DEMARIO BOONE

Bearing witness to many of our challenges as of late, Peoria seems to be at a crossroads. A hot topic polarizing our community as of late is community crime and violence. Peoria is pushing records in shooting deaths per capita (second in the state to Chicago), and other crime and poverty milestones. The search for answers is even more complicated with a city, community leaders and city council divided on the next steps toward a solution. It can be overwhelming to all of us that love and hope for a better Peoria. It can also make the task seem impossible.

In times such as these I look to a time in life where there was a moment. A moment where I felt the most hopeful for the future. Where I saw people excited for things to come amid the struggle.

When I am personally hit by a problem or roadblock, I visualize the end solution, steps to how I succeeded, and how it feels when I can finally make it through. I hear and use the words spoken in victory, as a roadmap on how I will get there.

What was that moment when I felt the most hopeful? It was July 27, 2004. The day “a skinny kid with a funny name,” captured the imagination of America within 17 minutes. This was the day then-Senator Barrack Obama gave his historic 2004 speech at the DNC Convention.

In his speech, he painted a picture of a united, United States. He shared the belief that we are all connected as one people and are included in the recipe of the solution. That “if there is a child on the South Side of Chicago who can’t read, that matters to me, even if it’s not my child.” That if someone “has to choose between medicine and the rent, that makes my life poorer, even if it is not my grandparent. If there’s an Arab American rounded up … without due process, that threatens my civil liberties.” He pressed the belief that we are “my brother’s (and) my sister’s keeper.” He ended that point with the old United States motto E pluribus unum — Latin for “Out of many, one.”

During this speech, the room ignited. You could see and feel the joy, faith and hope that we would rise together in the midst of any challenge. It was so powerful, that four years later, he was nominated and elected president with 69.5 million votes (most for any candidate until 2020). This makes me wonder, what spark would it take for Peoria to come together? To feel this hope, set aside our differences, move together toward solutions and bask in a more united Peoria? I think of how beautiful that victory speech would be.

I visualize something like this:

My dearest Peoria,

We have rose to the occasion and overcame what many thought was impossible. In the midst of record homicides, crime, division within, poverty and a sense of hopelessness, we together rose to the occasion. We found that in order to build a stronger Peoria, we had to first make sure that we lifted up those who needed it most. To meet them where they were, end judgement, and give them our very best to assist in their journey. We understood that a vibrant Peoria, is one when everyone has the same access to opportunities, mental health, basic needs and hope. Where if 61605 and 61603 residents were struggling, all of Peoria felt the impact and sprung into action. We did not stop until 61605 and 61603 became thriving communities

We took bold steps in addressing violence. We didn’t fall into the trap of over-policing or using a hammer-and-nail approach. Our law enforcement officers didn’t resign themselves to policing, but became community guardians. Enforcement of law became an afterthought when compared to giving a struggling community resources, protection and hope. When addressing youth violence, we looked at the conditions of hurt and broken communities that led to the hopelessness in the family and neighborhood dynamic. We fought together — community and elected officials — to identify and remove all of the factors of our struggling communities, to strengthen our city as a whole. If it didn’t play in 61615, it wasn’t going to play in 61605. If 61615 had it, 61605 was going to have it also. Mental health access, grocery stores, businesses and jobs became standard access to all. No matter your ZIP code. We knew in Peoria that no matter the ZIP code, political stance, social or economic status, we are our brother’s and sister’s keeper. Your success is our success.

We did all of this together. Not one person, one group, one elected official or one idea. The complete city of Peoria had a say and hand in this historic moment. When a community stepped up, said enough, and fought together for a more perfect Peoria. Peoria is now a shining example of what is possible, when we didn’t stop until we exhausted all possibilities to make everyone in our city a priority …

Now, we can start to work backward from here …

Demario Boone is Peoria Public Schools Director of Public Safety