36th Cultural Festival To Highlight Twin Cities Diversity

Preview of Cultural Fest "The Happiest Place in Central Illinois" - July 25, 2015 - ISU Ballroom - Normal, IL - www.culturalfest.com

Illinois State University reportedly will be “The Happiest Place in Central Illinois” July 25, as host to the 36th annual Bloomington-Normal Cultural Festival.

The festival, established in 1979, is a community event that has evolved over the years but always focuses on the theme of diversity. The event is designed as a tool to bring people and the community together to provide a positive impact and serve as “a bridge to foster positive attitudes and learning.”  This year’s event will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Illinois State University Brown Ballroom; admission and parking will be free.

Local groups can reserve a booth the Cultural Fest online by visiting www.culturalfest.com. Organizations may with a $50 fee request an invoice and be billed to hold a spot.

In addition, area residents can register at the website to participate in a festival Lip Synch Battle.

Festival Partners include State Farm, Ameren, the City of Bloomington, Country Financial, the Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau, Illinois Prairie Community Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, KHOL, WXRJ, Illinois State Redbird, and Perfect Productions.

Camille: Stereotypes Obscure the Person Inside

Camille Taylor

WJBC Forum

A homeless person …a gang member…a terrorist. What images popped into your mind? Did you see a person of a particular race, gender, or age? If so, why did you get that particular image?

A stereotype is an idea about a thing or group that may be untrue or only partly true. It’s a judgment based on one or two pieces of information that don’t tell the whole story. They are often shared by many people such as “Politicians are dishonest” or “Rich people are snobs.” The problem with the stereotype paintbrush is you start to believe these untruths or partial truths without taking the time to get to know the individuals behind them.

Not In Our Town is a movement that has been active for about 20 years in our community. The vision of Not In Our Town is to eliminate hate, address bullying, and to make a safe, inclusive community. In order to do that, we know that there is no room for believing stereotypes which often leads to prejudice, discrimination, and hatred.

Last week, members of Not In Our Town mobilized when a sign that perpetuated a stereotype was displayed outside a local business. I was involved in a demonstration on the street outside the business and tried talking to the owner about why the sign was offensive. Unfortunately, the media headlines published “angry protestors” and “free speech” as the main focus. We were not angry, just full of conviction, and freedom of speech was never the issue. The issue was and always has been to make Bloomington/Normal a community where all people can live without fear of being stereotyped, discriminated against, or feel prejudice.

Last week I also spoke to about 25 young people at the McLean County Diversity Project Scholars’ Retreat at East Bay Camp. I shared the history and vision of Not In Our Town as well as why stereotypes, discrimination, and prejudice hurt people. These young people gave me hope, because they wanted to understand and to learn. We had a good exchange of ideas and several hope to get involved with efforts to make their schools more inclusive and safer from bullying next year.

After talking to the scholars of the McLean County Diversity Project, I would say our community’s future is in good hands, because these young people share that vision of hope. I’m Camille Taylor for the WJBC Forum.

NIOT:B/N Raises Awareness of Public Palestinian Slam

Not In Our Town: Bloomington/Normal protesters took to the street this month in front of a Twin Cities taxi business, they raised awareness that stereotype-based humor, especially in public, is a form of bigotry. 

"The message was heard," NIOT:B/N leader Willie Holton Halbert maintained after the hour long protest

A sign outside of Checker Cab, 1513 S. Main St., Bloomington, read "Things I trust more than Obama, a Palestinian on a motorcycle."

"Checker Cab's sign is a passive-aggressive use of a racial and ethnic stereotype to promote a political agenda," said Marc Miller, one of those protesting. "We do not care about political views. We do care about stopping the promotion of hate."

Miller said Aaron Halliday's sign is a form of bullying. After receiving complaints, Halliday posted an explanation on Facebook that stated he had no intention of offending anyone. He said the idea for the sign came from a friend who sent a list of slogans from Facebook.

