‘Significant milestone’: Champaign appoints first African-American city manager
Joan Walls has worked for Champaign’s government for 24 years. Her experience earned her unanimous support from the city council.
Tag: African-Americans
Champaign on track to get its first African-American city manager
CHAMPAIGN– Officials in Champaign will decide at a meeting Tuesday whether to promote Deputy City Manager Joan Walls to serve as the city’s chief executive. Walls is a 24-year veteran of Champaign city government, who was appointed to the position in 2013. Under Champaign’s council-manager system of government, the city manager is hired by the
Alana Banks made history as the first Black, transgender woman on a school board in the United States. How is she doing now?
Alana Banks made history two years ago, becoming the first Black and transgender woman elected to a school board in the country. Still, she has found balancing the demands of the communities she represents challenging.
The story behind Juneteenth and how it became a federal holiday
June 19th was the day in 1865 when a Union officer reached Galveston, Texas and announced their liberation. It would take another century and a half and lots of rallying for the U.S. government to recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
Unsafe neighborhoods particularly distress Black men in relationships, new study from University of Illinois finds
Neighborhood quality can make a big difference in the mental health of Black Americans over 10 years – even more than relationship quality.
Organizers In Champaign County Prepare For Juneteenth
CHAMPAIGN – Organizers throughout Champaign County say Juneteenth is about history, but also about bringing attention to systemic issues that the African American community still faces. Juneteenth, which falls on June 19, is also now an official state holiday, after Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation on Wednesday. Rantoul resident Debbra Sweat was having coffee with
African-American Arts Faculty Showcased In ‘We Got Next’
This summer, there’s been a lot of discussion about racism, anti-black violence and injustice. Now African-Americans on the faculty of the University of Illinois’ College of Fine and Applied Arts are sharing their perspectives in a 5-part online showcase called “We Got Next” that you’re invited to attend virtually. Prof. Taylor talked about “We Got
Danville Juneteenth Celebration Promises History Lesson And A Party
There will be food, music, dancing and a serving of history, Danville’s Juneteenth Celebration, which runs from 5 to 8 PM on Friday, June 19, at Lincoln Park (1000 N. Logan Ave.). A Facebook page for the event is linked here. Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when word of the Emancipation Proclamation formally came to
News Around Illinois – April 7, 2020
1,006 New COVID-19 Cases, 33 New Deaths Reported In Illinois CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 1,006 new cases of COVID-19 in Illinois on Monday, including 33 deaths. Monday’s state report did not include the death of a COVID-19 patient in Champaign County, reported Monday by the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. A
Trump Delivers State Of The Union Address To A Divided Nation
Republicans loved the made-for-television moments in President Trump’s third State of the Union speech as he made his case for reelection. Democrats did not.
News Around Illinois – January 21, 2020
Peoria Bidding To Keep High School Basketball Tournaments PEORIA – The Peoria Civic Center placed bids to host both the IHSA Boys and Girls Basketball Tournaments for the next three years. Peoria has some competition. Champaign wants the boys tournament, and Normal is bidding to keep the girls tournament. Peoria has played host to the boys tournament