>> Hello and thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight.

Black voices, I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

A new documentary film highlights a local nonprofit and the importance of environmental education.

What will offer Luvvie Ajayi Jones is encouraging kids to speak up and make positive change in her new children's book.

>> I was not planning to any of this.

I was just trying to teach myself photographer.

>> And looking back at an exhibition of portraits and personalities of black men in 1980's, Chicago.

>> And now to some of today's top stories.

Governor JB Pritzker has joined other governors pushing back against proposed federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as SNAP in a letter to congressional leaders.

They say the proposals, quote, could dramatically restructure snap, including shifting a significant amount of the food benefit costs to states under the legislation.

The work requirement would be increased from 18 to 54 year-olds to be 18 to 64 year-olds.

In addition to 92 billion dollars in reduced spending and estimated 427,000 Illinoisans who depend on the program would lose benefits if past.

Hundreds of mourners gathered to remember fallen Chicago Police Officer Crystal Rivera today.

Here's a bit of what her Aunt Teresa Mercado said on behalf of her family.

>> It was clear serving protecting.

part of her DNA.

Events.

She jumped in to help.

Videos shows her just like that.

Joyful and then doing a hand.

And although she lit every room, she walked in.

Christal carried herself with deep humility.

Crystal was raised in the faith filled home.

Her father being a preacher.

strong face.

Those values seater.

>> 36 year-old Rivera was on the force for 4 years.

She leaves behind a young daughter, Isabella.

She was unintentionally shot by her partner during a foot chase in Chatham.

Earlier this month.

For more on today's service, please visit our website.

178 Chicago men and women are newly minted Chicago firefighters.

What we do, it's not just a job.

It is a calling.

You are stepping into a tradition that is built on trust, sacrifice in service.

>> Every time you show up in uniform, Chicagoans are counting on you to bring calm to chaos, care, to crises and bravery to danger.

>> Fire commissioner and that Nance Holt was joined by Mayor Brandon Johnson to congratulate the new probationary firefighter.

Emt at a graduation ceremony this morning.

Cfd officials say this class is among the largest in the last 20 years.

The recruits have already received their first firehouse assignments and will remain there until the end of the probationary period.

Getting more on the job training with more experienced members of the department.

The state's first human case of West Nile virus is this year is reported in southern Illinois.

The State Department of Public Health says the case is the earliest in Illinois since 2016 West Nile virus is spread to humans through mosquito bites.

Most people infected do not develop symptoms, but about one in 5 people do including fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches, seniors.

And those with weakened immune systems are most vulnerable, as you might expect, health officials recommend wearing insect repellent reporting stagnant water and using screens on open doors and windows.

Up next, a nonprofit bringing some more green and a lot of other colors to South side right after this.

>> Chicago tonight, black voices he's made possible in part by the support of these donors.

>> For years, Southside blooms has been beautifying neighborhood blocks, one flower at a time in our nature.

It's a new documentary film.

It digs into the nonprofit's work on the south and west sides of the city.

It also highlights environmental educators working to plant the seeds of meaningful change.

Joining us now, our Calyn Blackwell, co-founder of Southside Blooms and James Parker, director of in our Nature.

Gentlemen, thank you for joining us.

>> Thank for having here.

>> So James Park or what inspired you to make this film?

>> Yeah, I my co-producer and I Juliet, we noticed how partisan nature and environmental education had become and now kind of unexpected.

That was in a way.

You know, this thing that we all share in common had become so divisive.

And so that kind of set us out on this inquiry for the film and quickly revealed lots of issues of access, you know, for kids to environmental education, both because of parents, politics, but also, of course, a long history of access disparity based on, you know, where you live or where you're going up.

And then, you know, that kind of combined with these alarming statistics about screen time where we're seeing kids spend 8 hours.

Plus a day on a screen in less than 5 minutes outside.

So all of that together, kind of that.

The question to us, like, what does this mean for the future?

And it's it's not a given that kids will develop a relationship to nature or have an understanding our shared dependence on on all the natural systems that support us.

And so we kind of went into the field.

We started working with and listening to a lot of environmental educators across the country.

And we really quickly discovered that nature and especially those who teach with nature can be some of our most powerful forces for reconnecting across divides and importantly, for building really effective place based community led solutions.

And of course, that's where the story outside.

But comes in.

>> Well, yeah, so let's get to the story of Southside blooms.

Keelan Blackwell.

Tell us a little bit about what it means for you to have the work of Southside blooms told through film.

>> Yeah, this is a big deal.

Amazing opportunity for us.

You know, when James first approached us about featuring a son in our nature, I mean, it was a commission no-brainer.

really helps to put a big spotlight on community-based sustainability work here in Chicago.

