By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Community leaders concerned about a surge of deadly violence, mainly involving young people in the Twin-Cities, will gather on Saturday at the Miller Park Pavilion to figure out ways to solve the problem.
A youth summit is being hosted by United Way of McLean County, the City of Bloomington, Town of Normal, and the Not In Our Town organization.
The initial step, according to organizers, is to identify key issues and recommend solutions. Additional meetings will be held to work on implementing those recommendations.
Not In Our Town leader and former Bloomington Alderman Mike Matejka said recent shootings were a “wake-up call” for the community.
An April 25 shooting at the Lancaster Heights Apartments on East College Avenue in Normal left two people dead. Two more people were killed in a June 10 shooting on Orchard Road in Bloomington. Eight days later, three more people died and a four-year old boy was badly wounded in a shooting on Riley Drive in Bloomington. Police have made arrests in each murder case, and they say the crimes were not related.
Saturday’s youth summitt is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and run until 12:30 p.m.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at howard.packowitz@cumulus.com
