Camille: Engage, Exchange, and Change

Camille Taylor

WJBC Forum

I read several articles on police community relations to prepare for this forum. Unfortunately, last Friday’s Pantagraph story was in error when it reported that public disclosure of a tape related to the Gabriella Calhoun case prompted several organizations to have a Police-Community Dialogue on January 22 at the City of Refuge Church.

In fact, the Not In Our Town Community Engagement Committee had already been planning the event for about two months. Nonetheless, everything I read supported the steps and the strategies the committee used to organize the event.

Some strategies listed to create positive change in community police relations were as follows:

1. Join with others who want to create change on this issue. The NIOT committee is co-sponsoring the event with the NAACP; the Minority and Police Partnership; the League of Women Voters; the Bloomington, Normal, and ISU police departments; the McLean County Sheriff’s office; the McLean County State’s Attorney; the Bloomington Normal Trades and Labor Assembly (AFL-CIO); and 100 Black Men.

2. Create opportunities for genuine community engagement. This event is open to everyone, and people are encouraged to submit questions prior to the event to the NAACP or via a survey on a website.

3. Address the history of mistrust and disconnection between the community and police. I’m sure the individual police representatives will discuss the history of their presence in our community and

4. Link dialogue to action and community change. Involvement is needed by young people and community leaders, and attendance at the event will include both. Certainly one of the goals for this dialogue will be to influence change where needed and create opportunities to dismantle stereotypes and mistrust.

In the wake of recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City it is obvious that poor relations between community members and police can lead to feelings of distrust, anger and fear. Citizens may think the police are prejudiced and have unfair policies. Police may feel blame for all kinds of social problems, and think they don't get credit for doing their jobs.

ISU Hosts National LGBT Conference Feb. 13-15

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The Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference -- the largest LGBTQlA college conference in the nation -- is set Feb. 13-15, 2015 at Illinois State University, and will be hosted by ISU students and university staff.

ISU President Larry Dietz maintains his school's selection as the conference's venue dovetails well with the university's strategic plan mission to "further define our actions to enhance diversity on campus."

Keynote for the event, on Feb. 13, is actress Laverne Cox, who has travelled the country speaking about "moving beyond gender expectations to live more authentically." Cox  currently appears in the Netflix original series Orange is the New Black, playing the groundbreaking role of “Sophia Burset,” an incarcerated African American transgender woman. Laverne is the first trans woman of color to produce and star in her own television show, VH1’s TRANSForm Me, which was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award.

Entertainment headliner is Kit Yan, who is featured in HBO's Asian Aloud. Yan is a New York based spoken word artist from Hawaii whose poetry has been reviewed in New York, Bitch, Curve, and Hyphen magazines and he has toured internationally with Sister Spit, The Tranny Roadshow, and Good Asian Drivers. His work has recently been featured in Flicker and Spark and Troubling the Line, two gay/transgender poetry anthologies, and he has a forthcoming book with Transgenre Press.

For information on the conference, visit https://saapps.illinoisstate.edu/dos/mblgtacc2015/.

MCLP Fosters 'Diverse Leaders'; Fair Feb. 14

McLean County's Multicultural Leadership Program (MCLP) next month will showcase its Class of 2015 and its members' community aspirations as part of a program devoted to grooming "diverse leaders."

MCLP is inviting community organizations to apply to participate in its Networking Fair on Saturday, Feb. 14. The fair is an opportunity for groups to meet this year’s 26 MCLP class participants developing leaders are nearing completion of their eight-month leadership program.

"We believe your organization will appreciate the leadership qualities of these participants," MCLP suggests. "During the fair, you will speak one-on-one with up to 15 of the program participants. This creates an opportunity for you to consider extending board and committee openings to members of the MCLP class. Please note that this is not a volunteer recruitment event, but rather an opportunity for you to meet potential board members and committee leaders."

MCLP is "an intense professional development curriculum" that provides a framework to the "innumerable leaders amongst us of all ages, cultures, and walks of life" with an interest and potential to step into leadership roles within their communities." Each MCLP class is composed of  26 individuals who meet for bi-weekly sessions spread over eight months, August through March each year.

What is the impact of MCLP? Hear what community leaders are saying!

Class participants are chosen on the basis of their demonstrated commitment to community issues, desire to learn and intent to contribute to the community at large.

