From a press release:
PEORIA PROMISE FOUNDATION HIRES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Peoria Promise Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of Tara Gerstner as the organization’s first Executive Director effective October 1st.
Tara brings a strong marketing and leadership background in both corporate and nonprofit management to this position. She has led the revitalization of established programs and has experience in the creation and implementation of both marketing and development programs. She has a number of honors from past assignments and is consistently recognized for her intelligence, passion, and energy.
Tara is a native of Chester, IL and comes to Peoria with her husband, Dr. Greg Gerstner, and their two young children. She graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2001 and obtained an MBA in marketing from University of Texas at San Antonio in 2004.
“We are very excited and fortunate to have Tara as our new Executive Director. She will significantly increase awareness about Peoria Promise in the community and increase the much needed community investment and support we need to grow and be successful”, says Mayor Jim Ardis, President of the Peoria Promise Foundation Board of Directors.
Ken Zika, Treasurer of the Peoria Promise Foundation Board of Directors, states, “The hiring of Tara demonstrates the Peoria Promise Foundation’s commitment to the future opportunities of this remarkable program which provides stimulating economic growth potential to Peoria and its residents.”
For more information on the Peoria Promise Foundation please visit www.peoriapromise.com.
“PEORIA PROMISE IS…
• Economic development in your community:”from their website
“She will significantly increase awareness about Peoria Promise in the community and increase the much needed community investment and support we need to grow and be successful” from Mayor What’s-he-do?
What is Ardis talking about? Community investment… from where? By whom? Support? What kind of support other than investment? And who is the “We” that needs to grow?
Anyone want to invest in Peoria Promise?
Kcdad – I don’t always see things as you do but I am with you on this one. NO! I am not interested in investing in Peoria Promise.
why not?
… zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
…That depends on who is controlling [my] investment. The same group responsible for putting Peoria in the red? The same [museum] group looking to highjack a few million from local taxpayers? I don’t think so.
I’m all for giving local student a leg up. So why didn’t the city give a high sign to local students and let them design the new city logo with a scholarship? The students couldn’t have made any worse or unimaginative designs than did the company hired.
This is the Peoria Promise of sending District 150 kids to schools they are not qualified to attend…. ICC is overflowing with students that can neither read nor write a coherent statement, they can not express their thoughts in words that are coherent in a speech or simple declaratory statement. They do not have study skills or the intellectual curiosity to carry out a 2 year academic program. If they do not drop out, they will spend up to two years just taking the foundational courses that are prerequisites to take the core courses required.
I still don’t get it… why someone with a marketing degree?
Are you sure that all District 150 kids can be lumped into your very inclusive statement? I think that a significant number of academically proficient students from all over the city do go to ICC for two years before going to 4-year colleges. Besides there are some stipulations, aren’t there. However, I guess students just have to have gone to 150 schools for all 12 years–the plan would be better if attendance records and/or grades were, in some way, added to the qualifications for participation.
The funding of this program is all private donations.
PEORIA PROMISE IS…
• Economic development in your community: Our economy is directly influenced by the level of education and skills of the work force. Similar programs in communities like ours have seen: – Better-educated local workforce and corresponding income level increases – Reduced dropout rate and increased high school graduation rate – Increased college attendance and completion rate with narrowing of attendance gap by income and race. – 10% enrollment gain following decades of declining enrollment – 70% of funded students stay in the community – Housing market improvement: Homes sold rose almost 7%, compared to about 5% regional decline. Community median home price rose almost 4%. – Increased tax revenues through population growth.
• A foundation for the future: A scholarship program for tuition and mandatory fees paid during attendance at Illinois Central College (ICC).
• The community giving back to the community: Funded entirely by individual citizens and businesses of Peoria.
• For everyone: Any student who lives in Peoria and graduates from a public high school is eligible; no minimum high school grade point average (GPA) is required to apply.
• Just beginning: Watch for more information in school newsletters, local media, and the Peoria Promise web site.
Peoria Promise
Peoria Promise is a 2-year scholarship to ICC for every Peoria city public school graduate. But Peoria Promise is much more than scholarship program, it is a catalyst to making Peoria an even greater community.
Who is eligible?
Residents of the City of Peoria who graduate from a public high school (Richwoods, Woodruff, Manual, Central, Dunlap, Limestone, Peoria Heights, Peoria Alternative or other specialized public schools) are eligible beginning with the class of 2008. Non- City of Peoria residents (i.e., West Peoria) who live within District 150 boundaries and attend and graduate from a District 150 high school also qualify for Peoria Promise. Peoria Promise will begin in Fall 2008.
