217 Today: Champaign teen founds non-profit offering free classes to local kids

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Academy High junior Sophia Libman founded her nonprofit X-TIME during the pandemic when she was in eighth grade.
  • Photo: Provided by Sophia Libman

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Today’s headlines: 

  • A measure at the Illinois Statehouse would require kids under DCFS’s care to have a lawyer representing what the children want during abuse and neglect proceedings.
  • The Champaign County Association of Realtors hosted a forum this week to inform landlords about the state’s new Source of Income Law which works to prevent discrimination in housing by adding protections to the state’s Human Rights Act. 
  • One Champaign resident says she’s been looking for housing for five months after the city of Champaign condemned multiple units of an apartment complex late last year. 
  • Officials at Willard Airport in Savoy say the airport will increase its number of commercial passenger flights, so fliers won’t have to drive to Chicago to start or continue their journeys.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll meet Sophia Libman, a high school junior who started her own non-profit to provide classes to local underserved youth three years ago.

217 Today is produced by Farrah Anderson. Reporting today contributed by Alex Degman, Luis Velazquez, Sydney Wood, Elissa Eaton and Yvonne Boose. 

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Farrah Anderson

Farrah Anderson is a 2024 graduate of the University of Illinois. At Illinois Public Media, Anderson works as a general assignment reporter focusing on police and investigative stories.