>>> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN. TONIGHT NAVIGATING THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROGRESS NOW THAT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION HAS ENDED. THE HISTORIC YMCA RECEIVED A GRANT, AND THE LAST WORD ON WHY BRINGING BASKETBALL BACK TO THE PARK WILL MAKE CHICAGO STREET SAFER. >>> MUSING, PASSION, AND PHOTOGRAPHY ARE AT THE HEART OF AN EXHIBITION AT THE ART INSTITUTE. TONIGHT ADVICE FOR FUTURE COLLEGE STUDENTS IN A POST AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WORLD AFTER THIS. >>> HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND PARENTS ARE NAVIGATING A NEW LANDSCAPE WHILE PREPARING THE COLLEGE APPLICATIONS. THAT IS IN LIGHT OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION ENDING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. WHILE THOSE CONSIDERATIONS BEGIN WITH GETTING ADMITTED, THERE ALSO CONSIDERING QUESTIONS OF THE INSTITUTION'S ONGOING COMMITMENT. JOINING ME NOW IS JEFFREY BECKHAM, KEVIN KREBS , AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BOTTOM LINE CHICAGO. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. LET'S START WITH YOU, JEFFREY. DOES THIS AFFECT THE ADVICE THAT YOU OFFER TO STUDENTS? >> NOT IMMEDIATELY. WE ARE TRYING TO GET IT ON HOLD AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN TALKING TO OUR COLLEGE PARTNERS AND TELLING KIDS TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE HIGHEST LEVEL SCHOOL THAT THEY CAN. TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES AND REALIZE THAT THEY ARE THE CUSTOMERS AND THEY HOLD THE POWER IN THE DECISIONS THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE. >> DO GET THE SENSE THAT THEY FEEL DIFFERENTLY? >> I DON'T KNOW IF THEY FEEL DIFFERENTLY. SOME PARENTS ARE WORRIED AND CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN. WE THINK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THIS AND WILL ELIMINATE SCHOLARSHIPS. WE'VE HEARD MORE FROM PARENTS THAN STUDENTS. I THINK STUDENTS ARE STARTING TO BUBBLE UP. YOU SEE SOME ANXIETY ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. >> HAS YOUR ADVICE ON APPLICATIONS CHANGED? >> 100%. EVERY STUDENT HAS THE ABILITY TO SHAPE THEIR STORY AND THEIR APPLICATION AND ESSAYS AND TELL IT IN A VERY AUTHENTIC WAY. FOR A LOT OF APPLICANTS THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS, HOW COLLEGES WILL EVALUATE THEM, AND MAYBE IT WILL CHANGE BUT I THINK THE EARLIER THEY GET THE ADVICE ON HOW TO HANDLE THIS AND TALK ABOUT THEIR FAMILY BACKGROUNDS AND THE ADVERSITIES THEY HAD OVERCOME, THE ESSAYS AND APPLICATIONS AND THE DEMONSTRATED INTEREST OF VISITING COLLEGES AND TALKING TO REPS ARE WAYS THAT THESE STUDENTS CAN TAKE CONTROLS. >> A FINE LINE. NOT ALL STUDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO VISIT SCHOOLS, AND MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT THEIR BACKGROUND TO BE PART OF THIS. >> IT IS ABOUT AUTHENTICITY. YOU HAVE TO BE TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE, BUT THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO VISIT SCHOOLS, YOU CAN DO A VIRTUAL TOUR. EACH INSTITUTION OVERSEES CHICAGO OR WHATEVER PART OF THE COUNTRY LIVE IN. KIDS NEED TO BE EDUCATED ON HOW THE PROCESS WORKS. COMING FROM A CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL BACKGROUND, YOU DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT RESOURCES, OR IN MY FAMILY SITUATION, MAYBE HER PARENTS DID NOT GO TO COLLEGE. SO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS SHARE A LOT OF FREE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TO ELEVATE THE BASELINE UNDERSTANDING SO KIDS HAVE A BETTER LEG UP WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR APPLICATIONS. >> SHOULD THIS CHANGE WHICH INSTITUTIONS STUDENTS ARE CONSIDERING WHEN THEY DECIDE WHERE TO APPLY? >> I WILL BUILD ON A FEW THINGS THAT OF BEEN TOUCHED ON. THE STUDENT IS THE CONSUMER AND WE ENCOURAGE THEM