What kind of grades are required to take advantage of Peoria Promise?
There is no minimum high school GPA to qualify for the opportunity Peoria Promise offers. However, you must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA while at ICC.
What does Peoria Promise pay for?
Peoria Promise pays tuition and mandatory fees. Students may qualify to receive federal financial aid for college-related expenses and must apply for assistance at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov Additional financial assistance is available through ICC. More information regarding financial assistance options is available at the ICC financial aid office located on the East Peoria campus or at http://www.icc.edu/scholarships. Maximum funding will be approved for up to two years or at the completion of a degree or certificate, whichever comes first.
How are funds disbursed?
Funds are paid directly to the educational institution.
Do all students receive the same benefit?
The scholarship benefit will be pro-rated based on length of attendance using the following scale:
Total length of attendance is the total years of enrollment in an eligible school along with city residency that can be verified through school records.
How do students apply?
Students become eligible for Peoria Promise by:
1) Completing ICC’s online application process at http://www.icc.edu; and
2) Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. This must be done by June 1st to receive funding beginning in the fall semester (classes begin in mid August) or by September 15 to receive funding beginning in the spring semester (classes begin in mid January).
YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED!
Volunteer
Peoria Promise is a volunteer organization. Your participation in this community initiative will ensure that funds and mentors are available to our community’s youth. There are many different opportunities ranging from marketing to fundraising to clerical support. Please contact Peoria Promise for more information or to volunteer.
Donate
Peoria Promise is funded by the community for the community. Your dollars will make a difference.
“Your” dollars always make the difference
You give these to 150 students but not Notre Dame. You give these to Dunlap who isnt even in 150 but yet no to Notre Dame. Many Catholic organizations give you big $$ but no Notre Dame. Maybe its just me but allowing Dunlap in where the is a lot of $$ but not Notre Dame who pays 150 taxes, come on
I hope Peoria Promise checks on what I heard the other day. Students register for classes, have Peoria Promise pay for it, then drop the class early enough in the semester so they (the student) recieves the reimbursement for the cost of the class. Money in their pocket, and not attending class.
Peoria Promise is a joke. Just another excuse to raise the cost of tuition and other fees…
There are so many things wrong with this program. I have had one son have access to it and two more coming. Now I know the tricks they play with the money in regards to students, so I’m a better informed consumer.
Sure some kids drop out and I find it hard to believe they can collect any cash for unfinished classes. I am also sure it helps some kids get a start or foothold in college and further their studies. My son got a 2 yr scholarship to ICC from what was then CILCO. They had a little known scholarship for any kid but you had to have a certain GPA in high school to qualify. The sad part is, that a lot of ICC course credits do not transfer to most Universities or Colleges. When my son went to ISU, many of his ICC classes were irrelevant and to his dismay, he had to retake many courses. As for Notre Dame not qualifying. Big deal. ND likes to rub in our District 150 faces all the time and every time one of ND soccer, swim, or whatever team finishes at least in 5th place, Peoria has to provide a fire truck ride trough town. Any parent who can afford the $2500+ a year to send their kid to ND most likely isn’t even considering ICC (Harvard on the Hill) as a choice for their kid over a 4 year college.
Depends on what your student is taking. ICC has accredited courses, but not all colleges accept all coursework, based on curriculum and major. Most general ed classes will transfer, including 1st and 2nd year English and Math courses, and foreign language, of course. Pretty much anything you can CLEP. Elective courses are another subject.
I do know for a fact that Bradley University will accept a total of 66 units in transfer from another university.
However, I should point out that I entered 4 year after attaining an Associates Degree. With an AA, the first two years disappear, no matter what, as long as the college where it was issued is accredited.
College accreditation is as meaningless as teacher certification. it is bureaucratic payoff. Certificates do not make teachers and accreditation does not make colleges good.
They both part of the process to turn education into a commodity to be bought and sold, and traded like a bushel of soy beans or worthless junk bonds.
College accreditation is as meaningless as teacher certification. it is bureaucratic payoff. Certificates do not make teachers and accreditation does not make colleges good.
They are both part of the process to turn education into a commodity to be bought and sold, and traded like a bushel of soy beans or worthless junk bonds.
