Illinois Pioneers: African-American History in Champaign

WILL, Illinois Public Media, Estelle Merrifield, Hester Suggs, Nelson Family

Illinois Pioneers
7:30 pm Thursday, Feb. 24

WILL-TV’s Illinois Pioneers looks at African-American history in Champaign through the eyes of Estella Merrifield and Hester Suggs, sisters and members of the Nelson family, one of the earliest African-American families in Champaign.

Through their memories and photos, the program chronicles a portion of history from the Civil War through the Civil Rights protests of the late 1960s.

They talk about their grandfather, Joseph Nelson, who around 1900 was one of the first African Americans in the Champaign County Sheriff’s Department, and describe the importance of organizations such as the American Legion in the lives of African-American residents. Churches, such as Salem Baptist and Bethel AME, were all-important as well, they said.

“The black churches were not only the social hub of the community, but the educational hub of the community, the same position they still hold,” said Suggs, a former Champaign school principal.

They also talk to host Rick Atterberry about the importance to the community of Albert R. Lee, the university’s first black employee, who worked for the University of Illinois for 52 years through seven administrations. From a messenger boy in a university of 800 students, he advanced through the ranks to become Chief Clerk in the office of the university president. Lee helped black students find places to live with families in the community during a time when black students were not allowed to live on campus and encouraged them to stay in school, they said.

Funding for Illinois Pioneers – Champaign @ 150 is made possible, in part, by the Noel Foundation, and by donors to the Champaign 150th Anniversary Celebration Fund. More information on the city’s 150th Anniversary is at champaign150.com.

IPM-North-First-Street-Farmers-Market.pdf

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IPM-Linda-Abernathy-meet-candidates.pdf

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Champaign-Schools-Illinois-Pioneers.pdf

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Candy-Foster-Live-at-Iron-Post-WILL.pdf

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Black_Perspectives-Program-Descriptions.pdf

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Youth-Media-Initiative-NCME-Public-Media-Maps.pdf

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Positive Youth Development: Summer Programs for Youth

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Positive Youth Development: Summer Programs for Youth

Decka Beem, Program Coordinator, Champaign Park District

Sonya Lynch, Program Director of Prevention Services, the Don Moyers Boys and Girls Club

Judy Miller, Environmental Program Manager, Urbana Park District

Lynn Peisker, Volunteer Connections Coordinator, United Way of Champaign County

May 20, 2010

Parkland College's Workforce Development Services

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Minor W.Jackson, III, B.S., Executive Director, Workforce Development Parkland College Illinois workNet Center

This program about the economy in central Illinois is part of WILL Connect. It grew out of community conversations WILL held this summer in Champaign, Vermilion, and Macon Counties.

If you or a family you know needs help keeping up, we encourage you to visit willconnect.org/economy. From there you can hear other reports and programs about the economy’s effect. You can also connect to agencies in your area for guidance and counseling. We thank First Call for Help Decatur, United Way of Danville, Family Service of Champaign County and the Community Service Center in Rantoul for their partnership. For more information, click on the link below.

Illinois Public Media

14 August 2009

Keepin' the Faith

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Keepin' the Faith features interviews on issues of spirituality, ethics, values and religion. It is a weekly live call-in show hosted by Steve Shoemaker, former Executive Director of the University YMCA. Shoemaker holds a Ph.D. in Religion from Duke University.

Current Issues for African American Christian Churches, with Rev. Evelyn Underwood, President, the Ministerial Alliance, Urbana, IL

Illinois Public Media

31 August 2008