[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND TO EVERYONE WATCHING THE SPECIAL COVERAGE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ADDRESS.

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ HERE IN OUR NORTHWEST SIDE STUDIO.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN REPORTING LIVE IN CITY'S BEVERLY NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... AROUND HERE, THE PARADE IS A SEASON.

>> ST. PATRICK A DAY PARADES ARE CANCELED AGAIN THIS YEAR HOW CHICAGO'S BEVERLY NEIGHBORHOOD IS CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY.

THE PANDEMIC PRESENTED MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND NOW THERE IS A NEW SOURCE OF ANXIETY: THE PROSPECT OF RETURNING TO WORK.

>> I'M ANGEL IDOWU TONIGHT I WILL BE TAKING YOU TO AN EXHIBIT IN ELMHURST THAT IS EXPLORING SEGREGATION WITHIN THE CHICAGO AREA.

>> AND GEOFFREY BAER AND CHICAGO'S OLD PASSENGER RAIL STATIONS IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> FIRST OFF NEIGHBORS IN ONE FAR SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO COMMUNITY SAY THE PANDEMIC'S BIGGEST IMPACT ON THEIR LIVELIHOOD HAS BEEN ECONOMIC.

THE COMMUNITY OF BEVERLY IS 16 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN AND KNOWN FOR BEING INTEGRATED AND HOME TO LOTS OF FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS AND KNOWN FOR BEING HOME TO THE CITY'S SOUTH SIDE IRISH PARADE ONE OF THE BIGGEST OUTSIDE OF DUBLIN.

FOR THE SECOND YEAR THAT CELEBRATION HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD AND PART OF OUR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES BRANDIS FRIEDMAN SPENT THE DAY IN BEVERLY WITH PRODUCER MARISSA NELSON.

BRANDIS JOINS US WITH MORE.

>> AND WE ARE STANDING OUTSIDE GIBBONS IRISH CASTLE AT 103rd AND LONGWOOD AND CONSIDERED CHICAGO'S ONLY CASTLE BUILT IN THE MID-1880s AN A PHYSICAL TESTAMENT TO THE IMPACT OF THE IRISH COMMUNITY HERE IN BEVERLY.

THE ANNUAL SOUTH SIDE IRISH PARADE CAN BRING UP TO HALF A MILLION PEOPLE.

THAT IS AT ITS PEAK.

THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THAT THE PARADE HAS BEEN CANCELED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND IT STARTED A YEAR AGO AS WE'VE BEEN HEARING ALL EVENING IT TRAVELS DOWN WESTERN AVENUE AND IT ATTRACTS MORE THAN 100 FLOATS AND MARCHING BANDS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, UNIONS AND MORE.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT A LITTLE BIT OF VIDEO FROM THE PARADE COMMITTEE FROM ONE OF THE PREVIOUS PARADES.

FOLKS SAY THAT THE PARADE TOOK A TWO-YEAR HIATUS BECAUSE IT HAD GOTTEN SO BIG IT'S BEEN RETOOLED TO BE A MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT UNTIL THE PANDEMIC PUT IT TO A HALT AGAIN.

>> IT IS A REAL BIG DEAL.

YOU KNOW, THE PARADE IS ONE DAY, BUT AROUND HERE, THE PARADE IS A SEASON.

IT LASTS FOR WEEKS.

PEOPLE GET EXCITED.

THE PARADE IS LIKE A CHRISTMAS MORNING AND YOUR BIRTHDAY ALL IN THE SAME DAY.

>> THIS WE ARE PARADE ORGANIZERS PIVOTED TO A SHAMROCK OUR BLOCK HOUSE DECORATING COMPETITION SIMILAR TO THE HOUSE FLOATS IN NEW ORLEANS FOR MARDI GRAS.

THE SKMI SELLS YARD SIGNS TO RAISE MONEY TO PURCHASE GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

GIVING BUSINESSES A REVENUE INJECTION.

