Chambana Sun

On December 11, 2024, the Champaign County Community Coalition conducted its monthly meeting at the Holiday Inn Conference Center. The event took place from 3:30 to 5 PM and served as a platform for local law enforcement agencies to present their key achievements of the year. Attendees were informed about new initiatives, advanced equipment deployment, departmental promotions, educational advancements, and specialized training programs.

The Coalition also dedicated time to honor notable members of partner agencies during the "Recognitions and Acknowledgements" segment. Among those recognized were Beverly Baker, Chief Impact Officer of the United Way; Minnie Pearson, President of the NAACP Champaign County; and Dorothy David, City Manager of the City of Champaign.

The meeting included a review of significant initiatives undertaken by the Coalition in 2024. These included events like the Black Mental Health and Wellness Conference, Rising Stars program, Campus-Community Compact to Accelerate Social Justice Networking Events, Sons in Heaven Gala hosted by A Cry for You, and efforts to enhance police-community engagement.

Looking ahead to 2025, the Coalition plans to focus on building a trauma-informed community. They aim to host a Youth-Led and Focused Conference while continuing collaboration with Illinois Soul. Other priorities include supporting targeted police-community dialogue, promoting academic achievement and attendance, and bolstering support for Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women Business Enterprises (WBEs).

During the information-sharing session of the meeting, updates were provided by the Chamber of Commerce regarding the National Civic Bee in Champaign County. CU Tri also introduced their initiative "Healing Solutions for Healing Communities," sharing insights about an upcoming conference planned for Spring 2025.