When Levelle Kimble III, whose stage name is Velle Kimble, returned to his alma mater Christ the King Jesuit College Prep last year to speak for career day, the principal told him he was the first firefighter to come out of the Austin high school.
Kimble came back to Christ the King in Austin on Friday for his second career day, sharing with students about how he became a firefighter and actor.
“I think when they see someone who’s close in age with them, who has a good career, it goes without saying, ‘This guy’s older than me by about four or five years. If he can do it, I can do it,’” Kimble said. “If I could make it through it, all of these students in front of me, I’m sure a vast majority of them deal with the same things that I dealt with.”
Though Kimble’s family has been supportive of his pursuits, “I still had to go through the fire to get to where I am today,” he said. “Now, I see the importance of having that guidance in your corner, because without it, you can fall short to the system, which is what a lot of my childhood friends have done,” he added of those he’s lost to gun violence or who are in jail.
Kimble said one of the factors contributing to him becoming Christ the King’s first firefighter graduate could be the school’s demographics.
“It’s kind of in the heart of Austin. Even though the school is good, a lot of violence still happens around there,” he said. “We had career day. I don’t recall any firemen coming. I’m not saying that they didn’t want to come, but it’s difficult to do so when you’re limited with the resources.”
Kimble added that, when you live in an area without abundant resources, it helps when someone shows you what’s available to you. He said Christ the King staff prepared him in that way, and in how they treated him.
“I love Christ the King because they’re very hands-on when it comes to their students, to the point where every faculty member knows who’s walking the hallways daily,” Kimble said. He added that Christ the King also has great academics, and, since opening in 2008, every single senior has been accepted into a college or university.
At Christ the King’s career day, Kimble talked about the benefits of being a firefighter — that it’s a great way to have a flexible job that makes good money and allows him to meet new people. And the City of Chicago pays for firefighters to take free or discounted job-specific training or get reimbursed for additional schooling.
“I believe we’re in a time where you don’t have to put all your eggs in one basket. That’s what my dad used to always tell me. He said, ‘Look, if there’s something that you want to do, do it,’” Kimble said. His dad was the one who encouraged him to apply to be a firefighter.
“I didn’t really want to do it at first, but my dad always has my best interest,” Kimble said.
In 2023, Kimble started six months of training at the Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy. He graduated in 2024 and now works at a firehouse on Chicago’s South Side, which he said is the second-busiest company in the city.
Breaking into acting
For much of high school, Kimble wanted to play basketball after graduating. He attended St. Patrick High School, where he was recruited to play basketball, before transferring to Christ the King and graduating in 2018. Kimble held onto the dream of becoming an NBA player during two years of school at Wilbur Wright College, where he was lined up to play for the school’s team. Then the pandemic hit.
“Covid was like a gift and a curse for me,” Kimble said. “It gave me time to really take a step back and think about ‘OK, what’s really going on here?’” It was then that he started taking acting classes, then booking parts, including a speaking role on “Chicago P.D.” and in “Power Book IV: Force,” a crime drama TV series co-produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
When Kimble isn’t on shift for the Chicago Fire Department, which is typically 24 hours on then 48 hours off, he schedules auditions for acting roles.
“Even if I do have a film or something like that, it’s never a hiccup just because of how flexible the schedule is,” Kimble said of firefighting.
And while he loves his job, Kimble also acknowledges the difficulties he encounters as a firefighter.
“Each call is different,” Kimble said. “Some days are going to be more challenging, particularly with my house.” He said the career isn’t for everyone, but “it’s a great occupation, especially for someone who’s in my situation, as far as being a jack-of-all-trades.”
But even for Christ the King students who have no interest in becoming a firefighter or an actor, Kimble’s dedication to his career can serve as an inspiration.
“As you stay consistent with something, eventually it’s going to pop. It might take one year, it might take three years,” Kimble said. “I believe, as long as you are a solid person, and you just keep working towards something, you will get what you want eventually.”