Emily Hays

Holiday cards to those in prison will be digitized this year. A local group points out the importance of physical copies
RIPPLE Effect brings together about two dozen strangers every holiday to write cards to incarcerated people from Champaign County.

Unit 4 parents, students looking for ‘strong communicator’ in next superintendent
Those who want to be Champaign Unit 4’s next superintendent can apply now. The job description is based on the input parents, teachers and students.

This niche card game has a loyal following in an Illinois prison
Danville Correctional Center reversed a ban on Magic: The Gathering cards last year. Since then, the game has been a source of community and joy.

Illinois prisons are confining the incarcerated to their cells more often than during the pandemic. Can peer education help?
Prison lockdowns cut incarcerated people off from educational opportunities, and they often occur due to staff shortages. Experts say peer mentorship could help fill the gap.

‘There’s a softness that starts to settle in’: peer educators incarcerated at Danville Correctional Center describe their teaching journey
Danville Correctional Center has led the state in experimenting with peer education programs. Men serving long sentences there have transformed themselves, through learning and teaching, into community pillars at the prison.

Illinois Public Media’s new leaders describe their vision, hope to allay staff concerns
Lillie Duncanson and John Steinbacher officially began sharing the executive director role on Sunday.