Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We begin this morning with expanded healthcare services on Chicago's
West Side with details on PCC Wellness Center's grand opening
at the collaborative Bridges Wellness Center. Next, we'll learn about
the Sole Children of Chicago's Think Big Conference, and we'll
close out our discussions this morning hearing about the economic
impact of ice raids. But first up healthcare collaboration. The
(00:23):
vibrancy of a community is often determined by the physical
and mental health of the residents within that community. Today,
we're going to tell you about an organization that is
dedicated to providing holistic healthcare to residents on the West
Side of Chicago. It's called PCC Community Wellness Center. And
joining us this morning is its president and CEO, and
(00:46):
that is Alyssa Schamyo. Alyssa, pleasure to have you join us.
How are you doing today?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
I'm doing so well, Daryl.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Thank you so much for having me and having for
this opportunity to talk about PCC and our new site
coming to the West Side of Chicago.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
What exactly is PCC Community Wellness Center.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
PCC is a comprehensive healthcare organization serving every single resident,
regardless of ability to pay, regardless of background, regardless of income.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Across the West Side of Chicago.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
And the suburbs, we have primary healthcare, so doctors and
physicians and providers that are there to serve for medical needs.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
But we're really more holistic than that.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
We also have integrated mental health and behavioral healthcare, substance treatment,
dental treatment.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Labor and delivery for those people who are.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Pregnant and needing that. And so it's a comprehensive organization
committed to improving the health of the West Side for
every single person who needs it.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Talk about the disparities that exist. Let's say if somebody
were to travel just from the Gold Coast along the
Eisenhower Expressway to pass Loretto Hospital.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
You know, I'm so glad you asked about that.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Is it is one of the biggest tragedies in Chicago
that the zip code that you live in determines how
long you live. You know, coming from downtown out to
the West Side, you have gaps of more than ten
years of life expectancy, meaning if you live in the
West Side, that's a decade less of life. And there
are so many.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Factors that contribute to that. Right, that's a built environment,
that's access to good job. So that's pollution.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
But a big part of that that we're committed to
is ensuring that everyone gets high quality health care right
meeting your needs and making sure that that real baseline
of health is taken care of because we know that
every person should have that same opportunity to live a
healthy and productive life.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Just how difficult is that in today's economic reality with
the federal government slashing and dramatic ways resources like Medicaid.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Yeah, it has been a difficult time in healthcare certainly.
You know the majority of our patients qualify and have
Medicaid coverage for their health care needs. You know, these
are working parents, these are people with part time jobs,
These are older adults who need that extra support.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
For that health insurance coverage. Medicaid broadly has.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Shown to improve health comes out in communities. And so
as we look at this instability and really uncertainty that's
happening in the healthcare world, we're seeing it impact the
stress of families not sure if they're going to continue
to be able to see a doctor or if something
happens and they're in an emergency. And that's certainly a
(03:39):
stress for me, right as the CEO of a large
healthcare institution is thinking about how do we keep our staff,
how do we make sure we can keep opening new sites,
how do we make sure that we.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Can continue to meet the needs of our population.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Like I said at the beginning, We're committed to being
here regardless.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Of what you can afford.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
But that means I need that support and stability to
keep our doors open and to keep operating and serving
everyone in our community.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Been a difficult year.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
We can only hope that it will get better, but
it may get worse before it gets better. The reality
in terms of sustainability is that of collaboration, in terms
of partnering with other agencies, and you have a big
event coming up on May nineteenth, in terms of your
unique collaboration with Collaborative Bridges, describe that for me.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Absolutely, Collaborative Bridges is such an innovative new organization. It
is a coalition of healthcare partners who are absolutely committed
to transforming the outcomes of mental health.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Services across the West Side.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Collaborative Bridges bring together hospitals, brings together healthcare providers, other agencies,
mental health centers to really think about what can we
do to improve that system of healthcare right and you
all know you've gone to the doctor, sometimes you've gotten
a referral to somewhere.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
This place doesn't talk to this place. This team isn't
talking to this one.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
And so what Collaborative Bridges is a is a new
approach to healthcare and mental health care that has us
all talking together, really wrapping around someone to make sure
that we're all working together.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
For the benefit of an individual.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
And so as we think about, especially on the West Side,
people who have significant mental health needs, what we are
doing is we've opened a brand new facility. Collaborative Bridges
Wellness Center is a fantastic new facility in the West
Garfield Park neighborhood. We've already had mental health services there,
really specialized support, drop in centers, job placement, but now
(05:46):
PCC Community Wellness Center is coming in and opening a
new medical clinic within the building.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
And so you know, you can come to one stop
to have your whole whole needs met.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
You know, maybe someone you know in your family, you
know recently at a hospitalization because they were struggling with
that mental health coming right out of our local hospitals,
from Loretto, from Heart Grove, you can come to the
Collaborative Bridges Center and get set up with a whole
set of needs.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
And so we're so excited.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
To see primary healthcare like PCC coming alongside of hospitals
and mental health providers in one stop. That makes it
so much more accessible and reduces barriers for residents of
the West Side.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
And the wonderful thing is that it's located in such
a strategic area in terms of the section of the
West Side, because it's so easily accessible by either train
or by bus. In terms of its location at one
What's Lake Street.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
You know, the choice of location is exactly that it's intentional.
We know that when you are going through a medical
crisis or a mental health crisis, we need to make
things as accessible as possible. Right, You don't need one
more difficult thing. And so as we think about locations,
we want to be in neighborhoods that have been historically disinvested,
(07:10):
right and when you look at West Garfield Park, certainly
there is not enough access to healthcare and mental health care.
And to find locations that everyone can reach, whether you're driving,
whether you're coming on the train, you're exactly right finding
accessible locations within the neighborhood so that everyone has equal
(07:31):
opportunity to get the quality care they need.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
And we want people to come out and see this
fantastic grand opening that will happen on May nineteenth. I
think the process begins at eleven am and they can
find it not only on Collaborative Bridges website, but also
your website. Give us that information in terms of your website.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Yeah, our website is PCC Wellness dot org, so that's
PCC Wellness dot org. You can find out all about
our services across our fourteen sites across the west side
of the city and all the way out to Melrose, Berwin,
et cetera. But specifically about our Collaborative Bridges grand opening.
