True to Oneself

Sports

J.C. Caroline, now 78, returned to Champaign shortly after his 10-year career ended with the Chicago Bears in 1965. He was an assistant coach for the Fighting Illini for 10 years, taught physical education at Urbana High School, where he also served as head football coach for four seasons. In addition, he sold real estate.

----

J.C. Caroline makes it very plain and simple about the way he has approached life.

“I’m going to be me and people will have to accept me the way I am,’’ says the former standout running back/defensive back for Illinois. “I’m not going to change me to pacify you. I have no problems adapting to rules and regulations in your environment, but I’m not going to change who I am. If I did, I would be a phony and not the true me. And I have learned to accept people the same way.’’

Caroline, now 78, returned to Champaign shortly after his 10-year career ended with the Chicago Bears in 1965. He was an assistant coach for the Fighting Illini for 10 years, taught physical education at Urbana High School, where he also served as head football coach for four seasons. In addition, he sold real estate.

His wife, Laverne, passed away two years ago, but he still lives in the same home he purchased as a real estate agent and his two daughters along with his grandchildren live nearby.

Caroline was never one to buck the system, tracing his ability to follow rules and regulations back to his days as a youngster in segregated Columbia. S.C.

“It really wasn’t very rough because we were brought up as law-abiding citizens,’’ he says. “When you rode the bus, you went in the front door and sat in the back. Even if the front of the bus wasn’t full, we (the African-Americans) had to sit in the back, which became pretty crowded at times. If it was too crowded, we were allowed to sit one seat in front of the back door.

“The restaurants we went to were either black-owned or black-operated. Many of the cooks and waiters were black at the white restaurants, but black people couldn’t go in there and sit down. We could pull up to a drive-up window if they had one, however.’’

When Caroline started high school, there was only one black high school, Booker T. Washington, in Columbia. Those who elected to pursue a college degree usually chose between Allen College and Benedict College, which were located across the street from each other.

“Some of the kids were coming from five miles away to attend school because they didn’t have a black school out in the country,’’ he says. “But it was up to the parents to find them a way to get to school. And we didn’t have a football field or track at our school, so we went to one of the college stadiums if there was an opening in their schedules.’’

Caroline played three sports — football, basketball and track — at Booker T. Washington. Although there was one bus for the football team, the other sports had to rely on two station wagons to get to events, often piling as many as 10 people into each vehicle.

He claims his best sport was track, where he did sprints, the long jump, high jump, discus and shot put. He was undefeated in the 440 meters during his prep career.

“You just did what the coach told you to do and if you weren’t familiar with the event, you learned through trial and error,’’ he says. “Discus wasn’t exactly my top priority, but I wound up winning an invitational in North Carolina one time.

“But the 440 was my specialty. Our coach (John McHugh) prepared us for endurance. There were many times when I was five or 10 yards behind the lead runners going into the final half of the race, but I was able to take them because I had that endurance and I knew how to make the adjustments.’’

Caroline was invited to run at the fabled Penn Relays. However, he told McHugh he wasn’t going up there by himself.

“I was this country boy and I didn’t know anything about anything,’’ he says. “The furthest from home I had ever been was North Carolina and I was not going up to the Penn Relays by myself.’’

So McHugh entered relay teams in both the 440 and mile. His squad easily won the 440 and also won the mile, but was disqualified in the latter event.

“I was changed from anchor to leadoff for the mile relay because my coach wanted us to get off to a good start,’’ Caroline says. “We won the race, but we didn’t have the baton. Someone had knocked it out of my hand and I couldn’t find it. I was 10 yards behind everyone, so I just took off and touched my teammate’s hand. At least we let people know we could run.’’

Word of Caroline’s exploits on both the football field and track soon traveled to a white man, who owned a grocery store in the neighborhood around Booker T. Washington. The grocery store owner had a couple of his customers bring Caroline in for a visit.

“From what he had heard, he told me he thought I could play football in the Big Ten,’’ Caroline says. “He told me about Buddy Young having a great career at the University of Illinois and how black players were finding a place in the Big Ten. I had always figured I would go play football at a black school in North Carolina, so I let him contact the people at Illinois.’’

With no game film at Booker T. Washington, Caroline had to borrow film from C.A. Johnson High School, which opened in Columbia during his junior year. Illinois coach Ray Eliot and his staff liked what they saw and Caroline headed up to Champaign for his freshman year in 1952.

“Most black people figured Champaign was just a suburb of Chicago, so I took the train ride up to Chicago,’’ he says. “Then I had to take a bus to Champaign, where someone met me in a station wagon. That was a real learning experience.

“I really didn’t know what to expect at this white university. Including myself, there were five black players on the team. All I knew was I was part of a changing era.’’

After playing quarterback and defensive back on the freshman team, Caroline was moved to running back at the start of his sophomore season. And he debuted in a big way as 1953 turned out to be a banner year for both him and the Fighting Illini.

With Caroline leading the nation with 1,256 yards rushing, the Illini posted a 7-1-1 record. He was named All-American and finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting. He rushed for 192 yards in a 41-20 victory over Ohio State, which featured Hall of Famer Hopalong Cassaday, and 205 yards against Minnesota.

“I lost at least another 40 yards that day against those big bad boys from Ohio State because of penalties,’’ he says. “But those penalties didn’t bother me because the players who were getting penalized were getting off the ground and trying to throw additional blocks, even if some of them were a little late.

“I probably wasn’t as impressed with what I had done as I should have been. But I was a two-way player and this was just a way of life for me.’’

Illinois, which was ranked No. 7 in the nation, and No. 3 Michigan State, never met on the football field that season, so they shared the Big Ten title at 5-1. After a long voting process on the final day of the season, the Spartans were sent to the Rose Bowl.

Four games into his junior season, Caroline, who became known as “Mr. Zoom,’’ was off to another blazing start, rushing for 440 yards. However, his season and Illinois career came to an end while making a tackle on defense.

“I hit a guy real hard, knocking him out of bounds, and I came down on my left elbow,’’ he says. “I tore the deltoid and it has since atrophied to the point I can no longer hold my left hand above my head. The nerves in my shoulder were so damaged that I had to learn how to sling my arm in order to get it above my head.’’

Upon returning to Columbia, that same grocery store owner told Caroline about opportunities for black football players in Canada. Rather than return to Illinois for his senior year and wait until he was eligible for the NFL draft in 1956, he could spend a year playing ball in Canada and earn money.

“The big problem at Illinois came when the season ended,’’ says Caroline, who lived with other black student-athletes in old Army barracks cross from the stadium. “We could get all the food we wanted at the stadium during the season. But once the season was over, the stadium was closed and we didn’t have a stove or refrigerator in the barracks.

“Some black cooks and waiters at a hotel in Champaign had adopted me when I first arrived there and I could go there to get food. But I often had to walk in the rain and snow. And if I wanted a ride back to the barracks, I had to wait for someone to get off work.

“Some of the players had joined black fraternities in order to get food, but when I visited the fraternities they talked about ‘whupping’ kids,’’ he added. “Now I’m a southern boy and you just don’t whup me. Only my mother and father can do that. People in high school could give me a detention, but nobody but my mother or father could hit me.’’

So Caroline was flown to Montreal on a private plane and he signed with the Alouettes.

“I had a pretty good year and actually thought about making a living up there because they were offering me $5,000-10,000 more than the Chicago Bears would eventually offer me,’’ he says. “The people treated me with dignity and respect and there wasn’t any segregation. I had learned some French in high school and got along very well, but I was very close to my family and needed to return to the States.’’

Caroline finished up his degree in physical education at Florida A&M because as a professional he was no longer eligible for a scholarship. In Florida, he could live with friends and it would take him only one semester to complete his studies rather than one year at Illinois.

Chicago selected Caroline, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980, in the sixth round in the 1956 NFL draft. He spent the next 10 years, the last seven as a defensive back only, with the Bears and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1957.

“I had a great experience with the Bears,’’ he says. “People always think of (owner/head coach) George Halas as being rough and tough, but he would always help you if you needed it financially. Now he was going to take that out of your contract, but he was always there for you in the offseason. All you had to do was call him and he would wire the money to you within a couple of hours. He didn’t care what color you were.’’

Caroline’s first pass interception as a pro was also the first pass rookie quarterback Johnny Unitas threw in his career for the Baltimore Colts. Unitas had just been put in the game due to an injury and Caroline returned the ball over 50 yards for a touchdown.

“Quarterbacks didn’t know if I was in man or zone coverage,’’ he says. “A receiver might look open, but I had quick reaction and speed to get to the same spot.’’ Caroline had six interceptions in his rookie year and 24 for his career.

Caroline still remembers fondly a Columbia homecoming parade held in his honor right before he went into the NFL.

“Here I was riding down Main Street in a convertible and the police escort was stopping traffic along the way,’’ he says. “People were standing there on the street looking at this black guy getting this treatment. A couple of white guys came up to get my autograph, but they got pushed away. I never had any great expectations, but I wound up getting a great education and I had the chance to play at some high levels of football along the way.’’

“However, Minnesota didn’t want to do the right thing (financially),’’ Bell says. “Then Lamar Hunt selected me in the seventh round of the American Football League draft.’’

Hunt owned the Dallas Texans and had started the American Football League, considered by many to be inferior to the NFL. Bell surprised everyone by signing with Hunt.

“Best thing that ever happened to me,’’ Bell says. “I never made it to Dallas because they moved the franchise to Kansas City (in 1963). I think if it hadn’t been for Lamar starting the AFL, the NFL wouldn’t be what it is today. He gave the opportunity for blacks to play football when the NFL wouldn’t give many of us a chance to play. There weren’t any black middle linebackers in the NFL like Willie Lanier and they said a black quarterback couldn’t win the big game, yet Sandy Stephens led us to the national championship, won the Rose Bowl and was the game’s MVP.

“Lamar didn’t care and reached out to the black schools like Grambling, Prairie View and Morgan State. On the Chiefs, we had guys like Lanier (Morgan State), Buck Buchanan (Grambling) and Emmitt Thomas (Bishop College), and they all made it to the NFL Hall of Fame.’’

In Kansas City, Bell would play for the late Hank Stram, who introduced Bell during the 1983 Hall of Fame ceremonies and would later be inducted himself in 2003. Bell’s versatility again came into play as Stram placed him at left linebacker in his “stack’’ defense. Because he lined up over the tight end, he rarely blitzed yet still ended up with 40 career quarterback sacks to go along with 26 interceptions and nine touchdowns, six coming off interceptions and two on fumble recoveries.

Like he had done in college, Bell didn’t give it a second thought when he was told to switch positions.

“I just wanted to play; I didn’t care where they put me,’’ he says. “It went back to the same old thing — I’m coachable.’’

Stram would say of Bell, “He could play all 22 positions on the field, and play them well.’’

“Stram was a lot like coach Warmath,’’ Bell says. “He loved to win and didn’t care if you were white, black or green. He just cared if you could play football and he wanted his best players on the field.
“To the day he passed away, he would always call his players. Whenever he came to an event, we would eat together and I would look out for him. I still call his wife and kids. That’s the kind of relationship I had with him and coach Warmath. I would play for either of them in a heartbeat and enjoy every moment.’’

