The Macomb Feminist Network (MFN), in partnership with the Western Illinois Dreamers (WID) and the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes (CDHC) will host a local discussion March 12 in Macomb to talk about local concerns and building a more resilient community.
The program, which is open free to the public, will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 12 in the Macomb City Hall Community Room. Macomb resident and Western Illinois University Professor Julia Albarracin-Green, who is the founder of Western Illinois Dreamers, was recently appointed to the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes (CDHC).
'The CDHC is delighted to visit Macomb and support local efforts to bolster public safety and increase community wellness,' said CDHC Executive Director Elana Kahn.
'The collaborative work of prevention, intervention and preparation are essential to ensuring that all community members can live with dignity and safety in our communities.' About the CDHC
The CDHC's goal is to identify and uproot sources of discrimination and bias at the source, while assisting with the development of resources, training, and information that allow for a swift and efficient response to hate-motivated crimes and incidents.
The fully-appointed CDHC consists of a chairperson and 20 additional members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Commission is complemented by an Executive Director and other CDHC staff positions housed within the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
About WID
Albarracin-Green founded the nonprofit Western Illinois Dreamers (WID), based in Macomb, in 2017 and the organization was incorporated in 2019 to empower immigrants and refugees across west-central Illinois. With its first $30,000 grant in early 2020 and a $539,218 grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) grant in late 2020, WID was able to provide rental assistance to immigrant and refugee families during the pandemic. The organization opened Welcoming Centers in Beardstown and Monmouth in 2021, expanded to Springfield and Peoria in 2022 and in 2024 achieved U.S. Department of Justice recognition, launching its first Immigration Legal Clinic to provide culturally competent legal support. The WID Welcoming Centers provide essential support, such as legal rights, education-related information, housing and resettlement assistance, eviction prevention, health outreach, DACA support, scholarships and emergency aid.
About the MFN
The Macomb Feminist Network was formally established in Fall 2001. The organization works for social justice to support women and to increase participation and involvement on local boards/commissions in the civic arena; works to ensure equal employment, educational opportunities, equity in pay and benefits; conducts research on and access to quality women’s health care; addresses political violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, harassment, degradation or discrimination, and advocates for reproductive choice and the Equal Rights Amendment.
