>>> HI, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

>> HERE'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

>> I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WHAT YOU WILL OBSERVE IS AN ADVANCED PHASE PLAN.

>> BEST KNOWN FOR DESCRIBING TV IS A VAST WASTELAND, NEWTON HAS A PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

WE REMEMBER THE 97-YEAR-OLD CHICAGO ATTORNEY WHO DIED ON SATURDAY.

>> PLUS A LOOK BACK ON HIS LEGACY WITH CHICAGOANS WHO KNEW HIM WELL.

>>> ASIAN AMERICAN ACTION DAY IS TOMORROW.

ADVOCATING FOR LEGISLATION.

>>> TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT GIVE A FAREWELL ADDRESS TODAY.

A GANG INTERVENTION, VIOLENCE INTEGRATION AND YOUTH DEVELOP AN ORGANIZATION.

SHE SPENT TIME TOUTING HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND GOT EMOTIONAL WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE FOUR LETTER WORD THAT KEPT HER GOING.

>> LET ME TELL YOU, MY FRIENDS, THE FOUR LETTER WORD THAT PROPELLED ME FORWARD EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY, ONE THAT I -- EVERY TIME I NEEDED TO RISE ABOVE THE DESPAIR.

THAT FOUR LETTER WORD WAS HOPE.

>>> MAYOR LIKE BRANDON JOHNSON WILL BE INAUGURATED ONE WEEK FROM TODAY.

>>> U.S.

SENATOR AND OTHERS ARE TOUTING NEW LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO EXPAND SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED CHARGE TRAUMA.

>> WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT ONLY TO ESTABLISH A NETWORK OF PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OUTREACH IS PROFESSIONALS WHO KNOW WHAT TO DO, KNOW HOW TO SIT DOWN AND COUNSEL YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS AS WELL WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THE TRAUMA AND MEYER LIVES.

>> A 600 MILLION GRANT PROGRAM TO COORDINATE SERVICES TO ADDRESS TRAUMA.

THE OTHER GRANT PROGRAM IS TO SUPPORT HOSPITAL-BASED TRAUMA INTERVENTIONS AND FUNDING TO RECRUIT MORE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS.

>>> THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT RELEASED A STATEMENT ON THE OFFICER WHO WAS KILLED OVER THE WEEKEND.

24-YEAR-OLD ARIANNA PRESTON HAD JUST FINISHED HER SHIFT AND WAS HEADING HOME ON SATURDAY WHEN SHE WAS SHOT AND KILLED.

CBD SAID, QUOTE, WE JOIN OFFICER PRESTON'S FAMILY IN MOURNING THE LOSS OF OUR HERO.

PRESTON HAD BEEN WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR JUST FOUR YEARS.

THERE ARE REPORTS THAT PEOPLE ARE CONNECTED TO THE SHOOTING, NO CONFIRMATION YET.

>>> COMING UP, REMEMBERING NEWTON.

WE WERE WE REMEMBER HIS LIFE AND CAREER AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS, THE FAMILY, THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION, AND THE SUPPORT OF NUMEROUS DONORS.

>>> NO ONE DID MORE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF TELEVISION IN THE UNITED STATES THEN NEWTON MINOW.

HE HAD A HAND IN THE CREATION OF WT GW, PPS, AND NEARLY EVERY PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.

HE WAS A CHICAGO CIVIC TITAN WHO PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE RISE OF BARACK OBAMA AND HIS BEEN A GUIDING LIGHT FOR THIS PROGRAM AND THE STATION FOR DECADES.

NEWTON MINOW DIED OVER THE WEEKEND AT THE AGE OF 97.

HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR, AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS, THE FAMOUS WORDS HE UTTERED TO TELEVISION BROADCASTERS BACK IN 1961.

>> KEEP YOUR EYES GLUED TO THAT SET UNTIL THE STATION SIGN IS OVER.

I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WHAT YOU WILL OBSERVE IS A VAST WASTELAND .

>> NEWTON MINOW WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR THOSE WORDS SPOKEN TO TELEVISION EXECUTIVES IN 1961 WHEN HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION.

HE WANTED THE INDUSTRY TO USE PUBLIC AIRWAYS FOR GOOD, NOT JUST FOR PROFIT.

