violence in chicago

i just watched a disturbing documentary about youth violence in chicago.
i haven't really been able to process my thoughts and emotions.
but a couple things that it made me feel are...
i miss chicago.
i miss the students i had and teaching there.
the video helped me to understand some of their conflicts that were so foreign to me, that i sometimes couldn't wrap my mind around.  like, why would you be so mad that some girl bumped into you in the hallway.
i miss driving around and seeing neighborhood convenience stores, parts of town where all the stores had spanish names, or chinese names, or korean names, or polish names. 
i miss the ethnic diversity.
i miss the public transportation. [dont get me wrong, i love an attached garage.]
i miss walking.
i miss downtown.
i miss the hugeness and the community all mixed up into one.
i miss talking to people for whom english was a second language.

this video also made me feel sad for children, children who grow up knowing nothing but violence, children who are victims of an epidemic.  (but not sad in a i'm-white-so-i-pity-you-minority-child way)

this video made me wonder how, when i lived so close to all violence, i lived so seemingly far away. 
this video made me wonder if there are any solutions.
i was AMAZED at some of the work this organization is doing amongst youth in Chicago.  not fake, pretend-to-be-problem-solvers work... like, real, in your face work where the rubber meets the road. and people put their guns away.  but it's not always a happy ending.

i don't fit into that organization's approach because i wasn't a gangbanger. but could i do something to help? could you?

this post doesn't begin to describe the thoughts rolling around in my head.

watch here if you want. it's long, close to 2 hours. (p.s. there are 2 versions... broadcast and the vsn. with the original language. if you haven't heard an extreme amount of cussing in a while, they're not kidding when they say "graphic language.")

anyone have thoughts about the youth violence epidemic? anyone impacted by it? let me know if you watch it and have reflections?

Ben is running the Chicago Marathon!

This post is in honor of my fabulous husband, Ben.  (If you're unfamiliar with blog world, click on the light blue words below to go to another website.)

About a year ago, while we were living in Chicago, we started attending The Moody Church.  We loved it there!  One of the first weekends we were visiting, some people got up and talked about how great it was to run the Chicago Marathon with a group of people from Moody.  They talked about training and asked people to come out and cheer them on, as well as support the team.  Many were first-time marathon runners, and they shared different reasons for choosing to take the plunge.  Ben leaned over and whispered to me, "I think I wanna do that next year..."

Well here we are.  Next year.  And the marathon is in 26 days.  October 9.  And yep, you guessed it, Ben's running :)  Yay Ben!  

SO, we will head back to Chi-town that weekend and Ben will run with a team from Moody to raise support for World Vision.  According to their website, "World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice."  Ben could have signed up to run the marathon solo and still achieved his personal marathon goal.  However, we really believe World Vision is doing a great work in Africa, and we want to support their organization.  They're not only working at a great cause, but they're doing it well!

Ben's goal is to raise $50.00 per mile (BEFORE running the race) for a total of $1310.00.  Would you consider contributing?  Whether you contribute $.10, $10 or $100, your gift is helpful and appreciated.

World Vision sent us this video to show us (and others who are interested) where all the money is going anyway.

World Vision gives Ben a handy-dandy marathon website to keep track of donations and give donors more information.  To donate and/or learn more about World Vision, click here!

Last but not least, a little side story.  The Moody Church (TMC) happens to be located right on the marathon route through the city.  If you don't live in Chicago, trust me when I say the marathon is a crazy day.  You can forget taking public transportation anywhere.  It's super cool to see boatloads of people running down Lake Shore Drive and North Ave.  BUT, it's crazy.  For a long time, TMC tried to still have services as normal on Marathon Sunday.  But, with parking, visitors, traffic, people running down the streets, roads shut down, etc... they decided, what the heck?  Let's just move our church service and cheer on the marathon runners.  An opportunity to support and minister to the community :) Here's a short video from the cheer station.  Can't wait to join them this year as they cheer on not only their own TEAM WORLD VISION but also the 40,000 (ish) others running the Chicago Marathon 2011.

 

Any questions or comments about Ben, the marathon, donating, etc...?  Email either one of us at reneecook3@gmail.com  OR jbenjamincook@gmail.com  We'd love to hear from you.  Thanks in advance for your donation! 

Beginning of Summer

My cousin Christa came to visit from Georgia - Michigan Ave shopping was a must!

Christa was FASCINATED by a beach in a city :)

You can barely see them but we met up with Kyle and Erin

Madison Ave bridge at 5:30 pm - full of commuters

waiting for the water taxi

3 of my favorite guys riding the Chicago Water Taxi from train station to China Town - a must if you're visiting! 

trying to be artsy w/ the camera

artsy #2

artsy #3

my bro Brian and my cousin Bryan chowin' on burgers at "big Brian's" graduation party

bubbles were good for about 3 hours straight of toddler entertainment

my 4 year old cousin, Brody

this is what happens when Brody (picture above this one) gets the camera and says "say cheese" to my dad.

Chicago... My Kind of Town

Lately, I've been thinking about things I will miss and things I won't miss about Chicago.  Like, something will happen (i.e. stuck in traffic) and I'll think wow, I really won't miss the traffic here.

Things I'll miss about Chicago
Obviously, friends and family
Church - both Moody and Harvest
Driving on Lake Shore Drive and Wacker
Walking around downtown (I still think tall buildings are cool)
Ridiculously fancy bowling alleys
Stuffed Pizza, specifically Edwardo's
Endless supply of great ethnic food, especially China Town
Summer.  summer in this city is SO fun.
Biking on the lake path
Chicago Public Library System - every book you could ever want sent to your neighborhood library!
The shopping- South Loop, State Street, Michigan Ave, Lincoln Park, need I say more?
Simeon
My teacher's salary (which, thanks to the crazy Chicago Teacher's Union is pretty good for a 1st year teacher!!) 
The skyline (especially driving into the city from the south on 90/94) 
Never ending supply of fun things to do, and lots for free! 


Things I won't miss about Chicago
Traffic
The smell of pot in our apartment buidling
Street parking during the winter
Constant sound of sirens
12% tax
$4.69 gas
The hassle of grocery shopping and parking and trying to get all your groceries up to your 2nd floor apartment when you parked a block away.
The politics - while they're exciting and make a good news story, it's a little crazy.
The teachers union.   Sometimes I'm embarrassed to be part of a union that complains so much, causes so many problems, and acts like they're at war...


This is a great city, and I love it, but I am starting to think about things I might like in Lincoln because the Lord has led us to Lincoln and He knows best... so, Nebraska, here we come!