"Now when I read this, the only thing I could think of was action movies where the hero is trying to get away and is chased on a motorcycle by a man (typically) who is wielding a knife or a gun. Picture Indiana Jones being chased through the desert. This is what I thought of when I read this. It was not meant to offend anyone. It was in my opinion, humor," Halliday said.

A local woman with connections to Palestine is among those upset by the sign.

"I am very grateful that people feel this is wrong," said Adrianna Ponce, a professor at Illinois Wesleyan University's School of Music. "We are against bigotry and I think that it's a pity that this sign is up."

Ponce is originally from Venezuela but is now married to a Palestinian and her son was born in Palestine. She also spent five years teaching music to Palestinian youth. Her son told her about the sign.

"I have seen a number of comments on Facebook and have talked to a few people and am glad that there are a lot of people taking a stand against this sign," she said.

NIOT:BN's Darlene Miller noted support in the form of passers-by honking their horns.

"We also spoke to Mr. Halliday about our very diverse populace in B/N due especially to three universities and State Farm," she related. "People from all over the world come in and out of Bloomington continuously. His signage would rightfully cause fear in some of these visitors. He seemed interested in that thought. We’ll see."
 

Seven Set to Compete in NAACP Academic Olympics

Kevin Barlow

The Pantagraph

Jordan Stipp has been dancing since he was 3 years old, but the Normal Community High School junior says he has never had much luck in competition. He has danced throughout the state and even appeared in a professional dance video for an Israeli music artist.

Recently, though, he was one of seven Twin City high school students honored as gold medalists in the Bloomington-Normal NAACP Academic Cultural, Technological Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) competition. The seven will advance to the July 9-12 national competition in Philadelphia, receiving an all-expenses-paid trip.

"This means that I will have a better future for myself," said Stipp, who was awarded a gold medal in dance.

"I have been in competitions competing against people who have had more advanced training than I have had and it's been difficult. But winning something because of my dance means that I can continue doing something I love.

"I will probably still stick with computer science as a career, but this shows me that I can also be successful in dance,"he said.

For the past nine months, students from Normal Community West, Normal Community, University High, and Bloomington high schools have been working on projects in the humanities, performing arts, visual arts and business, said Carol de la Cruz, Bloomington-Normal NAACP ACT-SO Chairwoman.

Thirteen African-American high school students were honored as “Olympians” at an awards ceremony and banquet Sunday at the Illinois State University Hancock Stadium Club. The local competition was Saturday in Normal.

“I was able to see the competition firsthand Saturday and to say that these students are truly exceptional is an understatement,” said Bloomington-Normal NAACP President Quincy Cummings. “Everyone did a great job and we are proud of them.”

"It's very excited, and I can't wait for Philadelphia," said Itayjah Phillips, a senior at Normal Community West who won gold in Dramatics. "This means a lot to me."

Also winning gold were NCHS freshman Alexis Starks (Photography) and senior Malik Woods (Music); University High freshman Jordyn Blythe (Oratory); Normal West sophomore Kamryn Crayton (Short Story); and BHS freshman Tierra Schickel (Poetry).

“These students are excellent people and all entered with a 'We are all winners’ type of mentality,” said Meta Mickens-Baker, chairwoman of student recruitment.

Silver medalists were U High senior Darraugh Griffin (Music), Phillips (Dance) and Blythe (Instrumental Music).

Bronze medalists were BHS junior Sydni Harris (Music Composition), Normal West senior LaShuanti Bailey (Sculpture), Stipp (Oratory), Schickel (Performance Poetry) and NCHS junior Christian Baker (Short Story, Poetry and Music Instrumental).

ACT-SO is the principle youth initiative of the NAACP. It is a year-long enrichment and mentoring program that culminates in the competition where students compete for awards and scholarships totaling more than $100,000. It seeks to promote self-esteem, academic and artistic excellence and positive interaction between youth and the adult professional community.

