Cross-cultural Filmmakers at IWU March 25-26

Influential independent filmmaker, screenwriter, and author John Sayles and his longtime collaborator Maggie Renzi will visit Illinois Wesleyan University March 25-26 to cap off a weeklong festival of their films. All events are free and open to the public.

Sayles has twice been nominated for Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay (Passion Fish and Lone Star). His novel Union Dues (1977) was a finalist for a National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Sayles also received an O. Henry Award for his first published short story, “I-80 Nebraska.”

The film Amigo, which was written and directed by Sayles and produced by Renzi, will be screened at 7 p.m. March 26 in Wesleyan's Hansen Student Center. Sayles and Renzi will lead a discussion following the film. Amigo (2011) is set in 1900 during the Philippine-American War and stars frequent Sayles’ collaborator Chris Cooper.

New York Times film critic A.O. Scott wrote: “Amigo is a well-carpentered narrative, fast-moving and empathetic, stepping nimbly from gravity to good humor. It has points to make, but Mr. Sayles frequently allows his ideas about how the world works to be overridden (or undermined) by his curiosity about how people behave…All in all, he is a pretty good history teacher, the kind who knows how to make even difficult lessons entertaining and relevant.”

Sayles will also read from his most recent novel, A Moment in the Sun, at 4 p.m. March 25 in The Ames Library’s Beckman Auditorium. A New York Times Notable Book of 2011, A Moment in the Sun begins in 1897 during the Yukon gold rush and takes the reader into the Spanish-American War, the Filipino fight for independence, racial injustice and the plight of working people in the U.S. Lucia Silva of NRP’s “Morning Edition” said: “…Sayles has managed to create a work that is both cinematic and literary in its scope and style—a blend so entrancing that you could polish off its 955 pages in one long weekend…Short, powerful chapters follow four unconnected characters to create a mosaic of America as a nascent superpower, underscoring the personal and cultural consequences of its ambitions.”

Sayles and Renzi met in the early 1970s as students at Williams College in Massachusetts.  Longtime collaborators and partners, Renzi has produced a number of films directed by Sayles including Honeydripper (2007); Silver City (2004); Sunshine State (2002); Lone Star (1996); and Matewan (1987).

Lone Star, set in a small-town Texas that was rigidly segregated until recently, deals with a sheriff’s investigation into the murder of one of his predecessors. It stars Cooper, Kris Kristofferson, Matthew McConaughey and Elizabeth Peña. Lone Star was screened at IWU March 17. In a 1997 review, the late Roger Ebert said the film “…..shows how Chicanos, blacks, whites and Indians shared a common history, and how they knew one another and dealt with one another in ways that were off the official map…this film is a wonder.”

Sayles’ long and eclectic career also has included screenwriting work, from genre classic The Howling to Apollo 13 to The Quick and the Dead, to directing three music videos for Bruce Springsteen: Born in the USA, I’m on Fire and Glory Days. The videos were also produced by Renzi.

During their time at IWU, Sayles and Renzi will meet with student groups. Their visit is sponsored by the Center for Human Rights and Social Justice, the Chaplain’s Office, the Department of History, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s 3D series of programming.

Sayles will also read from his most recent novel, A Moment in the Sun, at 4 p.m. March 25 in The Ames Library’s Beckman Auditorium. A New York Times Notable Book of 2011, A Moment in the Sun begins in 1897 during the Yukon gold rush and takes the reader into the Spanish-American War, the Filipino fight for independence, racial injustice and the plight of working people in the U.S. Lucia Silva of NRP’s “Morning Edition” said: “…Sayles has managed to create a work that is both cinematic and literary in its scope and style—a blend so entrancing that you could polish off its 955 pages in one long weekend…Short, powerful chapters follow four unconnected characters to create a mosaic of America as a nascent superpower, underscoring the personal and cultural consequences of its ambitions.”

Sayles and Renzi met in the early 1970s as students at Williams College in Massachusetts.  Longtime collaborators and partners, Renzi has produced a number of films directed by Sayles including Honeydripper (2007); Silver City (2004); Sunshine State (2002); Lone Star (1996); and Matewan (1987).

Lone Star, set in a small-town Texas that was rigidly segregated until recently, deals with a sheriff’s investigation into the murder of one of his predecessors. It stars Cooper, Kris Kristofferson, Matthew McConaughey and Elizabeth Peña. Lone Star was screened at IWU March 17. In a 1997 review, the late Roger Ebert said the film “…..shows how Chicanos, blacks, whites and Indians shared a common history, and how they knew one another and dealt with one another in ways that were off the official map…this film is a wonder.”

Sayles’ long and eclectic career also has included screenwriting work, from genre classic The Howling to Apollo 13 to The Quick and the Dead, to directing three music videos for Bruce Springsteen: Born in the USA, I’m on Fire and Glory Days. The videos were also produced by Renzi.

During their time at IWU, Sayles and Renzi will meet with student groups. Their visit is sponsored by the Center for Human Rights and Social Justice, the Chaplain’s Office, the Department of History, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s 3D series of programming.

Stereotypes widen the gender wage gap

Gena Glover

YWCA McLean County

Did you know that women who work full-time, year round are only paid 77 cents for every dollar a man makes? This is called the wage gap.

The wage gap results in women earning $11,608 less each year in median earnings than men.  Even though steps toward equality have been taken, including the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Lilly Ledbetter Act, the gap in wages has not changed in more than a decade. 

Why has there been little change? Because outdated stereotypes about women and their “proper” place still exist. Those stereotypes maintain: 

* Women are not “breadwinners” of their families. Many still believe women don’t need raises or promotions because their income is just “extra” and not the “primary” income.  Women are the main breadwinners in a record high 40 percent of households with children, but current workplace policies too often don’t reflect today’s reality.  That hurts families and hurts our economy.

* Certain jobs are “man’s work” and women cannot do that type of work. The higher paying jobs which require physical labor or managerial skills are usually thought of as “man’s work” and women are not even considered for those roles because people do not believe they can perform the required tasks. Women are supposed to act like ladies. There are many who believe that the way women act and dress impact their ability to negotiate salaries and jobs.  The belief is that women should look pretty and dress like a “woman” and performing traditional male jobs may not allow this.

* Women are unable to commit to their jobs because they are caregivers. Throughout the years, and still today, women have been denied positions, promotions, and salary because of being mothers.  Many believe that mothers are not as committed to their jobs, whereas fathers are not viewed the same way, and sometimes offered salary increases because they have a family to support. 

These stereotypes are harmful because they lead to the wage gap. They keep women in lower paying and lower visibility jobs, and exclude women from informal communication networks. 
While the wage gap is harmful to all women, it does affect different groups of women differently:

 * African-American women make 64 cents to each dollar a man earns.

