Prospering from Poverty: Organization Works to Revitalize Peoria's South Side
By: Kim Behrens
Updated: May 11, 2012
PEORIA--Local Initiatives Support Corporation is one step closer to cleaning up the River City's 61605 zip code.
With a mission to fix up boarded houses and pick up trash, it's the first step in a plan they hope helps beautify the River City.
LISC Midwest Manager Anika Goss-Foster says the change begins by reaching out to people.
"What they would like to see in the future for their community, how do they identify what their priorities are, what's important to them, explained Foster. "Then we create a strategic plan from that."
Foster explained how the organization works with citizens at Peoria City Hall.
Founded in 1980 its cleaned up many cities across the United States.
"It worked in our Chicago office. It's been doing it the longest," added Foster.
That's because members worked directly with residents to find out what the area needed.
A Chicago neighborhood that used to look like a subdivision in Peoria now has a job center.
"That financial opportunity center and the services they provide changes on a regular basis," said Foster. "So while it might have started with providing jobs skills and readiness it also provides them public benefits."
LISC uses grants and donations to attract new businesses and growth.
That's where the Caterpillar Foundation stepped in, giving it three million dollars to get started.
"It was of great interest to the Cat Foundation to invest in this," said organization Vice President Michele Sullivan. "It also goes to the greater Peoria area and it will be far reaching from Peoria itself."
As the wheels begin to turn on plan to provide poor areas with the tools to prosper, those who've experienced the economic change first hand like Irene Weathersby are already reaching out to LISC to help lay the groundwork.
"People that I live by now on the south end near the south end don't believe that they can do it. And I'm down there for a specific reason to let them know, "Hey I did it," said Weathersby. "To live it and come through it...is powerful."
LISC operates in 31 cities across the United States.
Peoria will be its newest office in 15 years.
With a mission to fix up boarded houses and pick up trash, it's the first step in a plan they hope helps beautify the River City.
LISC Midwest Manager Anika Goss-Foster says the change begins by reaching out to people.
"What they would like to see in the future for their community, how do they identify what their priorities are, what's important to them, explained Foster. "Then we create a strategic plan from that."
Foster explained how the organization works with citizens at Peoria City Hall.
Founded in 1980 its cleaned up many cities across the United States.
"It worked in our Chicago office. It's been doing it the longest," added Foster.
That's because members worked directly with residents to find out what the area needed.
A Chicago neighborhood that used to look like a subdivision in Peoria now has a job center.
"That financial opportunity center and the services they provide changes on a regular basis," said Foster. "So while it might have started with providing jobs skills and readiness it also provides them public benefits."
LISC uses grants and donations to attract new businesses and growth.
That's where the Caterpillar Foundation stepped in, giving it three million dollars to get started.
"It was of great interest to the Cat Foundation to invest in this," said organization Vice President Michele Sullivan. "It also goes to the greater Peoria area and it will be far reaching from Peoria itself."
As the wheels begin to turn on plan to provide poor areas with the tools to prosper, those who've experienced the economic change first hand like Irene Weathersby are already reaching out to LISC to help lay the groundwork.
"People that I live by now on the south end near the south end don't believe that they can do it. And I'm down there for a specific reason to let them know, "Hey I did it," said Weathersby. "To live it and come through it...is powerful."
LISC operates in 31 cities across the United States.
Peoria will be its newest office in 15 years.
