>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES , I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, FUNDS FOR CHILD CARE IS DRYING UP , WHAT IT MEANS FOR PARENTS ACROSS THE STATE .

>>> CONFIRMATION OF A NEW POLICE SUPERINTENDENT, HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN BUILD A RELATIONSHIP.

>>> BLACK RESTAURANT WEEK , A PREVIEW OF WHAT TO EXPECT.

>> THE CANDLES AND THE FRAGRANCE .

>> MEET THE CHICAGO WOMAN WHOSE GLASSES ARE BRINGING LIGHT.

>>> OUR FIRST STORY , AS THE COST OF CHILDCARE GOES UP, WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

>> AT FIFTH BIRD, WHEN DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD , THE COMMUNITY IS BETTER.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES , TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TOGETHER WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE .

>> THE COUNTRY IS ON THE EDGE OF A CHILD CARE CRISIS AS THE PANDEMIC ERA FEDERAL FUNDS EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE MONTH .

SOME SAY THE CLIFF IS MORE LIKE QUICKSAND.

WITHOUT THAT FEDERAL FUNDING , THOUSANDS OF PROVIDERS WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO HIRE AND PAY STAFF, MEANING RAPID SHUTDOWNS FOR FAMILIES AND SMALL CHILDREN.

HOW COULD THIS IMPACT PARENTS AND CHILDREN LOCALLY THAT WE HAVE A HOME HEALTHCARE PROVIDER ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF LEARNING AND FACILITIES.

IT WAS A DELEGATE WITH THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY ORGANIZING FAMILY ISSUES , AND THE GRANDMOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN BETWEEN THREE AND SIX.

AND THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR A LITTLE ACTION FOR CHILDREN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

120,000 CHILDREN IN ILLINOIS COULD LOSE CHILDCARE ACCORDING TO THE STUDY.

MANY CHILDCARE PROGRAMS ESTIMATED TO CLOSE.

WHAT IMPACT MAY THIS HAVE?

>> A GREAT IMPACT ON MY BUSINESS.

RIGHT NOW , THE CRISIS IS REALLY BAD.

ALTHOUGH THEY SEND US MONEY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND TO TAKE THAT AWAY WOULD BE DEVASTATING.

A LOT OF US WILL CLOSE OUR DOORS.

IF WE DO , WHERE DO THE CHILDREN GO?

>> HOW DID THE FUNDING HELP YOU?

HIRE STAFF AND PAY THEM A BETTER WAGE?

>> IT HELPED A LITTLE BIT.

IT DID NOT HELP TO PAY A BETTER WAGE.

FOR US TO PAY THEM A LIVABLE WAGE, MOST PROVIDERS, ESPECIALLY IN HOME HEALTHCARE , WE ARE NOT MAKING THAT MUCH, ONLY ABOUT $50,000 PER YEAR.

WE HAVE TO PAY STAFF.

I AM IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, $18 PER HOUR.

>> IT DOES NOT COVER ALL THE NEEDS.

IS THIS SURPRISING ?

>> NOT AT ALL.

WE ARE ALREADY DANGLING OFF THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF.

WE ARE ALREADY IN THE CRISIS.

THERE ARE RECENT REPORTS LETTING US KNOW HOW WE ARE DOING WITH CHILDCARE ACROSS THE STATE.

THE CONTINUED REFRAIN THAT WE HEAR IS "NOT ENOUGH MONEY ."

"NOT ENOUGH STAFF , NOT ENOUGH TRANSPORTATION."

THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR THIS AND HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

>> HOW WILL THIS IMPACT BLACK FAMILIES?

>> MANY OF OUR LOW INCOME FAMILIES WHO WORK NONTRADITIONAL HOURS , THEY MAY WORK TWO JOBS, AND WE KNOW THAT CHILDCARE IS THE BACKBONE OF THE ENTIRE WORKFORCE NATIONALLY.

WITHOUT SUPPORT , WITH LESS ACCESS , LESS CHOICES , THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE HARD DECISION, WHETHER THEY CONTINUE TO STRIVE TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY OR THEY ARE THROWN BACK DOWN INTO POVERTY.

IT WILL BE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES.

>> YOU ARE CURRENTLY HELPING HER DAUGHTER AND HER THREE GRANDCHILDREN.

WHAT IS NAVIGATING THE PROGRAM ?

