2013 columbia links by The Columbia Chronicle of Columbia College Chicago

other side of the trigger Stereotyping the shooters

Just a date

When trust leads to trauma

2013

Chicago's teen magazine; written for us, by us

The far east movement 'Life-changing' trip to China

GOOD rivalry fighting crime on the court

TWEET THE revolution Caught between

bullets & friends

REVIEWS

2011

Food, Films, Books

Winter 2013

Spring 2013

Summer 2013

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PROFESSIONAL STAFF

STUDENT STAFF High School Al Raby High School Al Raby High School Carl Schurz High School Chicago International Charter School - Longwood Chicago Vocational Career Academy De La Salle Institute Dunbar Vocational Career Academy Eric Solorio Academy High School Hales Franciscan High School Homewood-Flossmoor High School Hyde Park Academy High School Jane Addams High School JCFS Therapeutic Day School Jones College Preparatory High School Jones College Preparatory High School Jones College Preparatory High School Jones College Preparatory High School Kenwood Academy Kenwood Academy King College Preparatory High School King College Preparatory High School King College Preparatory High School Lane Tech High School Lindblom Math and Science Academy Lindblom Math and Science Academy Lindblom Math and Science Academy Lindblom Math and Science Academy Lindblom Math and Science Academy Marist High School Marist High School Mt. Carmel High School Oak Park and River Forest High School Phoenix Military Academy Providence St. Mel School Rowe-Clark Math and Science Academy Roycemore School Roycemore School South Shore International College Preparatory High School St. Ignatius College Preparatory Steinmetz College Preparatory High School Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center Whitney M. Young Magnet High School Whitney M. Young Magnet High School Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

Student Shaprice Hunt Malik Haynes Michael Tull Janiela McKinney Theodore Palacio Marcus Carter Ameer Muhammad Adan Pedroza Marcus McKinney Sydney Falls Ranice Green Antonio Carr Alfredo Haro Ameerah Coleman Rose Ryan Amy Yalcin Avendah Watson Booker Vance Taylah Taylor Jordan Bradley Clarissa Cowley Jordan Dillon Tenzin Moenkyi Demi Powell Kaylah Harrington Ayinde Hill Snow Adams Alexis Sierra Solomon Davis Akia Davis Khalil Bentley Briana Williams Joshua Conner Briana Staggers Bridget Acre Julia Mondschean Sara Silverman Jaimie McKinley Olivia Okocha Alejandro Hernandez Leandra Luna Byron Mason Rania Elalej Tonyisha Harris

Special thanks to Omar Castillo, John Durr, James Foster, Ahmed Hamad, Tess Hynes, Jennifer Lacey, Chris Richert, Carolina Sanchez and the Columbia College Journalism Department. Columbia Links is committed to supporting and providing quality journalism instruction and training to Chicago teens and teachers. Columbia Links is the product of the leadership and commitment of Columbia College Journalism Department chair Nancy Day and associate professor Curtis Lawrence.

Brenda Butler, executive director Sue Laue, program manager Kevin Obomanu, program coordinator Billy Montgomery, journalism lecturer and professor

LINKS MENTORS Journalism high school mentor Matthew Wettig, editor, The Warrior newspaper, Lane Tech High School Journalism undergraduate mentor Nader Ihmoud, Columbia College Journalism graduate mentorS Jazzy Davenport, DePaul University Mario Lekovic, Columbia College Jennifer Tranmer, Columbia College Professional journalists Nia Andrews, publisher, One Purpose Magazine Claudia Banks, editor (Chicago Tribune), communications consultant Leah Banks, academic adviser, University of Illinois, Chicago; adjunct English professor, Wright College Brandon Campbell, news anchor/reporter, WGN Radio News Tracey English, reporter (Chicago Sun-Times) Rhonda Gillespie, reporter (The Chicago Defender, The Citizen), TheRoot.com Stefan Holt, weekday anchor, NBC 5 Lynette Holloway, contributing editor, TheRoot.com (Ebony Magazine, The New York Times) Glenn Jeffers, reporter (Ebony Magazine, Chicago Tribune), editor, Kellogg Magazine Candi Meriwether, adjunct journalism instructor, Columbia College Avis Weathersbee, editor (Chicago Sun-Times); editor/consultant (Jetmag. com), Ebony Magazine Michael Zajakowski, picture editor, Chicago Tribune Journalism Professors Hope Daniels, associate radio broadcast professor, Columbia College Peter Von Buol, adjunct journalism professor, Columbia College Regina Waldroup, adjunct journalism professor (TV), Columbia College Cover design / magazine design Erik Nelson Rodriguez, graphic designer, (EroGraphics.com, IllusPress.com) Cover photo James Foster, photographer, JFosterPhoto.com (Photo taken at St. Sabina's Peace Basketball Championship in March 2013)

If you are a teen in Chicago interested in participating in Columbia Links, call 312-369-8993 or email columbialinks@colum.edu

Facebook: facebook.com/columbialinks Twitter: @columbialinks Tumblr: columbialinks.tumblr.com

Columbia Links is supported by Columbia College Chicago and funded by the McCormick Foundation and Dow Jones News Fund. 1

Adult Lives of Teens Other side of the trigger 6 Home alone 8 It's the pride 9 Moms with a mission 10 The stress factors 12 Instant regrets 14 Chill, parents 15 Your money, your life 16 Just a date 18 Defusing with B.A.M. 19 The rise of the teens 20 Caught between bullets and friends

Giving It Back Good rivalry 24 Reality check 26 Claiming the corners 28 Beat bullying 29 Just rewards 30 Old school, new school 31 Feed the people 32 Families not alone 33 Music mends 34

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Growing up on the urban track Going Global Out of Eden 36 Tweet the revolution 38 Absence of Color 40 Role playing 41 The Far East movement 42 Coming out of the locker

Lost in translation 45 Big kids to ballots 46 Let's play futbol! 47 The old is the new 48 Sing it loud 50 Quite L-evating 51 No new jobs? 52 Colorblind society 53

Reviews Santorini 54 Spanglish 55 'Disconnect' 55 '42' 56 'A Place at the Table' 56 'Sticks and Stones' 57

My World, My community

or the fall 2013 edition of R_Wurd magazine, Columbia Links teens explored their communities as places that sometimes demand that they take on adult roles both in coping with trauma and in finding solutions. They also discovered the resilience and intelligence of Chicago residents in their grassroots efforts to make communities work and to help teens grow up safely and with integrity. Finally, the summer 2013 Links students tasted a wide array of Chicago cultures as they traveled to different ethnic neighborhoods that reflect the world here at home. We have selected stories for R_Wurd that highlight these themes.

Adult Lives of Teens Teens growing up in Chicago are dealing with some very tough issues – the onslaught of violence, the fear of going outside just to get to school, teen girls getting pregnant to find love, teen boys joining a gang to gain acceptance, being bullied because of sexuality, date rape, the lack of jobs for teens and the staggering pressure to make good grades and pay for college. It’s enough to lead some teens to despair. One in 20 Americans age 12 or older has experienced depression. But there are ways to cope with the challenges of growing up. Links students wrote about how teens can utilize good mental health practices and attitudes, stress and time management techniques and counseling to buffer trauma. Students found that parents also need to be involved in the lives of their children and form close emotional bonds. For gay teens, coping takes finding a support group that helps them feel accepted and respected. Students also examined bullying and found that it can be alleviated when bystanders stick up for the victim and report incidents to adults. Teens wrote that it truly takes everyone in a teen’s life to form a stable, supportive and productive community.

Giving It Back – Paying It Forward Students went into their neighborhoods and found acts of kindness and empathy among their neighbors. Chicago’s block clubs provide the support local residents need to keep their homes and families safe. Kids Off the Block, founded by Diane Latiker, provides activities, tutoring, mentoring, respect and love for 75 teens often finding themselves without a place to go or anyone to talk to. Meanwhile, another unique community program helps rival gang members stay competitive on the basketball court. Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sa-

bina Church on the South Side and Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah are using sports to unite gang rivals. In a study of redemption, teens found that some former gang members now work the streets to protect the community from pervasive violence through direct conflict intervention with active gang members. Cure Violence Illinois, formerly CeaseFire Illinois, members also work with the police to curb violence. Teens also volunteer in many organizations. They are required by Chicago Public Schools to perform 40 hours of community service as a graduation requirement. Many discover that doing volunteer work for others helps them to find themselves and worthy causes that interest them.

Going Global: Around Chicago in 18 Days Chicago is a microcosm of the world. With a myriad of languages and cultures, the city is teaming with vibrancy and excitement. Teen writers visited Greek, Indian, Polish and Hispanic neighborhoods to soak up the history and culture of each and to research issues important to people living there. For example, while many cultures around the world are using social media to fuel revolution, one Chicago woman, Hind Makki, is tweeting messages to an international following about repairing women’s spaces for worship in mosques, which are traditionally separated from male worship areas and ignored by them. Other teens wrote about a group of Chicago students who traveled to China with the Chicago Urban League to explore that culture, how a daughter fluent in Arabic saved her father from a misunderstanding with the police and how international sports like soccer, rugby and cricket are gaining popularity in the U.S. Fashion is also multicultural. One student found that a young woman walking down the street in the Loop might unknowingly have donned fashions that originated in other countries, such as a maxi-dress from ancient Greece, a gold collar necklace from Egypt and bangles from India. For the high school students in all the Links academies this year, it was a journey of discovery both inside and outside of their everyday lives. They became news reporters and discovered the richness, creativity and empathy of their community, how to cope with difficult issues and how we are all touched by giving back and by welcoming other cultures. Their stories, videos and podcasts are on www.columbialinks.org. 5

Adult Lives of Teens

Other SIDE

an advocacy movement on behalf of teen shooters reveals discrimination

By Julia Mondschean Roycemore School

he time of the one-size-fits-all criminal stereotype has passed, making way for a new public perception of the youths who find themselves involved in gun violence. People who once dismissed any child caught shooting a gun are beginning to wonder if there is more contributing to the problem of youth violence than simply the hand that pulled the trigger. Julio Ortiz*, a high school sophomore on the Southwest Side of Chicago, is someone who stands to benefit from this shift in public opinion and may also be able to show how the public can, too. Ortiz didn’t go out with his friends that night in December thinking he was about to shoot someone. But two years ago, on the Near Southwest Side of Chicago, that’s exactly what happened. The situation escalated quickly that night after Ortiz and his friends, all members of the gang Two Six, crossed paths with a rival gang. “We just see a bunch of these other groups of gangs that are right there and we just went up to them and started screaming, throwing bottles... And my boy, that’s when he pulls up a gun and he shoots it, once, and he says, “Hey there hold it.’ I was like alright,” Ortiz said. When the other gang began shooting at Ortiz and his friends, he pulled out the gun and fired back, without thinking twice about it. “I shot him, the dude falls on the ground, that’s when everyone else runs back,” said Ortiz. “I heard the guy screaming and it hit me in my head. I’m like... I just took someone’s life. I just see that dude crawling to his block.” Looking back on that night, “I think my worst regret [was] shooting him,” Ortiz said. Remembering those moments directly after the shooting, Ortiz recalls a few thoughts from that night. “His mom and 6

dad lost a son because of me,” said Ortiz. “He’s not gonna have a career, he’s not gonna have children, he’s not gonna reach his birthday, he’s not gonna see the next year, because of me... Living with the guilt of taking somebody else’s life,” Ortiz explained, “you just feel like you want to take your life away.” That night in December was not Ortiz’s first encounter with violence. When he was just 14 years old, Ortiz was put in the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center for attempted murder. “I was in there because I got into this one fight. It was attempt[ed] murder,” Ortiz said. “I hit somebody with a brick in the head, put them in a coma.” The demands of life as a gang member can sometimes be unexplainable even to those involved. “When you’re out there, you just don’t know what to do, ‘cause it’s like a game,” said Ortiz. Ortiz had come across a group of kids beating up his cousin. He immediately grabbed a brick and hit one of the attackers in the head. “That’s my cousin right there,” Ortiz said. “[They beat him up] just ‘cause he’s gay. You shouldn’t judge people.” Unfortunately, not everyone shares Ortiz’s opinions regarding the judgment of others. Ortiz can recall several instances in which he felt people had written him off because of stereotypes associated with his situation. Elena Quintana, the executive director of the Institute on Public Safety and Social Justice (IPSSJ), a program run by the Adler School of Professional Psychology, elaborates on this observation. “We seek to decriminalize youth and address trauma, rather than recreate it,” Quintana said. She believes that teens who have committed crimes often encounter many negative environments that can, after a

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OF THE trigger while, begin to form a cyclical pattern of violence. One such detrimental experience is the incarceration of juveniles. “Once a kid gets into a detention center, there is almost no chance they’ll graduate high school,” Quintana said. She attributes the lack of opportunities available to these juveniles as a key component of what keeps the violence going. When it comes to other major causes of youth violence and reasons why the situation isn’t improving, Quintana believes public opinion plays a significant role. “[We have this idea that] young black babies are born to be predators,” Quintana said. “That is complete b----t.” Quintana reiterated the presence of discrimination in public perception when it comes to gang members. She says the problem lies in the criminalization of today’s youth, specifically those who have committed a crime. “One problem is that these kids are seen as perpetrators,” said Quintana. “Even referring to them as perpetrators is reductional.” Ortiz has experienced the sometimes discriminatory and often dehumanizing opinion of the public that Quintana refers to in multiple instances. “I almost fought with a teacher once,” Ortiz said. “He called me a no-life. He said

Photo by Julia Mondschean

An unnamed former gang member stands beside his art. Creating art allows him to channel his energy.

I’d never make it in life.” Unfortunately, the classroom isn’t the only place Ortiz admits to experiencing discrimination towards himself and other gang members. Ortiz described the scene after one of his friends was shot.“The ambulance is on the next block,” Ortiz said, referring to an event in which his friend was shot in a drive-by. “They dragged. My boy would’ve still been alive if the ambulance would’ve got there faster. They always tell me, the ambulance and the police, they always gonna drag for us. We're part of a gang. They don't care about us.” Ortiz was exposed to violence at a very young age through his uncle, an active member of the Two Six street gang and the leader of his block. In fact it was his uncle that Ortiz approached when he decided he wanted to become a member of the gang. The correlation between a juvenile’s situation at home and the kinds of decisions they make later in life is a widely recognized cause of violence among youth. As the chief of clinical services at the Juvenile and Court Probation Services, Mark Werner has a pretty good idea of how teens find their way to guns. “It comes down to a couple things,” said Werner. “I think that the biggest reason is probably early, and I’m talking early like preschool, a very early exposure to violence.” Werner describes the presence of violence in the lives of the juveniles he encounters as the norm in their community. “And they are seeing domestic violence, they are seeing community and school violence and that has a profound impact on their development, on their moral development and their cognitive development,” said Werner. After Ortiz pulled the trigger that night in December, he spoke with his uncle. “I’m like, ‘Hey. I want out. I don’t want to be in this gang no more.’” Ortiz says that despite what many may think about the lives of kids involved in gangs, it is possible for others to under-

stand the lives of those involved. “People can understand if they take time talking to you,” Ortiz said. “Most people just [say] he’s a gangbanger, he’s a no-good person, don’t even talk to him.” There seems to be a shift in public opinion regarding youth violence and the juveniles involved, which was evident during the recent Urban Strategies Summit, hosted and organized by United Methodist Church at South Shore International College Prep High School. Community members attending the summit to discuss issues that Chicago communities face today. One of the topics discussed was entitled “restorative justice.” Different groups of community members were asked to come up with a word or phrase that exemplified the idea of restorative justice. One group leader, Shirley Simpson, spoke on behalf of fellow community members. “We picked ‘second chance,’” Simpson said. “Zero tolerance? Never heard of it... Everybody makes mistakes... If we want justice, we gotta have mercy.” The consensus seemed to be that in order to decrease violence in Chicago communities, there needs to be other practices utilized besides incarceration, which many are beginning to recognize is a short-term solution to a long-term problem. People are starting to believe that the real way to combat youth violence is not by isolating those we believe cause the problem from society, but by helping those who have made mistakes successfully re-enter the community. Ortiz is an example of the positive effects keeping kids out of prison can have on a community. Ortiz raised $8,000 by participating in a program at his church in which he talked to middle schoolers about gang life. “All that money was donated to the community,” Ortiz said. “The streets were fixed, there’s new books in the library. That’s what I care about now.” *Name has been changed to protect the identity of this source. 7

Adult Lives of Teens

Home ALone Even a two-parent home can be disastrous if the love isn't there

By Akia Davis Marist Catholic High School

hildren with absent parents rebel against society out of anger, sadness, fear and neglect. Usually during their teen years they can become rebellious, and by not addressing bad behaviors it can get worse. Increased crime among teenagers in America is due to the lack of fathers and mothers being responsible in caring for their children. Lack of guidance for children can yield social consequences in communities. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that teens living with two-parent families who have fair-to-poor relationships with their parents are 68 percent more likely to smoke, drink and use drugs than teens living in a two-parent household with good- to-excellent relationships. Kelly Merrida, supervisor for Aunt Martha’s Housing Facility, assists children who are abused, starved and cared for poorly. He has also works with children whose parents who are incarcerated or deceased and children who do not have fathers. He has many male adolescents that lack respect for women because they have no male figure in their lives to teach them. Eliminating teen pregnancy and allowing programs in schools that support two-parent households, like the ChildParent Centers, would decrease lack of parenting, he says. Child-Parent Centers teach classes about the importance of having two parents. Says Merrida: “If you are [a child] raised in a one-parent household, it won’t seem any different if you [become a parent who] puts your kids in that position,” but educating young parents can break that thinking pattern. Absent parents contribute widely to juvenile delinquency. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the nation’s largest percentage of crimes comes from juveniles; 80 percent of rapists that have

displaced anger come from fatherless homes; 70 percent of juveniles in stateoperated institutions come from fatherless homes; 85 percent of all youth sitting in prisons grew up in fatherless homes; and 63 percent of youth suicides are from fatherless homes. These statistics show how much of an impact not having both parents can make, although it does not excuse the teens reckless behavior. Single parent households are not the only issue when it comes to lack of parenting. Uninvolved parenting could be considered a normal parenting style but is least beneficial to children, because it makes children feel like they are alone in their home with their own family. They distance themselves, and it is hard for them to form attachments later in life. Working parents are typically uninvolved parents, and much of the time

cause some of the issues of drug use and violence, or even feelings of loneliness or neglect. There are teens who become so unhappy with their home life, that they decide to live on their own. Nineteen-year-old Charlene Sims was a foster child when she decided that the parenting in her foster home was not a good fit for her. She moved out on her own and found guidance through systems that the state of Illinois implemented. Faith Seals, supervising attorney for the Department of Human Services (DCFS), works with teens who live on their own and says that most children come into the system with behavioral issues because of life experiences that stem from parenting. However, typically children without parents turn out well when adults are placed in their lives such as a foster parent and/ Photo by Akia Davis

too tired to focus on their child’s needs. According to all-about-motherhood.com, a website directed to mothers, uninvolved parents say things to their children like: “Do what you like,” “Whatever,” “I’m busy,” “Yeah fine,” “Go play out.” Responses like these to a child says that, as a parent, you do not want to spend time with your child; you have no control over your children; and you let them do what they want, or your child is not a priority in your life. Attitudes like these can

or other relatives who exercise good parenting. Since her transition, many good things have happened for Sims, she says. She was naive in the streets, not caring and showed no respect out of anger, but now she is graduating high school, searching for a job, has more respect and has developed higher self-esteem. She advises teens who go through issues with their parents to keep holding on no matter what because in any bad situation, there can be a good outcome.

