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JOLIET, IL – Dec. 9, 2024. Joliet Township Government is proud to announce that LeShae Hudson, MHS, Violence Prevention Council Coordinator (VPCC), will receive the 2024 Empowered Person Empowerment Award at the Community Stakeholders Holiday Breakfast. The event, hosted by Empowered People Church and the Empowerment Center, will take place on December 12, 2024, at the Empowerment Center in Park Forest. This celebration honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the Southland community. The Empowerment Center provides vital services to strengthen the community, offering resources related to violence prevention, mental health, youth development, and more. 

LeShae is recognized for her exceptional efforts in building partnerships with the Greater Illinois Violence Prevention organizations. As VPCC for Joliet Township, she has led initiatives like the Racial Equity Impact Assessment League (REIAL), Municipality Tours, and Reimagine Village. 

In addition to this upcoming recognition, LeShae was awarded the Collaborative Excellence in Prevention Award by Prevention First in September 2024. This award acknowledged her leadership and efforts to foster collaboration across organizations working to reduce gun violence and improve community health. 

In response to the January 2024 Romeo Nance incident, LeShae mobilized the coalition to provide critical services and created the Emergency Response Protocol, which helps organizations work together during gun violence incidents. LeShae also coordinates Municipality Tours, where Illinois communities share best practices in violence prevention, and through Reimagine Village, she meets with fellow VPCCs to collaborate across municipalities. 

“An honor should never be received as ‘I’, but always as ‘US’ and ‘WE’!” said LeShae. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work of the many partners who are committed to making our communities safer and more resilient. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made through collaboration and look forward to continuing our efforts to prevent gun violence across Illinois.” 

The 2024 Empowered Person Empowerment Award recognizes LeShae’s leadership in creating lasting partnerships to reduce gun violence and improve community safety. 

For more information about Joliet Township Government’s efforts, visit Joliet Township CVI Council. 

We’re Hiring! Join us to reimagine violence prevention in Illinois. Make a lasting impact as a Participant Services Supervisor with our Community Violence Intervention team. Help create positive change in our community! Learn more and apply: bit.ly/JTJobs

Joliet, Illinois – February 29, 2024 – Joliet Township Government proudly announces the approval of an intergovernmental agreement between the Township government and the City of Joliet, marking a significant stride forward in the Joliet African American Context Study. This momentous decision was unanimously supported by the Joliet Township Government Board, comprised of Supervisor Angel Contreras and Trustees Tanya Arias, Cesar Escutia, Ray Slattery, and Antione Edwards, during their meeting on February 13, 2024. 

The City of Joliet has received a $21,000 grant for a historic context study focused on African American heritage. The grant will be administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) through an intergovernmental agreement between the Township government and City. 

Under the approved intergovernmental agreement, Joliet Township Government and the City of Joliet will each contribute an additional $20,000 to the project, complementing the grant funds. These funds will be exclusively dedicated to covering project expenses. 

The objectives of the project are comprehensive, aiming to accurately document Black history, confront past racial injustices through historical narratives, identify and preserve historically significant properties related to the Black community, dispel misinformation regarding the Black experience, and safeguard Black voices for future generations. 

A steering committee will be formed, with Joliet Township Government appointing a Township resident, to actively participate in the project’s decision-making processes. 

Additionally, the project will feature public education events, hosted at the Joliet Area Historical Museum, to disseminate findings derived from the context study.  

The grant agreement with IDNR is slated to expire upon the final project report and deliverables’ approval, or by January 31, 2026, unless otherwise extended. 

This collaborative endeavor underscores the commitment of both Joliet Township Government and the City of Joliet to preserve and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of African Americans in the region, paving the way for a more inclusive and enlightened community.