Vol. 9 January-February, 2017

Urbana Adult Education From the Director’s Chair

Talking with Samuel Byndom ______The Class Act

HEALTH AND LIFE

Why It Is Important to Keep Up with Your Health…

By Gwenda Harris

Whether you are young or old, it is so important for us to Dr. Byndom get regular check-ups, blood work, and other medical Director of Urbana Adult Education treatments done - mammograms, cancer testing, yearly exams, By Jonathan Kenoly and etc. Just think of how many people die each year, simply Bruce Stennis because they didn’t go to the doctor and didn’t get tested for years and years. Please get yourself and your kids tested; get We asked Dr. Byndom how it is that the check-ups, and take care of yourselves. staff of Urbana Adult Education pushes forward with innovative ideas to help The reason I say this is because my son, who is 30 years students achieve success as they work of age, didn’t think he needed to go see a doctor. One day, he toward graduation and beyond. He got sick and finally went to the doctor. He found out that he reported that we are creative, goal- didn’t have a cold – it was Hepatitis-C. He had been infected for oriented, and logical when we plan; we years and didn’t know it. His kidneys began to stop working and are not afraid to think outside the box. he had to be put on dialysis. He was told that he could die. It A case in point is our recent switch to a was so hard seeing my child laying there when all it would have credit-based system for student taken to prevent this was to see the doctor once or twice a year. transcripts. Our growing list of elective It is also a good idea to get a second opinion from a class offerings to enrich student learning is another example. different doctor, or even a third opinion, so you can know for Additionally, we are continually striving sure if you have an illness, and find out what the best treatment to create new business partnerships for is for you. And please ask your doctor questions about your student internships. We have been health! How are you going to learn if you don’t research the contacting and negotiating with local things that they say are going on with your body? We all need businesses including: more knowledge about healthcare. Take care, get that check-up,  The Urbana Park District, and may God be with us all.  Salt and Light,  The Windsor Road Church of Christ, *Healthcare resources follow on page 2.  Dr. Preston Williams Elementary Index School, From the Director’s Chair pg 1 ESL Students Write Book Reports pg 11-12 Health and Life pg 1 Cultural Exchange pg 13  The Mahomet Forest Preserve and Healthcare Resources pg 2-3 From Pip to Fledge pg 14-15 others. Hot Pop pg 4-5 A Note of Appreciation pg 15 Life changer of the Year pg 5 Class Act Staff pg 15 These internships will provide great Staff Spotlight, Marcellos Gray pg 6 Staff Spotlight, Arlene Anderson pg 7 learning opportunities for students. Staff Spotlight, Edwin Vega pg.8 Knowing Your Rights pg 9-10 1 Healthcare Resources By Olivia Whitman

The Champaign-Urbana community is fortunate to have several affordable options for good quality healthcare. In addition to the two larger clinics, Carle Clinic and Christie Clinic, there are numerous independent physician practices and several no-cost or low-cost clinics to choose from.

Frances Nelson Health Center (217) 356-1558 819 Bloomington Road Champaign, IL 61820 [email protected]

Frances Nelson Health Center provides convenient care, a walk-in clinic, school and work physicals, eye clinic, lab services, prenatal care, health education, and mental health counseling. They provide discounts determined by income and have interpreters in Spanish, Mandarin and French. The types of insurance the Health Center accepts are: Medicare, All Kids, Medicaid, Blue Shield, Health Alliance Connect, other private insurance, Molina, and self-pay patients are also accepted. Because they recognize that a serious illness is sometimes a surprise, emergency appointments can be made quickly and there is a walk-in clinic for convenient care. Frances Nelson operates Monday through Friday.

Smile Healthy Dental Center, an extension of the Frances Nelson Clinic, provides extractions and fillings, cleanings, restorations, full exams, and dental health education. The Dental Center was created in 2002. The Dental Center accepts private insurance, Medicaid and self-pay patients.