In 1966, Kansas City lost to Green Bay in the first AFL-NFL Championship, now known as Super Bowl I. Three years later, the Chiefs defeated Minnesota in Super Bowl IV.

“Just think, if I had gone there (to Minnesota) I would never have won a Super Bowl,’’ Bell says with a laugh. “There aren’t many players, maybe 64, who can say they played in the first Super Bowl. Who would have thought it was going to grow into what it is now today?

“I’m sitting there in the stadium at that first Super Bowl thinking, ‘Who’s going to pay $7.50 to $12 for a ticket to this thing. That first game wasn’t even a sellout. The tickets went for $15 to Super Bowl IV and it was a sellout. Now you can’t get a ticket for less than a thousand bucks. Our first press conference was held at a swimming pool and everyone was sitting around wearing shorts. Now the press conferences are some of the big events leading up to the Super Bowl.’’

After his retirement in 1974, Bell opened three Bobby Bell’s Bar-b-ques in Kansas City. He went back to Red Bridges for some recipe advice. The restaurants turned into a big success and Steve Sabol of NFL Films even did a feature on Bell while he was working at one of the restaurants.

“They showed that clip during halftime of the Super Bowl,’’ Bell says. “It would have cost me $300,000 to get that kind of advertisement. All of a sudden, I would be walking through an airport in Chicago and people wanted to talk to me about my rib place and they didn’t want to know anything about football.’’

Bell, now 69 and the father of three children and five grandchildren, held onto the restaurants until he was 50 or 51. That was when he decided there was more to life than working 80-90 hours a week.

“Buck Buchanan died at 51 and (defensive lineman) Jerry Mays died at 54,’’ he says. “That’s too young. I said I needed to enjoy life a little, so I sold the restaurants and am now playing golf and doing speaking engagements.’’

Bell, who has been the grand marshal at two homecomings for his alma mater, tries to return to Minnesota two or three times a year for home football games. He and Warmath, now 96, were the honorary captains for the coin flip at the inaugural game of TCF Bank Stadium this past fall.
“I talk to coach Warmath all the time and I see him every time I go back to Minnesota,’’ Bell says. “I would go to war with that guy. He stuck with us (black players).

“I saw his daughter at a recent book signing. I hadn’t seen her since she was a little girl. We must have hugged four or five times. That’s how much that family means to me.’’

Larry Watts

http://www.bigten.org/genrel/020410aaa.html

February 4, 2010

Church links

http://netministries.org/see/churches/ch2844.html
Updates of the prayer service and Church services.

http://www.emptytomb.tv/Mar2003CFFD.html
Videos of the opens forums and meal services in the community.


http://www.emptytomb.tv/sparksflydiscussion1.html
Discussion questions dealing with the Part one ofr Sargent Communities.


and other clips...

Liberacion Radio Collective: The Nexus of Global and Local Politics, Art and Struggle

Community Media

Radio Liberacíon airs every second Sunday of the month, 10am-11am on WEFT FM 90.1 Champaign, IL. http://wiki.weft.org/Radio_Liberacion

Of special note are specials on racism on the University of Illinois campus and in the Champaign-Urbana community.

Antonia Darder

2010

Champaign City District 1 Council Member William Kyles e-newsletter

Government

Note From Councilmember: It's been officially 1 year of service in office! One valuable lesson that I have learned is that citizens want to be informed. Thus, this is how the weekly newsletter started. My vision is that this newsletter will be a tool to spread information on current events, meetings, progress throughout the city - and that communities will begin to become more knowledgeable about each other. There was so much information that I had for you in this week, that I had to wait to the next letter to send to you. I anticipate the next opportunity to network and communicate with all of you.

CM Will Kyles

City Council Study Session
http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-7951/2010-04-13%20Regular%20Study%20Session%20Agenda%20.pdf
Also there will be our annual City of Champaign Township meeting as well during this time.

City News
City Website has a great source of information at http://ci.champaign.il.us/

Community Forum info has been compiled. The only thing that has been taken out of this data are names. More to come on the follow-up from this forum.

Internal Investigations related to Kiwane Carrington should be completed within the next two weeks. More info coming soon.

Spring Yard Collection - See attachment. (District 1 pick-up days are April 20th and April 23rd)

Bone Yard Clean-Up Day - For more info please go to www.BoneyardCreek.org.

Motivating More Males Town Hall Meeting - See attachment.

Neighborhood Leadership Meeting/STARS award ceremony - See attachment.



School News

School Board Meeting. See Link http://www.champaignschools.org/Board/0910boardagendas/Notice%20April12%2010%20RegMtg.pdf

Public meeting on traffic analysis - See link.
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/0910/press%20release%20Traffic%20Impact%20Analysis%20Report%20for%20the%20New%20Washington%20Elementary%20School%204%206%2010.pdf


Champaign Park District News

Champaign Park District is accepting applications for summer jobs. There are some deadlines. Go to http://agency.governmentjobs.com/champaignparkdistrict/default.cfm for more info.

Spring/Summer planning http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/brochure.htm

Events at Park District http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/events/index.html

Douglas Park http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi



Employment opportunities

http://agency.governmentjobs.com/champaignparkdistrict/default.cfm

http://www.generalasp.com/roe9/champaign-vacancies.htm

http://agency.governmentjobs.com/champaign/default.cfm

http://careers.news-gazette.com/

careers.news-gazette.com,news-gazette.thejobnetwork.com



Additional Events

Free Auto Clinic in Danville

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/2010-04-07/dacc-auto-body-program-will-host-two-free-clinics.html

AutismOne & Generation Rescue Conference: Redefining Autism Monday, May 23 – Sunday, May 30, Chicago, Illinois. Send me a reply if you want more info.

------

From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Newsletter (Council Member Will Kyles)
To:
Date: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 7:41 AM

Good morning citizens,

Today, I wanted to take the opportunity to focus on police-community relations. Besides developing economic strategies for my district, it's a top priority of mines to see that we effectively progress the police-community relations citywide. I don't think that this is an issue that can be fixed overnight, but there are re-occurring themes that happen each year. Each incident causes stress on the Champaign community physically, mentally, and financially, I am going to get the dollar amount of this incident and what it has cost the taxpayer with just this incident. The impact is mind boggling. Thus, for me, as an elected leader, to accept normal results would be a failure of mines. It's too easy for me point the finger at the City, or the Police Department, or the community. We've done that way too long and found that nothing gets resolved in the end by finger-pointing.

What has been done?

Six initiative update: The Community and police six initiatives can be viewed at http://ci.champaign.il.us/departments/city-manager/6-initiatives/. Looking at the initiatives, the use of force policy has been revised and implemented. The second initiative is in progress. The third initiative is almost complete. The internal investigations are almost complete with the Justice Department being the final report. The fourth and fifth initiative are in progress. The sixth initiative is still in progress. Out of all of the initiatives, personally I am most excited about the sixth one. A community forum sub group meets once a month to plan, discuss, and strategies on how we can use the info from the forum to make a better Champaign community.

City Manager has made decision on discipline for Officer Norbits. Statement can be viewed at http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/city-manager-makes-decision-regarding-employee-discipline-in-vine-street-incident/

Internal Investigation can be viewed at http://ci.champaign.il.us/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Vine_Street_Internal_Investigation.pdf.

Champaign Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice have presented 3 proposals that I think hold a lot of weight. Police contract negotiations are coming up. If you support any of these three proposals, please feel free to forward your support (or any suggestion) to your council member or to city staff @ hr@ci.champaign.il.us. See proposal in attachments.

How has the community become more involved?

CCAP meets every 4th Monday from 3- 4:30pm at the Douglas Annex. This group meets once a month, with their main focus being how we move forward with better police-community relations. The public does have an opportunity to provide public input at the beginning of these meetings.

North End Breakfast Club meets 2nd and 4th Saturday from 7am-10am at the
Boys and Girl's Club. This is a group where men get together and fellowship over breakfast. Afterward they discuss current issues in the community. This is a very positive group and open to men (young and old) to participate.

Brother's Let's Talk meets every 4th Sunday at the Boys and Girl's Club from
4pm- 6pm. Seon Williams leads these one one sessions where men mentor boys. Young men are allowed to vent, present their problems and have an opportunity to gain wisdom from older men who have knowledge to give.

Motivating More Males meets every 1st Monday at rotating locations from
5:30pm- 7:30pm. This was a group started by the Peer Ambassadors and encourages males to come out and mentor young males.

Don Moyers Boys and Girl's Club has hosted forum after forum, with their last forum involving the Champaign Police Department. I encourage everyone to find a way to physically and financially support the club because they are doing a magnificent work for our kids all over the city.

ACCESS Group. I don't have the exact details of when this group regularly meets. However the county has received a SAMSHA grant which will soon be used to help provide mental health services to families and youth. They are required by the grant to do 1 year of planning and this is that year.

Champaign Police Department on many occasion have been volunteers and active participants in several forums and discussions over the past 6 months. I definitely appreciate their time and efforts that sometimes get missed.

Human Relations Commission meets every 1st Monday at 5:30pm in
the Council Chambers. A lot of issues and good conversation has come out of this commission in the past 6 months. I appreciate all of the work.

Neigbhorhood Services department just had a STARS award. As citizens' accomplishments are continued to be recognized, more people will see the appreciation and that does go a long way.

Neighborhood Impact. These are the meetings that we don't see, the good parenting that doesn't occur, the people that don't get credit or even look for credit for their accomplishments. I appreciate your individual works that help resolve a city issue.

What does our future look like? I feel positive about the future. Where I see the most need is in outdoor outreaches. The Police Department and community have a major opportunity to do something here. Also, we need a way to provide knowledge of our social services to the community. These two are huge. I look forward to working and hearing from all of you.

Until the next time,
CM Will Kyles

----


--- On Tue, 5/18/10, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Newsletter (Councilmember Will Kyles)
To:
Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2010, 10:29 AM

Regular Meeting

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8108/2010-05-18%20Regular%20Council%20Meeting.pdf



Post Study Session

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8107/2010-05-18%20REVISED%20Post%20Council%20Meeting%20Agenda.pdf



Special Meeting

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8114/2010-05-19%20Special%20Meeting%20Agenda%20-%20Illinois%20Terminal.pdf



Budget Info & Memos

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/View/Collection-488

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/View/Collection-540



Check Out Champaign Park District Special Events

http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/events/index.html



College Night

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/0910/Press%20Release%20-%20Franklin%20Middle%20School%20AVID%20students%20to%20host%20annual%20college%20night.pdf



Champaign Unit 4 Schools to Destroy 2004 Temporary Records

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/0910/press%20release%20Champaign%20Schools%20Scheduled%20To%20Destroy%20Student%20Records%205%2017%2010.pdf



More Unit 4 News & Announcements

http://www.champaignschools.org/

------------

From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Newsletter (Council Member Will Kyles)
To:
Date: Tuesday, June 1, 2010, 3:39 PM

The summer is quickly approaching. I’d like to take advantage of this great weather and make the month of June all about spending time with constituents and learning what is important to you. If you would like to sit down over coffee and chat, please email me and we will work within our schedules to meet. Lastly, please feel free to send me events that you would like to be included in these newsletters. Your feedback is welcome. It is definitely a pleasure, an honor, a privilege to serve you on the Champaign City Council.

