Chicago Speaks May 24th 2026

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
V one o three presents Chicago Speaks with your host
Darryl Dinard. This program is designed to address issues that
affect you. Your opinions matter, toll free at eight three
three five nine one V one oh three. The views
and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the station,
it's management, sponsors, or iHeartMedia in Hello.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
And welcome to Chicago's Speaks, your communications conduit for speaking
to the issues impacting our community. I'm your host, Daryl Denard.
It is Sunday, May twenty fourth, twenty twenty six. I
hope you're enjoying a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. This is
a special edition of Chicago's Speak. So when I've taken
calls this morning, we have a virtual hoop porie of

(00:40):
audio offerings for you. Will begin with a sure sign
of spring and summer by discussing the offerings available at
the Lincoln Square. Next, we'll dive into music with Color
Club and Let's Boogie Records and Let's Boogie Records. Then
we'll talk about the importance of equity and a democracy
with equity and transformation Chicago, and also learn about the

(01:02):
Jesse L. Jackson Senior Young voter empowerment law. That will
be followed by a discussion with one of Chicago's political
power couples, the Irvings, and we'll close out our talks
learning about an event designed to break barriers and entering
the c suite. So as is the case every Sunday morning,
there is a lot to speak to and we begin
with a sure sign of spring and summer farmers markets.

(01:26):
Farmers markets across Chicago are more than just places to
buy fresh produce. They serve as important community hubs that
support local economies, promote food access, and bring neighborhoods together.
As the Lincoln Square Farmers Market returns this spring, it
does so with the renewed energy and continued commitment to inclusivity,

(01:47):
especially through programs that expand access for Snap users and
lower income residents. And joining us this morning to talk
about all things related to the Lincoln Square Farmers Market
is Jeff Tobbles, who is to direct their business engagement.
What exactly is the mission of the Lincoln Square Farmers Market.

Speaker 3 (02:06):
The mission of the farm market here Lincoln Square, it
is bringing local produce and products, food primarily to our community,
and we offer that twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursday,
which really try to focus on as local as possible,
but we don't want to exclude anything that might be
too close enough, but to bring in we also like

(02:27):
to focus on the smaller businesses. It allows us to
engage small businesses, bring in agricultural partners, and really just
kind of get the community involved in getting closer to
their product and getting to know those people that are
bringing that food to the market.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
Speak about just the offerings there and where is it located.

Speaker 3 (02:46):
We are located at the corner of West Leland and
North Lincoln Avenue, right next to the Western Brown Line stop.
That has been the original location for that market for
some time. We have been relocated for two years due
to construction, but happy to say yesterday's farmers Market was
the first one back to the original location.

Speaker 2 (03:06):
And it's Tuesdays and Thursdays from.

Speaker 4 (03:08):
What time correct, Tuesday morning from seven to noon and
Thursday from freet seven. The market through October on Thursdays,
and we go three weeks November on Tuesdays.

Speaker 2 (03:20):
What can patrons find in terms of unique offerings.

Speaker 3 (03:25):
I think if they get geeked out a little bit
like I do about produce, they are going to find
some really unique things with the farmers that actually speak
a little to their story. One of the vendors that
we have is called Global Gardens Chicago, and they are
a refugee farm located on Lawrence Avenue in Albany Park
and refugees from other countries go there and are able

(03:47):
to use the land to grow produce and bring to
markets as a line of revenue. And they tend to
grow what they know, which really brings in some unique
produce from them. You'll also be able to dig into
some of those farms that are coming from Michigan and
what their favorite things are and just I think sometimes
their personality really shines in the produce that they bring.

Speaker 2 (04:08):
Now, the interesting reality of a farmer's market is that
we want to see, particularly the vendors, make money, but
it costs absolutely. It costs in terms of them in
doing the labor and having the land to produce these
extraordinary diversity of vegetables that are offered at farmers markets
that you may not see in supermarket shells. How are

(04:32):
you able to deal with those prices, particularly those for
those that are on limited incomes.

Speaker 3 (04:38):
Sense of our customers. One of the things that we've
been able to do was to bring back the ability
to offer Snap access at our market, so we're able
to run their card. So Snap and Link just for
a little contacts are the same thing. Snap is the
glow or the federal level, and Link is the Illinois level.
We're able to process those payments at our are kent.

(05:02):
So not only does that give them access to fresh
produce and locally grown produce and local food, we also
have qualified to the link match program offered through link
up Illinois.

Speaker 2 (05:16):
And link up Illinois is yeah, no, I said that
links Up in Illinois actually in a real sense, I
guess doubles your money.

Speaker 5 (05:25):
That's exactly what we said.

Speaker 3 (05:28):
Resources. They're able to prove us with vouchers that basically
are worth a dollar each, so we're matching dollar for
dollar and shopping power. Every time they run their card,
we're able to match them dollar for dollar and they
use those vouchers to gain access to additional fruits and vegetables,
which really is exciting in the situation that we're sitting

(05:48):
in now with the access being taken away or their
resources being limited, this just gives us that opportunity to
support our community in the sense of increasing their buying
power for healthy foods, fruits and vegetables, and less process
debate good than things of that such things along that line.

Speaker 2 (06:09):
Now, Ali park out in turn with Northwestern University is
also on the line with us.

Speaker 3 (06:14):
Ali.

Speaker 2 (06:15):
Do you have a question for Jeff.

Speaker 6 (06:16):
I was wondering if you've observed any shifts in vendor
participation or customer behavior in the recent years.

Speaker 3 (06:24):
Are we referring to the SNAP program in general or
the farmer's market.

Speaker 7 (06:28):
Yeah, I would. I want just to continue to speak
to the SNAP program. Actually, the farms are very eager
to be a part of it because they see it
as a way to get their produce to people that
want it and may not have easy access to it.
They also, I mean, these are some really kind hearted people,

(06:51):
so will they want to be able to help This
also is a line of revenue for them. Over the
course of the last two seasons, we've got in almost
sixty thousand dollars through the SNAP program through card transactions
and voucher redemption. So not only is that, you know,
like a testimonial to like the buying power that this

(07:13):
program brings in, but that's revenue that's going to these farms.

Speaker 2 (07:16):
So what do you find most rewarding about spring being
the opportunity for people to come by the Lincoln Square
Farmers Market and just browse and look at the offerings there.

Speaker 3 (07:31):
I often equate it to the first day of school,
especially yesterday, the first market and most likely tomorrow, because
everybody's coming back to a familiar space, a comfortable space,
a love space, and they're seeing familiar faces, they're seeing
the first produce of this season. They're getting excited about

(07:52):
what's to come. And again it's just like one big reunion.
Lots of smiles, lots of hugs, you know, lots of
reconnection and just like the site and knowing that we
have like months ahead of us to continue to do this.
I joke that I've done, you know, less than appropriate
things in a parking lot when I was hanging as
a peager, But now an adult, doun't hang me out

(08:13):
in a parking lot. It's totally a different situation.

Speaker 2 (08:16):
And what is the best way for people to find
out more information about the Lincoln Square Farmers Market.

Speaker 3 (08:21):
They can go to our website at lincolnsquare dot org
and our Farmer's Market page has times dates. It has
these vendor schedules. It will give you the pop up
vendors and the dates they're going to be there, so
you'll really be able to dig in and see what
to expect this season. And especially with the pop up vendors,
you'll know when to show up for those those little

(08:42):
once a month's special vendors that come along.

Speaker 2 (08:45):
And if there was one particular item that you would
encourage people to try that they probably haven't tried, what
would that be?

Speaker 3 (08:54):
Well, that's a that's a question, isn't it. There is
something that comes through the market. It very briefly, We're
talking like a week or two, and they are Persian melons.
If the season's right, you'll see them for about a
week or two at the market. They have a thin
yellow skin. They look exactly like a candle up on
the inside, but they're more floral and the sweetness level

(09:16):
is just perfect, very juicy, very beautiful fruit. When I
see him, I tend to go a little overboard on them.
If you see a Persian mellon at the market, I
highly recommend you grab when I giving a shot.

Speaker 2 (09:27):
That sounds good. Well, when it comes to food, diversity
is truly truly an advantage. Jeff Tobbles, we truly appreciate
you joining us as well as Ellie Park.

Speaker 3 (09:37):
Thank you for your time. I appreciate being here.

Speaker 2 (09:40):
Coming up next, we'll introduce you to two unique music venues,
Color Club and Let's Boogie Records. Please stay with us.

Speaker 1 (09:48):
Now back to Chicago Speaks with Darryl Dinard share What's
on your Mind toll free at eight three three, five
nine to one V one oh three.

