Blueprint Partner Meeting at the Illinois Terminal
March 27, 2023, the Department of Equity and Engagement’s Community Safety, & Justice Division held its monthly Blueprint Partner meeting at the Illinois Terminal. The goal of this meeting was to convene with Blueprint Partners and discuss their organization’s program initiatives with fellow attendees. This meeting also allowed organizations to raise awareness of new and […]
“Race Talks” at Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center
On March 24, 2023, staff from the Equity and Engagement Department joined “Race Talks” that were being held at the Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center. As part of their afterschool program, these middle school students engaged in important conversation about race in American society today. This open and honest space allowed them to share their personal […]
Citizen Review Subcommittee Training
In February 2023, the City Council approved the appointment of two new members to the Citizen Review Subcommittee (CRS). On March 11, 2023, staff from the Equity and Engagement, Legal, and Police Departments held an all-day training session for new and existing members of the CRS. CRS members learned about limits of authority, use of […]
Mental Health in the Black Community
On Thursday, March 17, the Champaign County Community Coalition, in partnership with Parkland College, held its second of three panels discussing mental health in the Black community. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for black people ages 15-24 years old. Providing education and accessible resources to address the mental health needs of our […]
Hip Hop at Kenwood Elementary School
On March 3, 2023, Justice Victim Advocate Jarrel Young (Equity and Engagement) facilitated a hip hop workshop at Kenwood Elementary School. Jarrel teamed up with Emily Kuchenbrod’s 5th grade class to create a song about social justice which included songwriting, beat making, and video production.
Social Justice Advocacy Skill Building Workshops
On March 3-4, 2023, the Community Coalition’s Race Relations Subcommittee, in partnership with the NAACP, hosted Dr. Joe Manarik to facilitate three Social Justice Advocacy Skill Building Workshops. The workshops invited participants to learn about social identity-based privilege as a process which can affect individual interactions and outcomes. Participants had an opportunity to identify contemporary […]
Champaign County Community Coalition Meeting – 3-8-23
The Champaign County Community Coalition hosted its All-Goals Team Meeting on March 8, 2023. The meeting agenda was packed with eleven different speakers. Attendees heard local police department updates followed by a presentation from Urbana’s Mayor Diane Marlin where she shared information about Urbana’s ARPA funding allocations. April Faulkner (Equity and Engagement) introduced “Engage Champaign”, […]
City Staff Celebrate International Women’s Day
On March 8, 202, International Women’s Day (IWD) was celebrated around the world. This day is a focal point in the women’s rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. The theme of IWD 2023 was #EmbraceEquity, a campaign to get the world talking about […]
Illinois Black Business Panel
In late 2021, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Chicago State University, and Chicago Urban League launched the first of its kind statewide Black business survey to solicit feedback directly from Black-owned businesses. On February 28th, 2023, Tracy Parsons, Community Relations Manager in E&E joined DCEO for their 2023 Black History Month […]
Equity & Engagement and Neighborhood Services Departments’ Office Move
On February 23rd, staff from the Equity and Engagement Department and the Neighborhood Services Department made the big move from 102 N Neil St. to their new home at 205 W Park Ave. This move was a huge project for the City, with staff from nearly every department coming together to make it a success. […]