Equity

The celebrated former TV journalist Garry Moore will give a presentation called “Why Black History and DEI Matter" tonight at the Laborers hall in Bloomington.

The Illinois Board of Higher Education is handing Illinois Wesleyan University more than $5 million for infrastructure. Illinois Wesleyan says it's not sure yet exactly how it will use the money.

A kickoff event takes place Thursday at the Minority Business Development Center in Eastland Mall.

The Ecology Action Center in Normal will get nearly $500,000 in federal grant money to grow more trees and study climate change vulnerabilities in the Bloomington-Normal community.

The grant money comes as part of President Joe Biden’s signature $1.2 trillion infrastructure package signed into law almost two years ago, and aims to promote gender equity and inclusion in the male-dominated field.

Lab Schools director Anthony Jones says said one way to boost diversity is better communication with potential students during the application period early in the year.

Dakesa Piña becomes the inaugural vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion at the private, liberal arts university that enrolls 1,600 students. The breadth of her role includes embedding DEI in academic units, workplace culture and facilities, plus supervising the existing Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Gov. JB Pritzker recently signed three bills into law designed to close equity gaps and expand access to higher education for underrepresented students.

OSF Healthcare has launched an equity initiative to address disparities in care.

Illinois State University's new Multicultural Center opened this month. ISU says it's part of its commitment to creating equitable and inclusive opportunities for students.