Previous Working Groups
Brain children of past members; these working groups are no longer actively
a part of PN but we commemorate their work here.
a part of PN but we commemorate their work here.
PN's staged a concert in the streets of downtown Champaign with the triple mission of celebrating the community's diversity, demonstrating how people make our cities' spaces both beautiful and meaningful, and standing for the idea that a welcoming community makes for a better community. Almost 5 months of planning and organizing, partnerships with 6 community and university organizations, and the work of over 50 individuals produced an incredible event that saw the celebration of the music of C-U's immigrant and minority communities. This event was held during the fall of 2017 during C-U's Park(ing) Day.
Click here to read more about this organizing effort. |
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Photo retrieved from PN Newsletter 2015 Vol 2.
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In the 2011, the City of Champaign approved a plan to demolish this low-income neighborhood and redevelop it under eminent domain. During the 2014 and 2015 academic year, residents were in the process of being forced to move, and PN focused student engagement efforts that semester towards supporting mobility choices of current residents by better understanding the supply of affordable housing in Champaign and Urbana.
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After briefly stopping a new local jail being built in 2013 (a decision that was reversed the following summer), PN worked to continue to help monitor the population demographics in the existing two jails as a way to hold the County Board accountable to their social service budgetary decisions. They provided monthly snapshots of the current jail population including race, gender and charges to the Champaign County Board. Concerns surrounded racial inequity in jailed population, lack of mental health provision, comprehensive pretrial services, and militarization of police (new MRAP tank). Student engagement involved attending Champaign County Board meetings, volunteer group meetings, and any research/action items assigned as part of that involvement.
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Photos retrieved from PN Newsletter 2015 Vol 3.
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