My name is Kortnee Walton. I am a senior psychology student at the University of Illinois Springfield and an intern at Faith Coalition for the Common Good. By growing up in Springfield and being a part of the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church since childhood, I have always felt a deep connection to my community. Now, […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inArts & Culture
A great South African agent of change
In 1971, the director of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency was born in Pretoria, South Africa. That same year, another South African, my Dominican brother Albert Nolan, was 1,000 miles away, mentoring students at Stellenbosch University on the country’s southern coast. Stellenbosch was the center of theological study for the Dutch Reformed Church, the […]
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UIS field stations help students engage in active learning outside the classroom
The University of Illinois Springfield operates two field stations: the Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon (TFSE), located within The Nature Conservancy Emiquon Preserve in Fulton County, and the Field Station at Lake Springfield (FSLS). Collectively called the UIS field stations, these facilities provide students with the opportunity to apply concepts learned in the classroom and […]
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The not-to-be-missed college visit
These days there are many options for exploring colleges and training institutes – in-person with options such as tours, visit days and information sessions, and through websites, social media, online reviews and even AI summaries. Beginning by exploring a college, or institute, on its website and social media channels can provide information on programs, training […]
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Tongues of mortals
“If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” – I Corinthians 13:1 The folklore my mom liked to tell about our family is that I did not speak until I was 3 years old. Apparently as the youngest […]
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Reducing homelessness, improving health: How supportive housing can build a stronger community
For those experiencing homelessness, every day can feel like a struggle for survival. In the face of each day’s uncertainty, one of the few constants is difficulty. Every turn poses complications that create barriers to accessing life’s basic needs and the stability and safety people long for. Local organizations and advocates work to provide some […]
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Birthright: An invasion or a right?
The divine invective of Genesis 1:1-3 affirms the right and responsibility of mankind to reproduce and fill the Earth. Thus, wherever mankind goes and settles, he still operates under the Directives of God. After all, Psalm 24 reaffirms that “The Earth is the Lord’s; the world and they that dwell therein.” Thus, wherever mankind settles, […]
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Healing the world, Part I
That the world (and perhaps, primarily, our nation) needs to be healed is a premise few would dispute. One needs only be a conscious, thinking adult to discern the signs of its disease, which are both too numerous and too obvious to list. The old institutions which have served us well for hundreds of years […]
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Join United Way in Kitchen Table Experience
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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
