[♪♪♪] >> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... [♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES".

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... LOW-WAGE WORKERS ARE MAKING UP AN INCREASING PORTION OF AMERICA'S WORKFORCE AND IN CHICAGO, A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF LOW-WAGE WORKERS ARE BLACK.

WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS BEHIND THAT PAY GAP.

FOR MANY THE R. KELLY VERDICT IS A BITTERSWEET MOMENT.

A LOOK ON THE VERDICT AND THE IMPACT ON SURVIVORS OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT.

>> WE LOOK AT TECH WORKERS THAT HAVE 100,000 REASONS TO CELEBRATE.

>> CHICAGO LOST A JAZZ GREAT WE LOOK AT THE WORK AND LEGACY OF RAMSEY LEWIS.

>> I WANTED IT TO LOOK NONTRADITIONAL I DIDN'T WANT THE LINES TO BE CLEAN.

>> AND THE NEW EXHIBIT EXPLORES THE IMPACT ART CAN HAVE ON MENTAL HEALTH.

>> FIRST OFF TONIGHT, SEPTEMBER 21 MARKS BLACK WOMEN'S EQUAL PAYDAY, THE DAY THIS YEAR THAT BLACK WOMEN WOULD HAVE HAD TO WORK UNTIL THIS YEAR TO BE PAID WHAT MEN WERE PAID LAST YEAR.

IN 2022 THAT DAY COMES MORE THAN A MONTH LATER THAN IT DID IN 2021 AS THAT GAP INCREASED.

PART OF THAT GAP CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE OVER REPRESENTATION OF BLACK WORKERS IN LOW-WAGE CATEGORIES.

ACCORDING TO AN ANALYSIS BY THE SHRIVER CENTER ON POVERTY LAW BLACK WOMEN MAKEUP 6% OF EMPLOYED WORKERS AND 32% OF HOME HEALTH AIDES WHERE THEY EARN AN AVERAGE OF $23,000 A YEAR.

BLACK MEN MAKEUP 6% OF EMPLOYED WORKERS AND 15% OF LABORERS AND FREIGHT AND STOCK MATERIAL MOVERS AND EARN AN AVERAGE OF $27,000 A YEAR.

THIS MONTH, THE SHRIVER CENTER RELEASED A REPORT BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH LOW-WAGE WORKERS ACROSS THE STATE AND FOUND PEOPLE LIKE HOME HEALTH AIDES, RIDESHARE WORKERS AND WAREHOUSE WORKERS STRUGGLE WITH WITH NOT JUST LOW-WAGES BUT A LACK OF BENEFITS, INSUFFICIENT SAFETY PROTECTIONS AND JOB SECURITY.

JOINING US NOW ARE AUDRA WILSON, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE SHRIVER CENTER ON MOTHER POVERTY LAW AND CHERITA ELLENS PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF WOMEN EMPLOYED.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AUDRA WILSON, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REASONS FOR THE OVERREPRESENTATION OF BLACK WORKERS IN THOSE LOW-WAGE JOBS?

>> THANK YOU, BRANDIS.

FIRST AND FOREMOST AT THE SHRIVER CENTER WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT ECONOMIC JUSTICE IS A RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUE.

ALTHOUGH WORKERS OF COLOR HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN MARGINALIZED INTO LOW-WAGE, LOW SKILL JOBS THE GROWTH OF THE GIG INDUSTRY, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS OR FREELANCERS DOING TEMPORARY WORK HAS WORSENED THIS TREND.

AND GROWTH IN GIG WORK LED TO MISCLASSIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES MANY OF WHOM WOULD BE ENTITLED TO BENEFITS AND PROTECTIONS AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.

AND THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ENTITLED TO ALMOST NO PROTECTION.

THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND WE SEE AN OVERREPRESENTATION 40% OF THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AREA IS BLACK AND LATINX.

BUT YET, 85% OF THE AREA'S BLUE-COLLAR TEMP WORK ASSIGNMENTS GO TO BLACK AND LATINX.

RACIAL JUSTICE IS FOREFRONT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THE REPORT THAT YOU MENTIONED.