Special Note: Boys and Girls’ Club Needs Our Help: Due to shortages in funding by the state and a tough economic environment, the Boys and Girls’ Club is in jeopardy of closing. Besides the history that the Boys and Girls’ Club has in our community, it provides a safe haven for children to interact, grow, and develop. Without the club’s existence, children all over Champaign County are at risks of losing out on the social, education, and developmental skills that the club provides. The Boys and Girls Club needs your help. Donations can be made on-line at www.dmbgc-cu.org or contact the club at (217) 355-5437.

Regular Council Meeting

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8172/2010-06-01%20Regular%20Council%20Meeting.pdf

Champaign Unit 4

http://www.champaignschools.org/

I would like to personally thank all students, parents, teachers, and administrators for their achievements this year. I especially would like to congratulate all recent graduates for their hard work and efforts. I encourage you to continue working hard and pressing towards the mark.

Champaign Park District

http://www.cparkdistrict.com/calendar/index.asphttp://www.scribd.com/doc/28220603/CPD-Funformation-Summer-2010

Seeking your input: What time should the Douglas Park close? Should it be closed at 9pm or should it be closed at the time of special activities? Currently the Park closes at 9pm or normal days. However there are days when the park has extra activities that run late after 9pm. This has caused some confusion in the past. Please advise.

Champaign Police Charities Association Calls for Donations

http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/champaign-police-charities-association-calls-for-donations/

Community Events

Public Work Kid’s Day (June 3rd 7:30am-12:30pm) at 702 Edgebrook Drive. Hot dog and Peanut Butter and Jelly lunch served at 11:30am.

Touch a Tractor (June 5th 1pm-4pm) at Centennial Park. Fun-filled family event.

Men’s North End Breakfast Club meeting (June 5th 7am-10am) at Boy’s and Girl’s Club. Come out and fellowship with other men over a meal and conversation.

Douglas Park Community Garden Work Day (June 5th). This will be the official work day of the new Douglas Park Garden. The goal is raise beds and plant some flowers on that day.

--


--- On Tue, 6/15/10, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Newsletter (Council member Will Kyles)
To:
Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 2:08 PM

Thank you all for allowing me to serve you. As many of you can tell, I have consolidated the newsletters considerably. I provide the same information. However, I use a lot of email links instead of attachments. This makes the email a lot smaller and was a result from feedback that I've received over the months. If there is anything else that I can do to improve this newsletter, please feel free to let me know. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me via email or phone at (217) 552-3625.



CM Will Kyles



Past News – Nuisance and Vacant City Ordinance goes back to city staff to clean up language with the ordinance.



Regular City Council Meeting

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8225/2010-06-15%20Regular%20Council%20Meeting.pdf



Cable Commission Launches Community TV Website

http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/cable-commission-launches-community-tv-website/



City Cable Channel Now Streaming Live on the Web

http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/city-cable-channel-now-streaming-live-on-the-web/



Champaign-Urbana calls for nominations for the International Humanitarian Awards

http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/2010-champaign-urbana-international-humanitarian-awards-call-for-nominations/



Help Support a Park in Dobbins Down Neighborhood

http://www.refresheverything.com/dobbinsdownspark



Employees Recognized at Champaign Police Awards Ceremony

http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/employees-recognized-at-champaign-police-awards-ceremony/



Champaign Schools



Champaign School District Summer Program for kids 18 and under can eat free at the

following sites Monday through Friday:



Carrie Busey and Garden Hills June 7th- July 23rd

Breakfast 8am to 9am; Lunch 11am to 12:30pm



Dr.Howard Elementary June 7th - July 23rd

Breakfast 8am to 8:30am; Lunch 11am to 12:30pm



Jefferson Middle School June 7th - July 2nd

Breakfast only 10am to 11am



Community Events



1000 Men Praying in Douglas Park on June 19th from 8am-9am

Come join men across the Champaign-Urbana Community pray for our community.



Father’s Day Celebration and Customer Appreciation Day from 11:30am to 5pm

Rose and Taylor Barber and Beauty Shop on124 North 1st Street

Come enjoy free food, fun, and games.



Kids Derby Fishing- June 19th 9am- noon @ Kaufman Lake

http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/pdf/FishingDerbyflyer.pdf



P3 Summer Training @ Champaign Public Health District June16th – June 26th

For parents who want to be a voice in the community, involved in local decision making and advocate for improved programs



Unity In Action Magazine would like your article submission and request. For more info please email Tanya Parker at contact@unityactionmagazine.com

-------

--- On Mon, 6/21/10, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Newsletter (Council Member Will Kyles)
To:
Date: Monday, June 21, 2010, 1:56 PM

Special Note: This week, I have specifically kept the newsletter short as to put more focus on tomorrow's study session. Specifically the item that I have received the a lot of conversation on over the last year is the Complaint Process. Most would agree that the complaint process needs to be improved. I would encourage you to read the proposed recommendations and then provide feedback. Tomorrow I anticipate that many will come out and speak on this item. However, I do encourage everyone to read the recommendations presented and then provide feedback.

Also, I do encourage you to take a look at the other two items as well: CU Scholar Program and Proposed Development at Curtis Road Interchange: Wellness at Prairie Village. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me or call me @ (217) 552-3625.

Regular Study Session
http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8244/2010-06-22%20Regular%20Study%20Session%20Agenda.pdf

----

From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Newsletter Update Returns (Councilmember Will Kyles)
To:
Date: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 8:14 AM

Note from the Council member: I know that it's been a long time overdue since the last newsletter. I am excited about the children starting school and the new opportunities that each season brings. I will continue the newsletter and I look forward to hearing your feedback, especially on study session topics and council votes. Thank you for allowing me to serve you, directly and/or indirectly. If you have any question, please feel free to call me at (217) 552-3625 or by email.


Study Session Topics Can be viewed at:
http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8475/2010-08-24%20Regular%20Study%20SPDion%20Agenda.pdf

What are your thoughts on the two subjects: Comcast and Six Initiatives?

Events and other News

Unit 4
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/weekly_bulletin/PressRelease%20August182010%20Kids%20Plus.pdf

August 27th NCAAM Man of the Year Award Event

Time: 6pm

Location: Hilton Garden Inn

Sponsors: National Council of African American Men



August 28th - September 11th

State Town and Country Amateur Art Show

Springer Cultural Center



August 28th Kingdom Fellowship

Time: 12pm-9pm Event promoting fellowship and unity.

Location: 600 E. Grove Street Between Wright and Sixth Street

Sponsors: Lighthouse Ministries



August 29th A New Perception: Rock the Block

Time: 10am-3pm

Sponsors: United Methodist Church

Location: Between State and Randolph Street

---------

From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Newsletter (Council Member Will Kyles)
To: williamkyles2@yahoo.com
Date: Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 12:36 AM

DUE TO THIS BEING THE 5TH TUESDAY OF THE MONTH THERE WILL BE NO CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT.

City Website
http://ci.champaign.il.us/

City Financial News
http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/city-launches-proactive-financial-planning-for-the-future/

City Elected Officical News
http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/city-of-champaign-elections/

Police Department Posts Policies Online
http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/champaign-police-department-policies-now-accessible-on-the-web/

2010 County Wide Election Info
http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/2010_Election_Information.html

Unit 4 News
http://www.champaignschools.org/

School Board Meeting Dates
http://www.champaignschools.org/Board/BoardMtgSched%202010_2011.pdf

Weekly Updates
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/weekly_bulletin/2010-08-27.pdf

Parental Safety
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/Letter%20to%20Parents%20Aug302010%20Stranger%20Awareness.pdf

Park District
- Dobbins Down Playground Build Day is September 25th from 8:30- 2pm. Volunteers are needed.
- Kraft Foods is working on a community outreach project to improve Hazel Park (Bradley and Neil)

----------------

--- On Tue, 9/7/10, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Update (Council member Will Kyles
To:
Date: Tuesday, September 7, 2010, 9:23 AM

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. Although, I didn't have much to put in a newsletter, I still thought that it was important to send you a copy of our agenda for tonight's regular City Council meeting. Have a great day and a great week!

CM Will Kyles

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8528/2010-09-07%20Regular%20Council%20Meeting.pdf

--


William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
to Will Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
date Tue, Sep 14, 2010 at 2:17 PM
subject Weekly Newsletter (Council Member Will Kyles)
mailed-by yahoo.com
signed-by yahoo.com
hide details Sep 14
Note: Good afternoon. I hope that this reaches you with warm greetings. I have included in this week's updates, a lot of events that are occuring around town. Some of these events are events that you sent to me and others are from websites that I researched. I look forward to our continued work together in our mission to improve our city, town, country, WORLD! As always, if you have any questions of me, please feel free to contact me at this email address or by phone at (217) 552-3625.

Current City News

Regular Study Session
http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8543/2010-09-14%20Regular%20Study%20Session%20Agenda.pdf

Economic Workshop
http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/downstate-illinois-economic-workshop-will-address-jobs-regional-development/

Police Remain Proactive
http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/champaign-police-remain-proactive-in-addressing-crime/

Curtis Road Grand Opening
http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/curtis-road-grand-opening-%e2%80%93-september-21-2010-at-1130-a-m/

For more info, please visit http://ci.champaign.il.us/

Champaign Schools News

This week in Unit 4 (there are a number of openhouses this week listed)
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/weekly_bulletin/2010-09-09.pdf

Candidates wishing to run for school board
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-09-02_Board_Elections.pdf

For More info please visit http://www.champaignschools.org/.

Champaign Park District

Punt, Kick, Pass Event for Kids
http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/pdf/2010PuntPassKick.pdf

Fall Fitness Challenge
http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/pdf/FallFitnessChallenge.pdf

Senior Happenings
http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/facilities/hays/HaysHappenings.pdf

For more info, please visit http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/index.html

More Events

Community Civic Event Celebration
Emeralds Lounge at 6pm.

North End Men's Breakfast Club
Boys and Girl's Club from 7am-9:30am.

Douglas Volunteers Needed to Work on Douglas Community Garden
Douglas Park from 10am-4pm
Volunteers do not have to work the whole 6 hours, but whatever your time permits.
For more info, please contact eeharper@gmail.com

Interested in Sponsoring a Sculpture on the North End of town, well we're only a few dollars away from making that happen. For more info, please contact Brian Knox at knoxarray@earthlink.net.

Small Business Development classes at the Land of Lincoln. This is a great opportunity to get free knowledge and training. For more info, please contact Otis Noble at onoble@illinois.edu or visit http://www.sell2.illinois.gov/Registration_Certification.cfm.

