Heart & Soul sparks community interest

“Galesburg Heart & Soul… and so we begin.” Those words were on the last slide of a presentation held last night in the Orpheum Theatre.

More than 200 people showed up to hear the findings of several focus groups that had met earlier to discuss their thoughts on the opportunities and concerns surrounding Galesburg.

Cecilia Tank, who led the presentation, tells WGIL the two-year project is meant to unify Galesburg.

“The community has said they want to see change,” Tank says. “The community has said there are things that need to change within this community and throughout this year, throughout these focus groups, we started this whole process this of Heart & Soul, that’s what we want to build Heart & Soul is about bringing the community together.”

Among the topics of concern, as was pointed out by panel leaders and community members last night, was the town’s veiled racism and failure to recognize its own diversity.

GHS senior and Heart & Soul volunteer Megan Anderson says her sister, who has biracial children, has suffered discrimination.

“I’ve seen a lot of racism towards my family,” Anderson says, “and I knew it was there, but once I heard these focus groups and once I saw things from them, I actually realized that is a large problem in Galesburg.”

The next phase of the program involves further sharing among the community.

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