Take a look at the printed program for the launching conference, and explore below for session videos.
“The past and the future are linked: Introducing the Freedom Corridor” at Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois, February 2-3, 2024
Session 1 – Friday 7 pm — video
Introducing the Freedom Corridor: Why are we here?
Brittney Yancy, Freedom Corridor Organizing Committee (conference chair)
WELCOMES
Barbara A. Farley, President of Illinois College
Andy Ezard, Mayor of Jacksonville
Carolyn Farrar, Freedom Corridor Organizing Committee and outgoing president of the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Gerald McWorter/Abdul Alkalimat Freedom Corridor Organizing Committee and Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
PERFORMANCES
Solomon McWorter Leonard, Oberlin Conservatory and College ’26: Prelude to J.S. Bach’s Suite for Cello No. 3, performed on viola
My’Kayla Brown, Illinois College ’23: “Freedom” spoken word
Jiech Bel, Illinois College ’26: “March up to Freedom” poem
The Illinois College Concert Choir: “Lift Every Voice and Sing: The Black National Anthem”
Session 2 — Saturday 9-10:30 — video
New Philadelphia and the Freedom Corridor
WELCOMES
Gerald McWorter/ Abdul Alkalimat, Freedom Corridor Organizing Committee
Richard J. Durbin, U.S. Senator (by video)
Catharine O’Connell, Provost, Illinois College
Philip E. Bradshaw, New Philadelphia Association
Terrence Martin, Illinois State Museum
Mike Ward, National Park Service
Brian Mitchell, Freedom Corridor Organizing Committee and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Jenny Barker-Devine, Illinois College (chair)
Session 3 – Saturday 10:45-Noon — video
Memory institutions: The museums of the Freedom Corridor
Nalo Michell, Freedom Corridor Organizing Committee and Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum
Art Wilson, Freedom Corridor Organizing Committee and Jacksonville African American History Museum
Earl Pursley, Pittsfield County Historical Society/East School Museum
Marynel Corton, Barry Historical Museum
Faye Dant, Freedom Corridor Organizing Committee and Jim’s Journey: The Huck Finn Freedom Center (Hannibal)
Alberta Robinson, Freedom Corridor Organizing Committee (chair)
Session 4 – Saturday 12:15-1 — video
Emily Pursley, Illinois College ‘23, presents her capstone project “Telling a freedom story: The preservation and interpretation of New Philadelphia”
Session 5 – Saturday 1:15-2:30 — video
Education in the Freedom Corridor: How do we teach the freedom narrative?
Joe Brewer, Cuba (IL) High School
Bryan Renfro, John Wood Community College
Brittney Yancy, Freedom Corridor Organizing Committee and Illinois College
Kate Williams-McWorter, Freedom Corridor Organizing Committee (chair)
Session 6 – Saturday 2:45-4:00 — video
Freedom Corridor community support: What is needed from public and private policy?
Tim Good, National Park Service Lincoln Home Site
Larry A. McClellan, Illinois Underground Railroad
Terrell Dempsey, Quincy Underground Railroad Museum
Doris Turner, State Senator, 48th District
Gerald McWorter/Abdul Alkalimat, Freedom Corridor Organizing Committee (chair)