Access Initiative starting Beyond Words classes at the M2 building
the M2 Building on the 4th Floor (downtown Champaign at 301 N. Neil,
Champaign, IL). Please contact Karen Simms at karen.c.simms@gmail.com for more info. Below are dates and times

September 13, 2010~4:30pm-5:30pm
*Cultural and Linguistic Competence-Beyond Words

September 20, 2010~4:30pm-5:30pm
*Family Driven-Beyond Words

September 27, 2010~4:30pm-5:30pm
* Youth Guided-Beyond Words

-----

from William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
to
date Tue, Sep 21, 2010 at 8:13 AM
subject Fw: Weekly Newsletter (Council Member Will Kyles)
mailed-by yahoo.com
signed-by yahoo.com
hide details Sep 21 (8 days ago)


--- On Tue, 9/21/10, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Fw: Weekly Newsletter (Council Member Will Kyles)

To: "Will Kyles" <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, September 21, 2010, 8:10 AM



--- On Tue, 9/21/10, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Newsletter (Council Member Will Kyles)
To:
Date: Tuesday, September 21, 2010, 8:08 AM

Note From Council Member: I have great pleasure in serving all of you in one way or another. I would like to use this week as a way to articulate the need for your physical involvement:

I am totally against the fact that teens have resorted to using violence as a form of entertainment. I do not support the "hunting" that is going on in campus. I encourage us as a city to come together and discourage these type of activities. Not only does this type of behavior impact the student (short and longterm), it impacts the person doing the crime as this is a felony. Once our young people get felonies, the road to repair is tough. I will work with anyone who has a solution to this issue. We cannot afford for students to be injured in the short term, but then damaged in the long term with a negative perspective on race. We cannot afford our young men to continue to make mistakes that jeopardize their futures. There is power in the police upholding the law, but there is also a power in a community's (all races working together) presence and concern over an issue in this critical state. Here are some ideas that I have:

A) On Saturday (Midnight Prayer) on campus corners
B) Community watch groups during the hours of 12-3
C) Patrols with the CAT team and police
D) Talking to teens that you know or can have a positive influence over to discourage this activity.

Together we can bring an end to this behavior on campus, but in other parts of the city where crime is an issue. Thank you for your time and help. Below is the rest of the newsletter.

Regular City Council Meeting
http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8588/2010-09-21%20Regular%20Council%20Meeting.pdf

Curtis Road Grand Opening
http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/curtis-road-grand-opening-%e2%80%93-september-21-2010-at-1130-a-m/

City Yard Collection
http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/city-of-champaign-fall-yard-waste-collection/

For more info, please visit http://ci.champaign.il.us/

Info on November Elections
http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/docs/2010/11_02_2010_candidates.pdf 2010 Candidates
http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/2010_Election_Information.html

Champaign Schools News

This week in Unit 4 (there are a number of openhouses this week listed)
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/weekly_bulletin/2010-09-09.pdf

Candidates wishing to run for school board
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-09-02_Board_Elections.pdf

Sept 23 Balanced Calendar, Half-Day, School Improvement Day, Parent/Teacher Conferences (4:00 – 8:00 p.m.)
Sept 24 Balanced Calendar - Parent/Teacher Conferences (8:00 – 11:00 a.m.), No School

For More info please visit http://www.champaignschools.org/.

Champaign Park District

Fall Fitness Challenge
http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/pdf/FallFitnessChallenge.pdf

Senior Happenings
http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/facilities/hays/HaysHappenings.pdf

For more info, please visit http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/index.html

More Events

New Magazine Link http://www.unityinactionmagazine.com/

Dobbins Down Needs Volunteers to Work on NEW PLAYGROUND
Volunteers do not have to work the whole 6 hours, but whatever your time permits.
For more info, please contact 1 (217) 403-4690.

Interested in Sponsoring a Sculpture on the North End of town, well we're only a few dollars away from making that happen. For more info, please contact Brian Knox at knoxarray@earthlink.net.

Small Business Development classes at the Land of Lincoln. This is a great opportunity to get free knowledge and training. For more info, please contact Otis Noble at onoble@illinois.edu or visit http://www.sell2.illinois.gov/Registration_Certification.cfm.

Access Initiative starting Beyond Words classes at the M2 building
the M2 Building on the 4th Floor (downtown Champaign at 301 N. Neil,
Champaign, IL). Please contact Karen Simms at karen.c.simms@gmail.com
for more info. Below are dates and times

September 27, 2010~4:30pm-5:30pm
* Youth Guided-Beyond Words

---

rom William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
to
date Tue, Sep 28, 2010 at 6:17 AM
subject Fw: Weekly Newsletter (Council Member Will Kyles)
mailed-by yahoo.com
signed-by yahoo.com
hide details Sep 28 (1 day ago)


--- On Tue, 9/28/10, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Newsletter (Council Member Will Kyles)
To: "Will Kyles" <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, September 28, 2010, 6:14 AM

Note from Council member: It is always an encouragement and satisfaction to send these weekly updates out. I enjoy the ability to present events and info that you all forward me throughout the week. I encourage you to forward this email to your social networks. One of the greatest opportunities that we have as a city is to continue to strengthen our communities and reach across street boundaries to resolve issues. It is the people that make up a community that give power and life to a city. In fact if you look throughout history, it is the community and the people therein that have helped nations deal with some of its toughest issues. I encourage you all to visit a part of town that you wouldn’t normally visit whether rich or poor. I encourage you to talk to a person that you may not have normally talked to and try to understand their ways. I look forward to the ideas that you will come up with that will continue to make this city great. All in all, a city is made up of neighborhoods, neighborhoods are made of blocks, blocks are made up of houses, houses are made up of people – and people must work together for ultimate success. As always please feel free to email me or contact me by phone at (217) 552-3625. Your input is welcome.

City News

Regular Study Session
http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8603/2010-09-28%20Regular%20Study%20Session%20Agenda.pdf

Police and Fire Memorial Celebration
http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/fire-and-police-memorial-dedication-ceremony/

Housing Study
http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/public-invitation-to-housing-discussions/

Champaign Fire Department Open House
http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/champaign-fire-department-open-house/

Community Forum Report
http://ci.champaign.il.us/survey/index.php?sid=75345&lang=en

City Yard Collection
http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/city-of-champaign-fall-yard-waste-collection/
Campus News
As community members get involved, the number of issues on campus is starting to decrease. I encourage more people to come out and discourage violence of any sort. It is a stretch, but 2 hours of your time from 1am - 3am could make a huge difference. Even more, if know any young people that may be involved in these acts, please educate them and discourage them from these activities. With the help of the police and working Together as a community, we can diffuse this issue.

For more info, please visit http://ci.champaign.il.us/

Info on November Elections
http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/docs/2010/11_02_2010_candidates.pdf
http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/2010_Election_Information.html

Champaign School News

Unit 4 this Week
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/weekly_bulletin/2010-09-23.pdf

Teacher Wins Award
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/2010-09-27/teacher-year-finalist-champaign-demands-best-students.html

Candidates wishing to run for school board
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-09-02_Board_Elections.pdf

For More info please visit http://www.champaignschools.org/.

Champaign Park District

Senior Happenings
http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/facilities/hays/HaysHappenings.pdf

For more info, please visit http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/index.html

Lighthouse Calendar. See Attachment

News Letters

Unity Action Magazine http://www.unityinactionmagazine.com/

Parkland College WeTrain Newsletter. See attachment.

More Events and News

September 30th- October 6th Upcoming Art Show at 6 E University

October 2nd North End Breakfast Club from 7am to 9:30am.

October 8th from 8:30am-2pm a playground will be built in Hazel Park . Volunteers are needed.

October 9th Annual Unity in Community March @ 12pm

October 11th – Community Matters Bowling Event. See attachment.

October 31st. Community Matters Fall Festival. See Attachment.

Virginia Theatre Job Posting. See Attachment.

Interested in Sponsoring a Sculpture on the North End of town, well we're only a few dollars away from making that happen. For more info, please contact Brian Knox at knoxarray@earthlink.net.

Small Business Development classes at the Land of Lincoln . This is a great opportunity to get free knowledge and training. For more info, please contact Otis Noble at onoble@illinois.edu or visit http://www.sell2.illinois.gov/Registration_Certification.cfm.

The ACCESS Initiative

THE ACCESS-ALL GROUP IS OPEN TO ANYONE INTERESTED IN HELPING WITH THE ACCESS INITIATIVE PROJECT.
PLEASE SHARE THIS EMAIL WIDELY AND ASK OTHERS TO JOIN THE ONLINE GROUP and ATTEND OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS.
For more info please email access-all@googlegroups.com

----

From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Fw: Weekly Newsletter (Council Member Will Kyles)

To: "Will Kyles" <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 6:51 AM


Note from Council Member: I do believe that there is no greater time than now to get actively involved in the work of our city and various communities. This week marks the 1 year anniversary since the death of Kiwane Carrington. Kiwane left our city with a mission to do better, to try harder, and to build relationships for the betterment of our future. I have seen a rise in volunteerism and action from our citizens; City Council and staff that keep me hopeful that our city will move forward in helping all kids succeed. Although we may forever debate the facts of why Kiwane is no longer here with us, there is one fact that we cannot deny. The mission of raising healthy, productive children in this day and age is difficult and yet vital. The difficulties and pressures are seen and felt by every race, sex, and class. And the only way we come out situations like this is when we play our roles, whether big or small, collective or single to foster an environment where we can raise healthy, productive citizens. I encourage you to come out and help build a playground for kids at Hazel Park or participate in planting a tree at the Unity March in memory of Kiwane and all of the children that struggle and still struggle on daily basis to thrive. Maybe you have time to eat lunch with your child’s class or volunteer at a school. Or possibly say a prayer or be bold to build a relationship with someone you wouldn’t normally talk to. This week, I encourage you to exceed your expectations, and play your role, whether big or small, in helping children thrive. As always, please feel free to contact me by email or phone (217) 552-3625 with questions, concerns, feedback, etc. Thank you for allowing me to serve you.



City News



Regular City Council Meeting

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8617/2010-10-05%20Regular%20Council%20Meeting.pdf



Post Study City Council Meeting

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8618/2010-10-05%20Post%20Council%20Meeting%20Study%20Session%20Agenda.pdf



Take Housing Study

http://ci.champaign.il.us/survey/index.php?sid=41652



City Yard Collection

http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/city-of-champaign-fall-yard-waste-collection/

Campus News

As community members get involved, the number of issues on campus is starting to decrease. I encourage more people to come out and discourage violence of any sort. It is a stretch, but 2 hours of your time from 1am - 3am could make a huge difference. Even more, if know any young people that may be involved in these acts, please educate them and discourage them from these activities. With the help of the police and working Together as a community, we can diffuse this issue.



Crime Prevention Activities. See Attachment.



For more info, please visit http://ci.champaign.il.us/



Info on November Elections

http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/docs/2010/11_02_2010_candidates.pdf

http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/2010_Election_Information.html



Champaign School News



Unit 4 this Week

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/weekly_bulletin/2010-10-01.pdf



Discussion on New Sites For Central High School

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-10-04_Community_Meeting.pdf



Candidates wishing to run for school board

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-09-02_Board_Elections.pdf



For More info please visit http://www.champaignschools.org/.



Champaign Park District



Senior Happenings

http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/facilities/hays/HaysHappenings.pdf



For more info, please visit http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/index.html



Lighthouse Calendar. See Attachment



News Letters



Unity Action Magazine http://www.unityinactionmagazine.com/



More Events and News



September 30th- October 6th Upcoming Art Show at 6 E University



October 6th – Olympian Drive Open House 4pm-7pm Urbana Civic Center



October 7th – S.P.E.A.K Café at Krannert Center 500 E Peabody at 7pm



October 8th from 8:30am-2pm a playground will be built in Hazel Park . Volunteers are needed.



October 9th Youth Literature Festival Krannert Center on 500 South Goodwin 10-4pm



October 9th Annual Unity in Community March @ 12pm @ 906 W. Vine


October 16th Help Habitat Community build a house on 607 E. Beardsley



October 11th – Community Matters Bowling Event. See attachment.