>> WE'VE HAD SUBMISSIONS COME IN FOR THE CONTEST AND THEN THEY SEND IN ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE THEY HAVE ADDED ON TO IT AND THEY GET IDEAS DRIVING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IT'S STARTING TO GROW AS WE RAMP UP TOWARDS WHAT WOULD BE CALLED PARADE DAY.

>> EARLIER, YOU HEARD ONE OF THE PARADE COCHAIRS EXPLAIN THE PARADE IS WEEKS OF REVENUE GENERATION FOR BUSINESSES IN THE AREA ONE IS BARNEY CALLAHAN'S ON WESTERN WHERE PATRONS TO WATCH THE PARADE AND WALK BY.

OWNERS SAY BETWEEN TWO ST. PATRICK'S DAY AND THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY IT'S HAD TO BE CLOSED FOR THE BUSIEST TIMES OF THE YEAR.

NOW THOUGH IT HAS A CAPACITY OF 250 PEOPLE, THE MITIGATION STRATEGIES LIMIT CAPACITY TO 50 PEOPLE.

>> IT'S BEEN CONFUSING.

IT'S TAUGHT US A LOT.

WE HAVE ALL BEEN TRYING TO REINVENT OURSELVES MANY TIMES OVER BECAUSE THE RULES KEPT CHANGING AND TOUGH TO KEEP STAFF ON AND GET THEM BACK ON SHORT NOTICE IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT.

>> AND ANOTHER BUSINESS THAT FELT THE IMPACT IS THE BEVERLY ARTS CENTER IT IS AN INSTITUTION IN THIS COMMUNITY OFFERING CLASSES, LIVE MUSIC, DANCE THEATRE PERFORMANCES AND A GALLERY.

PARIS YOU VISITED HERE LATE MARCH AS PART OF OUR COVID ACROSS CHICAGO AND SINCE THEN IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE.

THEY ARE OPERATING AT REDUCED CAPACITY BUT AT TIMES IT'S BEEN CLOSED ENTIRELY.

MEANING AN 80% DROP IN PARTICIPATION.

AND AS SUMMER APPROACHES THE CENTER PLANS OUTDOOR EVENTS AND AS PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED THEY ARE SEEING A LIGHT.

>> WE'VE SEEN SPRING SESSION ENROLLMENT.

MUCH BETTER THAN WE HAVE IN THE WINTER AND FALL AND SUMMER SESSIONS SINCE THE PANDEMIC HIT.

SO WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE KIND OF READY TO BE OUT AND ENGAGING IN THE COMMUNITY AGAIN.

AND ENGAGING IN CREATING ART.

>> AND TO GIVE YOU A SENSE HOW THIS COMMUNITY IS BEING IMPACTED BY THE VIRUS, COVID-19 RATES WERE A COUPLE OF THE ZIP CODES HAVE FALLEN BELOW THE CITY'S RATE OF 2.8%.

THE COVID RATES ARE 1.5 AND 1.7%.

BUT 3.8% IN THE 60655 ZIP CODE.

AND A FAMILY CARE PHYSICIAN AT ADVOCATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WHICH HAS SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN BEVERLY SAYS HE DOES SPEND A LOT OF TIME ANSWERING QUESTIONS FOR PEOPLE HESSTANT TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> TOO MANY PEOPLE DIED FROM THE VIRUS.

100 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO IT BUT THIS IS THE TRICKY PART.

ONE OF THREE PEOPLE EXPOSED PEOPLE ARE STILL HAVING SYMPTOMS IF YOU ARE STILL HAVING SYMPTOMS AND ALL THE PEOPLE PERISHED THEN MAYBE A BETTER APPROACH IS TO BE VACCINATED WHERE NOBODY DIED FROM THE VACCINATION ITSELF.

>> NOW, ANOTHER FUN FACT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY IT'S ALSO KNOWN AS BEVERLY HILLS, NO NOT LIKE THE ONE IN LA BUT BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED HILLY.

WE ARE STANDING ON ONE OF THE HILLS.

