Category Archives: Uncategorized

“People Can Change”: Latee’s Story – Ep. 7



Police Cmdr. Ernest Cato remembers the night Latee was shot. He next saw the ‘troubled young man’ 3 years later at BUILD’s 50th Gala, as Latee told a packed ballroom about leaving the streets behind and his plans for college. Commander Cato was floored. We reunited the two for a moving in-studio discussion on gangs, violence, growing up on the west side, mentors, and success on this inspiring episode of BUILD Radio.


BUILDing Voices: 50 Years and Counting – Ep. 6



Our 6th installment features 5 youth public speaking pieces, youth interviews with African-American leaders, an interview with a local youth hip-hop artist, plus, spoken word from a BUILD alumnus, and a short piece celebrating 50 years of BUILD.


Our Youth Are Our Future! – Ep. 5



BUILD has been empowering Chicago youth with opportunity for 50 years. Listen to tomorrow’s leaders; hear and understand their stories. This episode we’ve got BUILD’s youth council, youth comedy, a youth entrepreneur, youth poetry, and youth music. Donate at buildchicago.org #buildhope


“Death Is Contagious”: The Max Cerda Story [Explicit Content Warning] – Ep. 4



The debut of “Death Is Contagious”, a powerful audio-drama chronicling the true story of Max Cerda, one of BUILD’s “Street Intervention Specialists”. Also an interview with Max discussing gang life, what solitary confinement was like, and what his work with BUILD means to him. Featuring dramatic interpretive reading by Chicago actor Tommy Rivera-Vega. 


Power, Poetry, and Politics (US Sen Dick Durbin, artist/scholar Eve Ewing) – Ep. 3



Benjy and BUILD youth participants talk about voting, guns, gangs, and what they see in their communities. Also, US Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, Writer/Scholar/Cultural Organizer Dr. Eve Ewing, and original spoken word poems from youth.


Chicago Bears BUILD (Charles ‘Peanut’ Tillman, Sam Acho) & Youth “Hip-Hopera” – Ep. 2



BUILD sits down with past Chicago Bears star cornerback Charles Tillman, current linebacker Sam Acho, and franchise chairman George McCaskey. Also, the premiere of youth written/performed 3-part hip-hopera, “The Saga of Terrence Jenkins”.


Saving Lives with Art and Music – Ep. 1



In our premiere episode we are introduced to BUILD, its executive director, and why such work is critical now. We also speak to a Cook County Commissioner, a reformed gang member, and hear song, story, and spoken word pieces from BUILD’s young people.