* Hispanic women make 54 cents to each dollar a man earns.

* Mothers who work year-round typically make $38,000, vs. the $55,000 fathers earn under similar circumstances.

* Women in same-sex relationships make $38,000 vs. men in same-sex relationships who earn $47,000. 

When looking at how this impacts women throughout their career, we see that women who work full-time, year-round lose $464,320 over 40 years, and would have to work more than 12 years to make up the gap.

The average monthly Social Security benefits of women are $13,090, compared with monthly  $17,170 for men with comparable benefits. 

According to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Enforcement Guidance:  Unlawful Disparate Treatment of Workers With Caregiving Responsibilities (May 2007), available at http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/caregiving.html#fn44;cf.Back,365F.3dat119, the wage gap is important because “discriminating based on stereotypes isn’t just wrong, it’s illegal. When employers base their decisions on sex stereotypes this violates the prohibition against sex discrimination in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964." While many will continue to hold onto the myths, it is a reality for many. As President Obama has stated about the wage gap, “It’s not a myth; it’s math.”

The Segregationist Secrets of McLean County

View fullsize

Scenes like this put a public face to segregation in McLean County during the mid-20th Century. Photo from McLean County Museum of History.

Dr. Mark Wyman, ISU emeritus history professor, will present “Segregation – Our Community’s Secret,” 1:30 p.m. April 11 at the McLean County Museum of History.

Admission is free for the presentation, which will focus on the now largely forgotten history of segregation in the Twin Cities. According to Wyman, a local African American leader once commented to him that “people don’t know how bad it was here – even black kids don’t know how bad it was.”

He cited local traditions that barred African-Americans from many aspects of life in Bloomington-Normal, now largely unknown by all but the victims of that racial exclusion. Wyman decided to investigate that era for himself, scouring local newspapers for details.

Wyman taught at ISU from 1971 until his retirement in 2004. A former newspaperman, his historical publications have covered topics including Western hard-rock miners, immigrants returning to Europe, and hobos harvesting crops across the West.

For more information about Wyman’s program, please contact the museum’s education department by calling 309-827-0428 or emailing education@mchistory.org.

Chief Seeks More Coffee and Communication with Community

Bloomington Police Department Chief Brendan Heffner has a lot on his mind these days, but Friday morning, he was focused on coffee, some good community conversation, and maybe a little pre-season Chicago baseball rivalry.

Representatives of the BPD, the Normal and Illinois State University police departments, and the McLean County Sheriff’s Department launched “Coffee With a Cop” at Bloomington’s Brock Drive McDonald’s. Heffner hopes to make the open-invitation kaffeeklatsch  a monthly occasion.

He hailed the recent Breaking Barriers police-public dialogue co-sponsored by Not In Our Town: Bloomington-Normal, arguing the benefits that accrue “any time you can get the community together to discuss things, even when it’s things of a sensitive nature.” While that forum focused on community concerns about public encounters with police in Ferguson and other locales, recently released statements made by a Bloomington police sergeant, and prospects for minority recruitment by local police agencies, the chief saw a more fundamental purpose for Friday’s more casual get-together – to show the public the human face “beyond the badge.”

“I don’t know anybody who wears a uniform who intentionally goes out to do wrong,” Heffner stressed. “Sometimes, you have some bad apples, but the majority of the times, the majority of all of us are out there trying to do the right thing for the community.

“(Coffee With a Cop) is a way for people to get to know us as human beings and regular people, a way for people to understand that we are human, and to build a rapport.”

McDonald’s volunteered the site for the first coffee, but Heffner said further get-togethers will be scheduled at various venues, depending on public “response and turnout.” He invited the public to suggest sites and times for follow-up coffees.

Meanwhile, Heffner welcomes the arrival of warmer weather and the opportunity to talk with community members “out and around,” both to build rapport “and deter some crime.”

The BPD and others already have been participating in bimonthly meetings of Minority And Police Partnership, and Heffner reported police representatives have regularly visited churches, “invited and sometimes not invited,” to keep in touch with community needs and concerns.

In addition, the department plans in April to launch a new educational outreach, with a program designed “to give the public a taste of what we do and why, and maybe help them see some things from a different perspective.”

“We can all make mistakes,” Heffner admitted. “We all try to do our best. It’s unfortunate that sometimes, we make mistakes. Our mistakes are always in the news. But I don’t think some people realize the decisions we have to make under the circumstances, and the short timeframe we have to make a decision, which often can be in a split second.

“Just as we learn of people’s viewpoints, maybe about seeing things in another light, I think this would be good for the public, too. We all benefit when we communicate, by talking and learning from each other.”

During the January Breaking Barriers session, Heffner emphasized his hope for greater diversity with his department through increased minority recruiting. BPD new officer testing is being conducted this month, and while he admits he has no specific “benchmarks” for recruitment, he reported the BPD has received some minority applications. He nonetheless stressed the department fundamentally “will still be enforcing the law the same way,” albeit amid continued efforts to fine-tune local police practices and procedures.

That includes both basic and individualized special training in dealing with and judging when to use force with mentally ill suspects and under other unusual or sensitive circumstances.  Familiarity with the community and individuals with special needs can help officers better “defuse” a risky situation, Heffner said. But “we still have to be concerned about preservation of life” when a suspect poses an imminent threat to others or even themselves, he said.

In the wake of the recent incident involving release of racially related statements made by a BPD sergeant and recorded by a Bloomington police in-car camera, the chief has urged his men to exercise professional sensitivity in all communications, whether they are “recorded or not recorded.” In Sgt. Ed Shumaker’s written reprimand, the BPD stated he “should be very aware of his surroundings and situational awareness while not allowing the stressor of an event to cause a comment that would be considered inappropriate."

“You want to talk about us being transparent?” Heffner posed. “We’re the ones who found (the statement), and we’re the ones who took action. People may not like the action that we took, but we did. We’ve been accountable for it. This was something to learn from – I’ve been talking about professionalism since I came here, and I’ve said this is an example of what can happen. We take the heat, but we learn from it.”

“I don’t know anybody who wears a uniform who intentionally goes out to do wrong,” Heffner stressed. “Sometimes, you have some bad apples, but the majority of the times, the majority of all of us are out there trying to do the right thing for the community.

“(Coffee With a Cop) is a way for people to get to know us as human beings and regular people, a way for people to understand that we are human, and to build a rapport.”

McDonald’s volunteered the site for the first coffee, but Heffner said further get-togethers will be scheduled at various venues, depending on public “response and turnout.” He invited the public to suggest sites and times for follow-up coffees.

