Passenger Link – February 2025

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon

On Monday, January 20, 2025, members of the CityLink team attended the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Luncheon at the Peoria Civic Center. This event serves as a wonderful opportunity for the Peoria community to gather together in fellowship while honoring the legacy and contributions of Dr. King.

The keynote speaker at the event was Reverend Naomi Nontombi Tutu, daughter of the revered Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Naomi, a committed educator and passionate human rights advocate, grew up under the harsh realities of apartheid in South Africa. During her speech, she shared how the challenges of her upbringing shaped her ability to confront the struggles of today and emphasized how we, as a community, can come together to overcome them.

The Peoria Riverfront Museum had a special announcement at the luncheon. Dr. King’s “advanced text” provided to the press at the 1963 March on Washington, better known as the “I Have A Dream” speech, will be on display through the month of February.

Rosa Parks and Black History Month

CityLink continues its tradition of honoring Civil Rights pioneer Rosa Parks on February 4, 2025, by reserving a seat in her honor on each fixed-route bus on her birthday.  Parks famously refused to surrender her seat to a white passenger on a segregated transit bus in Montgomery, Alabama on December 1, 1955, which became one of the most
infamous symbols of the modern Civil Rights Movement. Parks passed away at the age of 92 in Detroit, Michigan on October 24, 2005.

“CityLink is pleased to continue the tradition of honoring Rosa Parks on what would have been her 112th birthday. The actions she took on a public transportation bus back in 1955 had a lasting impact on the Civil Rights Movement and beyond. Her legacy is
important for us to continue celebrating today,” said CityLink Interim General Manager,
Kofi Kisseh.

In addition to the seat reserved in Parks’ honor on fixed-route buses, several CityLink buses feature Black History Month exterior signage. New this year, we are featuring various trivia on African American inventors. These trivia facts are being shared on the monitors in the Transit Center, as well as in a social media series on Facebook.

Stuff-A-Bus Debrief

On January 14, 2025, the team at the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service, CityLink’s Marketing & Community Engagement Team, and Board Trustee Dan Morse, participated in a Stuff-A-Bus debrief meeting to review the events that occurred during the 37th annual Stuff-A-Bus food drive. The food pantry is still being organized to fit the 10 tons of donations that were collected during the 2024 campaign.

Additionally, the team has already started planning for the 38th campaign in Fall 2025. During the meeting, several topics were addressed, including the planning of next year’s goals, the campaign timeline, potential future partnerships, and strategies to reintroduce the vintage bus into the campaign. The team is eager to continue supporting this food drive by engaging more members of the community to ensure greater success this year.

Valentine’s at CityLink

Valentine’s Day is coming up and we are spreading the love at CityLink! Bus Operator Jamesetta and Office Coordinator Carmen pose next to some Valentine’s themed trees!

The History Behind Valentine’s Day

While some may be cynical to celebrate a manufactured holiday to sell cards, chocolates and flowers, the origins of Valentine’s Day go back far into our history.

· There were actually two St. Valentines, but it’s up for debate if the holiday originated with St. Valentine of Rome or of Terni, both of whom were martyred. Legends say that the Roman was a priest who defied the Emperor Claudius II’s ban on soldiers getting married and continuing to marry couples in secret. Other stories say that he helped Christians escape Roman prisons and fell in love with the jailer’s daughter, writing her a letter signed “From your Valentine.”

· It was made a holiday in the 5th century when Pope Gelasius outlawed the celebration of Lupercalia. the Middle Ages, it was believed that February 14 was the start of birds’ mating season. Chaucer cemented the connection between Valentine’s Day, birds and romance with his 1375 poem “Parliament of Foules,” writing, “For this was on Seynt Valentynes day, / Whan every foul cometh ther to chese his make.”

· The oldest Valentine recorded is from 1415. Charles, Duke of Orleans, wrote it to his wife while he was a political prisoner in the Tower of London. “I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine.”

· The 17th century, people started exchanging cards and letters with their lovers and friends. But the first mass-produced Valentines didn’t arrive on the scene until the 1840s in America.

· The ubiquitous cherub can be traced back to 700 B.C. In Ancient Greece, Eros, the Greek god of love, was depicted as a handsome young man and had the power to make people fall in love. Over time, he was adopted by the Romans and became known as Cupid, his image changing to the little boy with the bow and arrow. Because of his love-inspiring powers, he became linked to Valentine’s Day by the turn of the 19th century.

Community Engagement

On January 10, 2025, CityLink team members attended CWTC’s Trivia Night. This was the kickoff celebration for their 65th anniversary. The fundraiser helped support updates to the Hartrick House, a 24-hour residential home serving adults with disabilities. Although the CityLink team didn’t come anywhere near first, a good time was had by all.

Peoria County Health & Human Services

The CityLink Marketing & Community Engagement Department was in attendance for the Peoria County Health & Human Services ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. It was amazing to see so many people come out to the ribbon-cutting event — the dedicated Health Department, Coroner’s Office,

Sustainability, and Regional Office of Education team members – local, state, and federal leaders – partner organizations – design and construction teams – and community members in the Sheridan Road neighborhood were in attendance. The ribbon cutting
ceremony provided the following:

· Opening by Peoria High Drumline.

