“Business is the magic that cures social ills” and “that capitalism, not [government] dependency, is the answer” to a better life. That’s from Pastor Corey Brooks. He’s the director of a conservative economic campaign in Chicago and one of the best civil rights leaders since MLK.

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Brooks invited John Reaves, the CEO of Milton’s Craft Bakers, to a chat. Brooks first asked him how can businesses help inner cities that have been ravaged by government programs and socialist policies. There must be some way out of the dangerous morass that has all but destroyed American urban life.

“The way that business can help is by providing opportunity. This neighborhood, this community really needs peace and the opportunity for prosperity,” Reaves began his answer. “Your team is providing skills to folks, providing an opportunity for peace and joy in their day, especially this community center that you’re seeking to build. It’s going to provide training to thousands of people, and those people are then well-equipped so they can come to work for companies around here and in other cities, and we want to be a part of that.”

“When you talk about creating a peaceful environment and our center trying to help transform this neighborhood, why is it so important that from your standpoint that businesses help to anchor that, help us to create an ecosystem for creating economic base? We got mom-and-pop businesses, which are important,” the pastor said. “But as far as getting establishments like your company, we don’t have anything like that in our neighborhood. How is it that we get companies like that to come to areas like this, or is it even possible?”

“That’s why I came from Southern California to be with you and to partner with you on this journey,” Reaves assured. “I think what you’re doing here with the community center will equip folks, and that in turn will bring businesses into this environment because they’ll see the quality of the labor force that literally comes through the doors of what you’re creating here.

Currently, you’re already equipping people with key job skills in the area of trucking and banking and other disciplines. And they’re finding opportunities maybe adjacent to the neighborhood. And that model of success will build on itself and ultimately attract companies that are willing to locate here.”

“I appreciate you, not just for tonight’s support, but like you said, the support that you and your company, your family, have been giving us over time,” the pastor said. “It means a lot, and I appreciate having CEOs like yourself believing that we can transform our neighborhood, that individuals are worth giving a second chance, and so I really appreciate it.”