Roxanne: Local Dance Club Offers Rich Mix of Cultural Expression

Fata Dance Club will conduct its fifth summer session in Bloomington, offering a rich palette of "dance cultures" from throughout the globe.

"Fata" stands for "from Africa to America." The club teaches dances from African, Caribbean, and Latin cultures as well as jazz, hip-hop, and praise dance, according to club director Roxanne Ledford, "without bias."

"We encourage all races cultures and skill levels to join as a way to network, learn about each other and unify," Ledford said.

"I'm originally from Chicago where I attended Columbia college dance major. I danced with a couple of dance troupes and worked for a few afterschool programs.

"We service youth ages 3-15 and adults 16 and up every summer and during special events such as Worldwide Day of Play and Culture Night. Unfortunately we are not funded by any organizations, but it feels good to have been able to pull this off with the help from the parents who enroll their kids as a member."

A one-time membership fee pays for dance space, costumes, music, props, and snacks, and the club also conducts fundraising activities to help supplement Ledford's own out-of-pocket costs.

"No one gets paid at all," Ledford stressed. "It's challenging and sometimes overwhelming, but worth the outcome. We perform for (CultureFest) every year as a way to show what the group has learned."

Open enrollment now through May 30. Learn more at https://fatadanceclub.wufoo.com/forms/mq84dff0glq5rl/.

Groups Proclaim 'Not On My Campus' During Solidarity Walk

Bearing a banner that proclaimed, “Not on my campus,” some 1,000 Illinois State University students — mostly fraternity and sorority members — marched Wednesday evening against racism, discrimination, and sexual violence in the wake of recent nationwide controversies over campus fraternal conduct.

The "Solidarity Walk" arose from a discussion of recent events such as the release of a video of a racist chant by the University of Oklahoma's chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Students gathered outside Milner Library, crossed the bridge over College Avenue, and circled the campus quad twice. The line of marchers, three and four across, wrapped halfway around the quad. 

At the end of the walk, many stopped to sign the large banner.

Joe Laskey, president of ISU's Interfraternity Council, maintained “fraternities and sororities are the ones who made the headlines, but this can happen to any organization.”

“We wanted to come together on these issues and support each other.” Senior Vincent Ortiz, president of ISU's Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter, said.

Ortiz, a small-business entrepreneurship major from Batavia, said he would like the march and ISU students' stand against wrongdoing to become "a universal thing supported on other campuses.”

Alex Snowden, coordinator of fraternity and sorority life in the dean of students' office, said he was not aware of any incidents involving ISU organizations, saying the students “wanted to be proactive.”

In remarks before the march, Laskey called on those present to “show their inclusiveness and supportiveness for all” and to “put it in writing … and leave it in writing for the leaders behind you.”

"As leaders, we will not accept any racism or discrimination based on traditions on our campus," he said.

Jordan Owens, a senior in social work from Peoria, carried a sign for his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, that said, “No room for any violence.” Senior Lulu Solorzano of Orland Park, a member of Gamma Phi Omega, whose mascot is a swan, held a sign saying, “Swans believe in acceptance and advocate diversity.”

A retreat this weekend will bring together 83 members of the Greek community to review their values and to reflect on what they're learning about each other.

“We wanted to come together on these issues and support each other.” Senior Vincent Ortiz, president of ISU's Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter, said.

Ortiz, a small-business entrepreneurship major from Batavia, said he would like the march and ISU students' stand against wrongdoing to become "a universal thing supported on other campuses.”

Alex Snowden, coordinator of fraternity and sorority life in the dean of students' office, said he was not aware of any incidents involving ISU organizations, saying the students “wanted to be proactive.”

In remarks before the march, Laskey called on those present to “show their inclusiveness and supportiveness for all” and to “put it in writing … and leave it in writing for the leaders behind you.”

"As leaders, we will not accept any racism or discrimination based on traditions on our campus," he said.

Jordan Owens, a senior in social work from Peoria, carried a sign for his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, that said, “No room for any violence.” Senior Lulu Solorzano of Orland Park, a member of Gamma Phi Omega, whose mascot is a swan, held a sign saying, “Swans believe in acceptance and advocate diversity.”

A retreat this weekend will bring together 83 members of the Greek community to review their values and to reflect on what they're learning about each other.

Local Musician, Food Truck Open for Los Lonely Boys

                                                Marcos Mendez

Twin Citians will be offered a taste of local Latin food and music at Thursday's Los Lonely Boys concert at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

Not In Our Town: Bloomington/Normal's Marcos Mendez, who also chairs the community advocacy group Conexiones Latinas, will open at 6:30 p.m. for the Texas band, which won a 2005 Grammy as best Pop Vocal Duo/Group. Mendez plans to perform blues, roots, rock, and some Mariachi tunes "mixed in for good measure."