The program's mission is to prepare skilled, informed individuals for leadership positions in public, private, educational, political and non-profit sectors; to foster leadership diversity through community welfare and civic participation; and to promote inter-community unity. See the accompanying video on MCLP's impact, featuring Not In Our Town: Bloomington-Normal leader and MCLP board member Phani Aytam.

To apply for the program, visit http://bit.ly/1D4Kll9. If your organization is interested in attending the Networking Fair, please download and complete a profile form from the MCLP website and submit it by email to Pollyanna Spears at PollyannaS@bn-mclp.org, no later than Feb. 1, 2015. The MCLP Community Involvement Committee will review each group's profile sheet and inform applicants if a space is available at the fair.

If you have any questions, please contact Linda Bollivar or Pollyanna Spears at the MCLP offices, at 309-556-3589 or 309-556-3589. State Farm is a "visionary sponsor" for the program.

Church Reiterates LGBT Support at New Service

This Sunday at 10:15 a.m., Bloomington First Christian Church (FCC) will usher in a new type of worship service with an explicitly open invitation.

One and All is a so-called "Progressive Worship" service,  according to FCC "designed to warmly welcome adults and children of all ages and backgrounds." And according to Associate Minister Kelley Becker, all emphatically means all.

"We are very aware that there are groups of people who have not been welcomed fully in many churches," acknowledged Becker, a Not In Our Town leader. "One of those groups is the LGBTQ community.

"We believe that a person’s sexual orientation does not affect God’s love for them, nor does it affect his or her ability to fully participate in the life and work of the church. We know that each person has been created with a purpose and a deep need to belong. To that we say, 'You belong here.' We welcome everyone to First Christian Church and especially now, as we launch our new progressive worship service, One and All, we are grateful for the opportunity to practice the radical hospitality that God calls us to. We really mean it…All Means All. "

Casual attire will be welcome at the new service, and One and All music will be led by a worship band including guitar, bass and drums. Music will vary, ranging from pop to Indie rock, and video will play a key role in the service. 

Becker stressed the new service also aims to provide a nurturing environment for single-parent families. A children’s area will be available, featuring age-appropriate activities based on the week's worship theme. Coffee and light breakfast offerings will be provided.

First Christian Church is located at 401 W. Jefferson Street. Visit One and All's Facebook page.

NIOT Reps Air Police-Citizen Concerns on WTVP

In the aftermath of the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases, Not In Our Town: Bloomington-Normal's Mike Matejka and John Elliott (Bloomington NAACP president and Minority and Police Partnership) suggest a dialogue should occur between leaders of law enforcement and the minority community. The pair, along with Peoria's Jamila Wilson, discussed police/community concerns on Thursday's installment of WTVP-PBS' At Issue.

The Minority and Police Partnership is attempting to create a more open dialogue between the police departments and citizens, while the Peoria Police Community Relations Advisory Committee was recently created to foster positive relations and mutual respect between police and the community. Meanwhile, Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner in December announced a new city review of police procedures and community relations, and NIOT:BN this week applauded Bloomington Police Chief Brendan Heffner for publicly condemning one of his officer's racial remark about an African-American stabbing victim (see post below).

McLean County law enforcement agencies are joining with MAPP, NIOT, the NAACP, and others to sponsor a Jan. 2 Breaking Barriers community/police dialogue from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bloomington's City of Refuge Church, 401 E Jefferson. Anonymous questions for police can be sent in advance by visiting http://Bit.ly/1wMTMAa.

Elliott in the WTVP interview maintained many minority citizens may feel reluctant to publicly "speak up" or file a complaint after they have experienced or suspect police abuse or mistreatment, for fear of official retribution. He feels that younger African-Americans "don't feel like they're being understood."

John Elliott, left, converses with citizens and police at NIOT:BN's December relaunch.

Elliott also emphasized the importance of improving diversity within police agencies, suggesting some citizens may feel more comfortable dealing with members of their own community.

"How do we build an atmosphere where that young person says, 'I want to be a police officer -- this is attractive to me, and something where I feel I can proud of that and that this is a service not only to the larger community but also to my particular ethnic (community),'" Matejka stated. 

Peoria's Wilson sees increased interest among individuals who "want to come out and talk about their levels of interactions with police, be they positive or negative."

"I think that's a first step -- the fact that we're having conversations," she said.