Like you said, May nineteenth at ten thirty. We encourage
(08:15):
we encourage all residents of the West Side who are
looking for a space to call a healthcare home to
get their mental health needs met, to really find somewhere
that's going to respond to you and provide you know,
care that understands who you are and where you're coming from.
That's what we're trying to do. So PCC Wellness dot
org and join us at the Collaborative Bridges open house.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
You have an extraordinary resume, both professionally and academically. Why
are you so dedicated to this in terms of providing
healthcare to disenfranchised communities?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Oh well, thank you for saying that. You're flattering me.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
You know, no, I'm serious. I don't tell lies.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I really fell into health care because my sister in
law was a nurse and a midwife, and I had
finished graduate school studying economics and economic development, and I
was really interested in how communities can build up resources
to improve themselves from within.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
You know, I wasn't really thinking about health care at.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
That time, but my sister, who was a nurse, said
I think you should look at this model of health care,
these community health centers, and so, you know, I joined
her there and have spent you know, the last fifteen
years now really so deeply committed to and impressed by dedicated,
community oriented public health workers. Because the more that you
(09:43):
get into this, the more you see that health is
the bedrock of everything.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
And so what I view my role as the.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
CEO of the healthcare institution like this is to figure
out how do we sustainably grow, how do we continue
to stay patient centered, how do we stay you know,
focused on long term growth and the health of communities.
And so for me, that has been just a joy
to bring, you know, my experience and strategy and management
(10:11):
and contracts and economics to mirror it with the impact
of providing necessary healthcare services.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Well, we are the better because of that, and we
thank you so much, Melyssa for everything that you do.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Well, I'm so happy to talk to you, and I
really encourage everyone to come on out to the center. Daryl,
thank you for what you do, and thank you for
talking about the great work of the collaborative bridges and
a PCC community Wellness center. You know, I'm so proud
and it's great to be able to share that with
the community.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Market calendars, May nineteenth, ten thirty am.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
Take care now.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Thanks you.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
It's hard to believe, but the Sole Children of Chicago
is celebrating its forty fifth year in existence.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Now.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
During that time it has garnered international fame for music
and mentorship. Joining us this morning to celebrate all things
related to the organization and some big things for the future,
has Sole Children of Chicago founder and it's CEO, doctor
Walt Whitman. Always a pleasure to have you join us.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
It's a pleasure to be here with you, Doctor Denard.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
You are correct, there's right.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
I know, I know I'm on the right path right now.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
I just want to take us back a little because
you know, I've known you for several years since the founding.
Did you really think in your wildest dreams that something
you did as a very young person would blossom into
the force that it is today?
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Absolutely not.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
I mean I had no idea because that was you know,
I was in a Catholic school system. They asked me
to be I was a music teacher, and so they
asked me to start a choir for the services. So
my whole thing was just you know, get the choir
ready for the you know, Catholic services that Saint John
Delas said. I had no clue that I would be
forty five years later still with the kids somebody else's kids,
(12:04):
and so I wasn't into children's choirs. I was doing
it because I was a part of the school, not
necessarily because I said I want to start at a children's choir.
I said, God has a sense of humor, because you know,
I didn't like children's choirs, and so he has a
sense of humor because I'm here forty five years later.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
And you're doing an extraordinary job. What have you found
most challenging and rewarding during this almost half century.
Speaker 5 (12:27):
Well, I mean to see kids to go from being
shy with drawn, lacking of confidence to now building up
to becoming what I call that we were training up
the next generation of global leaders. But just to watch
how the kids have developed and I developed leaders. So
now we've got kids all the way from Chicago's leadership
to the White House. We've had well not in the
(12:49):
present White House, but in the in the White House,
we've had kids that was literally doing you know, Michelle
Obama's hair. We have kids that were that start their
own businesses and they're doing great things. Even now in
the city of Chicago, we've got people like Chris Harris,
you know those that know that he's he's doing a
lot in the city of Chicago.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
Changing the Bronxville in Bronsville area.
Speaker 5 (13:10):
That's he's from the Soul Children. He started with the
kid for the Soultilman as a child. We got Juan
Tigue who got one and only events and they handled
all of the outside events for the Democratic Convention.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
She's from the Soul Children and then we got when you're.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
Talking about the artists that have come, when you got
to David Hollisters, you got to Chemmick Farland's, You've got
you know a lot of different artists now were in
the city of Chicago that are doing great, marvelous things
and around the country that have come from the soul children.
So in reference to generating or developing global leaders.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
That's where we can we got, we got the receipts.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
I had mentioned about big things happening. Talk to me
about this extraordinary event that you're going to host called
the Think Big Conference.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Well, I Think Big actually started from there was a
there was a project. There's a thing here that was
called Chicago Ideas Week, and that's kind of where I
got the idea from. I know Brad Keywell who started that.
And one of the things I loved was.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
What it was all about. We were performing on it.
Speaker 5 (14:16):
But I saw all these speakers coming in and out
throughout the day, all over the city. And one of
the things I saw, I said, we are not weren't
as present, and the kids, you know, they were getting something.
But I said, if we had something of this nature
that gives the information that inspires and calls you to
want to grow, I said, and something that's geared for kids.
(14:37):
That's kind of where I got the idea from. And
so think Big is from a song that we have
called Think Big. I might as well think big that't
be small.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
We sang it.
Speaker 5 (14:46):
That was the first one of the first songs we
recorded with this Soul children, and so I named it
think Big because I said, that's what we're talking about,
changing the internal thought process to say, Hey, you don't
have to live the way you're living. You don't have
to do exactly what you see everybody doing. You can
think bigger. You can be the next president, you can
be you know, the next CEO of your own company.
(15:07):
You can be you could be a Daryl Dinard who
got his own shelf. You know, you could do all
of that because you've got to see something in order
to be something. You've got to be able to find
people that can give you the visual to be able
to see what you can accomplish.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
And that's kind of where we're with that whole thing.
Speaker 5 (15:23):
So that's why we're bringing entrepreneurs, people with finance in
the areas of finance, people in the areas of technology,
you know, and things that they can do now, things
that they don't have to feel like I got way
for five years. Kids want them now because of social
media and with team takeovers going on, they're being influenced.
We just got to get them to think bigger than that.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Now.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
You have some extraordinary influencers that are going to be
appearing during the conference. Is it going to be in person?
I know it's taking place on May fifteenth from nine
to three. Is it going to be virtual or is
it going to be in person?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
It's in person. We're geared toward.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
He has schools and other schools in the surrounding areas.
