Peace of Pizza Is Open and Offering Job Training on the South Side | Eater Chicago

"Opened by Englewood native and anti-violence activist Tamar Manasseh at 1801 W. 95th Street in Beverly, this bright neighborhood pizzeria offers thin-crust, gluten-free, and deep-dish pizzas along with wings and sides such as mozzarella sticks and cheddar jalapeño poppers; the menu also includes sandwiches like chicken parmesan and Italian beef, classic pastas (spaghetti and meatballs, chicken Alfredo), soft drinks, and a BYO option. More than a restaurant, the operation functions as a job-training hub inspired by Father Gregory Boyle’s Homeboy Industries: it hires broadly, trains employees for three months on skills like time management and workplace etiquette, and works to place trainees into permanent jobs. The 1,800-square-foot counter-service space (four two-top tables) is decorated in red and black and features a wall-size peace-sign logo; Manasseh chose Beverly as neutral, family-oriented ground where employees and visiting youth can move freely and experience inclusion. The launch was briefly disrupted by nearby Metra construction and sidewalk closures that caused about $13,000 in lost inventory and advertising, and the founder is actively seeking partnerships with other employers and nonprofits to expand the program’s community impact amid ongoing local violence that underscores the initiative’s urgency." - Naomi Waxman