The third—and most important—group of collaborators was composed of the approximately 70 Chicagoans who lent their voices to this undertaking. For all of them, speaking with my students was a big leap of faith, and for many, it involved dredging up painful memories. For some, it even meant placing their own lives at risk. I am aware of the awesome responsibility that comes with collecting their stories, and I hope that my students and I have proved up to the task. In any case, I am grateful beyond words to all those who took part, and I regret that we could not fit more of their powerful stories into this book.
I want to offer special thanks to Joy McCormack, not only for sharing her story but also for her wisdom and collaboration on this project from the start. I’m also deeply grateful to other members of the MMV family, Siu Moy, Victor Valencia and Francisco Valencia Sr. And this project would not have been possible without community leaders who welcomed my students into their neighborhoods, including Jaime Arteaga, Max Cerda, Deanna Hallagan, Rev. Robin Hood, Father David Kelly, Diane Latiker, Mama Brenda Matthews, Edgar Ramirez and Jenice Sanders. And finally, I want to express my deep gratitude to John Zeigler, the managing director of Egan Urban Center at DePaul, whose knowledge of Chicago communities and relationships with local activists were invaluable to this effort, as were his wisdom, support, enthusiasm and friendship.
Many other people at DePaul also deserve recognition, beginning with my colleagues in the English Department. When I proposed the project to Anne Clark Bartlett, who was then department chair, she said, “Let’s figure out how we can make this happen.” I got the same response from Lucy Rinehart, who replaced Anne as chair and went out of her way on countless occasions to help me leap bureaucratic, logistical and financial hurdles. I am immensely grateful for her leadership, as well as for that of Craig Sirles and Michele Morano, the former and current director, respectively, of the Master of Arts in Writing and Publishing program. I also want to thank Cathy Clark and Jennifer Wright for saving me (and many others) from chaos on a daily basis. And I must give special recognition to two gifted colleagues, Chris Green and Jonathan Messinger, who joined me in teaching a series of classes that gave graduate creative-writing students at DePaul hands-on experience in developing, producing and launching a book. After their work in the classroom was complete, Chris and Jonathan donated their own time and expertise to the project. This book would not be possible without them.
Charles Suchar, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, has been unfailingly supportive of this undertaking, as have others in his office, including Molly Bench, Susanna Pagliaro and Midge Wilson. Thanks are also due to Mark Laboe, Rubén Álvarez Silva and other members of the University Ministry at DePaul, as well as to Elizabeth Ortiz, José Perales and Miranda Standberry-Wallace at the Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity, and to Sara Miller-Acosta, Abena Apea, Cate Ekstrom and Paula Starkey at the University Office of Advancement. I am also grateful to Mary Devona, Marla Morgen, Anastasia Katinas and Jose Padilla at DePaul’s Office of the General Counsel.
The project received extraordinary logistical, pedagogical and financial backing from the Irwin W. Steans Center for Community-based Service Learning, an institution that makes me proud to teach at DePaul. I am indebted to Howard Rosing, Jeffrey Howard, Marisol Morales and the rest of the Steans Center’s staff for their foresight, flexibility and steadfast support. The Beck Research Initiative for Women, Gender and Community—another project that makes me proud of DePaul—also provided vital financing and resources. I am deeply grateful to Beth Catlett and her colleagues at Women’s and Gender Studies, and to Irene and Bill Beck and their family, whose belief in the power of positive action is inspiring.
This book was made possible by a grant from the Vincentian Endowment Fund at DePaul, where I am thankful to Rev. Edward R. Udovic and his staff. Additional support for printing and distribution came from the William and Irene Beck Foundation, the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Now Is The Time, a citywide effort against youth violence.
Funds for programming connected to this book came from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, where I am grateful to Peter Handler, Sunny Fischer and Richard Driehaus. I would also like to thank Robin Willard, Kathryn Eckert and Annie Tully at the Chicago Public Library, which co-sponsored events for this book, as well as hosting a tour of the theatrical version of How Long Will I Cry?
The goal of collaborative storytelling is to empower narrators and audience members to make connections with each other and with the broader world. So my final thanks—and my final plea—is to readers. Please share these stories (and this free book) with others, speak out about your own experiences, and stand up against bloodshed and injustice however you can. It will take many more voices—strong, loud and insistent—to change the narrative of violence in Chicago.
—Miles Harvey
RESOURCE GUIDE
The following groups are involved in anti-violence efforts in Chicago. We regret that we do not have enough space to list all the organizations that are working to make the city a safer and more equitable place. For more information about the services available to families of victims and to young people in need of legal services, gang-tattoo removal, shelter and other resources, please contact Chicago’s Citizens for Change (chicagoscitizensforchange@gmail.com), which is compiling a comprehensive guide.