Speaker 2 (09:57):
Welcome back. It's a Memorial Day weekend and you'll listening
to a special edition of Chicago's Speaks. So when not
taking calls. Chicago has known the world over for its
music and music venues. Given in changing economies and diversified
music tastes, performance places are experiencing difficulties and keeping the
doors open. Here now is our intern with Northwestern University,

(10:20):
Ali Park with more.

Speaker 6 (10:22):
This is Ali Park recording for Chicago Speaks in Chicago Insight.
Independent venues are the backbone of Chicago's music and arts scene,
providing critical space for emerging artists to perform, experience, experiment,
and build community. But as cost rise in the industry shifts,
many of these spaces are struggling to remain financially viable.
Color Club is one such venue working to balance creativity

(10:45):
and sustainability while continuing to serve as a platform for
local artists. With Abby Munroe, the conversation you're about to
hear explores the realities of running an independent venue in
Chicago today and what the future may hold for spaces
like these.

Speaker 2 (11:01):
Thanks Sally and joining us this morning to discuss how
we keep the music playing as well as the art
being rejected is Abby Monroe, who is co owner of
Color Club as well as Ali Park. Abby, Welcome to
the program. First question for you, what was the genesis
for launching Color Club and when did it happen?

Speaker 8 (11:22):
Sure, hi, everyone, great to be here. Color Club is
about six years old. It started as really a project
for relocating my husband's art studio from the Little Village
neighborhood to the north side of the city. We toured
this amazing historic building in Irving Park and essentially walked

(11:45):
through it and said, somebody's got to do something awesome
with this space. And we were like, I think were
the people to do it because he was bringing that
visual arts connection and experience, and I in my career,
I'm a community engagement specialist, and I thought, well, we
could put our heads together and kind of create this

(12:08):
community space that is very arts focused and we do
a lot of different things there. So we have art studios,
live performance space, art exhibitions, artist tenants, all of the above.

Speaker 2 (12:21):
Now where is it located in Just how big of
a space is it.

Speaker 8 (12:25):
We're in Irving Park, in a little area of the
larger Irving Park neighborhood called West Walker at the corner
of Elston and Hamlin. And it's a twelve thousand square
foot building. It's multi level, multi use, really unique property.
It was. It's about a hundred years old. It was
originally sort of like a Swedish fraternal lodge and then

(12:49):
for the last fifty years it was the lot being
Cultural Association headquarters essentially in Chicago, and so they ran
their programming and I had a museum there. So my
husband and I are really the third owners of this
unique property.

Speaker 2 (13:04):
It has to be an extraordinary space in terms of architecturally,
given the fact that you know, communities invested so much
of an effort to make it a community meeting place.

Speaker 8 (13:17):
Absolutely, we like to say that it's always been a
place of gathering, you know, more On like the cultural
community side to begin with, and then now for the
Chicago arts community, and so we're just kind of continuing
that legacy. The space was really set up to facilitate celebration,
and we just love that history and have tried to

(13:37):
kind of maintain the things about the building that support
that and at our own you know, artistic touch.

Speaker 2 (13:43):
Now, many times when I think of local indie music venues,
I think, of course, right along the Milwaukee Corridor by
Damon and things of that nature. So tell us in
terms of what is Chicago's indie music scene right now
and how do you fit into that particular menu.

Speaker 8 (14:03):
Yeah, of course, so I think, you know, Color Club
is an arts facility first, and we are part of
the indie music scene in one way, but we do
a lot of things and I think Color Club itself
is kind of a destination location. Of course, we are,
like you said, not located in kind of like a
nightlife area, which made you know, permitting and just kind

(14:26):
of getting this thing off the ground extra challenging, although
we've had wonderful support from Alderman, Nugent and our communities
surrounding the property, and so really couldn't have done it
without all of that, but we have noticed since we
open that more and more creative businesses are starting to
locate in our area. So I think what's great about

(14:47):
kind of being an anchor business and bringing entertainment to
this area of Irving Park. We're really seeing the neighborhood
change in positive ways with more retail and more interesting
food businesses and other creative endeavors. Is going to be
a really cool record shop opening up this summer, so yeah,

(15:07):
we're just really excited to see how that's changed. And
then generally we are on the more experimental side, I
would say of like the indie music scene. We're not
a live music venue that has programming every single night.
We're only open when there's something kind of worth putting on.
And we are also in all ages space, so we're

(15:29):
really fortunate to have been able to host some types
of shows that other venues aren't as comfortable with and
providing a space for really young, emerging artists to have
a platform to share their music. And so yeah, over
the last few years, we've just been trying different things
and really trying to give people an opportunity that may

(15:50):
have found a challenging to break into the music scene
or are kind of like building momentum in Chicago and
just kind of continuing to support them all.

Speaker 2 (15:58):
I know you have a question, Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 6 (16:01):
I was wondering if there's anything you guys have noticed
or think needs to change in order for independent venues
to become more sustainable long term.

Speaker 9 (16:12):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (16:13):
So we're really lucky. This year we've been fortunate enough
to have become a Live Music Society grantee and through
their Music and Action program, And essentially what that means
is that we were given a lumpsum to initiate new
programming to support the specifically emerging artists in Chicago. And

(16:36):
so we have a monthly showcase it's called Green And
what that grant has allowed us to do is guarantee
a certain amount of pay for the artists that are
scheduled to perform at those shows. And that is wonderful
because it takes the pressure off of ticket sales frankly
to make sure that the venue is making money that night,

(16:57):
and also that the artists are being paid appropriately. And
this grant program is kind of unique, I would say,
because as a for profit business, there aren't many grant
opportunities that we can pursue. I think most of the
arts arts funding goes to nonprofits, right, and so I
think that's just an area to answer your question that
could change in terms of just like considering independent venues

(17:20):
as developers of creative culture and you know, something that
the city or other funding organizations could support financially to
kind of help us make sure that the programming continues
and that we can actually pay artists what they deserve
to be paid. I think, you know, in a more
traditional sense. You know, you are normally relying on ticket

(17:41):
sales right to pay everyone, and with an emerging artist,
they may not have.

Speaker 2 (17:47):
Takes exposure for up and coming artists, right, absolutely. So
the thing that I find is that in many ways,
you guys are like the trifecta. You are an artistic
stick hub in terms of not just the visual but
also the musical arts. But then you're also engaging in

(18:08):
the culinary arts because that is a thriving area in
terms of food. And I understand right outside your doors there,
you guys actually have an ice cream shop.

Speaker 8 (18:19):
Yes, so you have the Sugar Hole, which is the
city's only puppet powered ice cream walk up window. We
have We're very fortunate to have a full staff of
puppeteers that work the ice cream.

Speaker 2 (18:33):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (18:33):
Yeah, so you order from a puppet, yeah, and you
get to you know, engage with them and be silly
and place your order and then you know, a human
does bring out the ice cream. But essentially people have
found it just so endearing to have that kind of
interaction with a puppet. We're opening this weekend, so there's

(18:54):
a lot of fun, free programming that we're doing for
you know, family friendly stuff alongside the ice scream windows.
So yeah, if you come by, definitely let us know.

Speaker 2 (19:04):
Sounds good. I have to commend you for just the
diversity of artistic offerings that is presented at Color Club.
What's the best way for us to find out more
about it?

Speaker 8 (19:16):
Yeah, we have a big Instagram account it's color Club,
but the L and color is a one, and then
on Facebook we have a page. We also have a
monthly newsletter that you can sign up for on our website.
Our website is Colorclub dot Events within us.

Speaker 2 (19:33):
Well, listen, we wish you nothing but a rainbow of
success and hopefully those grants will keep on coming so
that way those artists that never have a chance to
really have a place to perform and people see it
at an affordable rate. We'll have that in terms of
color Club. Thank you so much for joining.

Speaker 10 (19:52):
Us this morning.

Speaker 8 (19:53):
Okay, thank you so much.

Speaker 2 (19:54):
Chicago has a rich music tradition, from jazz to blues
to house. Equally impressive visits history of black and independent
record stores. Here now is our intern with Northwestern University,
Ali Park with Mora Ali.

Speaker 6 (20:09):
This is Ali Park reporting for Chicago Speaks and Chicago Insight.
Independent record stores have long served as cultural spaces in
cities like Chicago, where music is discovered and preserved. Even
in the age of digital streaming, these spaces continue to
thrive by fostering community and maintaining a deep connection to
music culture. Let's Boogie Records and Tapes is one of

(20:30):
the city's longest standing examples, carrying a fifty year legacy
to the present day. With Jason Keller, the conversation you're
about to hear explores how independent record stores continue to
shape music communities and what it takes to sustain that
legacy across generations.

