columbiafeatures

East Village Youth Program

By Lucia A. Crespo

            The East Village Youth Program is a non-profit organization for students in junior high and high school.  Students come to E.V.Y.P to get their homework done, but most importantly receive free tutoring.

            Located at 3643 W. Belmont Ave., the program helps students to succeed in their school work.  Tutors are able to work with students individually or in groups. All tutors must be college graduate students who are eager to help.

            Program Director Sarah Bird has been with E.V.Y.P since June 2008 and enjoys her job because she gets to see the students grow and learn.  Although, the income to keep the program running is tight she still does her job for the kids.

            “It’s not necessarily financially rewarding but we do it for the students who come and make a commitment to stay and go all the way to college,” Bird said.

            Bird adds that she would not change the tutoring program.  But if more tutors would volunteer it is good because student-tutor ratio is important.  Also, having a wide variety of different tutors brings diversity to the program. 

             “I’m excited to see tutors come and a lot of the kids are happy as well to see their tutors,” Bird said.

            Students are required to bring their report cards every quarter to show their progress.  This way Bird can see how well the students are doing and if they are using the tutoring program to their advantage. 

            “We track students grades to see if they improved and generally they do,” Bird said.

             One tutor, Hope Hicks, works full-time in the manufacturing housing industry and also volunteers at E.V.Y.P. Hicks has been with the program for a little over a year and enjoys working with the students.  After work on Mondays, she makes it her priority to come to E.V.Y.P so that she can help students with homework and any other schoolwork.

            “I really like it because it’s a different challenge and it’s a lot of fun getting to know the students,” Hicks said.

            Hicks also added that she has always wanted to help educate kids. Becoming a teacher was something she wanted to do, but because she is not, being a tutor gives her a sense of satisfaction.

            “I was walking by and saw E.V.Y.P and at the time I was looking for something productive to do,” Bird said.

          One student that Hicks has been paired up with is Samantha Janata. Both Hicks and Janata have been working together and Janata has improved in her studies.

            Janata appreciates attending E.V.Y.P because it helps her come out of her shell. She has been with the program for a year now and looks forward to staying all the way through to her last year of high school.  

             A subject that Janata has seen improvement is in math. Her grade went from a D to a B and she is still working on her writing skills. She is tutored in all subjects that she may have trouble in or homework that needs to be done. 

            “At times it’s hard for me because we're only here one day a week for tutoring and I’m at school five days a week,” Janata said.

            The tutoring program for students is on Mondays for students in junior high and Tuesdays for high school students. Both start at 6pm and end around 7:15pm. 

            Janata added that she is happy with the tutoring program because she wanted to get into a good college.  Now she is excited to say that she will be attending Lane Tech High School in the fall of 2011.

            “I think it’s good because I need help and this helps me communicate more with people because I’m shy,”  Janata said.

New twist on Chicago tradition

Chicago's Dog House

Two college graduates partnered to open a non-traditional Chicago hot dog restaurant in the heart of Lincoln Park. Ryan D’Arcy, 26, a DePaul University graduate and Aaron Rosson, 26, a Columbia College Chicago graduate, started Chicago’s Dog House, 816 W. Fullerton Ave., in the fall of 2008.



 

Tucked between McDonalds and CVS Pharmacy sits a restaurant that without knowledge of its location, otherwise might be overlooked. 
The loft style ceilings and industrial décor make this place unlike any other hot dog joint in the area. The front counter top is constructed of wood from Rosson’s father’s barn, and the tables for the patrons are made of old bowling lanes that D’Arcy built.

 

As recent graduates, the duo didn’t think the restaurant would be as successful as it has turned out to be.



 

“I started working on this in November of last year and it just fell into place,” Rosson said. “I asked [D’Arcy] if he’d like to join in on this business and become partners and six months later, we started to build everything out from scratch and now we’ve been open for about a year.”

 



D’Arcy said that he wasn’t one-hundred percent sure he liked the idea at first, but he wanted to take a chance. 