Frances Nelson Health Center was created in the 1960’s in order to help lower the number of infant deaths among African-Americans. It is now used to provide medical services to the underserved in Champaign- Urbana primary health care. They accept new donations of toothbrushes, toothpaste, disinfecting wipes and re-sealable bags. They do not take medication donations. There are opportunities for volunteering and internships, so call them if you’d like to help.

Avicenna Community Health Center (217) 403 5498 819 Bloomington Road Champaign, IL 61820 [email protected]

Avicenna Community Health Center is a free clinic for people who are uninsured or underinsured in our community. The clinic is run by a team of medical professionals, students and volunteers. Avicenna’s mission statement is:  To provide healthcare for the uninsured and underinsured  To engage in preventive healthcare through community health screenings  To promote health awareness through education and information dissemination.

2 The Avicenna Center was founded by the local Muslim Community, an outgrowth of the Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center. Although the clinic emanates from a faith based organization, Avicenna serves those in need of medical services regardless of race, color, national origin, religion or lifestyle. This clinic does not offer emergency services, dental or mental health care; and is not a resource for cancer treatments, HIV or STD testing, children's health services, or immunizations. But, Avicenna specializes in care for:

Physical exams Diabetes High cholesterol Hypertension (high blood pressure) Thyroid issues Coughs and colds Skin issues Diet and exercise counseling (lifestyle management) Social Work services Prescription assistance services and more.

If Avicenna cannot provide you with what you need, then Avicenna will help you figure out where you can go for help.

Promise Healthcare at Champaign County Christian Health Center (217) 402-5683 1400 W. Park St. Urbana, IL 61801 http://www.promisehealth.org/

Champaign County Christian Health Center is a not-for-profit health center which was founded in 2003. Like Avicenna, this clinic is an outgrowth of a faith community. Their mission is to show and share the love of Jesus Christ to the residents of Champaign County by providing holistic, free, and quality health care services.

Promise Healthcare at the CRC can be found behind Presence Covenant Medical Center near their emergency department. The clinic welcomes new patients and walk-ins. The hours of operation for this clinic are:

Tuesdays and Wednesdays 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM “Whether you are young or old, it is so important for us to get Thursdays 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM regular check-ups, blood work, and other medical treatments done - mammograms, cancer testing, yearly exams, etc. Just Fridays 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM think of how many people die each year, simply because they didn’t go to the doctor and didn’t get tested for years and years.

Please get yourself and your kids tested; get check-ups, and take care of yourselves.” --- Gwenda Harris

3 Hot Pop By Donnika Caldwell

It’s getting cold outside but the nation’s heart is burning hotter with each day; from people protesting against Trump’s “Victory” with Safety Pins to Rob Kardashian’s new found happiness with his new daughter. So, snuggle up with a warm cup of whatever people drink in the winter and a copy of this issue’s “HOT POP” article in our very own Class Act.

Safety DePINs on Us

Recently, violent and disturbing acts have been occurring due to President Donald J. Trump’s election. While I may be the last to say Trump is innocent, these acts of hate crimes were not done in his name or by his hand. It has been strongly stated, however, that Trump’s “outward messages” may have influenced these crimes. It seems to a majority of the nation that Trump’s campaign allowed (and revealed) the bigots and the ignorant among us and allowed them to come out into the open. On the one hand, Trump did not personally direct them, while on the other hand, he has not yet done much to discourage these acts and calm the public. In fact, Donald John Trump was quoted at a Las Vegas Rally saying, “I’d like to punch [a peaceful protester] in the face.” CNN politics had this to say about it: “Trump claimed the protester was "nasty as hell" and accused the man of trying to punch the security officers, forcing him (the protester) out of the rally, though the man did not appear to be fighting off those officers.” (CNN.com/Politics) In order to spread a passive and concerned message (peacefully, mind you) people all over the world and country have begun wearing a safety pin. The safety pin represents a way to hold something together while a solution is being found. It wishes for the safety of everyone, man or woman, gay or straight, black or white. So, next time you find a safety pin, rock it on your shirt! Pin on our future of safety! Check out President Trump’s ridiculous @realdonaldtrump.

