06.14.21

Happy Monday, UIS!

The University of Illinois Springfield and the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation (ILBCF) have partnered to create a focused speaker series. The goal is to educate the citizens of Illinois on critical societal issues resulting from social determinant factors impacting historically marginalized populations.

Blake Jones, a sophomore runner on the University of Illinois Springfield men’s track and field team, placed third in the 5,000-meter run at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field National Championships on Saturday.  

Jones finished the race in 14 minutes, 15.12 seconds to become the first male UIS runner to earn All-American honors and the first in school history to score a point in a national meet.  

Local experts will talk about the history of Juneteenth during an online panel discussion.

The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) Center for Lincoln Studies will host a discussion called "Why Juneteenth: Remembrance and Reflection."

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day and Emancipation Day, takes place on June 19. It commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas learned that slavery was abolished and they were free.

The 2021 Sangamon County Citizens Survey has been sent out.

The survey, which has been conducted every other year for the past 10 years, asks for residents' opinions on important topics related to the community, equality, COVID-19, trust and confidence, economy and employment, and demographics.

The survey is a collaborative effort between the University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy and Leadership, Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, and United Way of Central Illinois.

This story aired on WAND TV June 7, 2021.