 

“I mean, you have to either be really good of half crazy to open up a hot dog shop in Chicago,” D’Arcy said. “It seemed like a good idea—the location is really good. I came in and started doing more of the interior designing of the place so I built out the counter top, and the bowling lanes for the tables and once I made it look the part, [Rosson] worked on menu and we’ve had good reviews ever since.”



 

What stands out the most of the restaurant is the menu. The duo created their “specialty dogs,” which include the French Poodle, made of brie cheese, Grey Poupon and pear, Greek Town, made of hummus, onions, tomato and homemade Tazaki sauce and the Chihuahua, made of homemade hot sauce, guacamole, Chihuahua cheese, onion and tomatoes.

 

Kevin Sherfinski of Hot Dog Chicago Style said the true Chicago, hot dog purists have a big problem with “up scaling” the Chicago dog and places like this generally attract yuppie crowds.

 

“It’s probably more due to the location than the menu, but I doubt you’d get any die hard Chicago dog aficionados going in there,” he said.

 

Although the small business only seats about 10-12 people, it has become a huge hit with the locals, but has also gained recognition with visitors.

 



Seth Neidhardt was visiting from Minnesota and after researching online, he decided he wanted to stop in to try some of the unique hot dogs.



 

“I’m actually in process of writing a book on festivals, so I came in for the St. Patrick’s Day parade and I wanted to check out the night life, food other attractions in the city,” Neidhardt said. “You can’t really get Chicago hot dogs in Minnesota and I love ‘em, they’re my favorite type of hot dogs. So I did research on some places, and this isn’t far from where I’m staying, so I had to come on in especially when I saw all the varieties.”

 


Neidhardt added he liked the hot dogs so much that he ate four.



 

“First I had the Chicago style,” he said. “You gotta compare different places, so you have to have the original to stand by. I also had the T-frank [made of bacon, cream cheese, avocado and homemade hot sauce], the French poodle and my favorite was the Mayor Daley.”



 

Neidhardt added that if he was glad he had stopped in to try the hot dogs, and recommends the spot to anyone who is interested in unique, tasty hot dogs.

“I say definitely come in and check it out,” he said. “Go for a regular Chicago style dog or try something unique like their specialty sausages. If I had more room I would have tried kangaroo or corned beef.”

The Year of the Tiger

By Angie Wiatrowski

The Tiger is a sign of bravery. Tigers are physically powerful, gracious, independent and brave. The Chinese community of Chicago gathered in Chinatown to celebrate the Lunar New Year of 2010, the year of the Tiger. 

On the days before the New Year celebration, Chinese families clean their homes and according to Chen Lau, waiter at Joy Yees Noodles in Chicago's Chinatown, "There is a common Cantonese saying, 'Wash away the dirt on ninyabaat." Lau said they believe that cleaning the homes prior to the New Year sweeps away the bad luck and makes way for good luck. He also mentioned that brooms and dustpans are put away on the first day of the Lunar New Year so that "good luck cannot be swept away." 

Lau also said that the dinner on New Year's Eve is more important than the New Year parade. "Families usually eat fish before New Year along with dumplings after dinner around midnight. The dumplings symbolize wealth mainly because it is in the shape of a tael (a form of Chinese currency)."

The day of New Year a parade takes place on the streets of Chinatown. The Year of the Tiger began on Feb. 14 of this year, with the streets packed with people from all over the city. Colorful dragons and floats pass through the parade route along with marching bands from local high schools.

Pa'n Yuen, A worker in the local tea store, said that the Chinese celebrate the New Year for 15 days preceding the parade. Yuen mentioned that gifts such as cakes, fruits, chocolates, and candies are exchanged throughout those two weeks. "A lot of it is surrounded by food," Yuen said. "There are a lot of symbols represented by certain foods that is important to our culture."

Along with these gifts, red envelopes are also passed out during the celebrations. Yuen said it is common for adults and married couples to give these envelopes to children and the money inside is an even number. "Odd numbers are associated with money given during funerals. The number eight is lucky and eight dollars is usually what people give to each other."

