spent a lot of time playing basketball and growing up together. We didn’t realize we were living in fractured gang territories until we grew a older. For most kids, it was about the 8th grade when they discovered that our neighborhood wasn’t as innocent as we thought; for me it was in 6th grade when I began to be approached by gangs. There were really no gang initiations like there used to be. Joining a gang can happen casually – for example, one day you’re somewhere and people starting saying, “What up Folks” to you and before you know it, it sticks and you’re going around with them. You’re in their gang. "Folks" was like a term of endearment. It gave us a sense of belonging - like a group of brothers - a family. The “family” you were in related to the neighborhood you lived in. You would see guys on the block or on the basketball court and they were your brothers. It wasn’t until later that I learned about their illegal activities. Before long, I was going around with them robbing and sticking people up for money. Some friends and I (one of whom is also a PeaceMaker now) used to go around with me punching people in the face for fun. I used to look for fights. I would go places and turn my hat to the wrong side (signifying affiliation with a rival gang) solely to attract my enemies to peacefully approach me and I’d suddenly start fighting with them.
Basketball pulled me out of that life. I was a good basketball player; I caught the attention of our school’s basketball coach, Mr. Simmons. He told me about the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) league which put me in contact with some of the best players in the city. The top 2 ranked players in the city then were a part of my team. In the League, my skills increased significantly and exposed me to other neighborhoods. We had our tournaments at Rich Central High School in Forest Park and I began to spend more time out there. The homes were so big with nice cars – I thought they were all rich.
I continued to play basketball in high school and distanced myself from gang-life by working. I held jobs working at a local movie theatre and Wal-Mart. I had leadership skills but my behavior was still bad in a lot of ways and I ended up getting kicked out of high school during my senior year. I continued to work at Wal-Mart for a while and then I learned about the St. Sabina PeaceMaker opportunity from someone in the program that I used to hang out with on the streets. Since then it’s been an amazing opportunity for me. I see people on the streets that used to know me when I was in a gang (I’ll probably always have that moniker hanging over me), but now it’s very different because they see me talking about peace and know I’ve changed my life around. It’s perfect for me. I wanted to make a positive change and show the world that even though some of us made some mistakes; everyone out here is not doing illegal gang activity.
Since I’ve become a PeaceMaker, I’m more prepared for my future. I’ve gotten great long-term jobs leads, great interviews and I’m working towards my GED. It’s been great getting to know Father Pfleger. I had heard of him living in the city but never knew he would be cool with me like that and would want to help me. He made me feel important and that this work we do as Peacemakers is important. We need PeaceMakers in the street. If we were not here, believe me, things would be a lot worse. We’re talking to people, risking our lives at the same time, so we can see a brighter tomorrow.
I grew up in a city in Belize called Dangriga. It was extremely friendly – I felt a great sense of freedom. My mom was hard-working but no matter how hard she worked, she couldn’t make enough money to support us the way she wanted to. Because of this, we moved to Chicago when I was 5. We lived in a Belizean community on the Northside of Chicago until around 2008, when I was in high school. It was then that we moved to the south side on the block of 80th and Ada St. I went to Lakeview High School on the North Side and made the long daily commute on the train to school. I saw the negative aspects of growing up in the neighborhood around here but I was always more motivated by the words of my mom who told me to always push and be my best. I grew up with my mom and dad in the house. I consider myself spoiled. My mom always took great care of me and showed me love. I am the oldest of 2 siblings, a younger brother and sister. I’m very protective of my brother and sister and worry about them when they’re on the street and especially getting on the bus.
While living on the block, I got involved with some good friends who are also in the PeaceMaker program, Jabril and Patrick. Our common bonds were friendship and basketball. Playing basketball is a time when I can relax and get my mind off of problems or dangers. We would see each other and hang out on the block around Laflin Street and then we would go to different basketball courts like The Ark at St. Sabina. It was at The Ark that I met Father Pfleger. He always encouraged me and had something nice to say to me. He always kept the court open for us. He’s been a blessing to me and kept me away from a lot of violence. He also always told me to come to church. I started taking him at his word and came to church while I continued to play basketball. Eventually my friend Patrick brought me into the PeaceMaker program and it’s been a real blessing to me. It’s kept me out of a lot of trouble and even kept me from making enemies. It’s funny how you naturally make enemies depending on what side of town or block you live on. Since people know that I’m with the PeaceMakers now though, it doesn’t matter.
Eugene Alvarez - My Story
hanging over me), but now it’s very different because they see me talking about peace and know I’ve changed my life around. It’s perfect for me. I wanted to make a positive change and show the world that even though some of us made some mistakes; everyone out here is not doing illegal gang activity.
Since I’ve become a PeaceMaker, I’m more prepared for my future. I’ve gotten great long-term jobs leads, great interviews and I’m working towards my GED. It’s been great getting to know Father Pfleger. I had heard of him living in the city but never knew he would be cool with me like that and would want to help me. He made me feel important and that this work we do as Peacemakers is important. We need PeaceMakers in the street. If we were not here, believe me, things would be a lot worse. We’re talking to people, risking our lives at the same time, so we can see a brighter tomorrow.