Meanwhile, Heffner welcomes the arrival of warmer weather and the opportunity to talk with community members “out and around,” both to build rapport “and deter some crime.”

The BPD and others already have been participating in bimonthly meetings of Minority And Police Partnership, and Heffner reported police representatives have regularly visited churches, “invited and sometimes not invited,” to keep in touch with community needs and concerns.

In addition, the department plans in April to launch a new educational outreach, with a program designed “to give the public a taste of what we do and why, and maybe help them see some things from a different perspective.”

“(Coffee With a Cop) is a way for people to get to know us as human beings and regular people, a way for people to understand that we are human, and to build a rapport.”

McDonald’s volunteered the site for the first coffee, but Heffner said further get-togethers will be scheduled at various venues, depending on public “response and turnout.” He invited the public to suggest sites and times for follow-up coffees.

Meanwhile, Heffner welcomes the arrival of warmer weather and the opportunity to talk with community members “out and around,” both to build rapport “and deter some crime.”

The BPD and others already have been participating in bimonthly meetings of Minority And Police Partnership, and Heffner reported police representatives have regularly visited churches, “invited and sometimes not invited,” to keep in touch with community needs and concerns.

In addition, the department plans in April to launch a new educational outreach, with a program designed “to give the public a taste of what we do and why, and maybe help them see some things from a different perspective.”

“We can all make mistakes,” Heffner admitted. “We all try to do our best. It’s unfortunate that sometimes, we make mistakes. Our mistakes are always in the news. But I don’t think some people realize the decisions we have to make under the circumstances, and the short timeframe we have to make a decision, which often can be in a split second.

“Just as we learn of people’s viewpoints, maybe about seeing things in another light, I think this would be good for the public, too. We all benefit when we communicate, by talking and learning from each other.”

During the January Breaking Barriers session, Heffner emphasized his hope for greater diversity with his department through increased minority recruiting. BPD new officer testing is being conducted this month, and while he admits he has no specific “benchmarks” for recruitment, he reported the BPD has received some minority applications. He nonetheless stressed the department fundamentally “will still be enforcing the law the same way,” albeit amid continued efforts to fine-tune local police practices and procedures.

That includes both basic and individualized special training in dealing with and judging when to use force with mentally ill suspects and under other unusual or sensitive circumstances.  Familiarity with the community and individuals with special needs can help officers better “defuse” a risky situation, Heffner said. But “we still have to be concerned about preservation of life” when a suspect poses an imminent threat to others or even themselves, he said.

In the wake of the recent incident involving release of racially related statements made by a BPD sergeant and recorded by a Bloomington police in-car camera, the chief has urged his men to exercise professional sensitivity in all communications, whether they are “recorded or not recorded.” In Sgt. Ed Shumaker’s written reprimand, the BPD stated he “should be very aware of his surroundings and situational awareness while not allowing the stressor of an event to cause a comment that would be considered inappropriate."

“You want to talk about us being transparent?” Heffner posed. “We’re the ones who found (the statement), and we’re the ones who took action. People may not like the action that we took, but we did. We’ve been accountable for it. This was something to learn from – I’ve been talking about professionalism since I came here, and I’ve said this is an example of what can happen. We take the heat, but we learn from it.”

“I don’t know anybody who wears a uniform who intentionally goes out to do wrong,” Heffner stressed. “Sometimes, you have some bad apples, but the majority of the times, the majority of all of us are out there trying to do the right thing for the community.

“(Coffee With a Cop) is a way for people to get to know us as human beings and regular people, a way for people to understand that we are human, and to build a rapport.”

McDonald’s volunteered the site for the first coffee, but Heffner said further get-togethers will be scheduled at various venues, depending on public “response and turnout.” He invited the public to suggest sites and times for follow-up coffees.

Meanwhile, Heffner welcomes the arrival of warmer weather and the opportunity to talk with community members “out and around,” both to build rapport “and deter some crime.”

The BPD and others already have been participating in bimonthly meetings of Minority And Police Partnership, and Heffner reported police representatives have regularly visited churches, “invited and sometimes not invited,” to keep in touch with community needs and concerns.

In addition, the department plans in April to launch a new educational outreach, with a program designed “to give the public a taste of what we do and why, and maybe help them see some things from a different perspective.”

“We all benefit when we communicate, by talking and learning from each other...”

— Chief Brendan Heffner

“We can all make mistakes,” Heffner admitted. “We all try to do our best. It’s unfortunate that sometimes, we make mistakes. Our mistakes are always in the news. But I don’t think some people realize the decisions we have to make under the circumstances, and the short timeframe we have to make a decision, which often can be in a split second.

“Just as we learn of people’s viewpoints, maybe about seeing things in another light, I think this would be good for the public, too. We all benefit when we communicate, by talking and learning from each other.”

During the January Breaking Barriers session, Heffner emphasized his hope for greater diversity with his department through increased minority recruiting. BPD new officer testing is being conducted this month, and while he admits he has no specific “benchmarks” for recruitment, he reported the BPD has received some minority applications. He nonetheless stressed the department fundamentally “will still be enforcing the law the same way,” albeit amid continued efforts to fine-tune local police practices and procedures.

That includes both basic and individualized special training in dealing with and judging when to use force with mentally ill suspects and under other unusual or sensitive circumstances.  Familiarity with the community and individuals with special needs can help officers better “defuse” a risky situation, Heffner said. But “we still have to be concerned about preservation of life” when a suspect poses an imminent threat to others or even themselves, he said.

In the wake of the recent incident involving release of racially related statements made by a BPD sergeant and recorded by a Bloomington police in-car camera, the chief has urged his men to exercise professional sensitivity in all communications, whether they are “recorded or not recorded.” In Sgt. Ed Shumaker’s written reprimand, the BPD stated he “should be very aware of his surroundings and situational awareness while not allowing the stressor of an event to cause a comment that would be considered inappropriate."

“You want to talk about us being transparent?” Heffner posed. “We’re the ones who found (the statement), and we’re the ones who took action. People may not like the action that we took, but we did. We’ve been accountable for it. This was something to learn from – I’ve been talking about professionalism since I came here, and I’ve said this is an example of what can happen. We take the heat, but we learn from it.”

Fund Helps Invest in Tomorrow's Leaders

Want to invest in tomorrow's more diverse, more finely tuned Twin Cities leaders? The Multicultural Leadership Program is seeking help in funding their education.

 MCLP's goal is to "develop diverse leaders with the passion to serve their communities." MCLP classes include composed of  26 individuals who meet for biweekly sessions over eight months, August through March each year. Graduation for the current class is 7 p.m. April 25 at Illinois State University's Bone Student Center Brown Ballroom, following a 6 p.m. social hour.