For more information or to watch additional episodes of At Issue, visit http://www.wtvp.org.

BDP Apologizes for Officer's Racial Statement; Breaking Barriers Community/Police Forum Jan. 22

Kevin Barlow

The Pantagraph

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An audio recording of a Bloomington police officer saying he hoped a black stabbing victim "bleeds to death," which was played to a judge Thursday, prompted the police chief to say the officer was disciplined.

Separately, a coalition of organizations and public officials announced a community-police dialogue session on Jan. 22. (NOT IN OUR TOWN:BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL is one of the upcoming forum's sponsors)

"As your chief of police, I want you to know that our police department does not condone these types of comments and they do not reflect the department as a whole," Chief Brendan Heffner said in a prepared statement issued in response to the events at the Gabriella Calhoun trial.

Chief Brendan Heffner, right, with Mayor Renner, at NIOT:BN's December relaunch.

(Heffner attended NIOT's Dec. 9 relaunch and was one of the first to sign the group's new anti-bigotry/anti-bullying pledge, along with Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner)

Several organizations and public officials are sponsoring a public gathering on "breaking barriers," from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 22 at City of Refuge Church, Bloomington.

The 19-year-old Bloomington woman faces felony charges of aggravated battery and resisting a police officer stemming from a fight at a Bloomington restaurant in June 2013.

Prosecutors say Calhoun was among several hundred people who went to a party at Lucky Garden restaurant on Eldorado Road. Many of those in attendance, including Calhoun, then went to the nearby Denny's after the party ended.

According to testimony Thursday, a brawl erupted inside the restaurant and Officer Stephen Statz witnessed a black man with a knife wound leaving the restaurant. Later, Sgt. Ed Shumaker received an update from Statz.

Defense attorney Steve Skelton attempted to enter into evidence their conversation as recorded by a Bloomington police in-car camera.

Assistant State's Attorney Samantha Walley objected and the jury was sent from the courtroom while the profanity-laced conversation was heard by Costigan in open court.

On the tape, and in reference to the apparent stabbing, a man identified as Shumaker was heard asking Statz if the wounded man was black.

"Yes," Statz replied.

"Good, I hope he (expletive) bleeds to death in Normal," Shumaker said.

"Yeah," Statz answered.

Skelton argued that Statz's answer implied he was biased against his client and blacks in general.

"He hears the statement, and he adopts and agrees with it and that brings a bias toward my client," Skelton said.

Walley argued the statement was irrelevant because the comments had nothing to do with the charges against Calhoun.

"He (Shumaker) appeared after the fact and his comment has no relationship whatsoever to the case," she said. "It is being offered for no other reason except to upset the jury."

In his decision to bar the comment, Costigan said the case would be decided on its merits and a comment from one member of the department that could be construed as racist, should not be applied to every officer.

Following the ruling, Skelton asked for the mistrial based on the ruling that Costigan quickly denied.

Calling the comment "inappropriate," Heffner's statement said, in part: "We are disturbed and deeply saddened that one of our officers made such comments.

"In July 2013, the police administration conducted an in-depth review of the incident and acted swiftly to address the issue. As a result, the department administered discipline to the employee in question."

Heffner, who was not chief at the time of the incident, did not specify what disciplinary action was taken.

Thursday afternoon, a coalition announced the dialogue session.

"The program is an attempt to foster positive dialogue between citizens and law enforcement," their statement said.

The sponsors are: Not In Our Town, Bloomington/Normal; NAACP; Minority & Police Partnership; League of Women Voters; Bloomington, Normal, Illinois State University and McLean County sheriff's police; the McLean County state's attorney's office; Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly (AFL-CIO); and 100 Black Men of Central Illinois.

The Rev. Lee Bennett of City of Refuge will moderate; Conexiones Latinas will provide Spanish translation services.

People are encouraged to send questions in advance, and they may remain anonymous. Post them at http://bit.ly/1wMTMAa or mail them to the NAACP, PO Box 925, Normal, IL 61761.

Rick Pt. 2: Invisibility, Imposition, and Technology

Jamol, one of Rick Lewis' series of African-American male portraits

Over the last quarter century, Illinois State University artist and Associate Dean of Students Rick Lewis has served as mentor to and confidante for many of ISU’s African-American students.  While today’s campus may not seem a hotbed of racial discourse or protest, that doesn’t mean the issue is dormant, Lewis stresses.

