Aaron Pinkston-El
Aaron has been an activist in Springfield for many years. He is known for bringing a positive attitude and a touch of humor to his wise mentorship of others. Aaron [...]
Sam Johnson
UAct President Sheila Stocks-Smith met Sam Johnson after a forum for the Springfield Mayor’s race in 2015 and they have worked together ever since. Sam was not the typical Springfield [...]
Ashley Stapleton
Ashley was a regular member of the REAP community solutions engagement sessions and has been active ever since. She generously volunteers of her limited time and often brings her daughter [...]
Deandre Neal
DeAndre Neal simply won’t take no for an answer. He is an amazing networker who continually pushes his agenda – helping youth and young adults avoid the negative choices that [...]
Donna Lomelino
Donna Lomelino is a remarkable person. She has endured severe trauma in her life which ended in tragic consequences. But Donna draws from an amazing inner strength and has dedicated [...]
Food Certificate Giveaway
Violent storms ripped through Springfield, IL on June 29, 2023 leaving widespread damage and power outages. On Friday morning, UAct began working with Ward 2 Alderman Shawn Gregory to [...]
Public Transit Is a Public Good. It’s Time to Fund It That Way.
This is the year we almost let public transportation die. The cuts that cash-strapped transit agencies proposed before being bailed out by Congress—eliminating 40 percent of New York City’s subway service, a [...]
Co-Op Owned by Formerly Incarcerated Women Embarks on Next Step, Thanks to Surprising Money Source
ChiFresh Kitchen’s worker-owners can see their future in the building. It’s a long, six-thousand-square-foot former corner grocery, with an arched roof and big front windows facing the corner of East [...]
The Utility Repossessed Their City’s Streetlights. Now They’re Re-Lighting the Night
Soulardarity made it a mission to use local companies to build the solar-street lights. Ypsilanti, Michigan-based Solartonic and Holland, Michigan-based Solar Lights USA, are both involved with the on-going work.
Housing First Breaks the Homelessness-Jail Cycle
Homelessness is growing in communities across the United States as housing becomes increasingly unaffordable and public systems fail to support people who need assistance, forcing thousands to sleep outside or [...]