Author Archives: Terry Townsend

About Terry Townsend

Terry Townsend participated in Project 500. He is a former Champaign County Housing Authority commissioner, and a long-time community activist.

African American Cultural Center Gets a New Building

Posted on 11/02/2019 by Terry Townsend

After 50 years of political struggle, the African American Cultural Center at the University of Illinois has a new building. In 1969, the Black Student Association (BSA) and Black Champaign-Urbana activists, with support from white students, presented 41 demands to … Continue reading →

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50th Anniversary of Project 500 Coming Up, Should Be Celebrated

Posted on 05/19/2017 by Terry Townsend

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy called on the nation to take action to eradicate the interrelated and interconnected social problems of African-American citizens in the United States. The country was in a crisis. Many, but not all, post-secondary schools … Continue reading →

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Wherefore Cultural Centers at UIUC? A New Way Forward

Posted on 06/26/2012 by Terry Townsend

On February 20, 1969, J.W. Peltason, the first Chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana (UIUC) and the Faculty Senate began the process to establish the Black Cultural Program-commonly referred to as the Black Cultural Center. Three major factors … Continue reading →

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