Once upon a Kardashian

Yes, the beautiful baby girl is here and she is a dream - literally. Dream Renee Kardashian was born to and Rob Kardashian on November 10th, 2016. (She’s a Scorpio!) The world thought this would be the one Kardashian child to be low-key. NOPE! Dream was not only born as her mother was doing a “”, but she already has , , and twitter accounts. You can see Dream’s first photo on her Instagram and many others (@dream). They paid for her to have that handle...really? Did I mention she was born with eyebrows on fleek and real, natural lips? (No shade Kylie, just Tea.) The name is in typical Kardashian fashion, but it actually has a meaning! (Right, Kim?) Chyna and Rob say that Dream was their “dream come true”, a dream they knew they’d share. Whether this will turn out sanely or not is questionable or whether it becomes a miracle (or not), we can all agree that Rob and Chyna will change the Kardashian baby game. Continued on page 4

4 Hot Pop continued from page 3…

Hamming It Up So, this article may be a bit biased, but stay with me! Hamilton, the American musical, can teach you a thing or two about, well, everything. “’Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’. We fought for these ideals; we shouldn’t settle for less. These are wise words; enterprising men quote ‘em. Don’t act surprised, you guys, cuz I wrote ‘em.” (Jefferson, previously played by Daveed Diggs in Hamilton) It’s a beautiful blend of modern music and traditional ideals, all while telling the story of our Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton, and his life journey. The musical was written by Lin Manuel Miranda, affectionately known by us fan members as LMM. He also wrote the music for Moana! Talk about accomplished! If you haven’t gotten to hear any of Hamilton, then hop on YouTube and check out a few songs. I’ll put out there my top three recommendations: “The Story of Tonight” (original and reprise) which are really touching: “Say No to This”, and RnB jam that anyone but Hamilton can get with, “Washington on your Side”, a nice little ditty to get stuck in your head! Just listen - you’ll thank me later!

Life Changers of the Year at UAEC

UAEC’s very own Arlene Anderson and Peggy Buck were nominated for Life Changer of the Year Awards for the school year 2016-2017. National Life Group Life Changer of the Year is a program funded by the National Life Group Foundation to “recognize school employees who exemplify excellence, positive influence and leadership.” If you’d like to view the written nominations for Ms. Anderson or Ms. Buck, visit www.LifeChangeroftheyear.com. You can also view other nominees in our area, leave a comment on our nominees’ profiles, or make a new nomination. Thank you to Edwin Vega, Marcellos Gray, and Dr. Amanda Harris for taking the time and energy to make these nominations!

5 Staff Spotlight: Getting to Know…

Marcellos Gray – A Rockin’ Runner

Interview by Crystal Collins and Gwenda Harris

Introduction: Mr. Marcellos Gray is the Development and Finance Coordinator here at UAE. When he’s not working on bookkeeping, payroll, and establishing important collaboration opportunities for UAEC in the community, you might find him running (literally) around C- U – or any city!

Q: What is something you enjoy doing outside of work?

A: I like to run. I run half-marathons, or 13.1-mile races (a full marathon is 26.2 miles). Running a half-marathon is challenging. You typically have to prepare by training for 2-3 months leading up to the race. This past October, I ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Brooklyn, New York. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series sponsors runs throughout the country. What’s neat about it is that they always have a band playing at the race, and there is always a big concert and celebration afterwards. I like their organization and how they combine music and entertainment with running. A tracker is placed on your shoe while you run to measure your time and speed during the race. My goal for this particular half marathon was to run it in 2 hours and 10 minutes and I ended up

Crossing the finish line in Brooklyn, NY finishing in 2 hours and 12 minutes. After the race, runners can view their official time and compare their results on runrocknroll.com

Q: How do you feel after accomplishing a half marathon?