The MCLP Endowment Fund is a general endowment fund supported by charitable gifts. The fund is invested and managed over time to provide a sustainable income stream for MCLP, while maintaining the gift’s purchasing power in perpetuity. Why is this endowment being established?

The fund will ensure a financially stable base to fund future MCLP classes and participant scholarships. It will allow MCLP to continue developing leaders for our community’s long-term needs.

MCLP achieved last year's initial goal of $100,000 by the end of April, 2014, but the group reports "we still have far to go." All MCLP endowment gifts are tax-deductible. All amounts are welcomed and tax deductible. We thank you for your support.

Endowment gifts can be mailed to:
Illinois Prairie Community Foundation—Attn: MCLP Endowment Fund,
2401 E. Washington, Suite 300B, Bloomington, IL 61704 

Make checks payable to IPCF-MCLP or to “Illinois Prairie Community Foundation” and cite “MCLP Endowment Fund” as the beneficiary.   

You may also endow online at  www.bn-mclp.org. Visit the website to download a copy of MCLP's 2014 annual report and investigate what the program offers,

The MCLP Endowment Fund is a general endowment fund supported by charitable gifts. The fund is invested and managed over time to provide a sustainable income stream for MCLP, while maintaining the gift’s purchasing power in perpetuity. Why is this endowment being established?

The fund will ensure a financially stable base to fund future MCLP classes and participant scholarships. It will allow MCLP to continue developing leaders for our community’s long-term needs.

MCLP achieved last year's initial goal of $100,000 by the end of April, 2014, but the group reports "we still have far to go." All MCLP endowment gifts are tax-deductible. All amounts are welcomed and tax deductible. We thank you for your support.

Endowment gifts can be mailed to:
Illinois Prairie Community Foundation—Attn: MCLP Endowment Fund,
2401 E. Washington, Suite 300B, Bloomington, IL 61704 

Make checks payable to IPCF-MCLP or to “Illinois Prairie Community Foundation” and cite “MCLP Endowment Fund” as the beneficiary.   

You may also endow online at  www.bn-mclp.org. Visit the website to download a copy of MCLP's 2014 annual report and investigate what the program offers.

Umoja Celebration Seeking Volunteers

Illinois State University's Umoja: Celebration of Black Graduates is looking for faculty and staff volunteers.

The event, a pre-commencement celebration, will be at 7 p.m. May 7, in the Center for Performing Arts. Umoja honors African American and other students of color who have successfully completed undergraduate and graduate degrees from Illinois State in 2015. Primarily, Umoja seeks to create a unique and culturally rich space that celebrates the successful completion of degrees to graduates with the support of their families, faculty and staff.

“Umoja serves as a unifying symbol of perseverance in the recognition of a shared sociocultural, political, and educational history,” said Pamela Hoff, a member of the steering committee.

The event is free and open to the university and surrounding Bloomington-Normal community. All are welcome. The theme for Umoja 2015 is Sankofa: Lifting as WE Climb.  

Illinois Author Explores Judaism, Visits IWU

Best-selling and critically acclaimed author Joshua Ferris will give a reading of his latest work, To Rise Again at a Decent Hour, on March 18 at Illinois Wesleyan University. Sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta English honor society, Tributaries and Lyrical Graffiti, the free event will begin at 7 p.m. in the Hansen Student Center and is open to the public.

Published in 2014, To Rise Again at a Decent Hour follows an atheist dentist and Red Sox fan who longs to be a part of the Jewish community—even though he doesn’t believe in God. Hailed as “an impressive investigation of faith and doubt” by The Paris Review, the novel won the Dylan Thomas Prize, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and was chosen as a Best Book of 2014 by National Public Radio.

“To Rise Again at a Decent Hour discusses issues like identity theft, religion, technology and, oddly enough, oral hygiene,” said Erica Kucharski ’15, co-president of Sigma Tau Delta. “It's hilarious and absurd at times, but really makes you think about your place in the world.”

Joe Ruskey ’15, co-president of Sigma Tau Delta, invited Ferris to campus. “What separates Ferris from other writers is that his novels delve into challenges our generation constantly faces, and the tone and voice of his writing provides the reader with a sense of truth that is not often seen,” Ruskey said.           

Born in Danville, Illinois, Ferris earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree from the University of California-Irvine. Ferris’ first novel, Then We Came to the End, is a satire of a Chicago advertising agency at the end of the dot-com boom. The national bestseller was a 2007 National Book Award finalist and a 2007 PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Fiction winner. In 2010, Ferris published The Unnamed, about a marriage, a family, and the unseen forces of nature and desire.

Ferris has also published numerous short stories appearing in The Iowa Review, Best American Short Stories, Tin House, The Guardian and The New Yorker, among others. He was named to The New Yorker’s “20 Under 40” list of ‘fiction writers worth watching’ and is a winner of the Barnes and Noble Discover New Writers Award.

Project Seeks to Protect Potential Deportees

Expansion of a federal program that defers deportation for parents who are in the country illegally is expected to keep lawyers with the local Immigration Project busy this year.

Executive Director Jasmine McGee said efforts are under way to help people understand changes in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program that could affect some of the estimated 2,500 McLean County residents in the U.S. illegally.

"The interest and demand for help with paperwork will definitely be there," said McGee, who took over as executive director several months ago.

McGee works with three other staff attorneys to assist a population of 53,000 residents in the country illegally who live outside the Cook and surrounding counties.

The new provision of the DACA program defers deportation for qualified parents of youths who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. Parents must pass a criminal background check and have lived in the U.S. since Jan. 1, 2010, for the deferral, which is renewable every three years.

The meetings hosted by The Immigration Project in six Illinois cities will give people guidance on what documents they need for the deferrals. Lawyers also will advise against scams by lawyers and others who take advantage of immigrants who are in the country illegally, said McGee.

"There is a concern with people taking $1,000 or $2,000 and they either don't file or file the wrong paperwork," said McGee.

Illinois put strict requirements in place about who may legally complete paperwork for a DACA application out of concern for such scams, said McGee.

While most of the 1,000 clients helped by the Bloomington office are Hispanic, the Twin Cities also has a substantial Indian and West African population that needs help with immigration issues, according to McGee.

Data released last year by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights indicates that 145,000 Illinois families have at least one parent who entered the country illegally. Of those families, 126,000 have at least one U.S.-born child and 107,000 report having only one U.S.-born children.

The 13,000 downstate families with at least one parent who entered the U.S. illegally could be affected by the expansion of the DACA program.

"We're interviewing a lot of parents who have been here since the 1990s," said McGee.

Three of every four such immigrants in Illinois are between the ages of 25 and 44, according to the ICIRR.

