East HS to host motivational speaker for students

Motivational speaker Ernest Crim Last year, members of the Plainfield East High School Black Student Association (BSA) club heard Ernest Crim speak for the first time at Joliet Junior College. They were so moved by Crim's speech that they asked him to visit their school this year.

PEHS will host Crim as a guest speaker at 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 26, 2019. All high school students are invited to attend this free event. Please be aware that strong language may be used.

Crim, a social science teacher at Joliet Central high School, will talk about his tumultuous life experiences that prepared him to respond logically, opposed to emotionally, when he and his wife were the targets of a hate crime that went viral.

Marie McMenamin, the BSA sponsor, said students were impacted by Crim's speech. "Some of our male students heard him speak and were motivated by him," she said.

"A lot of times high school boys are happy to get out of school for a day but are not always motivated by a speaker. Earnest Crim is a great speaker who motivated them," she said.