Pictured above: Jessie McGown Jr. outside one of our meeting rooms at the East Bluff Community Center (EBCC).
The EBCC Impact: Connecting with the Community
A Conversation with Jessie McGown Jr.
By: Grayson Bourke
The East Bluff Community Center’s (EBCC) mission is to foster community engagement and
neighborhood stabilization by providing a vibrant place to gather. One way we foster community
engagement is by connecting with folks in the neighborhood who want to give back, folks like Jessie
McGown Jr. This is a name many in the East Bluff, and in Peoria, have heard of. During his time living
here, he has organized events, counseled neighborhood youth, and showed up for just about any
possible happening in the East Bluff neighborhood. He is a steadfast supporter of the EBCC and has been
for many years, having often worked with the EBCC’s Food Pantry Manager, Willa Lucas, to create
opportunities for people to connect with one another.
Jessie has lived in the East Bluff for 35 years. He is a retired truck driver and a proud Vietnam veteran. He
is an active community member who is passionate about seeing his neighbors succeed, and he knows
that the East Bluff Community Center is dedicated to helping people succeed. By providing space for
important activities like Boys and Girls Club afterschool programming, by operating a food pantry for
families, and by being a hub for community engagement, the EBCC is a local asset that many people
cherish. When asked to share his thoughts on the EBCC, Jessie said that it has been good for
neighborhood events, basketball, and many other things. When asked how the EBCC has benefitted the
neighborhood, he said “the community center is here for the people.”
The EBCC is home to many important programs and services, such as Boys and Girls Club of Greater
Peoria, Knock Out Kings Boxing Club, and Peoria Opportunities Foundation. The EBCC also rents space to
families and organizations for birthday parties, community forums, and other special gatherings.
Whether it is to attend one of our new art classes with Peoria Art Guild or our new Tuesday morning
yoga classes with Soulside Healing Arts, there is a place for you here at the EBCC. After all, as Jessie says,
“the EBCC is a great tool for the community.”
Thank you for the kind words, Jessie, and thank you for your service to this neighborhood and to our
country! We are grateful to have you in the East Bluff.
If you have thoughts or ideas about how the EBCC can be a resource for the community, or if there are
services or programs you would like to see offered, please do not hesitate to reach out to us! We
invite neighbors and supporters to come visit our office, give us a call at 309-839-0781, or email us at
EBCC@eastbluffcommunitycenter.org.