LATER ON WE WILL HERE FROM MATT O'SHEA ABOUT SOME OF THE MAIL DELIVERY PROBLEMS THIS COMMUNITY IS EXPERIENCING AND MORE.

FOR NOW BACK TO YOU.

>> LONGWOOD DRIVE I KNOW IT WELL.

THANK YOU.

>> A YEAR AGO TODAY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DECLARED THE SPREAD OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND OUR WORLD CHANGED.

WIDESPREAD MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES INDUCED BY THE PANDEMIC AND SOCIAL ISOLATION HAVE TAKEN THEIR TOLL AND NOW THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL WITH IMPROVING VACCINATION RATES BUT A NEW ANXIETY IS SETTLING IN THAT HAVE OF THAT OF RETURNING TO WORK.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THAT IS Dr. ADERONKE PEDERSON A MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST AT NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE'S FEINBERG WHERE SHE IS AN INSTRUCTOR OF PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> THERE'S BEEN WIDESPREAD ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION DUE TO MULTIPLE FACETS OF THIS PANDEMIC.

WHAT ABOUT BACK TO WORK ANXIETY?

ARE YOU SEEING THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS IS ONE THING BUT THE FACT WE HAVE BEEN ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES TO CHANGE OUR BEHAVIOR OVER THE SPAN OF THE YEAR.

AND THAT DEFINITELY HAS AN IMPACT ON EACH OF US IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

BUT AS A COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD KEEP IN MIND IN THIS TIME IS THAT IF YOU ARE FEELING ANXIOUS ABOUT RETURNING TO SOME SEMBLANCE OF NORMALCY AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED IF YOU ARE FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IT, DESPITE KNOWING LOGICALLY THAT POTENTIALLY, ACCORDING TO THE CDC IT'S SAFE TO INTERACT WITH ANOTHER PERSON INDOORS WHO IS VACCINATED TWO WEEKS OUT.

BUT DESPITE ALL OF THOSE THINGS, I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME UNEASE THAT PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF ALL OF THIS AND THE IMPACT OF ALL OF IT.

>> AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE STARTING TO DISCUSS WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE GOING TO BE METRA AND THE BUILDING OWNERS AND MANAGERS ASSOCIATION TODAY HAD A BACK-TO-WORK PROMOTIONAL EVENT.

IS IT JUST FEAR OF THE VACCINE?

OR IS THERE A GENERAL SOCIAL ANXIETY THAT COMES WITH BEING ISOLATED FOR SO LONG?

>> I THINK IT'S MULTIFACETED.

I THINK THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT PLAY AND SOME IS INDIVIDUAL IN TERMS OF WHAT ARE ALL OF THE FACTORS THAT MIGHT BE PLAYING INTO THE DECISIONS AND FEELINGS EACH PERSON MIGHT BE HAVING FOR EXAMPLE, A PEW RESEARCH STUDY SHOWED THAT UP TO 30% OF AMERICANS ARE UNWILLING TO BE VACCINATED.

AND I THINK SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE LIVING WITH SOMEONE WHO IS CHOOSING NOT TO GET VACCINATED FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

SO THAT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH THAT DECISION TO RETURN TO WORK WHILE IT MIGHT SEEM IF WE'RE ALL VACCINATED AT WORK IS GOING TO BE FINE.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WEIGHING OUT A NUMBER OF THINGS ON THE ONE HAND FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT AND ON THE OTHER HAND FROM STANDPOINT OUR BODIES WE'RE ASKING OUR BODIES TO DO SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN TELLING OUR BODIES NOT TO DO FOR A YEAR.

>> WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR THE PATIENTS THAT FEEL THE ANG SIGHT AND ARE TORN ABOUT THE DECISION TO GO BACK TO WORK AND ANXIOUS ABOUT BEING IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM AND YOUR ADVICE FOR ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL?

