Krannert Center Uncorked with Nadirah Shakoor

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL

Presented in collaboration with Illinois Soul 101.1 FM in celebration of Black History Month. The recipient of a Grammy nomination, an MTV Video Award, the 2005 Artist for a Better World award, and the 2006 Spirit of Youth award, Nadirah Shakoor is best known as the former lead female vocalist of acclaimed hip hop group

Interseminars | Kameelah Janan Rasheed

Levis Faculty Center 919 W. Illinois St., Room 300, Urbana, IL

Kameelah Janan Rasheed (artist, educator, and writer, Cooper Union) will present an artist talk. This event is part of the Interseminars series for "Improvise and Intervene," supported by the Mellon Foundation. About the Speaker A learner, Kameelah Janan Rasheed (she/they), grapples with the poetics-pleasures-politics of Black knowledge production, information technologies, learning, and belief formation. They are a recipient of a 2022

Panel: “‘Rich and Talented and Black and Troubled’: Black Professional Athletes and the Black Freedom Struggle”

Levis Faculty Center 919 W. Illinois St., Room 300, Urbana, IL

Theresa Runstedtler (American Studies, American University) will be presenting, with Daniel Gilbert (Labor and Employment Relations, History) commenting. Part of the symposium Sporting Publics: History, Sports, and American Culture, which is taking place March 28–29, 2024. About the Speaker Theresa Runstedtler, PhD is an award-winning scholar of African American history whose research focuses on the intersection of race, masculinity,

Sporting Publics Symposium | Panel with Louis Moore, Daniel Nasset

Levis Faculty Center 919 W. Illinois St., Room 300, Urbana, IL

Professor Louis Moore will speak about his book I Fight for a Living: Boxing and the Battle for Black Manhood, 1880-1915 (University of Illinois Press, 2017). Respondent Daniel Nasset (Editor-in-Chief, University of Illinois Press) will share the editor's perspective on turning one's idea into a book that speaks to sporting publics. Part of the symposium Sporting Publics: History, Sports, and American

Sporting Publics Symposium | Conversation with Shakeia Taylor

Levis Faculty Center 919 W. Illinois St., Room 300, Urbana, IL

Shakeia Taylor is a Chicago-based award-winning writer and storyteller, whose work focuses on the intersection of sports, history, and culture. She is currently a Deputy Senior Content Editor at the Chicago Tribune, host of the Society for American Baseball Research’s (SABR) monthly interview series “Ballpark Figures,” and a member of the Negro Leagues and Teams Committee, a

MLK March for Peace

King Park 915 W. Wascher Dr., Urbana, IL

The Urbana Park District is hosting the Martin Luther King Day Peace March on April 4, from 5:30 to 7pm. The march takes place on the 56th anniversary of the civil rights leader’s assassination. Originally scheduled for January 15th (King’s birthday), the event was postponed due to weather. The Peace March will now be on

Nurtured in Nature in Spring! Homer Lake

Salt Fork Center, Homer Lake 1229 Flicker Drive, Homer, IL

A nature-based community building event for BIPOC community members of Champaign County! Join us for a community, nature-based community wellness event intentionally for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) community members of Champaign County. Organized by the Nurtured in Nature team of Healthy Champaign County and led by Chicago-based non profit BPO Hikes guiding BIPOC community members

Crafty Adults | Black Out Poetry

Champaign Public Library - Main Library 200 W. Green St., Champaign, IL

The Rare Book and Manuscript Library will be at the library to discuss blackout poetry and the Gwendolyn Brooks poetry collection. You'll then be able to try your own blackout poetry with upcycled book pages! Registration opens April 1 at 9:00 am (closes April 9). Registration is required. These workshops are very popular and "sell

A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham Presents Repertory Works

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL

MacArthur "Genius" award-winner Kyle Abraham brings his unique choreography and internationally renowned dance company, A.I.M, to perform a repertory of new and exciting works for Urbana Champaign audiences. Considered “one of the most consistently excellent troupes working today” (The New York Times), A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham provides multifaceted performances, educational programming, and community-based workshops across

Joy is Our Superpower: Healing and Therapy with Communities of Color

Zoom

Dr. Hector Adames and Dr. Nayeli Chavez-Dueñas will be presenting a public Zoom lecture titled, Joy is Our Superpower: Healing and Therapy with Communities of Color. This is part of a larger Society of Counseling Psychology initiative on Justice & Joy: Transforming Healing Praxis. This hybrid event will be held at BNAACC and on Zoom

OPEN MIKE EAGLE w/ $imba P & A$AVV

Canopy Club 708 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL

9pm doors / 10pm show w/ $imba P & A$AVV Purchase tickets here: https://canopyclub.com/event/open-mike-eagle/red-room/ Humor can conceal and alleviate the pain of trauma, but no joke will erase it. Even Wu-Tang Clan told you that tears come after laughter. Relief comes only from opening every emotional and psychological wound. Open Mike Eagle spent the 2010s finding comedy in rap

Urbana Poet Laureate Celebration

Spurlock Museum 600 S. Gregory, Urbana, IL

This year, the 2024 Poet Laureate is none other than one of the Black Joy Project curators, Ruby Mendenhall, and the Spurlock Museum is proud to host a poetry-writing workshop in her honor. Learn what inspires Ruby to express herself creatively and hear from her mentors. Then, discover what inspires you! Workshop attendees will enjoy: Hearing

Juneteenth 2024: Reflections and Reverence Ceremony

Urbana City Hall 400 S. Vine St., Urbana, IL

The City of Urbana Office of Human Rights and Equity and the Juneteenth 2024 Committee enthusiastically announce an event in honor of the Juneteenth holiday! The event, “Juneteenth 2024: Reflections and Reverence Ceremony,” occurs at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 14, 2024, at Urbana City Hall. This public event will feature a very special program

MTD’s Juneteenth Block Party

Illinois Terminal 45 E. University Ave., Champaign, IL

Please join MTD for a Juneteenth Block Party on Friday, June 14, from 4:30pm to 7:30pm in the parking lot of Illinois Terminal in downtown Champaign. Black history is American history and MTD invites the entire community to join us for this family-friendly event that celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. MTD and our

Juneteenth Emancipation Day Celebration (Champaign Park District)

Douglass Park 804 N. Fifth Street, Champaign, IL

Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration commemorating the abolition of slavery in the United States, is one event you don’t want to miss. At Douglass Park, enjoy music and visit different vendors while learning about this important holiday. Children can make arts and crafts, play on the bounce house and obstacle course, or get soaked in

Pre-Juneteenth Celebration at Neil St. Blues

Neil St. Blues 301 N Neil St, Champaign, IL

Pre-Juneteenth Celebration at Neil St. Blues! Join us for an unforgettable night of music, food, and celebration as we kick off Juneteenth festivities early!  Date: Saturday, June 15, 2024 Time: 10:00 PM Location: Neil St. Blues, 301 N. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820 We're bringing you the best vibes curated by the one and only Greg 2

Juneteenth Celebration (Urbana Park District)

Crystal Lake 206 W. Park St., Urbana, IL

All welcome to celebrate! Join Urbana Park District and The Urbana Free Library for a family friendly Juneteenth celebration at the Lake House in Crystal Lake Park! Enjoy music, food and refreshments, fishing, UrVANa Mobile Recreation Unit games and activities, community resources, and more as we celebrate Black freedom and achievements in Urbana and beyond.