Willie Gore
John E. Horan Garden Apartments
I moved to the Franklin Terrace (now known as the John E. Horan Garden Apartments) in 1994. At the time, I was a six-year-old boy mourning the loss of my eight-year-old brother, Clifton Ray Gore III. Franklin Terrace became a place of healing for me and my family. I spent most of my time at the Franklin Terrace’s YMCA Kids Club. Jake Holloman and Cherie Kinem, employees of the Kids Club quickly became my first non-familial mentors. They were pillars within our community who devoted their time and energy to create a safe, loving, and fun environment for youth. Cherie and Jake believed in me before I believed in myself and I am so thankful for their support. I was raised in a diverse community that gave me tools, lessons, and resources that I continue to use today. The community provided many opportunities for cultural exchange and enlightenment. I was inspired by the resilience of my neighbors. I gleaned inspiration from what I saw in others, all while navigating my own challenges.
I want to acknowledge that growing up as a young black man in low-income housing was not easy. I often experienced racial injustice and systems of inequity limiting my access to resources. Nonetheless, where I lived became fertile ground for my own growth. One of my favorite quotes is a Mexican proverb. It reads: “They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.” I was a seed planted in the Franklin Terrace. I was watered by two loving parents and the legacy of my older brother. I was nourished by opportunities like the Louis J. Tullio Scholarship, which enabled me to purchase my undergraduate textbooks. I grew because of the shining presence of residents like the late Carolyn Hicks who was the mother of one of my best friends, Joshua Hicks. Like Carolyn, I hope to leave each space that I inhabit better than I found it. I hope to inspire those that come after me to go even further and achieve more than I could ever imagine.
I am a proud graduate of Erie East High School class of 2006. I received my B.A. double majoring in English and Black Studies from Allegheny College in 2010. After undergrad, I served as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) from 2010 – 2013. I received my M.Ed. in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago. I have worked full-time in Residential Education at both DePaul University and Saint Louis University. I currently serve as the Assistant Director for Conflict Resolution Services at Loyola University Chicago, responsible for providing conflict resolution services for students and staff across the University system through training, advocacy, and consultation.