The state's population of immigrants who entered the country illegally includes 58,000 children under 18 and 78,000 who are 18 to 24 years old.

The majority of the state's such immigrants are living in family households and about 30 percent are married and living with their own minor children, according to ICIRR.

The same benefits realized by youths under the DACA program will be available to parents, said Fred Tsao, ICIRR policy director.

"They will be able to get work permits, support their families and have opportunities for better employment," said Tsao.

The anxiety felt by families who are at risk for being separated by deportation proceedings will be reduced, said Tsao.

McGee said her work as a lawyer comes when her clients realize they have postponed possible deportation. Although the DACA program does not equate to legal immigration status in the U.S., it does provide a sense of security, even if it's temporary, said McGee.

"Seeing how happy they are the moment they have residency in the U.S. and don't have to hide makes me feel really good," said McGee.

IWU Hispanic Studies Prof Snags Fellowship for Exploring Spanish Cuisine

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded a highly competitive fellowship to an Illinois Wesleyan University Hispanic Studies professor for the translation and critical analysis of a 17th-century Spanish cookbook.

Fewer than eight percent of applicants received fellowships for the 2015-16 academic year such as the one awarded to Byron S. Tucci Professor Carolyn Nadeau. In addition to the NEH fellowship, the Renaissance Society of America has awarded Nadeau a research grant for travel to libraries in Spain and New York in conjunction with the same project.

In 1611, Francisco Martíno Montiño, chef to both King Philip III and IV of Spain, published Arte de cocina, pastelería, vizcochería y conservería (the art of cooking, pie making, pastry making and preserving), which Nadeau calls the most recognized Spanish cookbook before the 20th century. Nadeau proposes to write the first critical edition and translation of Arte de cocina.

Dismissed by cultural historians until recently as too commonplace to merit critical attention, cookbooks are now recognized as valuable primary sources providing “social and cultural meanings of food and, by extension, cultural identity, from the very society that produced them,” Nadeau said.

Because Martíno Montiño’s court cookbook was written for the king’s palette and originally targeted to the royal kitchen staff, Nadeau plans to explain how the book reflects questions of taste beyond the court and social elite to the cottage and farm kitchens across Spain. The number of editions printed – 25 between 1611 and 1823 – point to a wider reading audience, Nadeau noted.

“My critical introduction will explain how court cookbooks compare with cultural practices found in university treatises, religious instruction manuals, women’s domestic manuals, and health manuals,” Nadeau said. “In this way, the project will also bring to light how cookbooks, and more generally the culinary arts, intersect with other types of cultural knowledge and function as potent social, gender, political and cultural markers.” She noted Arte de cocina arrived in the same era that the first vernacular monolingual dictionary was published in Europe. The same era found dramatists producing theatre that explored cultural divides, abuses of political power, and questions of social identity.

“Passionate about this profession, Martíno Montiño wrote with a critical eye, often complaining about the deficits found in other cooking manuals,” Nadeau said. “Yet he conveyed the deepest respect for long-established processes that continued to present challenges for each generation of cooks.

“This type of reverence is evident, for example, in his recipe on how to prepare couscous, a dish with clear ties to Spain’s Muslim heritage, at a time when the state had just exiled all Moriscos, or Muslims recently converted to Catholicism,” Nadeau explained. “He often communicated a sensitivity to diverse palettes by allowing flexibility of meats, fats and other products used in several of his culinary creations.”

Following the same line of inquiry to examine and explain real cultural practices, Nadeau will devote some of her sabbatical next year to preparing most of the cookbook’s 453 recipes to better understand their flavors and subtleties. The archival work in libraries across two continents is exciting, but Nadeau can’t wait to get into the kitchen.

“I’m looking forward to preparing the dishes to better understand the subtleties and flavors,” she said. “This cookbook was considered ‘the’ model for Spanish cooking well into the 19th century. By examining each recipe and his passionate side notes, I can enliven Martínez Montiño’s authorial pride and acute attentiveness to his readers with appropriate glosses.”

Nadeau has written a number of articles on food representation in Golden Age texts. She specializes in 16th- and 17th-century Spanish literature and is the author of three books: Food Matters: Alonso Quijano’s Diet and the Discourse of Food in Early Modern Spain (to be released late 2015); Women of the Prologue: Imitation, Myth, and Magic in Don Quixote I and a critical edition of Francisco de Quevedo’s El Buscón. Nadeau joined the faculty at Illinois Wesleyan in 1994 and has directed off-campus studies in London, Madrid and Barcelona. She has chaired the Hispanic Studies department and received the University’s highest teaching award, the then-named Pantagraph Award for Teaching Excellence, in 2003.

 A later edition of Arte de cocina, pastelería, vizcochería y conservería

Because Martíno Montiño’s court cookbook was written for the king’s palette and originally targeted to the royal kitchen staff, Nadeau plans to explain how the book reflects questions of taste beyond the court and social elite to the cottage and farm kitchens across Spain. The number of editions printed – 25 between 1611 and 1823 – point to a wider reading audience, Nadeau noted.

“My critical introduction will explain how court cookbooks compare with cultural practices found in university treatises, religious instruction manuals, women’s domestic manuals, and health manuals,” Nadeau said. “In this way, the project will also bring to light how cookbooks, and more generally the culinary arts, intersect with other types of cultural knowledge and function as potent social, gender, political and cultural markers.” She noted Arte de cocina arrived in the same era that the first vernacular monolingual dictionary was published in Europe. The same era found dramatists producing theatre that explored cultural divides, abuses of political power, and questions of social identity.

“Passionate about this profession, Martíno Montiño wrote with a critical eye, often complaining about the deficits found in other cooking manuals,” Nadeau said. “Yet he conveyed the deepest respect for long-established processes that continued to present challenges for each generation of cooks.

“This type of reverence is evident, for example, in his recipe on how to prepare couscous, a dish with clear ties to Spain’s Muslim heritage, at a time when the state had just exiled all Moriscos, or Muslims recently converted to Catholicism,” Nadeau explained. “He often communicated a sensitivity to diverse palettes by allowing flexibility of meats, fats and other products used in several of his culinary creations.”

Following the same line of inquiry to examine and explain real cultural practices, Nadeau will devote some of her sabbatical next year to preparing most of the cookbook’s 453 recipes to better understand their flavors and subtleties. The archival work in libraries across two continents is exciting, but Nadeau can’t wait to get into the kitchen.

“I’m looking forward to preparing the dishes to better understand the subtleties and flavors,” she said. “This cookbook was considered ‘the’ model for Spanish cooking well into the 19th century. By examining each recipe and his passionate side notes, I can enliven Martínez Montiño’s authorial pride and acute attentiveness to his readers with appropriate glosses.”