Speaker 2 (20:46):
Thanks Ali and joining us this morning to discuss the
shifting landscape of record stores in Chicago is Jason Keller,
who is the owner of Let's Boogie Records and Tapes
in Bridgeport. Jason, pleasure to have you join us as
morning give us a history in terms of Let's Boogie.

Speaker 3 (21:04):
Darryl.

Speaker 11 (21:04):
Thanks, thank you so much for the opportunity to talk
to you and your audience this morning. My dad, Neil Keller,
opened up Let's Boogie Records on thirty third in Halstead
in March of nineteen seventy six, So we just celebrated
our fiftieth anniversary and he was opened six days a
week till about twenty nineteen when he started falling ill.
And then during the pandemic, my brother brother in law

(21:27):
and I Phil opened up again just on Saturdays. We
had other jobs, had other commitments to family, but we
wanted to keep the music going. So we are currently
opened every Saturday in that same Bridge Court location that
my dad opened fifty years ago.

Speaker 2 (21:41):
And what was the real genesis in terms of your
father deciding to open up in Bridgeport at that time.

Speaker 11 (21:49):
Yeah, you know, it's a really neat story. His parents
owned the building next door. They had run a clothing
shop for many years. My dad was working for the
State of Illinois at the time and wanted to open
up a place, obviously to be close to his parents
and grandparents, but also to serve as a place for

(22:12):
the kids. The kids in Bridgeport will always need a
place to go after school on weekends during the summertime.
And with his love of music of all kinds, as
you alluded to at the beginning of the segment, blues, jazz, rock, funk, soul,
hip hop, R and B, he loved it all and
he wanted a place really for the kids to be

(22:33):
able to come, listen to tunes and hang out.

Speaker 2 (22:35):
And how did he come up with the name Let's Boogie? Well,
you know, I'm a baby boomer boomer, so I know
in terms of what boogie means. But why didn't you
call it Let's Boogie?

Speaker 12 (22:46):
You know?

Speaker 11 (22:46):
I think you know him and his very good friend
used to often say, you know, when are we going
to boogie on out of here?

Speaker 6 (22:53):
Where?

Speaker 11 (22:53):
When are we going to boogie to the party or
boogie on to the next stop? But I think that
you know, it was it was the disco years. But
I think that the name still holds. And I get
that question all the time.

Speaker 2 (23:08):
And the thing that I find most instrumental here is
the fact that record stores all the way up until
the digital age, really were a gathering place, especially for
young people that you just couldn't wait to find out
when was the latest release going to be available for

(23:28):
them to purchase. And I think for many black Chicagoans
we remember just all of these great independent record stores
like VJA Records and Fletcher's and Georgia's Music Room. For
kids in Bridgeport, I guess this was a destination.

Speaker 11 (23:44):
Location, absolutely, and it was a safe location for kids
of all colors, all backgrounds, all ages. It was a
place to come and not only talk about music, but
a place to come in and see the same guy
behind the desk every day. My dad didn't really have employees.
He was open when he was there and he was

(24:06):
closed when he wasn't. But if the kid, if the
kids were off school, he wanted he wanted to be there.

Speaker 6 (24:12):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (24:13):
He wanted to to talk to them about what was
going on in life. He had two kids of his own,
me me the same age as the store, my sister
about four years after that.

Speaker 2 (24:23):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (24:23):
But but he was he was a staple in that community.
He was referred to as the mayor of Bridgeport by
a lot of people. He was a staple, and uh
he provided advice whether the kids wanted to hear it
or not. But it's amazing how many kids, you know,
came in day in, day out, and again, Daryl, every Saturday,
I still get people coming in saying they bought their

(24:44):
first record there, their first tape there, their first their
first t shirt or poster in the in the early eighties,
the late seventies, and now they're bringing in their kids
and their grandkids, and the cycle really does continue.

Speaker 2 (24:55):
Now. Ellie, I know you have a question.

Speaker 6 (24:57):
I was wondering if you've noticed any changes in Chicago's
music culture over the decade as you've been connected to
the store.

Speaker 11 (25:05):
You know, I grew up there myself a bit, not
living in the community, but helping out my dad every Saturday,
and I haven't really noticed a change in the type
of music requested or the genre. But I do know
that people are are are branching out. If they were
into two Blues, they're learning more about jazz. If they
were into rock, they're learning more about metal. If they're

(25:27):
into the hip hop, they're learning more about Scott. It's
amazing to me that that music brings us all together
and that people really don't do talk to each other
about the tunes that they like and of course the
tunes that they don't. But it is really an evolution
and that you know, people are coming in today building

(25:48):
out collections. They're inheriting records from their aunts, their uncles,
their grandparents' older siblings, and they're rounding out collections. You know,
my average customer age right now, I would say, is
somewhere between you know, nineteen and twenty seven. They're really
taking on those collections from their elders and building out
to their own case.

Speaker 3 (26:09):
And and Daryl, you know.

Speaker 5 (26:10):
This as well.

Speaker 11 (26:11):
But it never ends right. You never have them all.
You might have something, but you want a better copy
or a cleaner copy. But it's the older ones.

Speaker 5 (26:20):
You know.

Speaker 11 (26:21):
I can get some new represses. I do have a distributor.
I can order new but I'm an old school shop,
you know, pre nineteen eighty five.

Speaker 2 (26:28):
It's like it's like time travel because I literally go
to the Chinese restaurant just a few doors down from you,
and you know, when you look at the floor, it's
like traveling back in time to go to the store.

Speaker 5 (26:42):
At one is.

Speaker 11 (26:44):
I have the original invoice from nineteen seventy seven for
the large posters that are on the wall. My dad
wasn't really a pack rap per se, but he didn't
throw anything out, is the way that I kind of
described him. So I'm finding relics from the seventies and
the eighties. I found his sales log from the night
of Disco demolition and back in the seventies. You know,

(27:05):
he was there, he was part of the community.

Speaker 5 (27:07):
He was he was. He definitely left.

Speaker 2 (27:09):
The legacy and with the Socks doing well, hopefully more
people will go to Bridgeport it. But there is a
changing demographic. Right across the street from you is an
expansion of a bookstore that is happening. You have all
of these new Asian restaurants that are coming in to
occupy the area in addition to the shifting demographics with

(27:32):
regard to not only the makeup of the neighborhood. Talk
about how you're handling the shifting demographics of course, to
digital platforms like streaming and away from CDs, and even
though there's a slight resurgence in terms of album and vinyls.

Speaker 11 (27:50):
Yeah, and I'm glad you mentioned tangible books. A great
great guy across the street, you know, he comes it
off and I sent people over to his shop. But
it is amazing to me that everyone who goes into
Tangible will come across to Let's Boogie or or come
to Let's Boogie and then go across to the bookstore.
They are they are a pair on Saturdays, and I

(28:11):
might my joke is, well, you know, don't spend all
your money over there, make sure you come over here too.
But that the demographic is as you mentioned it, it's
people who want that physical, that physical touch. Whether it's
a book or a record, or it's a compact disc.
People still like to look at the liner notes. They
want to be able to put something in their backpack,

(28:31):
uh and take.

Speaker 5 (28:32):
It with them. I'm I'm I'm still.

Speaker 11 (28:34):
Getting requests for walkmans and discmands so people can take
their physical media on the go. And digital isn't going away, Daryl.
You know that, and I don't expect it ever ever would,
but but it is. It is amazing to me that
my my dad still held on to all of the
things that that that were precious to him. He never liquidated,

(28:56):
he never brought everything down to a dollar.

Speaker 5 (28:58):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (28:59):
He wasn't trying to sell the store. He just ran
out of time with his health. But he was very
proud as we were running the store the past few
years that he was able to see it and have
me talk to him about it, that the kids were
still coming in and wanted to take.

Speaker 5 (29:12):
Something home with them.

Speaker 2 (29:13):
Now, we want to tell people that you're only open
on Saturdays, but give us the website and also the location.

Speaker 5 (29:20):
Yeah.

Speaker 11 (29:20):
So we are at thirty three twenty one South Hall
Staed Street in Chicago's historic Bridgeport neighborhood.

Speaker 5 (29:27):
We are open every.

Speaker 11 (29:28):
Saturday from eleven am till six pm. Where we don't
have a functioning website. We're not selling online. It's just
my brother in law, Phil and myself. We do have
some local helpers that come in every Saturday to lend
a hand, but we'd love to come in and talk
to you about your collections. We're still buying collections. We're

(29:50):
still taking on other people's used materials in good shape
if they want to clean out an attic or a
trunk or a basement. But regardless, we're all all different
genres of music and I hope to see everybody in
Chicago and from far come in and visit us.

