2024 Pride Fest and Parade!
Uniting Pride of Champaign County (UP Center) is hosting their 14th annual Pride Fest and Parade this September 13-22. The City is proud to be a sponsor and promote the fantastic schedule of events. On Wednesday, Sept 4, April Faulkner, Community Relations Specialist in the Equity & Engagement Department sat down with Nicole Frydman, Director of the […]
Welcoming Week 2024 | Get Involved!
Welcoming Week is a week of cultural celebration across the country! Welcoming Week 2024 is happening from September 13-22nd with numerous opportunities to get involved. Through Welcoming Week, communities come together to strengthen their bonds and promote a culture of inclusivity, underscoring the importance of embracing diversity for a brighter future. On Thursday, Sept 5, […]
Immersive Simulation Experience
On August 9, 2024 April Faulkner with the Equity and Engagement volunteered with the School of Social Work to participate in an Immersive Simulation Experience for professional staff that work within the University. The goal of the simulation was to promote poverty awareness, increase understanding, and inspire local change by sensitizing participants to the realities […]
2024 Welcoming Interactive
April 10-12, 2024, April Faulkner, Community Relations Specialist with the Equity and Engagement Department, attend the 15th annual Welcoming Interactive in Dallas, Texas. This Interactive, hosted by Welcoming America, is dedicated to immigrant and refugee inclusion in every facet of American life. The conference brought together more than 800 participants from around the United States […]
HOPE Fair Housing Center’s Source of Income Training
On March 22, 2024, April Faulkner, Community Relations Specialist with the Equity and Engagement Department, attended source of income training at the Champaign County Housing Authority. This training was conducted by HOPE Fair Housing Center to give advocates tools to empower their clients with the new legislations protecting source of income. The Illinois Department of […]
Diving Into Digital Equity
On January 30, 2024, April Faulkner (E&E) attended a seminar hosted by the Illinois Broadband Lab (IBL) providing insight on the Illinois Digital Equity Plan. Representatives from IBL provided important information on upcoming grants to support digital equity as well as a deep dive into local findings and initiatives. The seminar was attended by 20+ […]
National Immigrant Integration and Citizenship Education Conference
On October 17-18, 2023, April Faulkner, Community Relations Specialist in the Equity and Engagement Department, attended the inaugural National Immigrant Integration and Citizenship Education (NIICE) Conference. This conference brought together immigration and citizenship leaders from around the county to share their experiences, work, and hopes moving forward . Attendees heard from the Task Force on […]
UIUC All-Employee Expo
On October 12, 2023, April Faulkner and Mikal Washington, Community Relations Specialists in the Equity and Engagement Department, attended the UIUC All-Employee Expo. This is an annual extravaganza exclusively designed for employees of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This event is a unique platform to connect with various university departments, explore employee services, and engage […]
New Champaign City Profiles Features April Faulkner
In the latest episode of Champaign City Profiles, Station Manager Brian Paris talks with April Faulkner, a Community Relations Specialist in the Equity and Engagement Department. In the podcast, April provides some examples of what her department does and how her role is to help drive the department’s important work forward. One project that she […]
2023 Welcoming Interactive
April 26, 2023, Equity and Engagement’s Community Relations Manager, Janel Gomez, and Community Relations Specialist, April Faulkner, attended a 3-day conference hosted by Welcoming America. This conference was an opportunity for communities dedicated to improving immigrant and refugee policy and integration, to come together to network and collaborate. The conference included tours of the beautiful […]