We want to make it a educational day, not a
fun day. So a lot of times when the kids
are getting out of school, they're getting out.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Of school to go have fun. I mean it is
going to be fun.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
It's unity service day, if you will, in terms of
coming out learning about something that hopefully will inspire you
to be a leader in entertainment as well as business
or technology.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
Absolutely, and that's why we're bringing people like von Dale
Singleton who's dealing with Champs mentoring.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
We've got the corporate those that know corporate.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
Corporate is a great influencer here in the city of
Chicago as along with Big twe they do a lot
of things on TikTok and Instagram and all of that,
and so they're the influencers, but they also have a
message because they're doing something and they're changing lives. Then
we've got Larry Roberts who's got his own barber college
and building.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
His own building.
Speaker 5 (16:53):
He's one of the first black barber colleges being built
from the ground up. And he's been a great friend.
He's been with us through all three of them. I'm Ida,
which has got her own ice cream business. Those of
them have had Artesian ice cream. She is going and
then we're gonna have some ice cream. So you're not
only going to hear about her business, you're gonna.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
Taste that business.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
So that's and then we got Zion our lead young
young entrepreneur or young young content creator soul Ti for
that will be performing.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
You have Enoch Muhammad with hip Hop Detox too.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
Yes, he's coming and he's gonna detox the thought process
so you can be able to soar into your destiny
because you can't put old stuff new stuff on our
old mindset. So we're gonna reconfigure the thought process so
that you can begin to start fresh. And you know,
we're gonna hopefully have jobs available, have opportunities available, so
it's not necessarily you just come and have people sitting
(17:44):
up there talking to you all day. It's very interactive,
very gauging. Kids can ask questions, they can take pictures
and find out and network with other kids, you know,
schools and things like that.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
And lunch is going to be provided. It's only fifteen dollars.
Where is this going to take place.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
It's going to be held at the Freedom Center which
is on the on the west side, which is connected
to the Salvation Army. It's a state of the art facility,
eight twenty five North, Christiania. You can you can go
to our website, the Social and Chicago Think Big, SEC,
Think Bang, or you just call us seven seven three
eight eight one eighty one twenty. You can do that,
(18:24):
go to Instagram or Facebook. It'll be posted on all
of those different platforms.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Sounds so very good. I just want to commend you
and also just say continue to do what you do
because we are blessed by it.
Speaker 5 (18:38):
Thank you. You know, I see what's happening now. In
our city, really around the country. But in reference to
the team takeover, it is really really a challenge. You know,
when you're talking about how kids feeling. You know, we've
been asking the question of how do you deal with that?
Because city is really dealing with that. The nation is
now talking about its being global, you know, instead of
(18:59):
them looking at them as a positives looking at them
as a negative. Yes, there's more to Chicago young African
American kids than you know going downtown destroying. There's kids
who are doing great marvelous things. There's kids who have
the opportunity to do some great marvelous things. And if
your kids, if your children are bored, they need to
find come to a think big conference so they can
(19:21):
begin to be challenged in their thinking.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
So before we go into the summer, you're not just
going in.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
There with a blank mind and just whatever whatever. But
we're going to challenge your think and challenge your subconscious
to help you begin to find that space that.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
You can be able to.
Speaker 5 (19:35):
First of all, be successful, make your money become something else.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
You don't need to be hanging out on the street.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
Build your business instead of jumping on somebody for some
gym shoes, own your own Jim Fue company.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
How about that.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Instead of being a consumer, become a creator.
Speaker 5 (19:48):
Absolutely, and that's one of the reasons why we're doing
the content creators because they're making so much You can
make so much money by just creating content, so some
of that destructive behavior become product behavior.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Doctor Walt Woodman, nothing but the best for.
Speaker 5 (20:03):
Your blessings, and I thank you so much for having
me on.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
And I pray now that everybody that has seen his
old children.
Speaker 5 (20:10):
We're celebrating forty five years been doing this drug free,
gang free, academically inclined.
Speaker 4 (20:16):
We've got new music out, we've got new podcast out.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
There's a thing called Sunday School that's out on the
podcast and it's it got it generated like three million
views in the first month.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
And this is our third vision.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
We're working with Serve the Baptist and Megan Fipus, who
is the first African American puppeteer on Sesame Street. So
when you think of sold children, you see soul children
in various arenas where we just go from. You know,
we can go in a corporate arena, we can go
church arena, we can go educational arena, we can do.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
We can go in.
Speaker 5 (20:48):
Whatever direction because of the versatility of the choir, and for.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
More information, all you have to do is visit sold
Children Chicago dot org.
Speaker 4 (20:57):
Thanks to my best friend, doctor Derren.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Those of you who listen to this program know that
I firmly believe that Chicago is one of the greatest
cities in the world. But it is also a city
of neighborhoods. In fact, seventy seven different neighborhoods. Many of
those neighborhoods are ethnic conclaves, if you will, that provide
the vibrancy as well as push the economy of the
(21:24):
city of Chicago. Given the moves with regard to customs
and border patrol and ice raids, some of those neighborhoods
have been negatively impacted. Joining us this morning to discuss
where we currently stand in light of that particular reality
is Samuel Alsario, here is our intern with Northwestern University,
(21:45):
as well as Father Brendan Corn, who is with the
Resurrection Project. We have two major celebrations that Chicago would
embrace that have been canceled in many regards. One of course,
is the celebration around Sinkle Demayo and the Sinkle Demayo Parade.
How does this impact not only the city of Chicago,
(22:08):
but in particular those communities that promote these events.
Speaker 6 (22:12):
First of all, I appreciate the focus and the opportunity
to share some of our experience of the vibe in
the community in such an important matter, So thank you
the Cinco de Mayo. These proud events are moments of
marking cultural celebrations, of pride of different community life. Feeling belonging,
(22:33):
feeling included, feeling a sense of identity are so critical
to the myriad of communities that make up the neighborhoods
of that fabric we call Chicago, which we're all proud
to be a part of. The vibe of different neighborhoods
are quite different as you move block to block, street
light the street light, and so when we think about
Sinkle de Mayo being canceled, first of all, it did
(22:56):
not come with serious deep analysis because it harms the
small businesses the moment pop restaurants and those around those
mediate areas where those are held, and not to mention
interrupting family movement of celebrating those things, especially with the
little ones.