Speaker 2 (30:06):
Sounds good. Address one more time in phone number.

Speaker 11 (30:08):
Phone number is six three zero seven four seven three
three three one, or you can reach out to me
directly at left Boogie Records at gmail dot com.

Speaker 2 (30:17):
Well, we definitely thank you Jason for keeping the music
playing up. Next, as we celebrate the two hundred and
fiftieth anniversary of this democracy, we'll tell you about two
events designed to promote equity and voter participation. Please stay
with us.

Speaker 1 (30:32):
V one O three presents Chicago Speaks with your host
Darryl Dinard. This program is designed to address issues that
affect you. Your opinions matter, toll free at eight three
three five nine one V one oh three. The views
and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the station,
it's management, sponsors, or iHeartMedia.

Speaker 2 (30:50):
In welcome Back, it is Sunday, May twenty fourth, and
you're listening to a special edition of Chicago Speaks. Reparations
for the ravages Slavery isn't nothing new. In fact, there
was the law of the United States during the reconstruction period.
On Saturday May thirty, twenty twenty six at eleven am,
Eat Chicago otherwise known as Equity and Transformation and the

(31:13):
movement repart for Black Lives will convene the Big Payback
Assembly at All Space in Chicago. It's designed to bring
community together to define demand and build comprehensive reparations for
Black Americans. And joining us this morning to discuss the
details of the event is Richard Wallace. Here's the co

(31:34):
founder and executive director of Equity and Transformation, otherwise known
as EAT Chicago. Richard, how are you doing good?

Speaker 5 (31:43):
I'm feeling good this morning.

Speaker 13 (31:44):
We finally got some good weather in Chicago, so looking
forward to getting out in the sun today.

Speaker 2 (31:49):
Yeah, and I'm glad. But you're hoping that people, no
matter what the weather is, come out for this EAT
Chicago Equity and Transportation Big Payback. Talk to me about that.

Speaker 13 (32:01):
Yeah, thank you for for lifting up the Big Payback Assembly.
So the Big Payback Assembly will be held on Saturday,
May thirtieth at eleven am at ALT Space here atsu
Chicago's West Side.

Speaker 5 (32:14):
Again.

Speaker 13 (32:14):
I'm the executive director of Equity and Transformation. The People's
Movement Assembly is a model that came out of Jackson, Mississippi.

Speaker 5 (32:22):
Essentially, it's it's a it's.

Speaker 13 (32:24):
An opportunity to not have like a panel discussion where
there's a bunch of experts on the panel. It's an
opportunity for the community to be represented as the experts
and bring them into a conversation around how we articulate
a vision for reparations from the city of Chicago. What
does a heal of Chicago look like? Is the central premise,

(32:45):
and and that means like everybody from the youth to
the elders get opportunity to chime in on the visioning
of a healed Chicago. And we believe that the framework
to make that possible is reparations.

Speaker 2 (32:58):
Reparations had gave so much momentum, especially just a few
years ago. In fact, the city of Evanston enacted legislation
decide to provide reparations for residents of that city. But now,
at least in the federal level, under the current administration,
it's considered a dirty word. How do you cleanse that

(33:21):
particular current perception, at least at the federal level.

Speaker 13 (33:25):
Yeah, I mean, well, I think one is that you know,
the UN has defined reparations and and you know, the
African Americans are one of the few groups that happened
actually received reparations. You know, it wasn't a it wasn't
a what it didn't fall on bad ears when the
Japanese received reparations historically, right, and so far.

Speaker 2 (33:45):
The French received reparations for almost enslaving people.

Speaker 13 (33:50):
In eighty Yes, yes, reparations isn't a new concept internationally,
it's not a new concept. I think it's unfortunate, uh
that we haven't. But I think that the pathway forward
in the United States is to actually satisfy the case
right or actualize the case for reparations in the United States.

(34:11):
And I think until we do that in a real way,
you know, all equity provisions are on a faulty foundation.
We have to actually make the case for reparations and
then all equity measures that will be built upon that
will actually be long lasting in my opinion, But the
case reparations has to be actualized in the US.

Speaker 2 (34:31):
So talk specifically about this introduction, if you will, to
the work that you're doing that's taking place at All Space,
which is located at fifty six forty five was Corcorane Place.
Talk about what they're going to experience beginning at eleven
am on Saturday, May thirtieth.

Speaker 13 (34:49):
Yeah, beginning eleven am. I mean, so we'll have well,
of course we'll have some food. The name of our
organization is EAT, so we're going to make sure that
people are fed and well fed. But the program essentially
is not going to be kind of like, you know,
a forum of sorts where it's just people sharing information
to the audience. It's really going to be an interactive
opportunity for residents throughout the state of Illinois, because there'll

(35:11):
be folks that will be there from both Chicago in
places like Joliette, Illinois to have a robust discussion, interactive
discussion around the five pillars of reparations. For folks that
don't know what those five pillars are, the un has
defined reparations under these five pillars. It is one rehabilitation,
So what does it look like for our community to.

Speaker 5 (35:31):
Be fully rehabilitated to its restitution?

Speaker 13 (35:34):
And that essentially is a commitment to restore communities to
the condition they were in before the harm occurred. Three
is compensation, So what does compensation actually look like, what
would it what would be enough right as it relates
to compensating the survivors.

Speaker 5 (35:52):
Four is guarantee and non repetition.

Speaker 13 (35:54):
I think that's the most important piece, and this is
why I feel like this is one of the most
important conversations we need to have in our community is
how do we ensure that whatever harm occurred doesn't replicate
itself in the future. How do we close the door
on all the loopholes everything from black codes, the gym
cro laws, to redlining to of course chattel slavery, but

(36:14):
also mass incarceration, right, how do we ensure that these
systems don't appear in future generations in different in different ways.
And lastly, it is satisfaction, right, So opportunity for community
residents to talk about what actually will they be satisfied,
what makes them satisfied with the you know, the outcome
of the other four pillars, And so that is really

(36:36):
going to be the invitation. And each pillar will be
held by a different facilitator and will have breakout groups
and folks will be doing everything from like actually going
through a healing process, like actually understanding their body, like
what does it mean for my spirit to be settled?

Speaker 5 (36:50):
Right?

Speaker 13 (36:51):
What does it actually mean to be calm, to not
experience you know, I think the not living the trauma
that we've experienced, and then having the folks do some
interactive like artwork with Komba Ling. So we have some
brilliant partners that are going to come in to help
facilitate these discussions and not make them, you know, the
kind of the standard everyday conversation, but make it interactive
in different ways.

Speaker 2 (37:11):
How do you get beyond this sense of apathy that exists,
particularly in terms of black folks that feel as though
it's going to happen anyway, the inevitability of declining reparations.
So why should I even bother?

Speaker 5 (37:29):
Yeah and participating?

Speaker 13 (37:31):
Yeah, I mean I think, I mean, I think, I
think we have to continue to do the work in
spite of Right, I think there's there If our ancestors
just assumed that there would never be a day when
they weren't and changed and in bondage and slavery and
gave up on the idea of freedom, where would we
be today?

Speaker 3 (37:47):
Right?

Speaker 5 (37:48):
I think it was.

Speaker 13 (37:48):
It's important for it's important for us in this moment
to remember who we are, who we came from. You know,
the Elders, the Harriets, right, the you know, the Frederick's.

Speaker 5 (37:58):
The the the.

Speaker 13 (38:00):
The Duboirs, the you know, the Christmas Addicts, that all
of it.

Speaker 2 (38:05):
Just just as in a side there. You mentioned du Boy,
but the reality there is a phenomenal documentary in terms
of a two hour documentary on PBS right now and
American Masters that deals with the life of the W
E B. Du Boys. So I just had to put
that out there because trying to feed as much information
as possible.

Speaker 13 (38:25):
Right, plug it in like anybody that hasn't read up
on Dubar, but he was a brilliant theorist. And one
of the pieces that I consistently, you know, lift up
to our team is the double consciousness piece. And I
think even as you you think about how uh think
about current times and uh, there's so much, so much
to be said about how our youth are live in

(38:47):
within that that double consciousness today. And so again we
want the youth to come out to the Big Payback
People's assembly because their their voice is going to be
central in that in that vision of a healed Chicago,
Like what do they actually the need in order to
to feel whole?

Speaker 5 (39:02):
Right?

Speaker 13 (39:04):
And you know, we can make assumptions that I'm no
longer a youth, you know what I mean? And we
want the elders in the space, and I think that's
been That's one of the most unique aspects of the
p m A is that it is that intergenerational dialogue
that I feel like we desperately need in this moment,
right Like, there has been some you know, shifts, and
you know, I think the the what my mama used

(39:24):
to describe as you know, community, right, and what we
have today, my mom used to say, and we'd get
a whooping from.

