Untold Stories
On January 16, the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation (HICF) announced Untold Stories, a $120,000 community engagement program to bring to life and share stories of underrepresented people in Macon County. The HICF is one of only three Illinois foundations receiving matching grant funds from The Lumpkin Family Foundation. Decatur Earthmover Credit Union and Healing Illinois also provided funding for the Untold Stories program.
The Untold Stories program’s vision is to promote a fuller understanding of history as a contribution to conversations about racial equity and social justice. This year-long program will focus on partnering with local historical/genealogical societies, libraries, schools, universities, museums, nonprofits, and churches to acknowledge and uncover untold history, support partnerships and build relationships, and develop understanding through education.
The first Untold Stories grant was awarded to Mt. Zion High School teacher Rich Hansen on Feb. 13. A $20,000 grant supported class projects for Mr. Hansen’s African American history class to research, design and build a new exhibit, or exhibits, for community display.
In June, Untold Stories grants supported two Juneteenth Celebrations: $8,000 to the Decatur Parks Foundation for the event at the Devon; and $5,000 to the African-American Cultural & Genealogical Society of Illinois for their events at the Decatur Club and Central Park.
In July, Untold Stories opened a discretionary grant program supporting educators who are actively promoting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, or those who seek to broaden DEI outreach, in their classrooms and schools. $29,025 was awarded.
In August, Untold Stories, named two annual Do Something Great awards to honor the legacies of Preston Jackson and Ellsworth Dansby, Jr.
Great Migration Video Project
Untold Stories committee member Benny Smith, Jr., owner The Suite 703, is conducting interviews for a special Untold Stories video production on the Great Migration to Decatur. The Great Migration was one of the largest movements of people in United States history. Approximately six million Black people moved from the American South to Northern, Midwestern, and Western states roughly from the 1910s until the 1970s.
Please contact Benny at b.smith@thesuite704.com if you were part of the Great Migration, or had relatives who were, and would like to be interviewed to share your families history.
Do Something Great Awards Honor Two Untold Stories Individuals to Preserve Legacies
Dr. Christina Shields was our first recipient of the Preston Jackson Arts Award. Sheryol Threewit, Jackson’s niece, presented Dr. Shields with her award. The award was named in Jackson’s honor as part of our commitment to celebrating Untold Stories and legacies of area individuals who have made significant historical contributions. One of America’s greatest artists—perhaps the quintessential artist of our time—Jackson is not just an internationally celebrated sculptor and painter; he’s a remarkable guitarist, teacher and martial artist—a master of every medium he touches. And he grew up in Decatur! A prolific artist and performer, Jackson confronts social issues boldly and directly, connecting the hard truths of American history to its present and future, anchored by the common thread of humanity.
Joe Roundtree and Chris Ellis were the first recipients of the Ellsworth Dansby Jr. Volunteer Service Award. Dansby was a native of Decatur. He was a graduate of Decatur High School and one of the first black men to graduate from Millikin University. He was the second black man to be sworn into the Army Air Force, the first enlisted man in the group to receive the rank of master sergeant during World War II, and a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the nation's first black military fighter pilots. After he returned home from the war, Danby campaigned for civil rights and racial integration. He was a member of the Decatur school board and served on the board of directors of the Decatur/Macon County Opportunities Corporation. Dansby passed on June 4, 1989, at the age of 74.
Untold Stories DEI Educator Grant Program
Untold Stories provided the following grant funding to support educators actively promoting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, or those who seek to broaden DEI outreach, in their classrooms and schools. The following grants were awarded in 2024:
- Jessica Cameron, Johns Hill Magnet School, DEI through the Visual Arts, $750
- Leslie Johnson, John's Hill Magnet School, DEI books, $750
- Amanda Reeve, Franklin Grove Elementary School, Little Learners DEI Books/Projects $875
- Jennifer Morrow, Eisenhower High School, Diversity EHS Music Libraries, $1,000
- Michael Homberg, Johns Hill Magnet School, Dia De Los Muertos Ofrendas Celebration, $1,500
- Joslyn Keathley/Jennifer Robertson, Montessori Academy for Peace, The Family Project, $1,550
- Megan Meyrick, American Dreamer STEM Academy, Take Flight Reading Initiative, $1,800
- Tom Miller, Johns Hill Magnet School, Underrepresented Composers in Band/Orchestra $1,800
- Rida Ellis, American Dreamer STEM Academy, HBCU College Visit/Career Week, $3,000
- David Barista, Eisenhower High School, Black History Month Art Exhibition, $3,000
- Hannah Sawyer, MacArthur High School, Empowering Urban Agriculture, $3,000
- Sara Nave, Maroa Forsyth Middle School, The Harlem Renaissance, $3,000
- Athena Pajer, Millikin University Black Student Union, $3,000
- Temethia Barbee Joyner, Montessori Academy for Peace, Enhancing Diversity Awareness, $3,000
Untold Stories Program Goals:
- Acknowledge and uncover untold history
- Support partnerships and build relationships
- Develop understanding through education
Untold Stories Advisory Committee:
- Chairwoman, Julia Roundtree Livingston, jlivingston0815@gmail.com
- Natalie Beck, HICF staff liaison
- Steve Grohne
- Justin Hampton
- Shelith Hansbro
- Pastor Matt Samuels
- Benny Smith, Jr.
- Mark Sorensen
- Stacey Young