>> THIS SUMMER , MY DAUGHTER WAS ELIGIBLE FOR HER KIDS TO GO TO ONE SCHOOL.

THE THREE-YEAR-OLD WASN'T CHILDCARE AND THE TWO OTHERS WENT TO KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

I AM TRYING TO GET TO THE SIDE OF TOWN, THEN GO BACK TO GET THE THREE-YEAR-OLD.

NOW, THIS SUMMER , SHE WAS ELIGIBLE, BUT NOW SHE HAS A PROMOTION , ABOVE SCALE , $800 PER MONTH.

I AM WITNESSING THIS ACROSS THE AREA.

IT IS EVERYWHERE.

>> WAS A DIFFICULT TO FIND CHILDCARE , ESPECIALLY FOR THE THREE-YEAR-OLD ?

>> THAT IS WHY THEY SEPARATED THEM.

THEY ALSO CUT CLASSES.

THEY ARE IN A CPS SCHOOL.

THEY JUST OPENED UP THE CLASSES FOR THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN A PROVIDER SINCE 2005 , HAS IT GOTTEN MORE DIFFICULT TO GET FUNDING AS THE YEARS HAVE GONE BY?

>> YES.

THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN BETTER THAT A FEW YEARS BACK WITH A DIFFERENT GOVERNOR.

FUNDING IS STILL NOT ENOUGH.

THE COST OF LIVING HAS GONE UP.

THE FOOD HAS GONE UP.

THERE IS AN EXODUS IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD.

A LOT OF CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ARE SHUTTING THEIR DOORS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT STAY OPEN.

YOU ALSO HAVE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS THAT ARE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FUNDING AND THE LOW PAY IN THE INDUSTRY.

THAT SHOULD NOT BE.

A LOT OF US HAVE DEGREES.

I HOLD A DEGREE.

I HAVE COLLEGE DEBT.

>> SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR A LOT.

INSTEAD OF BEING UNDER THE CARE PROVIDER, YOU HAVE THE SAME EDUCATION LEVEL, BUT WE NEED CHILDCARE PROVIDERS.

WHY HAS CHILDCARE GOTTEN MORE EXPENSIVE?

>> I THINK LARGELY BECAUSE COST OF LIVING CONTINUES TO GO UP AND THE FUNDING IS NOT MATCHING THE COST OF LIVING INCREASE.

WE HAVE THE SITUATION WHERE THERE IS A CONSTANT DEMAND OF SOMETHING THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED.

CHILDCARE IS THE WORKFORCE BEHIND THE WORKFORCE.

THAT LACK OF PARITY WITH THE COST OF LIVING CHANGES, THAT IS DEVASTATING AND CREATED CHAOS FOR PEOPLE , PERSONAL FINANCES, HOMES , BUSINESS LOSS , JOB LOSS, AND IT IS A DOMINO EFFECT OF ALL THE REASONS .

WE STILL HAVE LESS AND LESS.

IRONICALLY, GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER HAS FUNDED CHILDCARE IN WAYS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FUNDED BEFORE.

UNPRECEDENTED.

WE THANK THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR THAT.

STILL , SO MUCH MORE IS NEEDED TO HELP THE SITUATION .

HOW DIRE THE SITUATION WAS TO BEGIN WITH.

LOSING THE FEDERAL FUNDS WILL BE DEVASTATING , WE WERE IN TROUBLE BEFORE THAT.

IT WILL TAKE SO MUCH.

YOU ARE HOLDING UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE ENTIRE WORKFORCE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE ILLINOIS SMARTSTART PROGRAM , TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> THIS PROGRAM PUTS US ON A PATHWAY TO MAKE AN IMPACT.

UNFORTUNATELY , MANY OF MY COMMENTS -- WE ARE LOOKING AT INCREASED INVESTMENTS , WE KNOW THAT WILL ONLY HELP US MAY BE MAINTAINED.

BECAUSE , RIGHT NOW, INFLATION WAS 9% LAST YEAR.

WITH THESE INCREASES , THAT DOES NOT PROVIDE PARITY FOR PROVIDERS .

FROM A LABORFORCE PERSPECTIVE.

WE ARE LOSING INDIVIDUAL STAFF MEMBERS TO OTHER SECTORS BECAUSE WE CANNOT PAY $15 PER HOUR.