Speaker 5 (39:30):
Anybody on the block, you know if we cut up.
And how far are we away from that now? Right?

Speaker 13 (39:34):
Not even a whooping with discipline, right, Like, there was
a certain amount of respect that we have for our
elders and so on and so forth, and so how
did that get dismantled? How do we how do we
actually rebuild those those those pieces with that, you know,
we want the youth, the elders, the Middle Ages, you know,
everybody in the space at one time, gen zjan Alpha,
gen X, you know, baby boomers, everybody we want in

(39:57):
the space, and the millennials.

Speaker 10 (39:58):
Of course.

Speaker 2 (39:59):
And what's the best way for people to find out
more information not only about the event, but also in
terms of reparations in general.

Speaker 13 (40:09):
The first thing I want folks to do is google
the UN's definition of reparations to try to type in
U in reparations. I think that's really important because I
think you know, movie skits like the Dave Chapelle skitt
back in the day really confused a lot of us
as it relates to reparation. We assumed that it was
just like a bag of money. It's so much more
than that, right, I'll leave that there. If you want

(40:29):
to contact Equity and Transformation, you can go to eat
org Chicago on Instagram and or Twitter and you can
find us. You can go to www dot eat Chicago
dot org to visit our website. It's currently under construction,
so if you if you go there you don't see
anything you can click on become a member.

Speaker 5 (40:48):
We have a membership base. That is that is the
core of our work.

Speaker 13 (40:51):
We don't believe that we can do this by ourselves,
and we know we ain't got enough money to just
throw money at the idea and make it happen, and
so we need people power and that requires us coming together.
And so we have a membership base and we want
to invite anybody that is interested in the idea of reparations,
in the idea of community change, in the idea of

(41:12):
community to click that button, apply and become a member.
There's no cost associated with it. All it takes is
an opportunity for one of our organizers to come out
to meet with you, have a one to one and
then invite you out to our monthly membership meetings.

Speaker 2 (41:26):
Sounds so very good, and that is Richard Wallace who
is the co founder of Equity and Transformation Chicago. Richard,
nothing but the best for you man.

Speaker 5 (41:34):
Indeed, I appreciate you, thank you very much for having
for your time.

Speaker 2 (41:37):
Voting is the most powerful tool citizens of a democracy possessed.
Yet many say we are witnessing an evisceration or outright
elimination of the fundamental right. In an effort to change
the current trend, there is a bill in the Illinois
legislature called the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Senior Young Voter
Empowerment Law. It passed the House last month Kim Believe,

(42:00):
dubla kay. It is now up for a voter in
the Senate. And joining us this morning to discuss the
bill's fate, our doctor Joe Anne Roberts, chair of the
coalition for the Jackson Young Voter Empowerment Bill, as well
as Coalition member Devorah Craibel, pleasure to have the both
of you join us. I want to begin first with you,
Doctor Roberts. What is the current status of the bill

(42:21):
in the Senate.

Speaker 14 (42:21):
The bill is in the Senate. It is in the
Executive Committee. We're hoping the bill will be called out
of committee and taken to the floor to be put
it on and once it sorted on by the Senate,
it will go to the Governor for signature.

Speaker 9 (42:38):
As many of you know, the bill.

Speaker 14 (42:40):
Originally to the House Senate was part of an omnibus bill,
and there it became in bottled into politics. So Senator
Dubla Kay she sponsored it under the leadership of the
Speaker of the House, Chris Walsh, and they sponsored it
as a single long and now it's again back in
the Senate just as an update, waiting to be passed

(43:03):
under the sponsorship again of Robert Peters and the many
other Senators who have signed on to support the bill.

Speaker 9 (43:11):
So we are in the final stages.

Speaker 2 (43:13):
Have you heard any word from if the bill passes,
if the governor will sign it.

Speaker 14 (43:20):
Yes, the government has committed to signing the bill once
it passes to the Senate. A lot of hard work
has gone on to move this bill through. We've been
working on it for over two years, and so we're
very comfortable that once it gets out of the Senate,
the Governor will sign it and will become the law.
It's very important, if I may, during this time, because

(43:42):
we all know what's going on the decision of.

Speaker 9 (43:45):
The Supreme Court.

Speaker 14 (43:47):
This bill allows every high school student who's in high
school and eligible to vote, to be registered to vote
in high school and upon graduation receive the diploma and
the voter registered card. Most of you know that Reverend
Jackson advocated for this for over sixty years. A diploma

(44:07):
in one hand and a voter registration card in the
other hand. And if the time has never been more
present than it is today that we need to build
a base of voters. We need to build a strong
base of voters, and furthermore, we need to teach them
the power of their vote. And so, as I continue
for a few moments, the current governor passed the bill

(44:31):
that allows sixteen years old to pre register to vote,
so they can already pre register. He also passed what
I call a bookend, giving them two hours to leave
school to go vote. So in between, we've got to
get the kids registered to vote. As we were doing
this project and I was working on with Devoid Crable,

(44:52):
we discovered from reports from the Board of Election here
in Chicago that the majority of students who were registering
to vote were on the North Side, Downtown and Lakefront,
and so the question became, what about the rest of them?
And that's how this bill got started. After hearing all
of that and getting together with the people at Operation

(45:13):
Push and them signing off that we can name this
bill after Reverend Jackson, and forming a coalition with the
voy krab of, Betty Maddox, Betty Magnus from Push, the
Tina Brady Pettis, and Freddy from Chicago Votes. That's the
core coalition that has been working with me, hand and feet,

(45:34):
as my mom would say.

Speaker 5 (45:35):
For the last two years.

Speaker 14 (45:37):
And then we've just got a community of support from
the community. Three thousand kids send and take action letters.
Organizations to name some of the ones you may be
familiar with, the Urban League, Rainbow Push of course, the NAACP,
the Divine Nine, the League of Women Voters, Association, University Voters,
and the list goes on and on.

Speaker 9 (45:58):
So there's a lot of.

Speaker 14 (46:00):
People behind wanting the children to have the opportunity to
register to vote. So we are here today asking this
audience to call their senators, to call Senator Harmon, to
call Senator Peters, your local senators, who may be Mattie Haunter,
who may be emailing Jones, who may be a senator

(46:21):
length a life for it, and maybe Senator Simmons, and
I allow the boor to continue to step in and
continue this Yes.

Speaker 2 (46:30):
Yes, yes, before you're facing a May thirty first deadline.
Why is that a hard deadline.

Speaker 15 (46:37):
It's a hard deadline because the General Assembly will adjourn
on May the thirty first, and we want to make
sure that this bill is passed well before then so
the governor can sign off on it and these students
will have this in place, hopefully before the critical November
third mid term election. It's very important for individuals to

(46:58):
understand that when we take a look at what is
happening in our economic climate today, every single vote matters.
We had over ninety million people who are registered vote
that did not vote, and we need to get those
people motivated. A smaller number but just as important of
voters are unregistered, and of those unregistered voters. It is

(47:19):
a high school population that is the most underregistered population
demographic among the possible and potential of voting population. So
it's very important when we understand that every vote matters
in this election, that we make sure every eligible voter
is vote ready and prepared to cast a ballot on

(47:41):
November II. This is a no kidding moment, a seminal
moment in the voting history of this nation.

Speaker 9 (47:49):
So much is on the line, and.

Speaker 15 (47:50):
We must engage our young people and have them well
prepared to engage the democratic process, understand why it is
important for them to vote. And the best thing that
we can do to make sure they understand that is
not delegating it just to the schools, but for us
to start talking about that situation at home, at the
dining room table, at the kitchen table, and as we

(48:13):
come up on this Memorial Day weekend, make sure you
are engaged with everyone around you to get registered, get
in the game of the democratic process so that they
will be eligible to vote on November three.

Speaker 5 (48:28):
Doesn't make what difference?

Speaker 6 (48:29):
Go ahead?

Speaker 2 (48:30):
What do you offer to make it convenient for people
to contact their senators.

Speaker 15 (48:37):
We have several things that can happen. I have a
couple of phone numbers here for you that I can share.
For Senator President, the Senate President Don Harmon, his phone
number is two one seven seven eight two eight one
seven six. That's two one seven seven eight two eight

(48:58):
one seven six. And you can call the bill sponsor,
Senator Robert Peters and his phone numbered in downstate Illinois.
This is where they are right now, two one seven
seven eight two five three three eight. And we encourage
you to make those calls and make them often, call

(49:20):
them once a day every day until this bill is passed.
Those phone calls make a difference. It also makes a
difference if you're able to submit letters of support in
favor of the bill, and you can do that at
my website at kypvote dot us. That's know your Power
vote dot us. Because this selection is about all of us.