>> I WILL START WITH ORGANIZATIONS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ACCOMMODATE HAVE THE ROOM TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE GIVEN THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS FROM PHYSICAL STANDPOINT FROM, A HEALTH STANDPOINT AND EMOTIONAL STANDPOINT THAT ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD TRY TO BE PATIENT WITH THEIR STAFF AS THEY ARE CALLING THEM PACK TO COME TO PHYSICAL LOCATIONS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK AS PEOPLE ARE MAKING THESE DECISIONS TO GO BACK THEIR WORK SPACES IT'S IMPORTANT TO APPLY WHAT I CALL EXPOSURE THERAPY AS WE CAN MAYBE ADAPT IT AA LITTLE TO WHAT WE WILL CAN DO PRACTICALLY WHICH IS RETURN TO YOUR ACTIVITIES IN DOSES.

INSTEAD OF GOING STRAIGHT TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED TWO WEEKS OUT INDOORS YOU MIGHT CHOOSE TO HAVE A UP WITH ON ONE MEETING.

IT'S OK TO SAY I KNOW LOGICALLY THAT WE'RE SAFE BECAUSE WE ARE VACCINATED BUT IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR MASK ON THE FIRST TIME YOU GET OUT TO SPEND TIME WITH SOMEONE INDOORS AGAIN THAT IS OK.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE PATIENT WITH OURSELVES AND PATIENT WITH THOSE AROUND US AS WE NAVIGATE THIS NOT JUST A LOGICAL STANDPOINT BUT EMOTIONAL STANDPOINT.

>> IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONGTIME TRULY BEING IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WITH YOUR MASK OFF.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR BECAUSE WE KNOW THOSE COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN THE HARDEST HIT AND ECONOMICALLY THEY HAVE STRUGGLED ESPECIALLY LOTS OF PEOPLE WORKING IN ESSENTIAL INDUSTRIES.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IN YOUR PRACTICE?

>> I'M GLAD THAT YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OVER 500 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES FROM THIS -- 500,000 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES, WE'RE TALKING 500,000 FAMILIES.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES I LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THAT'S GRIEVING FAMILIES.

GRIEVING FAMILIES, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT LIKE YOU POINTED OUT, AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS OUR STUDIES MENTAL HEALTH ONE OF THE THINGS I'M TRYING TO ENCOURAGE MY PATIENTS, THE COMMUNITY TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT WE WANT TO PUT AWAY RIGHT NOW AS BEST AS WE CAN THE HESITATION TO GET HELP AND GET SUPPORT WHEN WE NEED IT AND SEEK OUT THAT HELP WHETHER IT'S SHORM SHORT-TERM THERAPY OR TALKING TO YOUR PHYSICIAN ABOUT GETTING ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS AND HELPS IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ENGAGE WITH THAT ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES LIKE THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

>> DOES THAT STIGMA EXIST OR DOES IT COMMUNIST MORE IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, ADMITTING YOU NEED HELP YOU HAVE A PROBLEM FROM?

>> FOR VAUR ROUSE REASONS, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE MEDICAL MISTRUST THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT AS A SOCIETY.

BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

I THINK THAT THERE IS GREATER STIGMA AND STUDIES SHOW THERE'S GREATER STIGMA TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT IS MULTIPRONGED BECAUSE OF THINGS LIKE DISCRIMINATION AND FEELING NOT FULLY AT EASE IN THE SYSTEMS THAT MIGHT CONTINUE AND DO CONTINUE TO PERPETUATE RACISM.

>> Dr. ADERONKE PEDERSON WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> AND A WEEK FROM TODAY WE WILL HAVE A ONE-HOUR SPECIAL MARKING ONE YEAR OF COVID-19 SHUTDOWNS IN ILLINOIS.

WE'LL SHARE INSIGHTS FROM GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND HEAR FROM BUSINESS OWNERS AND SHINE A LIGHT ON RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES THAT IS A WEEK FROM TONIGHT HERE ON WTTW.

>> AND NOW WE CHECK BACK IN WITH BRANDIS FRIEDMAN SHE SPENT THE DAY REPORTING IN BEVERLY ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE.

BRANDIS YOU HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST?

