August 6, 2024 – Millikin University has been selected by Illinois Humanities to lead one of six Envisioning Justice Community Hubs. This program, founded in 2017, uses the arts and humanities to examine and reimagine the criminal legal system, fostering conversation and addressing issues of mass incarceration.
Envisioning Justice is collaborating with organizations and individuals across six Illinois communities impacted by mass incarceration: East St. Louis, Galesburg, Carbondale, Decatur, Bloomington-Normal, and Champaign-Urbana.
“It is an honor for Millikin University to be chosen as one of the Central Illinois Hubs for Illinois Humanities,” said Alex Miller, Professor at Millikin School of Theatre and Dance. “One of the Hub’s primary goals is to build a community focused on combating mass incarceration by routinely meeting to discuss priorities, needs, and actionable steps. Anyone interested in engaging in the discussion and/or the initiatives is invited to attend our second in-person event, to be held at Old King’s Orchard on August 21 from 6-8 p.m.”
Miller is the Executive Director of Shakespeare Corrected, a program that brings undergraduate students together with marginalized populations to create inclusive artistic experiences. Shakespeare Corrected operates within eight facilities throughout Macon County, including the Decatur Correctional Center (DCC), The Boys and Girls Club, and Macon Resources Inc (MRI). In 2024, Shakespeare Corrected performed “The Tempest.”
The selected hubs work with Illinois Humanities to bring visibility and engagement to organizations and programs addressing the impacts of mass incarceration and the criminal legal system. Each hub receives financial and capacity-building support and develops programming responsive to community needs. The hubs will gather annually for a statewide convening to share knowledge, build relationships, and advance best practices.
“At Illinois Humanities, we know the humanities are central to a just, creative, and connected state,” said Gabrielle Lyon, Executive Director of Illinois Humanities. “Envisioning Justice Hubs across the state work locally in ways that strengthen our collective well-being for all Illinoisians. This effort is a critical investment in partner-centered work to strengthen the state’s cultural ecosystem.”
Each community hub organization has been engaged in social justice work, public humanities, and the arts, taking a community-responsive approach. Over the next two years, hub communities will work closely with Illinois Humanities to build sustainable connections and capacity to address the impact of mass incarceration across the state.