WE KNOW THAT , RIGHT NOW, WE ARE HEMORRHAGING FROM A WORKFORCE STANDPOINT, WAGES HAVE NEVER BEEN CLOSE TO PARITY , WAGES CONTINUE TO BE SMALL.

THE EFFORT OF THE STATE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS PARAMOUNT .

WITHOUT FEDERAL INVESTMENT TO BACK UP AND FURTHER BRING AN INFLUX TO THE SYSTEM WITH CASH , WE WILL BE IN DIRE STRAITS.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM FEDERAL AND STATE LAWMAKERS ?

>> THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN , IT HELPED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, WE DID NOT HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION FOR FOOD, THIS WOULD THAT.

IF THEY COULD CONTINUE THAT.

WE HAVE MONEY, IT BEATS -- NEEDS TO BE ALLOCATED TO THE CORRECT COMMUNITIES.

>> THANK YOU.

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

♪ >>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, MAYOR JOHNSON 'S PICK TO LEAD THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT , LARRY SNELLING SPOKE IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION OVERSEEING THE DEPARTMENT , SAYING HE VOWS TO IMPROVE IMMUNITY RELATIONS DURING HIS TENURE.

WE SPOKE WITH A FORMER CHICAGO POLICE MEMBER AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS ABOUT LARRY SNELLING , INCLUDING A RETIRED CHICAGO POLICE SERGEANT, THE PRESIDENT OF THE LITTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY COUNCIL, A FORMER CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER TURNED PSYCHOLOGIST, AND OWNER OF THE FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS CENTER , AND THE REVEREND.

I ASKED SOMEBODY WHO WORK ALONGSIDE LARRY SNELLING HOW HE WILL BUILD BETTER POLICE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS.

>> HE IS IN A GREAT POSITION TO TAKE OVER THE REINS.

HE UNDERSTANDS THE ACADEMIC ASPECTS.

AND HOW TO DELIVER A MESSAGE.

HE IS A TEACHER, A MENTOR, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE NEED MENTORS.

>> HE WANTS TO IMPROVE OFFICER TRAINING AND WELLNESS, FOCUS ON THE CRIME VICTIMS AND IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY.

DO YOU THINK HE HAS SET THE RIGHT PRIORITIES?

>> IN MY IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO ADAPT TO AMERICA.

THE PROBLEM IS, THEY DO WRONG.

IT IS HARD FOR THEM TO GET REPRIMANDED.

THE UNION IS THE PROBLEM.

THEY WILL NOT ALLOW CERTAIN THINGS TO HAPPEN.

WHEN THERE IS A CRIME COMMITTED BY A POLICE OFFICER, THEY SHOULD BE PROSECUTED BUT THEY ARE ALSO DISRESPECTING THEIR UNIFORM.

THAT IS REALLY THE PROBLEM.

THIS IS A SHOW TO ACT LIKE THERE WILL BE A RELATIONSHIP.

WE WORK WITH GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE DCO OFFICERS THAT ARE EASILY CONTACTED AND FINDING SOLUTIONS TO OUR PROBLEMS.

NOW THAT WE TRUST EACH OTHER , I KNOW WHO SHOT THAT PERSON.

THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP.

RIGHT NOW , WE CANNOT TRUST OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT .

>> REVEREND , WE HAVE A COMMUNITY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, HELPING TO BE A COMMUNITY VOICE IN POLICING.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS ENOUGH TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY RELATIONS?

>> IT IS CERTAINLY A BEGINNING.

I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS SHARED.

ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAD FOR THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT, THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE, THEY SPEAK TO OFFICERS WHO CANNOT SERVE WITHOUT PEOPLE TRUSTING OR LOVING THEM.

OR CARING ABOUT THEM.

IT IS A BIG CONCERN, BEING ABLE TO HAVE OFFICERS THAT UNDERSTAND THE CRITICAL NEED FOR THEM TO LEAD IN THEIR WORK WITH LOVE AND RESPECT AND CARE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.

INSTEAD OF MAKING OFFICERS VICTIMS, UNDERSTAND THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED AND HARMED AND TRAUMATIZED BY POLICE BRUTALITY.

>> GIVE US A SENSE OF THE STRESS THAT POLICE OFFICERS FEEL EVERY DAY COMPARED TO OTHER JOBS.

>> OFFICERS HAVE A LOT OF STRESS BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKED AT CONSTANTLY WITH BODY CAMERAS, PEOPLE WATCH THEM, PEOPLE ARE USING THEIR CELL PHONES TO WATCH THEM, EVERYBODY HAS AN OPINION WITHOUT KNOWING THE CONTEXT OF THE SITUATION OR THE LAW.

