The don't shoot call in stirred up a lot of different feelings for me. I wasn't really sure what to expect before attending. I was a bit skeptical I will admit and even after attending and listening to everything I am still on the fence as to rather this program will have any positive effects on the 18 men who were in attendance. Although I think the message delivered at the call in was positive and well meaning the facts are that there aren't really any jobs available in the Peoria area. If these men are not able to gain employment I don't think they will be able to make the changes required of them. I agree with Superintendent Ashbell that this program is not really going to work. It all sounded good but if they can't produce jobs these men will continue their lives of violence. The fact that 16 out of the 18 men were African American was disappointing but not at all a surprise. Although it is not an excuse we all know that these are the group of people who tend to suffer from poor socioeconomic situations more likely have come from broken homes and have more than likely been exposed to violence and drug and/or alcohol usage. I think helping these men obtain their GED is a great part to the program, but feel that there are elements that are missing that will keep this program from really being a success in Peoria County. I would like to see them offer training in some sort of vocational aspect. We can not expect change if these men are kept out of getting jobs that will actually pay them enough to take care of themselves as well as their families. So again the message was a good one yet lacked the tools to actually make a positive impact in these men's lives. I would also like to see some sort of incentives in place for these men to actually make these changes. We heard that if they fail to make the right choices they will be removed but how about if they make the right choices and can maintain a job and stay out of trouble will say for 5 consecutive years they can have their felonies expunged. Truly giving them a chance to make it in this community. If I were the men sitting there a lot of the message would have come off as a bit of a threat and not at all a positive message nor supportive group of people. This change or else theme it seemed to have could actually backfire and have the opposite effect they hope for. These group of men although violent are not blind to the facts that there really are no jobs opportunities in the community and the jobs that are available they simply don't qualify for. So again although the intentions are good and yes we as a community are fed up with the senseless violence in our neighborhoods I am not convinced that the Don't Shoot Call-In will actually prove to be successful in the city of Peoria. mommy004
While I’ll agree with you that there are not many job opportunities in Peoria, especially for people with felonies on their record. These young men need to want to change their lives before anyone is going to hire them. They have to be determined to make a better life for themselves. Without that type of drive and focus, it would be too easy for them to slip back into their old ways. Making that initial phone call to Angel Cruz is just the first step. They need to be committed from that point on for this to work. Nothing works unless you do too. RustyPete001
I was not even sure what the call in was all about. I have lived in the Peoria area my whole life and have never heard of it. I understand that this has been going on for about 5 years, but I am shocked that the community is not more aware of it. I love the idea of what it is supposed to be, but they kept talking about these young men need to take the step and get out of that life and get a job. Let's think about this realistically. They want these CONVICTED felons to get a job but we all know that must if not all jobs do not want felons at their jobs. Whether it is out of fear or that they know they won't be sticking around. Now does that mean every felon is a horrible person? Well no, but a lot of people are not going to make that step to better themselves. People can not always be blaming on how people are raised saying their dad wasn't there, or the mom was a crack head. We all have something from our childhood that was not the best but here we are, in college writing about this. People truly have to want it. We can give them speeches and resources but they have to be the ones to make that change. For most of them, they don't have the courage to make that change. That is the truth. hotfox003
It is very hard on felons who are trying to become productive citizens and the attached stigma of being incarcerated is overwhelming especially if you are already poor. There should be real chances provided to these people otherwise just another caste....FeeingYou345
I wasn’t sure what to expect when going to the don’t shoot call in. I thought the whole idea behind trying to make the offenders see that if they mess up that they are going to jail for even longer was a good idea. However I can see where there are problems with the program because if the offenders aren’t wanting to change then it’s going to be useless for them. I did like that there several different people to talk to the men but I can see where they would lose interest in listening to everyone talk. When the mayor was talking and made the comment “What does this 60 year old man know about my life and what I’ve been through, but I do” as a white middle class person I can’t even relate to the mayor so I know dang well that a African American convict won’t take him serious. Helping these men obtain their GED is a great part to the program, but feel that there are elements that are missing that will keep this program from really being a success in Peoria County. It would be interesting to see how many of the men actually take the help that the city is wanting to give them. Pie001,002,004
