If You Didn’t Know, Now You Know

Diversity and inclusion have never been a more important topic to our country or our local community.

Thanks to Decatur Earthmover Credit Union, all year we’ve been highlighting the diversity and inclusion in the central Illinois region. This month, we will be recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month and the start of the holiday season.

As part of NowDecatur’s “If You Didn’t Know, Now You Know” (presented by Decatur Earthmover Credit Union) campaign, we will be celebrating Black History Month, all February long.

We will kick off each week by sharing a historical fact that is not well known, and throughout the week, we will highlight Decatur public figures in the Black community.

Today, we want you to get to know Rebecca Crumpler. She is the first Black woman to become a doctor of medicine in the United States

Today, we want you to get to know American inventor, Garrett Morgan. He is credited with the creation of the caution signal(yellow light), and one of the earliest versions of a gas mask.

Today, we want you to get to know American pioneer, Claudette Colvin. Most people know about Rosa Parks, but few know of Colvin and the courage she displayed during the Civil Rights Movement.

Listen to the Podcast

Today, we want you to get to know Dr. Jarmese Sherrod. Dr. Sherrod is the President of SIMP INC, and she also serves as a professor at Richland Community College. Since her arrival in Decatur, she has been a leader in the community, and her contributions have helped elevate Decatur.

Dr. Sherrod would also like you to know …
“In honor of Black History Month and a part of SIMPs 20 year strategic plan, we are empowering youth in Cape Town, South Africa and taking a local team. Our team is excited about traveling July 18-24, 2022. During our weeklong stay, we will be teaching and tutoring students in low-income communities in general studies, hosting leadership and empowerment workshops, teaching financial literacy and history in a fun way, and leading a host of team-building activities and extracurricular activities that will bring joy to their hearts. And since S.I.M.P. is known for our sweet treats, we plan to spoil them with plenty of American treats as prizes for their participation.”

Macon Resources, Inc.

Macon Resources in Decatur is the biggest provider of services for adults diagnosed with a cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disability in the region. In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness, we would like to highlight the services they provide not only for developmentally disabled adults but for children as well.

Donate to MRI

Di de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos or “Day of the Dead” is a two-day holiday celebrated after Halloween primarily in Mexico. This holiday is celebrated in order to pay respects to loved ones, family, and friends who have passed away. These celebrations can be solemn, joyous, tearful, or humorous.

Dia De Los Muertos is best known for the decorated skulls placed on an altar. The altars are called “ofrendas”, or offerings, and the decorated skulls are “Calaveras” or ‘skulls’. In addition to the Calaveras, Aztec Marigolds and other flowers are placed on the altar as well as the deceased loved one’s favorite foods, drinks, and belongings. Oftentimes, pillows and blankets are also laid in front of the altars, so the dead have a place to rest after their long journey to the land of the living.

Atole, a warm cornmeal-based drink, is very popular to place on altars for loved ones as well as tequila or mezcal. The celebrations, tributes, and gifts aren’t only for the dead, the living exchange candy and dance to honor and interact with the spirits of their loved ones who have passed.

Dia De Los Muertos is not “Mexican Halloween”, although the two holidays have similar origins. Traditionally, other “Halloween” celebrations are a practice to fend off spirits, while Dia de los Muertos is a warm and joyous festival to welcome spirits.

This holiday is primarily a Mexican celebration, but many other cultures take part in similar customs as well. Many religious communities call this holiday “All Saint’s Day” or “All Soul’s Day” and celebrate by honoring the dead.

You can also celebrate this holiday respectfully by going to visit loved one’s gravesites, decorating an altar at home, or simply lighting a candle in their honor. Remember, this celebration is just that, a celebration. So, there is no need for tears or sorrow, welcome your loved one’s spirit to eat, drink, dance, and live again alongside you as they did in life.

Diwali

Over a BILLION people celebrate Diwali (di-wah-lee or di-vah-lee), a five-day “festival of lights” that celebrates the triumph of good over evil or lightness over darkness. November 4^th is recognized as Diwali for 2021 because it followers the lunar calendar.

Diwali originated in India and comes from the Hindu faith although it is also celebrated by Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists in other unique ways.

Due to the fact that there are so many faiths and cultures that celebrate Diwali, the holiday has more than one meaning. In northern India, Diwali celebrates King Rama, or Ramachandra (one of the incarnations of the god Vishnu), and his return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. During that time, it’s believed that he fought and defeated the demon king known as Ravana. In southern India, Diwali marks the day that Lord Krishna (a different incarnation of the god Vishnu) defeated the demon Narakasura.

Celebrating Diwali includes traditional clothing in bright, beautiful colors, lighting fireworks, and having lights, lamps, or candles illuminated all over the inside and outside of homes. Like many holidays especially this time of year, there are also worship services, feasts, and a gift exchange.

One of the most spectacular traditions of Diwali customs includes rangoli, which is the traditional Indian artwork using colorful sand, rice, or other materials to make very intricate designs. These designs are typically traditions passed down within families so it’s not uncommon to have specific designs unique to each family and are thought to bring good luck to the family and its members.

These customs and traditions are religiously and ancestrally important to these cultures. When taking part in the celebration of Diwali, be sure to be respectful and mindful of all that it involves.

Photo Credit: Reuters

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Diversity and inclusion have never been a more important topic to our country or our local community.

Thanks to Decatur Earthmover Credit Union, all year we’ve been highlighting the diversity and inclusion in the central Illinois region. This month, we will be recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month and the start of the holiday season.

Black History Month 2022

As part of NowDecatur’s “If You Didn’t Know, Now You Know” (presented by Decatur Earthmover Credit Union) campaign, we will be celebrating Black History Month, all February long.

We will kick off each week by sharing a historical fact that is not well known, and throughout the week, we will highlight Decatur public figures in the Black community.

Today, we want you to get to know Rebecca Crumpler. She is the first Black woman to become a doctor of medicine in the United States

Today, we want you to get to know American inventor, Garrett Morgan. He is credited with the creation of the caution signal(yellow light), and one of the earliest versions of a gas mask.

Today, we want you to get to know American pioneer, Claudette Colvin. Most people know about Rosa Parks, but few know of Colvin and the courage she displayed during the Civil Rights Movement.

Black History Month 2022 - Weekly Highlights

Listen to the Podcast

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Macon Resources, Inc.

Dia De Los Muertos

Di de los Muertos

Diwali

Diwali

Hispanic Heritage Month

Luis Peralta

Dr. Isaac Zuniga

Dr. Eduardo Cabrera

Celebrating Decatur's Diverse Athletes

Tony McClain

Moe Dampeer