Category Archives: Voices

The U.S. (In)Justice System Doesn’t Work. The Alternative Just Might

Posted on 09/05/2010 by Mikhail Lyubansky

I’VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT justice lately, pondering the injustice of the way that justice is administered in this country. For years I’ve pointed out and lamented the racial bias evident in both law enforcement and the criminal courts. … Continue reading →

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New Book of Poetry from Aaron Ammons

Posted on 09/05/2010 by Public i

A second book of poetry is now out from local poet Aaron Ammons, a.k.a. A-Dub, titled As I Travel My Creation. It includes dozens of new poems such as “Do I Remember,” reprinted below. This self-published book was funded in … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Arts, Voices of Color | Leave a comment

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 →

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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 →

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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

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 →

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Letter by an Undocumented UIUC Student

Posted on 05/05/2010 by anonymous

No identification, no rights. Am I invisible? Where do I belong? Who can I trust? What will I do? How can plan my future? When will I stop being an “illegal alien”? These are the mixture of feelings I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Human Rights, Latino/a | Leave a comment

Susan Gage’s New View of a Woman’s Body

Posted on 04/05/2010 by Bonnie Fortune

Bloomington-Normal is the location of Illinois State University, a college in a remote location with a thriving arts program. It is where Suzann Gage went to study art in the 1970s. It is also where she had an epiphany. Gage … Continue reading →

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The Abortion Debate: Now Showing At a Football Game, Billboard, Twitter, Or a Clinic Near You!

Posted on 04/05/2010 by Heather Ault

On Super Bowl Sunday, CBS ran a television commercial by conservative Christian group, Focus on the Family causing an incredible backlash throughout the pro-choice and progressive communities across the country. By viewing this particular advertisement, CBS broke its own policy … Continue reading →

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Safe Haven Member Back in City Court

Posted on 09/04/2009 by Brian Dolinar

ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, Jesse Masengale returned to city court for two tickets issued to him by Champaign police this summer. A member of the Safe Haven community, Jesse was present when Champaign police showed up on June 8 to … Continue reading →

Posted in Homelessness, Human Rights | Leave a comment

Safe Haven Tent Community Goes to Court

Posted on 08/04/2009 by Brian Dolinar

A CROWD OF APPROXIMATELY 20 people showed up in city court on July 28, 2009 to watch the proceedings in a case against Jesse Masengale, a member of the Safe Haven Tent Community. After a group of homeless men and … Continue reading →

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Foreclosures Lead to Homelessness for Many

Posted on 06/02/2009 by National Low Income Housing Coalition

WASHINGTON—June 26, nearly 80% of homeless service and advocacy agencies report that at least some of their clients became homeless as a result of a foreclosure, and one in five estimate that more than 40% of their clients became homeless … Continue reading →

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Native American Healthcare Lagging Behind the Rest

Posted on 04/02/2009 by Rebecca Franz

THE EXPECTED LIFE SPAN OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS is nearly five years less than for the general population of the United States and stands around 72. In 1972-1974, infant and maternal mortality rates were, respectively, 25% and 82% higher than … Continue reading →

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The History and Significance of Women’s Achievements In Sports

Posted on 03/02/2009 by Neil Parthun

WHEN DISCUSSING THE HISTORY of the women’s movement and its achievements, people often forget the contributions of sports and women athletes to the social and political emancipation of women. Sport was and remains a way for women to achieve positive … Continue reading →

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Youth Making History at Home

Posted on 02/02/2009 by Karen Simms

”Our youth are not failing the system; the system is failing our youth. Ironically, the very youth who are being treated the worst are the young people who are going to lead us out of this nightmare.”—Rachel Jackson The Peer … Continue reading →

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WAMPANOAGS FOUR CENTURIES OF STRUGGLE FOR TRIBAL RECOGNITION

Posted on 11/01/2008 by Public i

The Wampanoag were the Native American tribe encountered by the early colonists when they arrived to the shores of Wampanoag lands. The tribal nation, however, was not to receive federal recognition until last year. The struggle for tribal recognition faced … Continue reading →

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Code Pink

Posted on 10/01/2008 by Antonia Darder

CODEPINK IS BRINGING THOUSANDS of women together to struggle for peace, even if it requires civil disobedience. The organization is working around the clock, to educate the public about the costs of war and its affect on the world and … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Women | Leave a comment

Tamms CMAX Super-Maximum Security Prison

Posted on 06/01/2008 by Neil Parthun

Imagine being in solitary isolation twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Imagine no telephone calls. Imagine limited visits with loved ones. Imagine the few visits that are allowed to take place happening with no physical contact. Imagine the … Continue reading →

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