SUBSCRIBE TO SEASON 1
Welcome
At a time when our political conversations are as a polarized as they’ve ever been before, sound ideas and reasonable perspectives are at risk of being made invisible. For this reason, we invite you --Chicago-- to join us for a new, innovative podcast entitled A Seat at the Table facilitated by dynamic WGN news anchor Dometi Pongo. The goal and intent of these curated conversations is for each and every one of us to take part in locating actionable solutions to the facets of racial inequity that are most uncomfortable to bring to the table. As the League boldly continues its work in advancing social justice for Chicago’s African American communities, we have found that - at least at our table - all of us want the same things; quality education, health care for ourselves and loved ones, safety, and economic well-being.
Episodes
Ep. 8 Convening on Youth Violence
In this live podcast recording, panelists identify and scrutinize the root causes of youth violence. United Kingdom-based community organizer Temi Mwale founded the 4Front Project to find solutions to street violence in London – not unlike the trauma experienced in Chicago. She offers her perspective alongside Clinical & Community Psychologist Dr. Obari Cartman, Poet and activist Jessica "FM Supreme" Disu and organizer and writer Charles Preston.
We also hear from Tree, a high school counselor whose encounter with gun violence left him handicapped.Dometi Pongo co-moderates the panel with Black Lives Matter activist Kofi Ademola.
Chicago Urban League President and CEO Shari Runner gives an opening statement marking the end of the first season of "CULture Race and Equity.
Ep. 7 race and Equity with Kim Foxx
Cook County State's Attorney, Kim Foxx, talks to CRE about her first year in office.
The second African-African to be elected Cook County State's Attorney, Kim Foxx, talks to CRE about her first year in office.
Foxx opens up about some of the challenges she faces in charging officers in police misconduct cases. She also talks about carrying out what may have been the first mass exoneration in county history, announces a lawsuit against Uber and answers questions about the roles activists, journalists and elected officials play in addressing social ills.
She and host Dometi Pongo round the conversation off with a broader dialogue about gentrification and issues of racial equity in Chicago and Cook County.
Ep. 6 Public Health with Dr. Terry Mason and Samantha Olds Frey
This week on culture race and equity, we discuss public health with the Cook County Department of Public Health’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Terry Mason. Dr. Mason analyzes the root causes of many of the health issues seen in African American communities.
After that (@20:00), you’ll hear from Samantha Olds Frey, the Executive Director of the Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans. She discusses inequities within the country’s health care system.
EPISODE 5
wage gap w/ paul strauss and Tammera holmes
An employment discrimination lawyer and a STEM education expert discuss wage disparities based on race and gender.
Civil Rights Attorney Paul Strauss makes a case for legislation that would require companies to publicly release more information on wages and hiring practices.
(@ 17:20) Tammera Holmes is a black, female aviation executive in a field historically dominated by white males. Her company, Aerostar, works to create a pipeline for children of color interested in jobs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. She talks about how her experiences in corporate America led her to entrepreneurship. Holmes argues that starting your own business - and setting your own wages - is the only true to way to create a more equitable future.
EPISODE 4
Police Reform w/ Lori Lightfoot and Kofi Ademola
Police Board President Lori Lightfoot served also as Vice Chair of the Police Accountability Task Force. She gives a detailed breakdown of what the Justice Department found when it investigated the Chicago Police Department. Lightfoot also explains what a consent decree is and gives her thoughts on why Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been reluctant to put one in place.
(@ 26:00) Kofi Ademola is an activist with Black Lives Matter Chicago who has researched the decades-long history of police violence against community members. Ademola gives an account of how activist groups have been putting pressure on the city through both protests and litigation.
EPISODE 3
ECONOMIC DISINVESTMENT W/ KURT SUMMERS AND RENDEL SOLOMON
The City of Chicago Treasurer and a finance executive discuss economic disinvestment in communities of color.
Treasurer Kurt Summers talks about what local government can do to invest in under=resourced neighborhoods and spur economic growth. Rendel Solomon is a principal at a Chicago-based equity firm and also runs the non-profit, @1stock1future, which teaches young people how to invest. Solomon weighs in on the importance of financial literacy and how families in underserved neighborhoods can invest in themselves.
EPISODE 2
INCOME INEQUALITY W/ DR. STEPHANIE SCHMITZ-BECHTELER AND STEVE SHERMAN
A researcher and a finance executive discuss racial income inequality from unique but dissimilar vantage points.
Vice President of the Chicago Urban League’s Research and Policy Center, Dr. Stephanie Schmitz Bechteler and Loop Capital Managing Director, Steve Sherman, examine how gaps in earnings are due, in part, to the fact that "African-Americans are overrepresented in [college] majors that lead to low-paying jobs" (accoriding to a Georgetown University study).
But that's a fairly recent piece of the puzzle. Bechteler explains the systemic pressures that led to widening gaps in wealth and earnings. Sherman posits education as a forward.
ePISODE 1
PUBLIC SAFETY W/ FATHER PFLEGER AND TAJI GAINES
A pair of community advocates talks to Dometi Pongo about how they're working to address one of Chicago's most pressing challenges: Public Safety.
Taking a seat at the table first is Father Michael Pfleger who leads St. Sabina Church and a number of initiatives combatting violent crime in the city.
His interview (@27:00) is followed by a conversation with Bro. Taji Gaines, the President of the "pro-black, action-based" community organization, New Era Chicago.You'll hear common threads in their responses despite their markedly different approaches to activism.
PREVIEW - CONVENING ON RACIAL EQUITY
In this preview episode of "CULture, Race & Equity - A Seat at the Table," we're featuring audio from a live event at the Chicago Urban League addressing the differences in organizing methods between baby boomers and millennial advocates, activists and community stakeholders.
This 'Convening on Racial Equity' was moderated by WGN Radio reporter, Dometi Pongo, and featured the following panelists:
-Shari Runner, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League
-Michelle Mbekeani, Community Justice Staff Attorney at the Sargent Shriver Law Center on Poverty
-Kofi Ademola, Black Lives Matter Chicago organizer
-Emanuel "Manny" Johnson, Program Officer at Robert R. McCormick Foundation and Chicago Urban League IMPACT Fellow
-Judith Levey, Executive Director of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs
The full video, courtesy of CAN-TV, can be viewed at CULpodcast.com.
preview - a chat with president Shari runner
Chicago Urban League President and CEO Shari Runner explains the goal and intent of these curated conversations.
Facilitated by journalist Dometi Pongo, "A Seat at the Table" provides space for each and every one of us to take part in locating actionable solutions to the facets of racial inequity that we're least comfortable talking about.
This eight-part series features conversations with lawmakers, advocates and policy experts tackling some of Black America's most pressing issues. Available on iTunes, Soundcloud, and all other podcasting platforms.
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