Monthly Archives: July 2010

The Battle of Mahomet

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Neil Parthun

STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS in Mahomet were back in class on Monday, Aug. 23 after the Mahomet Seymour Education Association (MSEA) and the school board were able to settle on a new contract on Aug. 20. The settlement marked an end … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Labor/Economics | Leave a comment

Message & Medium, Both Matter in Local Film Fests

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Jason Pankoke

For decades, Champaign-Urbana has inspired a long succession of independently made media created by citizens, academics, and students wishing to enrich and inform their friends and neighbors in ways avoided by commercial outlets. This has encompassed print, radio, theater, music, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts | Leave a comment

2010 U. S. Social Forum, Detroit

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Sarah Ross

If you want to connect to people involved in just about every social justice issue our nation faces, you would find your people at the US Social Forum. The first USSF was held in Atlanta in 2007. This year the … Continue reading →

Posted in Labor/Economics, National | Leave a comment

The Summer Construction Education Program

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Belden Fields

There are not many minorities or women in the building trades. The Summer Construction Education Program tries to do something about that by introducing young minority people and women to the skills of the trades in a hands-on way. A … Continue reading →

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Education vs. Incarceration: The Early Release Program in Illinois

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Brian Dolinar

With a current state budget deficit in Illinois of some $13 billion, among the largest in the country, state legislators are making tough decisions about where to save money. Recently, Governor Pat Quinn proposed an “early release” program for prison … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Prisoners | Leave a comment

Alleged Torturer and Ex-Cop, Jon Burge, Convicted of Perjury and Obstruction of Justice

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Neil Parthun

Former Chicago Police Sargeant Jon Burge was convicted on June 28 on federal perjury and obstruction of justice charges. US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald had charged Burge with lying in court papers during a civil lawsuit that had alleged Burge had … Continue reading →

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In Defense of Mumia Abu Jamal From the Campaign To End The Death Penalty

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Public i

The Campaign to End the Death Penalty (CEDP) is appalled by the news that several individuals of leading anti-death penalty organizations have signed a confidential memorandum stating that the “involvement of Mumia Abu-Jamal endangers the U.S. coalition for abolition of … Continue reading →

Posted in Prisoners, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

eBlack Project: Online and In The Community

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Noah Lenstra

The history of African-Americans in Champaign-Urbana has gone virtual! A new project, called eBlackChampaign- Urbana, is working to bring together the documentation of this important history online to find new ways to celebrate, remember and use it into the present … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Technology, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Odyssey Project

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Kerry Pimblott

For the past four years, the Odyssey Project has offered a free-college accredited course in the humanities to workers and low-income men and women in Champaign County. Thanks to support from both the Illinois Humanities Council (IHC) and the University … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Education | Leave a comment

Valedictorian Speech From The Odyssey Project

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Janice Walker

Good Afternoon Friends, Family and Faculty. Thank you for taking time to celebrate with the 2010 Graduating class of the Odyssey Project. About 2-years ago I saw the Odyssey Program advertised in the News Gazette paper and I thought WOW, … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Education, Youth | Leave a comment

Human Services in Hard Times: State Budget Deficits Threaten the Most Vulnerable Among Us

Posted on 07/05/2010 by David Green

Government-funded human services are defined in specific terms in relation to statelevel administrative structures and the state’s annual budget. These services do not technically include significant portions of the budget devoted to health care and education. Human services—thus narrowly defined— … Continue reading →

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Urbana Neighborhood Connections, Inc.

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Belden Fields

On January 19 of this year, Neighborhood Connections Center, Inc opened its doors as a community learning center for African American young people. It is located at 1401 E. Main Street in Urbana. The Center is the creation of Janice … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Education | Leave a comment