Of course it’s not necessary to have a new backpack…

… every year, but it sure makes kids feel good when they do.

I confess, every year we purchase a new backpack for our student, rather she needs one or not. Every year her “colors” change. I support that whole heartily. We also purchase at least a couple of new mechanical pencils; but we recycle paper, notebooks, crayons, markers and colored pencils.

The topic of student backpack and supply needs have come up recently in comments. We all know the annual backpack give away season is upon us. And yes, we all realize that many of the same people attend more than one event and get more than one backpack.

At Quest Charter Academy, they purchase a backpack and supplies for all of their students. Those who get free lunch and/or books get the backpack and supplies for free; others are required to pay the school about $17. Is it a stretch to then think that more than likely, some of the Quest students also receive free backpack and supplies from other places? Not really.

In my opinion, it would be very difficult to regulate something like a backpack give away, when all across the City of Peoria church groups and civic organizations are looking to help their patrons and or clients who may need help getting students ready for back to school.

These backpack giveaways are also happening in Pekin, Canton, and Morton, as well as other places; and there are many opportunities for all types of people to “be greedy” and chase down “free stuff” that they allegedly “feel entitled” to have.

There are some good suggestions coming through in comments about how to stop people from getting more than one backpack. I like the one where the backpacks are donated to the School District and they are given out by the teachers in the classroom. That really is one way to make sure that each child receives one backpack.

However, keep in mind that the main backpack event at the Dream Center is about more than backpacks and supplies. It is also an opportunity for students to receive the necessary physicals so that they are truly ready for school. Any dent that can be made in the number of students who show up to school without the necessary physicals is worth giving folks a couple of extra backpacks.

Sure, those knuckleheads running around getting as many backpacks as they can are annoying. However, let’s not let the fact that some folks may be “greedy” make us lose sight of the good work the Dream Center is doing for the whole student, which in my opinion is what really matters.

Calling the Mayor out on the Community Call to Action

Word on the Street says that Mayor Jim Ardis will join state Representative Gordon and state Sen. Dave Koehler to host a Community Call to Action forum and workshop from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Dream Center, 714 Hamilton Blvd.

The forum is aimed at addressing crime in Peoria with a goal of identifying causes of violent crimes in the Peoria area, developing community-generated violence prevention methods and establishing a timeline for implementation of new methods.

Pastor Harvey Burnett is calling the Mayor out for what he alleges is politicizing the Community Call to Action forum, instead of making a real grassroots effort to effectuate change...

Mayor Ardis,

First, I do not wish to rebuke you, for I do not believe that it is my place and I certainly respect your office. I do wish, however to express my concern over your actions regarding the upcoming Community Call To Action that will take place Saturday Feb. 13th 2010 at the Peoria Dream Center.

First, my concern is not with the forum itself as the Pastor's Association under my direction endeavored to do this type of event, having a meeting almost exactly one year ago, Thursday Feb. 12th 2009, as confirmed HERE under the EXACT name, A Community Call To Action. Our second meeting was at the same location, The Peoria Dream Center. This information is confirmed HERE.

Personally, as you know, I encourage efforts rendered to the community from multiple facets as you and I have discussed as recently as 2 weeks ago. I think that it is in the best interest of the community for as many individuals as possible to be involved in this important task especially in light of the crime that we witnessed last year. None of us want to see those things duplicated at any time in the future.

The problem I have is that you, in planning this event, totally overlooked or minimized the participation of people who have been identified to avail themselves in service to this community. Speaking frankly, if there is anyone that should have been asked to participate in this event, I would think it certainly would have been myself. I can't speak for others as I don't know if they were asked to be involved, but I know that myself and others who I can identify and have also availed themselves openly over the last few years were not asked or considered by your office for this event.

I don't mean and or intend to sound like I or we deserve some sort of special treatment or am prideful in any way, but for you to totally exclude me and persons like me as a part of a process to develop effective strategies against crime and violence, especially in light of the fact that I personally have such a great investment into the issue and a proven track record of community service addressing this issue, makes your actions highly suspect as political posturing. I hope and believe that I am totally wrong, but this is how it appears.

This event, to me, signifies that it is business as usual in Peoria. None of the people, including the State Representatives that you feature in this event, have ever contacted my office in any way shape or form to assess the needs of the community, victims or the victims families. Although that isn't a measurement of their commitment to the community, I can only say that I have personal dealings and interactions with many of families of violent crime victims and have been vocal in looking for solutions and preventive measures in times past.

I don't believe that I am unique in my efforts, but I have taken measures that others haven't from time to time and have gladly done what others haven't done in service to this community. This is why I find it difficult to understand the motivation behind calling a community to action and not involving leaders who have been identified through personal service to be dedicated to that cause and the betterment of our community.

In conclusion, I don't believe that there is anything that I would like you to “do” regarding this other than make a commitment to better involve citizens such as myself who are on the front-line of this battle for the safety of our community in all aspects. I believe that there must be a greater interaction between political, and social factions of this community to truly address the issue of crime and violence and promote the message of community safety in the best possible manner.

Thank you for your time.

Pastor Harvey Burnett