April 25, 2022 – On Monday, April 25 through Saturday, April 30, 2022, the R3 Youth Violence Prevention Team & Sandy Hook Students Against Violence Everywhere Promise Club of Sherrod’s Independent Mentoring Program, Inc. are empowering youth in high schools and one elementary school with law enforcement officers to help raise awareness about being safe, reducing violence, and promoting positivity in their schools and communities. They are leading with 155,000 students nationwide.
“Our youth deserve a chance to live and learn in environments that are safe and that put them first. We have a wealth of qualified law enforcement officers in Macon County who selflessly devote unlimited hours to keeping our streets safe from danger. To help reduce crime, we must work together with law enforcement to provide positive experiences to help these young leaders grow and be future leaders that our communities need,” said Dr. Jarmese Sherrod.
Their weeklong empowerment consists of the following schedule of events during their youth violence prevention leaders’ lunchtime. Please see the flyers for more information on each event:
- Monday, April 25 – Mt. Zion High School from 10:11- 11:29 a.m.
- Tuesday, April 26- St. Teresa High School from 11:04 a.m.-12:08 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 27- Maroa-Forsyth High School from 11-11:30 a.m.
- Thursday, April 28- Eisenhower High School from 11:59 a.m.-1:17 p.m.
- Friday, April 29-American Dreamer STEM Academy 12:28-12:58 p.m.
In addition, the youth will be supporting the Community Healing Fair on April 27 at Old Kings Orchard with the mascot, LEO the Violence Prevention Lion, in recognition of National Crime Victims’ Right Week with The Child 1st Center from 2-6 p.m.
They will end the week with Musically Yours: Music Therapy & Violence Prevention at Steak n’ Shake on 2250 Mt. Zion Rd. They partnered with Steak n’ Shake, Flemings Music Therapy from Champaign, and the Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur. Thirty Macon County 4-6th grade students can be dropped off by their parents for a free Steak n’ Shake Meal, Violence Prevention, and loads of fun with music therapy activities from 1:30-3:00 p.m. with a signed permission slip. They can meet LEO and his team, and law enforcement, and leave with the signature sweet treats. It is encouraged that students register here.
They want to empower leaders to build healthy communities, decrease crime and antisocial behavior, and repair harm and restore relationships. They can do this by strengthening relationships between individuals as well as social connections within communities. To learn more information about upcoming restorative practices opportunities, followthe SIMP, Inc. Facebook page and view their progress on their website.
These events are sponsored by Governor Pritzker, Lt. Governor Stratton, and the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority R3 grant, and the Decatur Memorial Hospital.
