On occasion, our social justice awards selection committee receives a nomination that falls outside of our usual award parameters, and so that person or group goes unrecognized. But this year, we couldn’t let the opportunity pass to honor the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District for their work in fighting COVID-19, educating the public, and rolling out […]
Social Justice
Lifetime Achievement Award – Esther Patt
On occasion, our social justice awards selection committee faces a dilemma. We receive a nomination outlining contributions that span so many years and have made such a significant impact on our community that a standard award doesn’t seem adequate. That happened this year in the case of one nomination, and so we are pleased to […]
Meet This Year’s Social Justice Award Winners – Salt & Light
Salt and Light Ministries began in 2004 as a food and furniture pantry in Champaign. By 2014, however, its founders recognized the limit to their effectiveness: they were serving, but mostly in the sense of alleviating crisis in the short term. Study and reflection led them to a model they hoped would offer sustainable assistance […]
Meet This Year’s Social Justice Award Winners – Lucia Maldonado
This year’s recipient of the Community Individual Award, Lucia Maldonado, was described by her nominators as “a true community treasure,” and we couldn’t agree more. In her capacity as the Latino Parent Liaison for first the Champaign School District and now the Urbana School District, Maldonado has helped families navigate the difficulties of her constituency, […]
Meet This Year’s Social Justice Award Winners – Paign to Peace Founders
Taylor Blackwell, Naomi Dupree, Mayahuel Gutiérrez Malik, Ayan Harris, and Isabela Lleras will each receive the Student Individual Award. This diverse group of Champaign-Urbana students are committed to making a change in our community, striving to call out inequality when they see it, and lift the voices of those who face social injustices and discrimination. […]
Meet This Year’s Social Justice Award Winners – Key Club
Centennial High School Key Club, Student Organization winner, is honored for providing much-needed service to the Garden Hills Food Pantry in north Champaign. Many of the pantry’s usual volunteers are older and, therefore, more vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus so were unable to participate as they usually do. This left the pantry without enough hands […]
Tickets Now on Sale for 2021 Social Justice Awards Gala
Feeding the hungry, building bridges, and combating racism and poverty—these are just a few examples of the amazing work being done in our community that will be honored at the 2021 McKinley Foundation Social Justice Awards Gala. Held annually, the awards “celebrate students and community members who have demonstrated contributions and achievement in making our […]
Let’s Talk Movies: Minari on April 17
Join the McKinley Foundation’s film committee for a conversation about the film “Minari.” Using Zoom, a guided discussion will take place Saturday, April 17, 11:00 a.m. to Noon. We are pleased to have Yoonjung Kang, PhD Candidate, Department of Anthropology at UIUC join us to moderate a discussion about the film and Korean-American culture. This […]