Pride in Kankakee

I was recently asked by the Daily Journal in Kankakee to list 10 reasons I was proud to call Kankakee my home. This should appear in the paper within the next week.

Please email kankakeechamber@gmail.com to share your thoughts.

- My job as the Executive Director of the Kankakee Chamber of Commerce is largely focused on the business community, but I find pride in the many steeples that peak above the downtown rooftops. There is something inspiring about worshipping in a building built of stones taken from the ground here. Or maybe it was wood brought to the site by a great-grandfather. But the materials were used to construct sacred places where Kankakeeans have gathered for generations. I take pride in knowing that churches, both new and old, help to make lives whole.

- I am proud of the spirit that Gaines and Sharon Hall have shown in Kankakee. The Halls’ have let us experience what people here in 1901 must have gone through when they first saw Frank Lloyd Wright’s original prairie-style home completed.

I have almost driven off the road at the corner of Eagle and Harrison just thinking about how they turned a sad reminder of days past into an inspiring symbol of what could be for our city.

Sure, I realize not everyone can rehabilitate a Frank Lloyd Wright home, but people are doing their part in hundreds of other homes and it is visible all over the city. As a resident of the Riverview district, I can see that the work the Halls did extends far beyond their property. The spirit I am proud of is alive in the work done on the Dominguez home on Greenwood and the welcome given at the Greys’ home on Chicago.

- Sadly, in Kankakee racial tensions make headlines, but there is another side to the story that I am proud of. It is a side of the story of race in Kankakee that really isn’t all that much of a story.

The story goes like this: In my life in Kankakee I am surrounded by situations in which people of a variety of ethnic backgrounds do better than simply co-exist… they thrive, they form friendships and mutual respect. I am proud that my son is growing up here.

- I am proud of the ambitious people who are investing, rehabilitating and rebuilding Kankakee. These are people with vision who are putting their money and reputation on the line. They take a risk on the continued resurgence of Kankakee. I want to do everything I can to remind them that they have made the right move.

- While I am proud of the core leaders Kankakee has counted on. I am also proud of the people in Kankakee who do the less noticeable work in neighborhoods. Part of the pride I have comes from those who have never given up on their neighborhood. These are authentic community-minded people. These are the individuals who organize neighborhood groups, plant flowers on street corners, welcome newcomers and confront those who need to be confronted. This is many times thankless work … it should not be.

- I have never been wrongly convicted of a capital crime. Regrettably, others in Illinois have experienced that injustice. I am proud to live in the hometown of a man who saw that injustice and made sure that innocent people were not put to death for crimes they didn’t commit.

Sure, opinions on Governor George Ryan’s character and on his death penalty moratorium vary, to say the least. And there are plenty of headlines and TV images I would like to forget. Still, I am proud that it was someone from Kankakee who saw that something was very wrong and did something about it.

- I am proud of our city leaders who have approached the job of directing Kankakee with level heads. While Kankakee’s current leaders have not been perfect, our next leaders will be in a better position when they take over the city because of the sober governing done and hard decisions made by this administration.

- I am proud of our hospitals and the amazing people that comfort us, ease our minds and make us better. Maybe we see a competitive nature at work here, but the benefactors of those efforts are the accident victims, the new parents, the elderly and the community at large.

- I don’t like to paint with too broad of a brush, but in general there is one word that describes many of the people I have known in Kankakee: resilient. Resilience is a character trait that has served Kankakee well. I might be too young to realize how rough Kankakee’s toughest times were, but I am smart enough to notice, appreciate and take pride in the stubborn nature of people who dig in and work at making the place where they live a better place to be. Resilient people aren’t disheartened when they read or hear negative things about their hometown. Instead they are inspired to work at making the situation better. These people should not be underestimated.

- I am proud of Kankakee’s history. This is a source of pride for many in the community who work to preserve historic buildings and gather the relics and stories of our past.

While I am proud of our history I am more proud of what lies ahead for Kankakee. Sure, it might sound strange to be proud of the future, but it is something I am just that sure of. What Kankakee is becoming will be something to take pride in.

A New Team in Kankakee

One of the exciting new developments going on in Kankakee is Windy City Soldiers Basketball. While minor league baseball is popular in many small to mid-sizeed cities around the country the minor leagues of basketball also can bring a fun attraction to town.

As I have gotten to know the Windy City Soldiers I have realized that there is more to this than just playing basketball. I have attached Toby Olszewski's article from the Herald because she really hits it right on the head as far as the impact the Soldiers are having.

I had the chance to suit up with the Soldiers last Friday night for a celebrity game. It was not pretty. While they are nice guys off the court they are not above knocking the glasses off the local Chamber of Commerce director should he make a move to the hole. While I was impressed I was not scared. I will make that move to the hoop again the next chance I get.