Going into the Dont Shoot call in, I was not sure what to expect or what I would see. It was definitely an interesting event to be at though. Seeing everything that they offer to guys to try and help them get their lives back on track is a nice thing to see. The criminal justice program is truly working on making sure that offenders do not end up in prison. I would really like to see the numbers though of how many people who go through this program are able to stay out of trouble and are actually able to get a job. I saw the sheriff at an event a couple days later and I stopped to talk to him about the event and he said how exhausting those events are and how they tell these guys over and over that they need to get their act straight and these guys just stare blankly at them while they talk. He did say though that he can tell that they know that him and the police chief are serious when they say they will be watched and go back to prison if they are caught with a gun. It was also interesting listening to Nate Terry talk about how he had spent time in prison and how he was able to change and find his identity. Hopefully these guys will be able to do the same for their community. hawkshockey004
The don't shoot call in was very enlightening and was very well taken care of. They police knew how serious this event was and made it a point to make sure to keep the most violent offenders from acting out. The whole program is a great idea but sadly most offenders won''t think twice about it. I like to hear the stories like Nate Terry who survived a life of crime and being a most violent offender. I would like to say that they had this done very well. The pastor I was a little confused on because I couldn't tell if he had a dark last or not but nonetheless, he still had a great testimony. Most of the call in was a great experience for what I want my future to be. It showed me how the most violent offenders will act when I will have to deal with them. I would like to return to that meeting to see if they will have different guys or not the next time. I'm glad that someone is looking out for the bettering of Peoria with such a good manner. No protesting, no hate crimes, just trying to stop criminals from being criminals again, or must rather repeat offenders. Flannel002
I was not at all sure what to expect going to this call in on Thursday night. I did not realize it was going to be that many people, and I also did not realize that so many “high-ups” were going to be there, such as the mayor. As these men walked into the room, there were some that were clearly there to avoid any punishment that could be thrown their way, and I actually saw one that was holding back a smile. I’m not sure what there is to smile about in their situations, but hopefully this call in made a difference. The cry of pain was especially impactful in my opinion. The lady that spoke is still in the process of mourning her sisters murder that took place in 2000, and her emotional story moved me, and I can’t imagine that it did not move at least a few of the men that were sitting in the room. Another speaker was a man named Nate, a man that spent a decade in a prison cell, and while he was in prison, he found and accepted Christ into his life, forever changing how he thinks and acts. He gave up his previous lifestyle that included gang affiliation and violence, and was forever changed. This goes to show that anyone can find peace and go down the right path in life. As the police chief said, they have high hopes of getting a handful or so of those men to reach out and seek help in whatever circumstances they are in, so I think that these Don’t Shoot call-ins are a good way to get these men back into society and away from the violence that they are so often involved in from day to day. They may have a lot ahead of them, but with the group of people that spoke at Don’t Shoot, they have a lot of help to seek as well. gh_blackhawks002, 001
The don’t shoot program was actually very interesting and was very happy that I got the chance to sit in with the individual’s getting talked to. It was very nice to hear also how the sheriff, chief, and other people went about their business. They were very convincing and meant everything they were saying. Going into the don’t shoot I really didn’t know what to expect. When I was told that there was going to be 18 individual’s they were going to talk to so that they can convince them this is their last chance to start a good path for themselves. I don’t know if this program will work just because the fact I feel it is very hard for these individual’s to get on the right track. Many of them don’t get fair treatment even though they want to do well. In Peoria in general I don’t know if there is many jobs that would hire them so it makes it very tough for those guys trying to get on the right track. I think the biggest thing is to help these people get their education. If they start getting educated then get their GED that will be the start of many things. Most of the people there were more than likely brought up to violence and drugs so they went to the streets for the family type of atmosphere. They don’t get taught at a young age the right way to behave or act. Then after that they have to get a job so that they can support their family because if the job they get doesn’t then they will just go back to what they use to do. Overall there needs to be more opportunities for these citizens because if not they will just end up to their old ways.CRC001,CRC002.