In the five-year history of the Bloomington-Normal program, there have been 13 local gold medalists. There also have been two national bronze medalists and a national silver medalist.

Lavender Graduation Marks 'Tremendous Progress' by LGBT Students

Barb Dallinger (Photos by ISU)

Barb Dallinger, associate director of the Bone Student Center and former sponsor of the campus group Pride, told participants in the recent Illinois State University Lavender Graduation to “go out there and change the world."  It was ISU's first special ceremony devoted to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and allied graduates.

Art Munin, assistant vice president and dean of students, said the ceremony wasn't only for the graduates specifically honored but also for LGBTQ students who might feel alone on campus who will learns about Lavender Graduation and realize, “You do matter. You do belong. You are ISU.”

Graduating senior Katie Schuette of Grayslake, this year's president of the Pride student organization, said having the Lavender Graduation at ISU “shows the progress we've made.” Dallinger displayed pictures of former students who were members of Pride, including pictures of their weddings and their children.

“We have made tremendous progress,” she said. “But never forget our history.”

Dallinger noted the university junior in Watterson Towers who, in 1978, was jumped, tied to a chair, gagged, and locked in a room until a gay friend let her out four hours later. That junior was Dallinger, “and I didn't tell a soul until Pride Day in 1995."

Twenty-four students participated in the ceremony. They passed a rainbow pride flag, crossed a stage with balloons the color of the rainbow, and received a rainbow cord they can wear at the university graduation.

Graduate student Aric Faulkner, who helped lead the effort for a Lavender Graduation at ISU, said he was hoping for at least 10 participants, knowing that the nation's first Lavender Graduation — at the University of Michigan — had only three.

“I'm grateful for the opportunity to share this moment with other graduates,” said Faulkner, who will receive a master's degree in college student personnel administration. “Our voices are being heard.”

ISU President Larry Dietz said he was honored to congratulate the students "for your academic achievements, and to recognize your many contributions to the greater community, the campus community and the LGBT community."

Kelley: One Size Does Not Fit All Homeless

This winter, our community became very aware that not everyone has a safe, warm place to live. Cold temperatures and piles of snow reminded us daily that being outside is not ideal, even for short periods of time. There are some people in our community who live outside year round.

I want to encourage us, now that warmer temperatures are here, not to put the issues surrounding homelessness out of our minds and hearts completely. While living outside is not as dangerous now that the weather has moderated, it is certainly not ideal and can still be very dangerous.

We must work together for long-term solutions to the challenges that contribute to homelessness. It is important to remember that all people who are homeless are not the same, just as all people who live in homes are not the same. Because of this, we must treat each individual who is homeless as a human being with a story and a life and the right to be treated with dignity and respect. As we begin to look at the challenges around homelessness, let us come at them from a posture of love and care. Let us remember that solutions for one person may not be solutions for another person.

There are two shelters for people who are homeless in our community. Some of the people who are homeless are not allowed in either shelter due to their past mistakes. Some of the people who are homeless choose not to stay in a shelter for a variety of reasons. In other words, shelters do not work for everyone. It is time to consider other options. We must choose “housing first”. In order for a person to seek employment, get treatment for his/her mental health or addiction and begin to repair and have healthy relationships, that person must have a place to live.

As we seek solutions, I ask that you listen for the words “housing first”. When you hear them, consider supporting the ideas that are being explored.

People who are homeless are people, just like you and just like me. People who are homeless are our neighbors. Let us work to make all of our neighborhoods safe and welcoming to everyone…let us seek housing first.

Kelley Becker, associate minister, Bloomington First Christian Church

NIOT:B/N Gathers Input for School/Campus Strategies

During the McLean County Diversity Project's Annual Retreat at East Bay Camp this week, local students were working in groups identifying issues at their schools and proposing a "Not In Our School" (NIOS) plan/campaign for the fall.

