Local Voices (Chicago)
by LV TEAM - Simeon Dubois
A new weekly series on local characters in Chicago. Follow @localvoices_Chicago on Instagram & Twitter.
Podcast episodes
Season 1
Kerl LaJeune - Running President
Kerl is........very humble, he helped us face our new mic the wrong way. Born in Haiti, he lived with aunts and uncles as his parents earned US citizenship and finally moved to Chicago around age 10, growing up in the Englewood neighborhood. He was basically a prodigy, attending UIC at age 15 and finishing with a double degree in architecture & structural mechanics. Now the president of CARA, Chicago Area Runners Association, he is focused on expanding the sport of running to places like the South Side and suburbs of Chicago where it is less mainstream. Himself having loved running only after transitioning from soccer into duathlons, and running his first marathon because it fell on his birthday, Kerl is uniquely situated to grow the practice, having run every marathon since, except for 2018 because of injury and 2020 because of COVID. He is now a coach for Chicago Endurance Sports and is advising us to hit that famous 20 mile marker before resting up for the marathon. Also, I'm also crazy enough to forget to turn the mic the right way, please support the organization Back on my Feet, which helps homeless people get jobs and into affordable housing, with my fundraising link, http://YourcrazyIsupportit.com. Thank you
Chris Hastings - Sports President
Chris is...........kind of a pro..........we might need a new mic. Born in the Chicago suburbs, he played baseball, basketball, and football in high school, went to Wesleyan undergrad, and ISU for grad school for a degree in sports management. After interning for the Buffalo Bills, he decided to take his first job running the biggest market here in Chicago of the Sports & Social Association back in 1997. Fast forward more than 20 years, and Chris has helped turn Chicago into a mecca of volleyball and full team sport utilization of every inch of sportive real estate. Running events and concerts yearly as well, Chicago Sports & Social is providing a huge value to the community life here in the city, and getting people to use the parks and outdoors like no other. Follow @chisportsocial on Instagram, and tag a best friend to join you in an upcoming league. There's pickleball, pickup, and everything you or Scottie Pippen could imagine. Sign up today.
Abi Sanchez - Latino Comedian
Abi is..........kinda smart. He's figured out the #thing. Born in Puerto Rico, he moved here to Chicago as a baby and grew up mostly near Albany Park. After high school, he found himself working factory jobs and got into IT work for 10 years, before a comedy workshop opened his eyes to the possibility of standup. He hit the mic, and the rest is history. Well, it took a few years, but after cashing out his 401k savings, and leveraging COVID payouts, he eventually quit his job and won the 2020 HBO Latino Comedy Contest, also selling out shows at Zanies and the Laugh Factory here in Chicago. Catch him on IG @abisanchezcomedy, and come by one of his sets, he's legit, he even used to run a Legal Aliens podcast.
Herschel DePratto - Lyft Driver
Herschel is...........definitely not fucking my couch. The Lyft Driver does sound like Dave Chappelle tho. Born in North Side, Lincoln Park area of Chicago, he broke his neck playing wide receiver in high school, and found that it didn't hurt his dating game. Fast forward to today, he now invests in paper. Day trading the Asian Markets at night, Herschel learnt some secrets working at the Chicago Board & Trade, and now lives a fire life, driving Lyft, trading stocks, and appreciating the great characters of this universe, like New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, and Kanye West. If you a Mom, or under 15, maybe put earmuffs on. If not, listen to truth, served chili hot.
Chirine Njeim - Olympic Marathoner
Chirine is........someone who falls into things. like multiple Olympics. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, she left home when she was 13 years old, to go train as an alpine skiier in France with her coach for 2 years, before moving to the US, to go to school and train in Salt Lake City, Utah, on the exact same slopes as the 2002 Winter Olympics. She went on to carry the flag for Lebanon, in the 2002, 2006, and 2010 games, and was still in her last year at the University of Utah, when she met her husband on a plane after both were standbys and eventually moved to Chicago in 2012. With the spacious Lakeview trail and abundance of running clubs and competitions, Chirine eventually found her competitive drive fully invested in running, and qualified for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics at the Houston Marathon one day. Ever since then she has been running for fun, in addition to working for a healthcare startup, and dropping by various run clubs, always inspiring with her laid back joyful vibes. Follow her on IG @Chirine_Njeim, and come by the Lakeview Run Club or Universal Soles Wednesday run, for a chance to meet her. Either way, just do it, the running thing, she likes Nike.