Lunch and Learn: NIOT at the Museum

Twin Citians interested in cultural nourishment are invited to "Lunch and Learn" Jan. 8 at the McLean County Museum of History, in downtown Bloomington.

The twin cities of Bloomington - Normal, Illinois, were early adopters of Not In Our Town before a hate crime occurred. Then when a wave of arsons struck African American churches across the country, the campaign drew even more support from twin city residents. (3:19)

Not In Our Town: Bloomington-Normal is featured in the new year's first Lunch and Learn program, at 12:10 p.m. in the Museum’s historic Governor Fifer Courtroom on the museum's second floor. Visitors may bring a brown bag lunch and participate in a special presentation and group discussion led by NIOT organizers Willie Halbert and Camille Taylor. NIOT anti-bigotry/anti-bullying pledge cards will be available at the event.

The monthly Lunch and Learn series is sponsored by the Collaborative Solutions Institute of Illinois Wesleyan University and the Museum of History. Sessions are free and open to the public.

Bloomington-Normal's NIOT activities started in 1995 with the original screening of the documentary Not In Our Town on PBS and a series of community forums on local discrimination issues. Over the following 18 years, NIOT has been involved in further marches, diversity celebrations, community forums, and outreach to area schools. 

NIOT:BN recently "relaunched" with a new grassroots emphasis and an expanded focus on community inclusivity. Watch the video at left recapping NIOT:BN's pioneering initial campaign.

.