Decatur LAC Kickoff Meeting

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

2:00 pm to 4:00 p.m.

via Zoom

Objectives: To meet to discuss review of the toolkit, profiles, next steps, and action items.

  • How does this align/not align with what you know about your community?
  • How does this data help you start shaping your goals?
  • What additional information do you need to inform your decisions?
  • How does this align/not align with what you know about your community?
    • Population has changed significantly, declined. AAB pop down from 20 to 15%. Increased pop loss overall.
    • Only sig increase has been in H/L population. Decatur in line w national trends of increasing Hispanic/Latino pops.
    • Influence of Chicago in Decatur. Many parallels and similar factors contributing to street and gun violence.
    • Loss of industrial jobs, as in many cities, which loses pop. We have to reimagine how to fill that hole and stabilize or reverse pop loss by creating other job opportunities.
    • Alarming statistic - 2016-20 shooting victims. How does that compare to past 15 years? How does this compare to close and far neighbors across state?
  • How does this data help you start shaping your goals?
    • Still in early stages so considering our plan of action and goals. Just starting the conversation on building community and utilize resources.
    • Room for improvement on Education (increase high school diploma numbers, income numbers). We all have questions and learning to do. Break our individual areas to discuss ie Education, Jobs.
    • Have recently observed very young (under 16) active shooters. Highlights Youth Development void. Need mentorship, etc, and we do already have some folks doing that great work, but need to align on pulling in the same direction. Consider also the ripple effect of violence.
    • Community PEACE Hub development - modeled on Restorative Justice Hub in Chicago. Important to closely examine data to assess need. May 4 is next meeting.
    • Hardest pivot is taking the data and moving to action phase. "Recruiting makes your job easier" - meaning things are easier when you reach people early and young. How can we enact recommendations?
    • Making sure we don't reinvent wheel. PEACE hub events heard from community to see what they want.
  • What additional information do you need to inform your decisions?
    • Access to education
    • Dr Rodgers will share info about PEACE Hub summit on May 4 and Aug 3.