How Do We Create Heroes?
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Everyone needs a hero - especially young people. In the past, youth would turn to comic books to find strength and hope; comics presented a world where justice and good prevailed, and made the troubles of life easier to bear. Comics still have the potential to instill strength, determination, and grit in our youth. Creating Heroes Stephen's Way is not just a comic book shop: it is a vision for today's youth. Not just the dream of providing heroes to look up to, but giving each child the chance to be a hero themselves.
Creating Heroes Stephen's Way is a unique comic book store, where all proceeds go to youth-mentoring and education programs in Lansing. Founded by Monica Jahner in memory of her brother Stephen, CHSW is well-positioned to become the premier comics-themed youth center in Lansing's East Side Neighborhood. As well as comics, CHSW also offers weekly Pokemon games for children, and the monthly art-education class, Comics Crash Course. CHSW is currently seeking funding and patronage to expand its programs in the Lansing area and beyond, to bring its vision to the world. "Today's youth don't have anybody to look up to. Who's going to help these kids? Creating Heroes is all about giving our kids hope for the future." |
Our Director, Monica Jahner
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Remembering Stephen
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If there's a real-life superhero, it's Monica Jahner.
"My agenda is criminal justice," she says of herself. But unlike your average Wonder Woman, she's not interested in putting criminals behind bars, but helping them get out...or avoid entering the system altogether. Criminals start on the road to prison long before they commit a crime. There's a stronger connection between poor education and the Criminal Justice system than people realize. "It's called the "School to Prison Pipeline"", she says. "These kids have bad home lives and zero opportunities. They're completely ignored and neglected...until they commit a crime. Then the hammer comes down." This compassion and frustration with the status quo has led Monica into what's called "Re-entry Programs": helping prisoners - many of whom could not read or write when they entered prison - organize their lives, complete college degrees, and become productive members of society. "We also have "Diversion Programs,"" she adds. "When a young person is sentenced, we provide alternatives to incarceration." Monica has a qualifications list as long as your arm. She sits on the Ingham County Board of Commissioners' Community Corrections, and the Prison Correction section of the State Bar. With a paralegal certificate, a bachelor's degree in Human Behavioral Science, and an Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice, she is more than prepared to tackle the huge problem of youth in America's prison system. It was the death of her brother, comic store owner Stephen Jahner, that inspired Monica to add Creating Heroes Stephen's Way to her arsenal of programs. "I realized that Stephen was taking care of people, just like I was," she says. "I decided saving kids was my passion. That's why I set up Creating Heroes." |
Creating Heroes Stephen's Way is the legacy of a man known for his generosity and commitment to Lansing youth, Stephen Jahner. Stephen sold comic books for 30 years before his death at age 55.
Growing up in Detroit, Stephen understood poverty on a personal level. Comic books provided an escape from this harsh reality. Stephen first attended a seminary in Ohio, then studied psychology at Michigan State University and moved to Lansing. It was around 1980 that Steve found his true calling. He began working at Capital City Comics and Books, and after several years bought the shop as a co-owner. After CCCB closed in 1993, Jahner opened Capital City Collectibles, a 1,100 square-foot store. At its height, CCC boasted a collection of over 75,000 comic books, and myriad collectibles and games. "One of my goals in life is to be happy and to help other people be happy...that is the greatest gift in the world." All throughout this period, Steve gained a reputation for astonishing generosity. He would hire people off the street to work in his store, sometimes taking the homeless under his wing. Together with his business partner, Pete Ryan, he developed Capital Area Youth Mentoring to encourage literacy in local children and young adults. Many Lansing residents still recall his store as a place of wonder and delight, a refuge from their often turbulent home lives.
On Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010, Stephen Jahner was tending his store when he suddenly collapsed. He was 55 years old. He died doing what he loved. Monica Jahner set up Creating Heroes Stephen's Way to continue her brother's legacy. CHSW has absorbed much of Stephen's vast comic book collection, as well as his vision to help local youth in literacy and in life. |