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Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich proclaimed Jan. 16 as Martin Luther King Jr.
Day in Illinois in honor and remembrance of Dr. King's dream of
racial equality, social justice and universal peace. Blagojevich
encouraged leaders in every community to organize youth service
projects that address local needs and promote unity.
"As we honor the memory of Dr. King, it's important to remember
and celebrate the causes for which he stood," said Illinois
Department of Human Services Secretary Carol L. Adams, Ph.D.
"Although many people see the holiday as a day without work or
school, these young people are dedicating the day to affirming Dr.
King's visions of freedom, justice, equality and opportunity for
all."
The Illinois Teen REACH after-school programs will participate in
a wide variety of activities that honor King's legacy.
Teen REACH -- an acronym for responsibility, education,
achievement, caring and hope -- was established by the Department of
Human Services in 1998. The program offers positive services and
activities for youth between the ages of 6 and 17 during nonschool
hours. Teen REACH services include improving academic performance;
life skills education; parental and community involvement;
recreation, sports, cultural and artistic activities; and positive
adult mentors.
The governor's budget for fiscal 2006 provides $20.5 million in
funding for 122 community-based Teen REACH organizations throughout
the state.
"Youth of Sankofa Pride program will celebrate the Martin Luther
King holiday with an afternoon of fellowship with more than 100
residents of the Washington Square Senior Citizens Residence," said
Vernessa Gipson, program coordinator of the Urban League of
Champaign County. "The youth will videotape interviews with
residents on their childhoods and memories of the civil rights
movement. The youth have also prepared a medley of music for the
event, and they plan to stay in touch with the senior citizens in
the future."
The Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Services
administers AmeriCorps, a national service program that involves
young people in community service.
Martin Luther King Jr. was an African-American Baptist minister
who helped lead the civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until
his assassination on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn. He was born in
Atlanta, Ga., on Jan. 15, 1929. In 1986, Congress established a
national holiday in his honor on the third Monday of each January.
The following Teen REACH and AmeriCorps clubs are participating
in the Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Service Day:
- Adams County Health Department, Quincy
- Albany Park Community Center, Chicago
- Alternatives, Inc., Chicago
- American Red Cross Safe Families AmeriCorps Program
- AmeriCorps Community Enrichment Program, Springfield
- Belleville AmeriCorps
- Bloomington/Normal Boys & Girls Clubs
- Boys and Girls Club of Bethalto
- Boys and Girls Club of Decatur
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Elgin
- Boys and Girls Club of Greater Peoria
- Boys and Girls Clubs of West Cook County
- Brown, Cass, Morgan Scott Regional Office of Education 46
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- Carole Robertson Center, Chicago
- Center for Family Services, Aurora
- Chicago Area Project
- Children's Home Association of Illinois, Peoria
- Chinese American Service League, Chicago
- City Year, Rainbow Push
- Clay County Health Department
- Cotter Boys and Girls Club, Chicago
- Delta Center, Cairo
- Don Moyer Boys and Girls club, Champaign
- Downstate Education Assistance Corp., Anna
- Dr. King Boys and Girls Club, Chicago
- DuPage County Area Project, Glendale Heights
- East St. Louis AmeriCorps
- Egyptian Public and Mental Health Department, Eldorado
- Englewood Boys and Girls Club, Chicago
- Fernwood Methodist Education, Chicago
- Frazier Boys and Girls Club, Chicago
- Fresh Start Intervention, Chicago
- George Werden Buck Boys and Girls Club
- Germano-Millgate Tenants Association, Chicago
- Good Hope Foundation, Chicago
- Hegewisch Community Committee, Chicago
- Housing Authority of Joliet
- Howard Area Community Center, Chicago
- Human Resource Development Institute, Chicago
- Jackie Joyner Kersee Boys and Girls Club, East St. Louis
- James Jordan Boys and Girls Club, Chicago
- Jones Memorial Community Center, Chicago
- LaCausa Community Center, Chicago
- Link & Option Center, Markham
- Logan Square Boys and Girls Club, Chicago
- Macon County Health Department, Decatur
- Madison CUSD 12, Madison
- Martin Luther King Jr. Community Services Inc., Freeport
- McCormick Boys and Girls Club, Chicago
- McHenry County Health Board, Crystal Lake
- Outreach Community Center, Carol Stream
- PCC Community Wellness Center, Chicago
- Project Success Vermilion County
- Danville Family YMCA
- Danville Housing Authority
- Georgetown-Ridge Farm
- Hoopeston
- Project Yes, Chicago
- Public Allies AmeriCorps provider, Chicago
- SIU Carbondale Team for Land of Lincoln AmeriCorps
- St. Malachy School, Chicago
- Sauk Valley Community College
- Sinnissippi Centers, Dixon
- South Central Community Services, Chicago
- South Fork School District 14, Kincaid
- Southeast Illinois Counseling Centers, Olney
- Sycamore CUSD 427
- The Ark of St. Sabina, Chicago
- The Success Center Institute, Lansing
- Tazewell County Health Department, Pekin
- UIC Project More, Chicago
- Urban League of Champaign County
- Valentine Boys and Girls Club, Chicago
- West Chicago Police Department
- Westside Holistic Family Services, Chicago
- Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley, Ottawa
[Illinois
Department of Human Services news release]
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