>> CHERITA ELLENS WHAT JOB CATEGORIES ARE BLACK WOMEN MOST UNDERREPRESENTED IN AND ARE THERE INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE A WIDER PAY GAP THAN OTHERS?

>> TYPICALLY WHAT YOU WILL FIND ARE BLACK WOMEN ARE SEGREGATED, TO USE THE TERM OCCUPATION SEGREGATION INTO ROLES WITH LOW-WAGES AND ROLES WHERE THEY ARE EARNING A SUBMINIMUM TIP WAGE AND SO THAT IS GOING TO BE THE DIRECT CARE SERVICES THAT AUDRA SPOKE ABOUT AND SERVICE ORIENTED JOB SUCH AS FOOD SERVICES AND OTHER HEALTHCARE SUPPORT JOBS, NURSING ASSISTANTINGS, CARE GIVING ROLES.

AND IN CHILDCARE.

BUT NOT IN TEACHER ROLES IN EDUCATED ROLES.

BUT IN TEACHER ASSISTANT ROLES WHERE THE PAY GAP IS LOW.

AND OTHER RETAIL AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

AND YOU KNOW, WHAT IS UNIQUE IS EVEN WHILE THEY ARE IN ROLES WHERE YOU REQUIRE A DEGREE, EVEN IN THOSE ROLES, THEY ARE STILL UNDERPAID.

SO IT IS AN ISSUE AROUND LOW-WAGE WORK BUT IT IS AN ISSUE OVERALL FOR BLACK WOMEN.

>> AUDRA WHAT IF ANYTHING WOULD YOU SAY IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS CURRENT LABOR MARKET, THE GREAT RESIGNATION AND EMPLOYERS ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND WORKERS WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THAT MARKET AND THE RELIANCE ON LOWER WAGE GIG WORKERS?

>> WELL, FOR MANY EMPLOYERS IT'S MORE EXPEDIENT QUITE FRANKLY TO BE ABLE TO RELY UPON GIG WORKERS TO NOT HAVE TO PAY BENEFITS.

KNOWING ESPECIALLY THE POPULATION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THERE'S MORE FLEXIBILITY OBVIOUSLY IN GIG WORK WHICH IS WHY MANY PEOPLE PURSUE THAT.

EMPLOYERS ARE PAYING LESS MONEY TO THOSE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY BENEFITS THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY CERTAIN WAGES.

AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS WHY WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR THESE SORTS OF PROTECTIONS.

BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE AS THIS INDUSTRY IS PROLIFERATING THAT ULTIMATELY IT'S GOING TO DO MORE DAMAGE TO THE POPULATION OF WORKERS.

AND INTERESTINGLY, FOR EMPLOYERS TO NOT TO TRY TO AVOID PAYING BENEFITS IS EXTRAORDINARILY SHORT-SIGHTED.

WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING YOU HAVE HIGH TURNOVER WHEN YOU DON'T OFFER BENEFITS YOU HAVE PEOPLE NOT TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF SICK LEAVE WHICH WAS IMPORTANT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IT'S REALLY A SHORT-SIGHTED MOVE FOR EMPLOYERS TO NOT BE THINKING OF MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN THEIR WORKERS.

ON THE FRONT END IT WOULD SEEM TO BE MORE COST SAVINGS FOR THEM.

>> CHERITA ELLENS EFFORTS TO UNIONIZE SECTORS OF EMPLOYMENT HAVE BLOOMED REALLY, CAN THAT HELP WITH CLOSING THE PAY GAP FOR BLACK WOMEN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE KNOW THAT WORKERS THAT ARE PART OF A UNION ARE PAID MORE.

WE KNOW THAT WOMEN WHO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF BEING REPRESENTED BY A UNION SEE EVEN A LARGER DIFFERENCE IN MOST.

IN ILLINOIS UNION MEMBERSHIP IS INCREASING HOURLY EARNINGS BY 14.7%.

AND FOR BLACK WOMEN, THAT ARE PART OF A UNION THEY ARE MAKING MORE 23% MORE THAN WOMEN WHO ARE NOT IN A UNION.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT FOR WORKERS TO UNIONIZE.