>> I THOUGHT THAT USING THIS MEDIUM , CERTAINLY FOR ENTERTAINMENT, BUT ALSO FOR EDUCATION , STIMULATION, AND INSPIRATION.

>> HIS ENTIRE LIFE'S WORK WAS DEVOTED TO STRENGTHENING THE INSTITUTIONS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

HIS LIFE STORY , A QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICAN STORY, A JEWISH IMMIGRANT FROM MILWAUKEE SERVING IN THE ARMY AND BECOMING THE FIRST IN HIS FAMILY TO GRADUATE COLLEGE.

GOING ON TO GET A LAW DEGREE FROM NORTHWESTERN.

THAT IS WHERE HE MET HIS FUTURE WIFE OF 70+ YEARS, JOSEPHINE.

NEWTON MINOW WORKED ON THE TWO PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS BEFORE SIGNING ONTO JFK'S 1960 BED.

LATER TELLING THAT MEETING KENNEDY WAS LIKE LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT .

>> YET A MARVELOUS, QUICK SENSE OF HUMOR.

APART FROM CHARM HE HAD A FIRST-CLASS TO INTELLECT.

>> MINOW GAVE HIS FAMED SPEECH WHICH EXHORTED TELEVISION EXECUTIVES TO DO BETTER.

ALL TELEVISIONS WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE UHF SIGNALS AS WELL AS THE FIRST EVER COMMUNICATION SATELLITES.

>> I SAID, MR. PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATION SATELLITES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN SENDING A MAN INTO SPACE.

HE SAID, WHY IS THAT?

I SAID, COMMUNICATION SATELLITES WILL SET IDEAS .

IDEAS LAST LONGER THAN PEOPLE.

>> HE APPROPRIATED FUNDS FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION AND PBS WAS EVENTUALLY BORN.

>> WTTW TO THE AIR.

>> IN 1967, IN CHICAGO, A FLEDGLING EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION CALLED ON MINOW TO BECOME CHAIRMAN OF ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

HE AND JOSEPHINE WERE ACTIVE IN SUPPORTING WTTW FROM ITS BIRTH.

>> MY WIFE WAS ONE OF MANY WHO WENT DOOR TO DOOR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD , KNOCKING ON EVERYONE, ASKING FOR $5.00, $10 EURO CONTRIBUTION.

>> UNDER MINOW'S GUIDANCE WTTW BECAME THE MOST WATCHED PUBLIC TV STATION IN THE COUNTRY.

IT PAVED THE WAY FOR PROGRAMS LIKE CHICAGO TONIGHT IN THE WEEK IN REVIEW.

MINOW REMAINED A LONGTIME STATION TRUSTEE.

IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, MINOW FAMOUSLY HIRED A YOUNG COMMUNITY ORGANIZER JUST OUT OF LAW SCHOOL NAMED BARACK OBAMA.

OBAMA SAYS HE OWES MINOW A GREAT DEBT , PARTICULARLY BECAUSE HE INTRODUCED HIM TO ANOTHER YOUNG LAWYER NAMED MICHELLE ROBINSON WHO HE, OF COURSE, MARRIED.

MINOW WAS AN EARLY SUPPORTER OF OBAMA'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

>> HE'S GOT ACCOMMODATION OF TWO THINGS.

A FIRST-CLASS MIND AND A FIRST-CLASS TEMPERAMENT.

>> MINOW WAS ALSO DRIVING FORCE IN THE CREATION OF TELEVISED PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES.

HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN EVERYONE STARTING WITH THE IMPETUS KENNEDY-NIXON DEBATE OF 1960.

>> I NEED TO EVALUATE THAT PERSON AND MAKE A JUDGMENT WHETHER TO VOTE FOR THEM OR NOT.

>> IN 2016, PRESIDENT OBAMA AWARDED MINOW THE PRESIDENTIAL AWARD OF FREEDOM.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS THREE DAUGHTERS.

MINOW WAS 97 YEARS OLD.

HIS FORMER INTERN, FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA, REACTED OVER THE WEEKEND SAYING, GO, MINOW EMBODIES THE IDEAL OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND MADE NATIONWIDE BROADCAST POSSIBLE.

