Our guest this week is Eric Davis. A former CHA resident, Chicago Police officer, author, documentarian, community activist and one-time gang member, Davis has lived a Chicago life unfamiliar to most residents.

He was shot in a gang-banging dispute years ago, and as he recovered from his serious wounds, he relied on the love and support of his parents. His strong family bonds led him to a career in the CPD, where he distinguished himself for heroism. But perhaps more importantly, he requested assignment to the CHA. He spent countless hours there counseling kids growing up in the same high-rises in which he grew up.

Today he’s retired from CPD, but still spends time as a CHA security officer, often in Altgeld Gardens.  He’s doing a documentary on the declining numbers of African-American professional baseball players.

And he sat down with us for an unusual, one-on-one conversation about Chicago – Eric Davis’ Chicago – as he’s seen it through the years.