The New Wine Press vol 26 no 2 October 2017 | Page 13

PBMR: the New Creation
Stars in the Making
by Mike Donovan, pbmr Volunteer Staff
Into my 14th year volunteering at the Cook County
Temporary Juvenile Detention Center, I thought I
had seen it all, but last week an 18-year-old resident
charged with first degree murder came after me with
a pair of sharp scissors. Not to worry, since Freddie
is a student in the newly established star (Standing
Tall Against Recidivism) Barber College at the
Detention Center, and I volunteered to have him give
me a haircut.
Admittedly, we were both a little nervous. This was
only Freddie’s second week cutting hair, and his previ-
ous customers were African-Americans or Latinos
who just needed their hairs lined up and trimmed. He
didn’t know what to make of the full head of hair on
this 63-year-old white guy who had not changed his
hairstyle in 40 years. Well, it turned out great, and I
could tell that Freddie was very proud of his work. I
was too. Other than their hot towel massage, Sports
Clips has nothing on the star Barber College.
In the past, lack of productive programming was
one of the major criticisms I had with the Detention
Center operations. The facility served as a warehouse
for the detained youth, with residents playing endless
hands of the card game Spades, and watching daily
episodes of Jerry Springer. The prior administra-
tion often emphasized that the Detention Center was
“Temporary,” so there was little need to implement
programs because of the short-term duration of the
residents’ stay. Tell that to the many juveniles charged
as adults, since their stays often last one to two years as
they await adjudication of their cases.
That lack of programming appears to be changing.
There are now programs in storytelling, where youth
write and perform in plays; classes in music composi-
tion and performance; a commercial painting pro-
gram; and an excellent writing and poetry program.
The recently established Barber College was a welcome
addition, as evidenced by the fact that over 100 youth
applied to participate, 20 were interviewed, and 8 were
accepted into the first class, including one girl (there
are only about a dozen females incarcerated at the
Detention Center). The course is rigorous, with the
students attending class 4 days a week, 5 hours a day.
Those who complete the course can earn their State
license, and go on to a successful career as a Barber.
I don’t know what Freddie’s long term future
holds, but he can count on me as a repeat customer
next month. 
October 2017 • The New Wine Press • 11