Sangamon Experience

Echoes of Change: Central Illinois Journalism and Social Justice in the 1980s is a captivating exploration of the profound impact of local journalism during a transformative era. In this enlightening program, we delve into the vital role played by journalists in Central Illinois as they confronted and reported on the Illinois Human Rights Law (1979), Equal Rights Amendment Rally (1982), Urban Renewal (1983), the Desegregation of Local Government in Springfield (1987), and the creation of the Central Illinois Gay Lesbian Task Force. Moreover, the program explores journalists' ethical dilemmas and professional challenges in pursuing truth and justice. It underscores the importance of journalistic principles such as accuracy, fairness, and impartiality, which guided reporters in their quest to uncover and expose social injustices. By revisiting the stories and struggles of Central Illinois in the 1980s, "Echoes of Change" not only honors the legacy of local journalism but also invites reflection on its enduring relevance in today's world. In an era marked by shifting media landscapes and evolving challenges, the program is a powerful reminder of journalists' essential role in safeguarding democracy and promoting social change.

Redlining, some scholars contend, has become a “narrative crutch” that obscures a much longer history of housing discrimination. Redlining didn’t create systemic racism in American housing patterns, it sanctioned it. Vulnerable communities still feel the impacts of this profitable disinvestment in vast and far-reaching ways. The perpetuation of racist residential patterns far exceeds the reach of government actors. Public and private actors are, in many ways, equally responsible for the spaces we do and do not inhabit to this day. This session will center a local lens and deep dive into new maps and resources added to “Mapping Inequality” and other related digital humanities projects from the University of Richmond’s Digital Scholarship Lab and New American History. Participants will have an opportunity to explore OER resources designed to help seek solutions in the modern era.

You are invited to attend the screening of The Life and Work of Vachel Lindsay, hosted by Sangamon Experience, on Friday, April 14 at the Brookens Auditorium at the University of Illinois Springfield from 6 pm. A panel discussion will follow. The documentary was directed and produced by The Storyteller Studios and commissioned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and State Historic Sites Springfield.

The Sangamon Experience at the University of Illinois Springfield will host an Illinois Humanities Road Scholars Speakers Bureau presentation entitled "Untold African American Stories" by Mary Frances.

The Sangamon Experience at the University of Illinois Springfield and the UIS Diversity Center will host a presentation entitled "Memories of State Government: Springfield’s Doc Helm and his Photo Collection 1941 – 1992" by Illinois State Archives Director Dr. David Joens and Archival Program Administrator Cathy Popovitch.

The Sangamon Experience invites the public to addend Dennis Williams: Prominent 19th Century African American Artist in Springfield, Illinois, a presentation by Mary Frances and funded by Illinois Humanities. Discover Dennis Williams's world by exploring his life's meaning, value, and impact. In-person registration: https://forms.uofi.uis.edu/sec/1004938388