Staff Canvass for Fire Safety
On April 24, 2025, firefighters and staff from the Champaign Fire Department, Building Safety Department, and Equity & Engagement department collaborated in a proactive effort to enhance fire safety within the community. Their joint initiative involved a thorough canvassing of the neighborhoods surrounding Spaulding Park. This groundwork was laid in preparation for the upcoming Fire […]
Urbana School District 116’s Strategic Plan Development
On April 16-17, 2025, Community Relations Manager Tracy Parsons (Equity and Engagement Department), participated in the Urbana School District 116’s Strategic Plan development sessions at the I Hotel Conference Center. Tracy was selected to join a group of community and educational leaders to help shape the district’s mission, core values, and strategic priorities for the […]
City Staff Panelist at I-Engage 2025
On Friday, April 11, 2025, Community Relations Manager Tracy Parsons (Equity & Engagement), represented City staff as a panelist at the I-Engage 2025 – Community Wellness event, hosted at the Health and Wellness Center. The panel focused on redefining wellness within the community through a holistic lens—encompassing environmental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and organizational dimensions. Panelists […]
Champaign County Community Coalition
On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, the Champaign County Community Coalition held its monthly meeting. The Coalition was excited to host a special panel discussion focused on the critical issues of Civility, Compassion, Climate Change, and Violent Crime. The panel, comprised of Urbana Police Chief Larry Boone, Champaign Police Chief Timothy Tyler, TRI Director Karen Simms, […]
Speaking at City of Peoria’s Fair Employment Commission
At the beginning of April, Community Relations Manager, Janel Gomez (Equity and Engagement) spoke at a meeting with the City of Peoria’s Fair Employment Commission. During this meeting, Janel provided the commissioners with a comprehensive overview of the Equity and Engagement department’s responsibilities and ongoing activities. She also addressed their questions regarding the City’s Human […]
City Staff Attend the Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment Conference
From April 8–11, 2025, Community Relations Specialists, Betsy Barclay and Mikal Washington, (Equity and Engagement Department) attended the 8th Annual Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment (CREA) Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Hosted by the University of Illinois College of Education, the four-day event brought together scholars and community leaders from across the country to engage in […]
Chief Tyler, Equity & Engagement Staff Participate in Empathy Panel
On Thursday, April 10, Police Chief Timothy T. Tyler participated as a panelist in a discussion entitled “Empowering Empathy.” The panel was hosted by the Grainger School of Engineering at UIUC. Chief Tyler was among several law enforcement officials from throughout the area who participated, including elected officials, UIPD co-responders, and leaders at the University […]
City Staff Present at UIUC
On Friday, March 28, 2025 Community Relations Manger Janel Gomez and intern Terra Salgado (Equity and Engagement) presented at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They were invited by the Department of Animals Sciences to highlight the work done at the Equity and Engagement Department, specifically within the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The presentation […]
Youth of the Year Competition
On March 14, 2025, Equity and Engagement Department Director, Rachel Joy, had the honor of attending the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club (DMBGC) Youth of the Year Event. Ms. Joy was a Youth of the Year judge for the event. Ms. Joy had the responsibility of evaluating and selecting the most outstanding club member who […]
Healing Solutions for Healing Communities Summit
On March 14-15, 2025, staff from the Equity and Engagement Department and the Police Department attended the Healing Solutions for Healing Communities Summit at the I Hotel. This event, sponsored by the Champaign County Community Coalition, Healing Illinois, and the University of Illinois School of Social Work, focused on community building, healing, and resilience. The […]