Year of The Tiger Final

Chinatown is a pretty busy area following up to the New Year. Market fairs are set up and are usually set up as open-air markets. Flowers, toys, and clothing are usually sold along with fireworks to celebrate. Yuen said that many people get new clothes for a fresh start heading into the New Year along with new haircuts. Fireworks are even sold in these markets for the celebration. The windows of all the shops in restaurants are highly decorated with tigers and the color red. Red is a symbol of joy and virtue in Chinese culture. 

The fifteenth and final day of the New Year is known as yuan xiao jie. The tradition is to cook rice dumpling soup. Candles are also lit outside houses, also known as Lantern Festival, to guide spirits home. Families also walk the streets with lit lanterns and it marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebration. 

"It is a really neat experience," said parade-goer Elyse West. "I like experiencing the culture and it is pretty cool how in depth they go in the celebration. It is nothing compared to our New Year's celebrations."

Humboldt Park Baseball

Video

By Jamie Bradley

           The sharp ping of a metal bat echoes off the walls of a small gymnasium in Humboldt Park, almost drowned out by the sounds of approximately a dozen men talking. The air is heavy, thick, and smells of sweat. While a few men practice pitching on the side of the gymnasium, others wait and watch while players, one at a time, practice fielding ground balls.
                 Inside this small gym the newly formed league softball team, coached by Louie Hernandez, is holding practice for their upcoming inaugural season. Hernandez, previously a softball player himself, was forced to quit playing the game due to a back injury sustained at work. However, unwilling to leave the game for good, he took on the position of manager for his new team.

The team plays in the Roberto Munoz league, which is a part of the Chicago Park District in Humboldt Park on Chicago’s West side. CAPS John Cruz, President of J&S Entertainment and founder of the team Hernandez manages says recruiting a good coach was his first step in putting together this team. 

“That’s the first thing you do. You get a good coach, and then this coach is going to start looking for players he played before, either buddies, or players we already scouted a couple of years ago," Cruz said.

Hernandez spoke of the recruitment process, and said that his own experience playing league ball was very helpful. “Over the years [of playing softball] you meet a lot of people, and some guys weren’t liking the teams they were on so they had asked me if I wanted to make a team. And so we just went about it that way,” Hernandez said.

As is the case with many athletic programs run in tightly-knit neighborhoods, the league is very community oriented. The team’s second baseman, Orlando Opio, summed it up saying, "each league has 14 to 16 teams sometimes, but everybody knows everybody.” 

But despite this familiarity between players, Cruz said not to confuse this league with your average beer league.

“It’s very competitive. You have players that have played in either college or AAA – minor leaguers, so it’s very competitive,” Cruz said. 

Hernandez’ team will play two games every Sunday in Humboldt Park over the course of the summer, totaling approximately 16 games in all, and the team with the best record at the end of the season wins a trip to travel and play in Puerto Rico.

Big sis lil sis

 

Brittany McCullars FINAL FINAL.wmv

By Mario Lekovic 

 

Slipping, falling and clenching to the railing are just some of the ways Brittany McCullars and Jamonay Wise spent one day at the ice rink together. Moving inch by inch, left foot over right, McCullars and Wise helped each other stand on their feet.

"Both of us shouldn't (have been) on the ice," said McCullars. “It was one of those moments where we both needed each other and our situation was hysterical (and) I think it brought us closer together.”

Twice a month Brittany McCullars, a 25-year-old, can be found at the ice rink or the zoo or any other fun place with her 13-year-old friend. The 12 year difference in age doesn’t stop these two from bonding like sisters. If they are not together, they are constantly texting and talking on the phone.

Last May, McCullars signed up to be a mentor and a big sister at Horizons For Youth, a community committed to helping children recognize and achieve their full potential. As she started her two year tenure, she was given a young child, Jamony, whom she would mentor.

For over a year now McCullars has been more then a mentor to Wise, she has been a big sister and a real friend.

“It was once a month, three hours a day, and they would set me up with whoever they thought I would fit well with,” said McCullars about her start with Horizons For Youth.

After going through the process, Horizons For Youth members paired McCullars up with Jamonay, who has been in the program for three years. McCullars could have done her job and been a mentor for little Jamonay without any attachment but that wasn’t the case.

According to McCullars, since she was new to the program they paired her up with Wise because she is a little bit older then the other kids and more open.