Speaker 7 (23:13):
So it doesn't come lightly, and that's a sign of us.
Speaker 6 (23:16):
This is an unusual moment we're in that we need
to pay attention to.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
But what do you say to the argument that says
this is for the community's safety, because many of us
remember last year the raids where people were accosted and
taken into custody, and definitely people don't want that to
happen again. And when you have a gathering where a
lot of people that have Latino surnames or are brown
(23:44):
in complexion can be taken into custody.
Speaker 6 (23:48):
We absolutely have experienced multiples of examples all across our
northern Illinois area, specifically in Chicago, of these type of
actions by federal agents pulling people off the sidewalk on
the way home, walking to their home after work, coming
off the brown line, or coming off the Blue line,
(24:12):
simply for the color of their skin. These events being held, canceled,
or postponed are out of an abundance of caution, to
be sure and to ensure that the family, vibe and
life of the spirit of those occasions are held with safegud,
held with honor, held with respect and dignity in any
(24:36):
way possible.
Speaker 7 (24:38):
Those do not come lightly. It came with a lot
of debate. I am sure.
Speaker 6 (24:43):
Wasn't in the space to do the actual debate, but
I am sure this did not come as a simple decision.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Samuel, you have a question.
Speaker 8 (24:51):
I'm just listening to what you're saying, and I'm thinking
a lot about how this has impacted your specific road
in your through a bigger scale. The city has seen
what's been happening, but I'm really curiouslike, how do you
feel about it? And how do you feel about the
connection within your people.
Speaker 7 (25:10):
So, first of all, I wasn't trained for this.
Speaker 6 (25:12):
Twenty five years ago when I was ordained, I did
not imagine my ministry would be putting a whistle on
my rear view mirror in my car for all of
us to be aware of the rapid responders of which
I'm a group of trained me up because of safety,
of ensuring that our faith communities and our community organizations
(25:32):
were absolutely in sync to protect one another, and I
never would imagine I'd have to use a whistle to
signal the arrival of a federal agent or someone in uniform.
In this case, they weren't in uniform part of legal
fights going on up to this date, but to in
the need to be able to protect our people. I
(25:54):
went last fall just one of those realities of being
in the middle of this. I was on a Saturday,
crossing the city between two masses religious services, caught at
the Pershing and Kenzie for what we now know is
one of those renowned moments of military mobilization down Kenzie
(26:15):
on that Saturday morning, where my own vehicle got consumed
by the tear gas canisters that rained on the vehicles
in traffic and on the people on that block when
a tank came down Kenzie.
Speaker 7 (26:30):
We now know it is some kind of a device
of some.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
Swat vehicle that looks like a tank to folks who
don't know military language, and a bunch of ar fifteen
clad soldiers from corner to corner, curb to curb, we're
sweeping down Kenzi.
Speaker 7 (26:49):
And Pershing Road. I never thought I would see that.
Speaker 4 (26:51):
Where do we go from here?
Speaker 1 (26:53):
These communities are still gripped with fear, but they are
vital to the vibrancy of the city of Chicago. Advice
do you have in terms of not only where do
we go from here, but how we can support the
hardworking people in these communities.
Speaker 6 (27:08):
First, I have to say I have never seen faith
leaders coalesce in solidarity. Ever in my life, I'm almost
exclusively a lifelong Chicago resident, and I've never seen faith
leaders of a variety of dimensions, from Muslim to Jewish,
(27:29):
to Christian to Catholic, Evangelical, non denominational leaders united in
a front to protect our brothers and sisters, realizing the
threat is on all of us. If some of us
are under threat, all of us in some ways are harmed.
Speaker 7 (27:46):
That is where I believe we're at.
Speaker 6 (27:48):
That resilience of seeing that among different co workers, among
different mom and pop shops, people taking care of the
paletta pushers, the folks who have the streams.
Speaker 7 (28:00):
That they ring their bell with.
Speaker 6 (28:02):
I'm seeing now people neighbors are trying to make sure
they have their cell phone number, trying to make sure
they're looking out for them. These kind of intentional actions
just were not happening, maybe because we just had our
eye off the off the mark. But this gives me
great hope where we are today.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
How do you feel about the Pope's attitude with regard
to what's going on.
Speaker 6 (28:24):
I feel absolutely touched and moved in a sense of
what an incredible moment that we happen to have a
pope who understands Chicago, understands the United States directly in
his own life before ministry.
Speaker 7 (28:41):
I say that because leveraging of.
Speaker 6 (28:43):
The voice of the pope at this point is one
of a number of important vital voices of the broader picture,
of the big picture of the world, of where we're
going as a society. In any government, leadership of any country,
especially the United States and the world, has to be
(29:04):
called the question at times for their ethics and their
fairness about how they utilize their voice or use it
to abuse people. And I'm not talking politics too many
people think that's a gotcha thing. I'm talking about being
healthy leaders in the world today.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
Well, listen, we appreciate all that you do, and I
encourage everybody to support every neighborhood that exists here in Chicago,
because if one neighborhood it hurts, we all hurt. And
we are the city of big shoulders.
Speaker 6 (29:36):
And that would be a reminder, Thanks Daryl. One of
the reminders would be go shop on Devon, go over
at twenty sixth Street, pick up lunch, some of those
mom and pop shops all over the city, and the
incredible fabric of these vibrant engines of economies in our
neighborhoods need your help now.
Speaker 7 (29:54):
They've been really harmed. They need you to go and
appreciate what is Chicago.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Thanks, thank you, Samuel Father Goran, thank you so much
for joining us.
Speaker 7 (30:03):
It's an honor.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Well that wraps up this edition of Chicago Insight and closing.
Please take advantage of the useful information presented today. I'm
Darryl Dinard. Always remembered to use informed insight and everything
that you did.
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Speaker 4 (31:23):
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Speaker 3 (31:26):
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Speaker 2 (31:30):
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macgov and other
We begin this morning with expanded healthcare services on Chicago's
West Side with details on PCC Wellness Center's grand opening
at the collaborative Bridges Wellness Center. Next, we'll learn about
the Sole Children of Chicago's Think Big Conference, and we'll
close out our discussions this morning hearing about the economic
impact of ice raids. But first up healthcare collaboration. The
(00:23):
vibrancy of a community is often determined by the physical
and mental health of the residents within that community. Today,
we're going to tell you about an organization that is
dedicated to providing holistic healthcare to residents on the West
Side of Chicago. It's called PCC Community Wellness Center. And
joining us this morning is its president and CEO, and
(00:46):
that is Alyssa Schamyo. Alyssa, pleasure to have you join us.