This program is an incentive for youth to stay in school and continue to get some education. There are those who would not have gotten any college education without this program. It is privately funded and open to childre in Peoria, remember Peoria has several school districts within its boundaries. With the shrinking government budgets, this will become an important resource. Education is the means to get out of poverty. Generally it’s the only means.
You should check out the apartment complex at ICC’s campus. It has turned into a “party central” slum. I wouldn’t allow any member of my family to live there. Since all these “poor” students are getting a FREE education, they are going into debt to live in this apartment complex….you know, party, party, party….that’s the education they want….trust me. Police practically live there because of all the calls. Borderline dangerous, but hey, at least they’re in SCHOOL.
Actually Paul, it is more like an incentive to remain a juvenile delinquent. ICC has turned into a “hangout” till they “kick you out”, sadly.
is commodity prices (soy beans) and junk bond prices are near or at all time highs. Just another example of charlie not knowing about what he is speaking . Getting students to take their education seriously is a challenge. Knowing a college “opportunity” exists helps squash the notion of “I can’t”. It may not be a perfect program, but it’s a positive start. Tie state aid to academic performance or community service, quit giving away entitlements with no accountability.
@ the truth…well said.
@ Charlie…and your degree is from…..?
@ Paul…Education IS the only way to free your mind from the poverty of ignorance.
@the “truth”
So is unemployment, cost of living, the gap between the top 1% and the rest of us, and the percentage of people in poverty…
@FredrickSmith
Yes Education is, schooling is not. There is very little “education” going on in schools.
ICC nerd. I never understood why a community college needed dorms to begin with. I have heard about the thugs hanging there. Is that a symptom of Peoria Promise, or is that a reflection of what Peoria attracts from Chicago and what multiplies most in the city.
RE: party party party….same could be said of dorms and frats at a number of universities well. It’s a life stage. acceptable or not, it exists. I would suggest a better screening process by ICC on who lives in the dorms and even who attends the institution. Bottom line, if you truly want to better yourself, that is where is begins, behavior.
@ fredrick…naw. there are the flukes…great aunt mable left you $10 million or that there might actually be a winning lottery ticket. there is also hard work and entrepreneurship…those are underated and undervalued, I fear. Look at past immigrants who came over, started with nothing and built themselves and their families up. 🙂
Paul: The majority of students living in the campus apartments are Peoria kids. VERY few are from outside of Peoria. It has literally been taken over by young people that have never been taught OR never learned how to be a good neighbor. Lots of illegal activities going on over there. I knew a past RA and he said he wouldn’t go near that place after dark, it’s that dangerous. Just think about it, once an apartment complex has gone Section 8, very few law abiding citizens want to live there. I am not saying Section 8 people are “bad”, what I am saying is that many of them have their teenage and young adult children running the place, while the leasee is at work all day. Idle hands…..
Say it! Please say it ICC Nerd. The apartment complexes have been taken over by blacks?
Emtronics: Get a life!
Hey Randy, What’s a “blacks”?
Hmm… what a Section 8 tenant might be like these days:
http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2010/08/02/no-more-slum-slumming-for-section-8-recipients/
@Emtronics…I realize there are inequities, but that was uncalled for. People who are in section 8 housing are all races, not just black. I’m not saying that “white Flight” isn’t responsible for many of the problems we have in world today, but it gets old when you take everything out of context. Welcome to the 21st century, where the only thing holding you back in this world is you. Not your color, not your religion, not your national origin. Just you. Don’t believe me? Ask Carl Cannon. Take a look around you. We have many successful people of all races here. Four out of six City Council persons are from “minority” groups (Montelongo, Gulley, Van Auken, and Turner), and there is a man of African American heritage in the White House, not to mention the many other minority persons who have filled or are filling key positions in our country. Colin Powell, Condolezza Rice come immediately to mind, but there are others. We have Senators and Congressmen from all ethnic and racial backgrounds in this country, and the sooner we all realize we are trying to make this a better place to live, the sooner things will get better. There will always be people of narrow minds, and they will always be the minority, as they always have in the past. The key is to not play their game. Or to put it another way, “I’m looking at the man in the mirror, I’m asking him to change his ways.” Ring any bells for you?