“She is very mature for her age,” said McCullars.

McCullars now spends more time with Wise then she did when she first started. McCullars talks with Wise on the phone, takes her out on the weekends, brings her over to her house and they run errands together. McCullars recalls bringing Jamonay to her house when she had friends over. Jamonay interacted with all of McCullars’ friends and they connected with her.

McCullars has not only made an impression on the young Wise but on the staff at Horizons For Youth.

“As a new mentor, Brittany is doing a great job fulfilling all of her contractual agreements. She has also built a relationship with Jamonay’s mother, which is another important part of our onboarding process,” said Kristen Hatcher, McCullars supervisor at Horizons For Youth. “Brittany has been excellent at communicating her progress and concerns about her role. She has taken it all very seriously and recently shared with me that she is also learning a lot from Jamonay.”

How can a 25-year-old learn from a 13-year-old? Well, McCullars recalls that she had a pretty easy childhood compared to some kids that are in Horizons For Youth.

“I was fortunate enough to have a family that was able to provide certain things that other kids aren’t able to have and I felt like I wanted to see the other side,” McCullars said.

By being with Jamonay, McCullars gets to experience some of the problems that she didn’t have as a child. While helping Jamonay with these obstacles, she also helps Jamonay’s mother Monik Logwood.

At a special event Horizons For Youth held on April 10, McCullars was there with Jamonay, Monik and the rest of their friends who are in the program. During the event, Jamonay and McCullars were joined at the hip. Wherever Brittany was, Jamonay was within a few steps. Giggles and whispers could be heard when Brittany and Jamonay talked about something private.

When pictures were to be taken, it seemed as Monik had two daughters. McCullars and Wise whispered to each other about a cute boy they had encountered but they made sure to be quiet so others at the event did not hear them. They didn’t want to be embarrassed.

Monik put Jamonay in Horizons For Youth so she can get some guidance. Jamonay has brothers and sister but they are all younger. In the program, Jamonay is able to hang out with and learn from someone older who has been in her shoes before.

“Not only is there a mentorship program, but they are a support group,” Monik said.

Monik is really thankful for the program because she has seen positive changes in Jamonay.

“Before her attitude was a little shaky, but now that she’s been in the program and knows how valuable it is she is very well mannered,” Monik said. “She knows how to properly talk to a person. It’s all ‘yes mam no mam.’”

Jamonay has a special bond with McCullars even more so then with her previous mentors.

For Valentine’s Day, Monik remembers Jamonay bringing Brittany a broken heart. One piece said big sis and the other piece saying lil sis.

Brittany has not only become a part of Jamonay’s life but she has become a part of their family.

“Jamonay was very warm and inviting when we first met so it was very real and natural since the beginning,” McCullars said. “I would say that now I feel part of the family. Jamonay and her mom Monik have been very welcoming and have included me in family events.”

This sort of bonding is what makes Brittany a part of Jamonay’s family. It shows Monik and Jamonay that Brittany isn’t just there to do a job, she is there because she truly cares for Jamonay.

“Brittany is an outstanding young lady,” said Monik. “When I first met her, she was down to earth, willing and very excited to be a part of Jamonay’s life. I love her to death.”

Zinnia Jones: Queen of Atheism

 ZJ_EMPTV_QUEEN.doc

Youtube user, ZJemptv, perhaps lesser known as Zachary Antolak, never set out to become “Zinnia Jones, Queen of Atheism” the current title of his increasingly popular Youtube channel. 



The 20-year-old began creating videos in support of atheism and gay rights from his family’s Tinley Park apartment for one primary reason: He was bored and attracting viewers on Youtube didn’t seem to be terribly difficult. 



“You can get 200,000 subscribers for making a video about Britney Spears,“ he said “Why shouldn’t I try my hand at it and see what happens?”

Since then, Antolak has become a striking example of how social media websites like Youtube and Twitter provide voices to those who may not otherwise be heard. With his long, brunette hair, bold shades of lipstick, and blunt, yet eloquent words, he confronts prejudice head on.