AND WE KNOW THERE IS ALSO A PUSH FOR THOSE PROTECTIONS TO BE STRIPPED AWAY.

AND A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOMEONE THERE THAT IS HELPING TO NEGOTIATE THEIR SALARY ON YOUR BEHALF THROUGH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

YOU HAVE A PLACE TO GO TO WHEN YOU HAVE A FORMAL GRIEVIANS AND YOU ARE PROTECTED BY UNION REPRESENTATION.

AND THAT JUST DOESN'T EXIST MOST OF THE TIME OUTSIDE OF THE UNION.

>> AUDRA, THE CITY RECENTLY ANNOUNCED IT'S GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT IS FULLY ENROLLED.

AND COOK COUNTY IS TAKING LARGE STEPS TOWARDS LAUNCHING ITS PROGRAM WHICH WILL BE BIGGER.

AND WITH REGARD TO THE LOW-WAGE WORKERS THAT YOU SURVEYED FOR YOUR REPORT, HOW MUCH COULD CONTINUING A GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM HELP?

>> VERY, VERY MUCH SO.

AND I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE FACT THAT THE DUAL PILOT.

THIS MAKES BOTH CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY WE ARE THE SECOND MOST POPULOUS COUNTY AND THE THIRD LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY THAT ARE LAUNCHING PILOTS SIMULTANEOUSLY.

THE COUNTRY IS GOING TO BE WATCHING TO SEE THE IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAM.

AND WE KNOW THAT IT WILL HAVE EXTRAORDINARY BENEFITS.

IN THE CHICAGO PILOT ALONE, THERE IS I DON'T WANT TO SEE AN OVERREPRESENTATION OF WOMEN BUT IT'S NEARLY 70% BECAUSE MANY ARE HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS.

YOU ARE SEEING THE TREND IN BLACK WOMEN SPECIFICALLY.

WE KNOW THAT COLLECTIVELY THE PILOT ALSO HELP MANY PEOPLE.

I SHOULD SAY, THOUGH, THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO OTHERS WHO THINK WELL IT'S ENOUGH MONEY OR WHAT MORE CAN WE DO?

AND I ALWAYS REMIND THEM TWO THINGS: NUMBER ONE ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE IN A SUBSIDY THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO USE IN A WAY THAT BEST SUITS THEIR FAMILIES IS POSITIVE.

SECONDLY IT DOES NOT SECLUDE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT PAYING PEOPLE WHAT THEY ARE WORTH.

WE STILL NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT PAYING LIVABLE WAGES.

AND STILL NEED TO BE MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE BENEFITS.

>> YOU ARE ADVOCATING FOR A BOTH AND.

>> AUDRA WILSON AND CHERITA ELLENS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO WORK WITH THEM ARE REACTING TO THIS WEEK'S R. KELLY VERDICT.

A FEDERAL JURY FOUND THE SINGER GUILTY ON SIX COUNTS OF PRODUCING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ENTICING GIRLS FOR SEX.

ACCUSATIONS AGAINST KELLY WERE FIRST REPORTED BACK IN 2000.

WE SPOKE WITH MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO ALLIANCE AGAINST SEXUAL EXPLOYATION AND A LONG WALK HOME A GROUP THAT AIMS TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST GIRLS AND WOMEN.

I ASKED THEM ABOUT THEIR REACTIONS.

>> IT'S BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME COMING.

SPECIFICALLY, I RECALL THIS CASE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CASES WE HAVE AMONG BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS AND THE FACT IT'S TAKEN THIS LONG FOR SOME TYPE OF JUSTICE SAYS A LOT HOW WE THINK IN OUR SOCIETY ABOUT BLACK GIRLS AND VICTIMS.

AND THIS RECKONING THAT HAS HAPPENED HAVING THIS CASE, THIS FEDERAL CASE HAPPENING IN CHICAGO WHERE THE SPIKE OF THE TRAUMA HAS HAPPENED WHERE SO MUCH OF THE BYSTANDERS AND THE CONSPIRACIES HAVE HAPPENED AND WHERE THE TAPE ORIGINAL TAPE WAS PRODUCED, I THINK IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT WHAT THIS CASE PRODUCED.