October 13th – 40 North ACE Awards at Canopy Club at 5:30pm



October 31st. Community Matters Fall Festival. See Attachment.



Save the date Campus Community Symposium. See Attachment



Job Opportunities



Family Advocacy Vacancies. See Attachment



US DOT Women Internship Opportunities. For more info please contact Theyla Horna at thorna@haciawoks.org





Interested in Sponsoring a Sculpture on the North End of town, well we're only a few dollars away from making that happen. For more info, please contact Brian Knox at knoxarray@earthlink.net.



Small Business Development classes at the Land of Lincoln . This is a great opportunity to get free knowledge and training. For more info, please contact Otis Noble at onoble@illinois.edu or visit http://www.sell2.illinois.gov/Registration_Certification.cfm.

-------

From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Fw: Weekly Newsletter (Council member Will Kyles)
To: "Will Kyles" <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 2:09 PM



--- On Tue, 10/12/10, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Newsletter (Council member Will Kyles
To:
Date: Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 2:08 PM

Note From Council Member: I hope that you all are having a wonderful week or at least overcoming obstacles. As most of you who have been receiving this email for a while know, I am always trying to perfect the structure of the letter. To make things flow easier, I have highlighted the major categories in bold orange font. Some of the new subtitles are Champaign Library and Campus. I included the Champaign Library because I would like to promote reading especially amongst our grade school children. ISAT tests will be approaching us soon and I would like all schools to make AYP. I included Campus because campus is apart of the City of Champaign and I would like to help communicate ideas and events that happen both on campus and in town. As always, it is a pleasure to serve you. Please feel free to contact me via cell phone at (217) 552-3625 or by email. Have a great week!



City News



Regular Study Session

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8658/2010-10-12%20REVISED%20%20Regular%20Study%20Session%20Agenda.pdf



More City News

http://ci.champaign.il.us/category/news/



Take Housing Study

http://ci.champaign.il.us/survey/index.php?sid=41652



Crime Prevention Activities

http://ci.champaign.il.us/2010/10/08/crime-prevention-month-activities/



City Yard Collection

http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/city-of-champaign-fall-yard-waste-collection/

Campus News

As community members get involved, the number of issues on campus is starting to decrease. I encourage more people to come out and discourage violence of any sort. It is a stretch, but 2 hours of your time from 1am - 3am could make a huge difference. Even more, if know any young people that may be involved in these acts, please educate them and discourage them from these activities. With the help of the police and working Together as a community, we can diffuse this issue.

For more info, please visit http://ci.champaign.il.us/



Info on November Elections

http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/docs/2010/11_02_2010_candidates.pdf

http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/2010_Election_Information.html



Champaign School News



Unit 4 this Week

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/weekly_bulletin/2010-10-08.pdf



Discussion on New Sites For Central High School

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-10-04_Community_Meeting.pdf



Family Information Center

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-10-08_FIC_Hours.pdf



Candidates wishing to run for school board

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-09-02_Board_Elections.pdf



For More info please visit http://www.champaignschools.org/.





Champaign Park District



Champaign Park District Events featuring CU on the Trails

http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/pdf/CUTrailsF10.pdf



Senior Happenings

http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/facilities/hays/HaysHappenings.pdf



For more info, please visit http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/index.html



Lighthouse Calendar. See Attachment





Champaign Library



Library Home Page

http://www.champaign.org/



Library Calender

http://www.champaign.org/events/month.php



Library for the Kids

http://www.champaign.org/justkids.html





News Letters

Unity Action Magazine http://www.unityinactionmagazine.com/



Campus



October Events at Parkland

http://www.parkland.edu/newsEvents



Public Engagement at U of I

http://engagement.illinois.edu/Calendar.aspx



News at U of I

http://news.illinois.edu/



Daily Illini

http://www.dailyillini.com/





More Events and News



October 13th – 40 North ACE Awards at Canopy Club at 5:30pm



October 16th Help Habitat Community build a house on 607 E. Beardsley.



October 26th Obstacles. See Attachment.



October 31st Community Matters Fall Festival. See Attachment.



Save the date Campus Community Symposium. See Attachment



Job Opportunities



Family Advocacy Vacancies. See Attachment



US DOT Women Internship Opportunities. For more info please contact Theyla Horna at thorna@haciawoks.org





Interested in Sponsoring a Sculpture on the North End of town, well we're only a few dollars away from making that happen. For more info, please contact Brian Knox at knoxarray@earthlink.net.



Small Business Development classes at the Land of Lincoln . This is a great opportunity to get free knowledge and training. For more info, please contact Otis Noble at onoble@illinois.edu or visit http://www.sell2.illinois.gov/Registration_Certification.cfm.

-------------

On Tue, 10/19/10, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly News Letter (Council Member Will Kyles)
To: williamkyles2@yahoo.com
Date: Tuesday, October 19, 2010, 6:00 PM

City News



Regular City Council Meeting

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8680/2010-10-19%20Regular%20Council%20Meeting.pdf



More City News

http://ci.champaign.il.us/category/news/



Crime Prevention Activities

http://ci.champaign.il.us/2010/10/08/crime-prevention-month-activities/



City Yard Collection

http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/city-of-champaign-fall-yard-waste-collection/

For more info, please visit http://ci.champaign.il.us/



Info on November Elections

Early Voting

Dates: Monday, October 11, 2010 through Thursday, October 28, 2010
Times: Monday through Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm, Saturday and Sunday - 9:00am to 12:00pm
Locations:
Office of the Champaign County Clerk
1776 East Washington Street, Urbana
University of Illinois Campus
700 South Gregory Street, Urbana



http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/docs/2010/11_02_2010_candidates.pdf

http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/2010_Election_Information.html



Champaign School News



Unit 4 this Week

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/weekly_bulletin/2010-10-14.pdf



Online Survey For Unit 4 Website

http://freeonlinesurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=exb40q9lx9xtqmu814290





Parenting Seminar

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-10-18_parenting_seminar.pdf

Candidates wishing to run for school board

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-09-02_Board_Elections.pdf



For More info please visit http://www.champaignschools.org/.





Champaign Park District



25th Annual Halloween Fun Fest at Market Place Mall. http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/events/Funfest10.pdf



Senior Happenings

http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/facilities/hays/HaysHappenings.pdf



For more info, please visit http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/index.html





Champaign Library



Library Home Page

http://www.champaign.org/



Library Calender

http://www.champaign.org/events/month.php



Library for the Kids

http://www.champaign.org/justkids.html





News Letters

Unity Action Magazine http://www.unityinactionmagazine.com/



eBlackCU Newsletter http://www.eblackcu.net/eBlackCUNewsletter1.pdf





Campus



October Events at Parkland

http://www.parkland.edu/newsEvents



Public Engagement at U of I

http://engagement.illinois.edu/Calendar.aspx



News at U of I

http://news.illinois.edu/



Daily Illini

http://www.dailyillini.com/



More Events and News

October 24th Black Chorus Annual Fall Concert 4pm at Smith Memorial Hall



October 29th Community Matters Fall Festival. http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-10-18_CGTVLightedSchoolHouse.pdf





Job Opportunities



Family Advocacy Vacancies. See Attachment



US DOT Women Internship Opportunities. For more info please contact Theyla Horna at thorna@haciawoks.org



Interested in Sponsoring a Sculpture on the North End of town, well we're only a few dollars away from making that happen. For more info, please contact Brian Knox at knoxarray@earthlink.net.



Small Business Development classes at the Land of Lincoln . This is a great opportunity to get free knowledge and training. For more info, please contact Otis Noble at onoble@illinois.edu.

----


From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: 400 Plus Served Weekly Newsletter (Council member Will Kyles)
To: "Will Kyles" <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, November 2, 2010, 1:17 AM

Note from Council member: This week's newsletter will highlight the elections. I have put together a nice section for those who would like to learn more about the candidates before they go into the polls. I hope that everyone takes the opportunity to vote for their particular candidates this election cycle. This is one of the easiest ways to be involved and have an impact on your community. Lastly, thank you for allowing me to serve you. Please feel free to contact me at (217) 552-3625 or via email.



City News



Regular City Council Meeting

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8753/2010-11-02%20Regular%20Council%20Meeting%20Agenda.pdf



More City News

http://ci.champaign.il.us/category/news/general-news/



Invitation to eBlack Champaign-Urbana Campus/Community Symposium

http://ci.champaign.il.us/2010/11/01/invitation-to-eblackchampaign-urbana-campus-communitysymposium/



City Electronic Recycling Event

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/environment/2010-11-01/next-electronics-recycling-event-set-nov-6.html



City Yard Collection

http://ci.champaign.il.us/news/general-news/city-of-champaign-fall-yard-waste-collection/

For more info, please visit http://ci.champaign.il.us/



Info on November Elections

Sample Ballot

http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/docs/2010/11_02_2010_Full_Specimen.pdf



Polling Places

http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/polling_places.html



Candidate Guide

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/politics-and-government/2010-10-27/online-election-coverage-guide.html



http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/docs/2010/11_02_2010_candidates.pdf

http://www.champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/2010_Election_Information.html



Champaign School News



Unit 4 this Week

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/weekly_bulletin/2010-10-29.pdf



Online Survey For Unit 4 Website

http://freeonlinesurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=exb40q9lx9xtqmu814290



Schools Unite

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-10-25_high_schools_raise_funds.html



Candidates wishing to run for school board

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-09-02_Board_Elections.pdf



For More info please visit http://www.champaignschools.org/.



Champaign Park District



Youth Hoops

http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/pdf/YouthHoops.pdf



Parade of Lights Volunteer

http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/events/paradeoflights/index.html



For more info, please visit http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/index.html





Champaign Library



Library Home Page

http://www.champaign.org/



Library Calender

http://www.champaign.org/events/month.php



Library for the Kids

http://www.champaign.org/justkids.html





News Letters

Unity Action Magazine http://www.unityinactionmagazine.com/



eBlackCU Newsletter http://eblackcu.net/eBlackCUNewsletter2.pdf





Campus



November Events at Parkland

http://www.parkland.edu/newsEvents



Public Engagement at U of I

http://engagement.illinois.edu/Calendar.aspx



News at U of I

http://news.illinois.edu/



Daily Illini

http://www.dailyillini.com/


--------

From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Weekly Post (Council Member Will Kyles Newsletter)
To: "Will Kyles" <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 7:29 AM

Note from Council member: Welcome to another addition of the Weekly Newsletter. It is always a pleasure to research and present information from areas of the city. I have a few interesting highlights in this week’s update. I have included under City News a draft of Champaign Tomorrow. Please take a look at it and provide your feedback. Also, under City News, the city is hosting a Neighborhood Meeting for public input on whether or not the city should grant a liquor license to a local store owner in Pirtle’s Place. As you all know, the November Elections have just passed. Below are a list of names of the elected officials and the offices that each represents. Under Campus, I included a website on how our local university is trying to make a more inclusive campus (quite interesting). Lastly under the Events section, I would like to highlight today’s College workshop (covers financial aid, standardized tests, majors and topics, and courses a high school student should be taking if interested in attending college. I look forward to continuing to be able to serve you and for your input on how future newsletters should look. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me by mail or phone (217) 552-3625.