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It's the PRidE

Clubs, education and support groups are flipping the script for LGBT teens By Tonyisha Harris Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

hen did you figure out you were a lesbian?” “A few days before I kissed my girlfriend,” answers 15-year-old Julia Ayala. Julia is one of many teens who are identifying themselves as LGBT in high school. Her concern was not how she would be treated by others but whether the friend she was attracted to felt the same way. Historically, this has not been the main worry for members of the LGBT community. During the last century, discrimination and the possibility of potentially dangerous backlash kept many LGBT relationships hidden. Religions viewed these relationships as sinful, it was frowned upon. Gays and lesbians, at one time, could be jailed or sent to mental hospitals because of their sexual orientation. Prior to 1973, homosexuality was listed as a mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association. Society has come a long way since then; last year even President Barack Obama came out in support of gay marriage. While there are legal protections today, some people are still resistant to gay rights and some, teens included, still say hurtful things like “that’s so gay,” as showcased in the national ThinkB4YouSpeak campaign. The campaign asks kids

to pledge not to use homophobic language and to teach them about the harm it can cause, including potentially leading to bullying. So the question today is, “Is it safe for teens to come out?” Schools with an LGBT club have provided more positive experiences for LGBT students. The support given in school helps the students feel like they belong in their community. Some schools even teach about the history of LGBT, people, and events. the 2011 GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) national school climate survey found that 43.4 percent of students with an inclusive curriculum were more likely to report that their peers were accepting of LGBT classmates. The teenagers come to a mutual understanding of one another, according to the survey. Julia was also lucky enough to find understanding at home. “I was really worried for a second but then I remembered my mom back when I like barely started high school saying, We don't care if you're gay or whatnot, we just want you to be happy,' so I calmed down a bit,” said Julia. This reassurance from her mom when she was younger helped her through her nervousness when she figured out she was a lesbian. When teens don’t find this kind of ac-

ceptance at home, many are forced onto the streets—some run away, some are kicked out. According the LGBTQ Host Home Program, which looks for homes to take in gay young people, 20 to 40 percent of homeless youths in Cook County identify themselves as LGBT. Some shelters won’t accept LGBT people, and the rejected teens are left to find other alternatives of shelter. According to Koff, homeless teens can be sexually exploited, become addicted to drugs, and HIV infections can increase. Luckily, there are places homeless LGBT teens can turn to. In addition to the Host Home Program, other organizations provide a safe zone where individuals can come to a welcoming place and talk about their problems or meet more people like them who want to help, not judge. Tim West, associate director of the teen youth program at the Center on Halsted, explains its mission. “The Center on Halsted provides a safe space for many youth who are ostracized from their families because of their sexual orientation and/ or gender identity. LGBT teenagers and adults alike take advantage of the services provided by the Center on Halsted,” he says. Teens without support can become depressed. According to the crisis intervention organization called The Trevor Project, “lesbian, gay and bisexual adolescents and adults have two to six times higher rates of reported suicide attempts” than their straight counterparts. “We know that teen suicides, bullying and homelessness are higher in LGBTQ teen youth community,” West says. “Essentially, we want to provide the same opportunities to these teens that other teenagers have to grow into healthy and happy adults.” Though everyone may not be fully accepting of homosexuality—“Society has reinforced that being LGBT is a bad thing ... [it's a] general fear of something that is unfamiliar,” Koff says. LGBT teens like Julia and Darius face whatever may come at them with intense bravery so they can be who they are. “Love is love, you can’t exactly get rid of it; like if there is love why [shouldn’t you] go for it?” Julia says. 9

Adult Lives of Teens

ent. She no longer had time for activities like the after-school Latin dance program she participated in before. She needed to get home to care for her son. While her friends were supportive when she first had her son, they gradually drifted apart. Bridget Lally, who helps provide teen moms with prenatal and parenting classes through Chicago’s Christopher House, says friends are usually excited when the girls are pregnant, but after the baby is born there is a shift: Most teen moms and their friends don’t share the same struggles, she says, and there’s a “disconnect.” Maria’s family helps support her financially, but she still has had to work two jobs in order to As new mothers, these young women prove they can still reach other goals provide for her son comfortably. Her mother also helps watch her but by young instructors who are easily son while Maria is at school and working. By Sara Silverman relatable for teens, she says. “Girls are Maria, now 16, is in a good place. She has Roycemore School always going to get pregnant. It’s always overcome many challenges and is deterecoming a mom while you’re still going to happen, but I think you’ve got to mined to have a successful future. She’s being mothered yourself can pres- put everything in place to help prevent it in a new relationship with a new guy who ent a challenge to even the most from happening.” Maria thinks that if she she says is great with her son, and the determined teens. It’s a challenge had more sex education, it would have toddler loves it when he comes over. that affects their social lives, their famimade a difference in helping her make For now, she is not sexually active. It’s lies and their education. But that didn’t informed decisions. too soon for her, she says, but when she stop these three teen moms from working Maria’s boyfriend, who was 18, was decides to be, she plans to prevent a sechard to stay in school and become financaring and supportive at first but later ond pregnancy by taking birth control. became controlling and abusive. He cially stable. Meet Natalia encouraged her to drop out of school her Meet “Maria” sophomore year, and she describes him Natalia Yarbrough had her daughter, Our first teen, who we’ll call Maria (she as “a jealous guy.” According to Maria, Kaelah, during her sophomore year of didn't want her real name used), became he wanted her to stay at home and be a high school. The pregnancy shocked pregnant her sophomore year at age 14. housewife. Shorty after giving birth to and disappointed her family members. She and her then-boyfriend had been a son, Maria says she ended her relaShe never gave in to the disappointment dating for a few months; he didn't like tionship with the baby’s father after a though; instead, she became even more using condoms, and she didn't know how domestic dispute in which she alleges he determined to prove her family wrong to seek out birth control. Maria says she hit both her and the baby. She moved back and become a successful woman. received some sex education in elementa- home with her parents, who were happy Natalia knew she could get pregnant ry school but little from her parents, who to have her home. from not using protection, but she figured Because Maria had dropped out as a she’d worry about it “if and when” it hapnever really gave her “the talk” about sex. When asked now about the consesophomore, she was now a year behind in pened. She assumed she would have an quences of not using protection, she says, school. Still, she was determined to earn abortion. When she did find out she was “I didn't think I would get pregnant.” her high school diploma—not her GED. pregnant, she decided to take responsibilLooking back, she says she should have Going to school was hard because she ity and keep the baby. She had told her waited until she was more mature before didn't like leaving her baby, but she knew mother she was sexually active but her having sex. an education would only benefit her in mother never got around to assisting her Jennifer Eisenstein, a Chicago-area the future. After high school, she wants to in getting birth control. advanced nurse practitioner, says, “If you attend a two-year college and become a Talking to her mom was a good first step, are going to teach sex education, it should dental assistant. according to Eisenstein, who advises be real sex education.” Sex education Once she returned to high school, Mateens that are sexuality active to talk to needs to be taught, not by gym teachers, ria’s experience was dramatically differtheir parents about getting them birth

Moms with a mission

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control or condoms. She says most teens will find that their parents may be upset at first but receptive. If teens are afraid to talk to their parents, she suggests seeking out programs such as Planned Parenthood. During Natalia’s pregnancy, she stopped going to school and moved to the suburbs with her dad. She missed her second semester as a sophomore and was unable to begin her junior year because her due date was around the same time. As a result, she withdrew from school. In an article Natalia wrote while still in high school, she revealed one of the hardest parts of being a teen mom was dealing with society’s negative perceptions. “I was embarrassed to go to the grocery store with my mom, and that made me sad. When people asked me how far along I was in my pregnancy, followed by, 'How old are you?' I was ashamed to say, 'I’m 16'... I was now a statistic: the teenage mother everyone loved to hate.” Photos courtesy of NATALIA YARBROUGH

Natalia Yarbrough and her daughter, Kaelah (top left and above).

Christopher House’s Lally says the girls in her class also face similar negativity, with people often calling them out in public and saying things like they’re “too young to have kids.” This, Lally adds, causes low self-esteem—even though most of the girls feel they are good par-

ents. Lally says she teaches girls how to another shot after they have both com“live on their own,” become financially pleted college. stable, get back in school and, most imDayanara had the baby Aug. 14, and portantly, set a list of goals for themselves. school started Sept. 16; the doctors told People’s perceptions aren’t the only her to wait a month but she just went thing that works against teen moms like back to school as always and says she felt Natalia; so do the hard numbers. Accord“perfectly fine.” Her teachers, including ing to The National Campaign to Prevent the school counselor, (who was close with Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, “young Dayanara), her family, and her friends teen mothers (those who have a child were very supportive. before they turn 18) are even less likely to When people asked me how far along I was in my graduate from high school—fewer than pregnancy, followed by, 'How old are you?' I was four in 10 (38 percent) ashamed to say, 'I’m 16.'" get a high school di–Natalia Yarbrough ploma and another 19 percent get a GED.” Natalia defied the odds and societal Returning to school so soon was an acperceptions—she got her GED in 2010 complishment, since 30 percent of teen and now attends Richard J. Daley College moms list pregnancy or parenthood as where she is studying business managethe cause for dropping out of school, acment. She says her pregnancy never cording to the National Campaign. Lally changed her ideas about college, “College says she tries to help get girls in her group was never not an option for me.” on a path to be successful and teach them Today Natalia is 20 and engaged to her that being a teen mom doesn’t mean your boyfriend, something she is very proud dreams are over. This could help reverse of, since statistics also say that “8 out of statistics like this one from the National 10 fathers don’t marry the mother of their Campaign: “Less than two percent of child.” Eisenstein says: “Unfortunately a young teen mothers (those who have a lot of the men disappear for these girls. baby before age 18) attain a college degree They go on and [the girls] are left to raise by age 30.” the babies themselves.” Dayanara says college was always in her future. She wants to become a lawyer and MEET DAYANARA open her own firm. Having a baby didn’t Dayanara Guyton was 15 when she found change her plans; it just motivated her to she was pregnant with her daughter, work harder. “I can’t fall back now,” she Zinonna. When she suspected she might says. An education is important because be, she told her older sister who got her a she wants to be a role model and set a pregnancy test. When it came out positive good example for her daughter. She didn’t they held each other and cried. plan to have a baby, but she wants her The next week she told her mom—who daughter to realize “whatever you have in was upset at first. Dayanara became sexu- your way, you can always overcome [it].” ally active her freshman year. She was Dayanara maintained a 4.0 GPA after the scared to ask her mother for birth control baby and is enrolled at UIC for this fall. or condoms, and her boyfriend was emDayanara sees herself as a success story barrassed to get condoms. because she sees other young parents Initially, she wanted to get an abortion she knows who have dropped out of high because both she and her boyfriend were school or who still go out and party while good students—she had a 3.5 GPA and someone else is watching their baby. She was very involved in school activities; she feels her story is different and that her felt having a baby might hold her back. grades reflect her success. She says her relationship with her boyHer advice to sexually active teens and friend was “great . . . like puppy love.” He young mothers is to use protection and no longer lives in Chicago but comes to have someone you can talk about sex visit during holidays. She thinks he's very with. Looking back, there’s nothing she would change. “I still have fun and enjoy supportive and involved in their daughlife as much as I can,” she says. "I still do ter’s life. They are not currently together, all I wanted to do.” but they want to give their relationship

Adult Lives of Teens

The stress factors College, violence and life affect mental outlooks By Joshua Conner Phoenix Military Academy

eenagers are forced to survive in an environment where mental health disorders, near-death experiences and academic expectations are overwhelming. Mental health and time management addressed at the teenage years are essential to their success as adults. When teenagers are mentally well and their academic lives in check, they can combat difficulties and propel to their full potential. But when they aren’t, that kind of stress can lead to possible mental-health issues. Currently, one out of every 20 Americans age 12 or older has reported depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Alicia Edelman, a sophomore at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has had to deal with a plethora of mental health issues—including schizophrenia, depression, multiple personality disorder and bipolar disorder—stemming from childhood trauma. “I had depression since I was little, but then I did experience two traumatic events that only made it worse,” says Edelman, 19.

Edelman has been through so many mentions that young people become more doctors that she feels as if they are out of resilient with age. The trick is to identify touch. Most of the time, their main conthe mental illness during those teenage cern seems prescribing her more mediyears. The sooner the illness is treated, the cation, rather than listening and being less chance that the teen will become serisensitive to her needs. ously ill as an adult. “Makes me feel like less of a person,” she But no amount of time can prepare somesays, “just there for no particular reason.” one for traumatic stress, which usually Edelman says she plays the violin to help occurs following near-death experiences, deal with the pressure of her illnesses. Dr. Bell says. In fact, a near-death experiShe also wants to be a psychologist because she People who are capable of loving strongly can also feels like she can suffer great sorrow. But this same [capacity] serves make a difference and understand to counteract their grief and heal them.” people. Why does stress –Jordan Dillon sometimes lead to mental illness? “Different people have difence could develop into post-traumatic ferent levels of protective factors,” says Dr. stress disorder. Carl Bell, director of institute of juvenile “Traumatic experiences so disturbing research and a professor of psychiatry at literally break [the] psychological ability to University of Illinois at Chicago. recover,” he says. There isn’t an exact formula as to why In order to handle stressful situations, stress turns into something more destruc- traumatic or otherwise, Dr. Bell suggests tive in some teens, Dr. Bell says, though he that teens should: 1) prepare for stress,

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Photo by Joshua Conner

Francisco Peralta used to have academic stress, but now he is a platoon leader and number one of his class.

Alicia Edelman plays the violin to unwind from the pressure of her illnesses.

2) take a break from stress, 3) change the situation part of stress and 4) change the way they feel about stress. Jordan Dillon, 16, from King College Preparatory High School, faced a near-death experience after a gunman shot at him and his friends last January. Jordan witnessed one of his friends, Hadiya Pendleton, get shot. She later died of her wounds. (See his story on page 22.) In order to overcome his stress, Dillon went to counseling, stayed off of social media and kept to himself. He also thought of Hadiya, and that she would want him to move on and be happy. “For those other teens who are suffering as I once did, every situation is different,” Dillon says. “People who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow. But this same [capacity] serves to counteract their grief and heal them.” Dillon plans to participate in nonviolent organizations and try to make his community as safe as possible. Sometimes, teens just get stressed out over everyday life problems like studying, getting good grades and getting into

a good college, says Dr. Denise Pope, founder of the Stressed-Out Students project (now Challenge Success) at Stanford University. Dr. Pope started the project after she noticed how stressed her daughter was about her grade-point average while on vacation. Researching the effect of academic stress, she found reports of California students coming to school with ulcers, suffering from depression, cheating and dropping out. “There is a lot of pressure on kids these days,” Dr. Pope says. “Students are focused on standardized testing, Facebook, Internet, extracurricular activities and sports.” Challenge Success helps bridge the gap between parents, students, teachers and educators, providing techniques that help students find a balance between their academic and social lives. To help alleviate distress, Dr. Pope suggests that teens should exercise, meditate and obtain a support network rather than turn to negative reinforcement like alcohol and drugs. “When [teens] have less stress in their

Photo by James Foster

Jordan Dillon has turned a traumatic event into a motivation to participate in non-violent organizations.

lives...they feel healthier, have more energy and have great mental health,” she said. “I am not saying that they need to eliminate all stress to have these benefits, but they need to eliminate the negative form of stress.” Francisco Peralta, a senior at Phoenix Military Academy High School, has dealt with his fair share of academic stress. His daily schedule would start when he got up at 5:20 a.m. By 6:30, he was at school, taking classes until 2:30 p.m. After 2 1/2 hours of extracurricular activities, he would finally get home around 5. He uses alarm clocks on his radio, phone and calendar as reminders just to keep track of his schedule. When faced with academic stress, Peralta advises to not take everything too hard and find time to relax, even in the face of AP classes. “I like the AP program,” says Peralta, 18, who plans to attend Malcolm X College during the summer. “I don’t like the test. The test doesn’t measure the student’s ability adequately, [but it] conditions students on how to write better and thinking critically." 13

Adult Lives of Teens

INSTANT REGRETS Be careful or you can wipe out your future in 140 characters or less By Clarissa Cowley King College Prep

lowing tears and trembling hands marked the scene as 17-year-old Paris Brown faced the music over tweets she had posted two to three years earlier. Brown was selected as the UK’s first “youth crime commissioner” at the beginning of April 2013, but before she could enjoy it, her digital bloopers came back to haunt her. Now her world has fallen apart. After community outcry, she resigned from the job a week later. As teens, we use social media as emotional outlets to express ourselves. And the culture we live in these days totally revolves around technology. So, should a couple of ranting tweets mess up our chances of getting a job? If we make a flip comment that we didn’t really intend to offend someone, should we be penalized? Apparently, we are. Paris got a lesson that more teens will learn the hard way: There can be harsh consequences for disrespectful or degrading comments you post online—even at our young ages. Some of the things that teens—and girls like Paris—do in their lives may make them feel good at that moment but they come to regret them later down the line when it harms their reputation and destroys their confidence. Raychelle Lohmann, author of “The Anger Workbook for Teens,” says that most teens don’t think about the longterm consequences of just one click of a computer mouse. “They don’t realize their actions create a digital footprint,” Lohmann says. Paris’ old tweets, which included derogatory remarks toward those of other races and sexual orientations and the repeated use of profanity, cost her a position where she would have made £15,000 (approximately $24,220) a year. As teens, we all know how hard it is for us to find jobs. Now employers are using what we put on Facebook and Twitter against us. That makes it more important 14

to think before we act when it comes to putting emotional comments on our pages or feeds. Even if the post was made years ago it can follow you into adulthood and hurt you. Words are bad enough, but can you imagine being that girl who has to transfer schools because of sending a part of her body to another classmate or “friend” through text and pretty soon all of her classmates had seen it? Most teens who sext do it because they are in a relationship and want to experiment with new things, others are pressured into it or trust the individual they’re sending the picture to, Lohmann says. Statistics from a report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, indicate 20 percent of 16-year-olds and 30 percent of 17-year-olds have received “sexts.” Girls don’t always realize that this act of sexting is not a joke—it can hurt us in more ways than one. Like social media, everyone can find it, and it never just disappears into thin air. How would you like a college admissions officer to Google you and find one of these pictures? This could ruin your chance to be admitted. And employers don’t want this type of behavior associated with them. So, your whole life can be altered because of a bad decision you made as a teen. Within a millisecond, our images can self-destruct from all the gossip, rumors and opinions from others who are basically strangers. It may not seem fair to have this stress placed on us by technology that wasn’t out there when our parents were growing up, but we have to deal with it and take control. It’s our responsibility to protect our image now and long-term. I know we’re just teens, but we need to think ahead because what’s ahead is likely to be more important than now.

Chill,

parents! Being overprotective can backfire

By Ranice Green Hyde Park Academy High School

eaders in many communities are pastors, clergymen or bishops. Even our president looks to the church for wise counsel. In one of the latest reality shows on Lifetime’s, “Preachers’ Daughters,” we were able to see how pastors who are their communities’ leaders deal with parenting teens. Some may say they go overboard, causing their teens to rebel, while others may think their parenting techniques are necessary in this age of social and media influence. In this generation, children are either exposed to society’s negative messages, or they are oversheltered at home by overprotective parents. Being sheltered can be both a good thing or a bad one in a child’s life. In a book titled, “If You Had Controlling Parents” by family therapist Dan Neuharth, more than 55 percent of the children who have overprotective parents have a negative outcome. Some of the signs of overcontrolling consists of being overly judgmental, discouraging anger expression, violation of privacy and having no say in household rules. Rachel Watkins, mother of two sons and a daughter and a self-proclaimed overprotective parent, says she gives her boys more freedom than her daughter. “It’s not easy to raise a daughter after not being raised by a woman the correct way.” Watkins explained that she did not have the best relationship with her mother, and when she moved in with her grandparents, they did not allow her to do the

things her friends were able to do. When she went off to college, she was introduced to “the real world,” as she calls it. Despite her own background, she decided to overshelter her daughter. This parenting style just comes natural for her. Child psychologist Giovanni Chisholm with the Community Mental Health Council in Chicago says that most parents overshelter their children because they are afraid of society’s influences on their children, or because they were sheltered themselves and believe that if they turned out fine, so will their children. Some children may learn from their parents’ mistakes, but being able to know right from wrong on your own shows better responsibility. “Being an oversheltered child takes away the alternate chance for them to figure out the world for themselves. Parents should understand that their child should develop their own approach on life rather than theirs,” said Chisholm. Parents who are overprotective have reasons they cannot let their guards down. “Parents overshelter to try to relive their childhood mistakes through their children,” Chisholm says, “and being an uptight parent won’t do anything but make the child afraid or rebellious. Either way, they will turn out the complete opposite of what they were taught. The majority of the time parents see that the child becomes disobedient. They feel betrayed and cut their child off. Why cut them off when, in fact, it is all your fault why your child may become your worst nightmare!” Tiffany Watkins, 18, the daughter of

Rachel Watkins, says: “I will set different rules for my children.” She believes that most of her parents’ rules are “unnecessary and ridiculous”. When she has children, she would like for them to interact with their community so that they can develop friendships with the people that they live around. Right now, Tiffany has no relationship with anyone who lives in her neighborhood. She was also never allowed to spend the night at anyone else’s house, not even family members. Tiffany has only taken the commuter train one time in her life. “It is super weird being picked up and dropped off by my parents,” she says. “All of my friends . . . drive themselves, take the bus, or take rides from other friends or family.” It is normal for a parent to know where their children are, but knowing their every move and being there to watch over them may be overstepping boundaries. Tiffany does believe that rules are needed. “Some rules are necessary to raise anyone safely,” she says, and she understands her parents’ concern because the world can be a bad place at times. “In their defense, I can honestly say they have been letting up as I get older.” She would like for them to be more accepting of the things that other teens are able to do. Watkins does not have any regrets about oversheltering Tiffany, who will be attending college in fall 2013. “She has beautiful morals and life goals, and she will never allow a crowd of people to determine her life,” because of how Watkins chose to raise her. 15

Adult Lives of Teens

Your Money,

your life

Working teens struggle to alleviate families' household expenses By Amy Yalcin Jones College Prep

ot many people think of working and paying bills as child’s play. While a program based in Wisconsin allows teens to pretend that they are adults with serious adult responsibilities, for some teens the burden is all too real when it comes to supporting their families’ household budgets. Mad City Money is a hands-on simulation that lets young people in schools across the nation experience what it is like to have a job, income, a family, debts and other responsibilities. Role-playing allows the participants to learn about being an adult before actually taking on any real responsibilities. Some lessons in life are virtual, but some are an everyday reality. Chicagoan Armani Guzman, 19, knows the real deal. Like many young people nationwide, he’s had to work to contribute to his family’s household bottom line. Working made Guzman feel as if he were missing out on normal teen things. “I wanted to go out,” he says, “but working wasn’t a choice.” According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employed youth between 16 and 24 years old rose by 2.1 million and reached 19.5 million working youth between April and July in 2012. This is mostly due to the fact that teens generally look for work during summers. The youth labor force grows during this time each year. But some teens work all year long. Guzman began working at 16, after his father passed away. He was a student at North