Lewis cites students who echo the concerns of Ralph Ellison’s landmark novel “The Invisible Man” – the feeling of being ignored or avoided by others because of their race. At the same time, others feel the pressure and, on occasion, the unwanted attention of being a minority in an institution of learning.                                     

Lewis concedes that “the academic system is what it is” -- a relatively closed universe that aside from curricular forays into culture and social justice focuses predominantly on the generic nuts-and-bolts of individual disciplines such as math or science. “Math has a history in African culture, but no math teacher’s going to sit there and explain that to students,” he said.

“People tend to be afraid to talk about issues of diversity and race, because they’re just not as competent in those areas,” Lewis maintains. “People believe that in the absence of conflict, things are okay. Here at ISU, nobody’s going around hanging effigies or spray painting offensive words on the walls. So people think things are okay.

“In situations where classes might begin to talk about issues around race, particularly around African-Americans, people look to the African-Americans in the classroom for answers, and those African-Americans have been offended because they’re looked upon as the expert around all issues African-American. They feel they’re not there to educate people – that’s the teacher’s responsibility. They’re there to learn.”

Lewis joins fellow artists Margaret LeJeune and Jason Patterson in a Jan. 9-Feb. 14 Bloomington art show focusing on portraiture, at the McLean County Arts Center, at 601 N. East Street. An accompanying reception is scheduled Friday, Jan. 16, from 5 to 7 p.m., while an “Art Talk” is set Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 6 p.m.  The show and related events are open to the public. Lewis will display portraits of African-American men from his ongoing series.

The McLean County Arts Center is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesdays through Fridays, from 10 a.m.  to 5 p.m.; and Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m.

Lewis accepts the reality of students “self-segregating” by culture or race: Despite multicultural “engagements and interactions,” Lewis posits “people hang around the people who look like them.” What disturbs him more is a growing tendency among the millennial generation to detach from human relationships through smartphones, social networking, and other technologies. He sees Facebook largely enabling users to “be anonymous and make stupid comments” without considering opposing views and limiting one-on-one interactions to venues where individuals rely on the “social lubricant” of alcohol.

“These students don’t learn interpersonal skills when they’re connected to headphones and text messaging and not paying attention to what’s around them,” Lewis argued. “I question whether or not these students are prepared to have meaningful dialogues not only with people who are different than them but also with people who are just like them.”

NIOT:BN Interview Debuts Thursday on WTVP

Representatives of Not In Our Town Bloomington-Normal will discuss police/community relations and other issues on WTVP-PBS' At Issue program, at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

NIOT:BN's John Elliott (president of the NAACP's Bloomington chapter) and Mike Matejka, a former Bloomington alderman and legislative director with the Great Plains Laborers District Council were interviewed this week by At Issue producer/host H. Wayne Wilson. The discussion is set to air both Thursday and at 4:30 p.m. Sunday on WTVP's main channel, at 47.1 (check your TV service provider for cable/dish channel).

At Issue, a weekly program, provides "an in-depth, up-to-the-minute exploration of issues that are important to the people of Central Illinois." For details and to watch the show and past episodes online, visit wtvp.org.

Renner to review 'Selma' events, Voting Act impact Friday

Copyright Paramount Pictures

Bloomington mayor and political science expert Tari Renner will offer insights on a crucial chapter in U.S. civil rights Friday in anticipation of the film "Selma"s arrival in the Twin Cities.

During Friday's biweekly City of Bloomington mayoral open house, at 4 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers, 109 E. Olive St., Renner will discuss the Selma-to-Montgomery march -- the seminal basis for the new Martin Luther King Jr. biopic "Selma" -- and the lasting impact of the federal Voter's Rights Act of 1965.

Those are familiar topics for Renner, a political science professor with Illinois Wesleyan University. Dr. Renner, who also served on the faculties of Duquesne University and Washington College, was hired to chair IWU's poli-sci department in 1994.

His research interests have focused on local government policy-making structures and American elections. Renner received his Ph.D. and M.A. in political science from American University.

"Since race and southern politics are among my research and teaching interests, I'm hoping to help educate the community on the eve of the release of the movie "Selma" on Friday," Renner related.

The regular open house, an opportunity for residents to study the workings and latest activities of Bloomington government, will resume at 4:30 p.m.