IN ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT THE MOST IS WHERE DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE COLLEGE COMMUNITY IS EMBRACING WHO YOU ARE AND THE IDENTITY MARKERS THAT YOU HOLD. FOR US THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS AND GIVING STUDENTS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT WHAT COLLEGE STARTED TO EMBRACE THINKING ABOUT DIVERSITY, BUT HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS. WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THAT IN DEVELOPING STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH COLLEGES THAT LEAD IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA. >> ARE COLLEGES RESPONDING TO THIS DECISION? >> I DID A QUICK TOUR BEFORE THIS CAME DOWN THE PIPELINE. SCHOOLS ARE IN STATES THAT THEY'VE ALREADY ELIMINATE THIS. THEY ARE TRYING TO BE BETTER AND BETTER PARTNERS. AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR DEMOGRAPHICS ARE RACIALLY DIVERSE. >> SOME PROMINENT UNIVERSITIES HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY ARE PLANNING TO AND LEGACY ADMISSIONS. DO THINK IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE? >> THAT IS THE GOAL. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE IS A TOTAL LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN HIGHER EDUCATION THAT MAKES THIS PROCESS CONFUSING FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES. IF WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE ARE PLAYING AGAINST, THEN IT WILL EQUAL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR A LOT OF US. AND I THINK FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR, BLACK STUDENTS, I THINK IF THERE FEWER LEGACY SPOTS, IT WILL OPEN UP MORE SEATS AT THE TABLE, AND I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT DECISION. YOU HAD MIT AND CARNEGIE MELLON AND SOME IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS -- NORTHWESTERN HAS BROUGHT THAT DOWN. HOPEFULLY, THAT CONTINUES. >> COULD THE DECISION CHANGE ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE? AND THE IMPACT IT MAY HAVE ON SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES? >> WE HOPE NOT, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO SEE. TIME WILL TELL. AFFORDABILITY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR JOURNEY WITH STUDENTS. WE WANT TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TRUE COST IS, AND MANY INSTITUTIONS ARE GOOD AT OFFERING A LOT OF FINANCIAL AID. NOT JUST IN THE FORM OF SCHOLARSHIPS, BUT HELPING THEM PUT TOGETHER FEDERAL AID OR STATE BASED AND HELPS MAKES THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDABLE. >> WHAT SHOULD PARENTS AND STUDENTS LOOK FOR AT INSTITUTIONS THAT PROVE THAT THIS SCHOOL IS COMMITTED TO A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY? >> WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT MAKING SURE THERE IS A POINT OF CONTACT. A PERSON THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU CAN GO TO NOT JUST IN THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS. BUT SOMEBODY THAT IS A PHYSICAL PERSON ON CAMPUS. WE ALSO TELL THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY TALKED OTHER STUDENTS. WE USUALLY HAVE A STUDENT ON CAMPUS WERE SOMEBODY THERE THEY CAN TALK TO WHO COMES FROM A SIMILAR BACKGROUND. WE TELL THEM TO ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS, SHOW UP, BE PRESENT IF YOU CAN. