URBANA — Illinois Public Media‘s latest station is celebrating two years of amplifying Black voices and being a source for R&B, smooth jazz, and gospel music for Central Illinoisans. Illinois Soul’s 2nd Anniversary Celebration is next weekend at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, featuring a concert by Grammy-nominated artist MAYSA.
Morning Edition host Kimberly Schofield spoke with Jill Clements, Illinois Soul’s Station Manager, and Reginald Hardwick, IPM News and Public Affairs Director, about how Illinois Soul has changed the local community and what’s in store for the station in the future.
This interview has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
KIMBERLY SCHOFIELD: How would you describe Illinois Soul’s growth and impact?
REGINALD HARDWICK: Everything that we put this station together for has come to fruition, and it’s only growing from there. Especially when I think of the community events and the community music, and things that we have hosted at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and at the Virginia Theatre. And, you know, teaching this community that there is a Black community, both on the University of Illinois campus, but also, of course, an historic Black community that’s been here and is willing to attend and enjoy functions and participate in things like the free Juneteenth concerts we’ve done with Syleena Johnson and Talib Kweli, and the upcoming anniversary concerts and the Stage Five Uncorked concerts. So I think about the news and that sort of thing, but I also think about the sense of community that’s been built and that the station has helped accomplish.
JILL CLEMENTS: Locally, we have truly become everything that we said we would would be, and the effect on that and the impact on that … you can see in the community when you come out to see our events at Krannert Center or our Certified Organic series that showcases local artists, all the way to getting national attention. You know, we are this little station that could, and we just have connected and resonated with this mission. So it’s not just local. It’s local, it’s regional, and it’s national.
SCHOFIELD: As exciting is the second anniversary celebration happening for Illinois Soul, featuring Grammy-nominated soul and jazz vocalist MAYSA, Teen Summit 2 The Remix is also coming. February is a big month for Illinois Soul. Also in February, the Uncorked Series starts. Can you tell me a little bit about the Uncorked Series that’s in partnership with Illinois Soul.
CLEMENTS: Yes, and Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Yes, this is the Uncorked Special Edition series. We have partnered with Krannert during the month of February as part of the Illinois Soul celebration. So every Thursday in the month of February, starting at 5:30pm on Stage Five, we are going to feature local, regional, and wrap it all up with a national recording artist.
HARDWICK: And one of things I love, it’s a real mixture of the community. Folks from all over just come together. And we know it’s February, it’s still cold.
CLEMENTS: But it’s hot there.
HARDWICK: Yes, they come inside and you see everyone just dialoguing having a good time. You had a rough day at work, come Thursday nights at 5:30.
CLEMENTS: It’s multi-generational. So you’ll see parents there with their kids and grandkids and it’s just a special place to be.
SCHOFIELD: Looking ahead, what do you hope to continue having Illinois Soul provide to the community? How do you want it to grow?
CLEMENTS: You know, we want to continue to be the ultimate community connector for infotainment, experiences, arts, entertainment, film, impactful community conversations for Central Illinois, and eventually we will be beyond Central Illinois. We’re going to continue to grow our staff. We’re going to continue to cultivate partnerships, donors, philanthropists. We are just again, the little station. We don’t know we’re little. We don’t roll like we’re little. You know, we are the small but mighty, mighty station. And you know, the mission excites me every day, even when it’s tough. I love it.
HARDWICK: I think that all of what Jill said, and the key is everyone who’s listening today to continue to support us. You know, whether you’re a local business and you are interested in underwriting our music or underwriting our news programming, or some of our NPR programming that we share. We know everyone is kind of set back in money, but just giving what you can, every little bit helps. So when we have different drives and everything, you know, you may be helping us buy a song or two and put it on the air. Or you could be helping us fund a reporter who’s focused on Black communities.
We talked about the rescission earlier. Unfortunately, we did have some staff reductions. We’re dedicated to having Illinois Soul on the air, but, you know, we want to do a reset and bring back folks, and specifically have on-air talent who’s just dedicated to Illinois Soul, in addition to the talent that shares between the news department and TV and everything else. But that can only happen with investment. And again, we’re dedicated to be here amplifying Black music and culture and news and voices, and we can’t wait for what’s coming up in the future.
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is a financial supporter of Illinois Public Media.