Ernest Gates is a Near West Side native who transformed his deep love for his community into a powerful force for change. After building a successful trucking career, he became a founding board member of the Near West Side Community Development Corporation, where he mastered the art of grassroots organizing. He famously led the charge to stop the Chicago Bears from seizing neighborhood land for a stadium, proving that a dedicated group of residents could outmaneuver city power brokers. Gates operates on the philosophy that true leadership is invisible, focusing entirely on getting the work done rather than seeking personal credit. His story is a masterclass in how to fight, plan, and implement lasting community improvements.

In a personal interview with her brother Mark, Colette Payne recounts her life's trajectory from a tumultuous youth marked by poverty and incarceration to her current role as a prominent advocate for system-impacted women. The conversation explores the root causes of her struggles, her pivotal decision to change, the process of rebuilding her life, and how she transformed personal hardship into a powerful platform for policy change and community healing.

Pat Dowell grew up in Queens reading Ebony magazine and decided Chicago was where she needed to be. A former social worker, city planner, and Executive Director of Public Allies Chicago, and now Alderman of the Third Ward, she has been fighting for Black neighborhoods her entire career. Mark sits down with his mentor to talk about what that fight has actually looked like, while growing people on purpose.