Oogies Food on Wheels, a mobile restaurant, will serve Mexican-inspired foods from 5 to 7 p.m. outside the center. The food truck was launched last year by Kerry and Felipe Urquizo, with help from their three children, Oskar, Olivia, and Gus. Kerry works at Heartland Community College and Felipe is a cook at a local restaurant.

ISU Frats, Sororities Respond to Troubled Image

In light of recent national concerns involving fraternities and sororities and issues regarding discrimination, hazing, and sexual assault, the local Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter and the Interfraternity Council at Illinois State University have come together to enact change.

Members of the Council reflected after a social justice conversation and agreed to adopt anti-discriminatory policies within their governing documents. Members also felt strongly about the need to peacefully demonstrate their commitment to create a safe, diverse, supportive and inclusive environment.

On Wednesday, March 25 at 6:30 pm the Interfraternity Council will be joined by the Fraternity and Sorority Life community in a solidarity walk starting in Milner Plaza and continuing through the Quad. The walk is open to all who share this same vision for Illinois State University and all university campuses. All those interested in participating are encouraged to wear anything that represents Illinois State University, their registered student organization or their fraternal organization.

The demonstration will end with a signed pledge to reflect on the positive changes colleges are capable of, and a commitment to reach across differences to create those changes. Official hashtags for the demonstration are ‪#‎NotOnOurCampus‬ and ‪#‎NotOnAnyCampus.

Earlier this month,  a video went viral of the Oklahoma University chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) on a bus laughing, pumping their fists, and clapping as they chant, “There will never be a ni**** in SAE. You can hang him by a  tree but he will never sign with me. There will never be a ni**** in SAE.” The chant was set to the well-known tune, “If You’re Happy and You Know It.”

The students were later forced to move out of their frat house and expelled from the chapter, which then was disbanded.

The national headquarters of Sigma Alpha Epsilon -- which disbanded its University of Oklahoma chapter. The national headquarters for the fraternity announced a new initiative last week aimed to “combat instances of racial discrimination and insensitivity” among its members.

The plan includes hiring a director of diversity and inclusion, which the fraternity says is the first position of its kind at any major fraternity; requiring members to participate in mandatory diversity education, which will begin with an online certification training program; creating a toll-free telephone hotline for members to call and report troubling behavior; and appointing a national advisory committee on diversity and inclusion.

The initiative does not include any plans to aggressively recruit minority members. About 20 percent of SAE’s members identify as “non-Caucasian,” the fraternity said. Only about 3 percent of its members are black.

Black and Latino Male Summit April 11 at ISU

Illinois State University Diversity Advocacy is hosting this year’s Black and Latino Male Summit on Saturday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Bone Student Center. This summit is a one-day conference focused on issues and community building of black and Latino males at Illinois State University.

This year’s theme is “Men of Steel,” which will feature five pillars including accountability, nobility, resiliency, scholarship, and unity.

Brandon Cottrell, a senior biological sciences major, participated in the summit last year. He said the summit is geared toward black and Latino males, but is open to anyone who is interested in attending. Cottrell enjoyed the support from other participants and found his experience enlightening. He said he learned “how valuable education is for producing and building up black and Latino leaders in our communities.”

Jaylon Joyner, a sophomore athletic training major, also participated in last year’s summit. “All students should attend the summit because it is a great way to meet new people and gain knowledge on different issues that go on in the black and Latino community,” he said. Joyner gained a better understanding for the cultural diversity of the black and Latino communities through group discussions and speakers. He said the summit taught him how “important it is to network and serve the community.” He found this experience to be incredibly motivating.

Registration for the summit is required, and applications are being accepted through April 3. For any questions about the Black and Latino Male Summit or upcoming programs, call Diversity Advocacy at (309) 438-8968(309) 438-8968.

School "Climate" Survey Questions Illinois LGBT Safety

Recently released findings conclude that Illinois schools are not "safe" for most LGBT secondary school students. In addition, the findings indicate that many LGBT students in Illinois lack access to LGBT inclusive curriculum nor are they protected by comprehensive anti-bullying/harassment school policies.

GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) released its eighth biennial National School Climate Survey report late last year. The report and subsequent state snapshot results  include information about LGBT student's experiences in middle and high schools across the country, along with demographic and school characteristic differences and information about changes in school climate over time.

The survey looked at the indicators of a negative school climate for LGBT students such as hearing anti-LGBT remarks, experiencing harassment and assault and anti-LGBT discrimination at school. The survey also examined the ways that a hostile school climate effects LGBT students' academic achievement, educational aspirations and psychological well-being and whether LGBT students reported their experiences of victimization to school officials and/or family members and how the adults responded. In addition, the survey looked at the degree to which LGBT students have access to Gay-Straight Alliances or similar clubs, school anti-bullying/harassment policies, supportive staff/teachers and/or curricula that are inclusive of LGBT-related topics.