BECAUSE IT ALLOWED SOME TYPE OF JUSTICE FOR THE BRAVERY OF SOME OF THOSE SURVIVORS THAT CAME FORWARD AND ALLOWING MAYBE A HEALING TO HAPPEN TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> I JUST HAVE TO ECHO THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY BITTERSWEET.

BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE SO OFTEN DISBELIEVED.

WE ARE THE LAST TO BE LISTENED TO.

WE DO NOT OFTEN GET ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND YOU SEE BOTH OF THOSE THINGS UNFOLDING HERE.

YOU SEE WOMEN FINALLY BEING LISTENED TO AND FINALLY BEING BELIEVED BUT YOU ALSO SEE A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN TIMES OF THE COUNTS WHERE THEY WERE NOT GUILTIES OR THE DEFENDANTS WHERE THERE WERE NOT GUILTIES.

SADLY, I AM NOT SURPRISED BY THAT.

>> AGAIN KELLY WAS FOUND GUILTY ON SIX COUNTS OF PRODUCING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.

AND HE WAS ACQUITTED ON SEVEN COUNTS.

TO HEAR FROM THE JOURNALIST WHO TRIGGERED THE TRIAL YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

WTTW.COM/NEWS.

YOU CAN CATCH UP ON OUR REPORTING ON KELLY'S TRIAL AND THE VERDICT WHILE YOU ARE THERE.

WE'RE BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

[♪♪♪] >> TWO LOCAL BLACK LED START-UPS RECEIVED GOOD NEWS, EVENTNOIRE AND BUOY WERE AWARDED $100,000 EACH.

THE MONEY WILL HELP BUOY PROMISING BLACK TECH VENTURES WHICH HISTORICALLY HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY ACCESSING CAPITAL.

ACCORDING TO A REPORT IN 2020 U.S. COMPANIES RAISED $150 BILLION IN VENTURE CAPITAL BUT BLACK START UP FOUNDERS RECEIVED LESS THAN 1% OF THAT TOTAL.

JOINING US ARE CANDICE SPEICHER COFOUNDER OF BUOY PRICING.

AND JOSHUA MERCER CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER OF THE EVENTS MANAGEMENT PLATFORM, EVENTNOIRE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RECENT AWARD.

JOSHUA MERCER LET'S START WITH YOU, PLEASE YOUR COMPANY EVENTNOIRE YOU ARE AN EVENTS MANAGEMENT PLATFORM AND THERE ARE A FEW OTHERS OUT THERE.

WHAT MAKES YOURS UNIQUE?

>> WE ARE THE EVENT TICKETING PLATFORM FOR BLACK CULTURE.

WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE, ONE OF THE THINGS IS COOL ABOUT US IS THAT WE ALLOW THE EVENT ORGANIZER TO TAKE A PORTION OF THE TICKETING FEE AND USE IT AS COMMISSION TO HELP FUND THEIR EVENTS SO THAT INCREMENTAL REVENUE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES OR NONPROFITS OR IF YOU ARE DOING A FUNDRAISER.

IF YOU DO AN EVENT THAT IS $20 A TICKET.

$2 AND CHANGE WE GIVE A PORTION OF THAT BACK TO THE EVENT ORGANIZERS.

FOR USERS IT IS AN EASY WAY TO FIND BLACK EVENTS THAT THE ARE IN YOUR AREA.

NO MATTER WHAT PART OF THE WORLD YOU ARE IN.

WHETHER YOU ARE IN NIGERIA, CHICAGO, CALIFORNIA, YOU CAN EASILY TAP INTO EVENTS THAT ARE CATERED TOWARDS PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU.

>> CANDICE SPEICHER YOUR COMPANY BUOY PRICING YOU HELP VACATION RENTAL OWNERS FIGURE OUT THEIR PRICING.

WHAT IS THE NICHE YOU ARE HOPING TO FULFILL?

>> WE WANT TO BE THE GOOGLE SITE FOR THE VACATION INDUSTRY.

OUR PRICES AND REPORTS ON VACATION RENTALS AUTOMATICALLY BUT WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE PRICED.

OUR HOPE IS TO BECOME THE TRAVEL RESOURCE FOR LIKE USERS AND TRAVELERS ALIKE SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THE INFORMATION.

