Carlos Ruiz

Carlos Ruiz

Carlos is  23 years old and is Puerto Rican. Both his parents are Puerto Rican, he has an older sister that’s 29 and a younger sister that’s 16. His dad’s side of the family are in Puerto Rico and his mom’s dad is in Puerto Rico while the rest of his family are here in Chicago. Growing up he was born  here in Chicago and then moved to Puerto Rico when he was two and then came back when he was ten. His childhood was different here in Chicago then it was in Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico he was going to the

rivers and riding horses, climbing trees. While here in Chicago he could only go to Lake Michigan. Childhood was good he played baseball, video games. Carlos’ dream when he was younger was to play baseball in the major leagues for the Chicago Cubs. His favorite hobby comes from his dream. He likes playing sports, he still plays baseball on Sunday for the Hanson Park League. He told us to stay in school, pay attention to what our parents say because they know what they're saying. It may be difficult right now and you're like “Ugh, shut up I don’t want to hear you” and don’t do this or that. But I promise you when you get older it will be worth it and you’ll be like “Oh Mami and Papi I should’ve listen to you”. Also don’t grow up so fast and enjoy life as a teenager.

Carlos feels that education is huge and is very powerful even if it’s going to college or educating yourself. He was the first in his family to graduate from college. He tried playing baseball in college but couldn't do social life, academics and baseball. He needed academics in order to stay in school, he wanted to go to party’s and stuff like that.

Carlos works at kelvyn park and helps kids get into colleges, and he helps them with financial aid questions, homework. He also helps out at Ames to do after school programs, homework help. In- school intervention with the gang banger or “ behavioral kids”. Carols is helping us students by having us do after school programs then having us on the streets from 4 to 6. He grew up in this community so he knows this community and he hopes that he’s making a difference. Even if it’s one kid who takes his advice and does the right thing. Carlos has had some what of a challenge to connect with us since we’re hard headed and because this generation is also close-minded.We have teachers that are always talking down at you,talking back to you and telling you what to do. He wants to make us students feel like he’s with us. “I talk with students not at them.”

Carlos wishes that he can do a Harry Potter type of thing to stop the violence in our community. But no one can do that so it has to start small. It has to start small with leaders in the community motivating one person and a another so on and so on. Gangs have been around for forever and it’s sad to say they’re not going anywhere. There’s so many things that needs to be done in order to solve the gang problem in Chicago. Carlos’ idea would be a peace circle and getting all the local gang leaders talking about what needs to be done in this community. It’s not going to stop the shooting and the violence but it’s a start. It may help make them realize that they need to stop shooting innocent people. If you want it to or not racism still exist in society. But now it isn’t not as much racism it is more classicism. It turns to racism because most of the people who are rich are white and the people who are poor are minorities.

Carlos looks up to his parents. His parents taught him to be grateful for what they have.They worked hard, they only got a GED.But growing up he was never left without a meal or slept in the cold. He may have not got the pair of J’s he wanted.But he would've got them a week later. They gave him everything he had and they’re still there for him now.Those are his role models.The youth he works with inspires him even when he only touches one person and they tell him thanks. And there’s some older Hispanics males who he looks up to for the work they have done. A hero would be someone you look up to,someone that you can look up to at times. And people can motivate themselves to be just like them. A Hero, A Role Model, A Leader there all together.