IT IS VERY HARD TO BE AN OFFICER IN THESE DAYS.

ONE THING TO REMIND EVERYBODY , CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER ARE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY THEY LIVE IN CHICAGO AND THEY ARE A PART OF IT.

BEING A FORMER CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER , THE MAJORITY OF THE OFFICERS WANT TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE AND WANT TO PROTECT AND SERVE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE TIMES WHERE COMMUNITY RELATIONS DO GO DOWN.

THIS IS ANOTHER THING YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, OFFICER WELLNESS.

IF AN OFFICER IS NOT TAKING CARE OF THEIR OWN EMOTIONAL HEALTH, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TREAT OTHER PEOPLE WITH RESPECT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT TREATING EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT.

YOU HAVE AN OFFICER WORKING A 12 HOUR SHIFT AND 18 DAYS IN A ROW, THAT WILL NOT BE GOOD FOR A HUMAN , MUCH LESS AN OFFICER WHO HAS TO MAKE LIFE OR DEATH DECISIONS.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS HOLISTICALLY AND NOT PUT EXPECTATIONS ON POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT FROM ANY OTHER COMMUNITY.

>> WE HEARD THE UNION AND HOW IT IMPACTS BEING ABLE TO IMPLEMENT REFORM.

YOU WERE IN A DIFFERENT UNION FROM THE RANK-AND-FILE.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE IMPACT OF THE UNION AND HOW IT CAN IMPACT COMMUNITY POLICING AND RELATIONSHIPS.

>> WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS .

WE HAVE ADDRESSED THOSE AND WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS NO INTERVENTION AND I HAVE BEEN IN THE WORLD OF INTERVENTION, IN THE WORLD OF THE MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENT, AND , REVEREND, WHEN YOU HAVE AN OFFICER UNDER SO MUCH STRESS, WHO HAS WORKED, 14 HOURS, 24 HOURS, THAT IS AN EXTREME BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CASES.

I WOULD WANT THE COMMUNITY TO SAY, STOP , WE CANNOT OVERDO THIS , THESE OFFICERS ARE EXHAUSTED, TIRED.

EVERYTHING IS GOING ARRIVED.

IT BECOMES AN ISSUE.

IT WOULD BE BEST FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS TO GO TO THE POLICE HIERARCHY AND SAYING , WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR OUR OFFICERS?

EVERYONE HAS FORGOTTEN WHAT WE SEE AND WHAT WE GO THROUGH WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE CALLS.

WE LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

I AM SURE YOU HAVE RELATIVES IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE ALL HAVE A COUSIN.

WE TALK , AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO, HAVE AN OPEN DIALOGUE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SUPERINTENDENT COULD DO TO BUILD THE TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WITH POLICE OFFICERS?

>> IT IS VERY SIMPLE.

WE HAVE DONE RECRUITMENT DAYS IN OUR OFFICE.

WE WORK WITH THE POLICE ASSOCIATION.

WE LEARNED -- >> BY THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZING WITH OFFICERS, YOU CAN GET OFFICERS THAT CAN STAY IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT IS A CONVERSATION THAT FIRST AIRED ON CHICAGO TONIGHT WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS ON THE THOUGHTS ABOUT LARRY SNELLING.

FIND THE FULL INTERVIEW ON HER WEBSITE .

>>> OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS DISRUPTED OUR LIVES AND LEFT US FEELING DISCONNECTED.

IT ALSO CHANGED A BUSINESS PLAN FOR ONE PERSON IN CHICAGO.

SHE IS USING CANDLE CLASSES TO HELP COUPLES CREATE DEEPER CONNECTIONS.

WE SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS LOVE STORY.

>> I AM A LOVER OF LOVE.

I BELIEVE IN LOVE.

WELCOME TO OUR CANDLEMAKING CLASS .

SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> Reporter: IN A COZY STUDIO, COUPLES ARE LEARNING HOW TO MAKE SCENTED CANDLES, OR THAT IS WHAT THEY THINK.

>> THE CANDLES AND THE FRAGRANCE ARE THE BAIT TO GET YOU HERE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE CLOSER TOGETHER.

SHE SEES YOU IN HER DREAMS ALL THE TIME.

