CircEsteem Unites the Greatest Kids on Earth
By  Max A. Herman,
Chicago Arts & Entertainment

"Hey, look at me! I can do it!"
This is just the response Paul Miller, founder and chief goof officer of CircEsteem, likes to hear from the kids involved in his circus program.
Whether it's keeping their balance for the first time on the rolling globe or riding around on a unicycle, these kids bring their circus potential together as they learn about teamwork and build their self-esteem through non-competitive active learning. 

Uniting everyone from African immigrant children from Uptown to wealthy kids from Lake Forest, CircEsteem strives to be as universal as can be. "Kids are kids no matter what language they speak - they all have issues of trust, etc., that they can overcome together," said Miller. 

Miller observes that the kids, who meet one to two times a week at Uptown at Alternatives, Inc., have a vested interest in building their skills regardless of talent level.
"They take it really seriously," Miller said. 

And despite a narrow budget, CircEsteem offers a hefty selection of circus roles to perform.  "There are so many things for the kids to do. If you can't do the trapeze, you might make a great clown," Miller said, letting out a good laugh.

As a former clown for Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Miller lives to laugh and smile. (You should hear his answering machine.) Ideally, this cheery, easy-going aura should pass onto his students - and it usually does.

There were, however, some problems with kids from different walks of life getting along initially. During CircEsteem’s recent 2nd Annual Spring Circus, though, this issue appeared to be close to non-existent.  "What was probably the coolest thing about it was these kids (were) coming from all over and totally getting along," said Miller.
And thanks to the volunteer instructors, these kids were able to take their individual circus talents to the next level at this year's show.

Miller also joked that there were other breakthroughs in this circus, like having a fresh popcorn machine on hand. "It actually smelled like a circus," Miller said.

With the rapid progression of CircEsteem, Miller and CircEsteem were invited to perform at the Taste of Chicago (Thursday, July 3) and at the Uptown Street Fest (Saturday, July 12) this summer. 

As after-school CircEsteem programs sprout up across greater Chicago and their performances become more and more visible, it's fascinating to compare Miller's recent success with his bizarre beginning working with kids. You see, after Miller called it quits at Ringling Bros., he moved to Kentucky and took a group of juvenile delinquents under his wing who were under court order to join the circus. As bizarre as this predicament sounds, Miller was able to lead this group of kids who truly learned how to trust each other and ultimately put on one impressive performance, according to Miller.

Today's story in Chicago isn't all glory, but this non-for-profit group has managed to see many of its diverse kids unite and use their circus talents well, while making sure to clown around.

Miller said that he and CircEsteem are gladly accepting rolling globes, old unicycles and any circus supply imaginable; they would also like additional funding. 
"It's great for me, but I need to find some funding," said Miller. As he put it, "I'm just a clown; I'm not real great when it comes to the books end of it."