Peoria Program Gives Back to South Side Neighborhoods One Trash Can at a Time

Clean spaces bring a bright future for neighborhoods on the south side of Peoria, thanks to one program in particular.

The Tri-County Urban League (Peoria, IL) has revived their summer employment program after they previously lost it to federal funding.

This locally sponsored program is the called Tri-County Urban League Summer Youth Employment program, and it is meant to help students within the area build a better future for themselves.

Denise Jackson, a member of the Tri-County Urban League, said it is a way to help the youth in the Peoria School district.

“[We want the program to] not only employ young people during the summer, but also to teach them leadership skills, community service involvement, and to connect the young people with the educational programs,” she said.

Three days a week, students get paid $12 an hour to clean pieces of trash in neighborhoods on the south side.

Jackson added in addition to the neighborhood clean-up, students learn about financial responsibility.

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