Urban Ministries presents alternative event as Hard Rock Casino opens

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Hard Rock Casino opens in Rockford on Thursday, but Reverand Violet Johnicker of Rockford Urban Ministries wants to offer a sober event.

“We wanted to create and offer a sober space for people who live with addiction issues and specifically to offer resources for people who are impacted by gambling addiction, which unfortunately we predict is going to be more and more people in our community as the casino opens,” said Johnicker.

They are offering two free concerts as well as a gambling addiction resource fair at Inscape Collective. Johnicker said she has heard from community members concerned about the impact of a casino.

“Cities and communities that have opened casinos have certainly seen increases in needs for social services and law enforcement presence. I definitely hope that’s not the case in Rockford. But all signs point to the fact that it probably will be,” said Johnicker. “So, I know that there have been a lot of social service agencies and faith communities who’ve been making preparations for this in a much different way than the celebratory ones that we’re seeing.”

Retired Rockford Urban Ministries Director Stanley Campbell believes having addiction resources like Remedies Renewing Lives will be even more important after the casino opening.

“It’s important to have some support system for those who fall between the cracks and cannot control their gambling habits,” said Campbell. “The industry is not going to be concerned about them. The community has to step in.”

We just want to know that those resources are here,” said Johnicker. “And the more they talk about the resources, you might know that they’re available, the better off our community will be.”

The concerts will feature local artists and will run from noon until 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

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