Twin-Cities youth summit to convene Saturday following deadly violence

Posted on August 17, 2018

United Way of McLean County is one of the organizers of a youth summit scheduled for Saturday at Miller Park Pavilion. The summit’s purpose is to come up with solutions to put a stop to the deadly violence that’s plagued the Twin-Cities this year. (WJBC file photo)

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 [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…