City News

Regular City Meeting
http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8826/2010-11-16%20Regular%20Council%20Meeting.pdf

Post Council Study Session
http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8825/2010-11-16%20Post%20Council%20Meeting%20Study%20Session%20Agenda.pdf

Champaign Tomorrow
http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8786/SS%202010-065.pdf

Housing Needs Assessment
http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8788/SS%202010-066.pdf

November 22nd Neighborhood Meeting that On whether the store by Pirtle’s Place should get a liquor license
Douglas Libary at 6pm

For more info, please visit http://ci.champaign.il.us/

November Election Results

US Senate – Mark Kirk

US House of Representatives – Tim Johnson

Governor – Pat Quinn

Attorney General – Lisa Madigan

State Comptroller – Judy Barr Topinka

State Treasurer – Dan Rutherford

State Representative – Naomi Jakobsson, Chapin Rose, Shane Cultra, Dale Righter, Chad Hays

State Senator – Mike Frerichs

County Sheriff – Dan Walsh

County Clerk – Mark Sheldon

County Treasurer – Dan Welch

County Board District 1 – Stephanie Holderfield

County Board District 2 – Stephanie James & Dianne Michaels

County Board District 3 – John Schroeder & Brad Jones

County Board District 4 – Greg Knott & Steven Moser

County Board District 5 – Lorraine Cowart

County Board District 6 – Pattsi Petrie & Michael Richards

County Board District 7 – Alan Kurtz

County Board District 8 – Thomas Betz & Ralph Langenheim

County Board 9 - James P. Quisenberry & Christopher E. Alix

Referendums

Voted Yes to Reduce County Board from 27 to 22

Voted Yes to Increase Township General Funding

Voted Yes to Amendment Recall of Governor


Champaign School News

Unit 4 this Week
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/weekly_bulletin/2010-11-12.pdf

Board of Education Meeting Recap
http://www.champaignschools.org/Board/1011BoardAgendas/2010-11-01_meeting_recap.pdf

Candidates wishing to run for school board
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-09-02_Board_Elections.pdf

For More info please visit http://www.champaignschools.org/.

Champaign Park District

Youth Theatre
http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/pdf/MusicMan.pdf

Parade of Lights Volunteer
http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/events/paradeoflights/index.html

For more info, please visit http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/index.html

Champaign Library

Library Home Page
http://www.champaign.org/

Library Calender
http://www.champaign.org/events/month.php

Library for the Kids
http://www.champaign.org/justkids.html

News Letters
Unity In Action Magazine http://www.unityinactionmagazine.com/

Campus

November Events at Parkland
http://www.parkland.edu/newsEvents

Public Engagement at U of I
http://engagement.illinois.edu/Calendar.aspx
http://www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu/

News at U of I
http://news.illinois.edu/

Daily Illini
http://www.dailyillini.com/

Events

November 16th - Regional Task Force Open House at the City Building from 5pm-6:30pm

November 16th – How to Prep for College at Salem Baptist Church from 6-7:30

November 17th Fall Out Fashion Show at the Indigo Co-Op from 7pm-9m

November 20th North End Men’s Breakfast Meeting at 7am

For More events, please visit http://the217.com/events/day/2010/ and http://www.news-gazette.com/calendar/

----

--- On Tue, 12/7/10, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Posts (Council Member Will Kyles)
To: "Will Kyles" <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2010, 6:07 PM

Note from Council member: Welcome to another edition of the Weekly Post Newsletter. The Newsletter can be viewed at www.willkyles.com. On this site, there are free advertisements for businesses. Check out http://www.willkyles.com/city-corner/around-the-city/featured-businesses for the latest updates. Lastly, please continue to provide your input on how the City should deal with its budget crisis. Do you prefer to see CUT services, HIGHER taxes – please reply to this email and voice YOUR position? It is always a pleasure to research and present information from areas of the city. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me by mail or phone (217) 552-3625.



City News



Regular Council Meeting

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8919/2010-12-07%20Regular%20Council%20Meeting.pdf



Post Study Session

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8904/2010-12-07%20%20Post%20Council%20Meeting%20Study%20Session%20Agenda.pdf



Free Holiday Parking

http://ci.champaign.il.us/2010/12/06/free-parking-in-the-hill-street-parking-deck-during-december/



Champaign Proposes Sewer Fee Increase

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/politics-and-government/2010-12-06/champaign-council-consider-hike-sewer-fee.html



Champaign Tomorrow

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8786/SS%202010-065.pdf



Housing Needs Assessment

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8788/SS%202010-066.pdf



For more info, please visit http://ci.champaign.il.us/





Champaign School News



Unit 4 this Week

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/weekly_bulletin/2010-12-02.pdf





Champaign Schools Weigh Facility Issue

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/2010-11-30/champaign-school-board-weighs-facilities-issues.html



Candidates wishing to run for school board have until December 13th to file.

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-09-02_Board_Elections.pdf



For More info please visit http://www.champaignschools.org/.



Champaign Park District



Calls For Santa

http://www.wdws.com/podcasts/afternoon_interviews/2010/11/16/2617



Park Board Visits Virginia Redesigns

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/community-events/2010-11-30/park-board-views-virginia-marquee-redesigns.



For more info, please visit http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/index.html



Champaign Library



Library Home Page

http://www.champaign.org/



Library Calender

http://www.champaign.org/events/month.php



Library for the Kids

http://www.champaign.org/justkids.html



News Letters

Unity In Action Magazine http://www.unityinactionmagazine.com/



Campus



December Events at Parkland

http://www.parkland.edu/newsEvents



Public Engagement at U of I

http://engagement.illinois.edu/Calendar.aspx

http://www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu/



News at U of I

http://news.illinois.edu/



Daily Illini

http://www.dailyillini.com/



Events



All events can be seen at http://www.willkyles.com/events



Events below communicated from Chamber of Commerce newsletter:



Delivery 4U is partnering with the Eastern Illinois Food Bank through December to collect food and donations at 17 participating restaurants. In exchange for donations, participants will receive a free delivery card for future use. For more information, call 217.367.5000, e-mail: Delivery4U@live.com or visit www.Delivery4Uonline.com.



do good Consulting is hosting a Chocolate Auction on Thursday, December 9 from 6-9 p.m. at the High Dive downtown Champaign to benefit the Flatlander Fund. The event, which is open to the public, will feature a silent and live auction of chocolates made by the late local business owner Daniel Schreiber as well as dozens of other items donated by area businesses. Free food will also be served, including some made with Dan's chocolate. The Flatlander Fund's mission is to build a certified community kitchen - a place where smaller local food entrepreneurs could go to affordably and collaboratively practice their talents and passions, grow new businesses, and share their goods and products with the community. All funds raised at the auction benefit the Fund directly. More information on the Fund can be found at www.flatlanderfund.org.



Champaign Unit 4 School District is sponsoring the Warm-A-Kid Program, providing coats for needy students. Community donations of new coats and/or monetary donations are welcome and will be accepted at the Family Information Center , 405 E. Clark St. , Champaign , through December 20. Donations will be distributed by the district's family liaisons and parent coordinator to children in need based on referrals and recommendations by school social workers.
For More events, please visit http://the217.com/events/day/2010/ and http://www.news-gazette.com/calendar/

---

November 30, 2010

Note from Council member: Welcome to another edition of the Weekly Post Newsletter. The Newsletter can be viewed at www.willkyles.com. There will be a new space for FREE advertisement for small businesses coming soon. Please email me your business website and I will post it on my site for FREE advertising. Lastly, please continue to provide your input on how the City should deal with its budget crisis. Do you prefer to see CUT services, HIGHER taxes – please reply to this email and voice YOUR position? It is always a pleasure to research and present information from areas of the city. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me by mail or phone (217) 552-3625.

City News

5th Tuesday No City Council Meeting

Tree Lighting and 1st Annual Gift Drive
http://ci.champaign.il.us/2010/11/29/holiday-tree-lighting-1st-annual-gift-drive/

Fire Chief for a Day
http://ci.champaign.il.us/2010/11/29/fire-chief-for-a-day-2010/

Champaign Tomorrow
http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8786/SS%202010-065.pdf

Housing Needs Assessment
http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-8788/SS%202010-066.pdf

For more info, please visit http://ci.champaign.il.us/


Champaign School News

Unit 4 this Week
http://www.wdws.com/podcasts/afternoon_interviews/2010/11/16/2617

Champaign Schools Weigh Facility Issue
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/2010-11-30/champaign-school-board-weighs-facilities-issues.html

Candidates wishing to run for school board
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-09-02_Board_Elections.pdf

For More info please visit http://www.champaignschools.org/.

Champaign Park District

Calls For Santa
http://www.wdws.com/podcasts/afternoon_interviews/2010/11/16/2617

Parade of Lights
http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/events/paradeoflights/

Park Board Visits Virginia Redesigns
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/community-events/2010-11-30/park-board-views-virginia-marquee-redesigns.

For more info, please visit http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/index.html

Champaign Library

Library Home Page
http://www.champaign.org/

Library Calender
http://www.champaign.org/events/month.php

Library for the Kids
http://www.champaign.org/justkids.html

News Letters
Unity In Action Magazine http://www.unityinactionmagazine.com/

Campus

December Events at Parkland
http://www.parkland.edu/newsEvents

Public Engagement at U of I
http://engagement.illinois.edu/Calendar.aspx
http://www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu/

News at U of I
http://news.illinois.edu/

Daily Illini
http://www.dailyillini.com/






Events

November 30th- Literacy Celebration at the Champaign Main Library starting at 6:30pm

December 2nd Big Brothers and Big Sisters Christmas Celebration at Hilton Garden Inn 5pm-7pm

December 2nd SODO Holiday Party 9 East University 6pm-8pm

December 4th North End Men’s Breakfast Club 7am-9am

December 4th Parade of Lights, Tree Lighting and First Annual Gift Drive Downtown Champaign 6pm

For More events, please visit http://the217.com/events/day/2010/ and http://www.news-gazette.com/calendar/

---

--- On Tue, 11/23/10, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Newsletter (CM Will Kyles)
To:
Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2010, 6:09 PM

This week, I decided to try something different. I would like to direct you all to my new website, www.willkyles.com. On the site, you will have an opportunity to blog, look at current events, view the agenda live, provide input on different subjects, write compliments, complaints, Facebook, Twitter, get important city numbers, etc. In the future, I will continue to send out a hard copy of the newsletter. Your feedback is encouraged and definitely welcome. In the end, I hope that this provides another way for citizens to be heard and engage in public dialogue. I thank you for all of your support and it is an honor to serve on City Council as the District 1 representative.

CM Will Kyles

====



--- On Wed, 12/22/10, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Posts (Council Member Will Kyles)
To: "Will Kyles" <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Date: Wednesday, December 22, 2010, 1:02 AM

Note from Council member: I would like to thank you all for wanting to be informed and involved in city government and other activities. You all have made every hour invested in this newsletter well worth it. This newsletter has evolved over the last year, due to your feedback, from a letter to www.willkyles.com. One of your concerns was that the newsletter was so long that valuable information could be lost. Spreading the newsletter across a website has allowed me more flexibility to provide more information for a longer period of time and gives you the option to click and choose what you are most interested in. I am most excited about the social networks that will evolve from the small businesses in the featured business section. I am also excited about the Calender which allows us to know some of the most important meetings and we can began to plan ahead. Ultimately, my goal is to create a one stop online shop where you will have the ability to access a wide variety of information from one general location. I have the greatest job in the world and that is serving you. I wish you all an enjoyable holiday season! Please continue to provide feedback and concerns via email or telephone (217) 552-3625.