Nadeau has written a number of articles on food representation in Golden Age texts. She specializes in 16th- and 17th-century Spanish literature and is the author of three books: Food Matters: Alonso Quijano’s Diet and the Discourse of Food in Early Modern Spain (to be released late 2015); Women of the Prologue: Imitation, Myth, and Magic in Don Quixote I and a critical edition of Francisco de Quevedo’s El Buscón. Nadeau joined the faculty at Illinois Wesleyan in 1994 and has directed off-campus studies in London, Madrid and Barcelona. She has chaired the Hispanic Studies department and received the University’s highest teaching award, the then-named Pantagraph Award for Teaching Excellence, in 2003.

Kelley: See Homeless as People

Pantagraph editorial

"The recent Pantagraph articles highlighting the community of people who live outside should trouble this community. However, we should be aware that this isn’t new. There is a lengthy history of people in our community who live outside due to a variety of circumstances. It is a horrible, dangerous way to live.

This sudden publicity is troubling to many of us who care for our friends who live outside. I understand that, as a result of the publicity, PATH has received many donations to “the cause”. On the surface, this may seem like a wonderful story of a community coming together to solve a problem. Sadly, I don’t believe this is the case.

In the past, when attention has been drawn to the plight of people living outside, the level of danger for them has increased. They live in the shadows of our community for a reason. The comments regarding the Pantagraph story on Feb. 26 illuminate some of the reasons. Previously, there have been threats, property destruction and acts of violence committed against them.

It is my hope that, rather than seeing people who live outside as problems or as causes to champion, we can begin to see them as people. People are not problems. The problems are addiction, poverty, and our refusal to welcome people who have made mistakes back into our community and shelters. One thing is certain; the issues that surround chronic homelessness cannot be solved by throwing some money, blankets, and propane at them."

Kelley L. Becker

Apartments Found for Evicted Homeless

Edith Brady-Lunny

The Pantagraph

Several of the 14 homeless residents forced to move from a camp on Bloomington's west side may move into apartments soon, largely funded by donations collected in the last two weeks since news coverage of the encampment began.

The owner of the winter encampment of homeless men and women insisted last week the people clear off his almost 6-acre lot on West Market Street. Citing liability concerns, Carl Thomas said the people must move. Police and workers from PATH (Providing Access to Help) told the homeless group Friday they had until Monday to relocate.

McLean County Sheriff Jon Sandage said the last person in the group was packing up Monday morning and preparing to leave. 

Work to find apartments for several of the men was put on a fast track Monday, said PATH's Lori Kimbrough.

"Some are on the verge of being able to get an apartment. We are doing what we can to speed up that process," she said. Money from the agency's rental assistance fund, coupled with donations that continue to come into PATH, are being used to cover rent deposits and other expenses, she said.

Kimbrough said donations and offers to help have been steady since recent stories in The Pantagraph about the camp. In her conversations with the encampment residents, Kimbrough learned most were not aware of the rental assistance program.

People who still want to help can contact the agency at www.pathcrisis.org or call 309-828-1022 or 309-828-1022. 

Workers with PATH's outreach program for the homeless also are trying to help the others living outdoors, but some have barriers that are tough to overcome.

Four of the men are registered sex offenders, leaving them with very limited housing options, and others have a history of violence or poor credit records.

"Some people have larger hurdles," said Kimbrough. 

The Salvation Army in Bloomington reported Monday that one person came to the shelter from the camp late last week before the relocation order was issued.

Kelley: Homelessness 'Not Going Away'

"There are so many issues at play here. It's cold and miserable outside. Nobody should be living outside. Addiction is a horrible thing. We have no good treatment options (for people without money) should someone decide to seek treatment. 

Everyone in the community should be safe and have the opportunity to feel that they belong. We should care about other people...even if they are different. 

And last, sometimes there isn't a villain. 

My heart is broken because I can't fix this. Grown men are afraid and I can't take that away. 

We have to get around these issues in our community. It's not going to go away. 

What say you?"

Rev. Kelley Becker

Bloomington First Christian Church

On recent police-enforced evictions from the Bloomington homeless tent city

Becker, a Not In Our Town: Bloomington/Normal participant and homeless advocate, visited the “tent city” and met with the McLean County sheriff and deputies, representatives of the community group PATH, and Carl Thomas, the owner of private property behind the former Bloomington bus station near West Market Street where 14 homeless men had been camping.

Encampment dwellers have been put on notice that they need to relocate by Monday or face trespassing charges. Police and social service workers were working to avoid that outcome, and Becker did media interviews to raise community awareness of the problem.

Thomas, the owner of the 5.8-acre plot, said Wednesday he had concerns about property damage liability issues related to the unauthorized "tent city." He has dealt with summer encampments during the past several years, and reported finding homeless people staying in cars at his auto body shop on nearby Peggy Lane.

He became aware of the current cluster of tents after recent Pantagraph coverage of the issue.

Becker plans to discuss the issue further during the March 13 morning Coffee With a Cop at the McDonald's at 525 Brock Drive (see article below), near the camp site.

"Yes, I am going to coffee with a cop," she said. "I hope some of the people living outside do, too."

Not Loving It? Have "Coffee With a Cop"

In an ongoing effort to build a constructive dialogue with the community, McLean County police departments will share java and jawbone with residents March 13.

Representatives from Bloomington, Normal, and Illinois State University police departments and the McLean County Sheriff's Department will participate in Coffee with a Cop -- an extension of a national program -- from 7 to 10 a.m. that Friday at McDonald's, 525 Brock Drive, Bloomington.

McDonald's will provide free coffee to all who attend.

Coffee with a Cop was started by a California police department in 2011 as part of its community policing effort, and today, some 175 communities in 36 states offer Coffee with a Cop programs. Sara Mayer, public affairs officer with the Bloomington police, maintains the relaxed sitdown can improve community relations.

"You don't call 911 when everything is going well," Mayer notes. "This allows a one-on-one, builds partnerships and trust."

ISU police have met with students in a similar fashion for a couple of years, a few times each semester. "It's a good opportunity to see us in more of an approachable venue ... in this case, a relaxed environment," Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner said.

Show to Bring Bullying Out of Hiding

 Bullying and its prevention will take center stage at Breaking Chains & Advancing Increase's  (BCAI) School of Arts' April 25 end-of-semester dinner show, "Hide and Seek."

The 3 p.m. program, at Hallelujah Worship Center 1105 E Oakland Ave., Bloomington, will feature performances from students of BCAI as well as surrounding artists designed to provide perspectives from all angles of bullying, according to BCAI's Angelique Racki "to significantly decrease misunderstandings and increase appreciation for one another."

