Illinois Youth Media: Recent Episodes
Illinois Public Media - WILL
Our Journey: Stories of Desegregation and Community in Champaign-Urbana was created by seven African American girls from Franklin Middle School who spent their 2003/2004 school year working with public radio station, WILL, to collect oral histories from their elders and weave them into a compelling story of social and historical significance.
Honesty Smith interviews her brother, Envision Smith, about the difficulties he overcame in school.
In this final episode, Whispering As-salaamu Alaikum, we focus on how 9/11 impacted the lives of Muslims across the country and locally in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. We cover the struggles that many Muslims experienced due to 9/11 and how they have overcome these challenges and continue to thrive in America today.
In episode three of "800 Miles from Ground Zero: 9/11's Impact on Central Illinois," we learn some of the different ways in which the United States as a whole changed, including information about the PATRIOT Act, new flight and travel regulations, and homeland security.
One of the direct results of 9/11 was America intervening in the Middle East through the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Despite having strong support when they first started, the wars resulted in intense controversies throughout the United States. This episode features multiple veterans, anti-war activists, and experts to understand the different perspectives on the post-9/11 wars.
The first plane hit the World Trade Center in NYC at 7:46 CST in the morning in 2001. In this first episode of 800 Miles from Ground Zero: 9/11's Impact on Central Illinois listeners hear memories from this day and the weeks following from a variety of people currently living in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois who recount their experiences during a time that horrified, traumatized, and brought together a nation.
War. Poverty. Politics. Economic and educational opportunities. These are some of the reasons people from around the world have come to central Illinois as asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants. Hear their stories of overcoming and persevering in Immigrants' Journeys: Challenges and Opportunities in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois a new documentary by Uni High.
Starting as a young activist in Iran, Professor Faranak Miraftab has overcome many trials and tribulations in her life, finding asylum in Norway at age 23 and eventually coming to Champaign-Urbana.
Prosper Panumpabi has always offered help to those who need it. Since coming to the United States from the Democratic Republic of Congo with his wife and six children over 15 years ago, he has worked hard to support other immigrants in their journeys to find a new home.
Members of the Champaign-Urbana community explain how gun-violence devastates a society and discuss organizations that offer support to victims experiencing trauma.
Members of organizations including Rattle the Stars and Moms Demand action describe the prevalence of gun-related suicides around the country, and how they are working to prevent them in Champaign-Urbana,IL.
Community members in Champaign, Illinois describe efforts to reduce gun violence at the state-level, and share their opinions on the balance between safety and liberty that various gun legislation seeks to achieve.
Groups in Champaign, Illinois trying to end gun violence describe their programs and efforts.
More Than a Bus Ride: Desegregating Champaign Schools examines the process and implications of the 1968 plan that desegregated public schools in Champaign, Illinois.
Ben Mueller of Champaign, Illinois discusses his journey as an immigrant advocate, during which he’s done everything from getting a Spanish-speaking radio program off the ground to organizing protests.
Professor Ann Abbott talks about how her role as an educator has brought her into close contact with students of DACA status, as well as how she teaches people to challenge the idea of the USA as a monolingual nation.
For over twenty years, students at University Laboratory High School have worked with Illinois Public Media to produce audio documentaries covering a wide range of issues. One project has taken them further afield than usual: to Clarksdale, Mississippi and other Delta communities, to see how Habitat for Humanity and other organizations are bringing greater opportunity and renewed purpose to people's lives. This is part two; for part one, click here.
For over twenty years, students at University Laboratory High School have worked with Illinois Public Media to produce audio documentaries covering a wide range of issues. Their latest project has taken them further afield than usual: to Clarksdale, Mississippi and other Delta communities, to see how Habitat for Humanity and other organizations are bringing greater opportunity and renewed purpose to people's lives.
Black and white couples and same-sex couples living in central Illinois share their personal struggles, triumphs and responses to familial and societal prejudice towards their marriages.
In the final installment of Breaking Barriers we meet Kathleen Robbins, a transgender woman
In part three of Breaking Barriers we hear about the stories of non-traditional couples who have chosen to have children and how their marriage has affected their children’s upbringing
In part two of Breaking Barriers we hear how the AIDS epidemic helped galvanize gay rights activists in the United States
In part one of Breaking Barriers we hear from several LGBTQ residents in central Illinois about their experiences with religion.