The Don’t Shoot call in pretty much went how I had expected it to go. It’s encouraging to know that we are trying to help these young men if they are willing to put forth the effort. However, I’m not sure putting them in that situation is the best way to convey that message. As I try to put myself in their shoes, being embarrassed and lectured in front of a group of people that look nothing like me and don’t know what I’ve been through wouldn’t put me in the best frame of mind to take the first steps in turning my life around. I understand that these guys are felons and they opened themselves up to this through their actions. I also understand that we do need to put a stop to the gun violence in Peoria and I think the Don’t Shoot program is a great way to reach out to these young men. I’m just not so sure that this public berating is necessary for the program to be successful. I thought Chief Mitchell spoke very well while addressing the crowd before the guys were called in and he made some very good points about who was responsible for the shootings last year. Showing the pictures of that little boy was a good way to try and hit home for some of those guys and make them realize how foolish they’re being with guns. Every speaker after him, besides Nate Terry, mirrored what he said. At one point it felt to me like we were beating a dead horse. I think they got the message. There wasn’t much need to have different people repeat the same things. I think that may have led to some of the guys becoming disinterested. Another thing I wanted to bring up was our attire for this event. I completely understand that we were there to represent our school and to try and impress potential future employers, but if we are there to try and relate to these guys and make them feel like they’re an important part of our community, shouldn’t we have tried to look a little more casual? I don’t mean that we should dress down for the people we’re dealing with because that’s offensive. I just thought that maybe by dressing up with collared shirts and ties that we might be adding to the strain they already feel from the rest of the community. All in all it was a good experience and I’m glad I went. I hope this method continues to be a success for the city of Peoria. RustyPete001
theDon’t shoot call-in to me was totally different then what I expected. I expected them to be with in the audience and not being called out in front of everyone technically. It was very encouraging knowing that our community and leaders of our community really wants to support these men that have done wrong in their past. Since we couldn’t see their faces, I tried to notice their body language more. I was focusing on those young men that really took it in and I could tell they wanted to change their lives. Some were crying and wiping away their tears and some had their arms crossed like they didn’t care. Having this program for these men seemed almost enlightening. Don’t shoot program really reaches out to these men by trying to get them back on their feet, job, education possiblies, and more. Chief talked first, and addressed to the men what they were going to talk to them about. It was nice because the presenters acted like we (as an audience) were never there. When the woman that was the voice of pain, that made me tear up; very brutal and un-humanlike to treat someone of that way. It hit home for me when Nate Terry talked and the pastor. While Mr. Terry was speaking, I think the men really dialed in because he was someone that actually did it and overcame the obstacles to move on from his bad past and actually become himself again. Anpcougs002
When going to the Dont Shoot call in i wasn;t exactly sure what to expect because i didnt know what was going on, but as i was there i was glad that i went. It was very interesting to hear from everyone that was speaking and what they had to say. I was glad to know that we have a a program like this because it shows the men that the community really does care and wants them to do well. I couldn't see their bodies well enough to know everyones reaction but from what i could tell, some of the men really took this seriously but some didnt. I really liked how many opportunities these men were given to try and change their life around. There was a program for them men to help them get back on their feet and to fit in well with the community without using violence. I am glad we have the Dont Shoot program because it is giving the men another chance to start doing things right and it shows the men that there are many people supporting them and are willing to help them get onto the right path to fit into the community without using violence. bball001, bball002, bball005