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DAYS WHERE YOU CAN GET A FEEL FOR WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS NOT. >> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY PARENTS AND STUDENTS SHOULD LOOK FOR TO BE CERTAIN THAT THAT SCHOOL IS INTERESTED IN DIVERSITY? >> PLAYING OFF OF WHAT YOU SAID, IT'S NOT JUST GETTING IN. BUT WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR ME WHEN I GET THERE. WHAT KINDS OF SUPPORT SERVICES. IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THAT KIND OF AN ENVIRONMENT AND YOU ARE THE ONE, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT YOU LIKE YOU ARE THE ONE. AND YOU JUST WANT TO BE THERE AND LEARN. WHAT KINDS OF SUPPORT SERVICES EITHER. AND IF YOU WANT TO BE THE ACTIVE VOICE, THAT IS GREAT. BUT FOR A LOT OF KIDS, THIS IS A TOTALLY FOREIGN ENVIRONMENT. WE NEED TO HOLD HER HAND AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL SO THEY COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE AND THAT IS THE GOAL OF GOING TO COLLEGE SO YOU ARE PREPARED FOR YOUR FUTURE. >> TIPS FOR APPLICATION ESSAYS. WHAT SHOULD THEY INCLUDE? >> IT STARTS WITH THE EARLIER YOU CAN GET TO STUDENTS, THE BETTER. THINGS LIKE FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES, JOBS, THINGS YOU HAD TO OVERCOME IN YOUR COMMUNITY. THESE A WAY TO AUTHENTICALLY SHARE YOUR STORY THAT COLLEGES CAN RELATE TO. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE THE PERSON. >> WHAT ARE RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS THAT WOULD HELP NAVIGATE THIS? >> BOTTOM LINE IS ONE GREAT RESOURCE. WE ARE RECRUITING STUDENTS TO JOIN OUR HIGH SCHOOL ACCESS PROGRAM. AND ALSO ABOUT ONCE STUDENTS ARE IN COLLEGE, WE WORK FOR STUDENTS UP TO SIX YEARS. THOSE ARE ENROLLING STUDENTS AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ANY STUDENTS THAT ARE ON THEIR WAY TO COLLEGE OR ASPIRING TO GO TO COLLEGE TO JOIN OUR PROGRAM. >> IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT GETTING IN. YOU HAVE TO GET THROUGH IT. THANK YOU TO THE THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US. >>> THE YMCA HAS JUST RECEIVED A $437,000 GRANT TO PRESERVE THE CULTURAL LANDMARK. IT WILL RESTORE WHAT WAS ONCE A HAVEN FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO CAME TO CHICAGO DURING THE GREAT MIGRATION. >> THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS USED TO PRACTICE HERE. HE TALKED ABOUT THE RUNNING TRACK THAT WAS ABOVE THE GYMNASIUM. NOW, THERE IS A RUNNING TRACK IN THE SUBURBS SO THERE'S THE POTENTIAL FOR YOUNG AND AFRICAN AMERICANS TO LEARN TRACK. THIS IS ALSO WHERE AFRICAN AMERICAN PUBLISHERS GROUP STARTED. AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES STARTED HERE AS WELL. IT HAS LOTS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE TO AFRICAN AMERICAN TO KNOW THE HISTORY. >> WE HAVE MANY NEEDS FOR THE YMCA WITH THAT MONEY WE PLAN TO RENOVATE THE POOL, WHICH A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS HAVE LEARNED TO SWIM. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE PLAN TO RENOVATE THE LOCKER ROOMS, WE WILL RENOVATE AND HISTORIC MURAL THAT HAS A LOT OF IMPORTANCE RELATING TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS COMMON AREAS TO BRING THE BUILDING UP TO PAR TO SET THE TONE FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS. >> WE WANTED TO TELL A STORY AND WE WANTED TO SAY THE BUILDING TO DO THAT. >> IT ALSO INCLUDES UPDATING THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING UNIT THAT HAS 100 UNITS. THEY WILL ALSO UPDATE THE INDUSTRIAL KITCHEN AND PROVIDE MORE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. >>> COMING UP NEXT, TRAINING BLACK CIVIC LEADERS FOR THEIR POLITICAL FUTURES. >>> PREPPING MORE MILLENNIALS FREE FEATURE IN CIVIC LEADERSHIP IS THE MISSION OF A LOCAL ORGANIZATION. THEY STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN IMPACT ON CHICAGO POLITICS. THIS IS A COFOUNDER OF THE ORGANIZATION. IS ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF A CONSULTING AGENCY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO START THIS PROGRAM? >> I WAS WITH FRIENDS TALKING ABOUT THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN OUR GENERATION. WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT IN PAST GENERATIONS, EACH STEP OF THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SECTOR AND WE WERE MISSING THAT. I SPOKE WITH THE FORMER TREASURER WHO SAID THERE WAS SOMETHING FOR PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND JESSE JACKSON JUNIOR. AND THEN, IT'S GET TO GENERATION. >> IT IS NOT JUST FOR THOSE RUNNING FOR OFFICE. IT IS THOSE WHO WANT TO SERVE AND OTHER PUBLIC CAPACITIES THROUGH APPOINTMENTS. >> FOR THE HOLE PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTOR. WE SEEK OUT EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD. SO ANYBODY FROM A PRESIDENT OF A MUSEUM TO A LAWYER. AND WE GOT TOGETHER FOR A SIX-MONTH PERIOD, AND SIX COURSES BY OUR ADVISORY COUNCIL. THE ADVISORY BOARD IS AMAZING. >> WHAT KIND OF TRAINING WILL SOMEONE RECEIVE? I COULD TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAD KENT BENNETT COME IN AND TOLD -- >> HE WORKED FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA AND RECENTLY CUT NOW, HE'S THE RETIRED FATHER OF A COOL PERSON. HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE ORGANIZING SIDE AND EACH STEP ALONG THE WAY. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS WE HAD TRAINING SESSIONS ABOUT ACTUAL CAMPAIGNS. HOW TO CREATE A CAMPAIGN BUDGET. HE CAME IN AND TAUGHT YOUNG PEOPLE HOW TO DO THAT. JASON LEE TAUGHT US ABOUT HOW TO CREATE A FIELD PLAN. IT'S VERY TALENTED PEOPLE OF OUR GENERATION PASSING ON WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED. >> MANY HAVE COME OUT OF THE PROGRAM. THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNITED WORKING FAMILIES , AND WHAT DO CREDIT THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM? >> THOSE PEOPLE ARE VERY ACCOMPLISHED, BUT BEFORE THEY CAME IT BROUGHT US ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY. THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF SPACES IN OUR SECTOR ARE YOUNG, BLACK PEOPLE CAN CONGREGATE, THE VULNERABLE, SHARE WHAT WE ARE TRULY FEELING AND NOT FEEL AS IF THERE IS SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT EXISTS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY. THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER. AS BLACK PEOPLE ARE OPINIONS ARE VERY DIFFERENT. WHEN YOU GET US IN ONE ROOM, COULD HAVE REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS AND SOCIALISTS. AND EVERYBODY BEING ABLE TO TALK IT OUT ABOUT OUR GOALS FOR LACK LIBERATION IS POSSIBLE. >> YOU FOCUS ON MILLENNIALS BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT IS THE AGE GROUP THAT IS MOST READY FOR THIS. >> I THINK IT WAS THE GAP WE EXPERIENCED FOR WHAT I WAS EXPERIENCING, THEY WANTED TO PASS ON WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED AND WE WERE THE NEXT GROUP. WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE JACKIE GRIMSHAW CHAIRED THE PROGRAM. MILLENNIALS GO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER THAN US IN H. WE ARE THE ONES INFLUENCING THIS NEXT CHANGE. >> WHAT CHALLENGES WOULD YOU SAY YOU HAD TO OVERCOME? >> JUST BEING ABLE TO BE -- YOUR EXPERTISE IS ALWAYS QUESTIONED. HAVING A GROUP THAT YOU CAN LEAN ON THAT CAN REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE THE EXPERT AND SPEAK FROM YOUR CHEST IS HOPEFUL. >> WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THIS SPACE SPECIFICALLY FOR BLACK MILLENNIALS? >> FOR EXAMPLE, MOST RECENTLY, RONNIE MOSTLY RAN FOR ALDERMAN AND WHEN HE HE NEEDED SUPPORT, HE COULD LEAN ON THE GROUP THAT HE KNEW. AND WORKED WITH PEOPLE IN THE CANNABIS SECTOR. SO THEY HELPED HIM GET THROUGH HIS ELECTION, AND NOW HE'S IN ALDERMAN. >> WHAT IS NEXT? HOW LONG CAN YOU KEEP THIS GOING? >> WE HAVE A CLASS RIGHT NOW AND ALL THE APPLICATIONS WERE DUE BY WEDNESDAY. SO NOW THE BOARD IS REVIEWING THOSE APPLICATIONS. WE TRY NOT TO DO THIS DURING ELECTION CYCLES BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE A PART OF THAT. SO MAYBE ANOTHER YEAR FROM NOW WE WILL DO ANOTHER CLASS AND MAYBE WE WILL INVITE PEOPLE FROM GEN Z. >> HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN YOU TAKE? >> WE HAVE ABOUT 30 AND THEY RANGE FROM THE HEAD OF A MUSEUM TO ONE OF OUR STRONGEST ACTIVISTS IN THE COMMUNITY. IT IS ABOUT BEING AN EXPERT IN YOUR FIELD. 