Kenosha---Pastor Harris is fed up.
After serving for a-quarter century as the Director of the Frank Neighborhood Project, Harris says he’s discouraged to see so little progress in improving living conditions and the lives of children in the central city neighborhood.
Harris isn't blaming cutbacks in government services or low wages. He's pointing the finger at parents.
Harris vented at a community forum hosted by the N-Double-A-C-P at Lincoln Park Thursday night. Although the session was arranged for the purpose of discussing police/community relations, the talk turned to a variety of issues. "I've been in this city for the last 25 years," Harris said. "And some of the same things I've been working on are still going on because parents are not standing up. We're holding everybody responsible except parents."
Afterward, Harris said at times it seems the only thing that draws parents out of their homes in droves is the offer of free food.
Incoming Kenosha County District Attorney Mike Graveley was also at Thursday night's meeting. He suggested that too many people have given up hope and blame others for their problems. "You can write a narrative that says it's hopeless and that trying is just for suckers," Graveley said. "That's a narrative we must change."
Graveley said he's committed to highlighting the stories of people who've changed their lives for the better.
About 70 people attended last night’s forum, including Mayor Antaramian and the police chief.
-0-