Unpacked: Breaking the Chains in Chicago

What happens when you center Black men—not as problems to be solved, but as experts in their own experience? In this episode of Unpacked, we will speak with leaders behind the new report “Breaking the Chains: Reclaiming Wealth, Power, and Dignity for Black Men,” which challenges the systemic roots of economic exclusion and highlights the ingenuity and resilience of Black men in Chicago.

Guests Matthew Bruce, Dr. Clinton Boyd, Jr., and Richard Wallace join us to unpack how the lived experience of Black men in Chicago—particularly those impacted by incarceration and generational disinvestment—shapes our understanding of equity, entrepreneurship, and systemic change. We unpack their findings, spotlight resilience strategies from the community, and discuss a bold call to action for transforming not just employment systems—but wealth-building, fatherhood, and policy itself.