As United Way of Central Illinois prepares for its annual Campaign Celebration this March, community members, donors and partners will have a unique opportunity to experience firsthand the struggles many families face every day. The event will not only recognize the generosity of those who have contributed to this year’s campaign but will also feature […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inArts & Culture
How the 1908 Race Riot led to the NAACP
We commonly hear that the terrible Springfield race riot of 1908 led to the creation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, but not much is generally known about how that happened. Information from the national NAACP, the Sangamon Valley Collection at Lincoln Library and the Sangamon County Historical Society help put […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The rhetoric of hate
The lies that President Donald Trump tells about immigrants are powerful but hardly new. In times of uncertainty and change, immigrants have always served as America’s scapegoat for economic, international, religious and cultural insecurities. No matter how geographically or culturally different, immigrant groups have faced common stereotypes. At his inauguration, Trump used the old standby […]
Posted inArts & Culture
We are God’s partners and stewards of creation
In our religious traditions, we recognize that the reality of God and the nature of our relationship with the divine are a mystery that transcend the limitations of human speech. To impart a sense of God’s presence and to make that relationship closer and more immediate, however, scripture and liturgy employ images and metaphors that […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Beat the winter blues
The wind is howling and snowflakes are dancing outside. The sky is monotone gray and there’s more than a foot of snow on the ground. The kids are restless and can’t wait to jump in the first snow of the year, but it’ll already be dark by the time they get out of school. The […]
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Age well with strength training
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was something that helped burn fat, reduced the risk of developing disease and facilitated graceful, independent living well into old age? “Strength training really is the magic formula,” said Brigitte Cutler, a physical therapist in Springfield. Cutler explained that strength training boosts the health and functionality of mitochondria, the […]
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Break the sedentary lifestyle habit
Leading a sedentary lifestyle does not promote health. Though definitions vary, sitting for four or more hours a day is generally considered sedentary. Transitioning to a more active lifestyle can improve the outlook of many health conditions, including blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Always talk to your doctor before beginning […]
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Ditch the dramatic New Year’s resolutions
Did you set a New Year’s resolution for 2025? Are you still going strong, or have you slipped and already feel like a failure? If so, you can blame the Babylonians, who are thought to be the forerunners of resolutions, and then you can begin accomplishing goals in a manner that seems too easy to […]
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Healthy, Wealthy and Wise 2025
It’s easy to make New Year’s resolutions to eat better, exercise more, drink more water and the like, but much harder to sustain by the time February rolls around. Our annual health and wellness issue has tips on breaking the habit of a sedentary lifestyle, beating the winter blues and using strength training to age […]
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Secondhand clothes help you and the planet
Here’s a conversation starter: How many pounds of clothing does the average American throw out annually? According to Material Circular Economy, a sustainable materials journal, it’s 82 pounds. In 2018 alone, 14.5 million tons of textiles in the U.S. were burned or added to landfills, mostly clothing, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The […]
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Church unity: Celebrating “the golden cord”
A few weeks back, a Secrets of the Dead episode sucked me in mid-program when I saw they were exploring the ruins of a basilica thought to be the location of the Council of Nicaea. It wasn’t, as it turned out, but the episode was a reminder to me about the outcome of that council. […]
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Unapologetically loud and claiming my identity
Hello. I am Breonna but I go by Bree. I am a 26-year-old sales coordinate at Montvale Independent Living. I also serve as co-chair of the Education Task Force as well as the Economic Disparities and Service Accessibility committee under the Massey Commission. My passion lies in advocating for those who need a voice – […]
