After walking through the front door of the AntMound Compound on Lewis Avenue in Waukegan, visitors see The Venue, a space designed for a variety of social, professional or charitable gatherings. Open less than three weeks, seven events are already booked through the end of January.
Continuing inside, visitors can stop at a coffee shop, a beauty salon, a lounge for relaxation, a party room for larger gatherings, a gym and an automotive detail shop. Together they form a blend of businesses with a common purpose — molding the youths of northeast Lake County.
Anthony McIntyre, the founder of Waukegan’s AntMound Foundation which operates the AntMound Compound, said the independent businesses are committed to allocating some of their profits into job training and mentoring for young people.
“The business must commit to hiring and training youth,” he said. “A portion of their proceeds has to go to youth-based programming. It stays in the community that way. One of our goals is to keep young people focused and away from gangs, drugs and violence.”
The AntMound Compound officially opened its doors on Oct. 19 in Waukegan, offering an array of businesses under one roof committed to teaching young people skills to enable them to have the same productive life the entrepreneurs enjoy.
While some high school graduates in the tri-cities of Waukegan, North Chicago and Zion go to college or enlist in the military, McIntyre said many go into the workforce. The compound is a place where they can develop skills and take steps toward a middle-class lifestyle.
“We want them to develop skills, earn money, pay taxes and own a home,” he said.
McIntyre said one of the businesses at the compound, known as The Venue, is a small room that has a capacity of 125 people, and the larger space can hold up to 250. Once someone shows an interest, Jessamine Hightower of Essynce Events takes over.
Hightower said she gives the interested person a tour, and lets them know what is possible for an event they might be planning.
“I get their information and make their vision happen,” she said. “I sync their idea and our vision, and use our space to help with both visions. We want to become a community and work together.”
Beyond the small venue is Blended Ground, a coffee shop that also offers pastries and will soon have a commercial kitchen where young people will learn culinary skills. The name of the business has a meaning beyond the ingredients of coffee.
“It’s the idea of a blended population like we have in Waukegan working together for the same thing,” McIntyre said.
Passing through Blended Ground, people in need of hairstyling, a manicure, a haircut or other cosmetology needs come to Lush Ends, a salon operated by Fallyn Cotton. Along with helping her customers, she is teaching skills to young people.
“There’s a buzz going around and people are coming here,” Cotton said. “I have classes in braiding starting in January so they have a skill they can use at home. We are offering something to our community and making people feel good.”
At the far end of the compound is a detail shop, where visitors can get anything from a basic car wash to a complete detailing. McIntyre said area residents are starting to bring in their cars.
While people are waiting for the work on their vehicle to be finished, McIntyre said they can get a haircut, go to the coffee shop, relax in a lounge or use the gym. The gym is also a place for young people from the community.
“Young people can come and work out, where they don’t have to pay,” he said. “We don’t want anything to stop them from keeping their health intact.”
With the inside complete, McIntyre said he wants the southern wall and the fence opposite it separated by the driveway to be a place where young artists can create murals. He plans to call it Mural Alley.
