Our mission is to interrupt the cycle of violence among youth and young adults in North Lawndale through the power of the arts!

Our Story

The Firehouse Community Arts Center has served as a safe haven for young people in the Chicago area for over a decade and has been coordinating various events and art programs dedicated to preventing and interrupting youth and young adults caught in violence. The Firehouse Community Art Center was birthed from youth and young adults in North Lawndale who attended an all youth and young adult Saturday night Hip-Hop worship service in 2003, started by Pastor Phil Jackson. Youth and young adults came from all over the community and city to engage in the arts. This prompted Pastor Phil and several partners to incorporate The Firehouse Community Art Center as a 501(c)(3) in 2006, and in 2007 they purchased the 100 year old Chicago Firehouse in North Lawndale. The Firehouse now offers year-round, multi-disciplinary cultural arts programming, mentorship, leadership and workforce development centered around the prevention and interruption of violence.

Check out our break down of how we do what we do through our Theory of Change:

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Meet Our Staff

The Firehouse Community Art Center is run by a passionate staff of committed leaders. They are the heartbeat of everything we do.

Our Team
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Pastor Phil Jackson

Founder & CEO

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Lakena Young

Executive Assistant

Carmen Scott-Boria-1

Carmen Scott-Boria

Arts and Cultural Director

Catering and Food
Terrance Anderson (Chef Teddie)

Chef Teddy

Executive Chef/instuctor

Tyjah Kelly

Tyjah Kelly

Director of Food Distribution

Ka'Ja Powell

KaJa Powell

Food Distribution

Navigator
Derrick White

Derrick White

Sr. Program Director

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Marcellus Moore

Lead Director of VIP

Terrance Foster

Terrance Foster

Alumni Coordinator/ House Uncle

Javonna Askew

Javonna Askew

Navigator Coordinator

Jacquain Whittington

Jacquain Whittington

Navigator (Professional Mentor)

Frederick Dennis

Navigator (Professional Mentor)

Outreach
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Jabari Ellis

Outreach Supervisor

Tyrone Buford

Tyrone Buford

Outreach Director

Robbie Johnson

Robbie Johnson

Outreach Advocate Community Coordinator

Timothy Jones

Tim Jones

Outreach Site Supervisor

Vakis King

Vakis KIng

Navigator

Cyrus James

Cyrus James

Street Ambassador

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Jessica Nash

Young Life staff

Our Board of Directors

Tameeka Christian Ph.D.

Program Director with the Pritzker Foundation

Cheresa LaFrances Purnell

Owner, The King Maker Concierge

Genessa Brown, Ed.D.

Board Secretary
Senior Director Community Development, St. Anthony Hospital

Aaron M. Clubb

Co-Chair
Partner, True Platform

Pastor Phil Jackson

Founder and CEO
The Firehouse

David R. Blackmon

Quality Assurance Manager, CPS

William Gerstein

Board Treasurer
Retired/CPS

Felicia Stanton

Deputy Director of Systems Rebalancing MSW, IDHS-Mental Health

Locations

The Firehouse Community Art Center of Chicago

2111 S Hamlin Ave, Chicago IL, 60629

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Expanded Location

Expanded Location

5000 West Roosevelt, Chicago IL, 60644

Programs

Spark Arts

Violence prevention through the arts

P.A.C. Program

Violence intervention through the arts