City News

COUNCIL MEETING CANCELED FOR NEXT WEEK

Free Holiday Parking
http://ci.champaign.il.us/2010/12/06/free-parking-in-the-hill-street-parking-deck-during-december/

City of Champaign Minority Business Directory
http://www.willkyles.com/featured-businesses

City of Champaign snow plan
http://www.willkyles.com/city-corner/timely-issues

Census Data
http://www.willkyles.com/census-data

For more info, please visit http://ci.champaign.il.us/

Champaign School News

Unit 4 this Week
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/weekly_bulletin/2010-12-16.pdf

School of Choice Community Forums
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-12-17_community_forum.pdf

For More info please visit http://www.champaignschools.org/.

Champaign Park District

For more info, please visit http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/index.html

Champaign Library

Library Calender
http://www.champaign.org/events/month.php

Library for the Kids
http://www.champaign.org/justkids.html

For more info, please visit http://www.champaign.org/ .

News Letters
Unity In Action Magazine http://www.unityinactionmagazine.com/

Campus

Available Scholarships
http://www.willkyles.com/city-corner/timely-issues

Parkland
http://www.parkland.edu/newsEvents

University of Illinois
http://www.uiuc.edu

Events
All events can be seen at http://www.willkyles.com/events
and click AGENDA

The exciting news is that January's Calender is filling up with events such as
- Job Training for Youth
- Martin Luther King Events
- Broadband Follow-up Discussion
- Board Meetings
- School Tours

===



--- On Tue, 1/18/11, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Posts (Council Member Will Kyles)
To: "Will Kyles" <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, January 18, 2011, 6:35 PM

City News



City Council Regular City Meeting

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-9044/2011-01-18%20Regular%20Council%20Meeting.pdf



City Council Study Session

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-9027/01-18-11%20%20Post%20Council%20Meeting%20Study%20Session%20Agenda.pdf



Register to vote 2011

http://www.willkyles.com/city-corner/timely-issues (See attachment on site)



City of Champaign Minority Business Directory

http://www.willkyles.com/featured-businesses



Census Data

http://www.willkyles.com/census-data



Events around town

http://ci.champaign.il.us/about-champaign/events/


For more info, please visit http://ci.champaign.il.us/

Champaign School News

This Week in Champaign Schools

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/weekly_bulletin/2011-01-14.pdf



School of Choice Community Forums

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2010-12-17_community_forum.pdf



For More info please visit http://www.champaignschools.org/.



Champaign Park District



For more info, please visit http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/index.html



Champaign Library



Library Calender

http://www.champaign.org/events/month.php



Library for the Kids

http://www.champaign.org/justkids.html



For more info, please visit http://www.champaign.org/ .



News Letters

Unity In Action Magazine http://www.unityinactionmagazine.com/



Campus



Available Scholarships

http://www.willkyles.com/city-corner/timely-issues



Parkland

http://www.parkland.edu/newsEvents



University of Illinois

http://www.uiuc.edu



Events

All events can be seen at http://www.willkyles.com/events

and click AGENDA



The exciting news is that the Calender is filling up with events such as

- Youth Job Training Opportunity

- GED Prep

- Martin Luther King Events

- Broadband Follow-up Discussion

- Board Meetings

- School Tours

==


--- On Tue, 1/25/11, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Fw: Weekly Posts (Council Member Will Kyles)
To: "Will Kyles" <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 7:39 AM



--- On Tue, 1/25/11, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Fw: Weekly Posts (Council Member Will Kyles)
To:
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 7:38 AM



--- On Tue, 1/25/11, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Fw: Weekly Posts (Council Member Will Kyles)
To:
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 7:38 AM



Note from Council Member: Tonight is a very important study session. For this week, I have strayed away from my traditional format of the newsletter to place emphasis on the budget and to solicit your thoughts as we go through this process. I would like to hear your thoughts and opinions. For information on things going on around the city, please refer to my website www.willkyles.com. Thank you for your help and input in making these tough decisions. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me by email or phone (217) 552-3625.



City Council Regular Study Session

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-9088/01-%2025-11%20%20Regular%20Study%20Session%20Agenda.pdf



City of Champaign Proposes Service Cuts

http://ci.champaign.il.us/2011/01/21/city-administration-proposes-service-cuts-to-address-budget-gap/



Molly Talks about Budget

http://ci.champaign.il.us/departments/finance/budget-division/



Line by Line Item of the Budget Breakdown

http://ci.champaign.il.us/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Budget-Strategy-Department-Savings-Detail.pdf



Here are some areas that concern me:



Reduction to Front Desk at City Building

Eliminate Student Patrol Contract (page 56)

Close Police Front Desk from 7am-7pm

Eliminate 1 Sworn Office (page 64)

Reduction to Emergency Management (page 68)

Public Education (page 71)

Reduction to 27 – 25 fire department staff (page 76)

Fire Training (page 67)

---


--- On Tue, 2/8/11, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Fw: Weekly Posts (Council Member Will Kyles)
To: "Will Kyles" <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 3:16 PM



--- On Tue, 2/8/11, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Posts (Council Member Will Kyles)
To: "Will Kyles" <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 11:55 AM

Note from Council member: BRRRRRR- it’s a cold Tuesday! Welcome to another addition of the Weekly Posts. I am especially excited about this issue. For the longest, citizens from all over the county have sent me flyers that were difficult to incorporate in my newsletter because of the size. Now you can visit http://www.willkyles.com/home/community-posts and see what’s going on in Champaign County . Thank you for sending me update and please continue to do so. I am also excited about education. This is the season for college both current and prospect students to apply for FASFA and scholarships. I have plenty of good info on scholarships at http://www.willkyles.com/home/community-posts. Please do not apply late. Financial aid is a time sensitive subject. Lastly, I encourage you to join the City Council tonight at our meeting. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me via email or phone (217) 552-3625.



CM Will Kyles



City News



Special Council Meeting (due to weather last week)

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-9139/2011-02-08%20Special%20Regular%20Council%20Meeting%20Agenda.pdf



Study Session

http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-9143/02-08-11%20Regular%20Study%20Session%20Agenda.pdf



Community Posts (a list of community events around Champaign-Urbana)

http://www.willkyles.com/home/community-posts



Lots and lots of Scholarship Info

http://www.willkyles.com/city-corner/timely-issues



For more info, please visit http://ci.champaign.il.us/



Blog it UNANIMOUS

What are some revenue generating ideas that can help the Champaign budget? http://cmwillkyles.blogspot.com/2011/02/budget-issues.html



How do you think that Unit 4 should deal with the Central High School relocation?

http://cmwillkyles.blogspot.com/2011/02/central-relocation.html







Champaign School News



Unit 4 this Week

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/weekly_bulletin/2011-02-03.pdf



Enroll in a Magnet School

http://www.enrolledu.us/champregistration/



Survey

http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2011-02-03_TAGSA-grant-survey.pdf



Performance Statistics

http://www.champaignschools.org/files/Unit_4_Performance_Statistics.pdf



Capital Improvement Projects

http://www.champaignschools.org/Finance/10_year_capital_improvement_plan.pdf



For More info please visit http://www.champaignschools.org/.



Champaign Park District



For more info, please visit http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/index.html



Champaign Library



Library Home Page

http://www.champaign.org/



Library Calendar

http://www.champaign.org/events/month.php



Library for the Kids

http://www.champaign.org/justkids.html



News Letters

Unity In Action Magazine http://www.unityinactionmagazine.com/



Campus



December Events at Parkland

http://www.parkland.edu/newsEvents



Public Engagement at U of I

http://engagement.illinois.edu/Calendar.aspx

http://www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu/



News at U of I

http://news.illinois.edu/



Daily Illini

http://www.dailyillini.com/



Events



Visit http://www.willkyles.com/events for all events posted. Below are this week’s:



Tuesday, February 8

6:00pm 2nd Annual African American Film Festival Presents "Ditch Diggers"

7:00pm City Council Study Session

Wednesday, February 9

7:00pm African American Film Festival Presents School Daze

7:00pm Regular Park District Meeting

Thursday, February 10

7:15am Chamber Breakfast

6:00pm School Community Forum for School of Choice

7:00pm African American Film Festival Presents "Natural Woman"

Friday, February 11

6:00pm Daddy Princess Ball

6:30pm A Night of Elegance

7:00pm African American Film Festival Presents "Buck and the Preacher"

Saturday, February 12

Back In the Day Dance

10:00 Poverty Simulation

3:00pm Play From the Bidder's Box to the White House

7:00pm Paper Locket A Photographic Collection



For More events, please visit http://the217.com/events/day/2010/ and http://www.news-gazette.com/calendar/

----

--- On Wed, 2/16/11, William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: William Kyles <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Subject: Weekly Posts (Council Member Will Kyles)
To: "Will Kyles" <williamkyles2@yahoo.com>
Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 12:16 AM




Wednesday, February 16, 2011



Note from Council member: The draft for Champaign Tomorrow is almost complete. Please do not let the opportunity for you to provide input in how our city will look in the next 20 years. Please respond by email or contact the Planning Department. Today, February 16, 2011 there is a Job fair put on by RPC at the Douglas Community Center. I have updated www.willkyles.com and included plenty of grant writing information on http://www.willkyles.com/city-corner/timely-issues. Thank you for all of your help in keeping me aware on community issues. I make it a habit on a weekly basis to update your PDF files that you send me at http://www.willkyles.com/home/community-posts. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me via email or phone (217) 552-3625.

City News

Public input needed for Champaign Tomorrow
Contact Planning Department at (217) 403-7070 or email williamkyles2@yahoo.com

Community Posts (UPDATED)
http://www.willkyles.com/home/community-posts

Lots and lots of Scholarship Info (UPDATED)
http://www.willkyles.com/city-corner/timely-issues

For more info, please visit http://ci.champaign.il.us/

Champaign School News

Unit 4 this Week
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/weekly_bulletin/2011-02-03.pdf

Enroll in a Magnet School
http://www.enrolledu.us/champregistration/

Survey
http://www.champaignschools.org/News/1011/2011-02-03_TAGSA-grant-survey.pdf

Performance Statistics
http://www.champaignschools.org/files/Unit_4_Performance_Statistics.pdf

Capital Improvement Projects
http://www.champaignschools.org/Finance/10_year_capital_improvement_plan.pdf

For More info please visit http://www.champaignschools.org/.

Champaign Park District

For more info, please visit http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/index.html

Champaign Library

Library Home Page
http://www.champaign.org/

Library Calendar
http://www.champaign.org/events/month.php

Library for the Kids
http://www.champaign.org/justkids.html

News Letters

Unity In Action Magazine http://www.unityinactionmagazine.com/

Campus

December Events at Parkland
http://www.parkland.edu/newsEvents

Public Engagement at U of I
http://engagement.illinois.edu/Calendar.aspx
http://www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu/

News at U of I
http://news.illinois.edu/

Daily Illini
http://www.dailyillini.com/

Events

Visit http://www.willkyles.com/events for all events posted. Below are this week’s:

Wednesday, February 16 10:00am
NO Limits Job Fair

Thursday, February 17 12:00pm
ATHENA Award Luncheon

Saturday, February 19 5:30pm
Fundraiser for 40North

Sunday, February 20 7:30pm
Black Symposium Concert

For More events, please visit http://the217.com/events/day/2010/ and http://www.news-gazette.com/calendar/







We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love
(and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list.