How are you doing today?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
I'm doing so well, Daryl.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Thank you so much for having me and having for
this opportunity to talk about PCC and our new site
coming to the West Side of Chicago.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
What exactly is PCC Community Wellness Center.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
PCC is a comprehensive healthcare organization serving every single resident,
regardless of ability to pay, regardless of background, regardless of income.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Across the West Side of Chicago.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
And the suburbs, we have primary healthcare, so doctors and
physicians and providers that are there to serve for medical needs.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
But we're really more holistic than that.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
We also have integrated mental health and behavioral healthcare, substance treatment,
dental treatment.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Labor and delivery for those people who are.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Pregnant and needing that. And so it's a comprehensive organization
committed to improving the health of the West Side for
every single person who needs it.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Talk about the disparities that exist. Let's say if somebody
were to travel just from the Gold Coast along the
Eisenhower Expressway to pass Loretto Hospital.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
You know, I'm so glad you asked about that.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Is it is one of the biggest tragedies in Chicago
that the zip code that you live in determines how
long you live. You know, coming from downtown out to
the West Side, you have gaps of more than ten
years of life expectancy, meaning if you live in the
West Side, that's a decade less of life. And there
are so many.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Factors that contribute to that. Right, that's a built environment,
that's access to good job. So that's pollution.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
But a big part of that that we're committed to
is ensuring that everyone gets high quality health care right
meeting your needs and making sure that that real baseline
of health is taken care of because we know that
every person should have that same opportunity to live a
healthy and productive life.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Just how difficult is that in today's economic reality with
the federal government slashing and dramatic ways resources like Medicaid.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Yeah, it has been a difficult time in healthcare certainly.
You know the majority of our patients qualify and have
Medicaid coverage for their health care needs. You know, these
are working parents, these are people with part time jobs,
These are older adults who need that extra support.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
For that health insurance coverage. Medicaid broadly has.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Shown to improve health comes out in communities. And so
as we look at this instability and really uncertainty that's
happening in the healthcare world, we're seeing it impact the
stress of families not sure if they're going to continue
to be able to see a doctor or if something
happens and they're in an emergency. And that's certainly a
(03:39):
stress for me, right as the CEO of a large
healthcare institution is thinking about how do we keep our staff,
how do we make sure we can keep opening new sites,
how do we make sure that we.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Can continue to meet the needs of our population.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Like I said at the beginning, We're committed to being
here regardless.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Of what you can afford.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
But that means I need that support and stability to
keep our doors open and to keep operating and serving
everyone in our community.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Been a difficult year.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
We can only hope that it will get better, but
it may get worse before it gets better. The reality
in terms of sustainability is that of collaboration, in terms
of partnering with other agencies, and you have a big
event coming up on May nineteenth, in terms of your
unique collaboration with Collaborative Bridges, describe that for me.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Absolutely, Collaborative Bridges is such an innovative new organization. It
is a coalition of healthcare partners who are absolutely committed
to transforming the outcomes of mental health.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Services across the West Side.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Collaborative Bridges bring together hospitals, brings together healthcare providers, other agencies,
mental health centers to really think about what can we
do to improve that system of healthcare right and you
all know you've gone to the doctor, sometimes you've gotten
a referral to somewhere.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
This place doesn't talk to this place. This team isn't
talking to this one.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
And so what Collaborative Bridges is a is a new
approach to healthcare and mental health care that has us
all talking together, really wrapping around someone to make sure
that we're all working together.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
For the benefit of an individual.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
And so as we think about, especially on the West Side,
people who have significant mental health needs, what we are
doing is we've opened a brand new facility. Collaborative Bridges
Wellness Center is a fantastic new facility in the West
Garfield Park neighborhood. We've already had mental health services there,
really specialized support, drop in centers, job placement, but now
(05:46):
PCC Community Wellness Center is coming in and opening a
new medical clinic within the building.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
And so you know, you can come to one stop
to have your whole whole needs met.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
You know, maybe someone you know in your family, you
know recently at a hospitalization because they were struggling with
that mental health coming right out of our local hospitals,
from Loretto, from Heart Grove, you can come to the
Collaborative Bridges Center and get set up with a whole
set of needs.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
And so we're so excited.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
To see primary healthcare like PCC coming alongside of hospitals
and mental health providers in one stop. That makes it
so much more accessible and reduces barriers for residents of
the West Side.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
And the wonderful thing is that it's located in such
a strategic area in terms of the section of the
West Side, because it's so easily accessible by either train
or by bus. In terms of its location at one
What's Lake Street.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
You know, the choice of location is exactly that it's intentional.
We know that when you are going through a medical
crisis or a mental health crisis, we need to make
things as accessible as possible. Right, You don't need one
more difficult thing. And so as we think about locations,
we want to be in neighborhoods that have been historically disinvested,
(07:10):
right and when you look at West Garfield Park, certainly
there is not enough access to healthcare and mental health care.
And to find locations that everyone can reach, whether you're driving,
whether you're coming on the train, you're exactly right finding
accessible locations within the neighborhood so that everyone has equal
(07:31):
opportunity to get the quality care they need.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
And we want people to come out and see this
fantastic grand opening that will happen on May nineteenth. I
think the process begins at eleven am and they can
find it not only on Collaborative Bridges website, but also
your website. Give us that information in terms of your website.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Yeah, our website is PCC Wellness dot org, so that's
PCC Wellness dot org. You can find out all about
our services across our fourteen sites across the west side
of the city and all the way out to Melrose, Berwin,
et cetera. But specifically about our Collaborative Bridges grand opening.
Like you said, May nineteenth at ten thirty. We encourage
(08:15):
we encourage all residents of the West Side who are
looking for a space to call a healthcare home to
get their mental health needs met, to really find somewhere
that's going to respond to you and provide you know,
care that understands who you are and where you're coming from.