· Songs by Pleasant Valley and Limestone High School choir
students.

· Speakers: Peoria County Board Chairman Jimmy Dillon, Board of Health President Michael Kennedy, Peoria Mayor Rita Ali, Public Health Administrator Monica Hendrickson, Coroner Jamie Harwood, Regional Office of Education Superintendent Beth
Crider, Peoria County Board Member Rob Reneau.

· Refreshments provided by Woodruff Culinary Arts students.

CityLink is eager to offer public transportation services for clients, ensuring convenient pick-up and drop-off at the new Peoria County Health and Human Services facility.

 Transit History

We honor Earl Carter, a cherished figure in the Peoria area community. Earl served as a
founding member of the Greater Peoria Mass Transit District’s Board of Trustees from 1970 to 1995, and as the Board Chair from 1977 onward. He was a dedicated advocate for public transit, often representing the district at national meetings hosted by the American Public Transit Association. After his time with GPMTD, Earl went on to serve as Mayor of Peoria Heights from 1997 to 2005. Though he passed away in 2018 at the age of 83, his contributions and legacy continue to inspire.

American Heart Month

February is American Heart Month, and is a good time to check in on those “New Year, New Me” goals, as everyone is encouraged this month to make lifestyle changes to prevent heart disease, the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. The smallest lifestyle changes can make a big difference over time, and understanding these changes allows you to be better equipped with the tools to maintain and improve your health.

1. Diet

Diet is key for heart health. Limiting saturated fat like high-fat dairy, fatty meat, and processed foods and increasing fiber with fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) strongly recommends adopting a Mediterranean diet, which includes: 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, avoidance of saturated and
trans-fats, consumption of legumes and nuts, and low salt.

2. Physical Exercise

Studies show that getting 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week can improve heart health. Ideally, try to raise your heart rate enough to reach aerobic levels: moderate is 50-70% of maximum heart rate; vigorous is 70-80% according to the American Heart Association. You can break that down to 30 minutes for five days a week, and the aerobic exercise can be as simple as walking briskly. Even regular walks can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease by 19%, according to the Current Opinion in Cardiology via the National Library of Medicine.

3. Sleep

Adults need at least 7-9 hours of quality sleep to support heart health. Disrupted sleep due to conditions such as insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome are linked to increased cardiovascular disease. New research shows that people who suffer from insomnia are 69% more likely to have a heart attack compared to those without insomnia, occurring more often in women. The greatest risk is among those who sleep five or less hours per night on average. Getting restful sleep often requires optimizing lifestyle behaviors, emotional health, and treatment of other relevant medical conditions.

4. Provider Guidance 

Be sure to see your primary care physician or provider for guidance in any changes in your health practices. Also, be sure to stay up to date on routine screening tests, particularly fasting glucose and cholesterol testing if clinically indicated.

Marathon Monthly Health Tips – Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a condition that occurs when core body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). It is a medical emergency. In hypothermia (hi-poe-THUR-me-uh), the body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Regular body temperature is around 98.6 degrees
Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius).

When body temperature drops, the heart, nervous system and other organs can’t work as well as they usually do. Left untreated, hypothermia can cause the heart and respiratory system to fail and eventually can lead to death.

Common causes of hypothermia include exposure to cold weather or immersion in cold water. Treatment for hypothermia includes methods to warm the body back to a regular temperature.

When the temperature starts to drop, the body can start to shiver. Shivering is the body’s attempt to warm itself. It is an automatic defense against cold temperature.

Symptoms of hypothermia include:

· Shivering.

· Slurred speech or mumbling.

· Slow, shallow breathing.

· Weak pulse.

· Clumsiness or lack of coordination.

· Drowsiness or very low energy.

· Confusion or memory loss.

· Loss of consciousness.

· In infants, bright red, cold skin.

People with hypothermia usually aren’t aware of their condition. The symptoms often begin
gradually. Also, the confused thinking associated with hypothermia prevents self-awareness. The confused thinking also can lead to risk-taking behavior.

When to see a doctor

Call 911 or your local emergency number if you suspect someone has hypothermia.

While waiting for emergency help to arrive, gently move the person inside if possible. Jarring
movements can trigger dangerous irregular heartbeats. Carefully remove any wet clothing and replace it with warm, dry coats or blankets.

For more information, please visit: Mayoclinic.org.

Free Admission

Join us on February 20th at 6:00 PM at Proctor Center for “Black Stories Matter: Celebrating Our Roots in Cinema,” an inspiring evening celebrating the brilliance of Black storytelling in cinema!  

Enjoy skits, music, dance, and dinner as we honor trailblazing Black Oscar winners and their lasting impact on Hollywood and culture.

Reflect, rejoice, and be inspired by stories that have shaped generations—don’t miss out!

Date: February 20, 2025
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Proctor Recreation Center
FREE ADMISSION