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Illustration by Amy Yalcin

Lawndale High School at the time and took a part-time job at Cold Stone Creamery. He worked three to four days and up to 28 hours a week. His wages would cover his own expenses, so his working mother did not have to worry about him. Soon, working became a greater priority than school, and Guzman dropped out of North Lawndale High School for some time. He later realized that education would be his only way to a better life and that he wished to graduate. Balancing work and school soon became his life when his mother died shortly after. Though being forced to work to support himself was a struggle, Guzman believes that there is a lesson to be learned in every situation. “I didn’t fall into distractions around me,” he said. “Some people are blinded by the streets.” Guzman believes being put to work kept him from being pulled into the world of drugs and gangs, which some of his friends had been involved in. Looking back, he says his inspiration and motives come from his parents, who were good, responsible people who taught him his work ethic and values. “It was hard not being able to see my parents at graduation,” he said. Having graduated high school in 2012, Guzman says he wants to be a chef. “I see myself successful, traveling,” he says. He

attributes this attitude to having to work as a young person. Working teens face more than long hours and low wages. They also lose part of their youth, according to 21-year-old Marlene Reyes. “I never really had a teenage social life,” she said. “You grow up so fast, you realize you’re not enjoying your life.” Reyes came to the United States in 2006 at 15 and began working immediately. She was born in California but lived with her family in Mexico for 15 years. After her father passed away, Reyes’ mother sent her to Chicago to live with her aunt and go to high school. She began high school as a sophomore at the age of 17. “I felt so lonely,” she says. “My parents were not with me.” Reyes did not speak English and had a hard time in school at first, as a part of the English as a Second Language program. On top of that, Reyes had a job at Dulcelandia, the candy store where her aunt worked. “When I wasn’t in high school, I was in the factory helping my aunt make piñatas,” she says. She worked irregular hours, some after school and some on weekends. Soon working became a priority. “I was not in a situation to not work,” she says. She worked at many other jobs throughout high school, including supermarkets and an ice cream shop where she was em-

ployed for three years. Reyes was paying her share of the household rent and providing other necessities for herself. Work ultimately interfered with her school life, and Reyes struggled to keep active in sports and school clubs. “I couldn’t go to the soccer practices because I had to work,” she says. Reyes even recalls paying her first bill: she was 14, and her father was very sick in the hospital. “I saw my mother was upset,” she says. She knew her family would not be able to make the rent for the month, so she pulled her own money together to pay it for her mother. “I felt so good that I could do that,” she says. Many young people may not appreciate what Reyes has learned through years of necessary work as a teen, she says. “They don’t know how hard it was to get stuff, even something like your food,” she says. “My classmates didn’t value what they had, what their parents were giving.” At least one expert agrees. Joanne Sepich, director of financial education promotions at the Credit Union National Association, which sponsors Mad City Money. “I see youth in our country moving toward two extremes,” Sepich says. “Youth from financially well-off families tend to have an excess of material possessions. Youth from financially struggling families, however, are facing the facts of reality earlier than their families might have hoped. But these youth will be better prepared for the long path of adulthood.” Both Guzman and Reyes appreciate the lessons they’ve learned from their struggles working as teens. Guzman worked through his summers at Put Illinois to Work, an anti-poverty program helping residents find employment, where he was able to help adults in distress through hard times. “I got to meet a lot of people with problems worse than mine,” he says. Here he would work 40 hours a week, five days a week. Working helped him to grow and gave him a sense of maturity, he says. Reyes tells of how whenever she earned her own money as a little girl, her father would encourage her to go out and buy some treats for herself. After many years of working trials as a teen, she can appreciate his intention. “Now I understand why he wanted us to be independent,” she says. 17

Adult Lives of Teens

Just a

date

By Kaylah Harrington Lindblom Math and Science Academy

or most students like Cierra Davis, preparing for prom is exciting. Davis always dreamed of attending the “big dance,” showing up in a beautiful dress and maybe even busting a move on the dance floor. Getting ready for prom meant fussing over colors, discriminating dress patterns and worrying about finding the perfect shoes and accessories. She attends Thornridge High School in the south Chicago suburb of Dolton. Davis was going to have her big day by attending her longtime boyfriend’s high school prom. But as the 18-year-old and other girls plan on sharing a dance or two with their dates—often their boyfriends, giggling and goofing around with friends and looking forward to post-prom fun, they have no clue that the momentous night can have a down side. Prom, the most splendid social event of high school life, can be a statistical nightmare for some teens because of date rape, also called acquaintance rape. Date rape is sexual assault committed by someone the victim knows or is having a relationship with. The victim is forced to have sex. The Center for Women and Families, a Connecticut-based rape and domestic violence crisis agency, points out that 38 percent of women who have been date raped were between the ages of 14 and 17. “I think that a lot of teenagers are ignorant about what constitutes as date rape,” said Davis, who admitted that she didn’t know much about it herself. The U.S. Department of Justice indicates that 73 percent of sexual assaults are committed by a non-stranger; 38 percent of sexual assault offenders are a friend or acquaintance of the victim. Sean Black, communications coordina-

Raising the awareness of acquaintance rape tor with the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, told Columbia Links about behavioral characteristics of potential date rapists. “Often they work to get to know and be trusted by the victim. At times, the rapist will try and disable the victim through drugs and alcohol. Often, the rapist will look for a victim that has less power than the rapist,” said Black. Cierra went to prom with her boyfriend, Michael, whom she has been dating for the past year-and-a-half. She has every reason to trust him. “Even before we started dating, he was a gentleman. There was a good time for a good three month period when I couldn’t open my own door. I never had to worry about his intentions being impure. Luckily we never had to go through that awkward getting-to-know-you phase where I felt like I couldn’t trust him,” she said. Davis is among the overwhelming number of girls who enjoy dating and attending events such as prom without incident. Still, date and acquaintance rape statistics reveal that it happens more often than most people know, and the impact can be life changing. The effects of date rape are not only physical, but also mental and emotional, according to Black. Victims often feel shame and anger, and have nightmares and suicidal thoughts. “Date rape, like any other trauma, can age

a person, and it’s made worse by the fact that it was someone you know,” said Black. What’s worse is that University of the Sciences reveals that, while 84 percent of date rape offenders say they didn’t realize their actions met the legal definition of rape, another study shows that one third of men in the study would rape if they could get away with it. Davis’ eyes bulged, and she could hardly believe that fact. But Black said he’s not the least surprised. “It’s alarming but not surprising. There is little repercussion for the rapist as the vast majority aren’t prosecuted, especially in date rape cases. People need to better understand the issue of consent, and if you don’t have consent, you are raping someone. Society should believe victims of date rape,” he said. Professionals like Black and Tawana Edgeson, Ph.D., a Chicago-based clinical psychologist, say that victims, usually females, are forever changed by any sexual assault, including date and acquaintance rape. Edgeson said sometimes victims become “sexually promiscuous” or involved in other “detrimental physical and emotional behavior.” Facts and statistics about date rape are available to everyone. Davis feels the subject should be discussed in school. “I think that by teaching about it at schools, it can educate teenagers and bring positive repercussions,” she said.

defusing

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with B.A.m. Becoming a Man offers males coping skills to navigate life's rough spots By Antonio Carr Jane Addams High School

hat does it take to get our African-American and Latino male teenagers off the streets and into the classrooms? And once you have them in the classroom, how do you keep them from failing? With many teens suffering from problems like growing up without a father and living under gang violence, it’s easy to see how some give into anger and end up getting into trouble. But thanks to a program called B.A.M. (Becoming a Man), young men in Chicago are getting the help they need. Social worker Anthony DiVittorio created the program in 2003 after a stint at Clemente High School, where he saw cursing and violence in the hallway as a means of conflict resolution. With B.A.M., young men are taught to express their anger in a more positive way. The program focuses on six core values: integrity, accountability, self-determination, positive anger expression, visionary goal-setting and respect for women. For 27 weeks, groups of 15 to 20 young men attend weekly group sessions throughout the school year. The sessions work. According to a University of Chicago Crime Lab study, youth in the program showed a 44 percent decrease in violent crime arrests. The results were enough for the Mayor’s office to announce a $2 million infusion of funding this past February, allowing B.A.M. to increase the number of teens in its program from 600 to 2,000. “With the money, it creates more opportunity, more activity we can offer,” DiVittorio said. “We can expand our program, take in more high schools and we can have more mentors.” While DiVittorio handles the program’s growth, counselors like Daniel Heiniger work the front line, reaching out to angry teen males. A counselor with B.A.M. for

Photo by Antonio carr

Counselors Daniel Heiniger and Kristina Gill of B.A.M. conduct a workshop at Little Village Lawndale High School to discuss with boys about being more respectful toward women. Gill brought a group of gilrs to talk about the times they were disrepsected by men.

two years, Heiniger uses several techniques to engage his students, from open, honest discussions to using clips from movies like “300” and television shows like “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Sometimes, reaching out and helping kids is a challenge, Heiniger said, but it’s worth it if the boys learn how to stay out of trouble. “I don’t care about the videos as long as the value gets withheld inside of the teens. And the activities we do a lot are role play,” Heiniger said. “The kids are involved. They’re not just sitting around and being lectured to.” During a recent session at Little Village Lawndale High School, Heiniger and Kristina Gill, another mentor at the Becoming a Man program, worked with a group made up of 9th- and 10th-grade boys on being more respectful toward women. Gill brought in a group of girls to talk about the times they were disrespected by men. “I don’t like when guys call me ‘baby,’ ‘sweetheart’ or ‘boo’ when we are not dating,” said Chloe Rally, 16, a sophomore at Little Village, “and I hate when guys call girls (the B-word).” But sometimes, the sessions can get heated. To help the teen males deal with their anger, Gill gives them a squishy stress ball or walks them through breathing exercises. Once the teens calm down, Heiniger encourages them to write down their feelings on paper instead of expressing them through negative physical actions. When asked why these methods work, Heiniger said, “Recognizing that you are angry is good. “At first, it was hard, because the kids didn’t know if the breathing or the squishy ball exercise would work,” Heiniger said. “But once they tried the activity, the kids realized that the exercises actually

worked.” It’s well established that mentoring helps teenagers stay focus during a rough time in their lives. According to the Bostonbased National Mentoring Partnership, an organization that studies the effects of mentoring, students who regularly meet with mentors are 52 percent less likely than their peers to skip a day of school and 37 percent less likely to skip a class. But a program like B.A.M. goes one step further, said Dr. DeMarquis Hayes, an assistant professor in the psychology, counseling & special education department at Texas A&M University-Commerce in Mesquite, Texas. On top of mentoring, B.A.M. gives teen males a safe place to vent. “It keeps the male teens off the streets,” Dr. Hayes said. “It not only keeps them active but the program shows the male teenagers respect towards women, responsibility, integrity and positive anger expression.” By using trained psychologists, counselors and social workers, teen males find a safe, comfortable place to open up and communicate with each other, DiVittorio said “It’s challenging because as a male we want to play the tough role,” he added. “When someone asks ‘Are we ok?,’ we mostly reply back, ‘I’m okay, I’m good,’ when really we are not okay.” Ivan Dominguez, 16, from Little Village Lawndale High School, said he’s become more focused since becoming a member of B.A.M. Dominguez joined Becoming A Man when he was in 7th grade, said he studies more now and pays attention in class, a drastic change from his days before joining the program. He saw the extra work pay off on his last report card. “I’m passing all my classes with a ‘C’ or better,” Dominguez said. 19

Adult Lives of Teens

THE RISE OF THE TEENS Through hardships and loss, youth find the will to succeed By Ayinde Hill Lindblom Math and Science Academy

veryday we hear news reports documenting another teen death due to gun violence. We hear stories and even watch television shows about girls getting pregnant at young ages and trying to continue their lives with a baby to take care of. People know all too well the story of teenage boys succumbing to gang activity and practically wasting their lives. When it comes to some teens, it’s extremely easy to fall behind in school or succumb to their rough backgrounds. For some, it’s the constant presence of violence. For others, it could be the struggle of moving to America and adapting to a new country. Many must cope with growing up in a household where they didn’t have supportive parents. “The biggest problem for teenagers growing up is the lack of a male role model,” says Dan Heiniger, a counselor at the B.A.M. (Becoming a Man) youth-mentoring program in Chicago. Many students have had to struggle with moving from a completely different country. However, there are some teens who made it through their troubling backgrounds and have a future for themselves. All attend, or attended, Lindblom Math and Science Academy. Here are their stories. WALMER SAAVEDRA

Born in Guatemala, Walmer Saavedra spent a lot of his free time playing soccer with his friends. He remembers having a lot more freedom to do what he wanted to. 20

At age 7, Walmer moved to America with his parents. He noticed how different America is from Guatemala. To this day, he feels as though there are a lot better opportunities to succeed. “America is developed and not a big difference in social classes, and you don’t have to be rich to go to college,” says Walmer, 15, from Westlawn. But once Walmer arrived, his biggest difficulty was learning English. It felt like such a big roadblock to him that he sometimes felt like giving up entirely. However, he didn’t allow himself to give in and kept practicing. Despite his feelings of defeat trying to learn English, he persevered, leading to some very uplifting moments in his life. One of the really big upturns in Walmer’s life came after he applied and got into Lindblom. He’s also been accepted into an engineering program this summer at The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Walmer has his involvements in sports to thank for his turnaround. Due to Walmer’s competitive nature, he wanted to compete in many sports. The team effort, hard work and training required for sports helped him in moving up from his past. “They help me stay focused and to be disciplined,” says Walmer. “You need discipline to do homework and they also taught me to be a leader.”

and take care of a baby. Because they had to deal with so much responsibility so early, her parents had to mature more for their age. Out of her friends’ mothers, Brenda’s mom was always the youngest. Her mom was even younger than many of Brenda’s teachers. “Friends were very surprised by their age, and I was a bit shameful of it. I have a bit of guilt because I feel like I’m the impediment on my family’s success,” says Brenda, 15. Despite their conditions, Brenda’s parents have been very supportive of their daughter going to college and don’t want her to end up like them. They’ve been very strict on her when it comes to her education. Her parents constantly give her advice and stories in order to influence her not to end up the way they did. Brenda believes her parents have properly prepared her for the future.

BRENDA MACIAS From Chicago, Brenda’s parents were a bit younger than most. Brenda’s mother had her back in her teens and had to put away her aspirations

Joshua Short, 18: Lost both father and stepfather, moved three times in 10 years, now set for Columbia College on full scholarship.

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Due to her parents' support, she’s never particularly had any moments where she felt like she couldn’t accomplish her goals. But she knows that she wants to be in a better financial state than her parents. Brenda is very devoted to proving wrong the many statistics that disprove her ability to thrive. “I know I will succeed because I know I’m not like those statistics,” says Brenda. She has already started the journey in beating some of those statistics. This summer, she will participate in MS2 at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., a month-long math and science program for underprivileged youths. “I’m really excited because few people get accepted and people who do get into top colleges,” says Brenda about MS2 and her future. JIMMIE KITCHENS

Brenda Macias, 15: Born to really young parents, now college bound and attending a math and science program at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass.

Photos by AYINDE HILL

Walmer Saavedra, 15: Arrived at 7 from Guatemala, learned English after great difficulty and now accepted at U of I Urbana-Champaign.

Born in Chicago, Jimmie was your average everyday student at Jefferson High School. He did his work like everyone else and was generally a pretty good student, despite a few rare problems. His life changed when he was arrested at 15 for a robbery he’d rather not get much into. Being arrested practically stopped his education. The education he was provided while in jail didn’t really do anything to help him. “It only really went up to an 8th-grade level,” says Jimmie, 19. His parents were very supportive of him continuing on with his education and hopeful for his release. “The most exciting thing for me was coming home after being arrested,” says Jimmie. After his release, he attempted to get back into school. He joined a program called Phalanx Family Services that helped him get back into school. He recently graduated from high school and is currently deciding on continuing on to college. Looking back, Jimmie never really felt like he would fail; he felt that he stayed pretty positive despite being incarcerated. “Being incarcerated has taught me to not make bad decisions,” he says. JOSHUA SHORT Born in Hampton, Va., in 1994, Joshua was raised alongside his twin brother, Julian, and much older stepsister, Elaine

McLaurin. When he was younger, his father and stepfather both passed away leaving his mother to take care of the three children. In 1999, partially due to racism still present, Joshua moved with his grandparents and aunt. “I loved the move,” says Joshua, 18, on his move to Chicago. Though he vaguely remembers Virginia and the move, he loved it because of how Chicago has shaped him. What was difficult for Joshua was not the move to Chicago but all the moving he’s done within the city limits. Since coming to Chicago, Joshua has moved three times in 10 years. Two of the moves were in poverty-stricken communities and his last move was outside of Chicago in Bridgeview. After arriving from Virginia and moving to Englewood, Joshua lost both his grandmother and aunt, two very important women in his life while living in very poor living conditions. “It was livable if you loved to clean, but the environment was not as livable,” says Joshua. He then moved to Marquette Park, a neighborhood he found comfortable. He feels that the diversity of the area contributed in having such a warm welcome. But after coming home to find their house ruined by a robbery, Joshua and his family had to move again. His family finally settled in Justice, Ill., right outside of Chicago, where he currently lives. Joshua thanks his family for keeping him grounded amid the chaos and loss. Since he comes from a small family, everyone keeps in touch and they often talk. Joshua’s older sister has become a second mother to him and his brother. “My family has taught me that staying grounded means being humble so that you could earn respect and influence others to be humble,” says Joshua. It was that family bond that allowed Joshua to focus on his studies, which paid off. Joshua received a full academic scholarship to Columbia College. He plans to attend next fall, majoring in broadcast journalism with a minor in Middle Eastern studies. “Prior to me being successful, my family [were the only ones who inspired] me to be successful,” says Joshua on his family’s contribution to his success. 21

Adult Lives of Teens

Caught between

bullets and friends A schoolmate recounts the days following the shooting of Hadiya Pendleton

ordan Dillon, a Columbia Links fall/winter 2012 graduate and a student at King College Prep, was with Hadiya Pendleton on that fateful day. Here is an edited transcript of his interview with Columbia Links students during the summer of 2013. Only then did he feel comfortable talking about it. I'm Jordan Dillon. On January 29 [2012] me and a group of friends decided to go to a park, got out of school early, nice day. I don't know if you're familiar with the park or the name, because I don't want to remember the name, but it was next to 47th and Lake Park. It was by that subway that's right there ... So as we were there we were all playing on the swings and it started raining. There's like this aluminum tent where we went to stand under ... a good two minutes later we all decided we were about to leave and go home because there was nothing else to do. This guy, he's like in an alley, he starts shooting at us. He didn't say anything at all. There was nothing at all. We started running ... that's just first instinct, but me and somebody else decided to get on the ground. I thought that was smart, but I mean, you don't know how to think in situations like that. You would think, “Yeah, we know how to get down when people shooting bullets,” but when it actually happens you're most likely going to stand still, honestly. Two other people did, but they didn't get shot ... luckily. We all started running. Next thing you know, they get back in the car and drive off. So we're all looking back making sure everybody's OK and we see my friend Lawrence. He's like skipping. And we're like, “What's wrong?” And he's like, “My leg.” I'm thinking he

got shot with a BB gun because the hole was really small, so I'm thinking it's like a little bead shot. He's like, “I think it's a bullet wound.” I look at the other side of his leg and there's like a hole where it left his leg ... [it] was big. I started crying, and I'm like “What if you don't walk?” And Lawrence, being stupid is like, “These are my favorite socks, man. I gotta throw 'em away.” Lawrence is a very amazing character ... So I laughed but I was still crying. We saw Hadiya and she was stumbling. So we went to see what's wrong, and she took off her jacket and there was ... this big hole in her back. She falls down, and she was still looking and talking at first, but then she went unconscious and all her friends surrounded her and started crying ... Then people like neighbors ... came out of their houses. They heard what happened, and this lady came. She just got off work, got out the car and saw what was happening. At first she thought we were some kids doing some bad stuff, but then she saw she [Hadiya] was ... shot, and she started helping. She actually took off her jacket and used that to hold the pressure down until the ambulance came. Then the ambulance, police officers were asking us questions, what happened ... Then the crazy part is they didn't even ask us stuff, like we knew we all went to King. They told us basically that we was in a gang, like, “Oh yeah, that's the only reason why they shot at you.” It's not. I'm a nice kid. I don't think so. That's pretty much it. Columbia Links: Did you go to the hospital with your friend? Jordan Dillon: Yeah, my dad came and he got me. I was trying to ride with them [a parent had arrived at the scene and was taking her daughter to the hospital].