HELPING USHER IN PUBLIC TELEVISION AND REMINDING MEDIA OF ITS OBLIGATION TO FOSTER A WELL INFORMED CITIZENRY.

A MESSAGE THAT IS WITH US EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IN JOINING US, MINOW AND OF COURSE, FORMER CONTRIBUTOR, WTTW CHICAGO TONIGHT.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE FALL CENTER FOR JOURNALISM AND EXCELLENCE SOME .

FORMER CHICAGO TONIGHT HOST, PHIL.

AND CHRIS, A PARTNER AT WHERE MINOW WORKED FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

CHRIS IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

THANK YOU, ALL, FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

YOU MENTIONED IN OUR ONLINE THAT YOU SAW HIM AT A DINNER PARTY HOSTED A WEEK AGO.

HOW DID HE SEEM BACK THEN?

>> FABULOUS.

SO, WE HAD HONORED JUDY WOODRUFF AND HE SAID I THINK AFTER THE LUNCHEON I SHOULD HOST A DINNER PARTY FOR HER, WHAT YOU THINK?

SURE.

AT HIS HOME, THERE WERE EIGHT OF US THERE, HE WAS DRESSED TO THE NINES.

AS HE ALWAYS WAS.

PERFECT POCKET SQUARE.

HE SAT US DOWN FOR DINNER AND SAID I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS -- [ INAUDIBLE ] AND HE GOES, YES, SIR.

HE LOOKED MARVELOUS.

HE WAS MARVELOUS.

>> EVEN AT 97 HE WAS ENGAGED AND AFFECT AND PASSIONATE.

>> SOME PEOPLE WOULD THINK IT'S NO TRAGEDY WHEN SOMEONE WHO IS 97-YEAR-OLD DIES BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS WAS A PROFOUND LOSS.

HE WAS NOT ONLY ALL THEIR BUT NEWTON MINOW WAS A FOUNTAIN OF NEW IDEAS AND JUST AS WAS SAID, HE WANTED OUR DINNER PARTY TO HAVE -- SOME SUBSTANCE.

HE HAD A FRESHER MIND.

HE WENT INTO THAT ROOM AND IT INCLUDES A FORMER DEAN OF THE LAW SCHOOL.

HE WAS ENGAGED, HE WAS SPOT ON, HE WAS BRIGHT.

HE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE WORLD THAT HE WAS STILL ALOOF OF.

>> WE ALL EXPERIENCED THIS.

HE WOULD SEND HIS EMAILS.

HE WOULD TALK TO US IN PASSING.

HE REALLY RELISHED THE ROLE OF BEING A MENTOR TO SO MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING BARACK OBAMA.

TELL US HOW THAT RELATIONSHIP CAME TO BE.

>> WELL, BARACK WAS COMING TO OUR FIRM, HIS DAUGHTER, MARGARET, AND SHE PHONED UP SOMEONE AT THE FIRM, HER DAD AND SAID, YOU HAVE SOMEONE REMARKABLE COMING TO YOU THIS SUMMER , TAKEN UNDER YOUR WING A LITTLE BIT.

>> SO, HE DID.

A FAMOUS STORY ABOUT HIM GOING TO THE MOVIES AND SEEING BARACK AND MICHELLE OUT AT THE MOVIES TOGETHER.

>> MICHELLE WAS HIS ADVISER --'S MENTOR AT THE TIME.

>> SO INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT RELATIONSHIP.

HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN YOU COMING TO CHICAGO TONIGHT, WAS HE NOT?

>> HE WAS.

THE WEIRD THING THOUGH, I SAID THIS, WE GAVE OUR DISTINGUISHED MENTOR AWARD, THE FIRST EVER, AND I SAID, I WAS AT A DINNER ONCE AND I SAID, MINOW, HE'S MY MENTOR.

SOME OTHER POINTS -- VOICE GOES, HE'S MY MENTOR.

SUDDENLY THERE WAS HIS COMPETITION.

HE WAS EVERYBODY'S MENTOR.

SO MANY OF US CLAIMED HIM.

>> LISTEN, HE IS RIGHT.

RICHARD SAMUELS HAD A FACEBOOK POST.

HE SAID, NEWTON MINOW WAS MY MENTOR.