More than just basketball
by Toby Olszewski
When Barry Bradford started talking about basing his professional basketball team, the Windy City Soldiers, in the Kankakee Resource Center, it soon became apparent that there was a lot more going on than a game.
Yes, Bradford, an Illinois native who graduated from Country Club Hills High School, wants his team to win the games they will play in the International Basketball League, but, as important to him is the model he and his men can set for the youngsters here.
“We are holding sessions with the young kids in the Kankakee schools, teaching the kids to do the right thing. Our team members will be good role models. Most have other jobs in addition to playing basketball. They are fathers and brothers to their own kids and know what they need,” said Bradford. He said his personal passion is kids. Stopping gang growth is a goal. “You don’t stop gangs by talking to existing gang members. You talk to the 4th, 5th and 6th graders. Get them on the right road and there will be no new members for the gangs and they will disappear,” said
Bradford.
The team talked about settling elsewhere, but, Bradford said, when he came to Kankakee, he felt welcome. Mayor Don Green said, “It is easy to welcome someone with Bradford’s ideas. I agree with his thoughts on the kids. The real winner will be
the community.”
Ron Jackson, director of the Resource Center which used to be the Armory in the 100 block of N. Schuyler, said the partnership with the Windy City Soldiers started about six months ago. “We are excited to have them as part of Kankakee and Kankakee County.”
Mikal Duilio, commission of the IBL, said his group has been in existence about five years and the 2008 season, which will begin in March 2008, has taken off well.
“It is well-structured and answers the problem facing NBA games. They are too long. With all the time-outs and other time wasting, a game can be three hours long, much too long for most families. We looked to make it better and shorten it a bit.
This season, the fourth, will feature those changes. Only one time out a quarter per team is allowed. Referees must inbound quickly. The result is an active, physical game that is fun to watch. Players play more than they wait around and the average scoring per game is 127 points per team.
Duilio acknowledged that the games are not watched by crowds of thousands, but the spectators who came loved the excitement. “The games flow and the fans are into it,” said Duilio. As one sportswriter said, “Welcome back to rock and roll basketball.”
The league has 22 teams and have added two teams from China. Teams are based all across the country and Canada. Duilio said that the Windy City Soldiers will be looking for sponsors and support. “They are a pro team and they are building. They will add luster to the community. I have a good feeling about the connection this team will have in the community,” said Duilio.
The team is a family affair. Bradford’s wife, Aisha, is president of operations. Brother Jay Bradford is the coach and his wife, Yoko, is his assistant. Eric Minor is an assistant coach and in charge of personnel. Brother-in-law Jamel Chavers is a player and in charge of image and finance. He is assisted by his wife, Nicole. Valencia Ballard is director of operations.
The team includes three Olivet Nazarene students, Zachary Birkey, Stan Chismark and Eric Rhinehart. All in all, the team definitely has a family feel. Their goal is
winning, but their ultimate aim is to help and entertain families. That’s something that is definitely needed in professional sports. You can check out the Windy City Soldiers at www.iblhoopsonline.com.
They will play a celebrity game at King Junior High School in Kankakee on Jan. 11, 2008 and a Kankakee County Police versus WCS at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School on Feb. 16. To find out about sponsorship opportunities, contact Bradford at
1-708-785-HOOP (4667).

New Roles

In the last couple months I have gone from being the "Unofficial Kankakee Ambassador" (a title I gave myself in a not-so-serious way) to someone who has official responsibilities and duties.

I am now wearing a few hats. Generally, I hate this sort of "hat" analogy, I like to consider it a hat, glove and scarf combo that go together pretty well.

I am in an Economic Development role with the City as well as being the Executive Director of the Kankakee Development Corporation. The role I am in that has gathered the most attention is the Executive Director of the new Kankakee Chamber of Commerce. This is a new organization that is focused on the City of Kankakee and Aroma Park. The new organization has come into being after the Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce left downtown Kankakee. The idea is to move beyond the initial frustrations that caused the group to form and focus on getting to work on Kankakee-oriented projects and building cooperation around the region.

This really is a dream job for me and in a way I wish it would have come to be in a way that was without controversy. In the end, I am confident that I have been true to myself in taking a stand for the City of Kankakee. My feelings on this were best summed up by my Dad's cousin Dawn. She sent me a letter after I had taken this position and had received press that wasn't always positive. She wrote: "When someone says something negative about Kankakee it is as if they are saying something about a family member."

I feel the same way. Kankakee is my home and in a way a part of my family. When someone is family you love them despite faults ... to me this City is the same way. Kankakee isn't perfect, but neither am I. One of the great things about this job is that people from all walks of life in our area have shared with the desire they have to make our City as great as it can be. There are so many good things happening here ... and so many more to come.

Kankakee Video

Click here to watch the video on the Kankakee Public Library site.

This video was put together by the creative minds (Nicholas Garcia, Vicki Stankewicz and Stephen Bertrand) at the Kankakee Public Library. The song "Kankakee" was written by Andrew Osenga and appears on his "Photographs" cd. The "Kankakee" video has proven quite popular. It really captures the City of Kankakee. If I didn't live here already I would want to after watching this.