The decades-long friendship that started in Urbana’s first integrated elementary class
In the 1960’s, a group of parents convinced Urbana to desegregate its elementary schools. Two students from that first class are still friends today.
Tag: history
New executive director outlines her vision for Urbana Free Library
Taliah Abdullah was appointed to the position in July. She said the library has been updating its Champaign County Historical Archives since last year.
How northern Illinois teachers are bringing indigenous stories into their classrooms for the first time
This past school year, for the first time, Illinois schools were required to teach a unit on the experience and history of Native people in the state.
Japan House celebrates long history
In 1964, Margaret Erlinger, the head of dance at the University of Illinois, was visiting Japan. There, she saw a man named Shozo Sato perform Kabuki and was enamored. After talking with Sato, Erlinger asked him if he’d want to come teach at the University of Illinois, and he said yes. Sato’s teachings at the university led
Illinois Bill Requiring Asian American History Education to Address Hate, Discrimination
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois could become the first state to require public schools to teach the history of Asian Americans, a community that reported an increase in anti-Asian hate incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History, or TEAACH Act, would require Illinois K-12 public schools to teach a unit of Asian