The don't shoot call in stirred up a lot of different feelings for me. I wasn't really sure what to expect before attending. I was a bit skeptical I will admit and even after attending and listening to everything I am still on the fence as to rather this program will have any positive effects on the 18 men who were in attendance. Although I think the message delivered at the call in was positive and well meaning the facts are that there aren't really any jobs available in the Peoria area. If these men are not able to gain employment I don't think they will be able to make the changes required of them. I agree with Superintendent Ashbell that this program is not really going to work. It all sounded good but if they can't produce jobs these men will continue their lives of violence. The fact that 16 out of the 18 men were African American was disappointing but not at all a surprise. Although it is not an excuse we all know that these are the group of people who tend to suffer from poor socioeconomic situations more likely have come from broken homes and have more than likely been exposed to violence and drug and/or alcohol usage. I think helping these men obtain their GED is a great part to the program, but feel that there are elements that are missing that will keep this program from really being a success in Peoria County. I would like to see them offer training in some sort of vocational aspect. We can not expect change if these men are kept out of getting jobs that will actually pay them enough to take care of themselves as well as their families. So again the message was a good one yet lacked the tools to actually make a positive impact in these men's lives. I would also like to see some sort of incentives in place for these men to actually make these changes. We heard that if they fail to make the right choices they will be removed but how about if they make the right choices and can maintain a job and stay out of trouble will say for 5 consecutive years they can have their felonies expunged. Truly giving them a chance to make it in this community. If I were the men sitting there a lot of the message would have come off as a bit of a threat and not at all a positive message nor supportive group of people. This change or else theme it seemed to have could actually backfire and have the opposite effect they hope for. These group of men although violent are not blind to the facts that there really are no jobs opportunities in the community and the jobs that are available they simply don't qualify for. So again although the intentions are good and yes we as a community are fed up with the senseless violence in our neighborhoods I am not convinced that the Don't Shoot Call-In will actually prove to be successful in the city of Peoria. mommy004
ReplyDeleteWhile I’ll agree with you that there are not many job opportunities in Peoria, especially for people with felonies on their record. These young men need to want to change their lives before anyone is going to hire them. They have to be determined to make a better life for themselves. Without that type of drive and focus, it would be too easy for them to slip back into their old ways. Making that initial phone call to Angel Cruz is just the first step. They need to be committed from that point on for this to work. Nothing works unless you do too. RustyPete001
DeleteI was not even sure what the call in was all about. I have lived in the Peoria area my whole life and have never heard of it. I understand that this has been going on for about 5 years, but I am shocked that the community is not more aware of it. I love the idea of what it is supposed to be, but they kept talking about these young men need to take the step and get out of that life and get a job. Let's think about this realistically. They want these CONVICTED felons to get a job but we all know that must if not all jobs do not want felons at their jobs. Whether it is out of fear or that they know they won't be sticking around. Now does that mean every felon is a horrible person? Well no, but a lot of people are not going to make that step to better themselves. People can not always be blaming on how people are raised saying their dad wasn't there, or the mom was a crack head. We all have something from our childhood that was not the best but here we are, in college writing about this. People truly have to want it. We can give them speeches and resources but they have to be the ones to make that change. For most of them, they don't have the courage to make that change. That is the truth. hotfox003
ReplyDeleteIt is very hard on felons who are trying to become productive citizens and the attached stigma of being incarcerated is overwhelming especially if you are already poor. There should be real chances provided to these people otherwise just another caste....FeeingYou345
ReplyDeleteI wasn’t sure what to expect when going to the don’t shoot call in. I thought the whole idea behind trying to make the offenders see that if they mess up that they are going to jail for even longer was a good idea. However I can see where there are problems with the program because if the offenders aren’t wanting to change then it’s going to be useless for them. I did like that there several different people to talk to the men but I can see where they would lose interest in listening to everyone talk. When the mayor was talking and made the comment “What does this 60 year old man know about my life and what I’ve been through, but I do” as a white middle class person I can’t even relate to the mayor so I know dang well that a African American convict won’t take him serious. Helping these men obtain their GED is a great part to the program, but feel that there are elements that are missing that will keep this program from really being a success in Peoria County. It would be interesting to see how many of the men actually take the help that the city is wanting to give them. Pie001,002,004