YOU YOURSELF HAS RECEIVED NOTES FROM HIM.

>> I REMEMBER I WAS DOING A REPORT AND I WALKED OUT OF THE STUDIO AND IN THE HALLWAYS NEWTON MINOW AND I FROZE AND HE SAID YOU'RE DOING A FINE JOB AND I SAID, WELL, MR. MINOW, THANK YOU.

I GUESS THAT MADE ME FEEL LEGITIMIZE THAT THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE FCC WOULD SAY THAT.

THIS SPEECH, THE VAST WASTELAND SPEECH, I KNOW IT IS MENTIONED ANYTIME WE TALK ABOUT NEWTON MINOW BUT WHAT WAS THE PRACTICAL IMPACT OF THAT SPEECH THAT HE GAVE?

>> I THINK YOU GOT PEOPLE TO REALIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR TV.

HE LOVED TO TELEVISION.

HE WANTED PEOPLE TO REALIZE AND USE IT IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

NEWTON MINOW WAS A TV JUNKIE, I THINK THE LAST.

HE JUST THOUGHT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE.

HE REALLY TOOK THAT POST TO TASK.

>> LET ME SAY THIS, PEOPLE FORGET, I MEAN, I WAS A KID, THAT SPEECH HAD AN EXPLOSIVE IMPACT.

IT WAS LIKE DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN.

HE BASICALLY CALLED THEM OUT.

WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING ON THE AIR IS TRASH.

IT WAS ELECTRIFYING.

HE IS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY.

HE WAS WRITTEN UP IN THE TIMES, ALL THE NEWSPAPERS.

>> AND CARTOON SAID WHO IS THIS WHIPPERSNAPPER LECTURING ?

>> TELEVISION GOT BACK AT HIM HOW?

>> OH, GOD.

GILLIGAN'S ISLAND.

IT WAS A SLAP AT NEWTON MINOW THAT HE LOVED.

THEY MISSPELLED IT.

>> THE SS MINOW .

>> THE OTHER POINT MADE BY HIS DAUGHTERS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FCC WAS -- WITH BROADCASTERS.

HERE COME SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY WANTS REFORM AND HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER THE INDUSTRY.

THE VIEWERS AND SUPPORTERS OF WTTW AND CHICAGO TONIGHT, WHAT SHOULD THEY KNOW ABOUT HOW NEWTON MINOW IMPACTED THE STATION?

>> HE INSPIRED US IN A REALLY LOW-KEY KIND OF WAY.

HE IS FAMOUS FOR TAKING PEOPLE OUT TO BREAKFAST OR LUNCH.

MANY BREAKFAST WITH HIM.

HE WOULD HAVE A SLIP OF PAPER WITH HIM.

HE NEVER WASTED PAPER.

I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE FOLLOWING THINGS.

ON THE SHOW, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER NIGHT, WHEN THE INTERVIEW WAS GOING ON, WHAT WAS THE SUBTEXT OF THAT?

I MEAN, HE SAW TV, HE'S A TRUTV, BUT HE LOVED IT.

HE LOVED WHAT HE CREATED AND HE DID NOT SEE HIMSELF AS THE CREATOR.

>> HE DID.

HE LOVED THIS PROGRAM.

IT CHANGED THE FORTUNES HERE.

>> LISTEN, I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC TELEVISION AND THAT WAS PROFOUND, TO PUT IT MILDLY.

HE SAID HE REALLY WANTED TO BE REMEMBERED -- LAUNCHING THOSE COMMUNICATION SATELLITES.

BESIDES PUBLIC TELEVISION, THE BREADTH OF HIS EXPERIENCE IN DIFFERENT AREAS, HE WAS ONE OF THE CITIES GROWN-UPS.

THIS WAS A MAN WHO HAD RESPECT, HE HAD SEEN IT ALL, HE WAS AN ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT.

HE WOULD TELL HIS STORIES ABOUT HIS TIME.

HE WAS A GREAT STORYTELLER.

HE TELLS A STORY ABOUT BEING IN THE WHITE HOUSE WITH JOHN KENNEDY, JOHN KENNEDY GOT OUT OF THE SHOWER.

JOHN KENNEDY'S TO BE TALKING TO BROADCASTERS.