Albany Park Community Center
1945 W. Wilson Ave., Suite 3000
Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: 773.583.5111
Website: www.apcc-chgo.org
The mission of Albany Park Community Center is to serve, support and educate diverse and multicultural community members as they determine their own path of growth and development. The organization envisions a vibrant community, in which members respect and celebrate diversity, use their skills and talents to help themselves and others live in safety and harmony and realize their hopes for a better life.
Alternatives, Inc.
4730 N. Sheridan Rd.
Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: 773.506.7474
Fax: 773.506.9420
Email: info@alternativesyouth.org
Social Media: http://www.facebook.com/AlternativesYouth or http://twitter.com/alternativesinc
Website: www.alternativesyouth.org
Alternatives is a comprehensive, multicultural youth development agency serving more than 3,000 young people and their families each year. Programs include counseling, leadership development and academic enrichment, as well as substance abuse and violence prevention.
Association House of Chicago
1116 N. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL 60651
Phone: 773.772.7170
Fax: 773.384.0560
Website: www.associationhouse.org
Based in the Humboldt Park neighborhood and offering programs and services locally and citywide, Association House helps participants gain independence through six service areas: community services, citizenship classes, child welfare, behavioral health, out-of-school time and El Cuarto Año alternative high school.
The Black Star Project
3509 S. Martin Luther King Dr., Suite 2B
Chicago, IL 60653
Phone: 773.285.9600
Fax: 773.285.9602
Email: blackstar1000@ameritech.net
Website: www.blackstarproject.org
The Black Star Project is committed to improving the quality of life in Black and Latino communities of Chicago and nationwide by eliminating the racial academic achievement gap. The group’s mission is to provide educational services that help preschool through college students succeed academically and become knowledgeable and productive citizens with the support of their parents, families, schools and communities.
5100 W. Harrison St.
Chicago, IL 60644
Phone: 773.227.2880
Email: contactus@buildchicago.org
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/BUILDChicago?ref=t or https://twitte
r.com/buildchicago
Website: www.buildchicago.org
BUILD impacts communities by equipping at-risk youth with the life skills, training and resources necessary to emerge as leaders and active community change-makers. BUILD targets the at-risk demographic for participation and exposes them to multiple community resources, education, leadership training, mentoring and opportunities traditionally unavailable within their communities.
Chicago Area Project (CAP)
55 E. Jackson Blvd., Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312.663.3574
Fax: 312.663.5873
Email: info@chicagoareaproject.org
Website: www.chicagoareaproject.org
CAP empowers a broad base of community stakeholders to work together to improve neighborhood conditions, hold institutions accountable, reduce anti-social behavior by young people, protect children from inappropriate institutionalization and provide youth with positive models for personal development.
Chicago’s Citizens for Change (CCC)
5315 N. Clark St., Suite 310
Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: 312.488.9222
Email: chicagoscitizensforchange@gmail.com
Social Media: http://www.facebook.com/ChicagosCitizensForChange
Website: www.chicagoscitizensforchange.org
Founded by Joy McCormack, who tells her story in the final chapter of this book, Chicago’s Citizens for Change aims to reduce youth violence through programs and partnerships that strengthen communities and promote restorative peace-making by supporting families and youth who have experienced loss due to violence. To ensure that no family walks this journey alone, CCC is committed to building a citywide response network to support families and loved ones of homicide victims and to providing opportunities for organizations, social services and justice systems to work together in a coordinated effort to serve Chicago’s citizens.
Community Organizing and Family Issues/POWER-PAC
1436 W. Randolph St., 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: 312.226.5141
Fax: 312.226.5144
Email: cofi@cofionline.org
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Community-Organizing-and-Family-Issues-COFI/142663769103557
Website: www.cofionline.org
POWER-PAC is a cross-cultural, citywide membership organization of low-income parents. Its mission is to build a strong voice for low-income, immigrant and working families by uniting parents across race and community around issues of importance to families. POWER-PAC members are from throughout Chicago, including the neighborhoods of Austin, Englewood, Grand Boulevard, Humboldt Park, Lawndale, Little Village, Pilsen and West Town. To download the Parent-to-Parent Guide on Restorative Justice, please go to: http://www.cofionline.org/sites/default/files/COFI%20Parent%20RJ%20Guide%20english%202012%20update_0.pdf
Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office - Victim Witness Assistance Unit
2650 S. California Ave., 1st Floor
Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: 773.674.7200
Website: http://www.statesattorney.org/index2/victimservices.html
The Victim Witness Assistance Unit was created in 1981 with the guiding philosophy that victims should be afforded their place in the system, informed about the status of the case, supported as the legal process proceeds and referred to outside agencies when additional help is needed. Besides providing in-person court support, victim-witness specialists co-facilitate a monthly support group.
Cure Violence
1603 W. Taylor St.
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: 312-996-8775
Website: http://cureviolence.org or http://cureviolence.org/community-partners/illinois-partners/
Formerly known as CeaseFire, Cure Violence reverses the spread of violence by using the methods and strategies associated with disease control—detection and interruption, identifying individuals involved in transmission, and changing social norms of the communities where it occurs. The group was the focus of the acclaimed 2011 documentary film The Interrupters.