A: At 47, it feels good to still get out there and run for leisure, recreation, and fitness. I’m committed to staying healthy – that’s the key. I feel like a healthier person afterwards.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who is interested in running a half marathon?

A: First, talk to your physician to make sure that it’s a good goal for you to have. Then, google different race clubs in your area. Race clubs are training groups for beginning runners that need support. You could also volunteer at a half marathon to get an idea of how it works – that’s how I was introduced. Anyone can volunteer. After you research different races online and register for the race of your choice, make a commitment to it and just have fun with it! Racing is not about time or performance, but about fun and completion.

Way to go, Mr. Gray!

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Staff Spotlight: Getting to Know…

Arlene Anderson – A Life Changer

Interview by Kaylee-Ann Hopkins

Arlene Anderson is the Director of Student Services at the Urbana Adult Education Center (UAE). Arlene has been working at UAE for about 23 years now. She absolutely enjoys her job and working with all the students to help them achieve their goals, especially those students who are having a hard time. Arlene is from Champaign, Illinois. She attended both Centennial and Central High Schools. After high school, she went on to college at Parkland where she received her Associate's Degree. She then went on to Eastern Illinois University where she received her Bachelor's and Master’s Degrees. Her Master's Degree, which she values most, is in Education (Guidance and Counseling).

Some of Arlene’s hobbies include: reading, counseling, watching Broadway plays and watching movies - her favorite movie is Godfather Pt. 1. She really enjoys watching movies about Black History, as well. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her husband whom she has been with for over 36 years. She also likes going to church and taking Sunday afternoon naps, but the majority of her time is spent at work. Here are a few other interesting things about Arlene: she has been to 34 U.S. states, plus the countries of Mexico and Canada; she is motivated by the sunshine and other people’s happiness; she enjoys reading Mary Higgins Clark novels; and her greatest fear is mice.

As far as Mrs. Anderson’s family goes, her parents were together for 67 years before her father died. They had 9 children and she was the middle child; there are six children remaining. She has three children of her own – two daughters and one son. Arlene became a parent at a very young age (16). Being a teen parent was very rough on her and was also the reason for her transition from Centennial to Central High School. She now has nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She considers her family to be very supportive and close. They often have get-togethers where they have huge family dinners, celebrate birthdays, and (in the summer) have themed cook outs.

When speaking to staff member, Ms. Tarawallie, she described Arlene as “intelligent, nice, caring, and honest”. Another staff member described Mrs. Anderson as “impactful”. After speaking with her yesterday, I would like to add that she is very giving as well, especially towards her students. She puts her time into helping and supporting her students which is something not everyone does. She also provides food for her students since the Urbana Adult Education Center does not always have the funds for those items.

Arlene has so far had a very good and blessed life, even through the hard times. She said she uses all of the experiences in her life and channels them into her counseling. Mrs. Anderson even received a ‘Life Changer of the Year’ award while working her dream job (counseling). As far as Urbana Adult Education goes, Arlene says, “It’s a great program that provides people of all ages with an opportunity to reach their goals, and has wonderful staff members to help students achieve them”.

7 Staff Spotlight: Getting to Know…

Edwin Vega: Transition Coach Interview by Kaylee-Ann Hopkins

Edwin Vega is a Transition Coach at the Urbana Adult Education Center. Mr. Vega went to school at the University of Oregon and graduated in 2004. He also attended the University of Illinois. He received his master’s degree in history and is now working with students of all ages to help finish what they started, their high school diplomas. He so very much likes his job as a transition coach and enjoys working with the staff and students.

Edwin is originally from , - he grew up there with his mother, father, and younger brother. He describes his family as being very loving, supportive, hardworking, and he loves them wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, Edwin doesn't get to see his family very often since he now lives in Illinois and they remain in California. Vega said there was never a dull moment when growing up in Los Angeles. He was very active both at school and in his community. He did lots of volunteering and participated in wrestling, cross country, and track.

