Celebrating 20 Years!
On September 26, 2020, it will be 20 years since Urbana-Champaign IMC was launched from a living room in Urbana, where a small group began collectivizing equipment and passing the hat for an “endowment.” 20 years later we own and manage a 30,000-square-foot community arts center (which we converted from an old post office building), continue to publish a monthly newspaper (the Public i), house a low power radio station (WRFU Radio Free Urbana), and have long-term relationships with Books to Prisoners and a local Makerspace.
Our building is a venue for emerging artists and a community organizing space. And this year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we started “Sounds like Community” a weekly showcase of artists and organizers.
Due to the pandemic, we had to transform our major anniversary gathering into virtual events!
UCIMC’s 20th Anniversary Kick-Off Event:
Wednesday, September 30th, 7 pm–8:30 pm via zoom
“Independent Media: Where we’ve come from and why we need it more than ever!”
with panelists Sarah Lazare, Tanya Parker, and Sascha Meinrath, and moderator Danielle Chynoweth
Wednesday, September 30th, 7pm-8:30pm via zoom (see www.ucimc.org/20th after 5pm for the link) or tune your radio to WRFU 104.5 FM (if you live nearby)
Event 2: Wednesday, October 28th, 2020; 7 pm–8:30 pm (Urbana Illinois time zone)
20th Anniversary Panel: “Abolition and Grassroots Organizing” Carol Ammons, James Kilgore, and Malkia Cyril.
Via zoom and on WRFU 104.5FM
Event 3: Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020; 7 pm–8:30 pm (Urbana Illinois time zone)
“Stories from the IMC: A Video Project”: Excerpts from interviews with the people who have been a part of the UC-IMC’s cultural, political and social life.
Via zoom and on WRFU 104.5FM
Contact: anniversary@ucimc.org