As autumn leaves begin to turn and a crisp chill fills the air, United Way of Central Illinois is gearing up for its annual fall Day of Action, a communitywide volunteer event aimed at making a significant impact across the region. Set to take place on Friday, Oct. 4, this year’s initiative promises to “Ignite […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inArts & Culture
Law enforcement and policymakers must build relationships with community
This summer, the Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network presented three anti-racism workshops funded by the IDHS Healing Illinois. These workshops taught participants how to recognize the manifestations of racism and white supremacy in their work and in organizations, along with ways to mitigate harm and deliberately provide equitable services. My training partner, Dr. Kelly Hurst, a […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Miniature Butter Cow contest back again
It’s August – that means the Illinois State Fair and its must-see, iconic butter cow sculpture is back again. And so is the annual miniature butter cow contest sponsored by Illinois Times and Prairie Farms Dairy. The contest, which started in 2020 when the fair was canceled because of the COIVD-19 pandemic, invites people to […]
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You are not free to stand aside
One of the most beloved of Jewish texts is Pirkei Avot, (The Ethics of the Fathers), a collection of wise sayings attributed to the Jewish sages who lived during the last several centuries before the Common Era and the two centuries following. Avot (as it is called for the sake of brevity) is a tractate […]
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Answers sought after death of Sonya Massey
“All too often, when we see injustices, both great and small, we think, ‘That’s terrible,’ but we do nothing. We say nothing. We let other people fight their own battles. We remain silent because silence is easier… When we say nothing, when we do nothing, we are consenting to these trespasses against us.” — Roxane […]
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Reality imbued with the hidden presence of God
Days after hanging out with 50,000 other Catholics at the Indianapolis Convention Center for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress, I was back in Springfield with a much smaller crowd. About 200 of us assembled on a sticky Monday afternoon to honor the life of Sonya Massey, grieve her loss and call for accountability. The gathering […]
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UIS Career Development Center supports student and graduate success
Students pursue higher education and advanced degrees for many reasons. Getting a job or advancing in a career are some of the top reasons that consistently show up in surveys. The University of Illinois Springfield provides various resources and services to help students find jobs when they graduate. The UIS Career Development Center is one […]
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Learning opportunities at West Lake Nature Grove
Nestled along Springfield’s West Lake Shore Drive, shaded by large trees, hosting a new orchard and buzzing with the daily activities of honeybees is Lincoln Land Community College’s newest outdoor learning lab — West Lake Nature Grove. Dedicated in June 2023, West Lake Nature Grove is a 2.1-acre plot of land the college uses for […]
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Coming and going
Jesus said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going.” – Mark 6:31 Anne Morrow Lindbergh, in her book Gift from the Sea, echoes the call of Jesus to his disciples to come away and rest a while. In our coming and […]
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A transformed terrorist
He was committed and unmovable in his personal and religious convictions. He was operating on his own. Yet he had the full support of his religious leaders. Everybody he could find who had veered from the teachings of the faith were subject to his incarceration to be brought back for trial and subsequent punishment. He […]
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The destiny of America
Some years ago, a well-known comedian (Johnny Carson, perhaps), had a routine which began with the question, “Would you believe?” This was followed with an absurdly improbable proposition, and the routine took off from there. Lately, my own “would you believe” inquiry has been increasingly on my mind: Would you believe America is destined to […]
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Stepping up: My next steps as board chair of United Way of Central Illinois
As I prepare to step into the role of board chair for the United Way of Central Illinois, I’m filled with a mix of excitement, gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility. This organization has been a part of my life since 2013, and I’ve watched it grow, evolve and make a profound impact on […]