"Selma" chronicles the three-month period in 1965 when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (David Oyelowo) led a campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. 

Oprah Winfrey appears in the film as civil rights activist Annie Lee Cooper. For more information about the film, visit www.selmamovie.com. For a movie preview, visit Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6t7vVTxaic

"Selma" will be screened at Wehrenberg Bloomington Galaxy 14 Cine and Starplex Cinemas Normal Stadium 14. Check theater listings for times.

Nancy: Unit 5 resources evolve with bullying

“Bullying has evolved” over the past 30-plus years since Nancy Braun’s public school graduation. The means to combating bullying also have evolved, with teachers becoming more attuned to the warning signs and sympathetic, confidential communications channels enabling students to overcome their fears and seek adult protection.

Braun is a special education supervisor and, for the past eight years, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) District coach with Normal’s Unit 5 schools. A 29-year Unit 5 veteran and a special education teacher for 23 years, she also assists with the district’s cyberbully hotline – a crucial resource for students being persecuted in school often as a consequence of afterschool activity.

Despite its label, students and parents are welcome to call the hotline (actually a shared junior high hotline and separate hotlines for Normal Community and Normal West high schools) to report either online or offline bullying incidents. Callers may remain anonymous, though Braun notes the majority provide basic information for response either by their school’s administrator or Braun.

“I see every call that comes in, and then I check with that school,” she related. “If we don’t know who that call is for, I’ll email back, I’ll ask some more questions, get some more information, and then we can get things headed in the right direction.

“When the hotline first rolled out a couple years ago, we got a lot of calls. Every year, the junior highs and the high schools bring it back up (with students) – there are posters in the schools with those numbers listed. The kids can call call or text or whatever and say, ‘This is what’s happening on the bus, in the locker room,’ and then I or the administrator will email back.

“I think it’s been a good first step for us. Some of these kids don’t feel comfortable going straight into a principal’s office or to an administrator or to a counselor, but as we get more information, we can encourage them to do that, to tell their parents, so we can get things going in the right direction and tackle the issue.”

All 24 Unit 5 schools are PBIS schools, with three level of behavioral support. “Universal” support focuses on teaching all students proper behavior in the hallway, restrooms, buses, and other environments. Unit 5 junior highs also incorporate advanced Peaceful Schools anti-bullying programs. PBIS itself includes an “Expect Respect” initiative that’s spawned various programs and projects based on the needs of individual kindergarten through 12th grade classes.

Braun is encouraged that teachers have become more vigilant toward bullying or potential bullying “as things have gotten harder.” In many cases, problems begin outside school, on Facebook or other social networking channels, “and then we’re left with the aftereffects,” she reported.

A major share of hotline contacts originate as texts (“Kids are mostly texters”) from students on the bus after school, enabling the district to track onboard video footage detailing bullying incidents. “The two hottest spots are buses and locker rooms,” Braun stated.

Braun sees a far more positive environment today for developmentally challenged and other special needs students, thanks to “the level of inclusion, starting as early as elementary schools,” in both Unit 5 and neighboring District 87 schools. In fact, she has seen no hotline calls involving bullying of those students.

What has worsened is “girl on girl” bullying – what Braun characterizes as “the mean girl mentality.”

Braun sees parents playing a vital role in preventing and reducing bullying, by controlling their own behavior and speech in front of their kids and being an active part of “the community within the school,” including the student’s entire family unit.

“Sometimes, we can only touch that kid from 8 until 4,” she nonetheless lamented. “At least, we can make positive changes for that little amount of time we have them.”

Contact your school to learn about anti-bullying efforts and hotline/reporting resources.

Riding With NIOT: New Bus Banners

Beginning this week, Brian, Steve, Nicole, Lindsay, and Susan will be riding the bus with Twin Cities commuters, on behalf of Not In Our Town: Bloomington-Normal.

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Connect Transit: Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System (BNPTS) buses will display five messages aimed at raising awareness of NIOTBN's anti-bigotry/anti-bullying message. Four of the on-board bus ads will feature representatives of local businesses Babbitt's Books, Mitchell Family Chiropractic, That's So Sweet bakery, and North Street Tattoo, each speaking out against racism, hate, bigotry, and prejudice.

The ads, designed in conjunction with NIOT:BN's December relaunch, reflect a similar billboard campaign directed at soliciting NIOT pledges from Twin Cities residents. The McLean County YWCA is cooperating in the campaign.