Illinois' report showed that the vast majority of LGBT students reported hearing anti-LGBT remarks at school. Ninety-two percent heard the word "gay" in a negative way, while 85 percent heard homophobic remarks such as "fag" or "dyke." Eighty percent heard negative remarks about gender expression while 56 percent heard negative remarks about transgender people. LGBT students also reported hearing anti-LGBT language from school staff—25 percent heard staff make negative remarks about someone's gender expression while 17 percent heard staff make homophobic remarks.

Although most LGBT students Illinois have been harassed or assaulted at school, 57 percent of those students never reported it to school staff and 46 percent have never told family members about the incident(s). Of those who did report being harassed or assaulted to staff/teachers, only 32 percent of those reports have resulted in effected intervention by school authorities.

As for in-school resources and supports for LGBT students, only 11 percent attend a school with comprehensive anti-bullying/harassment policies that included protections for students based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Although LGBT students in Illinois feel unsafe at school, most could identify at least one staff member supportive of LGBT students, however, only 67 percent could identify six or more supportive staff members. Also, only 22 percent were taught positive representations of LGBT people, history and events and 45 percent couldn't access LGBT content on school computers.

To ensure that LGBT students in Illinois feel safe and welcome across the state; GLSEN urges Illinois school leaders, education policymakers and other adults charged with making schools safe for all students to implement comprehensive school anti-bullying policies, provide professional development for school staff concerning LGBT issues, increase access to LGBT-inclusive curricula and resources and be supportive of Gay-Straight Alliances.

"Progress is being made in our nation's schools. But when more than half of LGBT youth continue to report unsafe or even dangerous school climates, we all have a responsibility to act," said Eliza Byard, executive director of GLSEN. "The large number of students who reported hearing anti-LGBT language and who continue to experience verbal and physical harassment in Illinois schools is unacceptable. GLSEN calls on everyone in Illinois to join us in ensuring students and educators are given the resources and support to create safe and affirming school environments. All members of the school community need to feel empowered to intervene when others are undermining these efforts."

The survey looked at the indicators of a negative school climate for LGBT students such as hearing anti-LGBT remarks, experiencing harassment and assault and anti-LGBT discrimination at school. The survey also examined the ways that a hostile school climate effects LGBT students' academic achievement, educational aspirations and psychological well-being and whether LGBT students reported their experiences of victimization to school officials and/or family members and how the adults responded. In addition, the survey looked at the degree to which LGBT students have access to Gay-Straight Alliances or similar clubs, school anti-bullying/harassment policies, supportive staff/teachers and/or curricula that are inclusive of LGBT-related topics.

Illinois' report showed that the vast majority of LGBT students reported hearing anti-LGBT remarks at school. Ninety-two percent heard the word "gay" in a negative way, while 85 percent heard homophobic remarks such as "fag" or "dyke." Eighty percent heard negative remarks about gender expression while 56 percent heard negative remarks about transgender people. LGBT students also reported hearing anti-LGBT language from school staff—25 percent heard staff make negative remarks about someone's gender expression while 17 percent heard staff make homophobic remarks.

Although most LGBT students Illinois have been harassed or assaulted at school, 57 percent of those students never reported it to school staff and 46 percent have never told family members about the incident(s). Of those who did report being harassed or assaulted to staff/teachers, only 32 percent of those reports have resulted in effected intervention by school authorities.

As for in-school resources and supports for LGBT students, only 11 percent attend a school with comprehensive anti-bullying/harassment policies that included protections for students based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Although LGBT students in Illinois feel unsafe at school, most could identify at least one staff member supportive of LGBT students, however, only 67 percent could identify six or more supportive staff members. Also, only 22 percent were taught positive representations of LGBT people, history and events and 45 percent couldn't access LGBT content on school computers.

To ensure that LGBT students in Illinois feel safe and welcome across the state; GLSEN urges Illinois school leaders, education policymakers and other adults charged with making schools safe for all students to implement comprehensive school anti-bullying policies, provide professional development for school staff concerning LGBT issues, increase access to LGBT-inclusive curricula and resources and be supportive of Gay-Straight Alliances.

"Progress is being made in our nation's schools. But when more than half of LGBT youth continue to report unsafe or even dangerous school climates, we all have a responsibility to act," said Eliza Byard, executive director of GLSEN. "The large number of students who reported hearing anti-LGBT language and who continue to experience verbal and physical harassment in Illinois schools is unacceptable. GLSEN calls on everyone in Illinois to join us in ensuring students and educators are given the resources and support to create safe and affirming school environments. All members of the school community need to feel empowered to intervene when others are undermining these efforts."

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.