Learning Our History Webinar Series: Creating Community: A History of African Americans in Champaign County, Part 1

Part 1, December 4, 2026
12:00-1:00pm CST
1.0 CEs per session for LCSW/LSW and LCPC/LPC
$10 per session for CEUs, FREE for no CEUs

Spanning more than 170 years, this four-part series explores the rich history of African American life in Champaign County. Beginning with some of the county’s earliest Black residents and continuing through generations of families who made Champaign County home, the series examines how African Americans built families, neighborhoods, churches, businesses, organizations, and other institutions while navigating racial prejudice, segregation, and unequal access to opportunities.

Drawing on local stories, historical records, and places throughout Champaign County, Dr. Barbara Suggs-Mason and Angela M. Rivers will illuminate both the challenges Black residents encountered and the many ways they created community, advocated for change, and contributed to the development of Champaign County. Across four sessions, participants will consider how this history continues to shape the places, institutions, and community relationships around us—and why understanding the experiences and contributions of African Americans is essential to understanding Champaign County today. The four sessions are designed as a sequence, with each session building on the content of the one before it without repeating material. However, you may attend any individual session without attending the others.

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