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Tattoo Artist Helps Girls Escape Life in the Sex Trade

A Chicago-area tattoo artist and youth pastor helps people find new lives by inking over their tattoos. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts.

About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains. Walk into Chris Baker's tattoo shop, and you’re greeted by a huge biker-looking dude covered in 140 hours’ worth of ink. Baker’s shop, the first tattoo studio in Oswego, is the cleanest tattoo place you will ever see. A guitar signed by former Korn guitarist Brian “Head” Welch hangs on the wall, a reminder of a turning point in Baker's life. "His book Save Me From Myself turned my life around," says Chris Baker, a 42-year-old tattoo artist, youth pastor and father of three.   Baker now helps save others by …

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Oswego Resident Changing Lives One Tattoo at a Time

Chris Baker, founder of INK 180, provides free cover-up tattoos to sex trafficking victims and old gang members.

Oswego Resident Changing Lives One Tattoo at a Time

Chris Baker, founder of INK 180, provides free cover-up tattoos to sex trafficking victims and old gang members.

There’s normally a story behind a tattoo. If that’s the case, then Oswego resident and tattoo artist Chris Baker has seen a whole lot of stories and helped to write hundreds of new chapters. Baker is the founder of INK 180, a non-profit organization in which he creates cover-up tattoos free of charge for victims of sex trafficking and old gang members looking to turn their lives around. Tattooing was always something of a passion for Baker, but never a job. He has been collecting tattoos since he was 18 and had always wanted to make tattoos himself. But when he was younger he dropped out of high school to help support his mom and sister and threw his artistic talent under the rug. It wasn’t until he was about 25 years old and hanging out …

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Cover-up Tattoo Organization INK 180 Hosting Bracelet Fundraiser

Ink 180 helps old gang members or victims of domestic sex trafficking cover up their tattoos.

Ink 180, known as a Ministry of Ink, exists to help others. The 100 percent charitable organization run by Chris Baker helps victims of domestic sex trafficking and old gang members looking for a new start at life to cover up old tattoos or markings. “I love helping the people I work with as they move away from horrific life circumstances into productive lives,” said Baker. Baker, who does all of the inking and designs himself, will cover tattoos completely for free so that people can move forward, or do a 180, with their lives. But the process costs money and Baker is looking to raise funds through a bracelet fundraiser. The bracelets, pictured in the photo attached, are $5 a piece and all proceeds go towards supplies for the cover-up …

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