Knitting clubs stitch together a community for teens in high-crime areas

‘Once the kids got over the trauma of learning to use the needles, they really picked it up,’ says Visconti (centre) during a class conducted by Spencer (second from left).

Knitting helps teens explore their identity and learn to be creative.

Four years ago, Mary Visconti took an unconventional approach to keeping her North Lawndale students out of trouble.