MLK Jr. Scholarship Presentation at Central High
On November 4th, Mikal Washington, Community Relations Specialist from the Equity and Engagement Department, visited Central High School to speak with students about the Martin Luther King Jr. Advocacy for Justice Scholarship. During the visit, City staff shared information about the scholarship’s purpose—to support high school students committed to pursuing higher education and continuing Dr. […]
City of Champaign Participates in 15th Annual CU Pride Fest Parade and Fair
The City of Champaign was proud to take part in the 15th Annual CU Pride Fest, organized by Uniting Pride and held October 16-26. This year’s milestone celebration brought together community members from across the region for a week of events promoting unity, visibility, and inclusion. In preparation for the parade, City staff came together […]
City Elected Officials and Staff Attend NAACP Gala
On Saturday, October 25th, Deputy Mayor Will Kyles along with Council Members Kathy Shannon and Shauna Clayborn, joined Equity and Engagement Community Relations Manager Tracy Parsons, Justice Victim Advocate Angela Worthey, and members of the Champaign Police Department Command Staff for an inspiring event hosted by the NAACP, centered on “The Fierce Urgency of Now.” Keynote […]
City Staff Scare up Safety, Engagement at Trunk or Treat Events
Employees from the Champaign Police Department, Champaign Fire Department, and the Equity & Engagement Department joined community groups from around Champaign for several trunk-or-treat events hosted between Friday, October 24 and Tuesday, October 28. These events promoted a fun, safe environment for children to enjoy the Halloween season and gather some candy. Departments provided candy […]
City of Champaign in Partnership with Acclivus Inc. Host Community Meetings for Street Outreach and Violence Interruption under the Community Gun Violence Reduction Blueprint
On Wednesday, October 29 and Thursday, October 30, 2025, community members are encouraged to attend meetings hosted by the City of Champaign and Acclivus Inc. These meetings will provide information on street outreach goals and objectives for Champaign, local hiring opportunities for street outreach and violence interruption, and provide an opportunity to meet and greet […]
Champaign Co-Hosts Illinois Together Against Hate Conference
On Tuesday, October 21, more than 100 leaders, advocates, and community members from across Illinois gathered in Champaign for the inaugural Illinois Together Against Hate Conference. The conference provided a vital platform to exchange strategies, forge partnerships, and reaffirm a shared commitment to equity, inclusion, and combating hate in all its forms. Co-sponsored by the […]
Empowering Community through Accessibility and Inclusion
On Saturday, October 18, Equity & Engagement Community Relations Manager and Compliance Officer Janel Gomez, along with Community Relations Specialist Julio Velasco, represented the Department at the Annual Disability Resource Expo. Hosted in Champaign County, the Expo is dedicated to promoting full access to information, services, and supports for people with disabilities throughout East Central […]
Champaign County Community Coalition
On October 8, 2025, the Champaign County Community Coalition held its monthly meeting at the Holiday Inn Conference Center from 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. During the meeting, representatives from local law enforcement agencies shared updates on recent criminal activity, upcoming community events they will be participating in, and provided information related to National Crime […]
Impact Outreach Worker Attends CUPHD Justice Coalition Documentary Screening
On October 11, Impact Outreach Worker Kellen Brown attended the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s (CUPHD) Justice Coalition event, which featured a screening of the PBS documentary Discovered Truth: A Healthcare Journey. The screening took place at the Independent Media Center and brought together a diverse group of community members and organizations dedicated to promoting health equity and justice. Local vendors and advocacy groups, […]
City of Champaign Represents at Global Human Rights Conference
Community Relations Manager Janel Gomez attended the 76th Annual Conference of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies (IAOHRA). The Conference highlighted important topics such as fair employment practices, housing discrimination, addressing hate, and exploring global human rights issues. There were sessions focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership; enforcement of anti-discrimination ordinances; policy; […]