Parents Need Love: “A Love Letter, to the Chi.” From, Ashley Chappell
Written By: Krystin Hargrove
Photo By: Ashley Chappell
Chicago native Ashley Chappell is exploring the city from a new lens. The 36-year-old photographer and mom of two took us on a scenic tour through the city and shared her journey of self discovery. We highlight the moments, places, and spaces that helped her navigate separation, raising kids in the city, personal rebirth and why Chicago is and has always felt like home. Ashley jokes, “After high school, it was almost like I became a middle aged 30-year-old compared to my friends who were out clubbing and doing what most twenty somethings do.” Ashley became a nurse at 19 and got married to her high school boyfriend at 24. We reflected on her life as a Chicagoan during that time.
“Shortly after getting married, I was diagnosed with lupus. Once we had kids, I became a stay-at-home mom. When I began the process of separating from my husband, I realized I had kind of lost myself. That was a turning point. My journey of finding myself was when I really fell in love with Chicago.”
I can only imagine how hard it is to be a young wife and mom, while managing lupus on top of that. I wanted to know how she managed it? Was there a turning point that helped her rediscover her identity in motherhood and her marriage, and furthermore what role did living in Chicago play in that journey at the time?
“There was definitely a turning point, I started feeling better, I got into working out. I was so serious about gym life and getting healthy. I started yoga classes at a spot called Studio Yogi for wellness. I also hired a trainer, which was the first time in a long time that I prioritized myself outside of being a wife and mom. The people here in Chicago are warm, and if you go out by yourself, they’ll come up and talk to you and I really appreciate that. I was around a lot of ambitious women at the gym, and that’s when I realized I’d kind of lost myself. That was the turning point.” Ashley tells Parents Need Love.
As Black women and moms, it’s not uncommon to feel we have to be “the strong ones.” Going from a stay-at-home mom to photographer had to be an interesting feat. I am curious how photography influenced that independence and what did your camera reveal about life and the city of Chicago?
“Photography was a solution to my problems. The more I embraced photography, I realized I was using it to run away from home. I didn’t want to be married anymore. Photography was my outlet, something I did for myself. I made friends and was going out again, discovering parts of me and the city that I felt were missing.”
While speaking with Ashley, it felt as if Chicago reintroduced color to her world. As adults we know that separation can bring about inconceivable life changes, for the parents and their children. I had Ashley take us through a typical Chicago day now as a single Black woman. What does a day with the kids, and a day without look like? Also, what exactly about Chicago makes it home?
“It's the balance for me!” Ashley exclaims.
“I can’t live in a city that’s too slow or too fast where life feels overwhelming. I really need a mix of both to thrive and that’s what Chicago offers. Also, I’ve traveled quite a bit as a photographer, Chicago is an extremely clean city which is important for my mental health, and as a nature lover because I spend a lot of time outside. On a typical day I drop my kids to school and head to the lakefront. I spend a lot of time there walking around or shooting. I really appreciate the architecture and the landscape, and because it's clean, I can’t overstate how important that is to me.
I'm always in awe of how beautiful the cityscape is, the best one if you ask me. Chicago is a very family-oriented city, there’s no shortage of things to do. My kids and I enjoy the Museum of Ice Cream, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, and the 31st Street Beach. It’s funny, at the beach, I spent time with my kids, went on a date, and had “me time” there all in the same day. The versatility of that area is unmatched, there’s something for whatever your vibe is.
When I don’t have my kids, I’ll grab a bite in either the Bronzeville or West Loop neighborhoods or head to The Hoxton if I’m in the mood for music or to have a drink. When I need somewhere to knock out work, I pop into Starbucks Reserve. On weekends I’ll take a trip to B Collective or Hyde Park to catch a festival. Hyde Park hosts a lot of fun outdoor events. Chicago has a vibrant club and restaurant scene which isn’t really my speed but it’s nice to have options. The Silver Room is a store, but has dope events. The owner, Eric, also owns Bronzeville Winery, and I highly recommend both if you visit Chicago.”
After learning about the vast options Chicago offers, I had to know more! It sparked my curiosity around what the experience is like for creatives. Are there opportunities for creatives? Here’s what she had to say.
“Yea, there's definitely a strong creative scene, photographers, stylists, influencers and so on. It’s really easy to pull together teams for commercial photography work, which is mostly what I do. I’m signed to Ford Models here in Chicago and there's a lot of advertising jobs and opportunities here. There's a lot of successful creatives making a name for themselves in the city. When I realized I didn’t have to leave and travel back and forth to New York to find work, that was it, that’s when I knew I had no plans on leaving. There's definitely opportunity here.
Undeniably, Ashley’s story of personal triumph and discovery inspired by Chicago makes me want to pack a bag and visit immediately! Being able to view the city through her lens gives us an amazing perspective of how a city not only draws you in, but can also lift you up. For all parents, life has its challenges and environment can often play an indelible role in how we emerge from those experiences. That’s what makes Ashley’s story so inspirational. Before we ended our chat, I had to ask on behalf of all the parents that would undoubtedly be eager to travel to Chi-town after her beautiful portrayal of the city, what would you say to single Black women or families looking to visit Chicago?
“I’d say make the trip, Chicago has so much to offer for vacationing with or without kids. In this season I’ve had the opportunity to see more and explore the city and I’ve really enjoyed all it has given me. There’s so many activities to enjoy and I’m actually having a ball out here. Chicago definitely has a variety of attractions for those looking for the perfect travel destination.”
All Photography By: Ashley Chappell