And we're really ecstatic to really have our youth are the real stars of a Southside blooms, the show like what they're doing on the ground every day transform some of the most dangerous and impoverished neighborhoods in Chicago through sustainable floor, streakers, flower we're we're very, very happy be a part this.

>> Q and tell us a little bit about the work that the organization does and how that sort of rises to meet some of the concerns that James in the film are addressing.

>> Yes, so we're based here what on Southside.

We our missions, you sustain ability to lead the NFC poverty.

And we do that by trying to establish flowers as an anchor industry to provide jobs for some of the most high-risk youth here in our city.

said there's a viable alternative to the streets that many of our youth fortunately being So, you know, in terms of like a lot of the themes that the film's touching, you know, we're not only talking about environmental education from an academic perspective, but we're talking about very real bomb up community development really showing how >> you know, environmental is working with you.

This all very real problems in our case here in the city, it could be, you know, a counter crime, violence to the blight, you know, we think making a lot.

We'll bring them to turn them into the flower farms and solar panels and rework catchment systems.

So, yeah, I really feel like we're bringing a lot of the themes that James talked about the film to life in a very real and scalable way.

>> James, you talk about environmental education in the film and that can mean different things.

What do you think were some of the most crucial components that you wanted to get into the movie?

>> Yeah, I think it's a great question and I think it kind of ties in to a lot of what we're trying to do with this film, which is kind of expand the definition of what environmental education can and should be.

And I think, you know, we see formal environmental education happening in classrooms across the country.

And that is super important.

But we also see a lot of kind of informal environmental education happening and so many different parts of the country.

And that's really it's such a huge opportunity.

We think in this moment to really kind of divides and importantly, also to really kind nurture.

Well, you know, there are few few things that are more powerful then spending time in nature to really kind make us feel better or to navigate challenges that we're having.

And and so I think the example of Southside limbs, you know, it is an environmental education program, but it also so much more, you know, its economic development.

It's mental health it's building these really powerful bridges across the city of Chicago.

>> A killing.

But what describe the impact that you hope your organization is able to to make in your community?

Because obviously are also providing opportunities for the young people that you worth would work with across, you know, the south and west sides of the city.

>> Yeah, we've been around for 11 years.

So you know, have a pretty strong track record impact in the city at this point.

You know, we have about 6 farms across the city representing about 10 acres of formerly vacant land that we've turned into productive farmland, far flowers.

You know, we have our Inglewood far shopper action.

The process opening up.

Flowers from the West Side in North Lawndale this summer we employ about 25 you know, between the farm in the flower shop, your youth are doing high and events.

Also, this isn't just a very basic program.

We Our youth are doing events at the field Museum McCormack plays you know, Ritz Carlton and everything in between.

So the impact a very tangible.

It's very concrete.

You know, we have we have youth have been working with us for 3 to 4 years who started you know, at entry level position, our youth programming and, you know, work their way up to management.

We're making a solid middle class income 1920, years old.

So, you know, though, the work really does speak for itself.

And a lot of that has really been, you know, due to unlocking the potential of our youth, you know, through the state will be platform that we've built us >> That's exciting, especially for those young people who are able to turn those incomes that you talk about.

James, what would you say are your biggest concerns right now for the state of our environment?

>> There are so many things to be concerned about.

I think it truly is a, you know, we hear that we're calling crisis.

>> But for me.

>> And I think for this movie, what we're really focused on is ensuring that we continue to make sure that we connect kids to nature and that everyone has access to environmental education.

You know, not only so that, you know, future generations can be informed and have critical thinking.

But, you know, to have access to these really powerful tools for for stealing.

And you know, it's it's something that we would love to see not be some viewed as sort of a luxury or an add-on or something that's only accessible to, you know, certain groups or certain places.

But environmental education being something that's really central to what it means to to be educated.

>> Kaylyn, we've got 20 seconds left.

Same question to you.

Your biggest concern for the state of our environment.

>> Well, I see a big opportunity in today's environment for communities that maybe haven't traditionally represented and the environmental education movement.

You know, I look at like our communities, for example, and many of you that we work with.

They wouldn't necessarily scene as like of our mail is for scientists.

But they're really showing that a lot of the solutions are simple.

Affordable or accessible and also are very impactful.

So I think this will be a great opportunity to, you know, kind of redirect the spotlight to some of the more simpler solutions.

And you know, that >> Their environmental lists in all will have to leave it there.

My thanks to Kaylyn Blackwell and James Parker.

Congrats on the movie.

Thanks so much.

>> Thank >> After the break, we revisit a recent conversation with author Luvvie Ajayi Jones.