NIOT:B/N will participate in the presentation. Racki hopes guests will consider starting a group in their school or workplace to promote "anti-bully/gossiping/disrespect and promote communication and appreciation for diversity," and offers three goals for the BCAI/NIOT effort:

"1. To provide, through a variety of interactive entertainment and activities, enough perspective to ensure that NO ONE leaves without a new thought system taking its course regarding other human beings and how we interact with each other;

2. To provide an amazing meal catered by Heavenly Delights so to fellowship comfortably; and

3. To receive a NIOT pledge from everyone present, so that moving forward, when they leave the four walls of the event, the seeds we planted will remain."

Racki and Latanya Skinner, CEO of Heavenly Delights had brainstormed Skinner's monthly dinner theaters and decided BCAI School of Arts could take April's slot for our End of Semester Show.

"Then, we were wondering what would make the highest impact and what we could do the most with -- anti-bullying from every angle," Racki recounted. "The Holy Spirit dropped the title on me and it fit perfectly with what we're moving to do. Just like the game hide-and-seek, there are places in our minds that we've raised up walls to protect, and this causes MANY miscommunications and misunderstandings. So we seek to penetrate these walls with the specific entertainment, fellowship, activities, and special guests that we've selected. There will be amazing food, dance, poetry, interactive activities, special guests, etc."

For information on Hide and Seek or BCAI, visit http://www.bcaidance.com/ or BCAI's Facebook page.

@Salon aims to recreate literary tradition with modern culture and issues

Ladan Osman

@Salon will feature renowned local and regional artists, beginning at noon Saturday, March 21, at the McLean County Arts Center in downtown Bloomington.

The event, sponsored by the Illinois State University Creative Writing Program and the Department of English, is free and open to the public.

“A theater of conversation and exchange akin to the literary salons of the 17th and 18th centuries, @Salon welcomes artists and arts enthusiasts from area colleges and universities, the larger Bloomington-Normal community and beyond,” said Associate Professor of English Duriel Estelle Harris, the founder and curator of the event.

The day will feature readings by Chicago-based poets Ladan Osman and Matthew Shenoda. Osman is the author of the Sillerman prize-winning Kitchen-Dweller’s Testimony. Shenoda is the author of Tahrir Suite and past winner of the American Book Award. Musical selections will include performances by local female-fronted indie/pop five-piece band Alex and the XO’s as well as Chicago-based vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Alicia Walter.

Matthew Shenoda

@Salon will include presentations by three students of Illinois State’s Creative Writing Program—works-in-progress by authors Bryan Reid and Eric Pitman and a sound art showcase curated by Jonah Mixon-Webster.

“This is a wonderful way for artists to get real feedback on their work from the public and those outside their inner circle,” said Harris. “It affords the artist an active role in the dialogue.”

Works by featured artists will be available for purchase at the event. Light refreshments will be served.

@Salon is co-sponsored by the McLean County Arts Center, Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora and the Illinois State University Ethnic Studies, International Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies Programs and the LGBT/Queer Studies and Services Institute.

For more information about @Salon, contact Harris at (309) 438-1401 or (309) 438-1401 or dharri2@ilstu.edu.

Emily: Using Your Library Voices

Emily Vigneri

On September 16, 2014, Illinois State University held its first-ever Human Library. If you’re not familiar with the term “Human Library” (and don’t worry, you’re not alone!), it was started in Denmark in 2000 by a youth organization called “Stop the Violence.”

Members of “Stop the Violence” were looking for a way to encourage conversation among individuals who are different from one another. To do that, they decided to provide a safe, non-threatening way for individuals to engage in meaningful conversations with one another about stories that are different from their own.  

These stories are typically in relation to some prejudice, hardship, or discrimination that the storyteller, known as a Book, tells to listeners (known as Readers) in an effort for to challenge preconceived notions, biases, or prejudices that the Readers may hold themselves. The Readers are permitted to ask questions of the Books, something that many of us find hard to do in everyday life, especially when our questions pertain to extremely personal or perhaps difficult experiences in someone’s life.

Due to the widespread success of this initiative, Wendi Whitman, an Associate Director in University College at Illinois State, heard the idea at an American Democracy Project conference and brought the concept back to campus. A committee of individuals from different areas of campus was formed to organize the event, and I was fortunately selected to work on securing Books.   

For several months, the committee worked to set up an online registration system for the event, secure facilities, and recruit/train Books and Librarians. Librarians were students asked to help keep the Books feeling safe and intervene should any of the Readers’ questions or actions become hostile. We were hopeful that this would not happen (and it did not), but since we were asking students to challenge their prejudices about various groups, we wanted to ensure that were doing all that we could for our Books. We also led training sessions for Readers (students enrolled in a first-year seminar); we asked them to be respectful of all Books and encouraged them to ask good questions, as the Books were there to help the Readers learn. 

On the day of the event, we welcomed 459 first-year students to the Bone Student Center where they listened to 33 Books covering topics such as suicide, bullying, LGBTQ issues, traumatic brain injury, anxiety, and more. Our evaluation results from the event were astounding – 100 percent of Books who completed an evaluation would encourage others to participate; many of our Books commented on how cathartic and therapeutic it felt to share their stories. Of the 306 student evaluations we received, 99 percent of students would recommend participating in the Human Library to other students, and 97 percent believed there was a respectful environment during the Human Library. Due to the success of our event, we are very excited to hold our next Human Library on September 23, 2015! 

For more information about the event or to participate as a volunteer or Book, e-mail HumanLibrary@IllinoisState.edu.

MCLP Class of '15 graduates March 7

Five local organizations will get a boost towards their goals as the Multicultural Leadership Program (MCLP) Class of 2015 concludes its community service projects on Saturday, March 7 at Heartland Community College's Astroth Community Education Center Building (the second floor auditorium).

Beginning with a 7:30 a.m. continental breakfast, this public presentation is offered 8 to 10:45 a.m. Five MCLP teams will share how they put servant leadership into action, dedicating six months’ time and effort to help five local non-profit organizations achieve the following:

 Community Health Care Clinic — study the feasibility of a dental clinic and a five-year budget program

Immanuel Health Care — develop strategies to increase name recognition

Meadows at Mercy Creek — support staff development to enhance skills and better serve residents

Prairie Pride Coalition — assess LGBT community needs to help redefine goals and outreach

Challenger Learning Center — enhance fundraising efforts

Immediately following the project presentations, MCLP will offer an information session 11:00 AM to noon to share about future MCLP opportunities, including how to apply for the MCLP Class of 2016 program year. Local nonprofits interested to submit proposals for next year’s MCLP class projects may apply online at www.bn-mclp.org.

