Unveiling Black Springfield

Thank you to Memorial Health for your sponsorship of our annual Women's Brunch! We can accomplish so much more when we have community pillar systems that are in partnership with community based advocacy!

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Our BLM-SPI Fall Women's Brunch guest speaker is Lucresia Beler, VOICES of Black Women Ambassador. She will educate us on the important work the American Cancer Society is doing through their VOICES of Black Women research study. This "groundbreaking study is a collective commitment to understanding and improving the health of Black women across the nation" and we all have a role to play in its success!

✨Open to women of all ethnicities!! Join us at Luminary Kitchen & Provisions

🥞 If you wish to purchase tickets to donate for a guest who may have a financial barrier, please note the GUEST name in the name field. If you would like us to distribute the ticket for you, please put "donation ticket" in the name field.

Tickets: bit.ly/FallBrunch26

Straight out of the archives!

Central Lodge No. 3 proudly honors Brother William K. Donnegan, whose remarkable legacy reaches from the Underground Railroad to the foundations of Prince Hall Masonry in Illinois.

Brother Dunnegan served as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, helping freedom seekers along their journey out of bo***ge. He was also connected to Springfield’s historic Engine House No. 5 and was a member of Central Lodge No. 3.

When Illinois Prince Hall Masons organized their own Grand Lodge in Springfield in 1867, Brother Dunnegan was there.

His life represents the extraordinary history we are continuing to uncover Underground Railroad. Black firefighting. Prince Hall Masonry. Community leadership. Freedom and service.

These histories are not separate stories. They are one story, connected through men like William K. Dunnigan.

🗓📍Sept 26, 4PM, 321 S 7th St

Next Saturday, we're doing our produce share at First Presbyterian Church again for the 4th Saturday of the month. Bring your grocery bags, carts, or boxes to take home free fresh produce. We'll have bags (and a limited number of boxes) if you need them!
We'll start at 4PM and go until 6PM or until everything is gone, so come at the start for the most variety.

👇
We will need help sorting through and bagging donated produce on Friday evening and transporting everything Saturday afternoon, so if you'd like to help us with this event, please check out the time slots in the sign-up below or check our linktree for September 26. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044AA9A829A2FCC07-65276433-sept

Thanks to Ken for this adorable flyer 🧡

Fly dumping issues? Did you know the city has this since 2016? Residential trash, from what i gather should be no more than $18 bucks a month with NO EXTERNAL FEES. NO ENVIRONMENTAL, NO ADMINISTRATIVE, NO BIN, NO FUEL etc.

Check it out.
https://www.springfield.il.us/Departments/PublicWorks/PublicWorksDefault.aspx?GeneralTrash

On Thursday afternoon, Tent Mission STL and the St. Louis Catholic Worker will be out in front of South Grand CID’s office giving away ice water to EVERYONE who needs it, whether they’re housed or unhoused. Join us at 4!

10 years ago we formed a small but powerful group. Some couldn't make dinner tonight but it was great to connect in person with those who could attend. Our work has shifted over the years to mostly behind the scenes due to capacity, but we all remain committed to making progress in our circles of influence! Connecting over delicious food at Rancho Chico gave us an opportunity to be intentional about using our dollars to support local and Latin owned establishments! Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!!!

Video in comments section ⬇️

We remain committed to the work we started and are continuing to make progress in establishing a mechanism to advance the 26 Calls to ACTion!

Interested in learning more about grant opportunities available through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)?

Join us for Grantee 101, a Brown Bag Lunch & Learn designed to provide an introduction to DCEO grants. The session will cover grant opportunities, prequalification, application requirements and other important grant information to help organizations better understand the grant process.

Wednesday, September 30
12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Lincoln Library – Carnegie Room- 326 S. 7th Street, Springfield

The event is presented by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in partnership with the City of Springfield and Lincoln Library.
Bring your lunch and join us to learn more about available grant opportunities!