PEORIA, Ill. – It won’t be a part of the Peoria Park District’s services anymore, but an effort fronted by a now-retired Park District employee and community leader will continue, just in a different form.
Carl Cannon’s “Elite Community Outreach” initiative will still live on, as an independent entity.
“We’re now an independent 501(c)3 called Elite Community Outreach, Inc.,” said Cannon, during a Peoria Park District press conference Wednesday. “We are leasing space at Peoria Dream Center, where we run the ‘Game Changer’ alternative state school for at-risk students.”
Other Elite work will also be done based out of the Dream Center.
“We will continue to run Elite Re-Entry for men and women looking for a second chance, or another chance,” said Cannon. “(They) can come and get soft skills and other things. We will continue with the Elite K-8 compliance program in selected schools, where our team will help American heroes — teachers — manage behavior so they can effectively teach.”
Park District Executive Director Emily Cahill says it was an atypical park district program, but it worked.
“Carl is reaching kids before they get into the system — before they are one of those statistics,” said Cahill. “We look forward to continuing to partner with Carl to continue to do good work. Together, we are able to really engage kids and get them doing positive activities, and engaging with their community, and being part of the solution.”
(Will Stevenson/1470 & 100.3 WMBD)
Cahill says the park district money spent on Elite will now be used for other programs and initiatives — some in honor of Cannon.
Even though Cannon is now retired from the park district and not leaving Peoria, Cahill says she’ll miss having Cannon around the office.
“We laughed a lot. We cried a lot,” said Cahill. “His heart is so big, and he really taught us a lot. We look forward to applying those lessons moving forward.”
