This episode isn’t about basketball — it’s about legacy, identity, purpose, and power.

Ross sits down with filmmaker Creston Coleman to discuss Orange and Black: Beneath the Numbers, a new documentary that dives into the soul of Peoria’s Manual High School basketball dynasty. But this isn’t just nostalgia — it’s a look at what it meant to be young, Black, and full of promise in a city that’s changed around you.

Creston speaks with raw honesty about Coach Wayne McClain, a towering mentor who shaped generations of boys into men, and about how sports became one of the only safe spaces for young men to express emotion and find direction.

And one message rings loud:
“Community isn’t a word — it’s an action.”

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In this episode of KZ Community Beat, Ross Martinez sits down with Marilyn Woods to talk about a powerful first for Peoria: a free girls flag football clinic sponsored by the Chicago Bears. Marilyn breaks down how the clinic came to life, what it means for local girls in grades 5–12, and how this event is about more than just football—it’s about creating a safe, exciting space for young women to play, learn, and thrive. From community volunteers to Bears swag and beyond, this is one conversation that shines a spotlight on opportunity, inclusion, and a growing movement in youth sports.

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In this powerful episode of KZ Community Beat, Ross catches up with a returning voice and friend of the pod, Brett Brooks — now two years stronger. Together, they dive into the significance of Juneteenth, the meaning behind the Miss Juneteenth Pageant, and the reality of being minority in a city still learning to face its reflection.

They unpack the beautiful chaos of Peoria’s legacy, the echoes of racism locally, and the internal struggles minorities face even within media spaces. This one gets honest — talking about systemic silence, microaggressions, local pride, and the future goal of launching a scholarship rooted in community empowerment.

It’s not performative. It’s not corporate. It’s the kind of conversation that might make some uncomfortable… and that’s exactly the point.

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