Whether it's asking for a promotion or confronting the school.

Bully writer Luvvie Ajayi Jones has become an expert on overcoming fears.

And speaking up her books urge everyone to become what she calls a troublemaker or someone who pushes for positive change.

She's guiding adults, teens and lately even little kids, her latest children's book, Little Troublemaker, defense, her name encourages kids to stand up for themselves and their unique names in.

Joining us is the book's author luvvie Ajayi Jones and I too share a unique name.

Yes.

So we're in the same club.

Welcome back.

It is good to be in this.

Good close.

It is good to see OK?

So before we talk about our names, what does it mean to be a troublemaker?

Oh, my gosh.

I think to be a troublemaker in this world is to be somebody who wants to be a part of positive change.

>> Especially in an unjust world.

If you're somebody who was challenging what's going on, you want to be a part of seen a change.

So that's what it means to be a troublemaker to be the one who is the truth teller in the action taker.

Sometimes people don't here.

So you make it a little bit of trouble for but it's necessary.

You know, like the late great John Lewis said we should be ready to make necessary good trouble.

I think that's required of all of us What do you think?

It's important that children learn to become a little troublemaker because I think we also teach kid something completely different.

Don't double standard rubble.

Yeah, I think the biggest trouble makers on little at that age, young, don't have any filter.

And honestly, they're pure.

>> And oftentimes we will abuse the the pure out of them inside out of them or punish out of them.

And I think we actually need to encourage them to use their voice fiercely.

Now they can use a thoughtfully, right, making trouble does not mean, you know, creating chaos, but you can do it thoughtfully now want the kids to know you can do it now because we never got that message to do it.

Now, right?

The book looks at how to respond when people mispronounce your name, which never happens to me or especially when your name comes from, you know, a unique cultural background.

talk about you know what that can be like and sort of navigating being different and having a name that not everybody knows how to say.

Yeah.

So many of us know what it's like to walk in Sussex lag souvenir shop.

>> And never see our names at all.

And with that also comes the first day of school when the teacher mispronounced your name, where they look down the role and they go to this is hard and we kind of carry those scars, even if it's in the back of our mind.

I think it's really important for us honor names, not just ours, but other people.

So make a defense or name.

My goal is make sure kids recognize that you could actually insist when people pronounce your name.

Well, thoughtfully, you can stand up for and your name is always worth defending.

How do you what's your advice on politely correcting someone because you do it frequently I have to do it frequently, right?

That Ajayi always just to confuse.

I always say, hey, that's actually not how you pronounce it.

It's a giant E so you can actually stop.

People say, you know what, it's OK?

You did not get it right.

But here's how you do it right, right?

Because it it, falls on us, right and where I am for making them uncomfortable.

They really it is okay to make that correction.

Give people a chance to get it right.

If we never assume always assume that they're going to get along, they actually will always get it So let's give them a chance to get it right and say, you know what, here's a fix.

Books also include several Nigerian references.

such as Dollar Nigerian yourself.

How does your identity influence your work?

Oh, my gosh.

My days everything about my work is influences.

How I even write it influences the way I create this character like this character black girl with the Fayed who has a strong name and that was important because I was that girl, you know, in coming to the U.S. now is 9 years old.

It was the first other.

It's the first my foot 2 different.

And that's because as Nigerian.

So this girl's Niger and I did its part of her, she has a little patch on a backpack, the Nigerian flag.

And I've heard from teachers go a kid went I've never seen a book with Delphi.

and even that is not a nation.

We also, you know, we don't frequently see a book like you said.

He's cute little girl Levy.

She's got the fade got, you know, the illustrations in the book.

Tell me about the importance of, you know, of the representation and getting the illustrations, right?

Yeah.

I want kids to see her in state.

She looks like me.

She reminds me of my cousin or oh, my gosh.

I also can have a short hair cut and still be confident and funny boy feel loved.

That's the thing about little Levy is I also built joy into the way we illustrate this book is in the fabric of the way I wrote this book.

I want her to always Walk Away, so love.

So when kids clothes, the pages they go, oh, wow.

She made a mistake.

She grew from it and she end up having amazing day.

This is your second children's book.

Yeah, Little trouble maker makes a man says right here again on 2023.

What made you want to get into writing children's books?

Children need to be spoken to.

They see representation.

They need to feel seen feel heard.

And that's actually my goal with this book Seas is that I want kids to always knew from the book feel like they got a good time.

They got a good lesson and feeling good about even when they make mistakes.

Because I think sometimes we define ourselves too much by the oops that we make.

So the thing about a little love, always make a mistake.

But you always learn and grow the book.