Since Antolak posted his first Youtube video in November of 2008, he has gained over 7,000 subscribers, a partnership with Youtube, and a much more urgent incentive to continue making videos.



Antolak was immediately met with strong and sometimes threatening opposition to his views on atheism and gay rights. This only served to heighten his awareness of the hate and prejudice surrounding these topics. 



“People are extremely harsh about these things,” Antolak said. “Even more so in an environment like the internet or Youtube where nobody knows who you are. It’s not pretty and it lets me know this is something that needs to be addressed.”



The majority of Antolak’s 208 videos take place in his bedroom, where he pulls a white curtain across his window and bunk bed to use as a backdrop. He then applies his lipstick of choice before going on to start the camera. Finally, he begins to read a manuscript that he has prepared prior on an issue usually concerning atheism or gay rights. 



While many responses to these videos praise his speeches as “intelligent,” “clever,” “clear,” and “concise,” many of his viewers cannot see past his lipstick or his long, feminine locks.



“Why are you wearing lipstick, dude?” user BillyBobJoe7478 asked in one of the much less vulgar responses to Antolak’s videos. 

Youtube users often comment on his videos using threatening and explicit obscenities, often targeting his feminine appearance and his sexuality. Antolak calls it “The Lipstick Effect.” 



“All I have to do is put a little bit of makeup on, something that should not be infuriating in the slightest, but peoples’ reactions to that are so disproportionate, so off kilter and unbalanced,” he said. “People are nuts.”



Although Antolak wears lipstick in his videos, he does not use it in his daily life. He said that he wants to set an image for himself and draw attention to his viewpoints. He does not identify as transgender and considers himself to be a gay man. Viewers often cannot tell the difference and refer to him as ‘he’, ‘she’, or ‘it’.


“I don’t really care if people mistake me for a woman because there’s nothing wrong with being a woman anyway,” he said. “Just not ‘it’. That’s not a pronoun you use for a person. It’s dehumanizing.”



Between issues with atheism and the treatment of gay people, Antolak said the latter is currently more pressing. He said that the manner in which many gay people are stereotyped and treated both enrages and inspires him. He wants to get a positive message out there because “it just feels right.”



“It’s really bad out there,” he said. “However bad you think it is, it’s worse.”



Although Antolak regrettably has yet to march in any gay pride parades, he has contacted and brought attention to several politicians concerning gay rights as well as pro-abortion rights for women. 

Most recently, he contacted Iowa state representatives Jason Schultz and Matt Windschitl. This past year, Schultz and Windschitl made an effort to alter an Iowa state school law that protected children from being bullied based on race, sexuality, religious beliefs, disabilities, and other factors, according to Antolak. The two representatives wanted sexuality removed from this list. 



When Antolak contacted them to question the idea, he said they replied that their larger purpose was to prohibit gay marriage in the state and that their constituents had asked them to further this goal.



“Apparently their idea of doing something about it was making kids at school more vulnerable to bullying,” Antolak said. “I found that incredibly unacceptable.”



Following this contact, Antolak created several videos concerning the incident in order to raise awareness of Schultz and Windschitl’s agenda. 



One of the biggest puzzles for Antolak is why so much animosity and opposition exists for his videos and the gay community in general. Out of the many arguments against homosexuality that he has found in his comments, he said he has yet to find a compelling argument that cannot be countered with critical thinking.



“Homophobia as an ideology is something that’s floating on empty air with no foundations,” he said. “It’s like Willie Coyote before he runs off of a cliff without realizing that he’s done so. I think these people just need to take a look around and then they can plunge down into the crevice and realize that there is nothing wrong with this at all.”



Antolak finds that his videos are generally positively accepted by heterosexual women and the gay community. Most of his opposers are heterosexual men. He said that he is uncertain what causes this negative response, but he often contributes it to their inability to understand what it is like to be attracted to other men, a need to prove their masculinity and their religious values.



“I don’t like ZJemptv because he pretends to be a woman,” said Nicholas Lanphear, 21, an avid opposer of gay rights and atheism. “It’s an abomination to deny what God has created.”



