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ELITE Teen Group Graduates from New Summer Camp Program

The inaugural graduating class of the Elite/Design Summer Camp.
Kristin McHugh / WCBU
The inaugural graduating class of the Elite/Design Summer Camp.

It's graduation day for an elite group of Peoria teens. 

The 14 young men are part of the Peoria Park District's inaugural ELITE/Design Summer Camp. The program identified teens within the juvenile court system who were also at high risk of joining a local gang. All completed a six-week course focused on leadership and community service.

The Peoria Park District's Carl Cannon founded ELITE. He said today's ceremony is more than a graduation. It's a promotion to making goals and keeping them.

"We went through extensive sessions on gang free life. That includes peer pressure, bullying, conflict resolution, self-sabotaging behavior," Cannon said. 

Cannon had each participant recite three ways to stay out of poverty: 

  • Earn a high school diploma.
  • Get and keep a job.
  • Don't become a father before age 21. 


U.S. District Court Judge Joe Billy McDade encouraged the teens to support each other to stay on the right side of the law. 

"I want them to know that I care about them, even though my role requires me to judge them. I care enough about them that I want them to choose the right path and do the right things, and contribute to the community," McDade said. 

McDade hung a medal around each teenager's neck and encouraged the graduates of the program to stay focused and "keep up the good work." 

Copyright 2021 WCBU. To see more, visit WCBU.

ELITE Teen Group Graduates from New Summer Camp Program

Kristin McHugh is an experienced radio journalist and nonprofit manager. Most recently, she served as executive director of the Peoria Area World Affairs Council.