My dad was like, no. I was very upset. CL: Your dad said you couldn’t go to the hospital? JD: Yeah, at first he was telling me I couldn't go. I'm like, that's stupid, I was about to get in the car anyway. I was about to be an outlaw. But then I decided not to because I'm not that bad. [Later] I waited for him to come and he took me to the hospital because I wanted to see if my friend was OK. But he was at a different hospital ... There were so many rumors going around about where they went ... But then she [Hadiya] died in the hospital. She didn't die while we were there, but she died in the hospital. CL: What can you tell us about Hadiya as a person? What was she like? JD: She has that nice smile, a nice person, awkward, but fun. Like, if she didn't know you, she would just go hug you just because. Like, if you seemed sad, she'd be like, “What's wrong?” And you'd be like, “I don't know you,” but you'd feel OK to talk to her because she just makes you comfortable. She's like one of those people, like a family mom, like one of those aunts that you can just say anything to. Like one of those type of people. CL: How long had you known her? JD: Since she was a freshman. She was a sophomore. CL: What were you feeling, what were you going through, when you heard she had passed? JD: I went for a walk on the lake. I wanted to see if Lawrence was OK, but it kept bringing back the same emotions, so I had to go think. Then I went over to my uncle's house because he went through the same thing. He saw three of his friends die because they went through

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a car robbery. Like, he was actually in it at gun point. So he told me about that and how that was crazy and traumatizing for him, and he actually got shot twice in the back. I didn't know how to feel. It was upsetting. It was like, that just didn’t just happen. Like we was just talking a good two minutes ago. CL: Was this the same day that she was shot? JD: Yeah, this was all on the same day. CL: How has this experience changed your perspective on the world? JD: I like to look at everything good. I don't judge people as I used to. I mean, it's human instinct to walk into a room and judge people, but I don't know. You probably judged me when I walked in the room, I don't know what you think, but I look at everything on the good side now, no matter how people are. CL: When it hit you what had really happened, and that she was gone, someone had taken her life, what was your reaction? Like were you grieving or were you angry? JD: Well, I wasn't angry. I calmed down and I realized if it would have happened to me, Hadiya would have wanted me to smile too because she was a more lively person. So I guess I wanted to take that into account too. She always smiled and so I know she wouldn't want anybody to be sad about her funeral. I don't know if anybody saw her funeral on TV . . . I think it was how she would want it to be. All smiles, nobody crying over her. CL: How do you deal with your trauma? How do you live day to day? JD: At first I went to counseling. My school was offering lots of counseling too. So I went to in-school and outside of school, and I talked to a lot of peers and uncles. I have lots of uncles. They gave me a lot of good advice. Parents can't connect with us because we're teenagers, but parents actually know a lot more than

we think they do, so I talked with them a lot and learned a lot more than I ever thought I would. CL: What were some of the pointers from the adults that helped you? JD: The first thing they told me was don't go on social networks talking about it, and that was a very important lesson because I went on Twitter, and I didn't tweet anything, but just looking at people's tweets made me mad because people were saying all types of dumb stuff ... The police investigated [a person] just because he made this tweet. So the police were investigating him for like three weeks just because of that one tweet, but after they figured out what happened everything was fine. CL: What other pointers? JD: They told me not to keep talking about it. If people ask you questions, that's cool, but you don't have to tell everybody what happened. That was actually really helpful. But they wanted me to still focus on school. I only missed three days, so I didn't want to miss too much. My grades actually got better since then. On my ACT score I got a 26. I've been pretty good. Last time I had 5 Cs, a D and an F. Now I have three As, two Bs, two Cs. CL: Why do you think Hadiya's story resonated? JD: It was the kids that did it. People don't realize teens actually have a lot of power. If we actually organize things and actually know what we're talking about, we can do a lot. If we actually join to talk about something serious, we can do stuff, and that's what happened. After school one day, we have a senior in high school [Victor Taylor] ... he was like, “I'm not about to stand for this.” That was his best friend. It's not about to be just another death, so that was his goal and he made it happen and Project Orange Tree [an anti-violence movement started by King College Prep students] started. CL: Do you forgive the person that shot her?

People don't realize teens actually have a lot of power. If we actually organize things and actually know what we're talking about, we can do a lot." –Jordan Dillon

JD: Yeah, I do. I mean it's really if they forgive themselves. CL: You don't feel bad for him? JD: Me? Nope. There's always consequences for everything you do. So what he did, he surely had to think it was a consequence. Everything is not for free. CL: What has it been like going to school? Is everything back to normal now? JD: I don't know what normal is. CL: Has this experience made you value life more? Is there anything you regret that you didn't before? JD: I regretted a lot of things. I was like, I could have died. I said that a thousand times. There’s so much I didn't do and so much I did wrong. We all make mistakes. I made too many. I'm pretty happy. I'm gonna value my life. I'm doing safe stuff. I listen to my mom about everything now. I'm serious, I don't second [guess or] question anything. I mean, you don't realize how important something is until something like that happens. Even something simple can trigger how special something is. I understand how my mom's always telling me, “Be careful, don't be blasting your headphones walking down the street.” I mean she's actually pretty serious telling me anything could happen. And now, Chicago is like the murder capital of the world now. CL: You said a moment ago that this entire experience made you more appreciative of little things. Can you give us an example of something you took for granted before that you appreciate now? JD: My mom wakes me up sometimes and I used to hate that because she'll like play with me and jump on my bed. You're asleep and you're like, “Why are you jumping on me?” I can barely open my eyes. I used to hate that but it's kind of something to look forward to. And I think about how Miss Cleo [Hadiya’s mother, Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton] can't wake up Hadiya anymore, so it's something great to look forward to, and it's something real simple. I look forward to my mom coming home from work. Usually I'm like this is my time to do what I want before my mom comes home. But now it's like, “Mom, you're supposed to be home one minute ago. Where are you?” 23

Giving It Back

Good Rivalry Cover story

Gangs battle it out on the court peacefully at St. Sabina Parish in Englewood

n an effort to combat the violence on the Chicago’s South Side, Father Michael Pfleger and Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah bring together rival gangs to battle it out on St. Sabina’s basketball court every week. The Peace Tournament began in September 2012 and has continued every Monday at 6:30 p.m. Members of gangs such as The Black P-Stones, Gangster Disciples, Black Disciples and the Killa Wards are all a part of the tournament. The Peace Tournament is a 12-week tournament that concludes with a championship game and a banquet. Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina, said he really wanted a change in the community. He had an idea that a basketball tournament would bring the people of the community together, with the help of others. Pfleger would go out every Friday night to communities with increased violence and talk to the people in the neighborhood. As they built a mutual relationship, Pfleger urged them to agree to stop the violence in the neighborhood in exchange 24

By Adan Pedroza Eric Solorio High School for helping them get back into school and find jobs. On the day of the inaugural event, more than 2,000 people came to watch some of the Chicago Bulls players play and work with the men. Noah’s own organization, Noah’s Arc Foundation, is one of the partners of the league. Reportedly, after Noah watched the documentary “The Interrupters,” he reached out to Pfleger. “Joakim was really moved,” said Shannon Pagels, executive director of Noah’s Arc. “Noah’s Arc’s mission is to provide opportunities to the youth in Chicago and New York,” Pagels said. The organization believes sports are a positive way to show self-expression and let the inner child come out. Pagels said she, too, believes basketball is a form of expression. “It’s such an incredible force and to stand side by side, for a common goal,” said Pagels. She believes St. Sabina offers a great venue. “Basketball is the way to let your emotions out, and express yourself,” Pagels

said. “It’s a positive, constructive way to do it.” Due to lack of services, poor schools and unemployment in the community, the league is also providing workshops to get back into school, find jobs and feed the teams as well. Many of the gang members want and need help. “It has been proven that it can work,” Pfleger said. The church also provides transportation for some players by sending out a bus to get to the church without harm. So far, nobody has gotten hurt and there are no police inside the church throughout the event. Roy Darty, a CPS teacher and a volunteer coach in the Peace Tournament, also believes this is successful in such a way that it makes the gang members better individuals. “It takes a village to raise a child,” said Darty, and he believe St. Sabina is where it begins. “We just can’t start and stop, we need to continually grow and outreach,” Darty said. Many of the players enjoy the benefits of the tournament. Jonte Resus, a player

www.columbialinks.org Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls center and a partner in Peace Tournament.

Photo courtesy MCclatchy-tribune

on one of the teams, believes “it is the next step on stopping the violence in the neighborhood.” The men really get a great feel of what it is like to be watched over and cared about with all the help and resources at St. Sabina and the sense of the community it provides. Not only does the tournament help the young men regain focus, it also helps influence the ones around them to look for a brighter future. Positive role models around the Chicago area, who have had success, have helped draw in the

Father Pfleger (right) with students and Mayor Emanuel: "We still show them we love, respect and help them achieve their dreams."

gang rivals to participate. “We will show them we love, respect and help them achieve their dreams,” Pfleger said. Craig Hodges, a former two-time NBA championship player with the Chicago Bulls, also occasionally participates in the tournament to show support to the campaign. Hodges is also a role model for many others. Hodges himself was once labeled as an outspoken person for his grievance upon black communities and the way he challenged black athletes

Players at the 2013 Peace Tournament basketball game at St. Sabina Parish.

Photos by James Foster | jfosterphoto.com

(including Michael Jordan) to get more involved with their communities. “Definitely, in this area it has made a difference,” Hodges said. “You know I think it’s the biggest [example] of this is that on a national level when [President] Richard Nixon was in office they used a ping pong table for the diplomacy with China. So it’s the same thing with basketball. If we can use basketball as another diplomacy between the gang factor, I think we should,” said Hodges. Isiah Thomas, former NBA legend and Chicago native, was also a force in establishing this tournament and a reason the tournament is standing tall today. Thomas and Mayor Rahm Emanuel have recently begun to expand Windy City Hoops, which is another youth basketball program that aims to reduce crime. The goal is to raise $480,000 in a matter of 60 days to be able to establish leagues in 10 parks in high crime neighborhoods and low-income communities, such as North Lawndale, East Garfield, Austin, Englewood, Woodlawn and Roseland. Hodges believes that these tournaments not only impact the players, but those around them. “The thing with sports is it gives you the opportunity to perform and I think it gives them a stage to perform,” Hodges said. “Friends, family can come watch. I think it’s a good situation.” 25

Giving It Back

reality chec k Unrealistic media images and low self-esteem make a dangerous cocktail

lexis Chapel would spend hours flipping through glossy magazines looking at pictures of perfect models. When she wasn’t doing that, she was plopped on a couch watching music stations and analyzing video vixens. Elexis was comparing herself to impossible standards—and believed she came up short. She was only 12. “When Nicki Minaj first came out, I thought that she was gorgeous, a perfect body—and that’s what boys were looking for. She made me feel fat, unproportionate even,” said Elexis, who lives in the Roseland neighborhood and is now 16. She would spend lots of money on things like hair and nails to make herself feel better Elexis’ story isn’t uncommon, experts say. In an age when movies, magazines and music stream constant images of insanely thin and beautiful women, it is very easy to buy into that “flawless” standard. The media plays a huge role in how teens look at themselves, said Betty Hoeffner, co-founder of Hey U.G.L.Y., a nonprofit organization based in northwest Indiana that helps youth develop self-esteem and teaches media literacy. “The images of models and celebrities, most of whom have been photo-shopped, create an impossible standard in which to live up to,” Hoeffner said. Hey U.G.L.Y. (its acronym stands for Unique Gifted Lovable You) also has representatives in Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York. “From movie stars to sports legends, we are constantly aware of what they are

By Janiela McKinney CICS Longwood doing, wearing and who they are dating or breaking up with,” she said. Elexis believes teens are especially influenced by rappers and singers. “It’s what (teens) listen to and adapt to; that’s what they try to be,” said Elexis, who agreed to share her story because she sees other teens being sucked in by the media’s images. She also does not believe selfesteem and self-image issues are talked about enough. “People always look at the so-called bigger issues, like bulimia or bullying,” Elexis said, adding she believes a low self-image can also lead to violence. “If a teen doesn’t care about their life, they won’t have a regard for someone else's—and that’s where violence ties into this,” she said. Deanna Mason agrees that teens can get caught up by unrealistic media images. “I believe it is a gigantic issue, especially in our country,” said Mason, who publishes a magazine—Collage Magazine for Teen Girls—dedicated to promoting healthy self-esteem in girls. “I believe the visual images we see, both print and video, play a powerful role in how we all look at ourselves, whether teen or adult. The media has a lot to do with setting the standards of what is appealing and looks good. People fall short of those standards and they can lead to all sorts of other problems, said Mason, who founded the Richton Park-based magazine in 2007. Teens with low self-esteem can bully oth-

ers, make poor decisions, succumb to peer pressure and have troubled friendships. It can also lead to more serious consequences, such as eating disorders, depression, even suicide, Mason said. Elexis became a bully. “I was so mean to people. If they looked at me wrong or even said something out of pocket, I spazzed out. I figured if I did that, I wouldn’t have to worry about being messed with or talked about,” she said. “If I put on my mean persona, it made me think (people) won’t mess with me. But it’s different,” Elexis said. “That’s when they mess with you most, especially boys!” Both Mason and Hoeffner say that girls are more susceptible to low self-esteem than boys. “Girls are social beings – needing connections socially in order to function. Threaten her social connections, and most will respond in order to protect it,” Mason said. But boys are not immune from having low self-esteem or image. They may also feel bad about their appearances in comparison with others, said Hoeffner. But boys are less likely to define themselves by how their bodies look compared to other boys. Jill Zimmerman Rutledge, an Evanstonbased psychotherapist who works with adolescent girls and image issues, has seen firsthand the media’s impact on selfmage. While she believes the media has some

www.columbialinks.org Photos by Jilliana Pelletta

Survival

Tips Elexis Chapel, 16, knows what it’s like to feel like you are not good enough. Her advice is simple, but key:

• Look in the mirror and remember that you are unique, and that in

Deanna Mason founded Collage Magazine for Teen Girls in Richton Park to help with self-esteem issues. "I believe the visual images we see, both print and video, play a powerful role in how we all look at ourselves, whether teen or adult."

responsibility to the youth buying the products they sell—makeup, clothes, movies, TV shows, etc.—so does family. “Parents also need to be aware of what their daughters are looking at in the media and have discussions about this with their daughters,” Rutledge said. While Hoeffner believes the media is making some strides in policing themselves, she also said parents are key to helping teens develop healthy self-images. “But the best remedy is the youth themselves playing an active role in dissecting what is being fed to them by the media,” she said. That’s how Elexis turned around. With the help of her mother and grandmother, she began to understand that much of what she saw, in magazines or on TV, was

unrealistic and that everyone is beautiful in their own way. “The thing that motivated me to get better is seeing my grandma and mom actually be sad about me and my self-esteem issues. They thought that no matter how much they helped, I was just refusing the help,” Elexis said. “It wasn’t that. I was just in denial about the whole thing itself.” Elexis said she is grateful nothing bad had to happen to see that “I was being manipulated by videos of my favorite singers and rappers.” “I saw in myself that I was beautiful. And I had really nice teeth,” she said excitedly.

itself is beautiful.

• Remember, it’s not what they think, it’s what you think and what you like within yourself. • Everything has to do with how you carry yourself and how you talk to talk others. • Look at what makes you distinctive from your group of friends—and love it!

–Janiela McKinney

For more information on Hey U.G.L.Y., which also has programs to address bullying, go to www.heyugly.com. 27

Giving It Back

Claiming the

corners Communities see the value of bringing block clubs together

By Bridget Acre Rowe–Clark Math and Science Academy

ntroducing youth to block clubs can make these clubs even stronger. Diane Latiker founded Kids Off the Block in July 2003. Kids Off the Block is a program that is offered to teens and provides mentoring, tutoring, music, drama and other things. “Kids Off the Block has made a commitment to the youth in our communities,” said Latiker. “We will guide you, respect you, care for you, love you, provide a safe place for you, build a relationship with you, listen to you and help you to succeed,” she said. The Kids Off the Block organization has grown throughout the years. “I went from two students in my living room to now 75 students who were looking for a safe place, somebody to love and respect them and to have loyalty,” Latiker said. Kids Off the Block has been around for nearly 10 years. “We provide mentoring, activities, resources, tutoring, music, drama, sports, GED classes and help with job skills,” Latiker said. “We help cope with violence and whatever is needed,” said Latiker. The organization plans events that involve the youth in peace marches, cleaning up the

Photo by Carolina Sanchez

Diane Latiker, founder of Kids Off the Block in Roseland, says her club provides mentoring and help coping with the violence. Next to her is Dr. Harold Pollack of University of Chicago's Crime Lab. 28

Photo by Bridget acre

community and holiday celebrations. “Before I came to Kids Off the Block, I wasn’t dealing drugs but I was running the streets causing trouble,” said Danterell Boyd, a student enrolled in Kids Off the Block. “I consider Kids Off the Block a life saver because it keeps me busy and instead of hanging with friends and getting in trouble. Now I am focused on making positive music,” he said. Boyd said he feels as though Kids Off the Block contributes to reduction of violence in communities. “It may not stop it fully, but it helps reduce the violence, and it makes you think about changing,” said Boyd. According to ChicagoPolice.org, the murder rate for 2013 has decreased by 17 percent in comparison to 2012. This is where block clubs and organizations like Kids Off the Block come in to try to bridge the gap and reduce the crime rates. “Many believe block clubs help to strengthen the cohesiveness,” said Latiker. The newly formed block club of 4000 W. Cullerton has been established for a little over two years. In that time, Cynthia Brandon, president of the club (and the mother of this reporter), has made it her business that the children of the block are involved in any way possible, even if it means having the children put flyers in mailboxes to announce upcoming meetings and events. “We have been meeting about creating a junior block club,” Brandon said. Trying to get teens involved can be very challenging, but Brandon manages to include them in the club. “Currently, when flyers or newsletters need to be distributed, we contact the kids and have them deliver them,” Brandon said. “They have also been included in decorating and helping out with cleaning the block,” she said. There are 463 block clubs registered with

the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS). CAPS brings together the police, the community and other agencies to identify and solve neighborhood crime problems rather than simply reacting to their symptoms after the fact. “I definitely believe block clubs are a great way to rebuild neighborhoods,” Brandon said. “People coming together with their unique gifts can build mountains.” Akira Roberts, 15, is a resident of the 4000 block of Cullerton. “In the past I have seen some bad activity on the block,” Roberts said. “I was talking with my mom one day and she mentioned that Ms. Cynthia was creating a block club. At first I thought it wouldn’t solve anything, but as time progressed I saw a change,” said Roberts. Roberts, who has lived in the neighborhood since she was 2, admitted that she has seen her share of bad activity. When she heard about Brandon creating the block club she wanted to see where it was going. She started talking to Brandon’s daughter (this reporter) about the block club. “She told me I should have an open mind about it and to come to some of the meetings and listen to what is being said, so I went to one meeting with my mother and from then on my little sister and I have been involved in the block club, helping out with whatever was needed,” Roberts said. Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy is working to create 300 new block clubs. For more information on Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy you can visit their website: www.ChicagoPolice.org. Kids Off the Block operates at 11627 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, Monday through Friday 4 p.m.-8 p.m. For more information, you can visit their Facebook page at Kids Off the Block, Inc. (KOB).

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Beat BULLYING Knowing the signs and doing something can stop it in its tracks

hen people think of bullying, they imagine a muscular guy strutting the halls effortlessly before he picks up a scrawny kid by his collar and demands some lunch money. Or maybe they see a girl’s school books shoved out of her hands and the offenders laugh as they walk away. In reality, though, bullying is not always that dramatic. But even gossiping and teasing can be part of the problem. “I know people that gossip and all, but it’s never that serious,” Shamaya Martin, 14, from Kenwood Academy said. “I just thought people would clear their name and move on with their lives. I guess not. It’s bullying, and if the problem isn’t stopped, things can spin out of control.” According to dosomething.org, a nonprofit organization promoting social change in youth, 90 percent of students between 4th and 8th grades said that they were bullied during class. At only 17, Lincoln-Way East High School junior Ryan Hesslau decided to take matters into his own hands. Ryan decided to start an organization called ForeverU (foreverumovement.com) so he could speak up for those who couldn’t, whether it’s bullying, depression or suicide among teens. “I was never bullied, but I’ve had so many friends that were harassed,” Ryan says. “Some have even contemplated suicide. Each day, 160,000 students make up excuses to avoid school because they dread aggression from other students. That was enough for me to want to stand up for those who couldn’t do it themselves. Everybody on this Earth has a purpose, and nobody should feel like they don’t deserve to exist.” He started his idea on a sheet of paper, thinking about what he could do to help his peers. Soon, the ForeverU movement teamed up with the Safe to Talk Foundation, and SchoolTipline. Safe to Talk Foundation, SafeToTalk.org, based

By Taylah Taylor Kenwood Academy High School in Draper, Utah, aims to reduce violent and dangerous behavior by empowering students with training, tools and resources needed to safely speak out against dangerous behaviors, according to its website. SchoolTipline, schooltip.org, is helping to make schools safer by providing an easy and anonymous way to report bullying, harassment, violence, etc. to school administrators. Since founding ForeverU, Ryan has spoken out about bullying prevention during speaking engagements and has organized rallies and events to promote his cause, including a 5K run in April. He also encourages others to share their stories of being bullied at www.foreverumovement.com. “ForeverU is different from other organizations because we’re actually listening and considering feelings,” he says. “It’s way easier to just have a group of people that can really connect and support each other. Using a celebrity and a catchy slogan won’t help those in need of somebody to talk to.” But being an advocate to the downtrodden has taken a toll on Ryan. He struggles to find a balance between his schoolwork, personal goals and maintaining ForeverU. He’s the first to admit that finding that balance isn’t easy. “It’s still small, but I’m glad that my ideas are spreading out,” Ryan says. “I hope to be bigger in the future.” Ryan says his goals for the end of this year are to collaborate with more organizations, speak in public areas, become known in a large area and pay attention to the voices that ask for help. He’d like to host fundraisers in the future. But the message is clear: Bullying should be taken as a serious offense. The problem starts off as a minor incident and gradually increases. According to the website Stopbullying.gov, a website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1 in 40 students drop out of school to prevent becoming a target at their schools.

Photo by Taylah Taylor

Shamaya Martin, 14, of Kenwood Academy, works at her school to prevent bullying. "[gossip is] bullying, and if the problem isn't stopped, things can spin out of control.