(49:44):
Know your power vote.

Speaker 2 (49:46):
And especially if you're young, and especially if you're a
young person. We want to thank doctor Roberts as well
as Devora Craig Will for joining us this morning and
make sure that you, of course make sure that you
know your power and vote and hold those who make
votes accountable.

Speaker 1 (50:03):
Okay, thank you, thank you now back to Chicago speaks
with Daryl Dinard Share What's on your mind toll free
at eight three, three, five nine to one V one
O three.

Speaker 2 (50:15):
When you think of Chicago power couples, duos like Barack
and Michelle Obama, Richard and Maggie Daily come to mind.
You can also add the names of my next guest
to the list, Melissa Kanye's Irving, City Treasurer for Chicago
and to her husband twenty eighth Ward Alderman Jason Irving. It's
a pleasure to be joined by the Dynamic duo this morning,

(50:38):
and I'd like to begin with you, Madam Treasurer. When
you and your husband were courting, did you think about
becoming the political powerhouse that you are today.

Speaker 12 (50:48):
I have to laugh at that, because absolutely not. We
did not know where life's journey would take us. But
I would tell you we're very humbled when people say
power couple, and my husband, as he's sitting right here
with me, we always rephrase and tell people, you know,

(51:09):
we're truly servants of this city. That's how we see
ourselves because it's truly not about us.

Speaker 9 (51:16):
It's about the future of this city.

Speaker 12 (51:19):
It's about the future of our young people, and so
everything that we do is in the mindset of residents,
and we just really start in our homes, start with
how do we want to see our little girl, How
do we want to see my sister, my sister who
is a senior many people learned about my sister during
the last campaign cycle, being someone that I care for,

(51:42):
who lives with the Alderman and I and so we
go from the youngest to the eldest and understanding the
needs of the residents of Chicago. And so when we
began courting, absolutely not did I ever see that I
would be in this role as treasurer, even he would
be in the role as Aldermen and of course chairman

(52:04):
of one of the greatest committees in the city of Chicago.
And we follow God's plan and certainly we believe that
it would be we were ordained to be here.

Speaker 2 (52:14):
Alderman, how did the two of you first meet?

Speaker 16 (52:17):
So we met actually at church. At the time, I
was looking at different churches. I had been in a
church for pretty much all my life and then left
that church and was going to another church. And when
I started attending Mount Vernon, where we both attend.

Speaker 5 (52:32):
Now that's where I'm met Melissa.

Speaker 2 (52:35):
Is it like love at first sight of it?

Speaker 9 (52:37):
Not for the Allman. If anyone knows. Anyone knows the Alderman.

Speaker 12 (52:42):
He is always thinking about business, always thinking about the
next step. And it was so funny because someone actually
kind of introduced us knowing that he was single and
I was single while we were at church, someone that
knew both of us, actually my Auntie.

Speaker 9 (52:58):
And with that the it didn't click.

Speaker 12 (53:01):
In his head that, oh, maybe this is like a
match made in heaven. I kind of from even day
one there You're a left and there's a lot of
people know that I'm very straightforward.

Speaker 9 (53:11):
I'm a woman that say what I mean and me
what I say.

Speaker 12 (53:15):
And so even on day one with the Aldomen I
had to say, hey, you.

Speaker 9 (53:19):
Know, would you like to connect or because that wasn't
on his mind.

Speaker 2 (53:23):
Now, I think it's the you know, the analytical side
of your brains there, because both of you have benefited
from diversity efforts, particularly in the sphere of education, and
you Alderman mataining your CPA and you, Madam Treasurer, having
your NBA. What do you think were the true foundations

(53:44):
that were laid Well.

Speaker 16 (53:46):
You know, my both my parents were reals thoughts on
me being educated. I spent the first couple of years
in elementary school. I was at CPS, and then my
mom decided my mom and dad decided to put me
into private school, which at the time was really expensive,

(54:07):
and I just didn't understand then what I understand today
the sacrifices that my parents made in order for me
to have a solid educational foundation, which then led me
going to college and then continuing that academic pursuit all
the way through getting a master's degree. So it was
that foundation that my parents laid out that said instilled

(54:28):
to me, like, hey, you've got to do this. It
is something that you need to do if you want
to be successful in life, you need to have a
basic set of skills in order to be successful. So
through that and through all of my high school, which
again was a great foundation, I graduated from Morgan Park
Academy out on the South side of Chicago, and I
actually still served there as a member of the board

(54:48):
of trustees. That was the real solid foundation that put
me and propelled me to do well in college and
ultimately in the job I have today.

Speaker 12 (54:56):
Kerrol, I'm glad that you mentioned the CPA A lot
of times.

Speaker 9 (55:00):
Er man being very bashful.

Speaker 12 (55:03):
He doesn't really talk a lot about that, but in
our community, as you know, to be a CPA by
trade is amazing. Like when I met him, yes, but
I mean just to be a licensed CPA, a CPA
by trade, I was so impressed. And I mean I
have an uncle that was the only person I knew

(55:24):
in my life that was a CPA, right, and so
I was just so impressed. Like this young man, his
brain just thinks differently. He's extremely analytical, I would even
say more so than I am. I started, I left
at this, I started in the county, and I actually
transferred my degree to finance because once I got into

(55:48):
cost accounting, I was like, WHOA. That's a perfect example
of how the Alderman and I are just very different.
He certainly is an account by trade. He is a
person that is a book person, and I'm more so
of a person that gets things done. I'm the finance girl,
and so with that we just have a great balance.
But I tell you we come from very different backgrounds. Now,

(56:09):
the Alderman mentioned that he came from a two parent
household and how he graduated from private school definitely started
in public school. His parents made a huge sacrifice for
him in private But vice conversely, I was raised by
a single mother, me being born in Inglewood, raised on
the West Side. My single mother, you know, she could

(56:30):
not afford for me to go to private school. So
I am a product of public school for all of
my life. But I will also say at the time
when I was in public school, I mean I had
a great education public school, my relationship with teachers. So
you'll see me talking a lot and fighting for public
education because I know what public education can do for

(56:51):
a young person, because I know what it did for me.
And look at me now, first in my family to
go to college, went on to receive my NBA from
such a prestigious university in Chicago, Roosevelt University, and to
now be treasurer. But again all the product of Chicago
public schools.

Speaker 2 (57:08):
So when would would you say that the both of
you individually were smitten by the lure of politics and
making a career in the political arena.

Speaker 16 (57:19):
Well, I started in politics in the twenty eight four
Democratic Organization under then Altomen and committeeman at Smith and
got involved just in my neighborhood at the time, I
was living in West Garfield Park and got involved with
the local school council and that's how I really got

(57:39):
introduced to what the city all of the nuances of politics.
And then you know, the automen told me like, hey,
I think that you would be great at this and
I want you to succeed. Being I just kind of
blew it off, like you guys never leave office, you
die in office, and you know that type of thing,
and he said, no, I'm serious. And so in my

(58:02):
travels that was probably in the early two thousands, and
I was like, okay, all right.

Speaker 5 (58:06):
Whatever you know, let me know when you're ready. And
so again I went on about my work.

Speaker 16 (58:10):
I was at the time working for Arthur Anderson as
an auditor in the CPA, and then went into some
private business and ultimately got back involved in government as
a director of finance and ultimately a city manager out
in the west suburban village of Maywood. And so during
all of this time I was again politically involved and
around politics. And then the alderman told me that hey,

(58:33):
I'm referring you to mayor Daily to replace me when
I retire in a month or two. And I was
still like, yeah, okay, whenever, you know whatever, and he
actually pulled the trigger retired and thus began my political
career back in twenty eleven.

Speaker 5 (58:49):
So now I am.

Speaker 16 (58:50):
I'm fifteen years on City Council number seven in seniority,
you know, a chair a pretty pretty sizable and meaningful committee.

Speaker 5 (58:59):
You know, I tell you this is about how we
work and operate through our city.

Speaker 16 (59:03):
Of course, there's going to be some differences of opinion
and how we should do things, and ultimately the council
as itself, But you know, my job, I view is
more as trying to pull people together and trying to
solve challenges that the city faces from from a financial
and operational perspectives. So we have a lot of work
to do and that work will always continue because we
must continuously improve operations and become more efficient in how

(59:26):
we deliver the services of government.

Speaker 2 (59:28):
The thing that I have to applaud the Aldermen in
terms of ed Smith is the fact that he had
a succession, and that's needed to be applauded because the
both of you know, Chicago is considered the mecca when
it comes to black businesses, but many times they have
very very skeletal succession plans, and so unfortunately some of

(59:51):
these institutions that we have have died with the founder
because of a lack of a succession plan.

