Wanda B can, and has, driven those articulated buses along Lake Shore Drive, which was “quite an experience,” she said.
Mostly though, her CTA world is working in an office.
“It’s a very interesting job, especially since I get to see and talk to so many people, so many different types of people,” said Wanda B, admittedly a “people-person.”
Wanda B also serve the founder and president for Stud 4 Life, a social club with a purpose that she launched about a year ago. Stud stands for Solidarity, Trustworthiness, Understanding and Dependability, and the group does social events and has adopted Clara’s House as its service mission, working with women and children.
The group, she said, “represents something positive and also gives back to the neighborhood.”
Most members are age 50-plus and filled with “different personalities,” she said.
“My goal is to start Stud 4 Life in other cities, all over the world, if I can,” Wanda B said. “I get the satisfaction of knowing that people open up a lot more, begin to love themselves more. We help one another.
“I would like for us to continue to grow, mentor younger studs to try to teach them about our lifestyle, help them get good jobs. If we all get together as one, we will become more unified.”
Wanda B came out as a stud (and as a lesbian) at age 13 while living in Chicago’s Madden Park Housing Projects, she said. She was an admitted tomboy and had difficult times being who she was, and it truly was a learning experience.
“My mom raised five kids alone,” she said. “I saw homelessness, though we [were] fine. My mom, Dorothy Green, was strict. I adopted the shelter [Clara’s House] because I saw a lot of homeslessness; I started a mentoring [program for] younger studs, to try to guide them.”
She started Stud 4 Life with seven members, and the group has grown to 15.
THE STATS
Age
48
Neighborhood
South Side
Job
Security officer, CTA; her career in security has spanned 27 years
Relationship status
Civil union to wife Stephanie Green; been together 20 years
Children
Son Stephon, 24, in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Favorite movie
The Mack
Favorite TV show
The Haves and the Have Nots
Favorite professional sports team
Chicago White Sox
Hobbies
Listening to blues; sports
Favorite pig-out food
Pepe’s Tacos
Little-known fact
“I’m a sweet eater, especially chocolate turtles.”