Retired Bloomington educator and Not In Our Town: Bloomington/Normal leader Camille Taylor presented NIOT/NIOS concept and participated in a variety of exercises with students.

Meanwhile, Faye Freeman Smith, co-chair of NIOT:B/N's Education Committee, is spearheading a Not On Our Campus (NOOC) initiative for college-aged students to kick off in the fall. 

During Heartland Community College's Springfest earlier this week, NIOT manned a Pledge Card table along with a 10-question survey Freeman Smith designed to determine campus climate/issues for her to target as the NOOC focus.

Students, faculty, and staff stopped by the table and the LGBT Pride group had cards at their table, as well.

NIOT:B/N's Mary Aplington, Anne Libert, Jamillah Gilbert, Faye Freeman Smith, and Camille Taylor. Freeman Smith is seen here with Heartland mascot Hunter the Hawk.


 

Police Education Summit: Simulating the Streets

Here are some photos from last week's McLean County police departments' Education Summit aimed at simulating for the public how officers handle interactions on the street. The program, held at the Bloomington National Guard Armory, followed on the heels of a police-community forum and Coffee With A Cop get-together, all designed to address issues associated with recent law enforcement controversy in several cities. (Photos courtesy of the Bloomington Police Department)

NIOT:B/N to Lead Protest of Cab Sign

Not in Our Town: Bloomington/Normal is helping lead a protest against a standing display in front of Bloomington's Checker Cab that has carried political messages among other things conveying Mexican and Palestinian stereotypes.

NIOT:B/N is inviting area residents to join them from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday on the sidewalk in front of Checker Cab, 1513 S. Main in Bloomington, at the corner of Main and Lincoln. The sign, under the premise of what the owner purports to trust more than President Obama, has listed "Mexican tap water" and, currently, "a Palestinian on a motorcycle."

"Checker Cab in Bloomington has posted a racist sign for all to see," NIOT:B/N leader Marc Miller related. "We have tried to convince him to take it down, but his response is a wink-and-nod that the words are really inoffensive and misinterpreted, and besides he has free speech.

"The core principle of Not In Our Town is: Intolerant words should not go unchallenged. Declare 'I object to these words and the damage they cause. They have no place in our community. Bigotry should not go unchallenged. Silently tolerating bigotry is wrong. It has no place in our community. We improve our lives and our community when we refuse to tolerate bullying, hatred, and intolerance.'"

NIOT:B/N is supplying signs for protestors. The demonstration will be peaceful, and protestors will be instructed neither to block traffic nor the entrance to the business.

If the sign pictured here is removed during the protest, the protest will end. Come a few minutes ahead of noon -- off-street parking will be necessary.

Kerry: Laramie Project Opportunity to 'Remember, Discuss, and Learn'

One local mom has far more than merely a role in McLean County Diversity Project's upcoming production of The Laramie Project, an examination of the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard and how it mobilized Americans to fight bullying and for LGBT rights and protection.

For Kerry Urquizo, the production goes to her very heart and family's soul.

The play is scheduled at 7 p.m. May 19 and 20 at the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts. See flyer at right or visit www.artsblooming.org for details.

Shepard, 21, was a student at the University of Wyoming who was beaten, torture,d and left to die near Laramie, Wyoming on the night of October 6, 1998, and died six days later at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colo., on October 12, from severe head injuries.

Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were arrested shortly after the attack and charged with murder following Shepard's death. Significant media coverage was given to what role Shepard's sexual orientation played in the killing. During McKinney's pretrial and trial, testimony was given that the pair had pretended to be gay in order to gain Shepard's trust in order to rob him. McKinney's prosecutor argued the murder was premeditated and driven by greed, while McKinney's defense counsel argued that McKinney had only intended to rob Shepard, but had killed him in a rage when Shepard made a sexual advance. McKinney's girlfriend told police that he had been motivated by anti-gay sentiment, but later recanted her statement, saying that she had lied because she thought it would help him. Both McKinney and Henderson were convicted of the murder and each sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.

