Category Archives: Women

The Lavenders: Past and Present Queer Journalism in Champaign-Urbana

Posted on May 2023 by Public i

On February 23, UCIMC Executive Director Miriam Larson hosted a virtual conversation with representatives of two generations of activists in Champaign-Urbana. Mary Lee Sargent, former director of Parkland College’s Women’s Studies Program (now residing in New Hampshire), was one of … Continue reading →

176 total views, 2 views today

Posted in African Americans, Feminism, LGBTQ, Media, Section, Voices, Women, Women, wonen's rights | Tagged feminism, Illinois activism, local independent media, women's rights | Comments Off

Slaves—Our Ancestors

Posted on May 2023 by Mrs. Marilynn Dean Cleveland

We give praise to those who came before us, fighting for the right to be free. Who were they? They are our ancestors, who suffered unendurable pain. Pain, from the snake-like whip that mutilated their flesh as it bit into … Continue reading →

160 total views, 2 views today

Posted in African American history, African American Women in Champaign-Urbana, African Americans, Arts, Local Arts, Section, Violence, Voices, Women | Tagged African American history, African American women, local African American voices, local arts, Slavery | Comments Off

Urbana-Champaign Reproductive Justice Week: Educate, Elevate, Act!

Posted on April 2023 by Julie Laut

SisterSong: The National Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective defines reproductive justice as the “the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.” Many … Continue reading →

135 total views

Posted in abortion rights, Reproductive Justice, Voices, Women, Women, wonen's rights | Tagged abortion rights, community action, reproductive justice, women | Comments Off

Woman – Life – Freedom: Interview on Resistance in Iran, Part 2

Posted on February 2023 by Public i

Part 1 of this interview was published in the December 2022 issue. The text has been substantially shortened and edited. Public i: I want to shift the discussion to the US now, and ask what can or should the US … Continue reading →

220 total views

Posted in Feminism, Foreign Policy, International, International, Section, Voices, Women | Tagged feminism, human rights, Iran, protest | Comments Off

Women – Life – Freedom: Interview on Resistance in Iran, Part 1

Posted on December 2022 by Public i

Public i: Just start with a basic overview of what’s happening now and what sparked it, an update on the latest, and also what do you think people should know that isn’t being covered in the mainstream US media. Faranak … Continue reading →

783 total views

Posted in Feminism, International, International, Section, Voices, Women, wonen's rights | Tagged feminism, hijab, human rights, Iran, protest | Comments Off

Drag Shows in Champaign-Urbana: Interview with Amy Myers

Posted on November 2022 by Karen Medina

“Drag is an art. It is a culture.” As a cis, straight woman, I did not fully understand the cultural importance of drag shows until 2019, when I was managing a community center that has a wonderful zine collection and … Continue reading →

241 total views

Posted in Arts, LGBTQ, Local Arts, Women | Tagged drag shows, LGBTQ+, local culture | Comments Off

Reckless Law, Shameless Order: Behind the Scenes

Posted on June 2022 by Nasrin Navab

One afternoon in April of 2021 Faranak Miraftab called me to ask if I was interested in holding an art workshop with formerly incarcerated artists in continuation of the “IDENSCITY,” a conceptual art space that I had been developing … Continue reading →

356 total views

Posted in African Americans, African Americans, Arts, Immigrants, incarceration, Local Arts, Prison Arts, Prisoners, Voices, Voices of Color, Women | Tagged Immigrants, incarceration, local arts, Prison arts | Comments Off

Texas isn’t the Only Place where a Woman’s Right to a Safe and Legal Abortion is Under Attack

Posted on November 2021 by Ruth Wyman

Right here in in Illinois, women’s lives and safety are being sacrificed for the election-minded politicians of the Land of Lincoln. In Illinois, young women and girls’ safety is at risk under the Parental Notice Act. The Parental Notice … Continue reading →

554 total views

Posted in abortion rights, health care, IL, Women, wonen's rights | Comments Off

A Conversation with Urbana Poet Laureate Ashanti Files

Posted on November 2021 by Public i

The Public i recently talked to Urbana Poet Laureate Ashanti Files Please tell our readers a little about yourself. “I am a wife, mother, and registered nurse. I currently work in mental health and addiction services. I enjoy reading, writing … Continue reading →

627 total views

Posted in African Americans, Arts, Community, Local Arts, Poetry, Voices of Color, Women | Comments Off

