Madison County event seeks to bridge gaps for those facing crises

Madison County Community Development is planning a two-day “solution-creating workshop” in Alton to address homelessness, domestic violence and many other crisis-creating societal problems.

The workshop will focus on helping agencies and individuals come together to create a stronger network and a framework to effectively help neighbors in crisis to move to a place of stability and self-sufficiency. It aims to help people have a better understanding of the full range of services available to assist these individuals.

Trudy Bodenbach, administrator of Madison County Community Development (shown), stressed the event is not a conference.

“This is a workshop with a heavy emphasis on the ‘work’,” she said in a letter promoting the event. “It will be two intense days of collaboration and work to build a strategy, a network, work plans and work teams that are committed to an ongoing effort.”

She noted that crises are faced every day by people who are single parents, grandparents raising grandchildren, drug addicted, unemployed or underemployed, returning citizens, public assistance recipients, or those with disabilities.

The event is free but registration is required.

Facilitator will be Zeke Swift, a former Army officer and former director of marketing for Proctor & Gamble, and currently serving as the chairman for the Southern Africa HIV-AIDS Collaboration.

The event will be held Tuesday, Sept. 11, and Wednesday, Sept. 12, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at Community Christian Church 2345 Union School Road, Alton.

A lunch and continental breakfast will be provided both days.

For more information contact Bodenbach at tebodenbach@co.madison.il.us or (618) 296-4386.