William Kyles

April 10, 2010

Men of Impact - UIUC

African-American Men

Defunct organization. Men of Impact is a student organization that is dedicated to to servicing the needs of Black men. We address the needs and concerns facing Black men in our community, via education and enlightening activites. Our primary goal is to equip Black men with the necessary tools to overcome the social stigmas facing them in society today.

1992-?

Comprehensive Community Planning

Urban Planning, Campus-Community Relations

Master's Thesis in Urban Planning using Civitas, a graduate-led design center located in Champaign-Urbana around 2004-2005, as a model design center. Also mentions the Urban Exchange Center.

Genevieve Borich

http://www.genevieveclare.com/

2004

Kathryn Humphrey Biography

African-American Women

This is the biography of a Central High school graduate, Kathryn Humphrey. She is invovled in a lot of community organizations and is the founder of the Gamma Upsilon Society which organizes the local cotillion.

27 October 2008

Nate Dixon Biography

African-American Men, Civil Rights, Urban League

This is the biography of a local man, Nate Dixon, who was very instrumental in the community with his involvment in The Champaign Park District and other community organizations.

Januaray 2001

Meeting Minutes and Other Useful Resources

1) The first link is to the minutes of Citizens Advisory Committee on Jury Selection. These minutes contain times, date, and attendance, as well as general records of the content of the meeting.

2) The second link is to the synopsis of a meeting of Urbana School District #116. It includes time, date, attendance, and general records of the content of the meeting.

3) The third link is to the meeting notes of the Rantoul Village Board of Trustees. It includes time, date, and general records of the meeting and other issues at the time.

4) The fourth link is to an interview with Rev. Evelyn Underwood discussing current issues for African American Christian churches.

5) The fifth link is to an article by Brian Dolinar about the trial of Brian Chesley and the larger issue of relations between the black community in North Champaign and the Police department.

6) The sixth link is to a list of articles in the Champaign County Historical Archives at Urbana Free Library regarding the Ministerial Alliance.

http://www.co.champaign.il.us/countybd/juryselect/091120minutes.pdf

http://www.usd116.org/files/boardmin0708/080520s.pdf

http://www.village.rantoul.il.us/publicinformation/boardroom/2008/07_01_2008_bss/070108_bss_m.pdf

http://will.illinois.edu/keepinthefaith/show/august-31-2008/

http://www.pigs.ag/3littlepigs

http://ccha.tufl.org/ccha/records/02012000/02012000000188.htm

2008-2009

Ministerial Alliance of Champaign-Urbana and Vicinity - speech made during UIUC event

Activism

Ministerial Alliance of Champaign-Urbana and Vicinity

Thank you for inviting me here to speak with you today and to share this afternoon in fellowship.
I am humbled to be surrounded by so many people of compassion and faith. Your impact on this community is beyond impressive. What you are doing in Champaign County, day in and day out, in your churches and on our streets, is no less than God’s work.
My great passion is education but I admit I am also guided by my faith. I have not found a way to separate my faith as a Jew from my day-to-day activities as Chancellor of a public university. For I find that instead of my faith narrowing my viewpoint, it actually broadens my perspective. I have found it never hurts to weigh decisions with your heart as well as with your mind. Compassion and cognition: not a bad combination.
But I am preaching…and, this pun is intended, I am preaching to the choir. Maybe even to the converted. The admirable work you do is ultimately about social justice. I support your mission statement that says, in part, that you want to “promote the welfare of all citizens of said community, moral, social as well as spiritual condition, to evaluate and address problems and situations as they affect our community and ministry…” With that in mind, I come here today to talk about perhaps my greatest passion as Chancellor and one that also is a social justice concern: Access. Equal access for all to the American Dream.
I think we can all agree that the path to that American Dream passes through education at every level, from K through 12, right into college. Let me read you a quote by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who grew up on Chicago’s South Side.
“Providing every child in America with a good education is both a moral imperative and an economic imperative. It's also a matter of social justice. It is the civil rights issue of our generation—the one and only way to overcome the differences of wealth, background, and race that divide us and deny us our future.”
Here at Illinois we also believe in providing all our citizens an equal chance at not only a good education, but the very best education possible, and an equal chance at that American Dream.
Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who knew something about dreams and equality, once said, “The American dream reminds us…that every man is an heir of the legacy of dignity and worth.” But access to the American Dream is not only a social justice issue, an issue of dignity, worth, and fairness. It is also a race issue.
There are two things I am focusing on: First, how do we find those African American students who have the intellect and the ambition to attend this college, but lack the funds? How do we make it possible for them to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign? Secondly, how do we make African American students feel comfortable and secure on our campus and in the community? After all, you cannot succeed if you feel alienated, cautious, or threatened.
And let’s not kid ourselves: As you know perhaps better than anyone, the distance down I-57 from the West and South Sides of Chicago is not just three hours. It may be 140 miles but for many students of color coming down here is like being dropped in the middle of the Gobi Desert.
And it takes courage, courage to leave your neighborhood, your mother, father, and friends, your barbershop and your library, your corner store and favorite cafe, your church or your mosque. Yes, it takes courage to leave all the things you hold near and dear behind, and suddenly be in an area surrounded by small towns and strange fields of corn, and, most importantly, by people who do not necessarily look like you or understand you or want to understand you. That takes courage. And it is our jobs to make that transition as comfortable as possible. Because if students of color are not comfortable it affects our entire community. As we have seen time and time again the university is not an island. What we do, what our students, faculty and staff do, has a ripple effect throughout Champaign Urbana.
So let me address those two points and tell you what we are doing. On the first point: how do we find those African American students who have the brains and the ambition to attend college, but lack the funds? How do we make it possible to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?
This May we will graduate our first class of Illinois Promise students. These are some 100 bright, motivated Illinois students who have shown that with financial support they can achieve their goals. The four-year-old Illinois Promise Program is a merit- and need-based financial aid program.
A recent survey of a majority of the 2009 I Promise graduating class was equally delightful. Personally, it was validation that this program that I started with a couple of phone calls to donors—much to the chagrin of our development staff—was a smashing success. Almost all of the IP scholars will graduate on time; fifty percent have been on the Dean’s List; 15 percent are members of an Academic Honor Society; 25 percent have been recipients of other academic or service awards; 22 percent are going on to get their master’s; 10 percent will pursue a doctorate. This is the happy result of giving a young man or woman a chance to achieve their own success.
Let me back up for a minute. Last year we launched a $100 million scholarship drive that, with a spend-out campus match, will be the equivalent of $200 million. This scholarship endowment will be used to increase access for both lower income families, and for middle income families, who increasingly find it harder to afford a college education for their sons and daughters.
Obviously, we cannot educate everyone at the University of Illinois but we can and we will expand our search for talented, motivated young people.
Programs such as Illinois Promise and the Chez Scholars are crucial to ensuring access to the Illinois experience and to the American Dream. In many instances students in these programs are the first members of their families to attend college. And, as a first-generation college graduate, I understand their journey and I share their passion for education.
I am so very proud of these programs because I now know that we can break the cycle of poverty and low expectations that is endemic in parts of this country. I am also proud because these graduates will go on to inspire other first generation students who will now have role models and mentors in their own communities.
As one Illinois Promise student wrote me, and this is a young woman who will graduate with a degree in elementary education this May: “I will soon be in a position to make a difference. The most difference that I will make will be by ’paying it forward.’ This will be through actions that will allow me to demonstrate my understanding of being selfless. As an educator I plan to make a difference one child at a time. I hope to not only help them achieve to their highest potential, but to help them find their inner strengths that will get them through their weakness moments.”
Now for my second concern: How do we make African American students and all students of color feel more comfortable and secure on our campus and in the community?
The roots to this question did not evolve recently. The evolution was painful. It took the courageous actions of the Project 500 movement—part of the most important social change in this nation’s history, the Civil Rights Movement--to really bring public attention to the fact that we were not doing a good job at recruiting and retaining students and faculty of color; nor were we offering a campus that was particularly inclusive, welcoming, or equal. Again, this was and remains a social justice issue.
This was a time in the 1960s when, to quote Joy Williamson, African Americans on our campus and in our community experienced, “discrimination, racism, protest, and resilience.” A time when many people of color felt “intensely lonely” on our campus, and when this university did not do the right thing. When students, faculty, and community members were hostile to their presence.
We have made great strides since then but we have not arrived to where we need to be yet.
The Urbana campus leads the Big Ten in percent of African Americans, Latina/o, and American Indian undergraduate students—13.9 percent to be accurate, a 22 percent increase in the last ten years. But data do not tell the whole story.
The Urbana campus leads the Big Ten in percent of tenured and tenure-track African Americans, Latina/o, and American Indian faculty—8.9 percent to be accurate, a 53 percent increase in the last ten years. We are proud of those numbers. But data do not necessarily equal a level of comfort for all students. We know that our successes can be traced back forty years ago to the activism of the Project 500 group but also to the work that we have done recently. We are making progress.
At the same time we are not sweeping problems under the rug or running from flash points of conflict. We are an institution made up of people not buildings and, as such, we will do and say things that are hurtful.
As a university we have the responsibility to push and define new boundaries, especially for our students. We cannot run from this obligation. Nor can we run from controversy. Indeed, there is no place to run to anymore. That is why I launched the One Campus Initiative in 2007. This is not a PR campaign. I truly want this campus to be the place where we confront our differences in the spirit of civility and openness. I believe that we can have that crucial conversation that begins with one simple question: I want to know how you see the world?
That openness as I just said bears the responsibility of not turning away from controversy, in fact, even turning toward it when appropriate.

You may remember the performance of “N-W-C: The Race Play.” Some members of our community did not like the in-your-face style of the three performers, the intentional way the actors perpetuated stereotypes, the use of words usually used to hurt and degrade. Even incite. Some felt excluded from the decision to bring these three young men to the university. There were protests and counter events. Some people in the community advised others to stay away from the play.
There was genuine hurt, too. I will say that I was aware of it. But we had an obligation to dissect that hurt and to try to understand. That’s what a healthy community does.
We had to have the debate that answered whether this performance was a cleverly disguised attempt at minstrelsy or was it an attempt to continue an important if very painful ongoing dialogue about race and inclusion on this campus? Author and commentator, and now our faculty member, Jabari Asim took that question on, asserting that art should provoke the kind of conversation we were having. That very conversation I believe brought us closer together as a campus and as a community. Perhaps it’s a conversation without end. That’s OK because what comes out of dialogue, even painful dialogue, is a greater understanding of the human condition. I also believe that the conversation brings us closer to social justice…for all.
In closing, I want to again thank you for your tireless work on behalf of this community. And I want to ask your help to continue to build the necessary bridges to bring all groups together. Help me create an atmosphere of harmony. I am listening. To all of you. Thank you.

May 2, 2009