The Nest Postpartum Support

Posted on September 2021 by Paige Raab

Five years ago, my world turned upside down after the birth of our first son. What should have been the happiest day of our lives turned into one crisis after another, a transfer to a hospital two hours away, and … Continue reading →

534 total views

Posted in Community, health care, Voices, Women, Women | Comments Off

Moving to End Anti-AAPI Hate

Posted on August 2021 by May Kao Xiong

Despite May having been the month to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage, the preceding year saw the increase of violence and hate towards Asians and Asian Americans that ranged from attacks on Asian and Asian American elders … Continue reading →

1,413 total views, 1 views today

Posted in Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, bigotry, Racism, violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Voices of Color, Women | Comments Off

Palestinians Aren’t Safe Anywhere, Not Even in their Classrooms

Posted on August 2021 by Sireen Amra

In the past month, Palestinians have witnessed yet another escalation of Zionist violence inflicted onto our homeland without reservation. Israeli warplanes murdered over 250 Palestinians and displaced nearly 100,000 people from their homes during a two-week-long bombardment of the Gaza … Continue reading →

858 total views

Posted in International, International, Israel/Palestine, Palestinians, Section, Students, Voices, Women | Comments Off

Supporting Women, Girls and Families: An Interview with Stephanie Cockrell

Posted on May 2021 by P. Stewart

Women are praised for being pillars of strength in their families and communities, but this same strength might lead them to be overlooked when designing services to meet the needs of a community. Women also need therapeutic activities that help … Continue reading →

Posted in African American, African American Women in Champaign-Urbana, African Americans, Community, Voices of Color, Women | Comments Off

Black Art Politicized: A Discussion with Leslie Smith

Posted on May 2021 by Drake Materre

I had the amazing opportunity to interview Leslie Smith, a board member of the Urbana–Champaign Independent Media Center (UCIMC) and the founder of Black Voices Theater Production. As someone who grew up in a household with a father who is … Continue reading →

Posted in African American Women in CU, African Americans, African Americans, Arts, Local Arts, Voices of Color, Women | Comments Off

Stop Asian Hate: A Local Perspective

Posted on May 2021 by Sharon S. Lee

The March 16, 2021 shootings in Atlanta, resulting in the tragic deaths of eight people, six of whom were Asian women, have raised awareness of anti-Asian violence, misogyny, and hatred in this country. In this unprecedented time when global viruses … Continue reading →

Posted in Racism, Voices of Color, Women, Xenophobia | Comments Off

Bail Systems as Wealth-Based Incarceration, or “No Money, No Justice”

Posted on April 2021 by Carol Skalnik Leff

The Eighth Amendment to the US Constitution prohibits “excessive” bail, a prohibition that dates back to English common law, and is largely honored in the breach. In Champaign County Jail, on any given day this past winter, there were … Continue reading →

Posted in Court System, IL, incarceration, Justice, National, Women | Comments Off

Shamar Betts: Caught in a Legal Drama that Started Before He was Born

Posted on April 2021 by Janice Jayes

No one wants to be the poster child for a Supreme Court challenge. However, finding his case before the Supreme Court could not only help Urbana resident Shamar Betts resolve his own situation, but it could redraw the legal lines … Continue reading →

Posted in African American, BLM, Champaign County, civil rights, Court System, Justice, News, Racism, Women | Comments Off

The Haters Among Them

Posted on April 2021 by Pat Simpson

The number is thirty so far, thirty police officers charged with the act of participating in the Capitol insurrection last January. Many, many Americans felt shock, and media analysts expressed particular outrage, to find men in blue—perhaps even waving blue-line, … Continue reading →

Posted in bigotry, National, Police, police accountability, Racism, White Nationalism, Women | Comments Off

Africa and COVID-19 Vaccines: The Politics Surrounding Equitable Access to Vaccines

Posted on April 2021 by Fatou Jobe

Global North countries, including France, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, are hoarding COVID-19 vaccines, leaving countries of the Global South behind in equitable access to vaccines. As COVID-19 vaccines become available, many Global North countries have already purchased half of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, COVID-19, International, International, Women | Comments Off

Thank the Suffragists: Celebrating the Women’s Rights History of Champaign County

Posted on February 2021 by Barb Oehlschlaeger-Garvey

Ever wondered why March is Women’s History Month? We at the Museum of the Grand Prairie invite you to answer that question with a visit to our latest exhibit celebrating the centennial of women’s voting rights, “How Long Must Women … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism, Voting Rights, Women, wonen's rights | Comments Off