The constant harassment can lead to depression and other mental health risks. But awareness can prevent even those small instances and help make bullying a thing of the past, says Kari Lannon, a therapist with the Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago. A teacher for 10 years, Lannon has worked with both children and teenagers that were bullied, from physical assault to verbal aggression and cyberbullying. Lannon and her partners include a lesson plan on bullying in their curriculum on social and emotional learning. There, they talk about education and what to do as a bystander. “Sometimes bystanders of bullying take a stand,” she says. “When they don't, it can be for a number of reasons, including fear for their own safety or reputation, feeling like something else should step in or feeling uncertain about what steps to take.” While 56 percent of students in high schools across America have witnessed an act of physical, verbal or cyberbullying, Lannon says it’s adults who need a refresher course on bullying. “Adults definitely need more education regarding the pervasive nature of bullying in schools, including more awareness of cyberbullying,” she says. 29

Giving It Back

JUST REWARDS Often a graduation requirement, community service learning pays back

By Avendah Watson Jones College Prep

any schools, including Chicago Public Schools, require students to complete community service in order to graduate. CPS students have to complete 40 hours from freshman through senior years. Other schools require even more hours. But what do students volunteering at animal shelters, within non-profit organizations or on Open House or Career Night at school, for example, actually get long-term out of those experiences? Adults, for the most part, stand by the notion of service learning being character-building and community-friendly. Students can be a bit more divided on the issue. CPS believes “service-learning is a teaching strategy…builds social skills, and develops civic skills and attitudes.” There is even a national belief that service learning is “meaningful” and “important.” “Students improve their academic skills by applying what they learn in school to the real world; they then reflect on their experience to reinforce the link between their service and their learning,” according to the state of Maryland Board of Education website. (MarylandPublicSchools.org) Tamera Driver, a guidance counselor at Chicago’s Jones College Prep High School, said that the effectiveness of service hours Courtesy of Tierra Tucker

Kenwood Academy senior Tierra Tucker (second from right) serves on Mayor Emanuel's youth roundtable. She volunteers as part of her community service but finds her role as "youth advocator" rewarding. 30

depends on the student. “When a kid doesn’t care, it’s not a lot of help for them,” she said. “What you put into it is what you get out of it.” Samone Williams put in more than the required service-learning hours. And in return, she had a good time and discovered how much she liked working with young children. She did almost two times the required hours because of the impact the volunteering had on her. She completed a total of 70 hours. “I had fun,” said the Jones College Prep senior. “But you have to like doing it or else you will be miserable.” Williams worked with children at her Living Water Community Church during summer Bible camp and taught them about responsibility. “I would do it again,” she said, adding that she grew a stronger connection by working with younger kids. Tierra Tucker, 18, a senior at Kenwood Academy High School, did her community service by working as a youth advocate on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Round Table: Advocators for Youth. She liked meeting every Saturday to discuss with the mayor and other roundtable participants the problems Chicago’s teens face, and representing them by proposing solutions in front of the city’s chief executive. As a youth advocate, Tucker heard from her peers on such things as health problems —like too much fast food and soda— and poor transportation that keep children from getting to school on time. “It gave me a chance to give back and help my community,” she said. “It allowed the voices of youth who really aren’t heard, to be heard.” A pair of researchers at the Portsmouth, N.H.-based RMC Research Corporation found that “in service-learning, all activities should have personal relevance for

participants, and they should be appropriate to the ages and developmental abilities of the young people who are involved. Activities should be designed to be engaging and interesting, and should encourage participants to understand the social context in which their service is taking place.” Linda Fredericks and Shelley H. Billig’s research revealed that students who found the service work they did meaningful were more likely to enjoy it. For students who didn’t find value in their volunteering, “they described it as ‘useless,’ ‘meaningless,’ ‘boring’ or ‘pointless.’ ” Maybe that is why Noah Polk, a senior at Kenwood Academy, feels that community service being a graduation requirement is “B.S.” “They force you to do it. The point of voluntary community service is you want to do it. You want to help. But if you’re forced then it defeats the purpose,” he said. Polk completed his required hours, but said he didn’t get much out of it. He didn’t disclose what he volunteered to do. CPS is the third largest school district in the nation, with more than 400,000 students, but it is hardly alone in requiring that its seniors leave high school with the experience of giving back to the community. Many Chicago private schools follow the trend of having community service as a graduation requirement. At schools like Josephinum, an all-girls Catholic high school in Chicago, students do 20 hours per school year—for a total of 80 hours by graduation. “Students experience social justice in action. They broaden their hearts and minds as they connect with members of the community and the world at large,” according to the the school's website. CPS calls it “opportunities to work for the greater good”—whether students believe it or not.

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Old school, new school Teens—and pets—gladly volunteer at senior homes, sharing time and laughter

By Jordan Dillon King College Prep

Do pets listen?

rowing old happens to us all. But many organizations bring joy to the elderly through teen volunteers who provide support and companionship to the infirmed. “Teens give them company, changes the few years of life they have left,” said Phyllis Barker, director of volunteer services for the Chicago chapter of Little Brothers, a nationwide network of non-profits devoted to senior care. “It’s remarkable what some people say ‘just a kid’ can do.” Little Brothers offers free programming for seniors 70 and older to form new friendships with volunteers. And those volunteers, many of them teenagers, make a lifelong commitment to their elders so that no one ages alone. Several teens from nearby King College Prep volunteer at the Avenue Care Center at 4505 S. Drexel Blvd., in Chicago’s Kenwood neighborhood. For them, it’s not only a chance to knock out the mandatory service commitment required by Chicago Public Schools, but an opportunity to give their time to a muchappreciative group. Nicholas “Caillou” Taylor, 15, a sophomore at King College Prep, visits Avenue Care Center three times a month. An elder named Jimmy gave him this nickname because he looks like “Caillou” from the PBS cartoon of the same name. “That boy is something else, in a good way though,” Jimmy said. The boy is funny, yet respectful, which Jimmy finds lacking in many teens and even in some of the staff members that care for him. “He really has something going for himself,” says Jimmy, who declined to give his full name. “Too bad he’s only 15 and bald like Caillou.” “From doing this, I’ve learned so much,” Taylor said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity and strongly suggest all teens

Photo by Jordan Dillon

At Swedish Covenant Hospital, a Pembroke Welsh corgi brings joy to some of the seniors. Canine visitors that day included a beagle, golden retriever and a Doberman.

do this. It’s not just boring old people like we all think. I started doing this the summer of my 8th grade year because my grandmother died, and I never knew my grandfather. I feel teens make the person old and the old makes the teens a person. We teach each other and the teaching helps us learn from one another.” Taylor says the inspiration to help care for seniors came from helping his grandma before she passed. He realized there was more to life than just himself and he wanted to return the care she gave him to other seniors. Nicholas has encouraged many of his friends to do what he does and persuaded many with the need of 40 mandatory service learning hours before graduation to join him at Avenue Care. He is trying to start a helping seniors donation program at King College Prep High School that will benefit seniors by improving living standards and providing them with the company of youth while at the same time teaching the teens the benefits as well.

It was Valentine’s Day at Swedish Covenant Hospital on the city’s Northwest Side. And inside a first-floor meeting room, some of the hospital’s elderly patients spent the day with a beagle, a golden retriever, a Doberman and a Pembroke Welsh corgi. During a session hosted by trainer Ramona Condie, seniors played games with the pack of dogs and found inspiration just from their presence. For once, they said, someone listened to them, even if it was a dog. “The benefits of the program to the patients, the volunteers, and even the dogs are quite amazing,” said Beth Tap, volunteer manager at Loving Paws Inc., a Country Club Hills-based organization that provides canines to various therapeutic programs. Loving Paws organizes the program at Swedish Covenant. “The patients get a chance to work on their therapeutic goals in a much different way than they do for the rest of their week,” Tap said. “Physical therapy is painful, arduous and grueling. When a dog is introduced into the mix, it adds an exciting motivational element that really adds a special touch to their week.” Typically, the dogs are gathered from shelters and pounds, though occasionally people will donate dogs and puppies. They are then trained to love and enjoy the presence of sickly children or seniors. The process to get them to the people takes many hands, Tap said, but it works out greatly for everyone in the end. “The benefits for the volunteers is amazing as well,” she said. “Being able to spend time with your beloved pet, while also helping people... well, it’s a feeling you just can’t put into words. It’s a wonderful emotional lift in the midst of our chaotic lives, and we all look forward to spending time in the program.” Using hand signals to communicate with the dogs, the seniors played games like fetch and taught the dogs how to roll over, sit, lay down and jump over a bar. The best part for the elderly was interacting with the the dogs themselves, enjoying one another's company. As the dogs departed, an elderly man who asked not to be named, said to his nearby son in a soft tone, “Now, I go back to my life.”

—Jordan Dillon 31

Giving It Back

feed

the people Local church pantries help the less fortunate

anora Maxwell-Mason had always been active in her St. Mark United Methodist Church. Then in 1982, she was asked to head its food pantry. For the last three decades, she has been doing work that is close to her heart —and part of her faith. “The most memorable moments in my time here is when the clients come in and they bless us, they let us know what we are doing is much needed,” MaxwellMason said. She found, over the years, that helping people to have food wasn’t just about simple nutrition and filling stomachs. Maxwell-Mason said she finds it moving to help distribute the bags of canned goods, cereal and other packaged food because some people say they need it to take their medicine. The pantry is located in the Chatham community where the food insecurity rate is 33.6 percent, according to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Over one third of community residents don’t know when or from where they will get their next meal. In the county of Cook 845,000 people are food insecure, according to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. People who come to St. Mark Church’s food distribution every fourth Saturday get a bag of non-perishable foods. A lot of the food is donated by church members and Maxwell-Mason is humbled by their generosity, she said. Maxwell-Mason estimates she has helped to feed some 600,000 people since she became the pantry’s facilitator. Located east of St. Mark’s food pantry is another one at South Shore United Methodist Church. It is located in Chicago’s South Shore community where the food insecurity rate is 33.4 percent, the food depository study revealed. Linda McDonald runs the pantry and remarks on the changes in who comes to

the pantry and how often. The non-profit facility has been active for 25 years and survived on private donations until it got its partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository seven years ago. The church used to feed recipients once a month but now does so on a weekly basis. Like Maxwell-Mason, working the food pantry has been fulfilling for McDonald and has given her some memories that she promises to hold on to. Every Friday she rushes from her day job as a licensed dietician to the pantry to make sure everything is set up for the distribution. “My most memorable moment is when a man came in and gave us $500,” said McDonald. “He explained how he was in the food line at one point and just wanted to say thank you.” What she enjoys most about the food pantry is how it has grown over the years and the amount of people who volunteer —some of whom are not members of the church. McDonald is inspired by the mainstay volunteers who, along with her, have become warm and familiar faces at the pantry. Seated faithfully at the pantry entrance are six women, including Ms. Mable – also known as “Mable-at-theTable.” McDonald and Maxwell-Mason have nearly identical community service accomplishments. They both speak highly of the personal reward of helping people to have something as basic – and vital – as food to eat. For them, the work they do for free is invaluable and part of their duty as Christians. Ms. Mable sums both women’s sentiments. “We are supposed to be a witness for God. He wants us to love each other and give to the needy and that’s what (we) love doing,” said Ms. Mable.

By Marcus McKinney Hales Franciscan High School

how to start a food pantry Establishing a food pantry is not difficult, according to ourdailybreadmissions.org. The faith-based resource website makes the following recommendations for setting up a community food distribution site. Assess the need: Find out what other food pantries are in your area and the work they do. It could be important to know other area pantries’ distribution schedule, what food they provide and other important, related information. Then establish such business-side things as recipient eligibility rules and distribution days and times. Secure a site: Establish a stable place of distribution. Make sure you comply with all local and state rules and regulations, including fire codes, to avoid the risk of being shut down. The site should be the right size and configuration to adequately accommodate not only the food and recipients, but also the volunteers and workers. Partner with a local food bank: Be in contact with your local food bank, they are like supermarkets. The food bank is often the major depository where larger food donations are made and from where food is distributed to pantries. Know your community: Who needs service? How often and how much? Where are the recipients coming from in town? It could prove effective to know the demographics that your pantry would serve. This not only helps with providing food, but also with soliciting help to secure enough food. Also, it helps determine how much help the pantry needs to offer its services. Flyers or advertisements can help attract more volunteers, donors and recipients to your pantry. Talk to local businesses: Keeping in contact with a supermarket is a great idea. A good amount of food in a supermarket is still edible but unable to be sold due to the date of delivery. The grocer may be able to supply your food bank with those items. Also, hotels and other food-serving, hospitalityindustry businesses could be helpful to your efforts. Secure fundings: You cannot always depend on single sources of donations to keep a pantry running. Some food banks charge pantries to obtain food from them. It could be helpful to talk to businesses in the area where your food bank is located about monetary and food donations.

—Marcus McKinney

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families

not alone

Mentoring programs target single-parent homes

hildren from single-parent homes often face obstacles, from lack of supervision to loss of household income. Now, help may be on the way. Mentoring programs, some designed especially for single-parent families, offer a new kind of support system for kids. “A lot of kids don’t have the chance to go outside the neighborhood,” said David Britton, vice president of program development at UFLOW (Urban Future Leaders of the World), a mentoring program with offices in Illinois and Ohio. “The mentors try to make their mentees see that they aren't only helping themselves, but helping other people.” Children from single-parent homes have benefited from mentoring programs, Britton said. Mentoring can not only ensure educational achievement, such as better attendance, but give students a better chance of going on to higher education and developing better attitudes and relationships. There is an immediate demand. According to WithOutAFather.com, an online mentorship program, 21.2 million children nationwide grow up in a household with only one parent. And those children have a greater risk of abusing alcohol, lower grade-point averages and college aspirations, poor attendance records and higher dropout rates than students who live with both parents. Those without a father are five times more likely to be destitute. Greg Mathis, a syndicated television show judge, understands the importance of youth mentorship. As a young man, Mathis said he was involved in gangs, dropped out of school and spent time in jail. “I didn’t have a father to teach me real manhood, so I learned this twisted sense of manhood,” Mathis said. As a wish to a dying mother, Mathis

By Malik Haynes Al Raby High School turned his life around. He found positive mentors in his life, earned a law degree and became the youngest judge in Michigan’s history. Like Mathis, children who have a mentor are more likely to be successful in terms of educational achievement, better attendance rates, a better chance of going on to higher education and better attitudes toward school. In terms of health and safety, mentoring appears to help prevent substance abuse and reduce some negative youth behavior, said Meghan Jane Stegemann, associate director of tutoring and Summer Day programs at Chicago Lights, a non-profit organization based at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. “A child from a single-parent home may not have the opportunity to spend time one-to-one with an adult during the day because the parent can be busy working or taking care of a younger sibling,” Stegemann said. With the program at Chicago Lights, mentors can give students the full attention they need when it comes to homework, social skills and college or career planning. “A relationship with a caring adult can have a lifelong impact on a student and can truly alter the course of a student’s life,” Stegemann said. Michelle Mermelstein can relate. Mentored as a child, Mermelstein, 27, from Urbana, was guided by teachers growing up. Now a pediatric occupational therapist, Michelle recently moved back to the Chicago area from Boston. The first thing she wanted to do after moving back home: get involved with a volunteer organization. “I had people who were positive influences in my life,” Mermelstein said. “Since I had these types of people in my life, I thought it was important to give back and provide for somebody else.”

Photos courtesy Warner bros.

Judge Mathis, a product of a single-parent home, has formed a church-based program designed to pair teens in particular single-parent homes with mentors.

Mermelstein later joined uFlow, which gave her the chance to work with kids on the weekends, providing them with the same attention and nurturing she received as a child. “I think that when you have somewhere to go on a Saturday afternoon, to be involved, I think that’s something new [for mentees] to go to, ask questions and share their thoughts,” she said. Likewise, Judge Mathis has started the MENtorship MENistry, a new national, church-based program designed to pair teens, in particular those in single-parent homes, with mentors who will encourage constructive behavior in their students. Those churches who want to implement the program can find it at AskJudgeMathis.com. Mathis says the program will help those “who live with single mothers and don’t have a real father in their lives have an opportunity to have a church teach them real manhood through mentorship.” 33

Giving It Back

music mends Learning to play an instrument can make you smarter and succesful By Marcus Carter De La Salle Institute

Zakiya Powell, 22, began playing the trombone at an early age and has since gone through Jazz Links at Columbia College Chicago. She is in college and playing professionally around Chicago.

t’s no secret that violence in Chicago is on the rise. In 2012 there were more than 500 homicides, and Chicago Police Superintendent Garry F. McCarthy has been under fire because of that climbing number. In January 2013 alone, 44 people were killed. What’s worse is that Chicago's youth have become the number one targets of Chicago's homicide epidemic, according the Chicago Reporter. Their numbers show about half of the city’s homicide victims from 2008 to 2012 were under 25. But not every Chicago teenager’s story goes that way. Seventeen-year-old Joaquin Gomez is a student at Lincoln Park High School who found a way to not let Chicago's violence influence him. He said he could have possibly ended up in a gang, but learning to play the trumpet was a way to avoid that. "I started and just fell in love" said Gomez. The Bridges Program at Chicago’s Merit School of Music drew Joaquin in and helped guide him towards a love of music. Merit is a non-profit music school based out of the Joy Faith Knapp Music Center in Chicago's West Loop. It provides music education to Chicago-area youth regardless of their family’s ability to pay. The school serves about 6,000 students who live in Chicago. The program also provides music education to more than 4,000 children each year at public, parochial, charter, and private schools and community centers in the suburbs and Northwest Indiana. Gomez first started playing the trumpet in 5th grade when his band director introduced him to the Bridges program. In 6th grade, he fell in love with his instrument and started attending the Merit School of Music. As one of Merit’s top three trumpet players, he said “music improved me as a person overall.” Thomas Bracy, executive director of the Merit School of Music, explained the

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direct effectiveness of Merit's educational experiences and how it has helped students achieve personal success either through music or other life pursuits. “We do quality. We don’t apologize for rigor and in the given age when students are given a star and patted on the back for everything, it’s very important. We make these students work and try to teach them life lessons and skills to be a part of something like Merit; a community,” said Bracy. Students who successfully go through the program have gone on to teach music or have become professional musicians. Still others have become successes in other fields such as business, finance and education. Gomez said that without the help of the Merit School of Music, he wouldn't quite know where he would be and said that school saved him. ”I had the opportunity to do better in my life, before I had the chance to do badly," Gomez said. According to the American Medical Association, it seems that an entire generation of poor and urban American youth is coming of age in an environment of pervasive violence. Many Chicago-based programs and institutions have not been able to do enough to reduce the high rates of youth violence. To get a sense of the public health chal-

lenge facing teachers and policymakers, consider that during 2004 about 1.6 million teens ages 12 to 19 were reported as victims of violent crime, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Currently, homicide is the second-leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 24 years old. The Chicago Reader reports that health professionals and the creative arts therapies may be able to help reduce violent behaviors before it spreads to another generation. Creative arts therapies have been used to help trauma survivors from war and terrorism, as well as help reduce negative behaviors in aggressive situations. According to an article from The Telegraph, quoting a study from the Faculty of 1000 Biology Reports, playing an instrument can actually make you smarter. Evidence shows that musicians have organizationally and functionally different brains compared to non-musicians, especially in the areas of the brain used in processing and playing music. If you learn how to play an instrument, the parts of your brain that control motor skills (ex: using your hands, running, swimming, balancing, etc.), hearing, storing audio information, and memory actually grow and become more active. Another student who followed an approach similar to Gomez is 22-year-old

Zakiya Powell who started playing the trombone at an early age and has since gone through Jazz Links at Columbia College Chicago, a program similar to the one Gomez is currently in. “When I was in kindergarten, my teacher would play the trombone to get us to go to sleep; it being the closest instruments to a human voice and when I was little, I used to lie on my father’s chest and when he would talk it would remind me of the sound of the trombone.” Her dad played a lot of jazz music while she was growing up. She grew to develop a deep love for it and the way it sounded by listening to artists like Miles Davis and John Coltrane. “In 3rd grade, my father took me and my brother to the music store and asked us, ‘What instrument do you want’ and I chose the trombone and have been playing ever since,” Powell said. Music played an important role in Powell’s life. It gave her the drive she needed. She has developed the patience to just sit there and play until it is right. Powell recently performed at the 2013 Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference, The Awakening to Xperience: Tribute to Ken Chaney on Feb. 15, 2013 and is now also playing with a local church. Powell said playing music “keeps me going.”

Joaquin Gomez (left), 17, practices his trumpet at the Merit School of Music. He is one of the school's three top trumpet players.

Photos by Marcus Carter

Going Global

out of

eden

Paul Salopek

Retracing humankind's footsteps with Paul Salopek on his seven-year odyssey

wo-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and National Geographic Fellow Paul Salopek is on a mission to re-create the steps of human migration from its origins in Africa. In early 2013, Salopek began his journey in Ethiopia, the birthplace. Salopek aims to complete his 21,000-mile trek by 2020, concluding the trip at the southern tip of Chile. Throughout his expedition Salopek will be chronicling the process. Every 100 miles he composes a “narrative milestone,” which includes a visual panorama of his current location, photographs, a sound clip, along with a brief interview with local people. (To find out more about the Out of Eden Walk you can visit OutofEdenWalk.com and to read some of his stories and dispatches, what he calls “slow journalism,” go to OutOfEdenWalk. nationalgeographic.com. Salopek spoke via Skype from somewhere in Saudi Arabia to the summer 2013 class of Columbia Links teen journalists at Columbia College Chicago. Here is an edited transcript by Matthew Wettig, Links mentor and senior at Lane Tech High School. Matthew is the editor of The Warrior, the school newspaper.