Hey, this poster comes here, ICC nerd, and posts about how bad the complexes are at ICC and then refers to them as if they were section 8. They are not. Of course I realize that all kinds of people of all races live in section 8 and even Mahkno’s posted link shows they don’t have to be slums. So, I asked a friend of mine who would know about the dorms at ICC as to whether they were as bad as I am being told here. He says: “No way” He told me they have had some problems there but they aren’t even close to dangerous. Still, ICC nerd is spouting they are so I have to ask where this poster is going. and I did. ICC nerd could have simply replied to my question but instead told me to “get a life!” Once again, when one expresses an opinion that one doesn’t like, it’s get a life. I asked a simple question. True a question one wouldn’t normally ask in a public forum but I am sure people here reading that don’t reply may have wondered. So…?
Mr. Smith, thanks for the history lesson. Like I don’t know what century this is or the great achievements of people in our history. Pat yourself on the back. None of you here really know me or the life I lead. I asked a question. I really thought it was what ICC nerd was alluding to.
BTW, please don’t school me on minorities on the city council. I don’t buy into Afro-American anything and in fact labels in our society today are really what keeps us separate. Why do we need special groups of color in the 21st Century? In fact, in a few years, I will be a minority.
ICC Nerd – how many people from Peoria Promise are actually in classes with you? How many people from Peoria Promise are actually black and from Peoria? Do you have any idea?
Interesting that Fredrick Smith is touting a post racial America and holding up members of the President and Peoria City Council as an example of such. That’s rich.
Emerge: I agree and I hope that when I asked the question in my earlier post that I was merely trying to feel out what exactly ICC nerd was so uptight about at ICC, I was mis-understood by some. Apparently I was by Smith and nerd.
Wait illegal activities go on at colleges? College dorms are always gross thats part of the college experience. Throw a bunch of different people in a gross environment and let them have at it.
@Emtronics and Emerge – My apologies to you both if you thought I was trying to “school” you. But I wasn’t the one who brought race into the discussion. ICC mentioned Section 8, Emtronics brought up the “blacks” taunt. My bad for using the “African American” tag…won’t try to be PC again. Here on the last day of Black History month, I guess I am a little tired of one minority insisting on separate celebrations, separate recognitions, and special treatments when everyone else is just trying to get by. I totally agree we don’t need colors or races or religions to define individuals, don’t need to see each other as anything other than people.
So, if you believe this too, why make the taunt? Or why not use the word “poor” instead?
Fred: It wasn’t a taunt per se. I thought nerd’s posts were taunts. Can you see that point of view? I wanted to see what he (I assume nerd is a he) was driving at with the “trouble” and “dangerous conditions” at ICC dorms. I know that at ISU, the dorms were full of animals who partied all the time and if you left anything of value out, it was gone. With that said and the fact the it was mentioned “Peoria” kids, I wanted to see what he was driving at. A dorm is a dorm is a dorm.
BTW ICC recruits out of state (and even out of the country… if you can believe that?)
so on campus housing is a good selling point.
Although for the life of me I can’t think of any reason why someone would attend a community college away from their community…. oops, yes I can… scholarship money.
We are effectively bribing kids to go to school these days and then giving them little reason to complete the programs… or even to participate in them.
@Emtronics…Fair enough.
EmergePeoria
February 28, 2011 at 6:45 am
Interesting that Fredrick Smith is touting a post racial America and holding up members of the President and Peoria City Council as an example of such. That’s rich.
MEANT TO SAY: Interesting that Fredrick Smith is touting a post racial America and holding up members of the Peoria City Council and the President as an example of such. That’s rich.
If I offended, that is not what I meant to do. Sometimes I try so hard not to be a bigot, I ending up being a bigot.
@Emtronics, I know the problem well, been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and you did not offend me in the least.
@Emerge, thank you for the name correction, I do appreciate the respect. As to post racial America, it’s got to start somewhere. Why not here? As good as place as any, and if it “Plays in Peoria”…well, you get the idea.
Back at the subject at hand: How much did they hire this woman for? Doesn’t paying someone start to make this bureaucracy something that will grow and grow and end up providing nice cushy jobs to some politician’s wives and few funds for students? Or, is she not being paid at all?
So apparently a discussion of the deplorable state of ICC student housing is not up for discussion, lest you be considered a racist. Thanks for making sure that CJ’s commenters tow your line, Emerge and Emtronics.
Emerge: I don’t know how many are black, but I think they are all from Peoria.
What I do know, is that it is HUGE money maker for ICC. MOST of these students get assigned to 6 or more classes of remedial classes that don’t count towards a certificate or degree and even when they do get into core courses or Gen Eds they are at a huge disadvantage. The basic skills levels of many of these kids is 5th and 6th grade at best.
For many it is just another opportunity to fail the system.