Makiya

I’ve lived in North Chicago for about 14 years, but the south side of Waukegan is where I was raised. I moved to Georgia, but I came back just a few years later. My first place was in Waukegan, and then I ended up in North Chicago through [a connection] who was renting.  

My partner, the father of my youngest children, grew up in North Chicago. North Chicago to me has always been a homey place. Even from the outside looking in. The network of people, the connection, and family. One thing about North Chicago: the pride and the support has always been there, for as long as I can remember.

I don’t know if you’re familiar with Chief Nathaniel Hamilton, but he had the Angel Drill Team here. I was at Webster Middle School [in Waukegan] at the time, and I’m like, “Ooh, I’m gonna do that!” It required you to be active, disciplined, and contribute to a team. One of the major things is “There’s no I in team.” I learned that. It built such a huge sisterhood; bringing young girls– not just from North Chicago– but North Chicago, Zion, Waukegan... It wasn’t just a North Chicago thing.

We would practice at Neal [Middle School]. It was two days out of the week, and then Saturdays would be our day for more practice or cleaning boots, shining them, doing stuff with the uniform, or just chilling out and hanging out. And that was an amazing, amazing thing.

Because of the drill team, I was able to travel to so many places. We would travel all over and do competitions, and we were always number one. It instilled in you– just an amazing work ethic. He would always say: “110%.” There was no 100%. If we were late, there were consequences. If we dropped the rifle, there were consequences. If we messed up a routine, there were consequences.

You know, you want it to be perfection in a sense, but it also felt like, “Hey, you can do this.” So, you held your head high and you continued to work and work and work and practice and practice and practice until you got it  to where it needed to be. And you had to do that because if one person is off, the whole team is off. So that’s where “there’s no I in team” came from. So, we’re gonna get it right, one person at a time, and all together. We all had to be in sync. That’s what made it so beautiful. Because every move was just sharp and to the T. We were all in sync.  

It’s really an amazing time. An amazing thing to watch. And we’ve sustained relationships from when we were young girls. If any one of us sees each other, it’s like, you know, this is my sister! That’s lifelong-lasting relationships. My fondest memory of North Chicago is definitely the Angel Drill Team.

Makiya, center, in uniform. Angel Drill Team founder Chief Nathanial Hamilton on the left, pointing. Photo circa 1994, courtesy of Makiya’s mom.

When I say “This is North Chicago,” you say?

Pride, family, and spirit. To me, that’s North Chicago. There’s been negativity, but the pride will never go away. The spirit will never go away. North Chicago spirit is just something beyond. 

And you have people that are looking to improve and bring things here for the people of North Chicago. As far back as I can remember, we haven’t had a grocery store, right? And the groceries that were provided are probably not the healthiest. This year, they had the first North Chicago Farmer’s Market. Good, fresh fruit, home grown, garden food. Real-deal foods are necessary for our well-being and our health. It’s one of the most important things that you can provide to your community. If you get to where you can understand that putting good foods in your body, being concerned about your own health and the health of your children, your neighbors, and the people around you, then that’s valuing your community and the people within the community. 

I think it’s an amazing thing. I’m all about wellness, natural foods, natural medicine; so, it was right up my alley. I have a business network, with members who plan, inspire, and support one another and I host a monthly business meeting. One person has to connect to another person in order for something to happen. Sometimes it takes other people to come in and do things, but if you become active and participate in it, you can become someone that’s just as impactful in the community as anyone else: impart goodness into the community.

Everybody [used to know] everybody. You were gonna know who was next door, who’s on your block. You were going face-to-face, on a first-name basis. And you know, that definitely stopped. Now we’re trying to bring that village back. We’re trying to support and encourage not only our kids, but every child again.

Other than your three children, what are you most proud of?

My spirit of just never giving up. Being down to earth and knowing my spirit’s going to lead me in the right direction. Saying yeah, the farmer’s market is a beautiful thing, or to venture out and start a business [making and selling essential oil products]. If the idea comes and I feel like this is what I should be doing, I’ll go for it. I don’t let things hold me back.

What do you aspire to?

Helping people and helping the community. Bringing back the values and the morals and the brotherhood and the sisterhood: The Village. It boils down to just genuinely wanting to help other people and bring out what’s within them.

This conversation has been edited and condensed.