A South Side neighbor and community leader wants to connect with children whose lives have been rocked by violence.
Terry Burnside is a lifelong Peorian and the leader of House of Hope.
This Saturday afternoon, House of Hope will host two back-to-back support groups for youth under the age of 18.
From 1-2 p.m., a group designed for youth who have lost a loved one to violence will meet.
At 2:30, a second group will welcome youth who have survived violence themselves.
Burnside says these support groups are a way to show children they aren't alone in shouldering trauma. The support groups create a "safe place to heal" for youth who may face stigma for seeking mental health resources.
"We always talk about how 'bad' these children are," he said. "How can we expect anything out of these children, if we haven't poured anything in them? So it's impossible to have any expectations if you haven't invested in them."
In 2019, Peoria hit its year-to-date homicide record with 25 killings.
The city is on track to break that record this year; Peoria saw its 25th murder of 2021 last weekend. Many of the victims are young Black men.
House of Hope is located at 514 S. Shelley St. Trained counselors assist House of Hope in using a "trauma informed care" approach to mentorship.
You can RSVP for the support groups online.
