The community discussion on racial inequity in Peoria last night was arguably one of the largest community turnouts for a public meeting in recent history. Nearly 320 people showed up to participate in the interactive meeting on racial disparity at the Gateway Building.
The meeting was scheduled after 24/7 Wall St ranked Peoria the worst in the nation for Black Americans in October.
Those in attendance worked in groups at round tables brainstorming programs, strategies or initiatives to achieve racial equity and improve economic opportunity.
Peoria City Manager Patrick Urichsays it was a magnificent step. “The brain power and the collective intellect that’s coming to the table to talk about these issues, share their experiences, share their backgrounds. It is so important for us to shape policy and also to figure out what the public wants to see us moving towards.”
Urich says city staff will sort and categorize the ideas that came from the meeting. He says more workshops are expected to talk about specific areas, like education, economic development and job growth after the new year.