University of Illinois philosophy professor Kevin Scharp studies artificial intelligence. He thinks America—and humanity—is at an unprecedented crossroads in our relationship with AI, and says the most consequential decisions have already been made.
Bill Bozdech, his wife and two sons farm 2,500 acres in Champaign, Douglas and Vermillion counties. His family immigrated to east-central Illinois from central Europe in 1890.
Barbara Suggs Mason’s family has been part of Champaign County since at least 1865. Until recently, she was co-chair of the Champaign County African American Heritage trail.
Sammy Garduno emigrated from Mexico when he was 16. In 2006, he opened Sammy’s Pancake House on North Mattis Avenue in Champaign. In April, retired and handed management duties over to his daughter Veronica.
Decatur resident Ranjohd Singh is a general and colorectal surgeon at Decatur Memorial Hospital and a member of the Sikh Religious Society of Central Illinois. He lives in Decatur with his wife and two teenage children.
Mattoon resident Diane Lathrop was born and raised in east-central Illinois. She was valedictorian of the Mattoon Senior High School class of 1971. She attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and, in 2023, retired after more than 40 years in the financial services industry.
Callie McFarland has lived in Monticello since 2004. She’s a mother of two, a farmer’s wife and a small business owner. Since 2008, she’s been the director of community and economic development for the city of Monticello.
Dr. Allan Crandall has provided psychotherapeutic and medical services to people throughout central Illinois and in Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska and Colorado.
Da’Sani Lewis is a 2026 graduate of Danville High School and will be attending Southern Illinois University Edwardsville this fall. Lewis wonders what kind of place America should be 50 years from now.
John Martin is a lifelong Urbana resident and a retired software engineer. A self-described patriot and supporter of the Make America Great Again movement, Martin asks how the U.S. can heal from the previous presidential administration’s handling of immigration.
Lance Dixon is a husband, a father of five and the owner of Dixon Graphics in Champaign. He grew up in Chicago’s melting pot thinking America’s institutions were rock solid. He’s shaken by how fragile they seem today.
Chad Rand is outreach coordinator for the University of Illinois Education Justice Project, where he supports people across the country who are coming home from prison or facing detention and deportation.
Father Johndamaseni Zilimu is pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Champaign. Father John was born in Tanzania and moved to the U.S. in 2000. He received his doctorate in mathematics education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2014.
Hannah Velasco is a 29-year-old resident of Urbana. She directs Urbana High School’s Ballet Folklórico de los Tigres, and is a recruitment and training coordinator for the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Champaign County. Her identity has never fit neatly into one box, and she believes that accepting each other’s differences is part of being American.
Kay Weidner grew up near Crystal Lake Park in north Urbana and still lives in the area. Members of her family have served in the military since at least World War II, and she loves a good Fourth of July Parade.