That's what we're trying to do. So PCC Wellness dot
org and join us at the Collaborative Bridges open house.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
You have an extraordinary resume, both professionally and academically. Why
are you so dedicated to this in terms of providing
healthcare to disenfranchised communities?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Oh well, thank you for saying that. You're flattering me.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
You know, no, I'm serious. I don't tell lies.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I really fell into health care because my sister in
law was a nurse and a midwife, and I had
finished graduate school studying economics and economic development, and I
was really interested in how communities can build up resources
to improve themselves from within.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
You know, I wasn't really thinking about health care at.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
That time, but my sister, who was a nurse, said
I think you should look at this model of health care,
these community health centers, and so, you know, I joined
her there and have spent you know, the last fifteen
years now really so deeply committed to and impressed by dedicated,
community oriented public health workers. Because the more that you
(09:43):
get into this, the more you see that health is
the bedrock of everything.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
And so what I view my role as the.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
CEO of the healthcare institution like this is to figure
out how do we sustainably grow, how do we continue
to stay patient centered, how do we stay you know,
focused on long term growth and the health of communities.
And so for me, that has been just a joy
to bring, you know, my experience and strategy and management
(10:11):
and contracts and economics to mirror it with the impact
of providing necessary healthcare services.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Well, we are the better because of that, and we
thank you so much, Melyssa for everything that you do.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Well, I'm so happy to talk to you, and I
really encourage everyone to come on out to the center. Daryl,
thank you for what you do, and thank you for
talking about the great work of the collaborative bridges and
a PCC community Wellness center. You know, I'm so proud
and it's great to be able to share that with
the community.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Market calendars, May nineteenth, ten thirty am.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
Take care now.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Thanks you.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
It's hard to believe, but the Sole Children of Chicago
is celebrating its forty fifth year in existence.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Now.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
During that time it has garnered international fame for music
and mentorship. Joining us this morning to celebrate all things
related to the organization and some big things for the future,
has Sole Children of Chicago founder and it's CEO, doctor
Walt Whitman. Always a pleasure to have you join us.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
It's a pleasure to be here with you, Doctor Denard.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
You are correct, there's right.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
I know, I know I'm on the right path right now.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
I just want to take us back a little because
you know, I've known you for several years since the founding.
Did you really think in your wildest dreams that something
you did as a very young person would blossom into
the force that it is today?
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Absolutely not.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
I mean I had no idea because that was you know,
I was in a Catholic school system. They asked me
to be I was a music teacher, and so they
asked me to start a choir for the services. So
my whole thing was just you know, get the choir
ready for the you know, Catholic services that Saint John
Delas said. I had no clue that I would be
forty five years later still with the kids somebody else's kids,
(12:04):
and so I wasn't into children's choirs. I was doing
it because I was a part of the school, not
necessarily because I said I want to start at a children's choir.
I said, God has a sense of humor, because you know,
I didn't like children's choirs, and so he has a
sense of humor because I'm here forty five years later.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
And you're doing an extraordinary job. What have you found
most challenging and rewarding during this almost half century.
Speaker 5 (12:27):
Well, I mean to see kids to go from being
shy with drawn, lacking of confidence to now building up
to becoming what I call that we were training up
the next generation of global leaders. But just to watch
how the kids have developed and I developed leaders. So
now we've got kids all the way from Chicago's leadership
to the White House. We've had well not in the
(12:49):
present White House, but in the in the White House,
we've had kids that was literally doing you know, Michelle
Obama's hair. We have kids that were that start their
own businesses and they're doing great things. Even now in
the city of Chicago, we've got people like Chris Harris,
you know those that know that he's he's doing a
lot in the city of Chicago.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
Changing the Bronxville in Bronsville area.
Speaker 5 (13:10):
That's he's from the Soul Children. He started with the
kid for the Soultilman as a child. We got Juan
Tigue who got one and only events and they handled
all of the outside events for the Democratic Convention.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
She's from the Soul Children and then we got when you're.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
Talking about the artists that have come, when you got
to David Hollisters, you got to Chemmick Farland's, You've got
you know a lot of different artists now were in
the city of Chicago that are doing great, marvelous things
and around the country that have come from the soul children.
So in reference to generating or developing global leaders.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
That's where we can we got, we got the receipts.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
I had mentioned about big things happening. Talk to me
about this extraordinary event that you're going to host called
the Think Big Conference.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Well, I Think Big actually started from there was a
there was a project. There's a thing here that was
called Chicago Ideas Week, and that's kind of where I
got the idea from. I know Brad Keywell who started that.
And one of the things I loved was.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
What it was all about. We were performing on it.
Speaker 5 (14:16):
But I saw all these speakers coming in and out
throughout the day, all over the city. And one of
the things I saw, I said, we are not weren't
as present, and the kids, you know, they were getting something.
But I said, if we had something of this nature
that gives the information that inspires and calls you to
want to grow, I said, and something that's geared for kids.
(14:37):
That's kind of where I got the idea from. And
so think Big is from a song that we have
called Think Big. I might as well think big that't
be small.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
We sang it.
Speaker 5 (14:46):
That was the first one of the first songs we
recorded with this Soul children, and so I named it
think Big because I said, that's what we're talking about,
changing the internal thought process to say, Hey, you don't
have to live the way you're living. You don't have
to do exactly what you see everybody doing. You can
think bigger. You can be the next president, you can
be you know, the next CEO of your own company.
(15:07):
You can be you could be a Daryl Dinard who
got his own shelf. You know, you could do all
of that because you've got to see something in order
to be something. You've got to be able to find
people that can give you the visual to be able
to see what you can accomplish.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
And that's kind of where we're with that whole thing.
Speaker 5 (15:23):
So that's why we're bringing entrepreneurs, people with finance in
the areas of finance, people in the areas of technology,
you know, and things that they can do now, things
that they don't have to feel like I got way
for five years. Kids want them now because of social
media and with team takeovers going on, they're being influenced.
We just got to get them to think bigger than that.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Now.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
You have some extraordinary influencers that are going to be
appearing during the conference. Is it going to be in person?
I know it's taking place on May fifteenth from nine
to three. Is it going to be virtual or is
it going to be in person?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
It's in person. We're geared toward.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
He has schools and other schools in the surrounding areas.
We want to make it a educational day, not a
fun day. So a lot of times when the kids
are getting out of school, they're getting out.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Of school to go have fun. I mean it is
going to be fun.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
It's unity service day, if you will, in terms of
coming out learning about something that hopefully will inspire you
to be a leader in entertainment as well as business
or technology.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
Absolutely, and that's why we're bringing people like von Dale
Singleton who's dealing with Champs mentoring.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
We've got the corporate those that know corporate.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
Corporate is a great influencer here in the city of
Chicago as along with Big twe they do a lot
of things on TikTok and Instagram and all of that,
and so they're the influencers, but they also have a
message because they're doing something and they're changing lives. Then
we've got Larry Roberts who's got his own barber college
and building.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
His own building.