Hasna Akaleli, 8, earning her bread by the sweat of her brow in Dubti, Ethiopia.

Columbia Links: What made you want to travel around the world? Paul Salopek: I was raised overseas. It’s what I’ve done since childhood. In contrast to most people, it seems pretty strange for me to stay in one place for too long. I was raised a nomad, which in turn influenced my work. I guess I found a job that lets me fulfill my lifestyle—living out of a backpack. CL: What was your motivation to recreate the first journey of mankind? PS: My background was in science. I’ve never taken a single journalism course in my life. I studied to be a field biologist; like a forest ranger, something along those lines. After college, I was not able to find a job that pertained to my degree. I kind of fell into journalism by accident. This is a longwinded way of saying that science initially was my motivation for it. I learned all about our initial diaspora from Africa, 60,00070,000 years ago, during my education. All of us are Africans, all you have to do is go far enough back. This journey belongs to all of us, not just you or me. Using ancient migration as a map, I’m able to delve into deep history, while at the same time functioning as a conventional reporter regarding what’s happening in the modern world.

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CL: What were the struggles of constantly traveling when you were younger? PS: When you’re as young as I was, 6,7 years old, you’re very adaptive. I had no say in it. I went to kindergarten in the U.S. I’m sure I was unhappy to leave behind my friends to be shipped down to the central Mexican plateau. My world then became one of hand-plowed cornfields, volcanos, copper coins, cobblestone streets and mud brick houses. I basically didn’t just grow up in another place, but another time. Looking back now, I was just a typical American kid being dropped head-first into the life of a Mexican child. I’m probably went through an unhappy period of time, to be honest. I don’t really remember. The memories I do have are the ones I just described. I lived as a Mexican child, and I still hold a chunk of Mexico in my psyche. The only negative I can think of would be a slight sense of loneliness. CL: What kind of assumptions do people make of you as you traverse on your journey? PS: Huge assumptions fly both ways, still. Take a step further back, imagine me working in Africa for 15 years. What kind of assumptions do you think are made when a white guy is walking through, say, a Congolese village? The “skin game” is very strong in Africa, rightfully so with it’s colonial history. The perception there is that I’m an aid worker, some rich guy on vacation—I immediately become a walking dollar sign—or I’m there with big business, as a mining engineer or something. Just like how certain stereotypes are imposed upon me, I equally have to fight to avoid making stereotypes of my own. Who are the Congolese? Are they poor? Are they suffering? Most of what you read about Africa in the news is BS. The stuff I read in American news about Africa makes me sick. Most of what is written are tragedies. I’m not saying this because I’m naive, but Africa is one of the overall happiest places I’ve ever been to. Yes, there’s poverty. Yes, there’s disease but family bonds are extremely strong. The extended family is the foundation for everything, something Americans lost generations ago. CL: Can you describe your experiences with different cultures in your travels and how they’ve affected you? PS: With this experience, I’m trying to strip all the crutches of normal reporting.

Ahmed Alema Hessan: guide, patriot, teacher, Homo sapiens. Talkin' 'bout evolution. Asaita, Ethiopia. Photos by Paul Salopek

Our Saudi team: Award, Banounah, and the camels Fares and Seema.

By using my feet as transportation, I’m moving through stories and cultures slowly. For example, in Ethiopia I started out in the Rift Valley in a pastoral society, and that was the first region I walked through. The difference is where normally I would fly into the capital city and drive past 27 villages to get to village X, now I’m walking through each place I would normally miss, capturing what’s going on there. I have no air-conditioned car and no translator. I have a cargo camel and a local who speaks enough English for me to get by. I’d like

to think that this adds a deeper level of insight to my work. CL: What do you hope that Americans will take from your work? PS: I have the hope that not just Americans, but all of us who live in this digitally driven world, will learn the value of slowing things down. To enjoy reading and writing text longer than a tweet. I worry we’re raising a generation of young people who have lost the ability to focus. The ability to experience the joy of reading a sustained narrative. 37

Going Global

TWEET REVOLUTION THE

Strategic social media can move mountains and people

By Solomon Davis Marist High School

ention social media and what comes to mind? Endless pictures posted to Instagram or countless “status updates” on Facebook. But such social media networks, including Twitter, SocialCam and Ustream, are being used these days for something more urgent than sharing personal— sometimes pointless—stories: social activism. And, in many instances, it is young adults from around the world who are leading this revolution through technology. Chicago’s Hind Makki is one activist who sees “that the power of social media can be the power to change society.” But she acknowledges that this emerging tool in the fight for global freedom was not her original purpose for using social media. Makki, 33, started using Facebook as a place for her and her friends to connect. Then, in 2010, around the time of the Arab Spring anti-government uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, she began to use Twitter and gained an international following. Now, the freelance consultant and social media strategist holds cyber discussions about an issue close to her—the disrepair of prayer spaces or women's sections in mosques. She uses Tumblr and Facebook to bring together women to share their tales and pictures to get their stories out. “I’m focusing on showing beautiful spaces, adequate spaces and pathetic spaces,” Makki says. “Most mosques are gender-segregated and many mosques don’t let woman in at all, and what happens is often the women's section, or ones where women are allowed to pray in the mosques, are not necessarily up to par.” With this particular problem, Makki

aims to educate the males in the Muslim community but also wants to reach policymakers, analysts and thought leaders. Since the spaces are separate for each gender, “many men ... don’t even realize that some of these places are in such disrepair,” she says. “To have a space online as a way for women to share their stories [is] a somewhat cathartic experience for them if the stories are dramatic.” These tools of empowerment are also vital now in places like Egypt and Syria where social media has given a voice to those who might not have otherwise been heard—marginalized groups such as the youth and the poor. Regina Wellner, an academic manager at Columbia College in the Department of Humanities, History and Social Science, says the Arab Spring illustrated this. “You saw different ways where youth, 18 to 30 years in age range, were using social media just starting to find their voice to make a political observation.” Wellner, who teaches about social media in a course at Columbia titled “Reform, Revolution and Jihad in the Middle East,” says the global cybernetwork became useful. “Eventually to call people to gather, to talk, to meet, to protest.” Indeed, its accessibility has let people organize protests using Facebook, and, in some cases, document—through Twitter pictures and SocialCam video, for example—government retaliation against revolution. “You can read people's tweets about what is happening in Cairo right now with the government, and chasing down the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria,” Wellner says. So how did we get here? Seemingly everyone has access to a laptop, smartphone and an Internet connection. Even

novice tech users have become photographers, filmmakers and, in many cases, journalists reporting stories about their world. Because of this, we, the people, are more connected than ever. In the United States, a new generation is rising up using these tools to be heard. An organization known as the Dream Defenders led a well-publicized, 31-day sit-in at Florida's state capital, prompted by a not-guilty verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman, who was charged in the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin in 2011. The fiery group of young adults led sitins and rallies, held poetry ciphers and hosted celebrity supporters inside the building, all the while posting Ustream videos, Instagram images and Twitter messages to share with the country their fight against the state's Stand Your Ground law. Danny Agnew, 24, a communications coordinator for the group, says social media put power in their hands. “We have spread the word the way we want to,” Agnew says. “People see what we give them, and without it, it would be very difficult to have the success we have now.” Dream Defenders were able to repeatedly mobilize support for their month-long efforts quickly on social media. “It allows us a rapid-response team that’s global,” says Tiffany Loftin, 24, a group organizer who credits Facebook status updates and Twitter “retweets” with ensuring that anyone who wanted to know their story could find out the truth directly from them. “It also gives us the blessing of being able to control our own messaging,” Loftin says. Protest in the 21st Century may require

WWW.COLUMBIALINKS.ORG Activist Hind Makki used Twitter and other social media to spotlight the disrepair of prayer spaces for women in the mosques.

Photo courtesy of HIND MAKKI

a vast cyber network to be strong, but Agnew cautions that it cannot replace real connections with supporters. “If social media is used incorrectly, it can kill people's relationships,” he says. “The important thing to know is that people do interact with us, and our big policy is to build a relationship with those people.” Another young activist fears potential corporate influence over social media sites could threaten its use in grassroots protest. Mattheis Carley, a “mid-20s” Chicago protester against the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), took to the city streets to join a protest that he heard about from the Gay Liberation Network. Carley says the group regularly emails a newsletter outlining its list of concerns, and though he knows social

media is another “online meeting space to get the word out,” he's cautious about its oversight. “The only thing that’s scary about it, of course, is that it's subject to the very corporations that we're upset with and it can be turned off like that.” Wellner says another pitfall in relying too heavily on social media for information could be the spread of false stories by regimes overseas, so it should be judged wisely by its consumers. “There is a lot of misinformation and propaganda that’s being tweeted and retweeted,” she says. “We need to be discerning and weigh all the sources and decide which is best.” The big question is if this trend of using social media to fight injustice will continue to inspire change. Wellner says we'll have to wait and see.

“I think, like anything, when people realize they have this outlet, this voice, they're not just going to give it back,” Wellner says. “I think that’s exciting about this—we don’t know how this will manifest. Yet because a part of what’s behind it is human creativity and the desire to be able to speak out. I guess where people take this, that’s where it will go.” Makki says social media is instrumental in her activism and knows she wouldn’t have reached a global audience—or even national one—with her mosque movement without it. Still, for her, social media's real power is seen not just in toppling governments but in uniting people. “It can help develop relationships between people that wouldn’t otherwise have met one another and would not have been able to exchange ideas, learn from each other and grow as a people.” 39

Going Global

ABsence of

color

What do you really know about vitiligo? No. 1: It's not contagious

isconceptions can often shape how the public sees those with vitiligo when they are not educated. They often jump to conclusions. One misconception that often causes false rumors leading to hostility is that vitiligo is contagious and can be spread by skin-to-skin contact. Emily L. Keimig, a dermatologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, says, "A lot of kids are afraid it's contagious, [that] it's an infection, and if you're in contact with someone with vitiligo that you can catch it, which is absolutely not true. And that is one of the biggest misconceptions." Vitiligo is a skin condition that results in the loss of pigmentation. It is believed to have been around as long as the recorded history of humans. According to Vitiligo Support International, about 1 to 2 million people in the U.S. have vitiligo. Worldwide, about 65 million people are affected. Vitiligo can start at any age, but about 95 percent develop it before age 40. Approximately 20 percent of patients have a family member with vitiligo. Even if a parent has it, only 5 percent to 7 percent of children will also get it. “It's hard for kids because they don’t necessarily understand why the skin is different,” Keimig says. When a child is diagnosed with vitiligo, she advises parents to explain and talk to the child about the diagnosis, ask about how school is going, what their friends are saying and to listen to what their child is telling them. Several other misconceptions exist about this skin disease. Some have the mistaken belief that when an individual is abnormally lighter that they have bleached their skin in an attempt to look white. Often, those people have vitiligo. For example, many thought the late entertainer Michael Jackson refused to accept his skin color and wanted to look white. In fact, he did

By Leandra Luna Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center

have vitiligo and chose to bleach his skin to one color. Bleaching is a treatment offered to adult patients with vitiligo when they are mostly depigmented of their natural skin color. Another misconception is that certain cosmetics such as perfume can trigger vitiligo. Yet another is eating raw meat as a child can give you vitiligo. Others believe that giving or donating blood can also increase your risk. All of these misconceptions can affect how people see someone with vitiligo, especially when they think it is contagious. People will avoid physical contact when they think it can be passed by touch. This can leave young children and teens hurt, shunned, rejected and even angry at themselves. “It’s nothing they're not doing right. It's just a part of them," Keimig reassures. Adolescents who are affected with

vitiligo can often be ashamed of their appearance, and this can affect their selfesteem. Every teenager has had at least one experience in their life where they may have felt people have been staring at them or making rude comments about them behind their backs. This is what it is like to go out in public and have people see your skin when you have vitiligo. Vitiligo can make people feel ashamed to show their skin in public when they cannot cover their spots. They may wear long sleeves and jeans in 90-degree weather because they don't feel comfortable showing their skin in public. It can cause teens to change their lifestyle by becoming less active in social activities. Nitzalis Martinez, a licensed practical nurse who works in pediatrics, comes across vitiligo patients often. “Make sure that the child is handling it properly, like they're not sad or not being bullied,” she advises. Adolescents are already at an age where they constantly feel like they are different and no one understands them. As more people become educated, vitiligo is becoming more commonly known and understood. But there are still too many people who judge those with it. It is highly possible that you will meet someone with vitiligo in your lifetime. If you do, don't stare, they already feel as though the world is watching them. You do not need to add another pair of eyes. If you do want to ask someone about their vitiligo, ask them politely why their skin is different. Chances are that if you ask, they will open up to you. People with vitiligo fear that others will judge them. If you approach them kindly, they will think that you are not there to judge. Many with vitiligo live their lives being embarrassed and hurt a lot, but deep down people with vitiligo are just the same as those without.

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Commentary

role playing Without a positive male influence, I worry that my younger brother will make bad decisions By Shaprice Hunt Al Raby High School

ach person must live their life as a model for others.” — Rosa Parks I remember when my older brother would argue with the whole family, because he and one of my other brothers had a fight. They wanted my older brother to walk away from it, because he’s the oldest, but instead he would lose his temper and the fighting would begin. As they argued, I looked over to see my little brother, now 7, beg them to stop. What type of example did they set for my little brother? Every day you turn on the news and hear about teenagers getting into trouble. The question that’s on a lot of people’s minds is, why do the teens act like that? My opinion is that teens face peer pressure: my older brother is a good example. He sometimes hangs out with the wrong people. I want things to be different for my little brother. When people ask me what I wanted to be when I grow up, my answer has always been a teacher or nurse. Nowadays, when you ask the younger kids what they want to be, the answer is the next Chief Keef or the next Derrick Rose. It’s a one- in-amillion chance for someone to become the next hot rapper or basketball star. What happened to, “I want to become the next policeman, doctor, nurse, teacher, or even superhero.” All that has been replaced by a fantasy, and many of the famous people today set bad examples— they rap about killing, guns and disrespecting women. Neither of my four brothers have had a male father figure in their lives. Grow-

ing up in a single-parent household I see the negative effects growing up without a good male role model has had on my older brother. He doesn’t have that person to teach him how he can make his life better and give him another point of view of a man who is living a better life. My mother can’t be that male. The U.S. Census shows 1 out of 3 kids in this country live in homes with no biological dad. And, African-American kids may be at even greater risk. According to The Children’s Defense Fund, 50 percent of black children, like my siblings and I, live only with their mother. So, how can you make up for not having that male parent that needs to show kids the right road? That’s when a mentor or role model should step up and become a good adult figure for the next generation and keep teens from making bad decisions. I think it’s important to have a role model in your life. Billy Brooks, who works with Chicago’s Better Boys Foundation, which helps provide such role models, agrees that they are crucial. “Negative people make you do negative things and positive people make you positive things,” he says. I look at my little brother and hope that he doesn’t grow up to be like some of the people I see today. According to fatherhood.org, “father absence is strongly linked to poverty, teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, abuse, suicide, and a host of other issues.” My older brother was smart as a young boy, but when he went to high school, things changed. He

started to hang around with the wrong people. He started to drink, smoke and had a baby at a young age, too. I want to make sure that my little brother grows up to be something in life. I want him to know that there are careers he can be proud of other than becoming the next NBA player. I think my brother can become a police officer because he loves being the policeman when playing cops and robbers. Also, he is very smart when it comes to things about violence. He knows right from wrong, and I want to make sure he doesn’t forget. I will try to be that role model for my little brother and work with my mom to help him in every way I can.

The author, Shaprice Hunt and her baby brother. 41

Going Global

the

far east movement Chicago teens travel to China, thanks to the Chicago Urban League By Booker Vance Kenwood Academy High School

ome students never get the chance to leave the comfort of their own hometown and even fewer have the opportunity to take a trip out of the country. In June 2012, the Chicago Urban League sent 20 African-American students on a trip to study abroad in Beijing and Shanghai, China for two weeks. These students studied Mandarin during the school year, so the trip also allowed them to get a better grasp of the Mandarin language. Workshops scheduled during the trip taught the students about the Chinese culture, economics, history and government. In addition to studying Chinese language and culture, the Chicago Urban League students took trips to places such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Panama Square and Summer Palace. This trip taught the students values such as: leadership, independence and social consciousness. “The trip was life changing,” said Ty’Nya Larry, a junior at Lindblom High School who went to China. Larry enjoyed her experience in China, but she said the trip was a bit of an adjustment because she was far from loved

ones. The students stayed in two hotels: one in Beijing and the other in Shanghai. Chinese food was served, and Larry says that the food she is accustomed to is a more Americanized version of the country’s dishes. “I became more open-minded towards new things, and I also learned that nothing ever goes as planned,” she said. Despite this, Larry discovered that she can be self-reliant and survive in a place that she is not fully familiar with. Another student, Jessica Clark, a sophomore also attending Lindblom High School, had a life-changing experience as well. She has studied Chinese in school and was excited to have actual interactions with people whose native tongues are in the Chinese language. “Educationally, I think the trip was a good experience because I actually learned how to speak the language to the people there, and even if I cannot talk to them, I still have a better understanding of what they are saying,” according to Clark. She said that she hopes to live in China one day. Clark went on to say that she would like to have a career in China where she will be further exposed to the culture and the country.

The National Urban League organization focuses on the education and empowerment of African-Americans and has various chapters across the nation. Their mission is to strengthen communities through creating “corporate, civic and community” relationships by networking and creating endless possibilities. The Urban League provides many opportunities by helping people with their businesses and obtaining jobs and affordable housing. The Chicago Urban League is the local chapter of the National Urban League. Danielle Parker is the head manager of education at the Chicago Urban League. She was in charge of making arrangements for the students who went on the trip and creating the curriculum. Said Parker: "This idea came from a conversation between Chicago Urban League's President and CEO Andrea L. Zopp and Alexander Tzang, special advisor to the China-United States Exchange Foundation, a non-profit to promote positive relationships and better understanding between the United States and China. The Student Mission came about because of a need to boost the number and diversity of African-American students

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The Chicago group of teens, chaperones and tour guides just outside the Great Wall of China.

studying abroad and also to build upon the American and Chinese relationship." In addition to the 20 students, three other students were allowed to participate in this venture. These three students were originally alternates but they were active in attending all of the meetings. The administrators felt that the trip would be incomplete without them. The Chicago Urban League held several fundraising programs and raised $15,000 to fund the trip. To attend the program, every student was required to have three letters of recommendation as well as fill out three applications. Prior to the China trip, these students were in attendance at weekly preparation meetings. The meetings involved an overview of the Mandarin language through instructional lessons. Due to the success of this program, the Chicago Urban League has planned to continue this exchange annually. The administrators are in the early stages of discussing the 2014 Student Mission trip to China per invitation from China-United States Exchange Foundation. “We learned the difference between the American and the Chinese Dream,” said Larry. “These dreams are not very different at all.” For further information on the Chicago Urban League or becoming a part of the next student exchange go toTheChicagoUrbanLeague.org

The Oriental Pearl Tower is in Shanghai and is the third tallest TV and radio tower in the world. It houses a restaurant, shops, entertainment centers and sightseeing venues.

Going Global

coming out of the locker Gay athletes, new in mainstream sports, are not so new to Chicago

By Alejandro Hernandez Steinmetz College Prep

Jason Collins, Washington Wizards center.

Brittney Griner of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. 44

s a track star in the early 2000s, Pedro Anzaldua could run past many racers at his New Buffalo High School in Michigan, but he couldn't run past his sexuality. Just in the last year, Washington Wizards center Jason Collins and the WNBA's No. 1 overall pick Brittney Griner came out of the closet. Even though Anzaldua, 32, came out publicly years before Collins and Griner, he couldn't do what they did and come out while he was an active member of an organized sport. “If I could go back in time, I would've come out because I knew I would've been stronger,” said Anzaldua. “But at the same time, I lived in a small town, and if I told my teammates, then everybody in town would know.” Anzaldua came from New Buffalo, Mich., a small town with a population just a shade over 2,000 residents. Brian Kupersmit, president of the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CMSA), the largest non-profit gay sports association in the Midwest, said he hopes the trend of gay athletes coming out will continue. “It’s a matter of time,” said Kupersmit on whether homosexual athletes will ever be accepted in sports. Despite the efforts of many organizations like the CMSA and even the NHL trying to encourage young athletes who are gay to come out, it doesn't always work out that way. “It's an evolution ... I thought [Jason Collins] coming out was terrific and he is a great example ... Hopefully, 10 years from now [gay athletes] will be a nonissue.” Fear tends to play a huge role in why some closeted homosexuals might feel the need to keep their sexual orientation a secret. “The fear of being attacked, the fear of being rejected by family and being denied opportunities,” said psychotherapist

Mark O'Connell, who has an independent clinic in New York. He said that it is possible for closeted homosexuals to be more likely to develop depression because secrets can lead to shame and hidden feelings. Psychologist Kate Hays with a specialty in sports performance said she also believes that a closeted athlete’s mindset might affect his game due to added pressure. “He might be more cautious and self-conscience about his performance, and might feel extra-pressure to be tougher.… If he’s open, he’ll feel less pressure,” she said. Anzaldua said he came out to himself at 18, and for three years he carried a monkey on his back until he came out to his family at 21. “Thank God I had a family that was understanding, but a lot of people don't have that.” Another reason gay athletes might feel a little hesitant is because of the antics that typically occur in the locker room, such as the slurs that teammates typically exchanged in conversations, said Hays. The one person who can have a major impact in making gay athletes feel more accepted is the coach. “Coaches are hugely important to the team,” said Hays. “If the coach is accepting, the athlete might feel more comfortable.” Despite the amount of support the gay community has received over the past few years, it was a completely different story in the past, even as recent as the 1990s. “Honestly, I think that if [Collins] came out 20 years ago, he wouldn't be alive today,” said Anzaldua. As exaggerated as that sounds, it’s not that far fetched. In 1998, British soccer player Justin Fashanu committed suicide amid allegations of sexually assaulting a 17-yearold boy because he knew he wouldn't have had a fair trial because of his homosexuality. “I think kids should only come out when they are truly ready with themselves spiritually and mentally,” said Anzaldua. “If I had to go back in time and choose, it would come down to a coin flip.”

