Category Archives: Winnebago County
It’s poor judgement and parenting, people…less about race
It’s been a while since I’ve shared my thoughts and concerns about our community – recently, those concerns have been building and I’ve reached a point that I can’t keep quiet any longer.
I’m disturbed by the number of people unwilling to accept responsibility for their, and their offspring’s, actions. Recently, any number of people have been making excuses for why a teen or adult child shouldn’t have received the results their poor choices derived. At what point do we insist that people take responsibility for the havoc and pain they cause? Mourn the outcome, but be accountable and take responsibility for what led to …
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Posted in City of Rockford, Crime, Jobs, Parenting, Poverty, Public safety, Racism, Rockford Police Department, Winnebago County
Tagged Community, Crime, Education, Equity, Kris Kieper, law enforcement, Parenting, race, racism
The way to hope begins with a change in mindset
Ed Wells takes a lot of punishment from people who aren’t interested in looking at an issue from a different perspective. I’ve never met Mr. Wells, but I have empathy for him in the barrage of negative feedback he receives from his articles, you could say we sometimes have that in common. Normally, I find his articles interesting and they make me think. His last article about restoring hope to the hopeless just scratched the surface of the problem with poverty and a life of crime – obviously readers had issues with his perspective.
Mr. Wells writes: “I want to …
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Posted in Crime, Economy, Education, Jobs, Poverty, Winnebago County
Tagged Civic Engagement, Community, Community Development, Crime, Education, Equity, Kris Kieper, Parenting
What are the 50 greatest things about northern Illinois?
I read Fortune’s 100 Great Things about America list today and have to admit I’ve never even heard of some of the “things” and I’ll also admit that more than a few of them wouldn’t even have ranked in the top 500 greatest things on my personal list.
I’m not sure Lady Gaga belongs on any America’s greatest-list (ranked #30) and I find the inclusion of Tupac’s hologram ranked at #12 to be highly suspect (one of those “things” I’ve never heard of). I’m a huge fan of the Pacific Coastal Highway (#58), Hershey’s (#57) and Shark Week (#76). I …
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Posted in Boone County, Cherry Valley, Entertainment, Outdoors and recreation, Winnebago County
Tagged Community, Kris Kieper
It’s All About Winning
Republican/Democrat, race, gender, socioeconomic status, pro-choice/right-to-life, pro-gay marriage/anti-gay marriage, Coke/Pepsi; just look at the articles in any newspaper, blogs and their comments or simply turn on talk radio to see and feel the constant division and tendency to choose the box we want to be tucked into today. For the past two months, I’ve avoided consuming any local news outside the actual newspaper. No blogs, no online comments, no talk radio, nothing. And you know what? I feel better!
Submersing myself on a near daily basis with all the negative people who feel they must put their two cents worth in on …
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Posted in Economy, Education, Health, Immigration, Jobs, Politics, Poverty, Racism, Rockford, Uncategorized, Winnebago County
Tagged Community, Community Development, Equity, Kris Kieper, Politics
Standing Against Racism in Rockford
This week, YWCA’s across the country are Standing Against Racism with a unified voice and are appreciative of the many individuals, businesses and organizations standing with them. Rock Valley College is proudly leading the Rockford stand against racism.
You may be of the opinion that racism is a thing of the past, ending with the civil rights battles and you may believe we’re a much more progressive and sophisticated culture now. If your beliefs fall into this pattern, chances are pretty good that your skin is white and you’re not Asian, Latino, Black or Native American.
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Posted in Racism, Uncategorized, Winnebago County
Tagged Civic Engagement, Community, Education, Equity, Kris Kieper, race, racism
