PEORIA MAGAZINE February 2023

As part of its mission to serve youth and families, Carver has received an after-school grant from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. “There was a huge crime surge with the pandemic,” Proctor said. “We wanted to be part of the solution.” Unl ike previous cr ime surges, children have not been committing crimes that are gang- or drug-related, Proctor said. “This time there is just no rhyme or reason.” The program addressing that is not just about mentoring and lecturing, said Proctor. “They will also be receiving high-yield activities” aimed at showing students a path forward, she said. For example, “we’ll have cooking classes, showing what it looks like to be a professional chef. We’ll go to a professional bakery.” Proctor sees the need for Carver to be even more proactive. The center no longer serves just individuals, but entire families. Meanwhile, they’re not waiting to make a difference in children’s lives, starting as soon as kindergarten. “By the time they’re teenagers they‘ve pretty much got their ideas about who they want to be with and what they’re doing,” saidProctor. “Reach themearlier andyou cangive themoptions and theknowledge to know there are different ways to go.” Carver Center has partnered with Peoria Public Schools to provide after-school care, and also is bringing back affordable pre-school early this year. “The earlier I get you, the better,” Proctor said, adding that the lack of fundamentals can become a lifelong learning block. The Gap Girls program is a non traditional support system for student

The 61605 ZIP code in which Carver Center is located is one of the most eco nomically disadvantagedneighborhoods in Illinois, according to Census data. A PARTY IN THE PRESENT, PLANS FOR THE FUTURE Carver Center is planning a 100th anniversary gala, scheduled for April 29 at Peoria Riverfront Museum, whichwill include dedication of an Illinois State Historical Society plaque marking the center’s history. ‘REACH THEM EARLIER AND YOU CAN GIVE THEM OPTIONS AND THE KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO GO’ — Jacobie Proctor In planning for the future, “wewanted to stay true to the center’s mission, ‘Lifting as we Climb,’” Proctor said. “What we understood is these are not the families we had at Carver in the ‘70s.” For one thing, “kids don’t want to go outside,” she said. “Also, it’s not the days of knocking on the neighbor’s door to borrow a cup of sugar. “Carver has pillars, or certain core areas where the center has done well,” Proctor added. Those include youth and family programs, sports and recreation, arts and humanities, and community outreach. Everything Carver now does falls into one of those categories. Keeping those pillars in mind, Proctor said the center offers services for people aged 0 to 99.

parents in both high school and college. The young mothers take an online curriculum while Carver Center staff watch the babies. Skills USA is a middle school program offering job and skills training at Quest Charter Academy four days per week. On Saturdays, Carver hosts a leadership club at Quest. Carver also sponsors a summer camp program. Health and fitness for the entire family is an important aspect of Carver’s outreach to families. There are fitness classes, health information seminars, county health department vaccinations, access to mental health referrals and help with f inding a primary care physician. Carver Center currently employs 18, with a handful of positions soon to be filled. Funding for the center comes through state and federal grants, United Way, and private grants and donations. Carver’s budget has grown from $183,000 three years ago to $1.1 million this year. Proctor takes the responsibility of running Carver very seriously, noting that her predecessors – specifically Percy Baker and Ken Hinton – “left huge shoes to fill. None of them did anything small.” As a result, Carver Center continues to make a big difference in the lives of South Side Peorians.

Linda Smith Brown is a 37-year veteran of the newspaper industry, retiring as publisher of Times Newspapers in the Peoria area

32 FEBRUARY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE