By Angelica Jimenez and Benita Zepeda –

While others were settling into their careers, Giselle Mercier, 43, decided she needed a change. While supporting her family, she left her stable and more traditional career, and embarked on a new adventure devoting her work to her community as the executive director of the Pros Arts Studio.

Pros Arts Studio, a non-profit organization, provides youth in Chicago’s Pilsen community educational opportunities that are lacking in various schools throughout the neighborhood. The students partner with mentors who offer guidance and support within a safe learning environment. Education and community pride is stressed by Pros Arts.

“I knew then I wanted to give back to my community, Latino community, in any capacity,” Mercier said.

One Pros Arts student, the only son of one of the teaching artists, was killed in a random shooting the day after his birthday last year. Mercier said it was an unfortunate tragedy that really showcased how Pros Arts helped create a strong sense of community.
After the tragedy, the students came together and had an impromptu car wash. They raised over $5,000 to help the family of the slain student.

“That, for me, showed immediately that the role of Pros Arts is something very, very needed in the community,” Mercier said.

The student’s strength through adversity impressed Mercier.

“The way the youth reacted to that event was admirable,” said Mercier. “It wouldn’t have happened that way if Pros Arts didn’t have mentors who are teaching artists to be able to say ‘it’s OK and we’re going to do something good about this.’ ”

Learn more about Mercier in this video.