As we mentioned, they both follow little Levy and her adventures or any of these like specific to your own childhood to do happen, to make a mess in the kitchen for because I was overconfident.

My problem with that.

But I can do everything.

So it's she also starts to learn.

Here's your boundaries.

I understand your confidence, but you also need my help as an adult.

So it's teaching ways for us to model, you know, you can be confident.

But here's what you can learn.

More.

Can't let you go without, you know, getting a sort of your impression of the times we're living in.

Yeah.

How you're using your voice and, >> you know, as a black woman, I think a lot of folks, especially in this political season are wondering, are black women taking a back seat now already sitting down being quiet?

What's where are you on that?

>> We are not being quiet, but our fight is not always physical.

I don't think witnessed he protesting.

We need to be organized and with each other, creating mutual aid networks, we need to be doing other talking work.

I think people are still use a black woman putting things on our back on our shoulders and our physicality.

I think the fight of this moment for us is about us being in deep, a community with each other.

People that we love and also preparing ourselves for.

If we have to take on more responsibility because people are losing their jobs.

If you can't pay their rent or their mortgage.

So I think black women's job right now is want to take care of ourselves take care of each other.

What's next for you?

More children's books.

More Moore go on.

Definitely does more little truck maker coming.

There's more books coming and I'm teaching people how to write their own books through my book Academy.

So my whole job is to make sure that the words that he to get out, get out, OK, let Jerry Jones, it's a pleasure to have you in here.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

of course.

Again, the book is called Little Troublemaker.

Defends her name, something we know a little something about >> Chicago native Patrick McCoy worked as an environmental scientist for the EPA for decades in his free time, he documented the environment around him, taking pictures every day during much of the 1980's a few years ago.

There was an exhibition of his photographs at local gallery Wrightwood 6, 5, 9, It was an evocative look at black man in Chicago during that pivotal decade and a window into a community that's often been overlooked and stereotyped as Pride Month comes to an end here.

Chicago.

Tonight's Nick Blumberg with another look at that story.

>> Patrick McCoy grew around pictures.

His father was a painter and photographer.

But Patrick, and then really want to be calm.

photographer and with all of the dials and so still, he likes taking pictures, working with a simple point and shoot through the 60's and 70's.

And one day, one of my friends who worked Helix it can restore.

He said you need to you need to step up.

Mccoy got a good.

35 millimeter camera.

He didn't want to take classes.

So he made a deal with himself to carry the camera with every day and every day I was going to take at least one photograph.

>> Mccoy carried the camera around his neck everywhere, biking from his home in South Shore to his job in the loop.

>> When I would go all the different name invariably somebody with hollow out to hey, take my picture.

>> And that was part of McCoy's deal with himself to that he take a picture of anyone who asked at night he developed them and carry them in his backpack the next day.

I would say some of those same people.

And that was just given the phone and it was like they were blown away.

Mccoy got to know people often taking their picture multiple times.

Many of them were regulars at the Rialto Tap in the South Loop.

>> We have to call it the Star Wars bar you've people in a bit.

>> Everyone from people living in homeless shelters to downtown businessmen to drag queens.

The crowd was mostly.

Black men.

>> the black people in the South Loop.

Those kind of like Mccoy never posed to subjects allowing their personality shine through the beauty.

No man.

>> That is.

>> on the pledges.

Stereotypes mold over the last 100 It's a slice of black America.

seeing all right.

You don't typically see in the >> Artist Juarez Hawkins curated show.

She's known McCoy for decades and helped him whittled down some 1500 snaps to the 50 or so now featured seems started to emerge.

>> And guys bikes, the idea, these definitely here and the fashion is at the was really just nothing short of spectacular.

>> But as the 80's gave way to the 90's, McCoy felt less safe.

Caring his camera everywhere cracked came into Chicago and AIDS was taking a heavy toll.

There are people.

>> Here and this little small selection of my photograph we're really dear to me.

they did.

They succumb to the Mccoy says seeing his photographs displayed like this comes with nostalgia and sadness, but also a sense of pride in what his work captures.

>> beautiful condition of that time period.

>> From a black perspective, this is for Chicago tonight.

I'm Nick Blumberg.

>> As I mentioned, the exhibit happened a couple years back, but you can still find those photos by checking out the story on our website.

And that's our show for this Wednesday night.

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It is all at W T Tw dot com slash festivals and join us tomorrow night at 5, 30 10 now for all of us here at Chicago tonight, Black Voices and greatest Friedman, thanks for watching.

Stay healthy and safe and have a good night.

>> Those caps made possible by Robert, a and Clifford law Chicago, personal injury and wrongful death.

That supports