Demoiselle 2 Femme
9415 S. Western Ave., Suite 200
Chicago, IL 60643
Phone: 773.779.9371
Fax: 773.779.9471
Email: info@demoiselle2femme.org or tpiper@demoiselle2femme.org
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/Demoiselle2Femme, https://twitter.com/demoiselle2femm, http://www.youtube.com/demoiselle2femme, and http://d2fcatalyst.com/
Website: www.demoiselle2femme.org
Demoiselle 2 Femme (D2F), French for “Young Ladies to Women,” is a not-for-profit organization committed to providing holistic programs and services that support adolescent females in a successful transition to womanhood. T-awannda Piper, whose narrative opens this book, is the director of programs for the organization.
Enlace Chicago - Violence Prevention
2329 S. Troy Ave.
Chicago, IL 60623
Phone: 773.823.1062
Fax: 773.475.7953
Email: jasalazar@enlacechicago.org
Social Media: http://www.facebook.com/enlacechicago or https://twitter.com/EnlaceChicago
Website: www.enlacechicago.org
Enlace Chicago has one of the most comprehensive violence-prevention initiatives in the Chicago metropolitan area, providing services ranging from school-based prevention work to advocacy for reform in juvenile justice policy. Enlace is based in the Little Village community.
Gordie’s Foundation
6430 S. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60636
Phone: 773.434.3920
Fax: 773.476.7526
Email: chmillgordie@sbcglobal.net
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gordies-Foundation/163496413678066?fref=ts
Website: www.gf28.org
Founded by Audrey Wright, whose story appears in this book, Gordie’s Foundation provides ex-offenders with marketable vocational training that can be the springboard to a productive lifestyle change. The organization is based in the Englewood community on the South Side.
Greater Roseland Community Committee -
Youth Voices Against Violence
11026 S. Indiana Ave.
Chicago, IL 60628
Phone: 773.629.8804
Email: Good2bhisangel@sbcglobal.net
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/groups/364009450334/
After losing her son to gun violence in 2003, Gwen Baxter founded this organization so that fewer mothers would have to go through an experience such as hers. Youth Voices provides after-school programs, including tutoring and recreation, as well as summer youth employment.
J-Def Peace Project
1436 W. 18th St.
Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: 312.405.8221
Email: emald19@yahoo.com
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-J-DEF-Peace-Project/171459632918845
The J-Def Peace Project uses multidisciplinary arts to foster a peaceful community. Its goal is to continue the work of aspiring hip-hop artist Jeff Abbey Maldonado Jr., who was murdered in the Pilsen neighborhood in 2009. His father, Jeff Maldonado Sr., talks about the young man’s life and legacy in this book.
Kids Off the Block, Inc.
11627 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60628
Phone: 773.995.9077
Fax: 773.264.3912
Email: diane.latiker@sbcglobal.net or dianekob@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.kidsofftheblock.us
Founded by Diane Latiker, whose narrative appears in this book, Kids Off the Block provides at-risk, low-income youth positive alternatives to gangs, drugs, truancy, violence and the juvenile justice system.
Latino Cultural Exchange Coalition
2646 W. Division St.
Chicago, IL 60622
Phone: 773.367.1374
Email: Azteca1519@yahoo.com
Co-founded by Max Cerda, whose story
can be found on these pages, this group—located in Humboldt Park—works with at-risk young people and ex-offenders.
Lazarus Jones Save Our Children Campaign
P.O. Box 257474
Chicago, IL 60625
Phone: 773.386.0750
Email: lazarusjonessocc@yahoo.com
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lazarus-Jones-Save-Our-Children-Campaign/129568373810731?ref=hl
Website: http://www.lazarusjonessocc.org/
Founded by Pamela Hester-Jones, whose story appears on these pages, the Lazarus Jones Save Our Children Campaign focuses on improving safety within our communities through support, counseling and educational workshops.
Marillac Social Center
212 S. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: 773.722.7440
Fax: 773.722.1469
Email: info@svdpc.org
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/MarillacSt.VincentFamilyServices and https://twitter.com/MSVChicago
Website: www.marillachouse.org
Since 1914, Marillac Social Center has been serving the needs of the poor and working poor of the West Side of Chicago. Sponsored by the Daughters of Charity, Marillac Social Center provides vital programs and services in the areas of child development, social services, family services, senior services and youth programs.
Now Is The Time
Website: http://www.nowisthetimechicago.org
Now Is The Time is a citywide initiative aimed at inspiring young people to make positive change in their communities and stop youth violence and intolerance. The organizations behind this effort include Steppenwolf and many of Chicago’s other leading theater companies, as well as the Chicago Public Library, Facing History and Ourselves, and dozens of other organizations and institutions.