In Edwin’s free time away from work, he enjoys listening to music, reading, writing poetry, yoga, and taking walks. He enjoys taking a good nap after work and laying back and watching television - the kinds of things we all enjoy. Something Edwin also enjoys is creating silence by going into public spaces and consciously remaining silent and being anonymous, not engaging others. This is something I have never personally tried before, but I might. Creating silence might just be the remedy to our fast-paced, digital, stressed-out lives. Edwin’s dream job is to be a doctor and cure the sick. He has a couple of other things he hopes to achieve in his life; he wishes to someday be a sushi artisan and to visit Montreal, Canada. Don’t you wonder why Montreal? Start up a conversation and ask him!

For people considering the decision of coming to the Urbana Adult Education Center, I’m happy to report that Edwin Vega welcomes you and is glad to help! And for anyone having a hard time, Edwin’s piece of advice is to, “Take a deep breath; go get some of your favorite ice cream; take another deep breath; and remember tomorrow is a new day”. If you want to have a good conversation on just about any topic, Edwin Vega is your man; he has eclectic tastes and is well-read on many topics. Get to know Edwin Vega!

“Take a deep breath; go get some of your

favorite ice cream; take another deep breath; and remember tomorrow is a new day.”

Try creating silence.

8 Knowing Your Rights in a Changing Political Climate

A Presentation by Dr. Amanda N. Harris

In November of 2016, Dr. Amanda Harris, Urbana Adult Education’s English Language Acquisition Coordinator, gave a presentation to students and staff about learning to protect our human and constitutional rights, regardless of immigration status.

Dr. Harris began her presentation by having students use iPads to play an interactive game on the website “Kahoot.” Students were able to test their knowledge about constitutional rights by answering true/ false questions and then discussing the answers aloud.

Basic Civil Rights and Guidelines

The National Immigration Law Center advises that, “No matter who is president, everyone living in the U.S. has certain basic rights under the U.S. Constitution. Undocumented Immigrants have these rights too. It is important that we all assert and protect our basic rights.”

Local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Trends

 Raids, or redadas, are more frequent at the beginning of the year.  ICE usually comes in the morning when people are leaving for work.  ICE often intercepts people at the courthouse too.  Under the Secure Communities and the PEP (Priority Enforcement Program) ICE has prioritized capturing people with DUIs and other minor offenses.  The majority of people caught up in the raids are not listed as priorities; they are uninformed and unprotected relations of people targeted as priorities.  Detainees are usually sent to jails in IL, and later to other jails that rent out beds to ICE in other states, pending deportation.  Urbana Law Enforcement has not cooperated directly with ICE under recent programs, though this may change.

What UAEC Students Should Know

 You have a right to remain silent.  Do not open your door. Once you open the door, defending your rights becomes more difficult.  Do not answer questions about yourself or others. If they say they have a warrant, do not open the door. Have them slide it under the door for you to review.

9 Contingency Plans

You may be a member of a population that may be profiled and targeted, and you should know your rights and make a household plan.  You should have a central location for all important documents, lawyer contact information, and ATM pin numbers for family members in case of detention.  You should have phone numbers of family members and child care providers memorized.  You should have an attorney or community resource person‘s phone number on hand in case you are detained.  If you are on medication or have a diagnosed medical condition, have all prescription information on your person in order to gather and/or obtain medication if detained.

Bust Card from the NILC ACLU Bust Card

Websites for helpful information:

ACLU on immigration rights and due process: https://www.aclu.org/issues/immigrants-rights/ice-and-border-patrol-abuses

Your rights on a phone app (eng and span): http://unitedwedream.org/thank-deportation-defense-card-handy-phone/

National Immigration Law Center (with list of online resources): https://www.nilc.org/get-involved/community-education-resources/know-your-rights/

Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum: http://immigration-forum.blogspot.com/

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: https://www.weareoneamerica.org/human-rights-immigrant-rights-fact-sheet

10 Intermediate ESL Students Write Book Reports By Gwenda Harris & Kylie Mercer

The evening Intermediate ESL students, taught by BuuLinh Quach, each read a book of their choice throughout the fall semester. As a final project, they were asked to write a book report. The two students pictured below won first prize for their reports, and were each awarded a gift card for their hard work!