WE ALWAYS SAY, MAKE CANDLES, MAKE MAGIC .

WHEN I SEE THE MAGIC IN THE STUDIO, THAT MAKES ME KEEP GOING.

>> Reporter: THIS ROMANTIC BAIT AND SWITCH IS THE BRAINCHILD OF THE OWNER OF ABOVE AVERAGE CABLE STUDIO.

>> I AM A LIFELONG CHICAGOAN, I GREW UP ON THE WEST SIDE, I HAVE TO LET YOU KNOW.

THAT IS A VERY CHICAGO THING , FAMILY.

>> YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF THEIR LIFE.

I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: ORIGINALLY, SHE WANTED TO OPEN A DOGGIE DAYCARE.

THAT IDEA WAS QUICKLY SNUFFED OUT.

>> WHEN WE GOT OUR LICENSE , MARCH OF 2020.

YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

>> Reporter: SHE WENT TO TEACHING CANDLE WORKSHOPS, FRIENDS , FAMILIES , COUPLES .

>> I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE THEM SOME ACTIVITIES TO DO IN BETWEEN THE SCIENCE OF MAKING THE CANDLE.

THEY WILL LAUGH .

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS , AS SHE SAW HOW INTIMATE CREATING CANDLES TOGETHER CAN BE , SHE SHOULD THE WORKSHOP TO GIVE THEM A DEEPER CONNECTION.

>> IT IS ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

WHAT HAS BEEN SO GREAT ABOUT THE LAST 11 YEARS WITH THIS ONE?

WHAT ATTRIBUTES DO YOU ADMIRE?

>> Reporter: AN APPROACH THAT HAS HER FEELING THE LOVE.

>> PEOPLE SAY IT WAS THE BEST DATE NIGHT THEY EVER HAD.

I REALIZED IT IS WAY MORE IMPORTANT THAN JUST MAKING CANDLES.

THAT MAKES ME SAY, YES, KEEP DOING IT, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PUT LOVE IN THE WORLD.

>> ABOVE-AVERAGE IS OPENING A SECOND LOCATION IN THE OLD URBAN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD NEXT MONTH.

THERE ARE MORE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

THE NATIONAL BLACK RESTAURANT WEEK CAMPAIGN RETURNS TO CHICAGO FOR TWO WEEKS WITH EVENTS AT 35 BLACK-OWNED EATERIES.

IT IS A DELICIOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO DISCOVER NEW FLAVORS AND REVISIT FLAVORS AROUND THE CITY.

>> BLACK RESTAURANT WEEK ON MONDAY , SEPTEMBER 10th THROUGH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th , TWO WEEKS OF SPECIALS THROUGHOUT THE CHICAGO AREA.

OUR BRAND AWARENESS PLATFORM OF BLACK-OWNED CULINARY BUSINESSES, WE HAVE A GREAT LIST OF PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES , CELEBRATING AFRICAN , AFRICAN-AMERICAN, AND CARIBBEAN RESTAURANTS WITH ALL TYPES INCLUDED, FROM A CARIBBEAN RUM BAR , AN ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT, FRONTIER , WE ARE HOSTING A HAPPY HOUR ON MODERN-DAY ON TUESDAY.

A BARBECUE VEGAN RESTAURANT.

WHATEVER YOUR TASTE BUDS , YOU CAN FIND A RESTAURANT THAT IS PARTICIPATING.

THIS CAMPAIGN IS ONLY AS STRONG AS THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT LOCAL BUSINESSES BRING TO THE COMMUNITY, THEY HIRE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY , WHEN SOMETHING GOES DOWN , THEY ARE THE FIRST TO GIVE BACK, DONATING FOOD, HELPING FIRST RESPONDERS.

THIS IS OUR TIME OF THE YEAR TO GET BACK TO THEM AND THAT WE -- LET THEM KNOW THAT WE SUPPORT THEM.

I KNOW A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC.

INFLATION.

STILL DEALING WITH LABOR SHORTAGES.

THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO BRING SOME DOLLARS INTO THEIR BUDGET BEFORE THE START OF THE BUSY HOLIDAY SEASON.

>> BLACK RESTAURANT WEEK STARTS ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th, FIND MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM/NEWS , FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

FOR ALL OF US AT CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES , I AM BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH FIRM WHOSE ATTORNEYS EMBRACE A CULTURE OF SERVICE BY VOLUNTEERING THEIR