CULTURE & ART
THE POWER
OF THE HUMANITIES
COLLECTIVE VOICE & STRENGTH
UNITED FOR ILLINOIS
Change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when people unite behind a shared purpose
Across Illinois and beyond, the U of I System is mobilizing a powerful community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners who turn ideas into action and action into impact.
From campus quads to the statehouse floor, advocates champion access, innovation, and opportunity. They testify before legislators, collaborate with community leaders, and lead initiatives that strengthen health, education, and the economy statewide — all rooted in equity, access, and the public good.
Together, they advance the message that higher education matters and ensure Illinois’ future is built on opportunity, fairness, and collective strength.
MUSIC AS CHAMPIONING STUDENTS, EXPANDING ACCESS
The U of I System’s Illinois Connection network showed its strength in FY2025, urging legislators in Springfield and Washington, D.C., to protect access, preserve excellence, and keep Illinois higher education strong. More than a network, Illinois Connection is a trusted partner and powerful voice advancing equity, opportunity, and student success across the state.
44,000+
Alumni, students, faculty, and staff joined together in advocacy efforts this year
62,000+
Total advocacy actions taken
RESTORING FREEDOM
After 124 years collectively lost behind bars, justice finally prevailed. The University of Illinois Springfield’s Illinois Innocence Project (IIP) secured the full exoneration of six men wrongfully convicted of a 1987 Chicago murder, marking one of the largest mass exonerations in Illinois history.
Lowell Higgins-Bey, Harry Rodriguez, Michael McCastle, Fernando Gomez, and brothers Robert and Gregorio Cardona were teenagers when they were coerced into false confessions. Decades later, post-conviction DNA testing—championed by IIP attorneys, staff, and students — proved what they had said all along: they were innocent.
Though Rodriguez did not live to see his name cleared, his son stood in court on his behalf as the men were finally declared free.
This milestone brings IIP’s total to 33 exonerations statewide, proof of the university’s enduring commitment to truth, justice, and the power of persistence.
POLICY IN ACTION
At the Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA), research drives decisions that shape everyday life across Illinois. IGPA brings academic rigor to public service, translating complex data into actionable insight for state leaders.
Through its Partnerships for Evidence-based Policy Initiative, faculty experts help agencies confront challenges in education, health, and economic stability. Its interactive data hub equips journalists, researchers, and legislators with tools to make smarter, more transparent decisions.
By turning research into results, IGPA transforms data into decisions that touch every community. Its work exemplifies how the U of I System fuels progress rooted in integrity, inclusion, and the public good — shaping a future where informed leadership benefits everyone.
CHANGING LIVES AT SPRINGFIELD HOUSING AUTHORITY
For more than 40 years, Jackie L. Newman has strengthened Springfield through her leadership at the Springfield Housing Authority (SHA). As executive director for two decades, she oversees 900 housing units and 2,400 vouchers, ensuring families have safe, affordable places to live.
Under her guidance, SHA expanded senior housing, rehabilitated properties, and built programs that promote education and financial stability. A proud University of Illinois Springfield alumna and Illinois Connection advocate, Newman credits her education for preparing her journey from receptionist to executive director. She continues to lead with heart, proving that community improvement isn’t just about buildings; it’s about creating opportunity and lasting change for generations to come.
DATA DRIVES DECISIONS
“It’s useful to see how college access can contribute to upward mobility but also sobering to see how far we still have to go.”
Sarah Cashdollar, associate director, IWERC Research
The U of I System’s Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative (IWERC) and DPI are using research to close Illinois’ opportunity gap. IWERC’s Illinois High School to Career study found that graduates with college degrees earn 2.5 times more, nearly $40,000 annually, than peers with only a diploma. Yet disparities persist across race, gender, and income.
To address those gaps, DPI launched a first-of-its-kind study mapping Chicago’s tech ecosystem, analyzing how to better align workforce training with employer demand while expanding access to high-paying tech jobs. Through research guiding workforce development and policy, the U of I System is shaping a more equitable, tech-ready Illinois.