Local Voices (Chicago)

Kerl is........very humble, he helped us face our new mic the wrong way. Born in Haiti, he lived with aunts and uncles as his parents earned US citizenship and finally moved to Chicago around age 10, growing up in the Englewood neighborhood. He was basically a prodigy, attending UIC at age 15 and finishing with a double degree in architecture & structural mechanics. Now the president of CARA, Chicago Area Runners Association, he is focused on expanding the sport of running to places like the South Side and suburbs of Chicago where it is less mainstream. Himself having loved running only after transitioning from soccer into duathlons, and running his first marathon because it fell on his birthday, Kerl is uniquely situated to grow the practice, having run every marathon since, except for 2018 because of injury and 2020 because of COVID. He is now a coach for Chicago Endurance Sports and is advising us to hit that famous 20 mile marker before resting up for the marathon. Also, I'm also crazy enough to forget to turn the mic the right way, please support the organization Back on my Feet, which helps homeless people get jobs and into affordable housing, with my fundraising link, http://YourcrazyIsupportit.com. Thank you

Chris is...........kind of a pro..........we might need a new mic. Born in the Chicago suburbs, he played baseball, basketball, and football in high school, went to Wesleyan undergrad, and ISU for grad school for a degree in sports management. After interning for the Buffalo Bills, he decided to take his first job running the biggest market here in Chicago of the Sports & Social Association back in 1997. Fast forward more than 20 years, and Chris has helped turn Chicago into a mecca of volleyball and full team sport utilization of every inch of sportive real estate. Running events and concerts yearly as well, Chicago Sports & Social is providing a huge value to the community life here in the city, and getting people to use the parks and outdoors like no other. Follow @chisportsocial on Instagram, and tag a best friend to join you in an upcoming league. There's pickleball, pickup, and everything you or Scottie Pippen could imagine. Sign up today.

Abi is..........kinda smart. He's figured out the #thing. Born in Puerto Rico, he moved here to Chicago as a baby and grew up mostly near Albany Park. After high school, he found himself working factory jobs and got into IT work for 10 years, before a comedy workshop opened his eyes to the possibility of standup. He hit the mic, and the rest is history. Well, it took a few years, but after cashing out his 401k savings, and leveraging COVID payouts, he eventually quit his job and won the 2020 HBO Latino Comedy Contest, also selling out shows at Zanies and the Laugh Factory here in Chicago. Catch him on IG @abisanchezcomedy, and come by one of his sets, he's legit, he even used to run a Legal Aliens podcast.

Herschel is...........definitely not fucking my couch. The Lyft Driver does sound like Dave Chappelle tho. Born in North Side, Lincoln Park area of Chicago, he broke his neck playing wide receiver in high school, and found that it didn't hurt his dating game. Fast forward to today, he now invests in paper. Day trading the Asian Markets at night, Herschel learnt some secrets working at the Chicago Board & Trade, and now lives a fire life, driving Lyft, trading stocks, and appreciating the great characters of this universe, like New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, and Kanye West. If you a Mom, or under 15, maybe put earmuffs on. If not, listen to truth, served chili hot.

Chirine is........someone who falls into things. like multiple Olympics. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, she left home when she was 13 years old, to go train as an alpine skiier in France with her coach for 2 years, before moving to the US, to go to school and train in Salt Lake City, Utah, on the exact same slopes as the 2002 Winter Olympics. She went on to carry the flag for Lebanon, in the 2002, 2006, and 2010 games, and was still in her last year at the University of Utah, when she met her husband on a plane after both were standbys and eventually moved to Chicago in 2012. With the spacious Lakeview trail and abundance of running clubs and competitions, Chirine eventually found her competitive drive fully invested in running, and qualified for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics at the Houston Marathon one day. Ever since then she has been running for fun, in addition to working for a healthcare startup, and dropping by various run clubs, always inspiring with her laid back joyful vibes. Follow her on IG @Chirine_Njeim, and come by the Lakeview Run Club or Universal Soles Wednesday run, for a chance to meet her. Either way, just do it, the running thing, she likes Nike.

