City of Gratitude

A few years back at the Peoria Chamber’s Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon, a memorable comment was made that has lived on perhaps longer than intended. John Morris, President & CEO at the Peoria Riverfront Museum dubbed Peoria the “The City of Gratitude”. I took this as not only a beautiful reflection but a call to action. I think often on what communities might become if the people who inhabit them take time to fill themselves with gratitude. 

What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving season? One of the reasons why I love working for WTVP PBS is the ample supply of touchpoints with our community and our world which evoke and inspire gratitude in me. As a mother, I am grateful that I trust my children will learn and grow when they watch our kids programming. As a citizen, I am grateful for a public media space that still strives for neutrality, independent thinking, and maintaining a non-partisan voice. As a lover of the arts, I adore having access to awe-inspiring performances from around the world. As a central Illinois enthusiast, I appreciate the key role we play in connecting our viewers with the incredible people, places, and stories that make our community so special. 

And speaking of places that make our community special…

The Peoria Riverfront Museum is hosting the last stop on the national tour of The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited. It is undisputed that the beloved and ground-breaking Sesame Street would not exist without the genius and fearless creativity of Jim Henson. Sesame Street and Jim’s puppets permanently opened the door to a new way of learning for young children everywhere. Today, over 900,000 hours of WTVP Kids educational content is viewed by children and parents in our viewing area each month. 

Thank you, Jim Henson for paving the way! I encourage you to take the time to experience this extraordinary exhibit while it is in town. 

With gratitude,

JENN