ReplyDeleteGoing into the Dont Shoot call in, I was not sure what to expect or what I would see. It was definitely an interesting event to be at though. Seeing everything that they offer to guys to try and help them get their lives back on track is a nice thing to see. The criminal justice program is truly working on making sure that offenders do not end up in prison. I would really like to see the numbers though of how many people who go through this program are able to stay out of trouble and are actually able to get a job. I saw the sheriff at an event a couple days later and I stopped to talk to him about the event and he said how exhausting those events are and how they tell these guys over and over that they need to get their act straight and these guys just stare blankly at them while they talk. He did say though that he can tell that they know that him and the police chief are serious when they say they will be watched and go back to prison if they are caught with a gun. It was also interesting listening to Nate Terry talk about how he had spent time in prison and how he was able to change and find his identity. Hopefully these guys will be able to do the same for their community. hawkshockey004
ReplyDeleteThe don't shoot call in was very enlightening and was very well taken care of. They police knew how serious this event was and made it a point to make sure to keep the most violent offenders from acting out. The whole program is a great idea but sadly most offenders won''t think twice about it. I like to hear the stories like Nate Terry who survived a life of crime and being a most violent offender. I would like to say that they had this done very well. The pastor I was a little confused on because I couldn't tell if he had a dark last or not but nonetheless, he still had a great testimony. Most of the call in was a great experience for what I want my future to be. It showed me how the most violent offenders will act when I will have to deal with them. I would like to return to that meeting to see if they will have different guys or not the next time. I'm glad that someone is looking out for the bettering of Peoria with such a good manner. No protesting, no hate crimes, just trying to stop criminals from being criminals again, or must rather repeat offenders. Flannel002
ReplyDeleteI was not at all sure what to expect going to this call in on Thursday night. I did not realize it was going to be that many people, and I also did not realize that so many “high-ups” were going to be there, such as the mayor. As these men walked into the room, there were some that were clearly there to avoid any punishment that could be thrown their way, and I actually saw one that was holding back a smile. I’m not sure what there is to smile about in their situations, but hopefully this call in made a difference. The cry of pain was especially impactful in my opinion. The lady that spoke is still in the process of mourning her sisters murder that took place in 2000, and her emotional story moved me, and I can’t imagine that it did not move at least a few of the men that were sitting in the room. Another speaker was a man named Nate, a man that spent a decade in a prison cell, and while he was in prison, he found and accepted Christ into his life, forever changing how he thinks and acts. He gave up his previous lifestyle that included gang affiliation and violence, and was forever changed. This goes to show that anyone can find peace and go down the right path in life. As the police chief said, they have high hopes of getting a handful or so of those men to reach out and seek help in whatever circumstances they are in, so I think that these Don’t Shoot call-ins are a good way to get these men back into society and away from the violence that they are so often involved in from day to day. They may have a lot ahead of them, but with the group of people that spoke at Don’t Shoot, they have a lot of help to seek as well.
ReplyDeletegh_blackhawks002, 001
The don’t shoot program was actually very interesting and was very happy that I got the chance to sit in with the individual’s getting talked to. It was very nice to hear also how the sheriff, chief, and other people went about their business. They were very convincing and meant everything they were saying. Going into the don’t shoot I really didn’t know what to expect. When I was told that there was going to be 18 individual’s they were going to talk to so that they can convince them this is their last chance to start a good path for themselves. I don’t know if this program will work just because the fact I feel it is very hard for these individual’s to get on the right track. Many of them don’t get fair treatment even though they want to do well. In Peoria in general I don’t know if there is many jobs that would hire them so it makes it very tough for those guys trying to get on the right track. I think the biggest thing is to help these people get their education. If they start getting educated then get their GED that will be the start of many things. Most of the people there were more than likely brought up to violence and drugs so they went to the streets for the family type of atmosphere. They don’t get taught at a young age the right way to behave or act. Then after that they have to get a job so that they can support their family because if the job they get doesn’t then they will just go back to what they use to do. Overall there needs to be more opportunities for these citizens because if not they will just end up to their old ways.CRC001,CRC002.
