Dreams Can Still Come True by J Arroyo

Dreams Can Still Come True...

Jorge A

The ConTextos Authors Circle was developed in collaboration with young people at-risk of, victims of, or perpetrators of violence in El Salvador. In 2017 this innovative program expanded into Chicago to create tangible, high quality opportunities that nourish the minds,,expand the voices and share the personal truths of individuals who have long been underserved and underestimated. Through the process of drafting, revising and publishing memoirs, participants develop self-reflection, critical thinking, camaraderie and positive selfprojection to author new life narratives.

Since January 2017 ConTextos has partnered with Cook County Sheriff's Office to implement Authors Circle in Cook County Department of Corrections as part of a vision for reform that recognizes the value of mental health, rehabilitation and reflection. These powerful memoirs complicate the narratives of violence and peace building, and help author a hopeful future for human beings behind walls, their families and our collective communities.

While each author’s text is solely the work of the Author, the image used to create this book’s illustrations have been sourced by various print publications. Authors curate these images and then, using only their hands, manipulate the images through tearing, folding, layering and careful positioning. By applying these collage techniques, Authors transform their written memoirs into illustrated books.

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number ALN 21.027 awarded to Cook County by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Dreams Can Still Come True...

Jorge A

When I was 9 years old I'd get home from school and do my homework. After I was finished I'd go outside and play soccer with my friends in the streets.

Sometimes mi madre would get mad at me because I would neglect my chores, I would always get in trouble over that ball. Growing up with my friends we would watch soccer on TV then go outside and practice the moves all night making fun and complimenting each other.

Through the years growing up playing ball we imitated different players, we had dreams of being like them. At that time my favorite players were Pele, Maradona, Luis Garcia and Cuauhtémoc Blanco.

All of these soccer players came from poor neighborhoods and countries.

Cuauhtémoc Blanco was always my favorite player. He was my role model, I will never forget what he did for us, he represented Mexico and took us to the World Cup.

Between 94-96 Cuauhtémoc Blanco was playing against Trinidad y Tobago and two defense players injured him.

Everyone in Mexico was heartbroken because he was our star player. We had two years to come up with another star to make it to the World Cup, God shined on us and Cuauhtémoc Blanco came back in 18 months.

Mexico had a new head coach and no stars. The new coach didn't have any hope in Blanco because of his recent injury.

The coach was trying different players but we weren't making any progress.

8 months went by and Cuauhtémoc Blanco announced he was coming back.

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When Mexico played Trinidad y Tobago they tried to injure him again but we won with a penalty kick, that's a day I'll always remember. He will always be my role model. He is the reason I started playing soccer.

When I came to America no one knew about soccer, I went to Sullivan and Senn high school, I started playing with the Hispanic kids and one of the gym teachers saw us playing and asked if we wanted to start a soccer team.

I played for the team for a few months but then I got lost in the street allure of Chicago.

My whole dream was lost when I joined the Almighty Family. Watching the older guys make money I noticed they had a lot of girls and beautiful cars, I aspired to be just like them.

In 1993, my life changed forever. I remember getting home and my whole body was sore.

My little sister saw me and was upset that I joined.

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The next day I went to school and felt good I was part of a brotherhood. I would hang out with the guys at lunch, get out of school and hang with the guys in the neighborhood. I started having a lot of girls around me.

I was chasing what they call the “American Dream.” Life was hard and I had to support my family.

So I began hustling in order to survive, to support them selling weed was just one of my hustles.

Years went by and I upgraded my game, I started selling fake IDs and socials.

I learned from one of the veterans because I was tired of selling weed.

I love money. I enjoyed the easy money. I used to go shopping and buy whatever I wanted.

In those years we had structure that we don't have now.

T im e w il to m e l e v e n tu a lly c a et m e tc h u on W p o l ic pt e ste r e th a n a nd o y o u. I g t la n d ot a c ed m P r a tt all fo e in t a t t h r a fa he ju v e n il e e p a r k , b u k t I w o e I D a nd c en t e socia uld la r. l. I to ter fi ld the nd o u t sh e lady was t he

go e to m told nd the y e h ey a s. T en t y m o n r a p s m y th e e a o t f ed se o t en u s i l a ec er ne v rug s b o h d w k id l l in g m il y . e d s e ad e fa o se d h e u t I c h a n d th r a h b sa s e lf ool y a h m w c I s rt k to su p p o bac o ir e t d es

Now I have four kids of my own, one daughter that passed away and two step kids. But… most people would think that it ends right there.

I was one of those people. But that was only part of my dream.

I realized like you should I can still achieve my dream.

I have a dream of being a soccer coach and taking my team to the championship.

Seeing them win will be my win, and because of what they learned from me.

So be encouraged because dreams can still come true.

Jorge A I Am From I'm from Chicago From Iguala, Guerrero I'm from a small town I'm from Teusizapa, Guerrero in the mountains I'm from my grandfather and mother From working in the fields And from dancing I'm from a giving family And from a hard-working family I'm from Christ I'm from Mexico From tamales, barbacoa, enchiladas, pozole y mole From my grandfather, been a farmer I'm from the pride of being from Guerrero

Until the lion learns to write their own story, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter - African Proverb Copyright

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