Radio Interviews Offer Previews of Team Experiences: Tune in to Susan Saunder’s show on WJBC AM 1230 every Friday at 10:05 a.m. through March 6th to hear interviews with the MCLP project teams; and to WXRJ’s Ursula Crooks’ “What’s Going On” show 12-2 p.m. on Saturdays through March on FM 94.9.

For more information, see www.bn-mclp.org or contact MCLP Executive Director, Sonya Mau at contactus@bn-mclp.org or call 309-556-3589.

Marlee Matlin Headlines March 24 ISU Dinner

Oscar-winning actress and activist Marlee Matlin is guest for the March Disability Awareness Cultural Dinner at 5 p.m. March 24, in the Brown Ballroom of Illinois State University's Braden Auditorium.

Matlin, who won an Academy Award in her 1986 turn in Children of a Lesser God, is an advocate for American Sign Language and co-author of non-fiction and juvenile fiction. The former Chicagoan lost her hearing at eighteen months of age, and faced addiction challenges in her early teens.

On July 26, 2010, Matlin signed a speech at an event commemorating the 20th anniversary of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. She is actively involved in Easter Seals (where she was appointed an honorary board member), the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and the Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet.

Her semi-autobiographical series of young adult books focus on Megan and her challenges and accomplishments as a deaf girl. Her biography is I'll Scream Later. Matlin teaches sign language through her iPhone/iPad app Marlee Signs, available through the iTunes App Store.

As a means to celebrate and educate on diversity, ISU University Housing Services began coordinating Cultural Dinners in the early 1980’s. The tradition of these dinners continues today and is meant to expose students to "the rich cultural diversity of our society as well as expand their knowledge of the world in which we live."

Originally held in residence hall conference rooms, they are now held in larger university banquet rooms to accommodate the increasing interest in our programs. The interest has been sparked by greater access offered over the years to national opinion leaders and performers at the top of their craft.

Cultural Dinners are open to the ISU community (student, faculty, and staff) as well as the Bloomington-Normal community. They generally draw up to 600 people. Cultural Dinners take place once or twice a semester and include an address from a keynote speaker, a meal, and entertainment specific to the culture being celebrated.

The planning and execution for these events is done, not only by University Housing Services professional staff, but also by students in order to encourage the development of leadership skills.

Ticket information for the March 24 dinner will be available soon at http://www.housing.ilstu.edu/current-residents/cultural-dinners/tickets.shtml.

MCIA Sets 2015 Goals, Youth Open House

McLean County India Association President Uma Kallakuri has issued her goals for the organization and the Twin Cities' Indian community for 2015, as MCIA prepares for a February 21 youth open house from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Hindu Temple of Bloomington-Normal.

In a recent interview with NIOT:BN, Kallakuri emphasized the importance of reaching out to her community's youth. The following is Kallakuri's presidential address:

"Dear members of McLean County India Association,

The 2015 MCIA Committee and I wish you and your families a very happy, prosperous, healthy, successful and peaceful New Year!

I am greatly honored and humbled to be the 35th President of MCIA during 2015, one of the oldest organizations representing the Indian community in Central Illinois; the committee is looking forward to serving and working with all of you.

Thanks to the vision, foresight, and devotion of our founders, past presidents and their executive boards, and scores of dedicated volunteers, MCIA has come a long way. In the past few years we have fulfilled our purpose of promoting and sustaining the culture and heritage of India in McLean County. We personally thank all the volunteers and the sponsors, who are very critical for our organization’s continued success.

As we enter 2015 our vision becomes simple and clear:

Based on MCIA’s history of 35 successful years, we will plan and organize events and activities that will provide quality experiences and togetherness in the community.

To accomplish our vision we would like to focus on the 3 ‘I’s:

·  Inspire – Inspire the McLean County Indian community to participate in community activities and leadership programs.

·  Integrate - Integrate into the local community by providing more outreach and philanthropy programs in order to foster networking and mentorship by creating venues for people with similar interests.

 ·  Identity – Our youth are the future of tomorrow. We aim to encourage our youth to learn about their Identity through exposing them to Indian values, culture and traditions, thereby providing a platform for them to become future leaders.

To achieve these goals:

We request you to come forward as a volunteer, donor, and sponsor to help us in achieving these goals and to also provide us with valuable feedback.

Description

Lastly, a lot of what we do here is only possible by the generosity of our valued members of the community. Once again, we are thankful for their time, energy, creativity, thought, financial and dedicated support. 

This is our organization - Our MCIA. I look forward to this year and our community coming together in support of McLean County India Association.

Long live MCIA.

Jai Bharat! God bless America!"

Black History Month 2: Righting the Rails

Camille Taylor

 Emanuel Hurst Sr., Art Taylor's grandfather and a Pullman porter, 1942-1968.

How are unions, black history, and the current debate over state workers and labor rights related?

Both my husband Art and I had grandfathers who worked for the railroad. My husband’s grandfather was a Pullman porter from 1942 to 1968. All Pullman porters were black, referred to as “George,” (after founder George Pullman), and worked as personal attendants for passengers in the Pullman sleeper cars. My grandfather was a Sky Cap, carrying passengers’ luggage for the Illinois Central Railroad.

Asa Phillip Randolph organized the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925. It took 12 years, an amended Railroad Labor Act from President Franklin Roosevelt, and gaining membership in the American Federation of Labor, before the Pullman Company would negotiate the first contract with the porters. During those 12 years, the company used its power and money to perpetrate fear by firings and violence to deter organizing efforts. Their union fought to get a fair wage, benefits, and better working conditions.

As a result of the contract, wages for porters increased, their work week was shortened, and they got overtime pay. The lives of our parents improved due to increased wages for our grandfathers. Education and the value of hard work was stressed, and this was passed on to me and my husband.

A. Phillip Randolph was the mastermind behind the March on Washington Movement in the 1940’s that sought to end discrimination in the military, war industries, government agencies, and in labor unions. He also organized the famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 where Dr. Martin Luther King made his “I Have a Dream" speech.

Camille Taylor, for many years an educational leader in Bloomington, serves on the Not In Our Town: Bloomington-Normal steering committee, with her husband Art, who works with State Farm.

The A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum is a 501(c)3 institution. Our mission is to promote, honor and celebrate the legacy of A. Philip Randolph and contributions made by African-Americans to America's labor history. At our facility this celebration begins with the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, as we educate the public about their legacy and contributions.

For a history of the Pullman porters and their struggle, watch this video on The A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, whose mission is to promote, honor and celebrate the legacy of A. Philip Randolph and contributions made by African-Americans to America's labor history. Visit the museum at 104th & Maryland Ave., Chicago, and find out more at http://www.aphiliprandolphmuseum.com/.