On May 12, the Champaign County Community Coalition hosted its monthly virtual meeting. Representatives from the City of Champaign, City of Urbana, Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, the University of Illinois and Parkland College shared updates with the community, with a particular focus on recent community gun violence.
Express Employment Professionals, Yankee Ridge Elementary School, YMCA, Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club, and Urbana Park District presented community resources for youth and families. Rev. Dr. James Fielder and Lt. James Coker shared information about a local training opportunity for criminal justice professionals. “How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses” aims to raise awareness about trauma and its effects. This training is designed to improve police and community relationships by modeling strong collaborations and partnerships between law enforcement and the larger Champaign-Urbana community.
Community Relations Specialist and CU Fresh Start Project Manager Mary Catherine Roberson also gave a CU Fresh Start update and highlighted participant Devon Merriweather (pictured here), who recently received his high school diploma through the Housing Authority’s YouthBuild program.