The Illinois Innocence Project at University of Illinois Springfield has freed 34 innocent people who were convicted and imprisoned in Illinois for crimes they did not commit. Collectively, they lost 797 years of freedom. There are innocence organizations in 10 other countries and more than 60 in the U.S., but IIP is the only one […]
Karen Ackerman Witter
Karen Ackerman Witter started freelance writing after a 35-year career in state government holding various senior leadership positions. Prior to retiring she was associate director of the Illinois State Museum for 14 years. She is the past president of the Kidzeum Board of Directors and is an active volunteer with the Rotary Club of Springfield Sunrise, Women for Women giving circle of the Community Foundation, NPR Illinois and other community organizations.
Posted inNews
Founding of the Illinois Innocence Project
Dr. Larry Golden, the founding director of IIP, was the youngest faculty member when he came to Sangamon State University when it opened in 1970. He became involved in social justice issues in the 1960s while in graduate school at the University of Minnesota and said he was attracted to SSU because of its focus […]
Posted inNews
Exoneree restitution law expanded
Advocates for increasing the compensation for people wrongfully convicted celebrated a major victory July 14 when Gov. JB Pritzker signed HB 3663. The new law removes the cap on compensation by the state and allows the Court of Claims to award exonerees up to $50,000 for each year wrongfully imprisoned. The bill passed the Illinois […]
Posted inCapital City Parent
Teach children citizenship
How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It’s Up to You to Do It) by Lindsey Cormack. Jossey-Bass, publisher, 2024. $15.80. “A well-informed citizenry is the backbone of a healthy democracy,” writes Lindsey Cormack in her 2024 book How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It’s Up to You to Do It). She contends that raising engaged […]
Posted inSpring Guide
“Seam to Shining Seam” Quilt Show
More than 400 colorful quilts, along with other quilt-related items, will fill the Orr Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on March 20 and 21. The 2026 “Seam to Shining Seam” show features quilts made by Springfield-area quilters who are part of Q.U.I.L.T.S – Quilters United in Learning, Teaching and Self-Improvement. Now held every two […]
Posted inUncategorized
High school essay winners write from the heart
This year is the 20th annual This I Believe essay contest for high school seniors, sponsored by NPR Illinois. Modeled after the program started by radio journalist Edward R. Murrow in 1951, students are invited to write an essay sharing their personal beliefs. This fall, 210 students from throughout the NPR Illinois listening area submitted […]
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Springfield woman elected president of the National Organization for Women
Kim Villanueva of Springfield is the newly elected president of the National Organization for Women (NOW). She is moving to Washington, D.C., to become the paid CEO of NOW after serving in a volunteer capacity with the organization for decades. She previously worked at the Illinois Community College Trustees Association for 40 years as director […]
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Baby Quest Foundation gives hope to local couple
Amanda and Courtney Pingleton of Springfield hope to have a baby through in vitro fertilization (IVF), thanks to a grant from the Baby Quest Foundation. The nonprofit is based in Los Angeles and works with people nationwide, but the founder has a Springfield connection. Pamela Hirsch, who grew up in Springfield and now lives in […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
STEAM learning opportunities for kids
Scouting America and Illinois State Museum team up for STEAM workshops The Abraham Lincoln Council of Scouting America is partnering with the Illinois State Museum to present a monthly series of STEM workshops with engaging hands-on experiences for boys and girls ages 5–11. Programs will be offered one Saturday each month in September, October and […]
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Creative Reuse Marketplace relocates to White Oaks Mall
Creative Reuse Marketplace has reopened in White Oaks Mall on the upper level next to Malibu Jack’s. CRM is much more than a retail store. It is a nonprofit organization that inspires creativity, provides a place to donate items for reuse, keeps materials out of the landfill and engages in educational programs with art as […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Friday Night Live in downtown Springfield
Downtown Springfield is the place to go on four Friday nights this summer to enjoy food, drinks, entertainment, shopping and family fun at local businesses. Friday Night Live is a collaboration among downtown businesses and community supporters to bring people downtown and experience all those local businesses have to offer. It was born from a grassroots […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Threads of Truth quilt to be unveiled
The community is invited to the unveiling of a remarkable quilt made by young men from The Outlet in collaboration with the Social Justice Sewing Academy through a partnership with the Downtown Springfield Rotary Club. The quilt will be part of the “Noir V: Resilience” exhibit at the Illinois State Museum, curated by Austin Wells […]
