May 20, 2024
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Joliet Unity Movement to host free party in the park

Annual family friendly event is meant to uplift and support youth

By Denise M. Baran-Unland

Pictured are local youth attending the Joliet Unity Movement's 815 Youth Weekend during a pre-COVID year. The 2021 event, which will be filled with family friendly activities, will be held just one day this year, on Aug. 15. (Photo provided)

Joliet Unity Movement is hosting its annual 815 Youth Day Sunday at 1 p.m. Aug. 15 at Nowell Park’s Gardner Street pavilion in Joliet.

Although the free event is aimed at youth of all ages, board president Willie Ervins said adults are needed at the family friendly event just to support the youth.

Pictured is a previous Joliet Unity Movement's 815 Youth Weekend event that was held in a pre-COVID August. (Photo provided)

“They just hang out,” Ervins said of the adults. “Sometimes they play cards or dominoes.”

Ervins said if youth aren’t surrounded by good role models, they may follow those who will lead them astray.

“The more support they have, the more unlikely they will be to go off and do something wrong,” Ervins said. “They need people to encourage them.”

Event features this year include a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

Joliet Unity Movement held 3 on 3 basketball tournament and Father's Day picnic during a pre-COVID year.

The event will also feature bouncy houses, games, tug-of-war, activity stations, music prizes, The Lil Big Wheel Race, car show, lots of giveaways and a double dutch contest.

Angela Jones (right), a senior at Joliet West High School and a student volunteer for the Joliet Unity Movement, mans the jump ropes for the double dutch jumpoff at the Fairview Housing Development park on a pre-COVID Sunday. The event was made possible through the combined efforts of the Joliet Unity Movement and the Housing Authority of Joliet. (Christine Johnson)

There will even be a talent show on an actual stage.

The Joliet Unity Movement hosted its second annual “815 Youth Weekend of Talent and Growth" on Aug. 15 and 16 several years ago. The many activities included a talent show. A talent show is planned for this year's event, too. (Photo provided)

“There’s something for everyone,” Ervins said.

And free food, too.

“Until we run out,” he added.

Crystal Abbott, president of the resident council for the Fairview Housing Development, grills hot dogs on apre-COVID Sunday at the Fairview Housing Development park. Abbott has been instrumental in working with the Joliet Unity Movement to provide recreational and education activities to the kids in the community. Free food will be provided at this year's event, too. (Christine Johnson)

A news release from the nonprofit said Joliet Unity Movement is now in its eighth year and continued its youth mentoring mission remotely last year, which was challenging.

Last year, the Joliet Unity Movement delivered packages containing food and hygiene and personal protective care packages to the families it served, thanks to the generosity of community supporters, the release said.

Ervins said some pre-COVID 815 Youth Day events lasted an entire weekend and that last year’s event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So Ervins is happy Joliet Unity Movement can host an in-person event this year.

Laughter filled the air as youngsters took the playground on a pre-COVID Sunday at the Fairview Housing Development park. The Joliet Unity Movement and the Housing Authority of Joliet partnered to make this event possible. (Christine Johnson)

“I just hope the [COVID] numbers stay down,” Ervins said.

Previous attendees who have since died will also be remembered at the event, Ervins said. They included Dinesty Tillman, Marcello Dilworth, Jaheim Terry, Floyd Faint Sr., Marcy Flakes, Sandra Evans, Reginald Gooch, Robert Sanchez, Jerome Abbott, Eric Lurry and Reggie Foster, Ervins said in a text message.

Ervins also mentioned the commitment of former board member Loretta Westbrooks, who worked tirelessly for the benefit of all the youth. Westbrooks died in 2019.

The Joliet Unity Movement has begun a scholarship in the name of one its board members, who died in 2019. Loretta Westbrooks (above) believed education was the key to helping disadvantaged youth and pushed for solid resources to help them attain it.

The Joliet Unity Movement has begun a scholarship in the name of one its board members, who died in 2019. Loretta Westbrooks (above) believed education was the key to helping disadvantaged youth and pushed for solid resources to help them attain it. (Photo provided)

For those attending 815 Youth Day for the first day, Ervins said, “you will leave with a fire inside of you.”

To volunteer or donate, call 815-324-2499 or email jolietunitymovement@gmail.com