Speaker 16 (59:58):
Well, the one thing we know in a arena, nothing dies, right,
this goes on perpetually. And you know, as you as
I've spent my time, you know, watching and learning the
same thing that happened with me and as my intent
to do with the next generation. Because when you have
that level of orderly transition, it helps the community. The

(01:00:21):
worst thing that can happen, in my opinion, is that
everything is left up for grabs, there's no transition.

Speaker 5 (01:00:26):
You know, people have to start from scratch.

Speaker 16 (01:00:29):
And again there's no need to reinvent the wheel when
you have you know, organizations, when you have people and
you have community that are all working together. And I
may not agree on everything, but again it's the fact
that we have a group of people that are looking
forward and trying to help build and sustain the community
here on the West Side of Chicago. So I always
take that into account and will follow the same path

(01:00:51):
I've given that opportunity medal Church.

Speaker 2 (01:00:54):
We're to talk about your path through politics.

Speaker 12 (01:00:57):
Never in a million years coming from you know, the
most that we heard about politics in my household. My
mother would be considered a triple D voter in that
she never missed, you know, she was a senior, never
missed an opportunity to vote, believed in the power of voting,
and so as soon as I became eighteen, even in college,

(01:01:20):
she would make certain that I voted each and every time.
That that's the most that I knew about politics, because
my mother was working two and three jobs trying to
make in speed, and we didn't talk about politics in
the home, and so never And then also, just like
any other young person from the South and West side
of Chicago, when we see politics, we don't think that

(01:01:40):
we could ever be a part of That is just
something that doesn't seem achievable to us because we're so
unfamiliar with it. Well, until I became just more familiar
with it. Of course, through all them and Irvin, he
was very familiar with it. I wasn't, and so I
kind of got bit by the political bug and I
saw that it was actually possible for a normal person

(01:02:04):
to run for office.

Speaker 9 (01:02:05):
And when I was like, oh, waity.

Speaker 2 (01:02:07):
A normal person with the NBA.

Speaker 9 (01:02:09):
But we'll leave, well, yes, you know, what thank you
for that?

Speaker 12 (01:02:14):
I would say a normal person not used the politics
doesn't really know what it entails as far as but
I had the heart and I'll never forget Alman and Smith.
He told me, he said it's your time to run
for state representative. And I said, oh, no, al theman,
not me. I said, you know, I'm from Inglewood, West Side,
single parent household. You know, certainly I've done well in life.

(01:02:35):
God has been good where I was able to give
my NBA, able to spend a decade in corporate America.

Speaker 9 (01:02:41):
And then the automist said.

Speaker 12 (01:02:43):
You are exactly what our community needs because you come
from the community, You live in the community, and you
understand the community. You know the struggles of the community,
you have been in their shoes. You are exactly what
they need. And so with that, that's how I stopped
Illinois state representative. And that was during the time that
Bruce Runner was in office. So it was a very

(01:03:05):
difficult time for our state. But I was able, even
as a freshman, to be successful in legislation. I'll never
forget at that time, Bruce Runner cut childcare assistance for
fifteen thousand families as soon as he got in office. Well,
when I became the state representative, I was the one
the leader that brought that back. I was able to

(01:03:28):
gain support from both sides of the aisle. And see,
we have to learn to work together. I know how
to work with everyone. We don't have to be one
hundred percent in agreement on everything. But I assure you, Daryl,
there's some common good that we have that we can
work together on.

Speaker 9 (01:03:44):
And I just believe in that.

Speaker 12 (01:03:45):
And that's the mindset that I took the Springfield when
I was Illinois state representative before even now a city treasurer.

Speaker 2 (01:03:52):
So let's talk about you being city treasurer. You have
accomplished much and you are gregarious and vocal. And I
just interviewed Keisha Lance Bottoms about her new book called
rough Side of the Mountain. There have been some rough
spots in terms of your political career there. What do
you want to say to the audience and also talk

(01:04:12):
about some of the dynamic programs that you have coming up.

Speaker 9 (01:04:15):
So that is a great question.

Speaker 12 (01:04:17):
So number one, as city treasurer, and I always tell people,
let me clarify the difference between city treasurer and county treasurer.
Now county treasurer is the one responsible for getting the
tax bills out.

Speaker 9 (01:04:29):
City treasurer.

Speaker 12 (01:04:30):
I have nothing to do with property taxes, and so
I tell residents all the time.

Speaker 9 (01:04:35):
I think of me as like your personal banker. I
am the investor.

Speaker 12 (01:04:40):
My role is to hold the portfolio, invest it and
to make money for taxpayers. And actually I'm your friend
because the more money that I can make for you
and investment returns, the less money that city council will
need from you right to pay the expenses of the
city and keep the city moving. And so my job,
my role is very important that lo lot of people

(01:05:00):
just did not even realize existed even prior, and so
with that, that's my primary role. But for me, coming
from Inglewood, coming from the West Side, knowing the struggles
of working families, it's not good enough for me to
sit downtown from nine to five simply be your investment
banker and go home. I need to let that portfolio

(01:05:21):
leverage to work for taxpayers because guess what, taxpayers have
a portfolio of over ten billion dollars. Who doesn't leverage
a portfolio.

Speaker 9 (01:05:32):
Such as that. So that's exactly what I do.

Speaker 12 (01:05:34):
We have relationships with banking institutions, brokerage firms, community organizations
just because of our investments in the Treasure's Office.

Speaker 9 (01:05:44):
So here's what I've done.

Speaker 12 (01:05:45):
I've taken this role to the next level to make
taxpayer dollars work for them. And so we do have
programs where we have I mean, Darryl, it is amazing.
Residents have been shocked. They come out to our financial
empowerment programs. Believe in building wealth today for tomorrow. You're
always hearing me talking about BWTT building wealth today for tomorrow. Well,

(01:06:09):
we have programs in the community and it's in every community.
I come out in the evening on the weekends so
that it is acceptible, accessible for residents and they can
come out where they can talk one on one to
banking institutions and the credit unions. I am a credit
unions and the credit agencies like TransUnion, TransUnion. It's it's

(01:06:32):
I mean, it's normal for them to be at every
event that I have in the community. Where do you
see a credit agency, credit unions, banking institutions all under
one roof in your community that you can access for free.
I'm telling residents take advantage of this. This is what
I'm providing to you, So please go to our website

(01:06:56):
Chicago City Treasurer dot com, signed to get every email.
We send out emails letting you know when we're going
to be in your community.

Speaker 9 (01:07:05):
We're out in the community.

Speaker 12 (01:07:06):
Every day because it is my mission to financially empower
the residents of Chicago and Aldeman Irving.

Speaker 2 (01:07:14):
What is your desire for the fifty wards that comprise
the city of Chicago.

Speaker 16 (01:07:20):
You know, we look at fifty wards seventy seven neighborhoods.

Speaker 5 (01:07:24):
Chicago is truly a city.

Speaker 16 (01:07:26):
Of neighborhoods, and how each has its own distinct flavor
and its own sound and its own beat.

Speaker 5 (01:07:33):
It's my desire that we all come together.

Speaker 16 (01:07:36):
It is a you know, when we look at what's
happening in our council and how people are divided and
how we are trying to you know, all solve for
the same issue. We have to just think about the
bigger picture. A lot of times we look at our city,
you know, and the disparities that exists and how one
community looks at another community, and how we can figure

(01:07:57):
out ways to you know, reduce the gap. Yester, what
was that Wednesday when we talked about our issue around
minimum wage and how there's such disparity whereas a community
like Riverdale where the median income is sixteen thousand dollars
a year in comparison to a community like North Center
where the median income is one hundred and forty eight

(01:08:17):
thousand dollars. Right, again, two communities, two different sides of
the city, but a drastic difference in how people are living.

Speaker 5 (01:08:26):
So my goal and my desire really is.

Speaker 16 (01:08:28):
To increase the standard of living for the residents that
I serve on the West Side of Chicago and at
the same time lift the economic prosperity of the city
and its entirety, because when we help those at the
bottom do better, that's when we truly can get an
opportunity to see this city flourish. There is no way
that we should be living in the city that's the

(01:08:49):
size that we are and have the level of disparity
that we have. And I always go back to just
the differences between Lincoln Park and Garfield Park, communities that
are two three miles apart. But when you look at
life expectancy, you know, average med and income, those are
just stark differences when you look at those two and
we have to do better and help them bring up

(01:09:10):
some of our communities that have challenges.

Speaker 5 (01:09:13):
And that's the goal that I have and what I
think about and what I do, even though.

