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SIU Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement (DICE)
In 2018, UAct partnered with SIU School of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine to help facilitate implementation of the SIU Internal Medicine Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement (DICE) programs. DICE connects SIU resident physicians and students with underserved people for in-depth, guided discussions around topics of implicit bias in health care, cultural stigmas and more.[…]
Quality Housing Coalition
UAct advisor and content contributor, Steven Simpson-Black, approached Sheila early in UAct’s inception wanting to start a Tenant’s Association. Then life got in the way and the effort stalled. In late summer 2018, Steven contacted UAct again and this time the Quality Housing Coalition was born. Still in its early stages, Steven, Sheila, Rebecca Luke[…]
Neighborhood Outreach Workers
Our Outreach Workers served as a direct link between resource providers and underserved people. DeAndre Neal and Aaron Pinkston-El, UAct’s Neighborhood Outreach Workers, are grass-roots activists who live and work directly with underserved community members. Both have developed trusted relationships among underserved populations, are familiar with local social services and systems and are[…]
Neighborhood Beautification
REAP kicked off its neighborhood beautification efforts on April 25, 2018 in celebration of Earth Day by cleaning up the area and planting flowers around MLK and South Grand Avenue. Neighborhood beautification was identified during the REAP engagement sessions as a top priority. Aaron Pinkston-El was selected as our beautification leader and MLK Boulevard between Cook[…]
Midwest Inland Port Tour and Forum
In September 2015, UAct and IL Ventures for Community Action (IVCA), hosted a 25-member delegation to tour the Midwest Inland Port in Decatur, IL. Delegation members included the Mayor of Springfield and other city leaders, community activists, business leaders and more.
UAct, IVCA and the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association hosted a second meeting in Springfield for 40[…]
Community Development Credit Union
Want to put predatory lenders out of business in East Springfield?
A small group of community leaders including UAct is exploring starting a Community Development Credit Union (CDCU). If you are unbanked or would like to support such an effort please take the following survey.
Community Health Worker Program
In 2015, UAct began working with DeAndre Neal, a Springfield anti-violence activist, to develop a Community Health Worker program at the Springfield Community Federation. A strong partnership flourished and UAct worked closely with staff and partners to design and develop the program.
The CHW accomplished much over a two-year period while active with the Springfield Community[…]
Sustain Springfield Green Map
Lean Green!
The Sustain Springfield Green Map was completely revamped in 2020. The redesigned Map streamlines category headings, tells its story better with tabs and graphics and includes a new Special Projects section in the Gallery. The special mini-maps currently include Springfield’s tiny libraries and micro-pantries and the section provides opportunity for more LLCC GIS students,[…]
Kiwanis Park Improvement Project
S.H.A.R.E United and FCC join forces to urge the creation of an active public space at Kiwanis Park designed for local area residents. UAct President developed an informal survey to assess area resident needs and wants regarding Kiwanis Park. Team Reap and S.H.A.R.E United canvassed the area in one day with 62 respondents representing 160[…]
IFF/McCormick Baron Salazar
In October 2015, UAct hosted a meeting of 28 nonprofit and community leaders with IFF to explore opportunities for community and economic development assistance in Springfield. Follow-up meetings with IFF and 75 community participants hosted by UAct over two days in December, 2015 focused on affordable housing, healthy food access, arts/culture and more. UAct continues[…]