Artist of the Month: Curtis Mayfield

Did you know one of the most influential soul musicians is from Illinois?

Curtis Mayfield was born in raised in Chicago, living in the Cabrini-Green housing development while attending school alongside his four siblings, mother and grandmother.

He received his first guitar at 10 years old, where he taught himself how to play while admiring blues signers such as Muddy Waters. At 16, he joined the music group “The Roosters” with his friend, Jerry Butler, and brothers, Arthur and Richard Brooks, where they sang and composed music.

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Arbor Day in Illinois

On April 25, communities throughout Illinois celebrate an American tradition dating back to 1887: Arbor Day.

Arbor Day is a holiday that encourages people to plant trees. Planting a tree represents the belief that the tree will provide our community with cleaner air, a habitat for wildlife, and natural beauty. Illinois’ first Arbor Day was held in 1887, but not until 1949 did the state legislature legally declare the last Friday in April as “Arbor and Bird Day.” The purpose of the legislation was to plant trees, shrubs and vines about homes, along the highways and on public grounds to show the value of trees and birds and the necessity of their protection, thus contributing to the comforts and attractions of the state of Illinois.

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Celebrating 50 years of Southern Illinois University’s Great Cardboard Boat Regatta

Each spring, thousands of spectators gather around Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Campus Lake to watch hundreds of participants compete in the annual Great Cardboard Boat Regatta.

Starting as a class project in 1974, the regatta, a cardboard boat race, has grown into a university-wide tradition that has attracted people from across the state, country and globe. By 1976, the race was open to anyone, including students from other universities and kids.

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Living Lands and Waters: Cleaning up our rivers

As Earth Day nears, it is important to recognize efforts to keep our planet healthier, safer and viable for the future. One organization, Living Lands and Waters, founded by Chad Pregracke, is a remarkable example of what happens when we come together to make our communities a better place to live.

Pregracke grew up in East Moline on the banks of the Mississippi River, witnessing firsthand the amount of trash and debris collected along the banks of the river from human activity. At 17, he decided to begin single-handedly removing the garbage. A few years later, in 1998, he founded Living Lands and Waters.

Since the founding of the organization, Pregracke, his crew and volunteers have conducted over 1,400 community cleanups on 25 rivers in 23 states, removed a remarkable 13.5 million pounds of garbage and planted over 2.1 million trees in their efforts to reclaim waterfronts.

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