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West Ridge BBQ Joint Part of 'My Block My Hood My City' Travel Challenge

By Linze Rice | October 7, 2015 8:44am
 Chicagoans are invited to take part in a travel challenge designed to get people supporting underserved youths while also getting to see parts of the city they don't usually, said Jahmal Cole, founder of My Block My Hood My City.
Chicagoans are invited to take part in a travel challenge designed to get people supporting underserved youths while also getting to see parts of the city they don't usually, said Jahmal Cole, founder of My Block My Hood My City.
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Jahmal Cole

WEST RIDGE — A new citywide travel challenge presented by the organizers behind the My Block My Hood My City initiative encourages contestants to visit eight different destinations across Chicago — including Khan BBQ in West Ridge.

The "3M" contest challenges participants to first buy a T-shirt or sweatshirt emblazoned with the group's name and logo, visit each of the eight specified stops, snap a picture in My Block My Hood My City gear and tag the group on social media. Players who visit each of the eight stops can get a free My Block My Hood My City tee of their choice.

Proceeds from the original swag purchase go toward sponsoring travel and food expenses that enable teenagers from the city's South and West sides to explore neighborhoods they don't often get to see.

Among locations chosen for the challenge is Khan BBQ, a West Ridge staple at 2401 W. Devon Ave. known for its rich, savory meats and flavors.

Jahmal Cole, the group's founder, said the restaurant became one of his favorite places to eat on the North Side after stopping in one day with an "appetite for adventure" — and food. It's now in his personal roster for places to eat during his weekend travels, he said.

Through the 3M challenge, he wants to share his experience in West Ridge with others.

Cole said Chicagoans often don't "define themselves as Chicagoans," but rather identify with a certain neighborhood or geographical area.

Getting people to step outside their comfort zones to explore the city's richness in full was a main reason for the challenge, he said.

"By stepping just outside your neighborhood, you can experience different cultures, different languages, different perspectives, and different ideas," he told DNAinfo Tuesday. "I want all of us, this whole city together, to rise above and make Chicago a stellar example of what a truly interconnected city can look like."

Jahmal Cole, founder of My Block My Hood My City visits the West Ridge neighborhood in November 2014. [Jahmal Cole]

He said though initially he thought of creating a cellphone app that would allow users to participate in My Block My Hood My City's mission, the $70,000 minimum price tag wasn't feasible.

He also said "no coupon or discount" would be a strong enough incentive to get people to travel to South Side areas from more affluent neighborhoods.

His solution: Give people an incentive to travel at their own willingness by offering up a free shirt to those who complete the challenge.

It's a plan he hopes will ultimately unite people.

"When we expose ourselves to each others' cultures, heritages, and ideas, we no longer see ourselves as residents of different communities — we’ll see ourselves as part of a greater whole, united for a common purpose."

Check out a list of where to stop on your quest for My Block My Hood My City swag (plus a suggestion of what to get there, courtesy of Cole):

Bronzeville: Ain't She Sweet Cafe, 526 E. 43rd St.

• The Wreck sandwich

Hegewisch: Baltimore Food Store, 13322 S. Baltimore Ave.

• Shish-kabob

West Ridge: Khan BBQ, 2401 W. Devon Ave.

• Chicken tikka masala, cheese naan

Englewood: Dream Cafe and Grille, 748 W. 61st St.

• Fried catfish dinner

West Garfield Park: Jerk Taco Man, 4001 W. Jackson Blvd.

• Jerk shrimp taco

South Loop: Vice District Brewing, 1454 S. Michigan Ave.

• Pleasure trip

Hyde Park: The Silver Room, 1506 E. 53rd St.

• Gifts for the holidays

Chatham: Captain Hard Times Dining, 436 E. 79th St.

• Chicken and waffles

On Oct. 24, the youth explorer group will be headed to nearby Edgewater for an afternoon at Lickity Split Frozen Custard, Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant and Blue Buddha Boutique.

Making connections between neighborhoods and people, Cole said, is what makes the fabric of the city so strong.

"A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, Chicago is only as strong as its most under-resourced community."

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