Small Business Incubator
On Tuesday, January 21, 2025 Mikal Washington, Community Relations Specialist with the Equity and Engagement Department, facilitated a follow-up meeting with The Springfield Project, H3, First Followers, and Business Elevator. This meeting built upon an initial meeting , in which the organizations toured an incubator space in Springfield, guided by The Springfield Project. The follow-up […]
Back to School Give Away Event
On August 6, 2024 Champaign Unit 4 School District held their school supply giveaway at Market Place Mall. From 11 AM – 1 PM, over 30 partnering agencies gathered to give away various school supplies to families. The Equity & Engagement Department took part in the school giveaway to offer families information about community resources […]
Champaign County Community Coalition
On November 8, 2023, the Champaign County Community Coalition held its monthly meeting. First Followers shared information regarding their upcoming Families of Resilience event. Attendees also received updates from local Police Chief’s about recent crime activities and crime statistics throughout the year. Juan Huerta, the Deputy Director of Public Engagement for the Secretary of State, […]
Hedge Pop! Park-Art and Gardening Day
On July 21, 2023, the Equity and Engagement Department hosted an Art and Gardening Day at Hedge POP! Park from 2:00 pm -5:00 pm. The event provided an opportunity for children from the Garden Hills neighborhood to learn basic gardening skills and create artwork. A variety of Blueprint partners attended the event including CU TRI, […]
Garden Hills Hedge POP! Park Refresh
The Hedge POP! Park is receiving a refresh ahead of the summer months. Last week, City Staff from the Planning and Development, Neighborhood Services Department and Engineering Division worked with dedicated volunteers from First Followers and about 10 neighborhood kids to spread mulch, place planter boxes, pick up liter and also have some fun! More […]
Community Partner Open House
Friday, September 23rd, the Trauma & Resilience Initiative, First Followers, and the Youth & Family Peer Support Alliance held an open house for their brand-new location at 102 N State Street in Champaign. Community Relations Specialist, April Faulkner (E&E), attended the open house to support the community partners and discuss what plans they had for […]
COVID-19 Relief Grant Update
The City’s COVID-19 relief programs have made a meaningful impact in the community. This past summer, the City received a special allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds through the federal CARES Act to be used to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. After a thorough analysis of needs and community collaboration, subrecipient agreements with five […]