>> I DO HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST I'M JOINED BY 19TH WARD ALDERMAN MATT O'SHEA THAT INCLUDES BEVERLY.

LET'S START WITH THE MAIL DELIVERY PROBLEMS.

YOU SPONSORED A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR POSTMASTER'S RESIGNATION BECAUSE OF THE MAIL ISSUES.

HAS IT GOTTEN BETTER?

>> NOT REALLY.

WE CONTINUE TO SEE ROUTE AFTER ROUTE THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY NOT RECEIVING MAIL FOR DAYS AT A TIME, WEEKS AT A TIME IT'S PROBLEMATIC AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN AN IMPROVEMENT.

>> WHAT HAVE YOUR RESIDENTS TOLD YOU?

>> SO MANY OF OUR SENIOR CITIZENS RECEIVE MEDICATION THROUGH THE MAIL.

AND IF THEY ARE NOT GETTING THEIR MEDICATION THAT IS PROBLEMATIC.

YOU CALL THE POST OFFICE OR GO UP THERE AND YOU ARE TREATED POORLY.

THE FRUSTRATION LEVEL ARE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH AS AN ALDERMAN I DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY.

THIS IS A FEDERAL OFFICE AND SO TRYING TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS IN WASHINGTON TO TRY TO GET THIS ADDRESSED AND THEN ALSO LEGISLATION YOU MENTIONED.

>> EARLIER TODAY OR DURING THE BROADCAST YOU HEARD US REPORT ABOUT THE SOUTH SIDE PARADE.

AMONG ONE OF THE FIRST EVENTS CANCELED LAST YEAR AND IT'S CANCELED THIS YEAR.

HOW SIGNIFICANT DETRIMENTAL IS THAT FOR RESIDENTS?

>> IT'S DEVASTATING.

THE SOUTH SIDE IRISH PARADE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS A TWO-WEEK EVENT.

THAT IS PEOPLE OUT SUPPORTING RESTAURANTS AND BARS, THAT'S PEOPLE OUT SPENDING MONEY DECORATING THEIR HOME.

THAT IS PEOPLE OUT AND ABOUT.

IT IS A HUGE SHOT IN THE ARM FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OVER THAT TWO-WEEK PERIOD AND TO NOT HAVE IT NOW TWO YEARS IN A ROW BUT IT'S ALSO THE START OF SPRING WE SEE OUR NEIGHBORS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND AFTER THIS HORRIBLE YEAR WE WERE HOPING WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TURNING THE CORNER TO CELEBRATE BUT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BIG EVENT, WE HAVE 100,000 PEOPLE OUT NOW, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER IN THE STREET IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION.

>> SO CITY OFFICIALS SAY A FINAL DECISION ON OTHER SUMMER EVENTS, TASTE OF CHICAGO THE AIR AND WATER SHOWS THOSE ARE COMING DOWN ARE YOU HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING LIKE A SUMMER CLOSE TO NORMAL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE SEE OUR NUMBERS CONTINUING TO COME DOWN.

AND AS WE CONTINUE TO ROLL OUT THE VACCINE, I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN GET BACK TO CLOSER TO NORMAL ACTIVITY AND AS YOU MENTIONED THOSE CITYWIDE ACTIVITIES THAT IS WHAT DRAWS PEOPLE TO OUR CITY AND PUTS PEOPLE IN RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS DOWNTOWN.

AND WE JUST NEED THAT FOR OUR OWN SELFS.

>> AND A FEW SECONDS LEFT HOW WOULD YOU SAY THE VACCINE ROLLOUT IS GOING IN YOUR WARD?

>> I'VE BEEN FRUSTRATED.

MANY OF MY SENIOR CITIZENS CANNOT OBTAIN THE VACCINE.

I'M INUNDATED WITH PHONE CALLS AND E-MAILS.

PEOPLE ALDERMAN MY 83-YEAR-OLD FATHER CANNOT GET THE VACCINE.

