WBEZ | Ameena Matthews

Year 25: Ameena Matthews

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 15:39:00 -0600

It's hard to track down Ameena Matthews.

She's constantly on call, always ready to keep conflicts in the city's most dangerous neighborhoods from escalating to homicide.

Matthews is a violence interrupter with CeaseFire Illinois. You may have seen her in the documentary The Interrupters.

During a time where it seems everyone and anyone is talking about gun violence, we thought it fitting to see what Matthews has to say and what she was up to at 25.

She wasn't always the one breaking up the fights and trying to keep the peace — gang life was a big part of her growing up.

Her father, Jeff Fort, is one of Chicago's well-known gang leaders. And Matthews will tell you herself, she didn't think she'd live to see 25, as most of her youth was wrapped up in life on the streets.

That's where she begins the story of her 25th year.

Film profiles interrupters of street violence

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:03:00 -0500

Quelling violence on the streets is not just about guns; even petty arguments can push people over the edge. So, some local people, such as CeaseFire's violence interruptors, insert themselves into the midst of altercations to prevent dangerous reactions. Filmmaker Steve James and writer Alex Kotlowitz profiled three such persons in their new film The Interrupters. The film follows Ameena Matthews, Cobe Williams and Eddie Bocanegra at work.

The Interrupters begins screening next week at the Gene Siskel Film Center, and Steve James and Alex Kotlowitz will be at some of the screenings.

Eight Forty-Eight's Alison Cuddy spoke with interrupter Ameena Matthews earlier this spring.

Music Button: Grace Jones, "This Is Dub", from the CD Hurricane, (Pias America)

CeaseFire's Ameena Matthews stands on the other side of the violence

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:16:00 -0500

Monday, Eight Forty-Eight's Alison Cuddy sat down for part one of her conversation with Ameena Matthews. Matthews is a violence interrupter with the group CeaseFire. Their work is the subject of The Interrupters, the new documentary by Steve James and Alex Kotlowitz.

In her early life, Matthews was involved in gang life, but now she stands on the other side-working to stop the violence.

It’s obvious that Matthews’ job is not your usual 9 to 5. The film captures scenes of fighting and escalating tension that offer a glimpse of what it’s like to spend your day surrounded by violence. Alison Cuddy started the second part of her conversation with Matthews by asking what it takes to be in the midst of violence – day in and day out.

Music Button: Ocote Soul Sounds & Adrian Quesada, "Tres Ratas", from the CD Coconut Rock, (ESL)