Rockin' role model

A Youth mentor inspires with music

It's hard to imagine that Chris Lernowicz, 27, ever thought he was "too cool for school." A high-school dropout at age 15, today he is a student at the University of Manitoba in his final year of social work. He's also a youth worker at Teen Stop Jeunesse, a United Way agency partner in St. Vital.

Chris credits his own experience as a participant at Teen Stop with his change in attitude.

"The workers here are role models," he says. "They would talk about university and school - and I always thought they had the coolest job in the world."

So when asked to join the team seven years ago, Chris didn't hesitate.

At present, Chris says the drop-in centre hosts an average of 30 children and youth every day. Many don't have the ideal home life and are often exposed to negative influences like drugs and gangs.

"For example, a kid would come in off the street and just be crying and say their parents beat them up," he says. "We try to let the kids know they can feel safe here."

Chris feels the centre's supper program is vital to providing the support and nutrition these kids may not be getting otherwise.

"Everyone sits at the table, we talk about school," he says. "We try to give that atmosphere of family, where we just talk about problems and school and stuff.

Homework is just as important Chris says. "We make sure they get it done before they start playing."

But closest to his heart is Teen Stop's music program, now in its second year.

"I try to explain to them that they can pretty much accomplish anything," he says.

As a role model, and with support from United Way of Winnipeg, Chris is encouraging youth to succeed in school and life.