P.E.A.C.E.
P.E.A.C.E. (Polk Ecumenical Action Council for Empowerment) works for social justice and is supported by the Polk area churches. Specific subcommittee groups meet bi-monthly. The entire PEACE assembly community meets twice a year; once for the assembly meeting where issues are brought up, and once for the Community Action assembly, to discuss how ideas have been put into action by local officials.

Here is how the Lord used PEACE to impact the community since its inception:

DRUGS AND CRIME

May 2001	Lakeland Chief of Police, Cliff Diamond, agreed to increase patrol of 15 longtime "hot spots" in the Northwest Area of the Lakeland where PEACE members felt drugs and crime were particularly rampant.
May 2001	Polk County Sheriff, Lawrence Crow, agreed that the county would continue to fund the JASA drug treatment program for inmates in the county jail.
2002	PEACE worked with Colonel Grady Judd to voice the need for a female component of the JASA program and to begin to implement the program.
April 2006	We asked for a study to be done that would look at the need for substance abuse treatment in the county and also what type (ie, how many inpatient beds are needed).
April 2009	County Commissioner, Bob English agreed to chair a task force that will form a business plan that will lead to the operation of 100 residential treatment/ 1,000 outpatient along with representatives from the PEACE, Sheriff's office, Lakeland Regional, Tri-county, the Drug Court, and Peace River.
April 2009	The Sheriff agreed to dedicate the Starr facility in Bartow for the Drug Rehabilitation program PEACE is working to establish.
Summer 2009	PEACE put pressure on the County Commission to continue to fund the JASA program that was threatened to be completely cut.

HEALTHCARE

April 2002	Dr. Daniel Strait, Director of Polk County Health Department, agreed to improve treatment for non-English speakers in Health Department clinics.
April 2002	Commissioner Randy Wilkinson agreed to sponsor a motion before the Board of County Commission to establish a county wide task force to develop a strategic plan to address the need of the county's more than 116,000 uninsured and underinsured people.
March 2004	PEACE and other allies worked very hard to get a ½ cent sales tax referendum passed that would increase funds for indigent healthcare. It initially had a very slim chance of passing, but with the diligent work by PEACE leaders and other allies it passed with 62% of the vote.
May 2005	We received a commitment from county staff and a majority of county commissioners that the sales tax money would be used to open primary care clinics - 1 a year for the next 5 years, to see a targeted goal of 45,000 patients a year once the clinics are all open. Clinics will be open some evening and weekend hours to accommodate working people, be strategically placed around the county and be multi-lingual.
November 2007	The first Clinic was opened in Lakeland.
April 2009	All five county commissioners agreed to direct the County manager to have the next two RFP's (Request for Proposals) included in the 2010 budget.

HOUSING

April 2009

County Manager, Mike Herr agreed to convene a task force with high level staff persons from the County Housing Office, local Housing Authorities, City Housing Officials and leaders from PEACE to draft a detailed plan to address 10% of the rental housing need in Polk County over the next three years, based on current needs.

EDUCATION

2002	Superintendent Jim Thornhill, agreed to assign an administrator to work with us on a plan to address the reading needs of all students, especially those that are low performing and at risk
2005	Superintendent, Gail McKinzie, agreed to broaden and expand the use of the Direct Instruction program to low income schools of Polk County. Because of PEACE, the curriculum spread to 9 different elementary schools with over 250 second graders. The 2005-2006 school years were the first year the program was used.

JOBS

May 2003

Ms Nancy Thompson, Polk Co. Workforce Development agreed to offer more orientations at the one stop centers as well as orientations in Spanish. She also agreed to recommend to her board that they create and implement a strategic plan to place 20% more people they serve in jobs that pay a living wage by next year, and set a long term goal to place 70% of all people they serve in living wage jobs.