ABOVE: Panelists during Wednesday’s roundtable discussion at Laura Lee Fellowship House – Project Success Youth Council member Chase Clark, Jamie Nightlinger from Project Success, Phil Davis, Danville Alderwoman and mayoral candidate Tricia Teague, 104th State Rep Democratic candidate Mary Catherine Roberson, Project Success Youth Council member Malia Roberson, and Danville Alderman and Three Kings of Peace member Ed Butler.
Lots of people in attendance had questions and wanted feedback during Wednesday afternoon’s “A Blueprint for Safer Communities” roundtable discussion, hosted by Democratic State Rep Candidate Mary Catherine Roberson. Roberson says the recent Gun Violence Prevention Committee meetings at the public library, along with other discussions like this one; will hopefully bring feelings of concrete progress like what she felt during her days working on a Champaign Community Gun Violence Reduction Blue Print. The idea is, see what’s been done, and what needs to be next; which was a major part of Wednesday’s event.
AUDIO: See what we need to possibly bolster to have a stronger response here in Danville. It’s a roundtable discussion; so we’ve got people who’ve already been working in the community; Tricia Teague, Phil Davis (Aniyah’s dad). We’ve got members of the (Project Success) Youth Council. So it’ll be equal parts. A conversation of what is already being done, and what more could be done.
Phil Davis, who lost his daughter Aniyah in a tragic Winter Park shooting one year ago, says his involvement in this cause since Aniyah’s death has been extremely rewarding, but challenging; with so much more to do.
AUDIO: As long as we continue to put out the work, I believe we’re working on the (positive) environment right now, honestly. It’s way more conversations; trying hard to bring the community back together. I didn’t know what I was signing up for when I signed up for it. But it’s good work.
(1st Picture) Mary Catherine Roberson (L) and Danville Alderwoman and mayoral candidate Tricia Teague (R) participate in discussion prior to roundtable event. (2nd Picture) Roberson welcomes everyone, 12 Noon Wednesday at Laura Lee Fellowship House.
For Danville Alderwoman and mayoral candidate Tricia Teague, it’s important to understand that this is a work in progress. She says that while some local officials might say the kids especially in need of help aren’t always responding to these efforts; the idea is that with enough peers and role models getting involved, it can certainly trickle down to the others as well.
AUDIO: We need to be providing activities for any of the kids, regardless of whether or not they are more or less likely to be involved in gun violence. And we need to be able to provide alternatives and activities for kids who are making healthy choices; and so that they can bring their friends along, and be able to see that there are things for them. Because otherwise, they end up stuck, feeling like the community doesn’t care. And that’s not true.
And besides aiming for the kids, Danville Alderman and Three Kings of Peace member Ed Butler says this effort needs to target parents; especially those who feel helpless, and let them know support is there.
AUDIO: Some kids, you know, they don’t listen to the parents. And so the parents sometimes kind of turn their heads away from the kids. But we’re trying to save our kids. So the parents need to work with us 100 percent, with the ones that are really concerned about the good and welfare of the kids, as well as the safety of our city.
Wednesday’s roundtable discussion began at 12 Noon at the Laura Lee Fellowship House.