Shepard's murder brought national and international attention to hate crime legislation at the state and federal levels. In October 2009, the United States Congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (commonly the "Matthew Shepard Act" or "Shepard/Byrd Act" for short), and on October 28, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the legislation into law. Following her son's murder, Matthew's mother Judy Shepard became a prominent LGBT rights activist and established the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Shepard's death inspired notable films, novels, plays, songs, and other works.

                        Matthew Shepard

Urquizo, who helps operate a family-owned food truck in the Twin Cities, reflects on her memory of the Matthew Shepard tragedy and the impact it had for her as a mother:

There are moments in life that change us and define who we are. The moments can be both horrible and amazing but they still shape us. There have been some powerful moments in my life that have led me to this point - writing an article about how being a part of the Diversity Project’s production of the Laramie Project has changed my life.

The first moment that changed my life was in October 1998. I was in my dorm room watching the news. There were images of Matthew Shepard flashing across the screen. The ones of his parents - his beautiful mother - sobbing in disbelief. And then, there it was 'the fence.' The wooden fence with grass blowing in the wind at its base. I was shocked and changed by the brutality of it. I had never heard of anyone being tortured for being who they are. As I watched the news, I began to see that people were starting to have conversations about this tragedy in a meaningful way. It was a lesson I would never forget.

The next moment that really defined me was when my son came out to me. He was only 12 and he knew. He told me he wanted to tell me because he didn’t want another minute of his life to go by without me knowing who he was. I was so proud of him. He had figured out who he was at such a young age and felt comfortable enough to tell me. Although I was so ecstatic that he could share who he was with myself, my husband, and other children without judgment, I was also extremely scared. The image of the wooden fence flashed in my head. I was terrified he would be harmed because he was gay. I knew that there were people out there that still didn’t accept others and didn’t want to be a part of the conversation. Every day since he came out, I have worried that something could happen to him.

The last moment that brought me here is the day I took my son to audition for the Laramie Project. He is a three-year veteran Diversity Project scholar. I was waiting in the hallway for him to get his chance to audition. At one point, Tricia, the director, asked me to come in and read a few lines. The last play I had been in was over 15 years ago.

Kerry Urquizo

I am a busy woman with a food truck, full-time job and three kids to manage. But, I did it, thinking there was no way they would hear me read and actually give me a part. Well, I was cast. Going to practices with my son, I met fantastic people from the cast who had open conversations about why we are doing with this play. It helped me to feel less worried that something would happen to my son. I saw that telling this most important story would help others learn that we as people cannot repeat this hatred towards each other. I started to hope that people would start to have the images of the fence in their heads and continue the conversation.

I know that I cannot protect my son from the harm of others - but I can teach him to remember those who spoke out before him to make it easier to be a gay man in the U.S. Also, he can be a part of events like the Laramie Project to help people remember, discuss, and learn.

As Maya Angelou said, “To know better is to do better.”

Kerry Urquizo

ISU President, NAACP Address Racially Charged Post Head-On

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ISU President Larry Dietz has taken swift action to address the above Twitter post submitted following this week's events in Baltimore.

In the wake of the controversies surrounding the Freddy Gray case, protests regarding the case, and both peaceful protests and early turmoil in the streets of Baltimore, Illinois State University President Larry Dietz and the campus' NAACP responded swiftly to an inflammatory Twitter posting.

Here, in an open letter Friday, Dietz outlined steps taken, plans to publicly address concerns, and ISU's basic "not on our campus" commitment:

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

This afternoon, I met with student leaders from the Illinois State University chapter of the NAACP.  The organization is planning a rally that begins at noon Friday, May 1, at Schroeder Plaza.  I encourage you to attend.

The idea for the rally was sparked by a racially charged Twitter posting.  Although the posting has been removed, and the Twitter account has no connection to the University, it does have the letters ISU associated with the account. 

