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player ready...Several local organizations collaborated to host an anti-gun violence marathon and fundraiser earlier this month at Mundelein High School.
Along with MHS, those involved in the event include the Mundelein chapter of My Brother’s Keeper — which organizers describe as an initiative of the Obama Foundation aimed at helping to address opportunity gaps — grocer Mariano’s and Strides for Peace, an organization that works in Chicago to help prevent gun violence through community organizations.
The “5K Race Against Gun Violence” marathon June 13 raised more than $1,200 and included about 100 runners, according to organizers. Trey Baker, a recent MHS graduate, said the goal was to bring more awareness and support to help combat the issue.
“The issue of gun violence, it’s been an epidemic,” he said. “We’re honoring those who have been hurt by gun violence and we have folks in our community who have dealt with this pain.”
Mary Saunders, executive director of Strides for Peace, said she felt the marathon was a success and described what Baker is doing as “rocking the boat” in a productive way that provides a way for community members to get involved.
“(June 13) was such a great day,” she said. “Trey and what he does [in Mundelein] is pretty amazing.”
This year’s marathon was the second annual one hosted at MHS. While the marathon last year was a success in her eyes, Saunders said the weather this time around was much nicer.
MHS Parent Liaison Sol Cabachuela said she thought the event was strong, and the setup of the marathon was helped by the experience from last year. She said itgave the students a chance to gain experience in terms of organization and leadership.
“There’s a lot of moving parts and I think it was a great learning experience for them,” Cabachuela said.
The marathon is one of the many activities at Mundelein High School under the My Brother’s Keeper banner. The efforts began with Baker, who is the current director of the chapter and MHS Class of 2021 grad. When he started the process to launch the chapter, he was going into his senior year at MHS.
“We incorporate topics that we feel like the youth should really hone in on,” Baker said. “Responsibility, accountability, routine, time management.”
My Brother’s Keeper is a nonprofit organization centered around addressing opportunity gaps, predominantly for boys and young men of color. It is involved with more than 250 communities across the country, officials said.
Baker specifically gave credit in implementing Mundelein’s chapter to Christopher Crater, community engagement associate at the Obama Foundation. Baker also described him as a mentor.
Crater said the community work in Mundelein can help provide a path forward for those in the future interested in trying to make change, as well. Crater said while Mundelein, itself, does not see a lot of issues surrounding gun violence, it’s crucial for those types of communities to step up in order to help make a tangible difference in other places.
Cabachuela said one of the things she’s been communicating to the students is helping to create a system that allows their work to continue even after they’ve left the school. To this end, she also said there are a few freshmen, including non-Black students, who have joined the Black Student Union.
“We’re just very proud of the work that the students are doing,” she said. “We tell them to take it and run with it … and we’re just here to guide them. They have really taken on that leadership role, and it’s needed.”