Elected officials and employees with the City of Champaign were in attendance on February 3, 2026, for an event marking the launch of Teen Summit 2.0: The Remix. Attendees at the event included Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen, Council Members Shauna Clayborn and Davion Williams, Police Chief Timothy T. Tyler, and Community Relations Manager Tracy Parsons (Equity and Engagement). It was also attended by elected officials and leaders from the University, of Illinois, Urbana, and other nearby communities.
The event featured a reception with Dr. Sheila Johnson, a University of Illinois Alumna and co-founder to Black Entertainment Television. Johnson is working with University officials to relaunch Teen Summit programming through partnerships with Illinois Public Media, the College of Education, and The Safe Haven.
The program describes its mission as aiding Central Illinois youth in mastering the most important skill of the 21st century: seeing the world from perspectives that aren’t their own. Through its signature “Flip the Script” methodology, young people are taught to argue both sides of important issues—guided by expert data, energized by live DJing, and amplified through podcast discussion.
More information about Teen Summit 2.0 can be found on the program’s website.