Speaker 5 (16:53):
He's one of the first black barber colleges being built
from the ground up. And he's been a great friend.
He's been with us through all three of them. I'm Ida,
which has got her own ice cream business. Those of
them have had Artesian ice cream. She is going and
then we're gonna have some ice cream. So you're not
only going to hear about her business, you're gonna.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
Taste that business.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
So that's and then we got Zion our lead young
young entrepreneur or young young content creator soul Ti for
that will be performing.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
You have Enoch Muhammad with hip Hop Detox too.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
Yes, he's coming and he's gonna detox the thought process
so you can be able to soar into your destiny
because you can't put old stuff new stuff on our
old mindset. So we're gonna reconfigure the thought process so
that you can begin to start fresh. And you know,
we're gonna hopefully have jobs available, have opportunities available, so
it's not necessarily you just come and have people sitting
(17:44):
up there talking to you all day. It's very interactive,
very gauging. Kids can ask questions, they can take pictures
and find out and network with other kids, you know,
schools and things like that.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
And lunch is going to be provided. It's only fifteen dollars.
Where is this going to take place.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
It's going to be held at the Freedom Center which
is on the on the west side, which is connected
to the Salvation Army. It's a state of the art facility,
eight twenty five North, Christiania. You can you can go
to our website, the Social and Chicago Think Big, SEC,
Think Bang, or you just call us seven seven three
eight eight one eighty one twenty. You can do that,
(18:24):
go to Instagram or Facebook. It'll be posted on all
of those different platforms.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
Sounds so very good. I just want to commend you
and also just say continue to do what you do
because we are blessed by it.
Speaker 5 (18:38):
Thank you. You know, I see what's happening now. In
our city, really around the country. But in reference to
the team takeover, it is really really a challenge. You know,
when you're talking about how kids feeling. You know, we've
been asking the question of how do you deal with that?
Because city is really dealing with that. The nation is
now talking about its being global, you know, instead of
(18:59):
them looking at them as a positives looking at them
as a negative. Yes, there's more to Chicago young African
American kids than you know going downtown destroying. There's kids
who are doing great marvelous things. There's kids who have
the opportunity to do some great marvelous things. And if
your kids, if your children are bored, they need to
find come to a think big conference so they can
(19:21):
begin to be challenged in their thinking.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
So before we go into the summer, you're not just
going in.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
There with a blank mind and just whatever whatever. But
we're going to challenge your think and challenge your subconscious
to help you begin to find that space that.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
You can be able to.
Speaker 5 (19:35):
First of all, be successful, make your money become something else.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
You don't need to be hanging out on the street.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
Build your business instead of jumping on somebody for some
gym shoes, own your own Jim Fue company.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
How about that.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Instead of being a consumer, become a creator.
Speaker 5 (19:48):
Absolutely, and that's one of the reasons why we're doing
the content creators because they're making so much You can
make so much money by just creating content, so some
of that destructive behavior become product behavior.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Doctor Walt Woodman, nothing but the best for.
Speaker 5 (20:03):
Your blessings, and I thank you so much for having
me on.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
And I pray now that everybody that has seen his
old children.
Speaker 5 (20:10):
We're celebrating forty five years been doing this drug free,
gang free, academically inclined.
Speaker 4 (20:16):
We've got new music out, we've got new podcast out.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
There's a thing called Sunday School that's out on the
podcast and it's it got it generated like three million
views in the first month.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
And this is our third vision.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
We're working with Serve the Baptist and Megan Fipus, who
is the first African American puppeteer on Sesame Street. So
when you think of sold children, you see soul children
in various arenas where we just go from. You know,
we can go in a corporate arena, we can go
church arena, we can go educational arena, we can do.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
We can go in.
Speaker 5 (20:48):
Whatever direction because of the versatility of the choir, and for.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
More information, all you have to do is visit sold
Children Chicago dot org.
Speaker 4 (20:57):
Thanks to my best friend, doctor Derren.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Those of you who listen to this program know that
I firmly believe that Chicago is one of the greatest
cities in the world. But it is also a city
of neighborhoods. In fact, seventy seven different neighborhoods. Many of
those neighborhoods are ethnic conclaves, if you will, that provide
the vibrancy as well as push the economy of the
(21:24):
city of Chicago. Given the moves with regard to customs
and border patrol and ice raids, some of those neighborhoods
have been negatively impacted. Joining us this morning to discuss
where we currently stand in light of that particular reality
is Samuel Alsario, here is our intern with Northwestern University,
(21:45):
as well as Father Brendan Corn, who is with the
Resurrection Project. We have two major celebrations that Chicago would
embrace that have been canceled in many regards. One of course,
is the celebration around Sinkle Demayo and the Sinkle Demayo Parade.
How does this impact not only the city of Chicago,
(22:08):
but in particular those communities that promote these events.
Speaker 6 (22:12):
First of all, I appreciate the focus and the opportunity
to share some of our experience of the vibe in
the community in such an important matter, So thank you
the Cinco de Mayo. These proud events are moments of
marking cultural celebrations, of pride of different community life. Feeling belonging,
(22:33):
feeling included, feeling a sense of identity are so critical
to the myriad of communities that make up the neighborhoods
of that fabric we call Chicago, which we're all proud
to be a part of. The vibe of different neighborhoods
are quite different as you move block to block, street
light the street light, and so when we think about
Sinkle de Mayo being canceled, first of all, it did
(22:56):
not come with serious deep analysis because it harms the
small businesses the moment pop restaurants and those around those
mediate areas where those are held, and not to mention
interrupting family movement of celebrating those things, especially with the
little ones.
Speaker 7 (23:13):
So it doesn't come lightly, and that's a sign of us.
Speaker 6 (23:16):
This is an unusual moment we're in that we need
to pay attention to.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
But what do you say to the argument that says
this is for the community's safety, because many of us
remember last year the raids where people were accosted and
taken into custody, and definitely people don't want that to
happen again. And when you have a gathering where a
lot of people that have Latino surnames or are brown
(23:44):
in complexion can be taken into custody.
