April 24, 2008. The Florida Times-Union.
The 1,300 believers packed the St. Paul AME Church on New Kings Road from corner to corner.
People of all colors and ages clapped, stood or swayed. A white-robed choir accompanied a band with an organ and a gospel beat.
It could have been a Sunday morning service, but this gathering on Monday night was a multi-congregational call for action in tackling Jacksonville’s crime and education issues. The convening group: ICARE, which stands for Interfaith Coalition for Action, Reconciliation and Empowerment.
“In unity we are gathered as people of faith to let our community leaders know what our priorities are,” said the Rev. Al Esposito of the San Jose Catholic Church. “Because when we work together” – and he paused – “Great things happen,” shouted the crowd.
The audience came from 23 congregations that bused or sent representatives. Their ranks included Baptists, Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians and others from across the city.
They wanted the attention of school and city leaders regarding their issues, and they got it.
Mayor John Peyton attended. So did Duval County schools Deputy Superintendent Patricia Willis, who noted Superintendent Ed-Pratt Dannals missed the meeting due to a trip.
THEIR DEMANDS
ICARE leaders want to see an alternative approach to out-of-school suspensions, particularly in middle schools.
They want five elementary schools identified as pilots to teach reading based on skill level.
They want more after-school youth programs.
They want Matrix House, the county’s inmate substance abuse treatment program, expanded from 135 beds to 300 beds.
And they want to be at the table with the Mayor’s Office and the school system as these issues are discussed and policies pursued.
Both Peyton and Willis agreed to future meetings.
Willis said much of what the group wants is under way in the schools.
Peyton told the group he sided with their goals but could not commit money for the expanded substance abuse effort because of revenue cuts brought on by voters and the Legislature.
FORMED A DECADE AGO
ICARE prides itself in doing its homework, which involves gathering statistics and other details about problems and solutions.
Part of those efforts include meetings with public officials – such as Peyton and Sheriff John Rutherford.
This roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-involved effort leads to stronger communities and progress.
And the sheer numbers of people engaged indicate more than just willing hands: They represent votes that politicians cannot ignore.
WIDER ENGAGEMENT
The ICARE motto of “Working Together Great Things Happen” has a twist of irony in this context.
The group is not engaged with the mayor’s new coalition of ministers aimed at reducing violence, called the Jacksonville Faith Based Violent Crime Reduction Coalition.
And when asked about it, ICARE leaders didn’t seem to know much about that effort.
It’s peculiar that the group would have escaped the city’s outreach, especially when 1,000 people attended a similar ICARE meeting last year.
ICARE speakers Monday did make several references to the mayor’s crime initiative, which is addressing various problems high on the ICARE agenda, such as truancy and rehabilitation of prisoners.
Said Peyton spokeswoman Susie Wiles of ICare: “They are the kind of people any mayor or community would want when they are looking for an army to bring about change.”
There’s so much work that needs to be done to help others in Jacksonville. The needs are great enough that the good works of several such groups could be used.
If Jacksonville is to conquer its crime problems, it will take groups like ICARE with caring people who are willing to act, hold their leaders accountable and make a difference.
WHAT THEY WANT
PROBLEM: High numbers of Duval County students failing or at-risk; low reading achievement and dropout rates, high truancy rates and suspensions.
SOLUTIONS: Curriculum improvements in low-performing elementary schools; develop an alternative to out-of-school suspension similar to a Hillsborough County program.
PROBLEM: High numbers of youth on path to serious crimes.
SOLUTION: Increase after-school programs with academic enrichment.
PROBLEM: Inadequate drug treatment programs for criminal offenders.
SOLUTION: More than double the beds in the Matrix House drug treatment program.
Source: ICARE fact sheet