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Commentary

LOST in translation My dad's frightening encounter with a police officer highlighted his dependency on me By Rania Elalej Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

stunned look washed over my father’s face as he heard the piercing sirens of a police car behind him. He had never been pulled over by a cop before. Good thing I was riding shotgun, or I’m not sure what he would have done. You see, English is my dad’s third language, so of course he was confused. Before the officer came up to his driverside window, my dad quickly told me—in Arabic (he also is fluent in French)—that he was sure he didn’t break any law. I could tell the officer was angry. His face turned red-hot as he started to scream at my father, who was wide-eyed and looked extremely lost. I tried to calm the officer down and explain to him that my father didn’t understand what he was saying. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for my father—he was embarrassed and felt looked down upon. I was frustrated and flustered too, because I felt stuck in the middle of the cop and my father. I wanted so dearly to have them understand each other and be able to communicate. This wasn’t the only time where a huge weight was put on me to speak up for my parents. Whenever the receptionist at the doctor’s office gives my parents a form to fill out, they immediately pass it on to me. I’ve been doing this since I was about 12; I’m now 15. It’s my job to fill out the forms for my entire family and they trust that all the information is right.

The author and her father, Khalid Elalej

I always feel a strong sense of obligation—whether it is filling out applications, translating, talking to the phone company over the phone and, now, even speaking to police officers. Immigrant children like me are sometimes stressed because of this big responsibility. Since I was brought up in the U.S., my parents turn to me when it comes to situations where speaking, writing or reading English is involved. My parents are fluent in Arabic and French, but English is their third language, so they are struggling to learn it. My parents’ struggles are motivation to work hard and try to succeed in living the American Dream. Kids of immigrants feel the need to work hard and get a great education as a way to pay back our parents for all their sacrifices for us. Most people in America only speak one language, and—like the police officer—get impatient with immigrants who speak a different language and are not fluent in English. According to 2011 Census figures, approximately 37 million U.S. residents over the age of five spoke Spanish at home. The bureau also ranked the U.S. as having the second largest Hispanic population in the world in 2010 at 50.5 million. With so many immigrants in our country, doesn’t it make sense to make our environment more bilingual and be more accepting of different languages? In countries like Canada, India, China

and even Morocco, the residents speak at least two languages fluently. Gov. Pat Quinn passed a law to fortify the Illinois bilingual education programs in 2012. After signing the bill, Quinn said, “We do not want to be tongue-tied Americans, we want to make sure we understand language as much as we can . . .” It’s a way we can help the newer generations become more bilingual. I feel that my parents, as well as other immigrants, are really lucky to live in a city as diverse as Chicago where whole communities of different cultures exist; they provide support and comfort. People of the same nationality who live in ethnic neighborhoods such as Chinatown can have a good quality of life without being immediately fluent in English. Some communities even have their culture’s religious houses located near them, as well as stores that sell food and clothing from their home countries. Chicago also contains many language schools, embassies and consulates. However, daily life is still difficult for immigrants who do not speak fluent English. Not only do they struggle with everyday communications tasks, but they feel embarrassed and marginalized by society. So next time you cross paths with someone struggling with English, think how hard it would be for you to learn a new language if you moved to another country and try to show a little more patience. 45

big kids to ballots Going Global

Check out the video for this story online

By Byron Mason II Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

Voting at age 17 could prepare the next generation, but are they ready?

oday, teens less than 18 years old can pay taxes, have a job, be charged for crimes and even tried as adults, in some cases. But one thing kids can't do is vote. On the other hand, some teens and even some adults have no idea about the issues going on in their own city, let alone the country. Teens should be able to speak up about certain situations, but they should also know what the issues are, especially those affecting them. Two Stevenson High School social studies teachers, Andrew Conneen and Dan Larsen, and their students, led the charge to lobby for such a bill. Gov. Quinn approved the “Suffrage at 17” act on July 3 which gives teens who will be 18 years old by November the ability to vote. Therefore, teens being politically aware is more important than ever. The approval of this act is a great opportunity for teens to show how they are responsible enough to contribute to the changes of our country. According to StatisticBrain.com, 13.4 percent of Americans that are eligible to vote said that they didn't vote in the 2012 elections because they weren't interested. According to the 2010 Illinois Population Census, the total population of Illinois was 12,830,632. The total population of teens under 18 was 24.4 percent. But strength in numbers is disregarded, for teens under 18 years old have their hands tied, keeping them from casting votes and therefore, keeping them from contributing to changing the country. Despite the population of Illinois children, Ald. Leslie Hairston of the 5th Ward doesn’t think that children under 18 are ready to make political decisions. Hairston recalled times when she was a teen and how politics were not a huge factor in

her life. “I think the teens earlier had a more structured environment,” Hairston said. “There was more emphasis on family and education and what to do and what not to do. There was a lot of education. We don’t have that [now].” Instead of just coming out and voting, Ald. Hairston believes that teenagers should take their time and sit on the sidelines before taking up a task as important as voting. “Young people can take this opportunity to learn,” Hairston said. “Kids need time to grow and mature.” Some say that kids shouldn’t have the power to change the course of history by voting because of the lack of maturity that they are believed to possess. In contrast, people like Simon Jackman, a professor of political science at Stanford University, have a different belief. “Just because kids cannot vote doesn’t mean you can’t be politically active,” Jackman said. “I believe that teens can make a huge impact in the political world and not just be regarded as immature and unaware.” In order to make that impact, kids can do many things. They can join a club or create their own organization. They can write a petition about something in their community that they feel strongly about. For example, consider the issue of Chicago Public Schools closings or teen violence that has had the city buzzing all summer. But Jackman’s opinion won’t resonate with everyone. There are some individuals who think that the voting age should not be lowered and that 18 is still too young to vote. According to a 62-yearold Chicago citizen, who goes by Nacho, teens are too irresponsible to vote.

Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th Ward), who believes most teens are not prepared to vote strategically, says teens should sit it out until they are more knowledgable about the issues.

“It takes a community to build a village,” Nacho said with a smile. “The rest is all malarkey.” Others believe that there are indeed teens that do possess enough maturity to take up a crucial task such as voting. I asked 20-year-old Chicago citizen Jeff Knight how he felt about the voting age. “I think it’s cool. It could be lowered maybe. Like if you’re 17, you’re mature enough to make those decisions.” But the truth is that the adults today are going to leave their unfinished business with teens. And teens have to be ready to face these issues to benefit our communities, our cities and our country.

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Let's play futbol! and rugby... and cricket... Global sports find a playing field in Chicago By Ameer Muhammad Dunbar Vocational Career Academy

hicago is full of diverse people, cultures, food, and more. But few city residents realize that Chicago is also a melting pot for sports. There are several sports from around the world being played on local park fields and at neighborhood venues. Even as soccer continues to grow in popularity, people are also taking part in globally celebrated sports like cricket, rugby, water polo and roller derby. To be sure, there are teams that Chicagoans love and cherish. The six-time championship Chicago Bulls basketball team and the 2010 and 2013 Stanley Cupwinning Chicago Blackhawks hockey team are among Chicago sports lovers’ favorites. Baseball is America’s pastime sport and some local baseball enthusiasts support the Chicago Cubs and the 2005 World Series champion Chicago White Sox. Then there’s the 1985 Super Bowl winning Chicago Bears But as the Monsters of the Midway take to the gridiron at Soldier Field or the Sox hit one out of the park at U.S. Cellular Field, Washington Park on the city’s South Side puts sports like cricket and soccer on a playing field. Cricket started in 16th Century England and is popular worldwide—except in the United States —especially in Australia, India and Caribbean nations. Nevertheless, there are several amateur cricket teams right here in Chicago. Sreenivas Vemury, team leader for the Challengers cricket team, explained that the sport is not nearly as popular in Chicago as in his native India. “The crowds are not that large. Most of them are just bystanders wondering what’s going on,” he said. But he added that the teams are

happy to be able to play the sport here and have a league. Rugby is one of the most brutal sports to play. It’s very similar to football, minus the protective gear. Rugby was born in 1817 in England and is enjoyed in such places as South Africa and Eastern Europe. Very few people even know that rugby playing goes on in Chicago. Rugby teams are hardly as popular as the beloved Chicago Bears, but there are several rugby teams in the city, including the Chicago Lions, Chicago Riot and Chicago Blaze, among others. The lush greens at the Midway Plaisance near University of Chicago are one of a number of rugby venues in the city. Water polo originated in the 19th Century in Scotland and England, which is also where they are most popular. The sport resembles competitive swimming meets soccer. Players have to swim and throw the ball into the opposing team's net. It is considered one of the more demanding sports to play. The Chicago Apostles is one of several water polo teams in the Chicago area. The Apostles won first place in a tournament in February 2013. Soccer originated in the 2nd Century, gaining popularity in England. The sport is played by trying to get the ball into the opposing team's net without any use of hands whatsoever. Soccer has captivated most other countries around the world and in recent years it has caught on more in America. The Chicago Fire team is only 16 years old, founded in 1997. The team’s home is in the Chicago southwest suburb of Bridgeview, but the sport is played on countless fields around the state. Many sports that originated and remain

Photo by Ameer Muhammad

A sport that started in Chicago, then became popular in Europe A little-known fact is that Chicago hosted the first roller derby game back in 1935. Roller skates were actually invented in the 1800s in Europe; improvements were made later by an American. In 1924, the International Federation of Roller Sports was formed in Switzerland and today governs rink hockey, inline hockey, inline speed skating and artistic roller skating. But America’s brand of roller derby competition started in Illinois and caught on in Europe in the 1950s. Roller derby may not be on the jumbo TV screens in sports bars, but it is alive here in Chicago. There is an all-girls roller derby team called Chicago Windy City Rollers and there’s also the Chicago Outfit Rollerderby among other local teams. This sport is also another uniquely demanding one. Players need balance to pull it off because they are on roller blades the entire time. Roller derby is played with five members on each team; four of them will play as blockers and one will play as the jammer, which is the person who has to score. The other team will try to prevent the jammer from skating around the entire track. Although roller derby is not a mainstream sport, it still has its cult following of fans here in Chicago.

popular overseas are not only making appearances in this country, but are also finding homes in places like Chicago. The city offers something for everyone, and its reputation for diversity extends even to sports and athletics. 47

Going Global

THE OLD is the new Modern fashion trends are often influenced by other cultures, civilizations and times By Tenzin Moenkyi Lane Tech College Prep

teenage girl strolled down Chicago’s State Street eyeing the clothes on display at a storefront, while doing some weekend clothes shopping. Vanessa Santiago wears a long navy blue dress that touches the ground, a gold-collar necklace and glass, golden bangles. Little did she know, her fashions stem from some ancient trends. The maxi dress originated in ancient Greece, the gold collar necklace came from Egypt and the bangles are inspired by the culture of India. Although many of her clothes come from older cultures, she admitted, “I never really thought about it that way.” Through globalization and the discoveries of new artifacts from India, Greece, Egypt and other countries, the fashion world is moving quickly as it continues to be influenced by older trends. And many Chicago teens like Santiago regularly purchase items inspired by the designs from other cultures. In contemporary fashion, the old is the new and no one knows this better

than fashion designer Maria Pinto, who highlighted the ancient influences in her exhibit, “Fashion and the Field Museum Collection.” Pinto, who designed the exhibit at Chicago’s Field Museum, said the clothing of older cultures inspires many fashion designers. “I think many designers use these sources as inspiration because they are so important and timeless. The challenge is always taking those sources and making them modern, but they are endless sources of inspiration," Pinto said. The exhibit features 25 rare Field Museum artifacts from Brazil, Mongolia, Ethiopia and other cultures chosen by Pinto. Pinto then paired the artifacts side by side with her own designs for people to see the connections between older clothing and contemporary fashion. “The message [Pinto] was trying to get across is the different ways we can be feminine,” she said, using the example of the women’s ceremonial Mongolian Deel paired next to Maria’s sequined and chiffon dress from her fall 2008 collection.

Courtesy of Maria Pinto

Maria Pinto, who has also dressed First Lady Michelle Obama, at work on the exhibit.

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According to the Field Museum’s website, “It illustrates how, across all cultures, our clothing helps us to express status and beauty, to differentiate individuals, and ultimately to convey who we are.” Pinto said she dealt with the challenges of working with fragile materials and worrying that certain clothes would not hold together well. She wants her collection to help people expand their horizons beyond the borders of the world. “What I want people to see is the beauty of the things that people made and wore in other parts of the world, and realize how timeless they were and relevant.” Alaka Wali, the museum’s curator in North American Anthropology, collaborated with Pinto for her collection. Wali said the fact that Pinto used these artifacts as inspiration shows they have aesthetic appeal. “How we look—that seems to endure across culture and across geographies,” Wali said. One of the artifacts, Pinto’s favorite, is a raincoat made from seal intestines—part of the Alaka outfit named for her cocurator. “That someone would think to use seal intestines and to make a garment out of it, too, was beautiful,” Pinto said. And Wali attested to Pinto’s attraction to the seemingly modern raincoat. “There is a kind of appealing quality to it, even though it was made at a specific place at a specific time - all of us can sort of see it as a beautiful piece of clothing,” Wali said. Some boutique owners see the value in infusing older fashion trends into their contemporary clothing lines. Monica Dale, an online boutique owner of Dale & Co, said she believes that the ancient Egyptian culture plays an influential role in the way we dress today. “Their culture wore a lot of gold jewelry like headbands, body jewelry and necklaces,” she said. And Indian culture remains highly influential too, said some State Street shoppers. “I think India plays a huge role [influencing modern fashion] because of the country’s color and embellishment,” Pinto said. The empire of India played a role in modeling future trends for contemporary fashion, including the commonly worn chandelier earrings. Today, chandelier earrings are worn both casually and formally, and are sold every-

Photo by Tenzin Moenkyi

The banding of the translucent Intuit raincoat made of seal intestines sewn with blue and red threads is reflected in Maria Pinto's Tema dress made with bands of taffeta on a chiffon shell.

where from traditional jewelry shops to mainstream fashion stores such as Forever 21 and H&M. “I noticed that many American people wear bangles, sari-like scarves, exquisite earrings and kurtis [similar to a tunic top] with jeans, just like people in India,” said Shedan Khan, 27, who immigrated from India and is now a Chicago resident. And one fashionista had a unique insight about recurring trends. “Fashion is like a circle,” said Selam Snok, 20, of Chicago. “People generally don’t wear things in this decade, but always bring back fashion from the past.” And Pinto agreed, but said she felt Chicago is a global city, and it couldn’t be limited to just one fashion trend. She said she believes that minimalism is a trend dictated by women. “I think women want and are getting more choices,” she said. “Women are dictating things more than they probably have in the history of fashion.”

Photo by Tenzin Moenkyi

Brazilian onye dance costume traditionally used for mourning ceremonies is reinterpreted by designer Maria Pinto in her Lela vest and Gola skirt. 49

Going Global

sing it LOUD Check out the video for this story online

Protest songs amplify the message and bring about change By Brii Williams Oak Park and River Forest High School

arvena Jones, a singer in Jackson, Miss., never met Trayvon Martin. When she heard the story of the teenage Florida boy who was gunned down in 2011 by a Neighborhood Watch member who assumed the youth was trouble, she felt a connection so strong, that she wrote a song about it. Little did she know that words in her song's title, "I Am Trayvon Martin," would also inspire a movement. “I wrote a song about it to basically express how I felt on the inside," the 18-year-old artist said. "I don’t think the case had even started yet—I wrote this song, like, a year ago. So it was just an expression ... to pay honor to him. A tribute.” The death of Trayvon Martin is one of many significant historical events that struck a chord in people and moved them to call for change. Several renowned music artists, including rapper Young Jeezy and singer/musician Wyclef Jean, have released songs about their rage, sadness and solidarity with the Trayvon movement. Using music to express protest is as old as the art form itself. And from the days of blues singer Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" about lynchings in the 1930s, James Brown's black pride during the '60s civil rights movement to the "Fight the Power" rap anthems of the '90s, these songs can make you want to do something more than just dance. “Music is a really, really effective way to get a message across,” says Will Travers, editor of the website protestmusic.org. It can express outrage, as Neil Young’s “Ohio” did after the 1970 massacre at Kent State University over anti-war protests. Or, Travers says, music can show

solidarity with freedom fighters locked in struggle, as with Bob Marley’s “Zimbabwe” in the late ‘70s during the African nation’s independence movement. “Protest through music is very important.” Since becoming interested in nonviolence at the age of 15, Travers, based on the East Coast, has been experimenting with the use of music to effect social change. He played in hardcore bands as a teenager in Boston, including guitar for In My Eyes, and now fronts the band Lokashakti. For Jones, it was Trayvon Martin's senseless death at age 17 that compelled her to write. "When I heard about it, like I said, I was traumatized. It’s really sad that someone in the same age bracket as myself was shot and killed.” People become empowered when they know that others feel the same way they do, which makes it easier to inspire

Photo by Will Travers

change. “The messages stay in your head,” Travers says. “After you’re no longer listening to [the music], you find yourself going on alert” because of the lyrics, he says. And the deeper that people relate to a song’s protest sentiments, the further the song reaches. Chicago pop recording artist and radio personality Demi Lobo says such music often gives artists the chance to show that they care about world affairs. “When it’s done right, it could definitely have an influence,” she says, noting that recording stars such as Michael Jackson and Lupe Fiasco have been known for taking a stand in their music. The deejay says Young Jeezy’s powerful tribute to Martin, “It’s A Cold World,” is the kind of message music that can spark listeners to action. “It has a chance to … make a ripple and make a change.”

Will Travers, editor of the website protestmusic.org: "Music is an effective way to get a message across.

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quite L-evating Art transports CTA train riders to a public gallery By Rosie Ryan Jones College Prep

Photos by rosie ryan

right mosaics, free from the thick trails of grime that mar the insides of tunnels, save for small grooves between the brilliantly hued tiles, adorn the walls of the Red, Brown and Purple Line Belmont street train station. These pieces shine under fluorescent lights, brave the broad brushstrokes of destructive winter breezes and take hits from coffee cups that just barely miss garbage cans on either side of the playful displays. Still, despite the abuse from both nature and travelers, the cameos decorating David Lee Csicsko’s “We All Ride the Train Together” mosaic still smile. These are not the only embellishments on otherwise dull, or even disgusting, Chicago Transit Authority stations. Stretching to all corners of the city, and spanning nearly 40 stations, public art is a massive presence in the landscape of Chicago’s train stations. “It’s about making taking the train an adventure,” said Csicsko, who lives in Chicago. He said his goal in designing the piece was to “create something whimsical that everyone could see themselves in.” And Csicsko said he believes the piece draws attention, making a difference in the lives of commuters. “The support has been astounding,” he said. “I’m constantly receiving emails with pictures of people I don’t even know standing in front of the columns. It’s perfectly terrific.” The movement to install public art in the CTA began in 2004. The CTA worked in conjunction with the City of Chicago Public

"Commonplaces" mosaic, located at the Irving Park Brown Line, is by Juan Carlos Macias and was installed in 2008.