MY MOTHER LIVES WITH ME AND I CANNOT GET HER VACCINATED AND I'M POWERLESS OTHER THAN TO GIVE THEM -- FRUSTRATIONS.

>> THANKS TO 19TH WARD ALDERMAN MATT O'SHEA.

PARIS WE WILL BE BACK IN A LITTLE BIT TO WRAP THINGS UP WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND UP NEXT A NEW EXHIBIT AT ELMHURST USES IMAGES OF Dr. KING TO PUSH FORWARD THE CONVERSATION ON FAIR HOUSING.

BUT FIRST A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> A NEW EXHIBIT AT THE ELMHURST ARM MUSEUM IS USING PHOTOGRAPHY TO EXPLORE CHICAGO'S HOUSING HISTORY FEATURING PHOTOS OF Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ANGEL IDOWU SHARES MORE.

>> THESE RARE COLOR IMAGES OF Dr. KING MARK HIS TIME IN CHICAGO IN THE 1960s.

[♪♪♪] THEY WERE CAPTURED BY WHEATON BASED PHOTOGRAPHER BERNARD CLAIM YEAH.

>> THEY SAY THAT A PHOTOGRAPH IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.

I THINK THAT IS TRUE.

>> HIS WORK IN CIVIL RIGHTS BEGAN DURING HIS TIME AS A PRIEST WHEN HE RESPONDED TO Dr. KING'S CALL FOR CLERGY IN SELMA, ALABAMA.

HE WENT ON TO CAPTURE Dr. KING DURING THE CHICAGO FREEDOM MOVEMENT A PROTEST AGAINST DISCRIMINATORY HOUSING PRACTICES.

THOSE IMAGES ARE NOW ON DISPLAY AT THE ELMHURST ART MUSEUM'S EXHIBIT FOCUSED.

>> I WAS SURPRISED AND SHOCKED AT THE VIOLENT RESPONSE TO Dr. KING IN MY NAIVE THEY I NEVER REALIZED THERE WOULD BE SO MUCH ANGER AGAINST HIM FOR DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT.

I WAS ABLE TO DOCUMENT THAT AND AT TIMES I WAS IN THE DEMONSTRATIONS AT TIMES I WAS PHOTOGRAPHING AND IN BOTH CASES I REALIZED HOW DIVIDED WE ARE AND WERE IN CHICAGO AND IN THE NATION.

>> FROM REDLINING TO BLACK BUSTING TO WHITE FLIGHT THE EXHIBIT FEATURES STATISTICS THAT HIGHLIGHT THE AREAS MOST IMPACTED BY THESE DISCRIMINATORY HOUSING PRACTICES.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED BUT EVERYTHING HAS NOT CHANGED.

THERE'S STILL DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING.

THERE'S STILL SEGREGATION.

BECAUSE OF THAT DISCRIMINATION, A VAST DIFFERENCE IN THE WEALTH OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AS OPPOSED TO WHITE AMERICANS.

AND THAT MEANS THAT THEY HAVE LESS TO LEAVE TO THEIR CHILDREN.

>> THE EXHIBIT ALSO EXPLORES THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATE OF FAIR HOUSING.

AS DEPICTED IN IMAGES BY PHOTOGRAPHER.

>> EVERY RACE IS SEPARATED BY THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS BUT FOR THE PROTESTS PEOPLE WERE COMING FROM SOUTH TO NORTHEAST TO WEST EVERYBODY FER EVERYONE WAS COMING TOGETHER.

THE PROTESTS STARTED OFF AND DERAILED BY OUTSIDE AGITATORS THEY CAME IN PEACE AND UNITY.

WHEN Dr. KING'S MESSAGING WAS HE WANTED PEOPLE TO STAY PEACEFUL AND GET THEIR MESSAGE ACROSS WITHOUT VIOLENCE.

>> ONE OF THE EXHIBITIONS TAKEAWAYS IS THAT FAIR HOUSE SOMETHING NOT JUST A CITY ISSUE.

IT AFFECTS SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES AS WELL.

