ABOUT THIS SERIES: From journalist Jeff Truesdellâs piece: âCobe Williams (pictured at left, immediately above, and throughout) grew up on the streets of Englewood, Chicagoâs violent South Side neighborhoodâŚembraced its criminal ways [and] eventually redirected his ambitions. He joined the model Cure Violence program launched in the city in 2000 to âinterruptâ what its founder sees as an epidemic of shootings and killings, using ex-offenders to build relationships with those at risk to stop violence before it happens.â
Over the course of three days I photographed Williams, outreach worker Joshua Brooks, and violence interruptor Rue Hodge with the families and young people whom they mentor.