AC is.........A blessed soul. Born and raised in Chicago, he lived all over the South Side in his youth, and first started cutting hair at 16, when a friend needed his help for an upcoming job interview. He then starting working at a local salon and after graduating high school, pursued his passion at a barber college in Chicago. After working at a few salons, he answered the call from Ishmael & Zariff, Obama's barber, when the Hyde Park Hair Salon was changing locations back in 2007, and needed new young barbers. Still working there 'til this day, AC is an energy source for all in the community, soaking up from morning affirmations and shower prayers, bringing his flow and smile to the shop but also all around Chicago which he travels regularly. Come by Hyde Park Hair Salon to experience his high vibration, and consider becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister if you're in Chicago all year round. We could use a helluva lot more AC's.

Duncan is mellow........pleasantly smooth. As executive chef of Rootstock Wine Bar near Humboldt Park, he has an appreciation for cuisine one can only gain from travel. Born & raised in the Chicago area, he got his first experience in hospitality at a Country Club, before heading to Honolulu to work at a Chili's and experience something different. After attending culinary school, he got a job at Lula Cafe in Logan Square, and his mentor Jason Hammel eventually pushed him to go travel Europe and acquire some real respect for the art of food. After working at an Agriturismo in Italy on top of a mountain, and living in a staff house in England, he came back to Chicago in late 2009 and right off the plane, answered the call to be the executive chef at Rootstock. Serving up unique wines to go and leveraging great relationships with local farms, the restaurant has become a secret haven of high quality, with a small space and no reservations taken. Follow @rootstockbar on Instagram, and come by the Humboldt Park restaurant to experience a taste of, whatever is freshest, in the area.

David is............a man who doesn't stop until he finds.........incredible. Born in Long Island, his father wanted his kids to experience challenges and the raw outdoors, so they bought a farm in Canada. After heading down to Illinois for a soccer scholarship, he transferred back to the Ontario College of Art to fully accept his passion for painting, which his dad inspired in him at an early age. A world traveler, who has always supported himself with the arts, and nothing else, David has a lot of lessons for young artists out there perhaps still chasing the Wow. With a wife and 2 young boys now, he enjoys supporting the family with commission work on painting homes, and capturing light whenever it hits something beautiful, which he does a good bit of searching for. Check out his art @ https://www.davidedallison.com/, and reach out to him for a private showing. He's guaranteed to UP your decor.

KJ is......goin places. An HIIT instructor at places like Eat the Frog Fitness and XSport, a loved co-admin of Lakeview Run Club, and an astute Nutrition Coach, she also holds a fulltime job in Operations. After studying Martial Arts in high school, she got a degree in Supply Chain Management, Accounting, and Communications at the University of Dayton, and freshman year got her first true runners high. A 5 mile 40+ minute run with a friend, the experience opened KJ to a love of running that has continued to this day, many marathons and half-marathons later. Just recently moved out of her parents p[ace, catch KJ co-leading a group of 50-100+ runners every Tuesday at 6pm in Lakeview East. Follow Lakeview Run Club on Facebook and Instagram and experience the joy of running with friends. Wrigley bars afterwards.

Sarah is.......so cool through the fire. A hot yogi momma. After swimming in high school, and studying vocal performance in college, she taught music and had kids, before discovering hot yoga one day with a Groupon at 105F in Wicker Park. Growing in kindness, patience, and compassion, she eventually took a job at a studio in admin management, and took the plunge 8 months ago into a 1 month intensive bikram yoga teacher training with Be Yoga Andersonville. Now thriving and teaching at both Be Yoga and 105F six days a week, she is bringing her vocal training to a sport that truly appreciates it. Competing now in yoga competitions with USA Yoga, Sarah is growing and challenging herself with her newfound teacher energy. Follow her on IG @SarahBeth246, and come by 105F or Be Yoga for a taste of the Bikram highness. It carries.