Speaker 6 (23:48):
We absolutely have experienced multiples of examples all across our
northern Illinois area, specifically in Chicago, of these type of
actions by federal agents pulling people off the sidewalk on
the way home, walking to their home after work, coming
off the brown line, or coming off the Blue line,
(24:12):
simply for the color of their skin. These events being held, canceled,
or postponed are out of an abundance of caution, to
be sure and to ensure that the family, vibe and
life of the spirit of those occasions are held with safegud,
held with honor, held with respect and dignity in any
(24:36):
way possible.
Speaker 7 (24:38):
Those do not come lightly. It came with a lot
of debate. I am sure.
Speaker 6 (24:43):
Wasn't in the space to do the actual debate, but
I am sure this did not come as a simple decision.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Samuel, you have a question.
Speaker 8 (24:51):
I'm just listening to what you're saying, and I'm thinking
a lot about how this has impacted your specific road
in your through a bigger scale. The city has seen
what's been happening, but I'm really curiouslike, how do you
feel about it? And how do you feel about the
connection within your people.
Speaker 7 (25:10):
So, first of all, I wasn't trained for this.
Speaker 6 (25:12):
Twenty five years ago when I was ordained, I did
not imagine my ministry would be putting a whistle on
my rear view mirror in my car for all of
us to be aware of the rapid responders of which
I'm a group of trained me up because of safety,
of ensuring that our faith communities and our community organizations
(25:32):
were absolutely in sync to protect one another, and I
never would imagine I'd have to use a whistle to
signal the arrival of a federal agent or someone in uniform.
In this case, they weren't in uniform part of legal
fights going on up to this date, but to in
the need to be able to protect our people. I
(25:54):
went last fall just one of those realities of being
in the middle of this. I was on a Saturday,
crossing the city between two masses religious services, caught at
the Pershing and Kenzie for what we now know is
one of those renowned moments of military mobilization down Kenzie
(26:15):
on that Saturday morning, where my own vehicle got consumed
by the tear gas canisters that rained on the vehicles
in traffic and on the people on that block when
a tank came down Kenzie.
Speaker 7 (26:30):
We now know it is some kind of a device
of some.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
Swat vehicle that looks like a tank to folks who
don't know military language, and a bunch of ar fifteen
clad soldiers from corner to corner, curb to curb, we're
sweeping down Kenzi.
Speaker 7 (26:49):
And Pershing Road. I never thought I would see that.
Speaker 4 (26:51):
Where do we go from here?
Speaker 1 (26:53):
These communities are still gripped with fear, but they are
vital to the vibrancy of the city of Chicago. Advice
do you have in terms of not only where do
we go from here, but how we can support the
hardworking people in these communities.
Speaker 6 (27:08):
First, I have to say I have never seen faith
leaders coalesce in solidarity. Ever in my life, I'm almost
exclusively a lifelong Chicago resident, and I've never seen faith
leaders of a variety of dimensions, from Muslim to Jewish,
(27:29):
to Christian to Catholic, Evangelical, non denominational leaders united in
a front to protect our brothers and sisters, realizing the
threat is on all of us. If some of us
are under threat, all of us in some ways are harmed.
Speaker 7 (27:46):
That is where I believe we're at.
Speaker 6 (27:48):
That resilience of seeing that among different co workers, among
different mom and pop shops, people taking care of the
paletta pushers, the folks who have the streams.
Speaker 7 (28:00):
That they ring their bell with.
Speaker 6 (28:02):
I'm seeing now people neighbors are trying to make sure
they have their cell phone number, trying to make sure
they're looking out for them. These kind of intentional actions
just were not happening, maybe because we just had our
eye off the off the mark. But this gives me
great hope where we are today.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
How do you feel about the Pope's attitude with regard
to what's going on.
Speaker 6 (28:24):
I feel absolutely touched and moved in a sense of
what an incredible moment that we happen to have a
pope who understands Chicago, understands the United States directly in
his own life before ministry.
Speaker 7 (28:41):
I say that because leveraging of.
Speaker 6 (28:43):
The voice of the pope at this point is one
of a number of important vital voices of the broader picture,
of the big picture of the world, of where we're
going as a society. In any government, leadership of any country,
especially the United States and the world, has to be
(29:04):
called the question at times for their ethics and their
fairness about how they utilize their voice or use it
to abuse people. And I'm not talking politics too many
people think that's a gotcha thing. I'm talking about being
healthy leaders in the world today.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
Well, listen, we appreciate all that you do, and I
encourage everybody to support every neighborhood that exists here in Chicago,
because if one neighborhood it hurts, we all hurt. And
we are the city of big shoulders.
Speaker 6 (29:36):
And that would be a reminder, Thanks Daryl. One of
the reminders would be go shop on Devon, go over
at twenty sixth Street, pick up lunch, some of those
mom and pop shops all over the city, and the
incredible fabric of these vibrant engines of economies in our
neighborhoods need your help now.
Speaker 7 (29:54):
They've been really harmed. They need you to go and
appreciate what is Chicago.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Thanks, thank you, Samuel Father Goran, thank you so much
for joining us.
Speaker 7 (30:03):
It's an honor.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Well that wraps up this edition of Chicago Insight and closing.
Please take advantage of the useful information presented today. I'm
Darryl Dinard. Always remembered to use informed insight and everything
that you did.
Speaker 9 (30:16):
You know about One in three people with plaquoriasis may
also develop poriatic arthritis, which causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Does this sound like you? Listen to what it sounds
like to be a million miles away. Trimfaya goosokamap taken
(30:39):
by injection is a prescription medicine for adults with moderate
to severe plaquoriasis who may benefit from taking injections or
pills or phototherapy, and for adults with active soriatic arthritis.
Serious allergic reactions and increased risk of infections and liver
problems may occur before treatment. Your doctor should check you
for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have
(30:59):
an infection fullax symptoms, or if you need a vaccine.
Imagine being a million miles away. Explore what's possible. Ask
your doctor about Trimfaya. Visit trimfaia dot com or call
one eight hundred five two six seven seven three six.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
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MAD to text marketing message sessage data dsy apply reply,
stop to opt out, text help for help, consult the doctor, brier.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Use, Wow, you look amazing. What have you been doing?
Speaker 3 (31:26):
You've heard of ozempic, mgov and the other GLP one
medications that are all over the news.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
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