Christiam Muñoz is from Bogotá,

Colombia. He came to the U.S. to do an internship at the University of Illinois. Christiam obtained his bachelor’s degree in animal science

in Colombia. He continues to study animal science, and he has a two-year contract with UIUC to work in the animal science lab and

experiment with different types of animal food. For his book report, Christiam chose to read the book Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. While he

says that the book was a bit hard to read, because the story was moving a bit slowly at first, he said that he used his imagination to Mical Tshala is from the D.R. Congo. She won understand it better. Overall he liked the book the lottery to come to the U.S. as an immigrant. better than the movie! Christiam says that if you She is married and has five children, and she are learning English, and you want to read a was a nurse in the D.R. Congo. She is hoping to book, try reading a book for teenagers, since learn more English so that she can further her those are a bit simpler. This will help you develop education and get a nursing degree in the English reading skills. . For her book report, Mical chose to read the book Sunny Sweet Is Not So Sorry by Jennifer Ann Mann. She enjoyed the book and is looking forward to reading more books in English in the future!

Where in the World?

Democratic Republic of Congo Colombia

11 Enjoy Mical’s book report below!

12 The Cultural Exchange – Appreciate the Differences – Learn a Phrase to Share By Brendan Wells

People from all around the world wind up in Urbana, Illinois, some who don‘t even speak a certain language such as English; but, we should all be able to communicate and agree on one thing: Life Is Good. Each newsletter we will present a common English phrase in several different languages. The newsletter staff would like to encourage all of our readers to try out a new

Theknowledgetree.com phrase, start a conversation with another student, welcome the visitors and newcomers to our community. This month’s phrase is: Happy New Year!

Language Phrase Pronunciation English Happy New Year! German Frohes neues Jahr! French Bonne année! Spanish ¡Feliz año nuevo! Polish Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku! Irish Bhliain nua sásta! Croatian Sretna Nova godina! Chinese 新年快乐! Xīnnián kuàilè Czech Šťastný nový rok! Afrikaans Gelukkige Nuwe Jaar! Swahili Heri ya mwaka mpya! Russian С новым годом! sunnat jadidat saeida سنة جديدة سعيدة Arabic Greek Ευτυχισμένο το νέο έτος! Korean 새해 복 많이 받으세요! saehae bog manh-i bad-euseyo Turkish Mutlu Yıllar! Vietnamese Chúc mừng năm mới! Japanese 明けましておめでとうござ Akemashiteomedetōgozaimasu います! Italian Felice anno nuovo!

13 From Pip to Fledge – The World’s Most Popular Bald Eagle Family

If you’ve been at UAE recently, you may have noticed the computer in the testing area that displays a live webcam feed of a bald eagles’ nest. As you watch the happenings of the nest, you are not alone – millions of people are also viewing the live feed! Take a break from the ordinary and behold the wonders of nature.

The Eagle Cam can be found on http://www.dickpritchettrealestate.com/eagle-feed.html (or just google “Southwest Florida Eagle Cam”). The nest is located in Fort Myers, Florida, and the “Cam” was set up by Dick Pritchett Real Estate in October of 2012, making 2016-2017 the fifth season that the nest has been filmed live. If you watch the feed, you will see two adult bald eagles, named “Harriet” and “M15”, and their baby eaglet, which has yet to be named.

Back in 2012, Harriet (the mother of the nest) and her original mate, “Ozzie” raised their first 2 eaglets in the nest from pip (pip = the first crack in the egg) until fledge (To fledge = to leave the nest. A baby bird “fledges” when its feathers and wing muscles are developed enough to be able to fly). Bald eagles mate for life, but sadly, in September 2015, after the third season that Ozzie and Harriet were featured on the Cam, Ozzie was injured and passed away. In the years that Harriet and Ozzie were filmed, they hatched and raised 5 different eaglets together.

