The story in the Tribune changed Jess Levine’s life. It was a Chicagoland feature about William Kellogg, a businessman from Wilmette who spent a few hours a week leading a class in literature for inner-city kids.
“Jess has taken the Adopt-a-School concept one step further,” says Bob Boone, director of Young Chicago Authors, a creative-writing program for inner-city students. “He has a sharp focus. He’s not just helping kids in math or writing, he’s teaching them responsibility and preparing them for college.”
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“I was a hippie; I got caught up in the times,” he says. “I didn’t study a lot. I finally gave up on school and went to work for my father, who is in the jewelry business. That was May 29, 1967. The reason I remember the day is that it was a Monday, the day before Memorial Day. I said to myself, ‘Thank God tomorrow is a vacation. I don’t think I can work two days in a row.’ So much for discipline and responsibility.”
After visiting Kellogg’s class, Levine decided he wanted to be a volunteer in the public schools. He hooked up with a public school official who promised to show him three schools on the near west side. “The first school I visited was Andersen,” says Levine. “I met the principal, Peggy Iska, and I liked her from the start. I decided I didn’t even want to look at the other schools. To this day I don’t even know their names.”
The program now has 69 students, a staff of three, tutors in math, science, and language arts, and a $175,000 budget supported by donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. There are field trips and summer outings to Wisconsin. Levine also helps the kids find summer jobs.
Another student wrote: “I am smart and I don’t cause any trouble. If I’m in the East Village program I will be responsible for what I do. I will also like to go to college so I will have a good job and be able to support my family. I want to be able to put food on the table.”