Portals to The Communities 3: PFLAG Haven for Local LGBT Community, Families

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Bloomington-Normal offers the Twin Cities' LGBT community a safe haven for support, dialogue, and advocacy.

PFLAG Bloomington/Normal meets the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at Bloomington's Unitarian Universalist Church, 1613 E Emerson. PFLAG promotes "the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity."

PFLAG welcomes all persons -- straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, or "questioning."

PFLAG is a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters and over 350 affiliates in the United States.

The idea for PFLAG began in 1972 when Jeanne Manford marched with her gay son in New York's Pride Day parade. After many gay and lesbian people ran up to Jeanne during the parade and begged her to talk to their parents, she decided to begin a support group. The first formal meeting took place in March 1973 at a local church. Approximately 20 people attended.

In the next years, through word of mouth and community need, similar groups sprang up around the country, offering "safe havens" and mutual support for parents with gay and lesbian children. Following the 1979 National March for Gay and Lesbian Rights, representatives from these groups met for the first time in Washington, DC.

By 1980, PFLAG, then known as Parents FLAG, began to distribute information to educational institutions and communities of faith nationwide, establishing itself as a source of information for the general public. When "Dear Abby" mentioned PFLAG in one of her advice columns, we received more than 7,000 letters requesting information. In 1981, members decided to launch a national organization. The first PFLAG office was established in Los Angeles under founding president Adele Starr.

In 1982, the Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Inc., then representing some 20 groups, was incorporated in California and granted non-profit, tax-exempt status. In 1987, PFLAG relocated to Denver, under President Elinor Lewallen. Also in the 1980's, PFLAG became involved in opposing Anita Bryant's anti-gay crusade and worked to end the U.S. military's efforts to discharge lesbians—more than a decade before military issues came to the forefront of the GLBT movement. And by the late 1980's, PFLAG began to have notable success in organizing chapters in rural communities.

For more information, visit http://www.pflagbn.com or drop in on PFLAG Bloomington-Normal on Facebook.

Best of Area Gospel Honor King's Memory

The Mount Pisgah Praise Dancers performed at the 2013 Gospel Festival

Illinois Wesleyan University and the United Community Gospel Singers of Bloomington-Normal will present the 25th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Gospel Festival on Jan. 19. The event, free to the public, will run from 4 to 9 p.m. in Westbrook Auditorium of Presser Hall.

The festival honors King’s legacy and will feature performances by The United Gospel Singers of Bloomington-Normal Mass Choir, The Gayles Memorial Baptist Mass Choir and Praise Dancers of Aurora, The Fantastic Jones Family of Springfield, and the Rev. Spencer Gibson and the Integrity Singers from Peoria.

Additional performers include Mount Pisgah Sunbeam Choir, Union Missionary Baptist Church Junior Gospel Quartet, Union Missionary Baptist Church Adult Choir, Mount Pisgah Praise Dancers and Mount Pisgah Adult Choir.

The Gospel Festival was founded in 1991 by the late Corine Sims and her husband, the Rev. James Sims, with Illinois Wesleyan and the United Community Gospel Singers of Bloomington-Normal as co-founders. King spoke at Illinois Wesleyan in 1961 and returned to the University in 1966 after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

For additional information about the festival, or to make arrangements for persons with disabilities requiring any auxiliary aids, services, or special arrangements, contact Carl Teichman, director of government and community relations at (309)556-3429, or Barbara Sims-Malone, president of the United Community Gospel Singers of Bloomington-Normal, at (309)706-6638.

Presser Hall is located on the west side of Park Street. To access free parking across the street behind the Minor Myers, jr. Welcome Center, turn east on University Avenue

B-N crowd rises to support Not In Our Town

Not In Our Town: Bloomington-Normal is making great progress in its fundraising campaign through CrowdRise, aimed at supporting future community education and outreach efforts. Over Christmas, NIOT received a single $500 donation, prompting CrowdRise to donate another $200. As of New Year's Eve, contributions overall had reached $2,200. 

There's still a way to go yet, though, and if you wish to contribute to efforts to fight bullying and bigotry and building community understanding. visit crowdrise.com/NotInOurTownBloomingtonNormal https://www.crowdrise.com/NotInOurTownBloomingtonNormal.