Antolak feels that the primary reason for all opposition to gay rights concerns religion being passed down from generation to generation- particularly the Christian religion in which the Bible condemns homosexuality. He has found most atheists to be accepting of the gay community.



However, negative treatment of the gay community due to religion is not the only reason that Antolak considers himself to be an atheist. He cited religion’s influence on society as responsible for several immoral and violent acts including 9/11 and the shooting of abortion doctors. He said the greatest insult of religion is that so many horrible things are done without any logical reason.



“Is there a God up there who’s going to smile down on them for doing that? Perhaps give them a first class ticket to heaven?” he said, referring to the hanging of gay people in Iran. “No, absolutely nothing comes from that except for the needless death of people who shouldn’t have been killed.”



Antolak may receive a lot of flack for his daring topics, but he has a large audience of admirers as well. They often respond to his videos, praising his intelligence and agreeing with his motives.



“I think it’s great that he wears makeup and bends the gender rules,” said Ericka White, who stumbled upon Antolak’s channel while viewing other atheism related videos. “It’s an inspiration.”



Antolak may put a lot of effort into his Youtube career, but he doesn’t spend all of his time making videos. In his spare time, he enjoys playing with his pet rats, helping his mother with her art gallery, shopping with his sister and most of all, thinking.



“If anything, that is what essentially defines me,” he said. “I think of myself as learning all of the time. There’s always something to learn about. There’s always something to think about.”

ZJemptv: Queen of Atheism

Dancing, Indian Style

By Sean Stillmaker

The success of “Slumdog Millionaire” at last year’s Oscars has popularized India’s dance culture. Bollywood dancing has dominated clubs and school teams nationwide, creating a higher demand amongst Chicago’s growing number of Indian dance schools.

The youth craze for Bollywood dancing is the biggest competition for classical Indian dance schools, said Pranita Jain, artistic director of Kalapriya.

“Bollywood dancing is instant gratification,” Jain said. “What I teach is a long tradition of classical art form.”

Despite the competition, classical Indian dance schools remain strong in membership and maintaining their cultural significance.

Kalapriya Bharata Natyam Dancing

Dancing plays an integral role in Indian heritage and culture. The practice started as a folk tradition and is still used to tell mythological stories. Each classical form originated from a region of the Indian subcontinent.

Kalapriya, 1438 E. 57th St., has specialized in the classical Bharata Natyam dance form since its founding in 1994. Bharata Natyam originated from the southern state Tamil Nadu and is globally the most popular. It was created as a higher form of entertainment for the gods, according to myth.

“[Bharata Natyam] is kind of creative expression using your body,” said 15-year-old Angira Shirahatti, a nine-year Bharata Natyam dancer at Kalapriya.

Bharata Natyam uses specific sets of hand gestures, facial expressions, foot patterns and rhythms to tell stories; dancers cannot use their hips or chest because it’s considered seductive. Bollywood dancing, on the other hand, is a combination of Indian hip hop, jazz and Bhangra, danced to simple beats without a set pattern.

“Because it’s a pop style, it’s more conducive toward people who want to pick up on a fad, jump into a class and take something that doesn’t require a lot of dedication,” said Anjal Chande, director of Soham Dance Space.

Chande teaches Bharata Natyam at the Soham Dance Space, 922 N. Damen Ave. Chande started learning at the age of 7 when she accompanied her mother to dance classes. Most Bharata Natyam dancers start at 5 or 6 years old and carry on through high school.

“She’s very impressed with dance,” said Niranjani Prabhakar of her 6-year-old daughter who started Bharata Natyam dancing at Kalapriya in October.  “We wanted to give her something from our Indian heritage.”

The cultural teachings provided by classical dance is the most common reason for learning, said Jain. There were very few classical Indian dance teachers when Jain came to Chicago in 1991.  Since then the Indian immigrant population has increased, creating more demand for teachers.

The growing appreciation of classical Indian dance led Kalapriya to experiment with multicultural dance forms, which began in 2001.  The experimentations are a mix of dance forms from Asia, Africa and Indonesia that tell stories with universal themes.

Chande, 25, is a second generation Indian who admires Chicago’s cultural diversity. That is the reason she started her school here.