NEWTON MINOW'S BRIEFING HIM ON SOME OF THE ISSUES.

KENNEDY GOES OUT AND GETS HIS SPEECH.

IT'S COHERENT, ORIGINAL, AND BASED ON WHAT NEWTON MINOW SAID.

NEWTON MINOW SAID HE WAS FLABBERGASTED.

>> HE TOLD YOU HE FELT WITH KENNEDY THE FIRST TIME HE MET HIM IN 1960.

HE HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH EVERY DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT.

WHAT WAS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT?

>> PROBABLY EVERY PRESIDENT.

>> WE ARE NOT SURE ABOUT TRUMP.

BUT CAN I JUST -- HE WAS IN LOVE WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.

HE WAS IN LOVE WITH JOE MINOW.

BEFORE IT CLOSES INTERVIEW, THERE WASN'T A SPEECH THAT NEWTON MINOW DIDN'T GIVE THAT HE DIDN'T BRING UP JOE.

SHE WAS WITH HIM.

SHE WAS A PART OF HIM.

THEY RAISED AN UNBELIEVABLE DAUGHTER.

I CHOKE UP WHEN I SAY IT.

SHE WAS HIS ABIDING, GUIDING LIGHT.

SHE COULD SIT HIM, YOU KNOW, NEWTON MINOW, SHE HAD A SENSE OF HUMOR.

>> HE WOULD ALWAYS JOKINGLY REFERRED TO HER AS MY CURRENT WIFE.

THEY WERE MARRIED MORE THAN 70 YEARS.

>> I BELIEVE IN MY HEART HE HAD TO LOVES.

NUMBER ONE, JOSEPHINE AND HIS FAMILY, NUMBER TWO, DEMOCRACY AND THE INSTITUTIONS THAT SUPPORT DEMOCRACY.

CONGRESS, THE PRESIDENCY, THE SUPREME COURT, AND ALL OF THE INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE AIRWAVES, LIKE FREEDOM OF SPEECH THAT SUPPORT A STRONG DEMOCRACY.

>> I THINK THAT DROVE A LOT OF WHAT HE DID.

THINK ABOUT HIS PRIVATE LIFE AND LAW.

HE WAS KNOWN AS A PROPONENT OF CIVIL RIGHTS.

HE WAS A PROPONENT OF EQUITY AND DIVERSITY.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> AND A BUSINESS LEADER AS WELL.

>> OUR LAW FIRM IS A THREE BILLION-DOLLAR ORGANIZATION.

I MEAN, HE REALLY WAS A RENAISSANCE MAN.

LAWYERS THESE DAYS PRACTICE IN ONE AREA OR ANOTHER, HE DID A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

WEATHER WAS BOARDROOMS ARE REGULATORY, HE REALLY HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE CITY, BUSINESS AND --.

>> HE HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON ALL OF US HERE ON WTTW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MORE ON NEWT MINOW THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

ONE OF THE WAY THAT HE SUPPORTED US WAS WITH THE MINOW FELLOWSHIP.

A YEAR-LONG PROGRAM THAT GIVES ASPIRING YOUNG JOURNALISTS HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN OUR NEWSROOM.

UP NEXT, WE HAVE A STORY PRODUCED BY OUR CURRENT MINOW FELLOW.

WE WILL HAVE DETAILS ABOUT ASIAN AMERICAN ACTION DAY .

STICK AROUND.

♪ >>> A COALITION OF ASIAN AMERICANS ARE DESCENDING ON SPRINGFIELD TOMORROW ADVOCATING FOR LEGISLATION.

IT IS FOR ASIAN AMERICAN ACTION DAY LED BY THE PAN- ASIAN VOTER COLLATION.

IT IS ALSO HAPPENING DURING HERITAGE MONTH.

JOINING US NOW GRACE PIE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR .

AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VIETNAMESE ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

GRACE, WELCOME IN.

WE HAVE TALKED A LOT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

WHAT IS THIS DAY ALL ABOUT?

>> EVERY MAY DURING ASIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH THEY GO AND BRING ADVOCATES TO SPRINGFIELD.

HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS TO ADVOCATE ON ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

WE REALLY WANT TO UPLIFT THINGS LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, TO REALLY PRIORITIZE AND TO SHOW LEGISLATORS THAT THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS A MOBILE AND ACTIVE AND CARES ABOUT A LOT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES.

>> YOU MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE EXPECTED AHEAD TO SPRINGFIELD TOMORROW ADVOCATING FOR COMMUNITY.

WHO IS A PART OF THE COALITION?

>> YES, IT IS A VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF ASIAN AMERICAN, MUSLIM FOLKS, DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES AND OTHER LANGUAGES THAT ARE BEING REPRESENTED.

WE ARE VERY EXCITED.

THE PLATFORM THAT IS COMING OUT IS OF THE COALITION.

A VERY DIGGERS GROUP OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER.

>> HOW ARE FOLKS FEELING AHEAD OF THE TRIP.

>> YES, FOLKS ARE REALLY EXCITED.

I KNOW WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR SINCE THE PANDEMIC THAT WE ARE GOING BACK IN PERSON.

FOLKS ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BE UP TO TALK TO LEGISLATORS AND ADVOCATE FOR ISSUES.

WE DID A LOT OF PREP WORK TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE ISSUES AND THE BILLS THAT ARE ON THE TABLE.

NOT ONLY IS IT A TOUR OF THE CAPITAL , A LOT OF FOLKS TIME BEING IN SPRINGFIELD, -- THEY CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN THEY'RE THERE.

>> THERE ADVOCATING FOR LANGUAGE EQUITY.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT?

>> DURING THE PANDEMIC I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE STARTED TO PAY ATTENTION MORE TO ISSUES THAT WE WERE EXPERIENCING BECAUSE OF THE RISE OF ASIAN RACISM.

ALL OF THE BARRIERS THAT PEOPLE FACED INTERNS OF ACCESSING NEEDED BENEFITS AND SERVICES LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES OR FOOD STAMPS OR ANY OTHER STATE PROGRAM.

OUR ACT WOULD EXPAND INVESTMENT AT STATE AGENCIES AND ENSURE THAT THE AGENCIES ARE PRIORITIZING LANGUAGE ACCESS AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS YOU'VE SEEN LANGUAGE BARRIERS IMPACT YOUR COMMUNITY?

>> DURING THE PANDEMIC WE SAW THE IMPACT.

EVEN JUST BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO WASH HER HANDS AND HOW WE GET TESTING AND STUFF.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WERE ALL PROVIDED IN ENGLISH.

WE SAW HOW CHAOTIC AND CONFUSING IT WAS.

IMAGINE DOING THAT IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE.

PEOPLE NEEDED TO STEP UP IN THIS MOMENT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AS YOU BOTH MENTIONED, IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT ASIAN AMERICAN ACTION DAY IS BEING HELD IN PERSON SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

HOW WOULD YOU SAY THE POLITICAL MOVEMENT OR THIS MOVEMENT IS DIFFERENT FOR ASIAN AMERICANS ?

>> LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE ISSUES THAT ASIAN AMERICANS FACE.

THERE IS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE RANGE OF EXPERIENCES THAT PEOPLE HAVE EXITING SERVICES, INTERACTING WITH GOVERNMENT, JUST THE BARRIERS THAT THEY FACE IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.

WE REALLY HOPE TO UP LIFT THAT MORE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS NEW MOMENT WHERE THERE'S ALSO INCREDIBLE ASIAN AMERICAN LEGISLATION.

-- IT IS SO FAR BEYOND THE ONE THAT WE STARTED A YEAR AGO.

>> AS WE MENTIONED, IT'S ASIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTHS.

WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

WOULD YOU WANT PEOPLE --?

>> WE ARE DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

IT'S HOUSING, IT'S BEING ABLE TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE, SOUTHEAST ASIAN AMERICANS HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST DEPORTATION RATES.

NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THAT.

>> THAT IS SOMETHING I DID NOT KNOW WAS NOT AWARE OF.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>>> WE ARE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

SOME OF OUR DAILY BRIEFING AND YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND OUR WEBSITE.

>> YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW VIA PODCAST IN THE PBS VIDEO.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5:30 AND 10:00.

>> FROM ALL OF US HERE TONIGHT I'M -- >> THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.