By Josh Bootsma
LANSING, Ill. (March 30, 2022) – The Lansing Human Relations Commission is hosting a community event on April 6 to kick off Child Abuse Prevention Month. The two-part event will start at the Lansing Public Library.
April is nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the month is especially important to Human Relations Commission Chairperson Valerie McDaniels.
Though now retired from her three decades of working in child abuse prevention, McDaniels continues to raise awareness about how to prevent child abuse.
“It’s a community problem when you have child abuse in your neighborhood,” said McDaniels at a Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce lunch in early March.
A community problem requires community solutions, and that’s why the Lansing Human Relations Commission, in partnership with the Village of Lansing and the Lansing Public Library, is hosting the April 6 event.
Growing Better Together
The theme of the event is “Growing Better Together.” Starting at 10 a.m. at the Lansing Library, a public program will include remarks from McDaniels, Lansing Mayor Patty Eidam, Belinda Farr of Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, Dr. Donna Morrison of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Dr. Rena Whitten of High School District 215, Lansing Police Chief Al Phillips, and Anna Callix of GiftsFromLiam.org. Pastors Leroy Childress and Juan Raphael Leon will pray during the event.
Following the program, attendees will be invited to plant blue pinwheels in the ground near both the Lansing Library and the Village Municipal Center. Blue pinwheels are an emblem of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Attendees are also encouraged to wear blue.
The Lansing Public Library is located at 2750 Indiana Avenue, while the Lansing Municipal Center is located at 3141 Ridge Road.
To learn more about preventing child abuse, visit www.preventchildabuseillinois.org. In case of a child abuse emergency, call the DCFS Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE (800-252-2873).
