When Carlos Navarro became the new music and gospel arts manager at the Chicago Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in August 2024, a challenge awaited him. The center had been without a leader for its arts program for some time. A number of classes had been cancelled, and enrollment was low.
Determined, Carlos dove right in, recruiting instructors and revamping the programs while teaching many of the classes himself. As he worked with a growing staff, the arts began to blossom once more.
Today, Carlos oversees 67 music and arts-related classes for youth and seniors at the center each week. There are 18 dance classes, 18 art classes and one theater class. Carlos teaches 12 of the 30 music classes, including brass, choir, guitar and piano.
“This was a team effort,” he said. “This is not something I did from scratch. I did it with the help of God and the community.”
Carlos grew up in Venezuela, where he and his parents and sister attended a Christian church. The Navarro family moved to Chicago in 2018, initially staying with friends, Majors Daniel and Nivia Paredes, who introduced them to The Salvation Army. Carlos became a soldier in 2019.
Carlos says any talent can be used to help share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“It can be through music, painting, cooking or writing poetry—all of them are forms of worship,” he said. “The best way my mom shows love is getting up early in the morning to cook breakfast. You belong, whatever your talent or gift may be.”
Over the years, Carlos has worked as a photographer, videographer and musician, performing on faith-based recordings in churches and in studios, including playing lead electric guitar on a worship album by Grammy-nominated artist Joe L. Barnes.
Carlos hopes to establish a music conservatory on Saturdays at the Chicago Kroc Center with at least 100 youth taking part and wants to record an album using talent from the center.
“The album can be,” Carlos said. “Maybe there is a kid who does not know how to sing, but she knows how to rap; or a senior who plays the harmonica. Everyone can join us.”
On Wednesday evenings, Carlos is part of the Bible study instruction for teens and young adults at the Kroc Center. He organizes worship nights and other special programs. He is putting together a youth worship band for Sunday services and other occasions.
“It’s so important for these kids to understand the feeling of belonging, of being part of something,” Carlos said of the worship band.
According to Carlos, at first a number of the youth were reticent to join the arts programs, but he’s seen a dramatic turnaround. Many of them now shout “Hi!” to Carlos and give him a hug before class.
“All you have to do is be patient so you can understand what they might be going through,” Carlos said. “You have to have a relationship with the kids, and ask them, ‘How can I help you?’”
Seniors also have found a renewed zest for the arts.
“The senior ministry is one of my favorite parts of my job,” Carlos said. “It’s amazing where God puts you in a place to be teaching someone who is perhaps much older than you are. The seniors are excited to be here. On days we don’t have music, they want to keep learning something else, or they just want to talk with me.”
Carlos finds joy in his work every day, bringing his love of the arts and his faith together.
Lt. Kenesa Debela, Chicago Kroc Center senior officer, concluded,
“Carlos signs off his email with a scripture from Ecclesiastes that says, ‘Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.’ Carlos has done just that for us. He takes on a project, gives it his all, and the end result is always fantastic.”