ReplyDeleteThe Don’t Shoot call in pretty much went how I had expected it to go. It’s encouraging to know that we are trying to help these young men if they are willing to put forth the effort. However, I’m not sure putting them in that situation is the best way to convey that message. As I try to put myself in their shoes, being embarrassed and lectured in front of a group of people that look nothing like me and don’t know what I’ve been through wouldn’t put me in the best frame of mind to take the first steps in turning my life around. I understand that these guys are felons and they opened themselves up to this through their actions. I also understand that we do need to put a stop to the gun violence in Peoria and I think the Don’t Shoot program is a great way to reach out to these young men. I’m just not so sure that this public berating is necessary for the program to be successful. I thought Chief Mitchell spoke very well while addressing the crowd before the guys were called in and he made some very good points about who was responsible for the shootings last year. Showing the pictures of that little boy was a good way to try and hit home for some of those guys and make them realize how foolish they’re being with guns. Every speaker after him, besides Nate Terry, mirrored what he said. At one point it felt to me like we were beating a dead horse. I think they got the message. There wasn’t much need to have different people repeat the same things. I think that may have led to some of the guys becoming disinterested. Another thing I wanted to bring up was our attire for this event. I completely understand that we were there to represent our school and to try and impress potential future employers, but if we are there to try and relate to these guys and make them feel like they’re an important part of our community, shouldn’t we have tried to look a little more casual? I don’t mean that we should dress down for the people we’re dealing with because that’s offensive. I just thought that maybe by dressing up with collared shirts and ties that we might be adding to the strain they already feel from the rest of the community. All in all it was a good experience and I’m glad I went. I hope this method continues to be a success for the city of Peoria. RustyPete001
ReplyDeletetheDon’t shoot call-in to me was totally different then what I expected. I expected them to be with in the audience and not being called out in front of everyone technically. It was very encouraging knowing that our community and leaders of our community really wants to support these men that have done wrong in their past. Since we couldn’t see their faces, I tried to notice their body language more. I was focusing on those young men that really took it in and I could tell they wanted to change their lives. Some were crying and wiping away their tears and some had their arms crossed like they didn’t care. Having this program for these men seemed almost enlightening. Don’t shoot program really reaches out to these men by trying to get them back on their feet, job, education possiblies, and more. Chief talked first, and addressed to the men what they were going to talk to them about. It was nice because the presenters acted like we (as an audience) were never there. When the woman that was the voice of pain, that made me tear up; very brutal and un-humanlike to treat someone of that way. It hit home for me when Nate Terry talked and the pastor. While Mr. Terry was speaking, I think the men really dialed in because he was someone that actually did it and overcame the obstacles to move on from his bad past and actually become himself again. Anpcougs002
ReplyDeleteWhen going to the Dont Shoot call in i wasn;t exactly sure what to expect because i didnt know what was going on, but as i was there i was glad that i went. It was very interesting to hear from everyone that was speaking and what they had to say. I was glad to know that we have a a program like this because it shows the men that the community really does care and wants them to do well. I couldn't see their bodies well enough to know everyones reaction but from what i could tell, some of the men really took this seriously but some didnt. I really liked how many opportunities these men were given to try and change their life around. There was a program for them men to help them get back on their feet and to fit in well with the community without using violence. I am glad we have the Dont Shoot program because it is giving the men another chance to start doing things right and it shows the men that there are many people supporting them and are willing to help them get onto the right path to fit into the community without using violence. bball001, bball002, bball005
ReplyDelete