This small-minded posting may have prompted our students to take action, but we all know it is another example of abusive, intolerant and often racist opinions and actions happening across the country.

As unsettling as it is to read headlines in the national press, it is even more troublesome when incidents occur in your own backyard.  The students I spoke to today told me that examples of this type of hostility can be found on our campus and in our community.

The United States Constitution protects our right of free speech, but it also enables cowards to hide behind anonymous social media handles and distribute vile and often racist content. It is not nearly enough to dismiss these individuals as fools or bigots - we must continue to speak out, and act to condemn and stop such behavior. I applaud our student leaders for taking action.

Diversity is one of Illinois State's five core values under the University's strategic plan, Educating Illinois. 

The value states:

Illinois State University affirms and encourages community and a respect for differences by fostering an inclusive environment characterized by cultural understanding, ethical behavior, and social justice. The University supports a diverse faculty and staff who mentor a diverse student population. The University endeavors to provide opportunities for all students, staff, and faculty to participate in a global society.

Those of you who know me or have heard me speak understand how strongly I feel about Illinois State's core values.  To those who cannot or will not respect these values, I invite you to follow your pursuits elsewhere.

To everyone else, I urge you to continue to speak out against intolerance whenever and wherever you find it.  A good place to start is Friday at noon at Schroeder Plaza.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Larry H. Dietz

President  

Campbell Grabill-Homan Peace Price Winner

Mary Campbell has been named this year's recipient of the Grabill-Homan Community Peace Prize.

Campbell is a social work professor emerita and co-founder of Labyrinth Outreach Services to Women, which helps women released from jail or prison.

The prize is awarded by the Illinois State University Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies Program for achievements in peacemaking, leadership, initiative, activism, and inspiration within the Bloomington-Normal community.

Throughout her more than 30 years of teaching, she exposed students issues of poverty, homelessness and social justice. She has continued working on those issues individually and through various organizations.

In addition to helping to found Labyrinth, she is a co-director of its board. Labyrinth assists the women in finding housing, education, job training and family support services.

Campbell is also involved with Friends Forever, which has brought Muslim and Jewish youths from Israel to this area to live together as part of an ongoing international program to improve cultural understanding.

Environmental projects in which she has been involved include volunteering at Sugar Grove Nature Center and helping establish the M.J. Rhymer Nature Preserve.

The peace prize is named for ISU emeritus history professors Joseph Grabill and Gerlof Homan, who helped establish ISU's Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies Program.

Campbell received a plaque on Monday and a $250 donation to the Mary Campbell Fund at ISU, which helps students with travel expenses for attending conferences.

ACLU/Prairie Pride Hosting Talk on Marriage Equality Case

The Central Illinois Chapter of the ACLU of Illinois and the Prairie Pride Coalition would like to invite you to a discussion on the Supreme Court's marriage equality case at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Normal Public Library Community Room, at 206 West College Ave.

The event will take place one day after the Supreme Court hears arguments on same-sex marriage as a constitutional right for couples across the country.

Sara Benson from the University of Illinois School of Law and ACLU of Illinois Communications and Public Policy Director Ed Yohnka will discuss their reactions to the hearing and share their predictions for the ruling on the case when it comes down.
 
The event is free and open to the public.

As of now, gay marriage is legal in 36 states. By the end of this Supreme Court term, either same-sex couples will be able to wed in all 50 states, or gay marriage bans may be reinstituted in many of the states where they've previously been struck down.

Tuesday's Supreme Court arguments focus on two questions: First, whether bans on gay marriage are constitutional; and second, if they are, whether those states with bans may refuse to recognize out-of-state gay marriages performed where they are legal.

The court has scheduled 2 1/2 hours of argument and will make the audio available online late Tuesday.

Four states — Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee and Kentucky — are defending their bans. They won their case in the lower court, and because other appeals courts threw out bans enacted in other states, the Supreme Court now must resolve the conflict.