Speaker 2 (01:09:17):
Well we want to think. Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Kanye
is Irving as well as twenty eighth Ward Alderman Jason
Irving for joining us this morning.

Speaker 5 (01:09:27):
Thank you for having us.

Speaker 12 (01:09:28):
Thank you for everything that you do, darl Thank.

Speaker 2 (01:09:30):
You coming up shattering barriers to enter the C suite
for black and brown people. Please stay with us.

Speaker 1 (01:09:38):
Now back to Chicago Speaks with Daryl Dinard, Share What's
on your mind toll free at eight three three five
nine to one V one O three.

Speaker 2 (01:09:47):
For centuries, black and brown people have been excluded from
occupying the top offices in corporate America. Things really started
to change as a result of the Civil rights movement
as doors open for people of color in corporate America
because of affirmative action policies. Recently, the pipeline to C
suites has constricted because of decreases as well as outright

(01:10:11):
elimination and commitments to corporate diversity. Well, my next guest
is committed to increasing diversity in corporate America. He is
Leforce Baker of Baker Enterprises, a Chicago based retail growth
advisory firm, and now he's co organizer, along with his
partner Ivonna Nikolick, of a program called Underrepresented at the Top.

(01:10:33):
And it is a pleasure this morning to be joined
by LaForce. How are you doing, my.

Speaker 10 (01:10:36):
Friend, I'm doing fantastic. Thank you so much for having me.

Speaker 2 (01:10:40):
I have been involved in diversity efforts, whether at the
corporate or education level, for a majority of my life.
Tell me about your evolution in terms of into the
diversity arena.

Speaker 10 (01:10:51):
Yeah, so you know, I have been no stranger to
being one of few people of color in the room
when I have worked at various different jobs, whether it
be in corporate America, when I was working at a
global marketing agency, or when I was working at the
City of Chicago, and then now in my own firm,

(01:11:15):
where essentially I sit in between the worlds of commercial
real estate in marketing, which are worlds where you don't
see a whole lot of us, and there's not a
lot of representation in terms of people of color and
also just women in general in the field. And so
you know, I wanted to number one, help to bring

(01:11:36):
others up, you know, and make sure we are represented,
but then also make sure that we stay there. You know,
I've looked around and I've seen you know, less of
our faces in the spaces that I go to for
work every day, and so, you know, I wanted to
do something about that.

Speaker 2 (01:11:55):
So what would you say was the epishany moment for
you man that said, Hey, I'm in a position where
I can do something, well, hopefully make some positive change here.

Speaker 10 (01:12:04):
I think the epiphany moment. I was chatting with one
of my friends, and you know, she talked about the
challenges that she faced as a Mexican American woman, and
I talked about the challenges I faced as a you know,
African American man, being in spaces where there's not a
lot of representation, and we said, you know what, there

(01:12:25):
needs to be a space where we can talk about
these things, especially you know, during these challenging times. And so,
you know, that's where the idea of underrepresented at the
top came up. You know, we like to get together
just to kind of just celebrate, you know, on a weekend,
but I said, like, why not make it productive where

(01:12:46):
we can you know, have a good time in the
West Loot downtown Chicago, but talk about the things that
you know, really matter for us to move up in
our careers. You know, this is something that happens naturally,
I think outside of our community network at home. Yeah,
in terms of like networking, in terms of sharing knowledge

(01:13:07):
about how to move up, in terms of sharing contacts.
You know, we don't necessarily do that naturally, and that's
something I think that's newer in our community. So we
thought they would be great to facilitate a space where
people can come, they can have a good time, but
they can also get the connections they need to move
up in their fields.

Speaker 2 (01:13:26):
So let's talk about this event called Underrepresented at the Top.
It's taking place on Thursday, May twenty eighth over there
at the Hawks And which is located at two hundred
North Green in the West Loop. Give me the details about.

Speaker 10 (01:13:39):
It, yeah, so you know, it'll be after work from
five thirty seven thirty. It's a kind of networking event
cocktail hour on a really nice rooftop. And the whole
idea is that we have this panel of you know,
black and brown folks, women that have made it to
the top of their fields. You know, we have a

(01:14:00):
wide variety of feels from accounting. We have a Travis
who he's a partner with a global accounting firm. We
have AA who's at Christian Wakefield, one of the top
commercial real estate firms in the world. You have myself
again as leading Baker Enterprises. We have Evanna who is

(01:14:20):
at a top marketing agency here in Chicago. And then
we have Samantha Chapman from ABC seven as the MC.
And so you know, we're hoping that when people come out,
they can you know, have a good time, hopefully meet
someone new, and then maybe they might even land a job.
You know, because people on this panel, not only are

(01:14:41):
they in leadership, they control budgets, they control jobs. So
with that being said, we hope it's also.

Speaker 2 (01:14:46):
This is a ticketed event. But is there a specific
demo that you're targeting right now?

Speaker 10 (01:14:52):
Yeah? Sure, I mean the target target audience for this,
I think it's two pronged. Number One, we have people
that are already managers and they are looking at how
do they move up. They can talk to people that
are on the panel that are in sea suit position,
so CEOs or managing directors, how do they get there?
They can fly a path for that. Then you have

(01:15:15):
another group I call them, you know, folks that are
just starting their careers, kind of emerging professionals, people that
have just gotten out of school or maybe they've been
working a few years. This is also for them because
they can figure out, all right, do I want to,
you know, go down the leadership track and if so,
this is the path you know, to move up the

(01:15:36):
ladder in corporate America. Or let's say they talk to
someone like myself, they could figure out, okay, how do
I go from corporate America to owning my own business.
There's that path as well. So this is a chance
for people to get real access to the people that
are already doing it so that hopefully they can come
up with a plan on how they get there.

Speaker 2 (01:15:56):
And the interesting thing that I have to applaud you
on is be because instead of talking mentorship, what we
really need to discuss is sponsorship with somebody almost takes
you under their wings and sponsors you before their peers.

Speaker 10 (01:16:14):
Exactly. You know, So that's one of the topics that
we'll be talking about. You know, there's a ton of
mentorship programs, and mentorship is helpful. I think mentorship puts
you on a positive path. But the sponsorship is what's
needed the most. I think about in my own career,
there was a guy after American guy that was old

(01:16:36):
enough to be my father. He really took me under
his wing a little earlier in my career and say like, hey,
you should, you know, do this thing. You should join
this committee, you should do this because that's going to
position you to do this. And he not only did that,
he invited me to things. He said, hey, LaForce should

(01:16:58):
be a part of this. You also talk to him.
You ever heard of before? IT'ST Baker. He's phenomenal. I
think that that's critical. And you know, again, hopefully folks
coming to this event can find them a sponsor, can
find them a mentor if that's needed, if they're early
in their career.

Speaker 2 (01:17:13):
Yeah, and what do you hope are the big takeaways
for people to come out and attend.

Speaker 6 (01:17:20):
Yeah?

Speaker 10 (01:17:20):
I think the big takeaways will be that, you know,
you will walk away with knowledge that's really really hard
for you to get off of Google or chat GVT.
This is stuff that you know we should learn in school,
but it's not taught in school. And those soft skills
like learning you know how to properly network, how to

(01:17:40):
follow up, how to make sure that you're the first
person that people think of when you know they're giving
out these jobs, because I think you know, in these
times that we're in where it's really challenging to get
a job, people are getting laid off, things like that,
the people that are winning are those that have this
kind of insider knowledge. And so we want to make

(01:18:01):
this insider knowledge not so inside and make it public
so that people in our community can win.

Speaker 2 (01:18:08):
And what is the best way for people to find
out more information about this particular event.

Speaker 10 (01:18:14):
Yeah, the best way for people to find out info
and to get tickets is to actually follow me on
social media on all platforms. So you know, that's Instagram, TikTok,
LinkedIn Facebook, Apple Force Baker, that's l A f O
R ce b A k e R. The link is
in my bio on all of those channels.

Speaker 2 (01:18:34):
Well, that sounds good, and let's hope that you are
and continue to be a force for diversity of force.

Speaker 10 (01:18:42):
Ah, thank you so much.

Speaker 2 (01:18:43):
Well, that wraps up this edition of Chicago Speaks. As always,
I want to thank my guests, but most importantly you
the listeners to this program. If you desire news on
a twenty four to seven basis, Please be sure to
check out our sister station with the Black Information Network
at BI in six forty am. Right now, get ready
to get your praise on. I'm Darryl Denart. We'll see
you back here next Sunday, beginning at six am for

(01:19:06):
another edition of Chicago Speaks. Happy Memorial Day everyone, and
please be sure to take care of yourself