Cornered (Black Chicago’s Crossroads)

Cornered tells the untold story of Black Chicago at a breaking point—where housing, jobs, and safety collide. Presented by Chicago News Weekly, this limited-series podcast is about survival, resistance, and the future of community.

Episodes

Part 3: Survival by Design: Entrepreneurship, Community, and Chicago’s Crossroads

October 18, 2025 • 16 mins

In this episode, we unpack how small business ownership represents both hope and hardship in Black Chicago’s economic landscape. Through the voices of Charisse Bennett, Akilah McCord, Marquinn McDonald, Chris Davis, and others, we explore the impossible calculations entrepreneurs face, the ripple effects on nonprofits and service providers, and the unique community spaces—like barbershops—that anchor neighborhoods. From federal pre...

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Part 2: Policy Promises, Community Realities & The Violence Intervention Paradox

October 3, 2025 • 7 mins

"Policy Promises, Community Realities & The Violence Intervention Paradox,” exposes the disconnect between government commitments and life on the ground in Black Chicago. Through the voices of Marquinn McDonald, Akilah McCord, city leaders, and advocates, listeners witness the daily grind of community violence intervention amid funding gaps, political maneuvering, and uncertain nonprofit futures. This episode dives deep into th...

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Part 1: The New Economics of Displacement

September 26, 2025 • 5 mins

In our opening episode, we plunge into Lake Meadows and the fast-changing landscape of Black Chicago, where sudden rent hikes and strategic evictions threaten to upend lives overnight. Community organizer Marquinn McDonald wakes before dawn to face the crisis on his block, while nonprofit leader Akilah McCord races grant deadlines just to keep families afloat. You’ll hear from tenants caught in a wave of displacement and experts li...

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Introduction

September 26, 2025 • 1 min

Welcome to “Cornered,” where we take you inside Black Chicago’s urgent fight for survival, stability, and justice. In this special investigative episode, reporter Malachi Webster follows community leaders, entrepreneurs, and activists navigating the intersecting crises of housing insecurity, job loss, and everyday violence—from the early-morning patrols of Bronzeville’s streets, through the hustle of local barbershops, to the high-...

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Transcript

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Cornered (Black Chicago’s Crossroads)

Episodes

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.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Part 2: Policy Promises, Community Realities & The Violence Intervention Paradox

Part 1: The New Economics of Displacement

Introduction

Popular Podcasts

Part 3: Survival by Design: Entrepreneurship, Community, and Chicago’s Crossroads

Part 2: Policy Promises, Community Realities & The Violence Intervention Paradox