS IN THE STREET THAT YOU ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH IS FROM THE STREET, AND JUST GOING THROUGH A TREND TO SEE HOW THEY DO IT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT LOOK.

AND IT TEACH YOU HOW TO DEAL WITH CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS ON DIFFERENT LEVELS.

RIGHT?

WHICH IS HOW TO TALK TO INDIVIDUALS ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL , BECAUSE IN A STREET WAY, THEY TALK IN A DIFFERENT MANNER.

SO, DOING THIS TRAINING DIFFERENTLY HELPS OUT A WHOLE LOT GOING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, LETTING THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO HAVE CERTAIN SITUATIONS WITH CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS , THAT TYPE OF MATTER.

>> FRANCIS, WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT WHAT WORKS AND DOESN'T WORK WHEN IT COMES TO VIOLENCE INTERVENTION?

>> WELL, WE HAVE TO TACKLE ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT TOPIC.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT WHAT WE ARE TACKLING AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL AND WHAT WE'RE RESPONDING TO IN THE HOSPITAL ACTUALLY HAS ORIGINS THAT ARE BASED ON POLICIES AND PRACTICES TIED TO RACE AND RACISM.

RIGHT?

SO, WE REALLY NEED TO KORNET FOR SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH .THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

AS WE FIND, AS MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S RETURNING TO THE SAME PLACE WHERE YOU WERE INJURED.

SO, THAT INCREDIBLE ECOSYSTEM HELPS KEEP THEM SAFE, AND WE CAN TRY TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO HOW THEY AXIS BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.

THAT IS INCREDIBLE IMPORTANT.

AND HOW THE NARRATIVE AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY , COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION, AND HOSPITAL-BASED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION THAT NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THE NARRATIVE.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED, WHEN I HAVE SEEN, BY THE TRAINING, WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT, AS WE GET TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER'S WORLD AND ULTIMATELY, WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PATH.

WE NEED TO INVEST MORE IN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PREVENTION THAT INVOLVES COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION, AS WELL AS HOSPITAL INTERVENTION.

>> MARLON, 15 SECONDS LEFT.

CHICAGO HAS STRUGGLED WITH VIOLENCE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING?

>>?

IT'S ME GOING IS KNOWING THAT I WAS ONCE UPON A TIME PART OF THAT PLATFORM OF BEING MENTORED BY ROBBERS, KILLERS, ET CETERA , AND SERVING SEVEN YEARS NOW , IN THE PENITENTIARY, I DON'T HAVE TO ALLOW THE NEXT INDIVIDUAL TO COME OUT, I CAN USE MY TESTIMONY TO GET THE GUYS INTO A POSITIVE LIFE .

>> THERE'S A SPECIFIC COUNT?

I CAN SEE YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH TIME WAS.

MARLON, FRANKLIN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU TOO .

>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK ON A WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON FRIDAY NIGHT, ANOTHER YOU CAN ALSO CATCH "BLACK VOICES " AND "LaTINA VOICES " SATURDAY AT 3:00 P.M. FOR EVERYONE HERE, AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT," HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

STAY SAFE, EVERYONE.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFF AND