Vibrant communities matter.
They bring people together and create spaces for belonging, enrich our lives with music and art, and give us reasons to go outside and enjoy nature. Here are some ways Illinois researchers are fostering more vibrant communities.
Illinois research in the arts, science, literature, and more informed “The Whale,” a multimedia production shared with the public in five free showings. Local high school students also contributed to the project, which used dance, video projection, sound design, and art installation to explore the complex relationship between humans, animals, and ecosystems.
Q&A: Rebecca Walker, Urban and Regional Planning researcher at Illinois
What do you enjoy about the Champaign-Urbana area?
I love learning about the local environmental history! For example, the agricultural lands surrounding Champaign-Urbana were once wetlands that were drained to make way for agricultural and residential development. The landscape that seems so “natural” to us today is anything but.
Briefly describe your research.
Cities across the U.S. are characterized by environmental injustice, which means some communities have more access to environmental “goods” like clean air and parks, and others disproportionately bear the burden of environmental “harms.” My research aims to understand how policies such as redlining made this injustice and what we can do today to solve it.
What sparked your interest in this research?
My work is rooted in my connection to my community. Parks and greenspaces play such an important role in my life and the lives of everyone living in cities. I want everyone living in cities—regardless of race, class, or gender—to have access to the high-quality greenspaces that make us healthier and happier.
How do you hope your work impacts people?
Cities are going to be at the forefront of how we respond to climate change. I hope my research helps us understand the mistakes we made in the past so we can create a more just and more sustainable future.
Did you know?
Under-served communities in East Central Illinois are getting help getting online. In partnership with local organizations, Illinois is partnering with several municipalities and community organizations to address race and class privilege in broadband by increasing access to devices and hotspot connections. (Learn more below!)
Members of the disability community participate in every stage of research at the (dis)Ability Design Studio, from brainstorming to user-testing. As home to the oldest higher ed disability support program in the world, Illinois is the ideal place to develop new assistive tools and technologies – like the hands-free “wheelchair of the future.”
Did you know?
Free U. of I. courses in the humanities are offered to low-income adults in the East Central Illinois community through the Odyssey Project, which started in 2006. Students can earn up to eight transferable college credits in courses like history, literature, and philosophy. (Learn more below!)
“For over a decade, the university has been a valuable and consistent partner of The Urbana Free Library through the Champaign-Urbana Community Fab Lab. From running workshops that explore robotics, coding, and artistic creativity to offering technical expertise on equipment, the Fab Lab helps local youths explore and have fun with STEAM concepts.”
Lauren Chambers, Programming &
Outreach Manager, The Urbana Free Library
