15-02-2025
Parent Coalition to hold second Speak Our Truth Project Rally
ELKHART — Near the third anniversary of Rio Alred's passing, the Elkhart community is gathering together once again to advocate for child safety and human rights.
The second Speak Our Truth Project Rally: Youth Voices for Justice will take place from noon to 4 p.m. March 15 at the Tolson Center, 1320 Benham Ave., Elkhart.
Child & Parent Advocate of the the organizing group, Parent Coalition for Child Safety & Wellness, Rachel Van Alstine said the topic covers a wide variety of social problems integrated into a united social movement.
'In doing this work now we've really come into significant barriers within the system even and unfortunately with local community providers,' Van Alstine said. 'It's very difficult to get folks to come forward and speak because a lot of people that hold information into what exists are also bound because of their positions and many of them their own jobs and livelihoods if they speak. Folks have their own agendas or concern with liability and their own livelihood.'
Still as the movement continues and grows, Alstine said the coalition has grown to focus rather than on individual concepts like the legal system, welfare, or education and the problems for youth in those sectors, to focus more heavily on the systemic barriers to change.
'If we can come together, we're a much larger voice than out there as individuals and the folks that we're finding get that and it's been awesome to what that develop,' she said.
In addition to speakers and community members rallying at the event, there will also be activities and broader support from area businesses and nonprofits.
'When people really understand what you're about they want to be involved and that's been really beautiful to witness in our community,' Van Alstine said.
Community contributors continue to volunteer, but are currently listed as: Church Community Services which is donating 100 boxes of food to the first 100 people/families; Communicating Joy with face painting; Creative Face Painting by Diana with face painting; DJ Certified Grind will provide the music; the Elkhart City Fire Department will be on site with its inflatable fire house; Elkhart City Parks & Recreation will have a craft activity; Hall of Heroes will be providing a superhero volunteer; Henna & Coffee will have henna tattoos; Party Starters will bring a bounce house and inflatables; and Tolson Center is providing the venue and a youth dance team performance.
Several organizations have also agreed to host a community resource table and donate a family fun basket that will be raffled at the end of the rally including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Heart City Health, MAD Voters, Parent Coalition for Child Safety & Wellness, Ray of Hope, Rio's Rainbow, Southside Inc. and YWCA.
Youth speakers and presenters, ranging from 12 to 24 years old, will be announced in the near future, and there will be a Community Advocate Q&A panel of local advocates to engage and answer youth and community questions surrounding the movement and current legislative efforts for child safety and human rights across the state. Spanish translation will also be provided.
'We're building a very powerful and vulnerable community,' Van Alstine said. 'It will take all of us being honest and vulnerable with each other to ignite any kind of change, and we're here for it. With things evolving the way that they have we're finding our people, people willing to come forward and speak our truth and build around that.'
For more information or to stay up to date, visit the Facebook event page.