Your NIOT:BN Pledge has no connection to any monetary donation, and is strictly a personal commitment to Not In Our Town principles. You can pledge above at Help Fight Hate.

Camille: Not So Different

Camille Taylor

for WJBC-AM Forum

December 17, 2014

Do you remember the Seinfeld T.V. show when they celebrated “Festivus?” The main characters celebrated around an aluminum pole and had the traditional “airing of grievances” and “feats of strength.” The expression, “Festivus with the rest of us!” became very popular. I started thinking about how many different ways people all over the world celebrate holidays, particularly in late November through December. So of course, I “Googled” it, and here’s what I found. Of course most of this listening audience is familiar with the Christian celebration of Christmas which commemorates the birth of Jesus. Some who prefer a total secular celebration recognize the Winter Solstice which is the day when nighttime is longest and daytime is shortest. Buddhists celebrate Bohdi Day or Rohatsu around December 8th. It recalls when Buddha sat beneath a Bohdi tree, a type of fig tree, and was believed to achieve enlightenment thus escaping repeated incarnation. Jewish people celebrate Hanukah which is the Feast of Dedication and Festival of Lights. It recalls a time when a war was being fought for religious freedom. There was only enough oil in the candles for one day in a Jerusalem temple. However, the candles burned for eight days. Muslim holy days are fixed to the lunar calendar. The Feast of Sacrifice or Day of Sacrifice occurs during the 12th lunar month of the Islamic year, and it recalls when Abraham intended to follow God’s instructions to sacrifice his son Ishmael. Wiccans and some Neopagans celebrate Yule at Winter Solstice time. Yule was a pagan religious festival observed by historical Germanic peoples that was later absorbed into and equated with Christmas. From this small sample, you can see that no matter where in the world you live or whether you practice religion or not, people are celebrating and recalling some type of observance during this time of year. My proposal is that instead of debating over secular versus religious observances, we recognize that our world is a huge tent. We have plenty of room under that tent for people to observe and celebrate their individual customs without it being a threat or a problem to anyone else. So, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Bohdi Day, or whatever, but most importantly, enjoy the time you have with the people you love the most. I’m Camille Taylor for the WJBC Forum.

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.

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Books and Covers: A Cultural Reading List

Plan to carve out some reading time next year? Why not expand your world with some of the latest releases from the Bloomington Public Library? Here are a few volumes on history, culture, and communications, from studies of Asian-American accomplishment and the stereotyping of "girlhood" to a new portrait of abolitionist John Brown, an examination of Muslim attitudes toward intimacy, a look at the iconic musical phenomenon Soul Train, a survey of the Italian-American experience, a discussion of poverty and violence, and a look at the potential generational showdown between baby boomers and millennials. Check out bloomingtonlibrary.org for more new non-fiction.

Lindsay: Recipe for Harmony

A hearty message for the new year from mini-cheesecake artist and NIOT supporter Lindsay Bachman of Uptown Normal's That's So Sweet. You can see Lindsay representing on the Veteran's Parkway billboard at OK Appliances and in local bus ads. Help Lindsay and others make the Twin Cities a more inclusive, safe community by pledging support for Not In Our Town on this site.

Portals to the Communities 2: McLean County India Association

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MCIA celebrated 35 years in the community in November.

The McLean County India Association was established in 1979 to help bring social and cultural events to a then-small Indian community of less than 50 families. It has come a long way since then.

Over the last 33 years, MCIA has contributed significantly to social and cultural development in the Bloomington/Normal community. MCIA’s mission is to promote Asian Indian culture among its members and help Asian Indians become an integral part of the local community.

MCIA’s primary goals are:

* To promote Asian Indian culture and values among its members.

* To promote participation in community volunteer and charitable activities.

* To increase awareness about India and Indian culture in the local community.

* To promote leadership, volunteerism, sports, and educational activities for youth members.

For information, visit ourmcia.org.

Meanwhile, the Hindu Temple of Bloomington-Normal, 1815 Tullamore Ave, Bloomington, is preparing to welcome the New Year, from 11:30 p.m. to midnight Dec. 31. For details, visit www.ourhindutemple.org/

Tis the Season4Reason

Pledge now with Not In Our Town to celebrate the season with a new commitment to respect, understanding, and communications.

Pledge now with Not In Our Town to celebrate the season with a new commitment to respect, understanding, and communications.