Stop the Violence

I'm spending the year in South Chicago, along with Katie, a fellow DV, and 5 Dominican Sisters of Springfield. We live at St. Martin's convent near E. 91st and Commercial Ave. Katie and I minister at St. Leonard's Ministries on the Near West Side of Chicago. St. Leonard's works with formerly incarcerated adults to give them the tools they need to attempt a second (sometimes third, or fourth) chance at having a meaningful and successful life. Katie is stationed in our education and job training center assisting program participants with resume prep and providing them with job leads and advice. I spend my days assisting the directors with any and all administrative and fundraising tasks. I also tutor residents & program participants in english and math. I also lead a reading discussion group for the residents. We were placed at an awesome organization!! Check it out: www.slministries.org

We live in the heart of South Chicago where, amidst gang warfare, we are able to keep a routine eating, socializing, and praying schedule. As we open our prayer books or say grace before dinner, sounds of sirens rise and fall in the background. Talks of the trials and joys of each of our day intermingles with the booming base from cars driving through the alley next to our dining room. It's urban and it's international and we're the minority. During the day, it's packed with people shopping up and down 'main street' (aptly named Commercial Ave). At night, it's not a place to walk alone.

The reality of my living situation is difficult to comprehend at times because I don't know how awful things can happen outside when life seems so blessed from the inside.

I'm sure most people reading this heard about or saw the video of the fatal beating of Derrion Albert that occurred at Fenger High School on September 24th. I'm also sure that anyone reading this may not know that this news happened 10 blocks southwest of where my community is located. Gang fights happen all over the nation, but I've never been so close to one. The male youth in my neighborhood always travel in packs. They ride bikes through alleys and in the park, walk side-by-side blocking the sidewalks, and don't respond when I say "hello." They look like they want a place to go to bond and make friends, but the streets are the only place they know as their own space. Where are the after school programs? Where are the mentoring programs? What about more YMCAs with after school activities, homework help, and space for recreation?

One afternoon, on our way to the bus after work, a few unattended children were playing near a busy thruway and one of them ran up behind Katie and me. We stopped and said "hello." He tried to hide in the corner of a gate, but we saw him. We both noticed a small water-gun in his hand and couldn't help but look confused. As he ran back to his friends, I immediately wondered if he wasn't just being playful with us, but instead he was imitating someone or something that taught him how to use a gun.

Everyday at St. Leonard's, I see grown men and women struggling to break through the cycle of poverty. These men and women grew up in the outskirts of Chicago surrounded by drugs, alcohol, corrupt police departments, and public schools that failed to challenge or encourage them. They spent some time in prison and now they want to become something other than a repeat offender. With a few classes in life skills, green maintenance or culinary arts, employment training, anger management, parenting, drug counseling, writing, and support from a case manager and a family of teachers and administrators, St. Leonard's residents and program participants push themselves out of the cycle and start walking on solid ground.

Almost everyday, I witness the happy ending of it all. The men I tutor and work with show me inspiration and hope. They have so much they want to do with their time now that they have the chance to earn a degree or just learn how to read and they've finally met the people who want to help them achieve their goals. Hearing the difference in the way one of my tutorees sounds out words and seeing the improvement in his writing ability helps me realize that this cycle of poverty can be beat, one person at a time. I just wish that nobody had to wait until after they served time to start to realize their potential and their ability to live a purposeful life. That should begin on the first day of a child's life or at least on the first day of school, and everyday thereafter.


It's only been two months and I feel like I've learned so much about the prison system and the education systems in the Chicago area. I can't wait to learn more and share it with you all here.

I hope all is well with the other volunteers and all our readers!

Love & Peace - Emily