THE INFORMATION DOESN'T EXIST AND FOR OUR EARLY USERS PEOPLE OF COLOR LIKE ME IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR GETTING LOANS AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

>> CANDICE YOU HAVE GOTTEN GOOD NEWS RECENTLY?

>> YES, YES.

I JUST WON TECH RIDE CHICAGO FOR THEIR CYBERSECURITY AI COMPETITION THIS MORNING.

STILL FEELING THE COMMITMENT FROM THAT -- EXCITEMENT FROM THAT NEWS.

>> CONGRATS.

>> JOSHUA MERCER WHAT IS THE GRANT THAT YOU RECEIVED FROM THE GOOGLE FUND HOW IS THAT GOING TO HELP YOU MOVE YOUR BUSINESS FORWARD?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE TREMENDOUS FOR US YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE NOT IN TECH AND HEAVILY INVESTED IN TECH IT'S HARD FOR YOUR COMPANY TO SURVIVE.

SO IT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THE ENGINEERING THAT IS REQUIRED FOR US TO STAY RELEVANT.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OVER 400,000 USERS ON OUR PLATFORM.

WE HAVE OVER 1500 EVENT PLANNERS.

WE CAN'T AFFORD AT ANY MOMENT FOR OUR WEBSITE TO GO DOWN.

WE HAVE A HUGE EVENT COMING UP NEXT WEEK IN WASHINGTON D.C.

ALREADY OVER 20,000 TICKETS SOLD.

SO WHEN YOU'RE HAVING THAT LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY, HAVING GOOD ENGINEERS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND IT WILL ALLOW US TO DO MORE MARKETING AND MORE BRANDING IF NEEDED TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT OUR PLATFORM AND WHAT WE'RE SEEKING TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> CANDICE HOW WILL THIS GRANT HELP YOU TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL?

>> HONESTLY IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD TO RAISE MONEY AND ALL OF OUR COMPETITORS ARE VENTURE BACKED AND THIS COMPANY IS ME AND MY HUSBAND.

THIS WILL CONTINUE OUR MISSION OF BUILDING TECHNOLOGY THAT IS HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE AND USERS.

WE'RE USING THIS TO NOT ONLY BUILD MORE CONNECTIONS AND TO ACCESS MORE USERS AND USING IT TO CONTINUE TEACHING AND REVENUE MANAGEMENT GROUPS.

WE PROVIDE CONTENT AND WE'RE TRYING TO HELP MAKE MORE PEOPLE EXPERTS SO THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> JOSHUA WHAT ARE THE DIFFICULTIES YOU MIGHT HAVE ENCOUNTERED WHILE TRYING TO GET INVESTMENT FUNDING?

>> WOW.

I MEAN, EVERYDAY IS A CHALLENGE.

YOU KNOW WHETHER IT'S DIGGING INTO THE NUMBERS, YOU GO BACK AND YOU WILL PRESENT TO SOMEONE AND YOU KNOW THEY WILL LIKE YOUR IDEA BUT THEN THEY'LL SAY WHAT ABOUT THIS?

OR WHAT IS IT THAT -- OUR IDEA ISN'T REALLY LIKE A NOVEL IDEA.

YOU HAVE OTHER TICKETING PLATFORMS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

SO SOMETIMES IT'S HARD FOR SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME BACKGROUND AS YOU TO IDENTIFY THE PINPOINT.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 20 YEARS OF EVENT PLANNING.

OUR C.E.O.

JEFFREY OSUJI WE HAVE EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE EVENT PLANNING INDUSTRY.

SOMETIMES EXPRESSING WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THE SOLUTION, CAN BE DIFFICULT.

BUT THANKFULLY, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT OVER THESE LAST THREE YEARS.

AND WE JUST HAVE RIDDEN IT OUT AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET BLESSED WITH 100 K. >> AND CANDICE SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

DIFFICULT TO RAISE THAT CAPITAL.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU'VE EXPERIENCED?

>> IT'S BEEN A LOT OF LIKE WHERE IS YOUR TRACTION?

WHERE ARE YOU NUMBERS?

