10th Annual Immigrant Welcome Awards Ceremony and Celebration
The Cities of Champaign and Urbana, the CU Immigration Forum, and the Urbana Free Library are proud to co-sponsor the Immigrant Welcome Award Ceremony and Celebration. This event is held in conjunction with Welcoming Week, a national week of events that brings both immigrants and U.S.-born residents together in a spirit of unity and raises […]
Communities of Practice Blitz
On September 18, 2023, community leaders from Champaign County came together for the Communities of Practice Blitz which launched the work in Phase 2 of the Champaign County Welcoming Plan . This blitz provided members of the Communities of Practice team to sit down and develop actionable plans toward immigrant inclusion in Champaign County. The […]
Safe States Annual Injury & Violence Prevention Conference
September 11-14, 2023, the Equity and Engagement Department sent Community Relations Managers, Jorge Elvir and Tracy Parsons, to the Safe States Annual Injury & Violence Presentation Conference in Denver, Colorado. The Safe States Alliance is a national non-profit membership association dedicated to strengthening the practice of injury and violence prevention through an anti-racism and health […]
Welcoming Week 2023!
On September 8 -17, 2023, Welcoming Week is celebrated across the county! Here in Champaign County, the New American Welcome Center’s coordinated nearly 30 events for foreign and native born community members to come together and celebrate the diversity of our community. These events included music/dance performances, ally training, arts education, entrepreneurship, cultural festivals and […]
Welcoming Week Joint Proclamation at the Kickoff Celebration
On September 8, 2023, Champaign County kicked off Welcoming Week in a big way! Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen and Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin came together to read the Welcoming Week Joint Proclamation during the Kickoff Celebration. This proclamation continues to show both Cities’ commitment to the inclusion and flourishing of our foreign born community members. This was […]
Performance Showcase
On August 31, 2023, Blueprint Partner DJ Silkee, Entertainment LLC held their performance showcase at Douglass Library. DJ Silkee hosts a “She Spins” program designed to provide an educational and creative experience for middle and high school girls. The 12-week program provides access for participants to the world of becoming a DJ through recording sessions, […]
The Game Plan
On August 26, 2023, Jorge Elvir, Community Relations Manager from the Equity and Engagement Department, participated in the Champaign Community Violence Response (CVRT’s) Youth Employment Resource Fair, “The Game Plan”. This was an exceptional opportunity to connect with talented, ambitious, and motivated young individuals seeking meaningful employment and skill-building opportunities. This event was a collaborative […]
Administrative Services Team Training
On August 30, 2023, Community Relations Manager, Janel Gomez, presented to the Administrative Services Team (AST) about how to deal with difficult telephone calls, specifically angry citizens. Specific attention was made on how to deal with microaggressions and when customers use racially insensitive language. The team held a discussion on their customer services experiences and […]
Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce
On August 16, 2023, Purchasing & Compliance Specialist Adonis Fuller attended the 2023 Annual Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce Convention’s Business Matchmaking Event. The event offered the opportunity to meet with business owners and staff to learn about their products, services, and capabilities. The event was also a great way to share information about the […]
Community Gun Violence Response Meeting
On August 24, 2023, The Equity and Engagement Department’s Community Safety and Justice division held a Community Gun Violence Response meeting at the Champaign Library in response to a shooting that happened late last week. This meeting was an opportunity for community members to voice their concerns regarding gun violence and provide solutions to staff […]