Are you a father, uncle, brother or father-figure in someone's life?
You and your children are invited to a free breakfast at Trewyn Middle School this weekend.
At 9 a.m. Saturday, the Alpha Phi Alphas of Peoria will host their annual "Fatherhood Breakfast."
Local Alpha and Peoria City Councilman Andre Allen says he looks forward to bringing together father figures from across Peoria.
"This event will bring fathers and father figures from all walks of life," Allen said. "From the streets to the c-suite, anybody in between. I think it's very important as fathers and father figures that we support each other, that we're there for each other ... It's important that I lift as I climb."
While the breakfast is an annual event, Allen says it is aptly timed this year.
Last weekend Peoria broke its year-to-date homicide record when a 15-year-old was shot and killed near OSF's downtown hospital. The teen's death marked the 26th murder of 2021, surpassing 2019's record of 25 homicides. Officials confirmed the city's 27th homicide this week.
The majority of the 2021 victims are under the age of 30.
Allen believes father figures, whether that's a woman or man assuming the role, are important in giving young people positive direction.
"Having these positive, organic events in our communities are very important," he said. "We definitely need a positive event like this. We do get barred down by a lot of the negativity with the homicides, which are very sad events. But also we have a lot of positive things going on in Peoria, too. And the Fatherhood Breakfast is an illustration of that."
Trewyn Middle School is located at 1419 S. Folkers Ave.
Learn more about the breakfast on the Alphas' website.
