Author Archives: Public i

Illinois Rolls Out New Medical Marijuana Law

Let’s put Illinois’ new medical marijuana law, Public Act 098-0122, under the microscope from the viewpoint of patients. I didn’t choose to suffer from what afflicts me or the absolute fact that marijuana is the best, most effective, and safest … Continue reading

Posted in Healthcare | Comments Off on Illinois Rolls Out New Medical Marijuana Law

Juneteenth Bike Ride

Community members organized a bike ride throughout Champaign-Urbana for Juneteenth. The ride helped publicize the opening of the Lifecykle Bike Klub, a partner of the Bike Project which also has shops at the Independent Media Center and on the University … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Juneteenth Bike Ride

Summer Classes at Common Ground’s Flatlander Classroom

Visit Urban Bees! Led by Maggie Wachter $10 owners/$15 non-owners Saturday, July 27th, 1-3pm Min 4/Max 12 Local beekeeper Maggie Wachter will take you on a thrilling journey in her teaching apiary located just a few blocks from the Common … Continue reading

Posted in Community Forum, Education, Environment, Food, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Summer Classes at Common Ground’s Flatlander Classroom

Progressives March in 4th of July Parade

This year’s 4th of July parade in Champaign-Urbana had the usual patriotic floats, but this year also included a float by the “No More Jails” campaign organized by CU Citizens for Peace and Justice. The recently-formed Moms Across America (a.k.a. … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Progressives March in 4th of July Parade

SEIU Holds 3-Day Strike on U of I Campus

After 9 months of negotiating at UIUC, Building Service and Food Service Workers pulled off an enormously successful strike with 97 percent of the workforce walking off the job and 2/3 picketing over the three days. Garbage overflowed, food was … Continue reading

Posted in Labor/Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Comments Off on SEIU Holds 3-Day Strike on U of I Campus

The Negative Impact of the War on Drugs in Our Community

Two Community Dialogues Thursday, Feb. 28, Levis Faculty Center (919 W. Illinois St., Urbana) Friday night, March 1, Salem Baptist Church (500 E. Park St., Champaign) 5:30-8:30 p.m. both nights Keynote Speakers: Neill Franklin, former narcotics officer and executive director … Continue reading

Posted in Community Forum, Policing | Comments Off on The Negative Impact of the War on Drugs in Our Community

Community Meeting for Campaign to Stop New Jail

On January 31st, Champaign Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice (CUCPJ) will hold our first community wide strategy meeting for the campaign to stop the construction of a $20 million jail in our county. Though our campaign efforts have yielded … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Community Meeting for Campaign to Stop New Jail

Talk About the Immokalee Workers

One of the most inspiring contemporary examples of how immigrant rights and worker rights intersect is the story of the Immokalee Workers. Learn about the heroic story of a small group of migrant workers who successfully overcame modern-day slavery in … Continue reading

Posted in Immigration | Comments Off on Talk About the Immokalee Workers

LEARN ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF IMMIGRANT AND WORKER RIGHTS

Immigrant rights, worker rights―what’s the connection? The East Central Illinois Jobs with Justice (ECIJWJ) Chapter is hosting a multi-media presentation on the Coalition of Immokalee Workers that will address this question. Part of a month-long examination of the problems and … Continue reading

Posted in Immigration, Labor/Economics, Uncategorized | Comments Off on LEARN ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF IMMIGRANT AND WORKER RIGHTS

Nov. 18: ACCESS Initiative “Think Tank”

The ACCESS Initiative is currently involved in planning a community wide 3-day “Think Tank “ event for November 8-10th at Eastland Suites. ACCESS Initiative is a new System of Care in Champaign County to help youth (ages 10-18) function better … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Nov. 18: ACCESS Initiative “Think Tank”

SPEAK Cafe

October 18th, 7-9pm SANKOFA; HONORING THE LEGACY OF BOB MARLEY and of course FREE SWEET POTATO PIE for the 1st twenty people

Posted in Arts | Comments Off on SPEAK Cafe

“Black Cultural Politics in a Color Blind Nation” Lecture by Tricia Rose

“Black Cultural Politics in a Color Blind Nation” Lecture by Tricia Rose (Africana Studies, Brown University) Date: November 1, 2012 Time: 4:00 p.m. Location: Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum Co-Sponsored by IPRH and the Spurlock Museum. David R. Roediger, Kendrick C. … Continue reading

Posted in University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Comments Off on “Black Cultural Politics in a Color Blind Nation” Lecture by Tricia Rose

GEO Holds Rally For Fair Contract

On Sept. 20, the Graduate Employees’ Union held a rally outside of Leavis Faculty Center where inside negotiations were taking place over a new contract.

Posted in Uncategorized, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Comments Off on GEO Holds Rally For Fair Contract

Announcements for September

Campus YMCA Fall 2012 Lecture Series All lectures are on Fridays at 12:00pm.| University YMCA| 1001 South Wright Street | Champaign, IL Beyond the Rhetoric: Key Issues in the 2012 Elections.  The Fall 2012 Friday Forum Lecture Series will … Continue reading

Posted in Community Forum, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Announcements for September

Two Referenda Backed By Occupy CU

There’s way too much money in politics. The airwaves are getting crammed with low-information attack ads. Ordinary people hardly ever have political conversations with anyone with very fifferentviews anymore. Just about everybody agrees with those points, but many figure there’s … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Two Referenda Backed By Occupy CU

UIUC Conference: The Problem of the Twenty-First Century: Race and Racism in and Beyond the United States

THE PROBLEM OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: RACE AND RACISM IN AND BEYOND THE UNITED STATES Transnational Studies and Race/Class/Gender Workshop University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign September 7-8, 2012 Keynote Speaker, Howard Winant, Howard Winant is author of Racial Formation in the … Continue reading

Posted in University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Comments Off on UIUC Conference: The Problem of the Twenty-First Century: Race and Racism in and Beyond the United States

Odyssey Project Offers Classes on Literature, Philosophy, History and Art

Residents in Urbana-Champaign are invited to apply to be part of a unique program offering a free college liberal arts course to adults living on low-incomes, complete with college credit. The Odyssey Project, a program of the Illinois Humanities Council … Continue reading

Posted in Education | Comments Off on Odyssey Project Offers Classes on Literature, Philosophy, History and Art

A Bad Idea: The County Board’s Proposal to Spend $20 Million on Jail Construction

Over the last few months a classic political power struggle has been taking place at Champaign County Board meetings.  At the center of it has been a Board proposal to spend $20 million on jail construction. People from Champaign-Urbana Citizens … Continue reading

Posted in Policing, Politics, Prisoners | Comments Off on A Bad Idea: The County Board’s Proposal to Spend $20 Million on Jail Construction

CUCPJ Public Forum on New Jail Proposal

Champaign Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice Present A Public Forum on: The County Board’s Proposal to Spend $20 Million on a New Jail Speakers: Carol Ammons, County Board member who opposes the jail proposal Members of Decarcerate Monroe County, … Continue reading

Posted in African Americans, Community Forum, Policing, Politics, Prisoners, Voices of Color | Comments Off on CUCPJ Public Forum on New Jail Proposal

Urbana-Champaign Mini Maker Faire

Saturday, April 14 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. IMC, 202 S. Broadway, in downtown Urbana Free to the public! ucmakerfaire.com Make something! This event is sponsored by the Urbana Public Arts Commission

Posted in UC-IMC | Comments Off on Urbana-Champaign Mini Maker Faire