Advocacy

One of the most disappointing aspects of closing the Community House Sheridan locations was the loss of our foodbank, and our larger Community Garden.  We will beef up our little garden at the 800 house this Spring, but we are not set up to be a full pantry there.

I have always promised myself that I would have food available.  This came from my early experiences with the neighborhood kids.  One of them told me once during the summer months when school was out, "We eat when there is school."  

The food insecurity of our kiddos is very real.  This experience itself is traumaic.  

I continue to commit to having food available at our original location.  This is a cost I am happy to expend.

Julie Eliathambie is very aware of the problem of food insecurity in Peoria.  She is the founder of the non-profit Peoria Grown and Market 309.  She provided a beautiful fruit stand to our community and our kids  loved it.  She came by this past Saturday and picked up the stand.  We got to talking about her program, politics and ignorance (and corruption).  

She has received a 50K grant, and she is grateful for it, but it was not unanimously passed.  She was very critical of the new for-profit grocery store that will be on the South End of the city, where we have grocery store deserts.  Our neighborhood is also a fresh food desert.  The gas station and convenince store is where our neighbors get food.  Many have to vehicles, and some are homebound.

Her issue was that the city has paid 2 million dollars to set up this grocery store that is for profit.  Given to someone with a track record of failure.  

I mirrored her frustration at the incompetence of our leaders.  What is going on here?

I feel more and more driven to participate in the political arena.  It is not OK to allow our city dollars to be misused while the community members struggle and suffer.  It is not OK for the department claiming to want to "develop" community and collecting a paycheck over six figures, to simply harrass the people with tickets, collecting money from those who already struggle with purchasing food and paying their electric bill.  

Many of my community members cannot advocate for themselves.  It is truly a responsibility of those who are able to speak out, to do so.  As much as I prefer working with the kids, making art and teaching, I have been pushed onto this path of community development, and I accept my charge.