>> WE'RE HOPING THAT PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND IS THE DEPTH OF THIS ISSUE EVERYWHERE.

WE'RE HOPING THAT SOUL STIRRING PHOTOGRAPHS WILL CARRY SOME OF THE MESSAGES AND WE CAN REALIZE THINGS LIKE THE COLOR IN THE VIVID COLOR BERNIE KLEIN'S PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE 60s HELPS TRANSPORT US TO THAT PERIOD AND IT HAPPENED NOT SO LONG AGO.

>> WHEN PEOPLE SEE WHAT IS GOING ON, THEY ARE MORE RESPONSIVE.

THEY UNDERSTAND IMMEDIATELY THE HURT, THE DANGER THAT HAS BEEN IMPOSED ON SO MANY PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE, OLD PEOPLE.

SO I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO KEEP THEIR CAMERAS IN THEIR HANDS AND OUT OF THEIR POCKETS.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> IN FOCUS THE CHICAGO FREEDOM MOVEMENT AND THE FIGHT FOR FAIR HOUSING IS OPEN AT THE ELMHURST ART MUSEUM.

>> THE HISTORY BEHIND OLD PASSENGER RAIL STATIONS IN CHICAGO IN AN ALL NEW "ASK GEOFFREY".

>> CHICAGO'S OLD PASSENGER RAILROAD STATIONS FOR DECADES ACTED AS THE CITY'S FRONT DOOR WHERE PEOPLE ARRIVED SEEKING A BETTER LIFE OR THE THRILLS OF THE BIG CITY.

GEOFFREY BAER TAKES US BACK TO THE GOLD ESPECIALLY AGE OF RAIL TRAVEL IN THIS WEEK'S "ASK GEOFFREY".

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU, PARIS.

>> WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM LARRY GARDINER OF SKOKIE... >> WELL, OF COURSE, WE CAN!

AS YOU MENTIONED, THE LATE 19TH CENTURY THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY THIS WAS THE GOLDEN AGE OF RAIL TRAVEL WHEN PEOPLE TRAVERSED THE COUNTRY ON TRAINS RIGHT AT THE CENTER AT THE HUB OF IT ALL WAS CHICAGO.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE BUT AS RECENTLY AS THE 1960s, THERE WERE SIX PASSENGER TRAIN STATIONS IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO.

TODAY ALL PASSENGER TRAINS THAT COME INTO THE CITY FROM BEYOND THE SUBURBS GO THROUGH THE LAST ONE STANDING UNION STATION WHICH IS NOW OWNED BY AMTRAK.

THE DESIGN INCLUDES THIS DEMOLISHED CONCOURSE ON THE RIVER AND THE COLONNADED MAIN BUILDING WHICH IS STILL STANDING BEHIND IT.

THOSE THINGS WERE RECALL THE GRANDEUR OF THE RAIL TERMINALS DESIGNED TO WOW THE TRAVELER THE WAY MANY AIRPORTS DO TODAY.

THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE GOAL OF ANOTHER NEOCLASSICALLY DESIGNED TERMINAL.

CHECK THIS OUT.

OWNED BY THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY.

NEOCLASSICAL BOSS ARTS AND STOOD AT OGILVIE TRANSPORTATION CENTER OPERATED BY METRA THAT STATION INCLUDED ORNATE CONCOURSES WAITING ROOMS AND DEDICATED SPACES FOR BARBERS AND HAIRDRESSERS.

THE CHICAGO NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY TRACED ROOTS TO CHICAGO'S FIRST RAILROAD.

ESTABLISHED BACK IN 1848 BY CHICAGO'S FIRST MAYOR WILLIAM B. ODGEN.

>> AND ANOTHER PLAYER, REFERENCES IN POP CULTURE THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT COMPANY BILLED ITSELF AS THE MAIN LINE OF MID-AMERICA.

AND IT WAS A DOMINANT PLAYER BOTH IN PASSENGER AND FREIGHT RAIL.

