Photo by Bruce Rushton Flanked by Vanessa Knox of the Faith Coalition For The Common Good and Nick Dodson of the Sierra Club and Sangamon County Democratic Socialists of America, Susan Allen, a member of the Faith Coalition, tells the press that the sheriff s office shouldn t get an armored vehicle. A coalition of groups ranging from Black Lives Matter to Planned Parenthood is demanding that Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell cancel plans to acquire an armored vehicle. The sheriff s department doesn t need a surplus military vehicle that can withstand mine blasts and is impervious to bullets from high-powered rifles, representatives of 13 groups said at a press conference outside the sheriff s office this week
Mentoring and meeting needs Michael Phelon started The Outlet mentoring program in 2004. It s located on South 12th Street, though this year, the 30 mentors are mostly connecting with youth remotely. The program serves 48 youth from in and around Springfield with a focus on boys and young men from fatherless households. This year, Phelon has seen an enormous amount of personal loss. His mother and uncle died, as did his mentor, Dr. Clarice Ford, and his right-hand man at The Outlet, Marcus Butler Sr. It s been rough for us. Most of the young guys that I work with, they are already coming from hard situations, said Phelon.