• Located in Kankakee County, one hour, 70 miles, south of Chicago.
• Populated by 2,784 residents, primarily African-American.
• Lacking a bank, supermarket, police force, barbershop, gas station, bookstore, and pharmacy.

Pembroke has no bus or train connection. Its roads are mostly paved with sand or gravel. Many of its homes are crumbling shacks with dirt floors and no running water. Some homes feature tires up top to keep the roof from flying off. In 1999, more than 51% of Pembroke families with children under five were below the poverty level. 43.4% of household incomes were below $25,000. Per capita income was $9,642; Cook County, in which Chicago is located, had a per capita income in 1999 of $23,227. Many of Pembroke's households have no telephone service. There is one doctor in town. Because there is no local postal delivery, families pick up their F-to-F cartons at Pembroke's Church of the Cross, or Reverend Ronald Walker, Sr., the church's community outreach worker, personally delivers them.