WHO IS THE NETWORK.

WE GET A LOT OF NO'S BEFORE WE GET THE YES.

THAT IS WHY THE INSTITUTIONS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY CRUCIAL FOR BUOY LIKE JOSH SAID WE HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE AGAINST PEOPLE ALWAYS GETTING FUNDED EASILY.

WE HAD TO BUILD TECHNOLOGY BEFORE WE GET TO A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO INVEST NOW WE'RE PAYING OURSELVES BACK AND CONTINUING TO BUILD OUR MISSION BUT THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL.

AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE OFF TO A GOOD START.

WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT, JOSHUA, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE TARGETED INVESTMENT FOR A BLACK LED START UP?

>> IT'S EXTREMELY CRITICAL.

BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE US WE ARE ON THE CONSUMER SIDE AND NEVER ON THE DECISION SIDE.

SO TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE YOU IT'S GOING TO BE MORE INTENTIONED AND MORE THOUGHT AND LESS MANIPULATION WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNOLOGY.

I AM A FATHER OF TWO AND I'M ALWAYS TELLING MY KIDS TO GET OFF OF YouTube AND GET OFF OF THIS AND THAT.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE YOU YOU WON'T BE UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE BOARDROOM AND WHAT THE IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

>> THAT IS A GOOD PLACE TO LEAVE IT.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU BOTH.

THANKS TO JOSHUA MERCER AND CANDICE SPEICHER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> UP NEXT, REMEMBERING JAZZ LEGEND RAMSEY LEWIS.

[♪♪♪] IS >> CHICAGO IS MOURNING THE LOSS OF JAZZ LEGEND RAMSEY LEWIS THIS WEEK.

THE PIANIST THAT BEGAN PLAYING THE PIANO AT AGE FOUR DIED MONDAY AT AGE 87.

MARK RUFFIN REMEMBERS HIS MENTOR AND FRIEND AS A BE PIONEER AND INNOVATOR AND UNSURPASSED CHARACTER AND WARMTH.

>> RAMSEY LEWIS WAS DISCOVERED PLAYING IN A CLUB BY DAD YO DALEY, A LEGENDARY DJ IN CHICAGO.

HE WAS PUT ON CHESS AND CADET RECORDS OF DIVISION OF CHESS RECOVEREDS.

THERE'S SO MUCH HISTORY WITH CHESS HE IS A HUGE PART OF THAT HISTORY.

HE HAD THE HIT WITH THE INCROWD ON THE 17TH ALBUM.

HE HAD BEEN RECORDING AND PART OF THE SCENE.

AND THEN AS MUSIC DIVIDED AND SPLIT UP IN THE 60s, HE WAS PART OF THE MOVEMENT THAT REALLY SPAWNED EARTH, WIND AND FIRE.

MAURICE WHITE WAS IN HIS BAND.

HE WENT TOWARDS THAT DIRECTION TAKING R&B AND JAZZ AT THE TIME AND MAKING HIS OWN.

AND I THINK HE DID THAT FOR CHICAGO.

HE LOVED MIXING ALL THE MUSIC HE KNEW INTO A STYLE THAT WAS RAMSEY LEWIS.

IF THERE WAS A LEGACY I WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO REMEMBER IS THAT HE WAS GENEROUS OF SOUL, GENEROUS OF SPIRIT AND BOY, COULD HE PLAY THAT PIANO.

[♪♪♪] >> MUSIC COLGIFT MARK RUFFIN REMEMBERING RAMSEY LEWIS WHO PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK AT 87.

YOU CAN WATCH MORE OF THE "CHICAGO TONIGHT" PERFORMANCENESS ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AN ENGLEWOOD NATIVE IS SHOWING THE IMPACT ART THERAPY CAN HAVE ON ONE'S MENTAL HEALTH IN A NEW EXHIBITION ENTITLED THERAPEUTIC REASONING.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU TAKING US TO A SERIOUS GALLERY IN RIVER WEST FOR A LOOK.

A NOTE SOME OF THE ARTWORK IS GRAPHIC.

