By Angeles Ponpa
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – A South Peoria nonprofit is showing young boys and girls that they can achieve big goals, after three renovated classrooms and a hallway were named after four Peoria residents who have had a big impact.
Neighborhood House at 1020 South Matthew Street hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate a new academic room, a life skills room, a sensory room and a young empowerment wing for kids.
Leaders from Neighborhood House and across Peoria reflected on the women who paved the way through their leadership, service and dedication to both the nonprofit and Peoria.
Those members include Judy Oakford, Mayor Rita Ali, and Gloria Tillman.
The academic room was dedicated to Oakford for her years in service as part of the Neighborhood House Board of Directors and a champion for innovation in youth reading and literacy. The life skills classroom was named after Ali for her leadership and service to the community and as a Neighborhood House trailblazer herself. The youth sensory room was dedicated to Tillman for her decades in service at Neighborhood House and being a source of calm and care for youth.
The youth empowerment wing was dedicated to Helena Taylor for her dedication to the Neighborhood House and being its first female leader.
Neighborhood House staffers said the building gives Peoria kids space to develop.
“We also noticed with the youth in our program that once they get here, while they may be experiencing things at school, maybe getting in trouble or having some anger issues, that type of thing – once they come here, they learn some coping skills and they’re able to advocate for themselves and step away from situations before they escalate,” said Neighborhood House CEO Julie Bonar.
The renovation was thanks to a $118,000 grant from Impact Central Illinois, an all-women’s collective giving organization. Bonar added it made sense to name all the rooms after women, because the money had come from what she calls an “impactful women’s group.”
Mayor Ali and other leaders see it as a gift to the kids of the Neighborhood House, but also to inspire them.
“The message that I want to send to young people, and young women as well as young men, young children – there is no limit to how far you can go, regardless of your demographic, regardless of your gender, your race, ethnicity, there’s no limit as long as you dream big and work towards your goals,” said Ali.
Previously, the rooms were used for daycare, which halted in 2019.
Now, in the new classrooms, the kids will be able to do their homework, learn life skills like cooking and etiquette, and have a space to relieve nervous energy.
The hallway and classrooms are ready to use. This summer, Neighborhood House serves about 35 children, up to age 15, who will benefit from the new amenities and safe spaces.
“Neighborhood House helped to make me,” the mayor said.
“It was my safe place; it was a place where I got to play and learn and really see older people who invested in me. I got to experience that, and that happens every day at Neighborhood House.”
Comments