2008 Woodie Awards
Nite Light provides comfort to students
Jess Drazdik
Issue date: 11/25/05 Section: Tempo
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Individuality, talent, religion and love are all brought together under one roof within the Chicagoland area.
The doors are open to anyone interested in having a nice time, listening to new music, and being exposed to a different way of looking at things that branch away from their normal routine.
At 7006 West Ogden Ave. in Berywn (across from the Dunkin Donuts) stands a place called the Nite Light. The Nite Light is a place where anyone is welcome to have a good time and try to make a difference. Every person is encouraged to come in with an open mind and are still greeted with open arms.
The Nite Light offers youth group services to keep young people involved with the church and also sponsors local bands that play every Saturday night from six to 10.
Founder Janet Cairo, who is celebrating her sixth-year anniversary on Dec. 9, was asked questions regarding the origin of the place and what intrigued her to open such an establishment.
Janet's children found it hard to fit in with their youth group when they were little because in junior high they were part of the alternative scene and a lot of children in the group didn't have a lot in common with them.
Cairo was determined to keep her children interested in church and found a place called Heart and Soul in Mount Prospect. There were concerts every weekend and Janet and her husband were known as the "concert parents" because they would take the kids in their van.
Heart and Soul drew not only her kids attention but Janet's as well.
"We wanted to create that similar atmosphere on our own because after a while, we wanted something closer to this area, so in April 2000, we rented out the YMCA and had a concert there, but it was hard finding an occupancy that would allow us to do what we wanted to do," she said.
The city of Berwyn denied permission to open the Nite Light for a year and a half. They didn't want to have children loitering around the area that could possibly stir up conflicts.
The doors are open to anyone interested in having a nice time, listening to new music, and being exposed to a different way of looking at things that branch away from their normal routine.
At 7006 West Ogden Ave. in Berywn (across from the Dunkin Donuts) stands a place called the Nite Light. The Nite Light is a place where anyone is welcome to have a good time and try to make a difference. Every person is encouraged to come in with an open mind and are still greeted with open arms.
The Nite Light offers youth group services to keep young people involved with the church and also sponsors local bands that play every Saturday night from six to 10.
Founder Janet Cairo, who is celebrating her sixth-year anniversary on Dec. 9, was asked questions regarding the origin of the place and what intrigued her to open such an establishment.
Janet's children found it hard to fit in with their youth group when they were little because in junior high they were part of the alternative scene and a lot of children in the group didn't have a lot in common with them.
Cairo was determined to keep her children interested in church and found a place called Heart and Soul in Mount Prospect. There were concerts every weekend and Janet and her husband were known as the "concert parents" because they would take the kids in their van.
Heart and Soul drew not only her kids attention but Janet's as well.
"We wanted to create that similar atmosphere on our own because after a while, we wanted something closer to this area, so in April 2000, we rented out the YMCA and had a concert there, but it was hard finding an occupancy that would allow us to do what we wanted to do," she said.
The city of Berwyn denied permission to open the Nite Light for a year and a half. They didn't want to have children loitering around the area that could possibly stir up conflicts.