The high-stakes legal battle is the culmination of a decades-long struggle in the courts, state legislatures and at the ballot box. During that time, public opinion has changed, and done so more rapidly — and dramatically — than on any major social issue in memory.

In 1996, public opinion polls showed, on average, only 27 percent of the public favored legalization; this year, although many states still adamantly resist gay marriage, public opinion polls put the approval number nationally at well over 50 percent.

Tuesday's courtroom battle pits states' rights against the fundamental right to marry; it pits the traditional definition of marriage against a more modern definition; and it pits majority rights against minority rights.

Before the court are the consolidated cases of 12 couples and two widowers. Among them are nurses, teachers, veterinarians, an Army sergeant and businessmen and women.

NIOT:BN Leaders Recognized For Life, Community Transformations

Twenty-six McLean County residents graduate from a program training them to be leaders, McLean County YWCA CEO D. Dontae Latson discuss his transformation from a 10-year-old boy with an arrest record, and Latson's Not In Our Town: Bloomington/Normal steering committee colleague, Bloomington Alderman Karen Schmidt was honored at Saturday's graduation ceremony for the Multicultural Leadership Program.

The "Celebrate Community"-themed event, at Illinois State University's Bone Student Center Brown Ballroom, featured Larson's keystone address and Schmidt's receiving MCLP's annual community service award.

MCLP began in 2009 with a goal of developing leaders who value diversity in decisionmaking at home, at work, and in the community.

Each year's participants are split into teams that assist a nonprofit group with a six-month project.

This year's nonprofits and projects included:

• Challenger Learning Center — enhance fundraising to support programs for area school children
•  
• Community Health Care Clinic — help with a dental care feasibility study and a five-year budget
•  
• Immanuel Health Center — increase name recognition
•  
• Meadows at Mercy Creek — recommend a staff development plan
•  
• Prairie Pride Coalition — redefine goals and outreach effort.

Latson grew up in a suburb of Washington, D.C., and watched the crack cocaine epidemic ramp up violence in his neighborhood.

In one year, he lost his brother and eight friends to violence.

Schmidt was recognized for her council service, local initiatives, and leadership. Below, listen to her acceptance speech.

El Dia de los Ninos Celebrates Books

Bloomington Public Library Saturday celebrated the magic of books and the wonders of bilingual education during Saturday's 8th Annual El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros celebration.

Guests enjoyed the magic of Jesus Rios and musical entertainment by Mike Anderson on the library patio. Children also enjoyed crafts, face painting by the Zoo Lady, visits with Dora the Explorer and other mascots, popcorn, and community services displays.

Each child received a goodie bag including a free book.

The Bloomington library in recent years has hosted bilingual story times and other events to highlight the benefit of dual Spanish and English language skills.

Here's a sample of the library's bilingual favorites:

Gossie, by Olivier Dunrea -- Gossie is a gosling who likes to wear bright red boots every day, no matter what she is doing, and so she is heartbroken the day the boots are missing and she can't find them anywhere.

Cool Salsa, by Lori Carlson and Oscar Hijuelos -- Poems celebrating Hispanic culture are the focus of this collection. Liberal sprinkling of Spanish words and phrases with some poems translated from one language to another make this an ideal anthology for both the English class and the bilingual ESL classroom. Topics for poems extend from hot dogs to learning English to the revolution in Nicaragua. What all of the selections have in common is the adolescent experience at the core of the poem.

Maximilian and The Mystery of the Guardian Angel, by Xavier Garza -- Eleven-year-old Maximilian, a big fan of the form of wrestling known as lucha libre, begins to suspect that he has a close connection with his favorite luchador, El Angel de La Guardia, the Guardian Angel.

Tractores Agricolas, by Matt Doeden -- Simple text and photographs describe farm tractors, their parts, and what they do--in both English and Spanish.