“The classical arts in general, you think there’s a very limited audience to begin with, but I think there’s a lot of potential to connect with a lot more people,” Chande said.

Restoring cars, rebuilding lives

By Miles Maftean

The beam of sunlight pouring through the large window on the East side of the car shop illuminates thousands of tiny dust particles surrounding the sweaty mechanics. Workers shout commands over the steady buzzing of the rusty compressor. They are oblivious to the thin layer of sand enveloping every crack and edifice of their working environment.

From the determined look beaming out of Alex Levesque’s brown, beady eyes, nothing can curb the enthusiastic work he is omitting into his latest project. But as the door opens to his auto shop, in walks a straggler from the neighborhood to investigate the commotion he has been hearing from behind Levesque’s garage door. Levesque immediately halts with his work, takes off his mask, and greets the stranger with a handshake and a wide smile. 

For the past 20 years, Levesque has been restoring old cars in his South Side shop. Ranging in models from 1930’s to the 1960’s, Levesque has made a career in restoring these cars to their original running condition. But Levesque has added a unique twist to the mix -  recruiting ex-gang members as his mechanics.

In 2003, Levesque started the program Gunicide, which is a mentoring program that teaches gang members, and others, the basics to car restoration in hopes of one day landing a job as a mechanic. Levesque did not think that his passion for restoring old-fashioned cars would one day help contribute to fighting crime in the neighborhood.

 “In the process of trying to share them what I do, I kind of resurrect their lives too,” Levesque said. “These kids just need someone to be there for them and shake them up a bit.”

And Levesque does just that. While driving in from his condo in the South Loop to his body shop in the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood, Levesque started to notice the number of kids on the streets growing larger in number and younger in age. He decided to take matters into his own hands by engaging them personally.

Screeching to a halt at the corner of 63^rd and Ashland, Levesque’s white 1965 Chevy Impala catches the eyes of a group of young men. Curiously eyeing the car, the men whisper to one another and slowly approach the vehicle.

“What’s up my brothers?” said Levesque, greeting the men with a smile. “Let me tell you all a little something about making a living with your hands,” he added.

His overwhelming love for old cars has turned him into a character builder. And it shows when he drives up in one of these old cars or trucks to a group of gang-bangers in the seediest areas of Chicago. But Levesque finds the common thread that weaves their lives together – old muscle cars.

“If you just hook one of them, they tell their friends,” Levesque said. “Before you know it, you got the whole street corner,” he added.

Throughout the neighborhood, Levesque has gained a lot of attention. His phone is constantly ringing with the latest scoop for his next big project. Levesque said he does not even have to look any longer to try and find cars that need to be restored. Most of the time people come to him with projects and exciting finds in the older car model market. But there seems to be someone knocking at his door at any given moment.

“He’s a busy guy, a busy bee,” said Patrick Haywood, a student at Truman College who Levesque has mentored.

Before he entered Levesque’s shop, Haywood did not know a single aspect of car restoration. But he did have the passion. Levesque taught him how to do complete restoration of classic vehicles. Haywood smiles as he remembers the first car he restored – a 1966 Impala Sedan. He thought he would never finish that first project.

“One thing I learned from Alex is never say, ‘I can’t,’ because there is always a way,” Haywood said.

Although Levesque only has one full-time employee, his shop can be packed. What is unique about Levesque’s auto shop is the fact that he mentors individuals and shows them what to do but gives the individuals the bulk of the responsibility. Many people in the shop are working on restoring their own cars. Levesque is just there to lend a helping hand in the process.

Before Levesque opened his shop in 1991, he moved to Chicago in hopes of working as an architect. For eight years, he worked at the largest architectural firm in Chicago. After realizing his passion for restoring old cars would never die, he quit his job and went back to school for auto restoration. Two months after he completed the program, he opened up his own shop.

“It’s funny because I went to school during the day but at night, my teachers worked in my car shop,” Levesque said. “I guess they just saw my passion and wanted to work with me.”

Levesque continues to contribute in his community in any way possible. He sits on the board of the City Colleges of Chicago and has even teamed up with the Chicago Police Department to start recruiting more kids off the street.

Gunicide