In Chicago's crime-ridden districts such as Southside and Englewood, children and other innocent bystanders repeatedly get caught up in the violence. It is a dark parallel world to the otherwise shining city. The predominantly Afro-American inhabitants of these neighborhoods live with the danger every day - but are not prepared to stand idly by. The author of this film meets residents who are committed to improving their city, including former gang leader Booney McFowler, crime reporter Paul Lapointe and Raydell Lacey, who has lost both her daughter and a grandson to the violence. Retired carpenter Greg Zanis makes a cross for each of those killed - both as a tribute and a consolation for their families. He has been doing this for 22 years and simply can't keep up with the death toll: "Gun violence is an American cancer," he says.