Art Program to install nine permanent works in eight different stations throughout the city. Since then, the initiative has expanded to nearly every line and has been granted funding from the Federal Transit Administration. These works are part of a larger program to beautify the city’s municipal facilities, which is spearheaded by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, according to a statement from that department. “Expanding art in public places and maximizing people’s opportunity to participate in arts and culture are two key recommendations of the Chicago Cultural Plan,” said department spokesperson Jamey Lundblad in an emailed statement. Announced in October 2012, the Chicago Cultural Plan has been the department’s blueprint for infusing art and other cultural attractions

David Lee Csicsko's "We All Ride the Train Together" on display at the Belmont Red Line station was installed in 2009.

into the cityscape. The most recent budget for art installations is connected to the upcoming Red Line renovations, and is slotted for between $81,200 and $216,200 per station, a sizable chunk of the nearly $425 million budget for renewing Red Line stations on the city’s Southeast Side. While these installations are designed to withstand the harsh climate of Chicago and daily wear, the CTA still insures each piece for $25,000. This insurance money covers everything except vandalization. Despite repeated emails and phone calls over five weeks, the CTA did not provide information about how frequently the pieces are cleaned, maintenance costs or what the insurance money covers. The art is used as a mechanism to brighten train stations and beautify the CTA as a whole, according to a statement from the CTA. Some travelers said they think the art improves their transit experience. They also said they preferred the mosaics and murals to an art-free station. “It would look dull!” Said Velvet Owens, a CTA traveler traversing Chicago’s Loop area. Owens has been a lifelong resident of Chicago and has been taking the CTA for many years. She said she pays attention to the art and would be aware if it disappeared from the walls of her local station. Some riders side with Owens, stating that public art does add a level of beauty to otherwise dull CTA stations. “I do notice it sometimes. It kind of brightens up your day,” said Chicago resident Maureen Ryan, a CTA regular. “It’s nice not to just have bare walls.” 51

Going Global

Check out the video for this story online

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Concerned teens worry about career potential after graduation By Ameerah Coleman Jones College Prep

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essica Garner, 15, a sophomore at Chicago Talent Development High School, wants to be a journalist, but severe layoffs and catastrophic shifts within the media industry aren’t comforting and has the future job seeker rethinking her career options. “I don’t think it [the job market] will improve by the time I graduate because, in it’s current state, it’s really messed up, and it will take much more than a couple years to fix,” Jessica said. “I worry that by the time I’m out of college, my degree will be obsolete and there won’t be any newspapers or magazines to work for.” Jessica’s angst over the future is well deserved in a troubled economy and echoed by many high school students across the country who are creating multiple backup plans and tossing careers that don’t promise livable wages and high salaries. By the time Jessica and her peers complete college and enter the job market, it will be 2020. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in health, medicine, finance and technology will continue to be in high demand during that time across the nation. Least in demand will be careers in the postal service, newspapers and periodicals in general and the apparel knitting industry. Globally, English teachers, foreign exchange brokers and systems analyst will become top jobs by 2020. Growing fields are nursing and construction, the report also found. Still, students who have other career interests may discover new opportunities in fields that have yet to be created. “There may be future jobs that we don’t even know what they will be called now,” said Katherine Lelek, an employment

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coordinator at Columbia College who manages a job board list of 500 jobs from employers seeking Columbia students. Lelek advises students now to begin developing a personal brand that will help them stand out among the competition. A personal brand reflects the strengths and qualities that speak to the person’s ability to fit the job. Today’s job seekers must think of themselves as problem solvers meeting employer needs now and tomorrow. Future careers will take on different shapes and may change frequently, Lelek said. “Our generation isn’t going to have the same type of career path that our parents or grandparents had to choose from,” she said. “So I’d say to someone following their dreams or choosing a job that isn’t so conventional to think of themselves in sort of a trapezoid between a couple of different things. You may have to do a little freelance work on the side while pursuing your dream or work a 9-to-5 while working on your dream job on the side. That’s OK.” "I want to be able to provide for myself and my family but I also want to follow my dreams. So if that means getting side jobs so I can support myself while doing what I love, so be it," said Prisca Dognon, a sophomore at Walter Payton High School. While a college degree isn’t a guarantee to a top job, it is often the gateway to be considered for more options for future employment. Trade schools and the military are also alternatives. Another emerging idea is entrepreneurship, where students create their own businesses. Lelek said there are still opportunities and jobs in the future but it is up to students to create them.

Jessica Garner, a sophmore at Chicago Talent Development High School: Afraid that a job in the media will be too scarce by the time she finishes college.

Photos by Ameerah Coleman

Prisca Dognon, a sophomore at Walter Payton High School: "I want to be able to provide for myself and my family."

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colorblind society

Most millennials don't see a problem with interracial dating By Demi Powell Lindblom Math and Science Academy

he recent response to the wellknown Cheerios ad caught some adults by surprise. What’s so shocking about an interracial marriage? It was more surprising to a lot of teens when it was reported that Wilcox County High School in Georgia had its first integrated prom this year. The news about the first integrated prom today seems absurd. Those were the kinds of stories we are used to reading about in history books, not in the 21st Century. Interracial dating is normal for most teens today. We see these types of relationships on television shows, and we date interracially. It does not seem like a big deal; teenagers do not care about the color of your skin. We worry about if he’s attractive or if she’s attractive, what we have in common and how well we get along. When it comes to dating, our generation is colorblind. Cheryl Judice, who has a doctorate in sociology from Northwestern University and is the author of the book “Interracial Marriages Between Black Women and White Men,” has done research focusing on the intersections of race, class and gender. "I think teens should date as many people as they can, period. It doesn’t make any difference what their ethnicity is,” she said.

According to an article on CNN about interracial dating, Melanie Killen, child psychologist, said parents are worried about their children dating outside of their race. For them, it’s not a race issue but more of a concern about the cultural differences and anxiety. And for some parents, they thought it was an affront to their children’s own race. Cheterra McCray, a 16-year-old AfricanAmerican female, and Jake Grabowski, a 16-year-old Caucasian male, are in a relationship. Said Jake: “Most of my girlfriends have been African-American. It’s kind of a preference for me. We haven’t really faced any problems. Our friends date interracially too, so it’s nothing big to us.” “My parents are comfortable with me dating outside of my race,” Cheterra said. “They just don’t want people to look at us like we’re crazy or that it’s wrong, and we get judged, which is totally understandable.” According to the Council on Contemporary Families, “about half of Americans have dated someone from a different racial group. One study found that 36 percent of white Americans, 57 percent of black Americans, 56 percent of Latino Americans, and 57 percent of AsianAmericans have interracially dated. Attitudes in every generation have become

more accepting of interracial dating: millennials are the most accepting, with almost 90 percent approving.” While people are accepting of interracial dating publicly now, comments made on YouTube for the Cheerios commercial featuring a biracial daughter of interracial parents showed that some people may not be so accepting. The comments were shut down because of hateful responses. After all the controversy surrounding it, the Fine Brothers (Benny and Rafi), online producers, writers and directors known for doing reaction videos, asked children 13 years old and under what they thought of the commercial. All of the kids found the video cute and funny and found absolutely nothing wrong with it. The Fine Brothers told them that some people had a problem with the biracial family and the kids got upset. One child even said,“That’s so stupid.” Among teenagers, interracial dating is more accepted and growing. Teens are more open and comfortable. Some parents are still a little hesitant about their children dating outside of their race. As our country grows into a more accepting society, interracial dating will continue, regardless of the private displays of hatred we see in social media or some parents’ concern about it. 53

Reviews

FOOD

Santorini A jewel in Greektown serves up Mediterranean comfort food By Jordan Bradley King College Prep

imly lit with an all-wooden interior, a wood-burning fireplace and wooden baskets, along with modern and traditional Greek music quietly playing in the background, Santorini in Greektown oozes a feeling of comfort and genuineness. The restaurant, named after the Grecian island, delivered a truly authentic and refreshing dining experience in the ethnic Greektown neighborhood. Owned and operated by the Kontos family, the restaurant has been a Chicago Greektown staple for years. To maintain the tradition, the seafood-heavy menu reflects a Greek diet, while maintaining offerings in pork, chicken and beef. The grilled octopus was a very interesting dish that instantly garnered my attention as I peered throughout the menu. The octopus tasted like calamari (which is squid), but grilled, a cooking medium I had never experienced. The meal was presented as layers upon layers of octopus. The texture was very chewy. I loved the wood grilling because it presented a certain smoky flavor that couldn’t be replicated. However, the fried calamari had a very cookie-cutter feel and taste to it. There was nothing wrong with the dish; there just wasn’t anything special or different than calamari anywhere else.

The calamari was also served with a sauce that added a certain sweet yet spicy flavor to the meal and made it more pleasing. But still I sampled a taste and was very content with it. Making its way along with the appetizers was a breadbasket that I found myself jamming slice after slice into my mouth. Along with the bread was a very special olive oil that comes from the family’s estate in Santorini, which had many distinct qualities that set it apart from any other regular run-of-the-mill olive oil. On to the entrees. I tried my hand at the chicken Halsted that takes its name from the Chicago street. This delicious offering was a grilled chicken served on a bed of multicolored pasta Alfredo, all on a plate resembling a skillet. The pasta was uniquely shaped and swimming in a river of melted cheese that made me eager to dig in. The chicken was also expertly grilled and possessed the same authentic smoky quality that was presented in the grilled octopus. The combination of grilled chicken and Alfredo along with the cheese was very pleasing and the hefty portion size made it tougher and tougher for me to throw each bite down the hatch. And for only $12, the

price point was very fair considering the quality and serving size. “All of the ingredients are fresh,” said Alexandra Efstathio, the owner’s daughter who holds a managerial position at Santorini. “I mean I get deliveries every day. Nothing is frozen.” Most of the fish they receive comes within a week of being pulled out of the ocean. She even took me to the back of the restaurant where they haul in shipments of the fish. The last dish I had the pleasure of enjoying was the traditional Greek dessert baklava—essentially a sandwich of crushed nuts between two wafer-like slices of phyllo. The dish was served with brown syrup and dashes of cinnamon. The warm syrup dripping from the crushed nuts and phyllo begged for me to take a bite, an offer I happily accepted. The dish was a very interesting experience as I found myself cramming glass after glass of water down my throat after each bite. The insanely sweet flavor was not a minus at all and I would have gladly asked for seconds. Le Cordon Bleu graduate Lynn Wade of Chicago who loves to cook for family and friends said one of the things most essential to opening an ethnic restaurant is to make sure all the traditional dishes maintain their original flavors. “Never add too many new flavors because the dish turns into a whole new one,” she said. Even though you should be cautious with changing the identity of a food, adding a few tweaks and experimentation are also essential to making good ethnic food, “because that’s the point of ethnic food.”

Baklava dessert accented with brown syrup and dashes of cinnamon was literally mouth–watering.

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Spanglish

Photo by Khalil bentley

FOOD

Owner Frank Morales presents old-style Mexican food in a hip venue By Khalil Bentley Mount Carmel High School

panglish is a new Mexican restaurant on 555 S. State St. in the South Loop that is dishing out traditional Mexican food in a hip, new fashion. Spanglish is a family-run business that serves as a reincarnation of the owner Frank Morales’ first restaurant La Cocina, which was located at 11 West Jackson but closed in 2011. There are still two locations of La Cocina remaining, but Spanglish is a new venture. Where La Cocina is traditional, Spanglish is hip and modern displaying various artworks by Stefani Villanueva and playing R&B and hip-hop music. This kind of environment fits the area around it and appeals to students in the South Loop from Columbia College, Robert Morris University, DePaul University and Jones College Prep High School. “The next time I’m downtown, I will recommend this place,”

said a customer of Spanglish. Frank Morales started construction for the restaurant back in 2011, but a plague of issues prevented the restaurant from being opened for two years. “Anything that’s worth having is never going to come that easy,” said Morales. The restaurant opened February of this year. Morales stated that he wanted this restaurant to be more hip and modern than La Cocina so he could attract a wider audience and “put a face to Mexican restaurants and not just another hole in the wall.” Although Morales is the manager, he works just as hard as his employees serving food and taking orders from customers. When asked about future locations, Morales said he planned for two more downtown. Spanglish plays R&B music that provides a calm relaxed atmosphere as the patrons eat, and Spanglish is cheap and affordable place to have lunch or a casual meeting. The food is prepared quickly. As customers are waiting, they are served complimentary hot

‘Disconnect’

FILM

Produced by Mickey Liddell and Jennifer Monroe of LD Entertainment and William Horberg, directed by Henry Alex Rubin and edited by Lee Percy and Kevin Tent R-rated | Running time: 115 minutes.

By Olivia Okocha

Saint Ignatius College Preparatory

isconnect” was a splendid movie that thoroughly summarized the astounding ways that technology can be used to harm us. Using four different scenarios, “Disconnect” portrayed situations where people met harm while using various devices to engage with others through social media. Jason Bateman excellently played Rich Boyd, a lawyer who is too busy with work to focus on his family. Paula Patton and Alexander Skarsgard played Cindy and Derek Hull, a distressed couple who recently suffered the death of a child. They become victims of credit card fraud and identity theft. Frank Grillo plays Mike Dixon, a widowed ex-cop who has to deal with his son, who’s a mindless teenager. Andrea Riseborough

plays Nina Dunham, a journalist who finds an interesting news story on teens being sexually exploited online for profit. “Disconnect” had two climaxes. One was when Abby Boyd (Haley Ramm) walked into her brother’s room to tell him to turn down the loud music and found him hanging on a rope from the ceiling. This event was overall shocking and unexpected. Jonah Bobo, who plays Ben Boyd, basically gets tricked into thinking that he’s talking to a nice girl named Jessica Rhony on Facebook, but in reality he’s talking to a guy named Jason Dixon (Colin Ford) who goes to his school. Ben ends up sending a naked image of himself to “Jessica” and in a few days the picture is circling around the school, which provokes Ben to attempt suicide. It was shocking to see this character hanging. I thought he would pull through, end up

tortilla chips with two kinds of salsa. There are different varieties of tamales, tacos, burritos and sopes on the menu. Morales stated that the reasons for the delayed opening were obstacles in building the restaurant. “Our first architect dropped out after six months into signing the lease. That was the big part of why it took so long,” according to Morales. Frank Morales started his first restaurant when he was in his 20s with a regular Mexican theme. Morales has been working in restaurants since he was a kid in his aunt’s restaurant. “I started my first business when I was 24. I just thought I could do something different from my aunt, that I could do better,” he said. telling his parents and maybe transfer to another school. The second climax came when all four scenarios reached the breakthrough moment. Ben’s father, Rich, ends up in a violent confrontation with Jason’s father, Mike. Meanwhile, Cindy and Derek encounter Stephen Schumacher (Michael Nyqvist), thinking he is their identity thief. They end up with a shocking revelation. Nina is stunned when her teen source Kyle (Max Thieriot) chooses to continue working as an illegal porn actor. The actors who contributed to this movie did an amazing job. They all showed perfect emotion and did not bore me one bit. The makeup and wardrobe were also laudable. The distressed couple literally looked conflicted, the journalist came across as a real-life professional and Abby (Haley Ramm), Ben’s sister, felt like a typical girly teenager in high school. These characters really stood out. Although “Disconnect” contained a few racy scenes, the movie as a whole was great. It was very inspiring and left me in awe over modern technology and how it can affect us all. 55

Reviews

‘42’

FILM

Warner Bros. film directed by Brian Helgeland. PG-13 rating | Running time: 168 minutes.

By Kaylah Harrington Lindblom Math and Science Academy

ou give me a uniform, you give me a number on my back, I’ll give you the gut.” —Jackie Robinson The film “42” that was released in theaters this spring tells the inspirational story of Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman Jackie Robinson’s struggles with segregation in the world of Major League Baseball. Actor Chadwick Boseman, who played Robinson in the movie, was phenomenal. The casting director picked the perfect person to portray the title character. It also doesn’t hurt that he looks good, too. Boseman’s performance was intense and very believable: He poured his heart into that role, and it really paid off. His vulnerability sold his performance to the audience, and other actors like Nicole Beharie and

Harrison Ford really gave their all in their roles. Beharie starred as Jackie’s wife—and rock—Rachel. She was a strong, beautiful female who stood by his side through all of racism, including death threats. Beharie complements Boseman well, and the chemistry between the two was undeniable. She really helped ground Jackie Robinson in this film. Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey was legendary. His gruff but stern character was outstanding. Ford masterfully brought forth Rickey’s tough exterior and kind heart. Ford made his role believable right down to the glasses and cigar that seemed to stay permanently attached to his mouth. The story that this film portrays includes graphic racial slurs that some might not want to share with children. However, this is a must-see movie for all ages. Children should be introduced to this now so that they can learn from it and seek to do better in the future. This film and its raw honesty could really teach about the racial inequality that has plagued this country. Many may feel that “42” portrays the “cruel nature “of white people. Granted, the movie shows some

‘A Place at the Table’

FILM

Magnolia Pictures presents a documentary directed by Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush. MPAA rating: PG | Running time: 84 minutes

By Tonyisha Harris Whitney M. Young High School

Place at the Table" is showing in theaters around the country and is available everywhere OnDemand and on Amazon Instant Video. Eleven-year-old Rosie sits in class imagining her peers as food items. Aidan, a toddler, has medical issues from not getting enough to eat early on. Tremonica, a 2nd grader from Mississippi, is overweight due to her poor diet, which doesn’t include many fruits and vegetables—they cost more. These children tell their stories in “A Place at the Table,” a documentary that looks at hunger in America. “A Place at the Table” visits three states and introduces us to families dealing with “food insecurity” and to people trying to help end hunger in their communities. The movie also shows the causes and effects of

hunger and the action taken against it by the government. I expected “A Place at the Table” to provide testimonials from people dealing with hunger and a few interviews from celebrities about how they help out and feel towards it. But never did I expect the emotional reaction the film inspired. “Finding North” by The Civil Wars and T Bone Burnett opened the movie and it was a good choice: the lyrics were haunting and they communicated a sense of yearning. The film begins with a Collbran, Colo., family of seven that is struggling to feed all its members. As “A Place at the Table” progresses we’re introduced to more people dealing with hunger: Doctors who have to see young and adult patients for illnesses or complications related to hunger; mothers who are fighting for better programs and better access to healthy food; the Mississippi school that Tremonica attends that took

intense racism. But seeing Robinson’s white teammates start to look out for him overshadows sentiments of that “cruel nature.” The film is full of emotion and no doubt a tearjerker. “42” shows not only human decency, but that man has the power to change —which is important in a film where many people are depicted as stubborn in their beliefs. This film will make viewers believe in the good and the bad in people and give a fresh perspective on the life of a baseball great who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. a step towards healthier school lunches; and Barbie, a single mother who takes one step forward to be knocked back. The film brings up charities, food banks, soup kitchens and school lunches; they are all noble but it’s not enough to end hunger. The faults in the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as the Food Stamps) are addressed and so is the difficulty people have trying to buy healthy food. Not to mention the fact that many people who need the food stamps live in food deserts. So finding healthy food takes longer and requires more resources than walking to the corner store and buying the cheapest calories they can find. The documentary drives home the point that hunger is alive in the richest country in the world and it also inspires you to want to do more and fight hunger along with them. When Congress was debating a bill that would add an additional $10 billion to the school food budget, I hated seeing most of them argue down the bill with two water bottles and a coffee cup inches away. They don’t have to worry about their next meal or how they are going to feed their family when the food runs out.

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Books

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'Sticks and stones' Three stories about bullying span the perspective from both sides

By Khalil Bentley Mount Carmel High School

ticks and Stones” discusses bullying through the stories of several students. The author, Emily Bazelon, experienced bullying in 8th grade. Bazelon had a friend named Allie; they bonded over being bullied and became best friends. Bazelon wanted to have the discussion because bullying has been getting more attention, but there are not many good solutions for stopping it. Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy,” primarily focuses on three teenagers who have been a part of bullying and the difficulties of challenging bullying in schools and social media. Monique is the first teenager whose bullying began in 7th grade. Monique wanted a new haircut so that she could look nice for the beginning of school, but when she got on the bus two 8th graders named Destiny and Cheyenne made fun of her because she had the same haircut as Destiny’s cousin. This haircut, to the girls, made her seem like a copycat. She didn’t know Destiny’s cousin, but she was still made fun of. The abuse continued and more people joined in. The second story is about a boy named Jacob who experienced bullying due to his open homosexuality. Jacob had been bullied for a long time because of his effeminate behavior. In frustration, he admitted to his homosexuality on Facebook. After coming out, Jacob received more harassment and attacks from other boys. The third teenager is a girl named Flannery who was a participant in the harassment of Phoebe Prince. Phoebe Prince was a girl who loved her father and enjoyed her time with him but she moved from Ireland

while he stayed there. The separation led her to find father figures in older boys at her school, boys who were dating other girls who often attacked her for it. After one incident, the on-again offagain girlfriend of one of these boys told another girl who at lunch publicly humiliated Phoebe in an act known as “slutshaming,” a practice of publicly shaming women accused of being promiscuous. The continued “slut-shaming,” combined with depression from her being away from her father and a poor relationship with her mother, led Phoebe to commit suicide. Flannery’s story is about her life during the trial, where she and five other students were charged in making Phoebe commit suicide. The parents and guardians tried to fight bullying but found difficulties trying to fight what seems to be an

ingrained part of our culture. The book was to inform and discuss the topic of bullying, so the intended audience is the general public but also people involved in the topic like bullies and victims. It is a great research tool for teachers, psychologists and sociologists. I would recommend this book. It is a powerful book which tells great stories, presents great information and valuable opinions on the subject. It is a tool for those looking for answers. I was genuinely interested and intrigued by the information presented and wondered about the situations and the steps used to handle bullying. I was moved by the stories of the three teens’ sadness, anguish and excitement. This book should not only inform but also inspire those to have the discussion and confront bullying as a major issue in society.

Live What You Love Derrick Milton

Marketing Communications major. American Advertising Federation’s Most Promising Minority.

Darryl holliDay

Journalism major. Paid reporting internship with Chicago Sun-Times.

caren oliver

Fashion Studies major. BET’s Lens on Talent Fashion Competition winner.

Blair Mishleau

Digital Journalism major. Fellowship with International Radio and Television Society Foundation – MTV Networks.

The largest and most diverse private, non-profit arts and media college in the nation, Columbia College Chicago is dedicated to opportunity and excellence in higher education. Columbia offers a well-rounded education tailored for creative and motivated students preparing to be part of the world’s next generation of artists and innovators.

Paige klone

Television major. Midwest EMMY, College Student Production Awards: “Long Format (Fiction and NonFiction)” for TV Dept./Freq Out.

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tony Merevick

Journalism major. Internship through American Society of Magazine Editors – O, The Oprah Magazine.

colum.edu 58

photo: Jacob boll (’12)

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