>> WHEN YOU THINK OF THE PHRASE A LOT CAN CHANGE IN A YEAR ONE THAT COULD BEST BE USED TO DESCRIBE ARTIST DAVID ELLIS AND THE ROLL EXPRESSION HAS PLAYED IN HIS LIFE.

>> SO I HAVE REALLY AGGRESSIVE SUICIDAL IDEATION.

AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WAS LISTED ON THE SAFETY LIST WAS TO PAINT WHEN I FELT LIKE AGGRESSIVE IDEATION COME ON.

THAT IS WHAT I STARTED DOING.

WENT BACK TO WHAT I REMEMBERED MADE ME HAPPY WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND IT WAS DRAW SNOOK WHEN IT CAME TIME TO PAY RENT "EWRKS" DECIDED TO SELL PAINTINGS ON HIS LAWN.

HE DECIDED TO DO IT MONTHLY.

>> I HAD MY FIRST TWO SALES AS SOON AS PEOPLE STOPPED AND BUYING ART AND OTHER PEOPLE SEE BUYING ART IT PULLED MORE PEOPLE'S EYES IN YOUR DIRECTION.

>> WHETHER IT BE FOR HIMSELF OR COMMISSIONS, "EWRKS" SAYS HE NEEDS TO PAINT EVERYDAY.

>> PEOPLE IGNORE THE NEED FOR ART.

AND IGNORE THE PLACE IT HOLDS IN SOCIETY THAT GIVES EVERYTHING MEANING.

ART IS NEEDED.

>> HE SHOWS THAT NEED FOR SELF EXPRESSION IN A NEW EXHIBIT AT A SERIOUS GALLERY IN RIVER WEST WHERE HE DOCUMENTS SOCIETAL MOMENTS AND TIME WITH ACRYLIC ON CANVAS.

EACH PIECE TAKING NO MORE THAN A DAY.

I WILL TAKE SCREEN SHOTS OF MOMENTS OF POP CULTURE MOMENTS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO ME.

AND NOTHING IS SUPER INTENTIONAL IN TERMS OF WHAT I CREATE.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERAPEUTIC REASONS.

LIKE I CREATE TO FEEL GOOD, TO FEEL NORMAL, TO BALANCE MYSELF, IT'S NEVER BEEN ABOUT JUST SOLELY THE ART.

IT'S BEEN ABOUT MY HEALING.

>> WHILE ART AND SELF EXPRESSION HELPED "EWRKS" IMPROVE HIS MENTAL STATE IT IS A PRACTICE HE WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO WORK ON.

>> I FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT THE END ALL SOLUTION IT'S NOT THIS THING THAT WILL HELP YOU FOREVER THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

IT'S THE THING THAT YOU ALSO KNOW YOU CAN COME BACK TO TO CENTER YOURSELF.

>> THE CHARACTERS "EWRKS" CREATED LIVE IN THE DAY ROOM.

AND HOPES HIS ART DISMANTLES RACISM, HOMOPHOBIA AND ELITISM AMONG OTHER THINGS.

>> ART HAS ALWAYS BEEN INTERGENERATIONAL.

I CAN ENGAGE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, PEOPLE MY AGE, OLDER BLACK FOLKS.

YOU DON'T LIKE THE PICTURE LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

A LOT OF IT SPEAKS TO MY SEX UNIT I IDENTIFY AS FLUID IT CREATES A BIGGER SPACE FOR HEALING AND UNDERSTANDING INTERGENERATIONALLY.

>> WHILE THE ART HE CREATES IS FOR PERSONAL HEALING HE HOPES IT INSPIRES BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN SPECIFICALLY.

>> THE INVESTMENT HAS TO START AT SOME POINT.

AND THERE IS NO WAY AROUND NOT SPENDING THE MONEY AND NOT SPENDING THE TIME AND NOT PRACTICING.

TAKING CREATIVE AGENCY OVER WHAT IT IS YOU LOVE TO DO.

DON'T LET ANYBODY ELSE PILOT YOUR LIFE'S DECISIONS.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES", I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> YOU CAN SEE THERAPEUTIC REASONING AT A VERY SERIOUS GALLERY IN RIVER WEST THROUGH OCTOBER 23.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEKEND.

JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ NEXT WEEK AT 7:00 P.M. ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]