Community Caring Conference

On Saturday, July 25, 2009 from 11AM – 3PM, the Longview Neighborhood Coalition will host the 6^th Annual Celebrating Longview Community Resource Fair/Block Party at the intersection of 10th Avenue and 14th Street (in front of the Rock Island Primary Academy). 

This fun-filled event will include free food and limited school supplies, grocery give-a-ways, and access to a myriad of resources available to community residents.  Rock Island School District personnel will be present for late registrations and to provide parents with information about the upcoming school year. Rock Island Head Start staff members will also host a booth.

As in the past, our primary goal for this event is to promote community collaboration and involvement among the schools, faith-based organizations, public officials, and local businesses and employers to provide support to the students and families of Longview .  Again, this year’s event will center around the Rock Island Academy that was restructured to address the problem of widespread academic failure.   90% of the students who attend the Rock Island Primary and Intermediate Academies are from families with low income. 

Last year, representatives from Habitat for Humanities, Community Healthcare, Rock Island County Health Department, USDA, Black Hawk College , Kaplan University , Rock Island Fire Department, and the United States Army provided information and opportunities to over 300 residents in the Longview community.   

Since success is the goal for the children attending this full-service community school, we consider it the duty of our entire community to lend a hand.  Rock Island School District personnel will host a registration booth to ensure that all students start school on time. The Hope House Skills and Literacy Center will be on hand to explain its programs and services which are free to the community. Neighborhood organizing staff will be on hand to talk with parents and residents and other stakeholders about becoming more involved.

Please plan to join us and represent your organization at this important event. For more information, please contact me at 309-743-0292, ext. 211 or Angela Richardson at 309-786-0345.  Thank you.

Best,

Kim Callaway-Thompson

Coalition Vice Chair/Event Coordinator

The Longview Celebration is an annual event co-sponsored by the Community Caring Conference, Longview Clergy Association, Rock Island School District 41, Hope House, Greater Antioch Church, First Lutheran Church, Truth Temple, House of Fire Ministries, Longview Clergy Association, and RICCA.