Surviving the Gang Culture of Albany Park Chicago - Street Warrior to Prayer Warrior
by Ryan Corrigan
Charles Criniere's story of going from Chicago street life to a person who many said exemplified the life of Jesus Christ more than anyone they had ever met can only be described as an act of God. To fully appreciate the magnitude of his transformation, we must first understand his early life in Albany Park.
Albany Park, Chicago, in the 1990s, had one of the most diverse ethnic populations in the US. It was also infested with street gangs. Charlie and his brother Eric spend most of their younger years being raised by a single dad, who worked long hours, and they quickly had to adapt to the dynamics of the neighborhood.
So many stories for sure. I remember vaguely the episode that Erik retells. The APMA years were definitely a rough time period for many