Thankfully, after Ozzie’s passing, Harriet was able to court a new mate, “M15” (short for Male 2015). This season, Harriet and M15 laid 2 eggs. One eaglet hatched at the end of December 2016, but sadly, the other egg never hatched. We have watched the newest eaglet grow from a little gray ball of fuzz into a much larger juvenile with patchy brown and white feathers. If you look closely at the nest, you might still be able to see the little egg that never hatched. Comparing it to the eaglet’s current size can give you an idea of how much it has grown over the past month!

Harriet and M15 are excellent hunters. Using their huge and powerful talons, they constantly catch fish and other prey, which they bring back to the nest to feed to their baby. Sometimes, it’s hard to identify the unfortunate little creature they have captured – we (UAE staff) like to play “What’s In the Nest,” where we try to guess what the prey might be. Although it’s usually fish, we’ve also seen possums, squirrels, and even a piglet. Yikes! If you haven’t yet taken a look at these incredible eagles, stop by the computer in the testing area. You never know what you might see!

The eaglet is now about half the Harriet and M15 keeping watch size of its parents.

“Feed me, Mom!” The tiny eaglet (only a few days old) looks ready for a snack.

-Story continued on page 15-

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FAST FACTS

 The bald eagle is the national bird and national animal of the United States.  Young bald eagles have mostly brown heads. Their head plumage does not turn completely white until adulthood.  Bald eagles build the largest nests of any North American bird. On average, nests are 2-4 feet deep and 4-5 feet wide, but the largest on record was 20 feet deep and 9.5 feet wide!  Bald eagles’ wingspans can extend up to 7.5 feet.  According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act, passed in 1940, makes it a crime to take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, or transport any of a bald or golden eagle, alive or dead, including any part, nest, or egg, unless you have a permit. “Felony convictions carry a maximum fine of $250,000 or two years of imprisonment…Rewards are provided for information leading to arrest and conviction for violation of the Act.” (“Federal Laws that Protect Bald Eagles”, 2016). If you are lucky enough to spot an eagle in the wild, maintain your distance and enjoy from afar.

Works Cited

"Federal Laws to Protect Bald Eagles." Federal Laws to Protect Bald Eagles. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 20 Apr. 2015. Web. 10 Feb. 2017. .

Mosco, Rosemary. "14 Bold Facts About Bald Eagles." Mental Floss. N.p., 3 May 2016. Web. 10 Feb. 2017. .

A Note of Appreciation

Thank you to those agencies that are responsible for providing the funding to make our programs possible. This year they include the Illinois Community College Board division of Adult Education and Family Literacy, Carle Foundation Hospital, The Champaign County Regional Planning Commission's Workforce Investment Act, Illinois Humanities Council-Odyssey Project, Illinois State Board of Education's Truants' Alternative and Optional Education Program, Orange Crush Foundation, United Way of Champaign County, 21st Century Grant- US Department of Education, Altrusa International, Champaign West Rotary Club, Individual Donors and the Urbana School District. A big thank you to all of our sponsors!

Because of you all, we are able to continue to serve our adult education students during this difficult financial time in our state.

Class Act Staff and Contributors

Student Class Act Staff Fernando Magdaleno Trevon Ayers Timothy Maiden Balqees Kylie Mercer Jo’Ia Brown Isaias Perales Crystal Collins Kentrell Pickett Alexander Colvin Hayven Rosenberger Vincent Edwards Bruce Stennis Elizabeth Ferguson Kristen Sweeney James Franklin Brendan Wells KY’yon Gray Olivia Whitman Coderius Griffin Staff Advisors and Contributors: Constance Griffin Peggy Buck Gwenda Harris Amanda Harris Kaylee-Ann Hopkins Addie Placido LaRon Howard BuuLihn Quach

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