Items tagged: human rights

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 of Champaign Again Earns Perfect Score on Municipal Equality Index for Inclusive LGBTQ+ Laws, Policies and Services

The City of Champaign is proud to announce that it once again earned the highest possible score on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2024 Municipal Equality Index. This is the thirteenth consecutive year that the Human Rights Campaign Foundation has recognized the City for its inclusive LGBTQ+ laws, policies, and services as a part of their […]


Steps to Starting a Small Business

On Monday, September 16, 2024, Janel Gomez, Community Relations Manager (E&E) presented a the Champaign Public Library. This event focused on workers and human rights at the Welcoming Week Event: Steps to Starting a Small Business. The event was hosted in partnership with the Small Business Development Center and The Refugee Project.  Attendees learned about […]


City Celebrates 2023 CU Pride Fest and Parade!

On September 30, 2023, the City of Champaign joined the CU Pride Fest and Parade to celebrate everything that makes us fabulous! Council members, Alicia Beck, Matthew Gladney, Kathy Shannon, Michael Foellmer and City Staff from the Equity & Engagement Department, Public Works, Neighborhood Services Department, and Planning Department all came out to walk in […]


New Illinois Law

April 4, 2023,  Community Relations Manager, Janel Gomez, attended a workshop on fair housing presented by Housing Action Illinois and the Hope Fair Housing Center. The purpose of the workshop was to inform social service providers about the new Illinois state level law. This law, which became effective on Jan 1, 2023,  lists source of […]


City Receives High Marks for Inclusive Policies

Each year, the Human Rights Campaign issues an annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI) score for hundreds of cities across the country.  The MEI measures how inclusive municipal policies, laws, and services are for LGBTQ individuals working and living in each city.  Champaign was one of 506 cities scored during the 2018 MEI and one of only nine cities evaluated in […]


News Release – Champaign, Urbana, Community Coalition Promote Inclusion and Community Unity

During today’s meeting of the Champaign Community Coalition, a panel discussion was held to discuss issues impacting our local Latino community.  Panelists shared stories with Coalition and community members regarding some of their experiences, which include feeling harassed or discriminated against due to their race or national origin.  The Coalition hosted the panel as part […]