Join us for a powerful and inspiring afternoon as Illinois Central College celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the Peoria Fire Department during Fire Prevention Week! This special event will feature storytelling, reflection, and community connection as we honor the legacy of Peoria’s bravest—past, present, and future. Enjoy light refreshments, mingle with community members, and explore the rich history of our local fire service.

Event Highlights Include:

• Historical Keynote from the Peoria Fire Chief
• Spotlight Panel featuring current and retired firefighters, ICC Fire Science faculty, and students
• Tribute to Vernon “Butch” Gudat, honoring his impact on the department
• Photo displays of PFD history and student firefighters
• Hands-on activities for all ages

Bring a Donation, Win a Prize! We’re collecting 150 blankets for community members in need, in honor of the department’s 150 years. We're also gathering shelf-stable food items, hygiene items, and diapers for Cosmo’s Cupboard (ICC’s student food pantry). Donations can be brought to Hickory Hall before or during the event. Anyone who donates will be entered into a drawing for a free open enrollment class through Corporate and Community Education! Let’s come together to show appreciation for our hometown heroes while supporting those in need.

All are welcome—students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members and their families!

A One Day Workforce Development Event Focused on Leadership. 

Join us as we take a day to focus on leading at all levels in an organization or company. The day will be jam packed with insights and training for your entire staff. We will start with a Keynote and follow with breakout sessions and end with a leadership lab. There is no cost to attend as we have been granted funds by the Illinois Community College Board to provide this to the Peoria area business and nonprofit community.

Leadership is no longer reserved for the top—it lives in how we communicate, make decisions, and build momentum at every level. In this keynote, Melissa Bloom will challenge traditional ideas of leadership and introduce a practical framework for identifying and activating leadership energy throughout an organization. Participants will explore the four core leadership styles—Visionary, Operator, Processor, and Synergist (VOPS)—and how each contributes to results and team culture. 

The keynote also previews the Predictable Success leadership tiers (T1–T4), showing how VOPS styles map across levels of influence and responsibility. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Leadership is a role we practice, not a title we wait for 
• Overview of the VOPS leadership styles and how they show up in organizations 
• Introduction to the T1–T4 leadership tiers and their value at every level 
• How to recognize and develop leadership in yourself and others