THEIR MAIN PASS DPER TERMINAL WAS CALLED CENTRAL STATION AND IT ONCE STOOD SOUTH OF GRANT PARK ON THE LAKEFRONT THERE.

THE RAILROAD BILLION THIS MAMMOTH TERMINAL FOR THE VISITORS FOR THE WORLD'S FAIR.

YOU WILL NOTICE ALMOST ALL OF THESE TERMINALS HAVE CLOCKS OR CLOCK TOWERS SO PEOPLE HURRYING TO CATCH TRAINS DIDN'T HAVE TO FUMBLE AROUND FOR POCKET WATCHES IF THEY HAD WATCHES AT ALL.

CENTRAL STATION WAS AN IMPORTANT POINT OF ENTRY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO CAME FROM THE SOUTH DURING THE GREAT MIGRATION.

AND LIKE SO MANY CONTEMPORARIES IT MET THE WRECKING BALL IN THE MID-1970s AFTER AMTRAK DIVERTED TRAINS TO UNION STATION BUT THERE IS A PLATFORM ON 11TH STREET SERVING THE METRA ELECTRIC LINE.

>> AND THE INSPIRATION FOR THE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WHICH RICHARD M. DALEY LIVED THERE FOR A WHILE AND NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH GRAND CENTRAL STATION.

>> AND WE HAD OUR OWN GRAND CENTRAL STATION.

OURS WAS HARRISON AND WELLS.

RIGHT ALONG THE RIVER FOR ABOUT 80 YEARS.

IT WAS JUST NORTH WHERE RIVER CITY'S DEVELOPMENT IS TODAY.

TRAFFIC DECLINED AT GRAND CENTRAL AFTER WORLD WAR II.

THIS PHOTO WITH THE BOARD OF TRADE IN THE BACKGROUND WAS TAKEN IN 1967.

AT THE END OF THE STATION'S LIFE IT WAS TORN DOWN IN 1971.

AND THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL PLACES IN THE CITY WHERE ABANDONED RAILROAD LAND IS BEING REDEVELOPED.

THIS OLD SITE BURIED STONES WERE UNEARTHED AND THEY HAVE BEEN REPURPOSED FOR A RIVERWALK.

ONE CHICAGO TRAIN STATION THAT IS STILL STANDING, SO IN ADDITION TO UNION STATION IS DEARBORN STATION IN THE SOUTH LOOP IT'S NOT A TRAIN STATION.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE CLOCK TOWER VISIBLE FROM THE NORTH SIDE OF THE LOOP LOOKING SOUTH ON DEARBORN.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TOP OF THAT CLOCK TOWER?

LOOK AT THIS EARLY PHOTO.

IT ONCE HAD A HUGE WOODEN ROOF ON TOP OF IT.

BUT IN 1922, IT CAUGHT FIRE.

LOOK AT THE INCREDIBLE PHOTOS FROM THE SCENE AS CROWDS GATHERED AND FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO SAVE THE BUILDING BUT NOT THAT TOWER ROOF.

AND IN THE 1970s MOST OF THE TRAIN SHED WAS DEMOLISHED BUT THE PHENOMENA SAID AND PORTIONS WERE PRESERVED AS PART OF A MALL SERVING PRINTERS ROW.

THE BUILDING IS CALLED DEARBORN STATION AND PARIS AS YOU POINTED OUT, MANY OLD STATIONS LIVE ON IN THE NAMES OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS OF THE ONE YOU MENTIONED CENTRAL STATION JUST SOUTH OF GRANT PARK WHERE MAYOR DALEY USED TO LIVE AND A NEW APARTMENT BUILDING AT HARRISON AND WELLS IS USING THE GRAND CENTRAL NAME.

>> THE GHOSTS OF CHICAGO'S RAIL PAST STILL AROUND.

GEOFFREY BAER THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> AND DON'T FORGET YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS ABOUT CHICAGO'S OLD PASSENGER RAIL STATIONS AND DON'T FORGET TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN QUESTION TO GEOFFREY BAER.

AND THAT IS AT... >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING.

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