NIOT:B/N Uncovers New Pledges at 'Hide and Seek'

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

Not In Our Town: Bloomington/Normal "Not In Our Town" anti-bigotry/anti-bullying pledges at the program, at Hallelujah Worship Center 1105 E Oakland Ave., Bloomington.

The presentation featured 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's Schmidt MCLP Award Recipent

You can often find this year’s MCLP Community Service Award recipient pedaling a bicycle around low-income neighborhoods, laden with an overflowing book box.

That determined and personal effort exemplifies Karen Schmidt, who has helped initiate and maintain numerous community projects — including the Book Bike Program that brings free books into the homes of local residents. Karen gives her voice, time, leadership, and financial support to a myriad of causes — locally and on a state and national level.

Karen serves as alderman and Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Bloomington. Professionally, as Illinois Wesleyan University Librarian, Karen is active in state and national library associations, strengthening campus ties between technology and library services. She also connects IWU students to service learning opportunities that benefit the local community, especially the older Bloomington west side and downtown.

Karen is a board member of the Downtown Bloomington Association and a founding member of the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation’s Women to Women Giving Circle. She coordinated a series of grassroot workshops on “Making Neighborhoods Work” in the City of Bloomington, and helped found the West Bloomington Revitalization Project (WBRP). She was instrumental in bringing together the police department and city churches to form the Moving Forward initiative, helping young people improve their chances for success, and is a board member of the Not In Our Town B/N initiative. Karen and her husband, John Elterich, established the Elterich Family Scholarship within the Pratt Music Foundation, giving music opportunities to lower-income youth.

In her family, her neighborhood, and her ward, Karen has personally experienced the challenges and opportunities that confront diverse populations, and spoken out for social justice across all sections of our community. Karen has been a long time supporter of MCLP—as a mentor, speaker, and financial contributor. Her life’s work exemplifies the very definition of a servant leader.

McLean County YWCA President D. Dontae Larson,  who also serves on NIOT: B/N's steering committee with Schmidt, is keynote speaker for April 25's Class of 2015 Graduation Celebration, where Karen Schmidt will receive the MCLP Community Service Award.

Labyrinth to Present 'Clean Slate' as Opportunity for Formerly Incarcerated

Labyrinth Outreach Services to Women will be showcasing its natural cleaning product microbusiness idea "Clean Slate" as an employment option for formerly incarcerated women in our community at the Community Innovation Fair, from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday in Bloomington’s Friendship Park Neighborhood Area.

The fair will bring together local residents, community stakeholders, investors, and nonprofit organizations for a showcase of new ideas as well as entertainment for the whole family.

Labyrinth is a grassroots non-profit serving women transitioning from prison into the community or residents with involvement in the legal system.

It provides counseling, case management/referrals, prison visits, mentoring, and outreach services to these women.

Conexiones Latinas Helping Launch Ballet Folklorico

Conexiones Latinas de McLean County is launching a new endeavor, Ballet Folklorico de Central Illinois, an attempt to showcase the art and culture of the Latino community.

The original Ballet Folklórico de México is a Mexican ensemble in Mexico City. For six decades, it has presented dances in costumes that reflect the traditional culture of Mexico.

The ensemble also has appeared under the name Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández.

That ballet's works and musical pieces reflect various regions and folk music genres of Mexico. Many of the ensemble's works reflect the traditions of indigenous Mesoamerican culture.

Numbers of performers in individual dance numbers range from two to more than thirty-five.

Under Hernández, the group was a pioneer of Baile Folklórico in Mexico. Similar groups have formed in the U.S.

Take Back the Night Caps Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Join YWCA McLean County's Stepping Stones in raising awareness and demanding an end to sexual violence.

Take Back the Night is a powerful way to show that all people should feel safe when walking alone at night.

The nighttime walk -- designed to emphasize the need for safety and security on Twin Cities streets -- is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. April 28 beginning at McLean County Museum of History at 200 North Main in Bloomington.

Meanwhile, here are some stats on sexual assault and violence to consider.