30 PEOPLE LET'S PEOPLE SPEAK BUT NOT BE OVERWHELMED BY THE ROOM. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. >>> CAPTURING BEAUTY AND POWER AT AN EXHIBITION AT THE ART INSTITUTE. >>> FROM STEVIE WONDER TO EVERYDAY PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD. A PHOTOGRAPHER HELPS TO CAPTURE BLACK BEAUTY AND POWER IN THE 1960s AND 1970s. WE RECENTLY VISITED THE MUSEUM FOR A TOUR OF THIS SHOW. >> HE IS ESSENTIALLY SYNONYMOUS WITH THE BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL MOVEMENT. AND CREATING IMAGES THAT LET US LOOK BACK AND UNDERSTAND ITS TRAJECTORY. >> HE PHOTOGRAPHED BOB MARLEY AND TOWARD THE WORLD TO PROMOTE CREATIVITY. SEEN HERE IN A SELF-PORTRAIT, HE DOCUMENTED THINGS WELL WORTH WAITING FOR. >> YOU REALLY SEE HIS CAREER DEVELOPING OVER TIME AND THE CONNECTIONS MADE WITH VARIOUS PEOPLE AND THE RICHNESS OF HIS ENGAGEMENT AND COMMITMENT TO DOCUMENTING PLAT CULTURE AND CELEBRATING IT AND CREATING IT AT THE SAME TIME. >> HE ORGANIZED FASHION SHOWS AND CONCERTS AND PHOTOGRAPHED ALBUM COVERS AND USED HIS SKILLS TO SHED LIGHT ON PIVOTAL MOMENTS OF POSITIVITY AND EMPOWERMENT. >> HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT BLACK-AND-WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY AND THOUGHT CAREFULLY ABOUT HIS PRINTING AND HOW TO BRING OUT SKIN TONES AND THE TEXTURES THAT FILM WAS NOT DEVELOPED THE PROCESS ACCURATELY. >> HE FOUND INSPIRATION IN MUSIC AND MUSICIANS. >> THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER HE WAS REVIEWING ALBUMS AND FESTIVALS AND MUSIC AND THE PHOTOGRAPHER IN HIM WAS INTERTWINED. IS ALSO INTERTWINED AT THE LEVEL OF COMPOSITION. HE THOUGHT ABOUT HIS PHOTOGRAPHS AS RELATING TO THE RHYTHMS OF BLACK MUSIC. IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU CAN HEAR THE IMAGES. SOMETHING I LIKE ABOUT THIS YOU CAN SEE THE CONNECTIONS ACROSS VARIOUS MEDIUMS AND ACROSS COMMUNITIES. >> HE DIED ON APRIL 1st. HE WAS 85 YEARS OLD. THE EXHIBITION IS AT THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO UNTIL JULY 24th. >>> SUMMER IN CHICAGO IS WHEN THE PARKS COME ALIVE WITH PEOPLE ENJOYING OUTDOORS. IN RECENT YEARS, BASKETBALL NETS HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND KIDS WHO WANT TO PLAY. THIS ACTIVIST SAID IT IS NOT FAIR. HE GIVES THE LAST WORD ON WHY BRINGING BACK BASKETBALL TO THE PARKS WILL LEAD TO A SAFER CITY. >> I AM THE FOUNDER OF A SOCIAL IMPACT ORGANIZATION. OUR MISSION IS TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE. IT IS SUMMERTIME AND WE ARE STARTING TO NOTICE BASKETBALL RIMS BEING TAKEN DOWN AND WE ARE STARTING TO SEE -- I DON'T SEE YOU TAKING DOWN TENNIS NUTS OR VOLLEYBALL NUTS OR SOCCER NETS. PARKS BELONG TO EVERYBODY. I LOVE BASKETBALL AND IT TOOK ME AROUND THE WORLD. I HAVE A BUSINESS DEGREE, BUT IT STARTED ON THE STREETS PLAYING BASKETBALL. YOU CAN LEARN DISCIPLINE AND LEADERSHIP AND BE ON TIME AND MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS. THAT IS WHAT THE PARKS ARE FOR. TAKING THESE DOWN DOES NOT MAKE IT SAFER, BUT PUTTING THEM BACK UP CAN BE THE START OF A COMMUNITY. 40 TO 60 KIDS CAN BE PLAYING A DAY. THAT KEEPS THEM OUT OF TROUBLE. IT GIVES THEM SOMETHING TO DO. WHEN YOU CARE ABOUT CARJACKINGS, KIDS ON THE BASKETBALL COURT ARE NOT BREAKING INTO CARS. WE ARE RAISING MONEY FOR NEW HOOPS THROUGHOUT CHICAGO. LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT NEEDS A NEW ONE AND DONATE TO THE INITIATIVE. ANYONE THAT WANTS TO PLAY STREETBALL AND HAVE A SAFE SUMMER. COME PLAY WITH ME OR PLAY 21. I LOVE CHICAGO. >> YOU CAN FIND MORE ABOUT HIM ON OUR WEBSITE AND YOU CAN WATCH MORE IN OUR LAST WORD SERIES. >>> BE SURE TO CHECK WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST. IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON FRIDAY NIGHT, YOU CAN WATCH ON SATURDAYS BEGINNING AT 6:00 p.m. STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.