19 HISTORY | Route History reopens 25 SCHOOLS | Black history 29 FOOD | Black-owned restaurants FREE June 10-16, 2021 • Vol. 46, No. 46 A guide to Juneteenth Celebrating Black history and culture June 10-16, 2021 | Illinois Times | 1 2 | www.illinoistimes.com | June 10-16, 2021 NEWS Reimagining the east side Plans take shape for new business hub in South Town A rendering shows a proposed idea for South Town development. Dominic Watson said the next step is DEVELOPMENT | Mary Hansen, NPR Illinois seeing if vision within the community is in line with the concept. CREDIT: FARNSWORTH GROUP, COURTESY OF DOMINIC WATSON Despite the handful of businesses near the Land of Lincoln highlighted community- all the negative as well as a lot of the other referencing a visit in past years from a former intersection of South Grand Avenue East led investment on the east side as one of positive things outside of Lincoln, we’re doing governor. “After the visit and the news press, and 11th Street – restaurants, a beauty its priorities for The Next 10 Community ourselves a disservice,” Watson said. I wasn’t able to get a phone call through to supply store, a furniture shop – the sidewalks Visioning plan, an initiative with a steering Elected officials and community leaders make things happen.” are mostly empty on an average weekday committee Watson is a member of, aimed have long made promises of investment and Still, he’s cautiously optimistic about the afternoon. at building an equitable and prosperous revitalization of the east side. And some renewed commitment and interest in South Dominic Watson imagines a different Springfield. The east side “has been the most progress has been made in making more Town. Harold’s Chicken, a Chicago-based future for the area known as South Town ignored part of our community for a very long economic development tools available. The chain of fried-chicken restaurants, moved in and the east side at large. “People want the time,” said John Stremsterfer, the foundation’s Springfield City Council expanded the next door to the training center last year. Pitts east side to look like the west side or any CEO and president. “We need to focus on this boundaries of the Far East Side Tax Increment said he’s seen more foot traffic since then. other part of town,” said Watson, president area of the community that maybe needs the Financing (TIF) District in 2019 to include Down the block, Court Dickason’s family and CEO of the Springfield Black Chamber most support to grow and prosper.” South Town. TIF money has been used for has run Madison Furniture Store since the of Commerce. “If that means investment In addition to naming CAP 1908 as a infrastructure improvements and grants 1930s. He can remember when the block was in infrastructure, beautification efforts, as “promising idea,” Next 10 also highlights to spruce up owner-occupied homes. The bustling. “It was a city within a city,” he said. well as redevelopment projects, that’s what preserving historic properties, such as the council also created a grant program for Dickason said he’s looking forward to retiring they’re willing to champion.” Watson wants Judge Taylor House and Firehouse No. 5. minority-owned businesses and homeowners soon. He owns the building, and said he to work with the community to develop three The Lincoln-era Taylor building once hosted funded with tax money from the sale of could either rent it out as a warehouse or sell buildings on the block that could include a school for Black children modeled after the recreational marijuana. Still, it’s going to take it for the redevelopment Watson is planning. entertainment, activity and class space, plus a Tuskegee Institute. Firehouse No. 5 was once partnership between city and county leaders, Dickason said he’d prefer to contribute to business innovation hub. the only firehouse in town where African funders and, most importantly, residents, revitalization of the neighborhood. “I’d rather Much of the conversation about what the Americans could serve. to reverse decades of segregation and go with (Watson), and see this thing go. My east side lacks revolves around access – access Similarly, Watson said the project’s disinvestment, Watson said. grandparents would have been thrilled.” to good jobs, quality education, transportation name, CAP 1908, is an acknowledgment of In the Next 10 plan, the City of and more, Watson said, hence the name for the 1908 Race Riot, the massacre of Black Cautious optimism Springfield is listed as the “champion” his idea, Community Access Project (CAP) residents that sparked the founding of the Calvin Pitts’ construction company, Bringing responsible for east side development 1908. “We need to listen to the community, National Association for the Advancement Others New Empowerment (BONE) LLC, priority. Julia Frevert, city spokesperson, said and they’re going to guide us and tell us what of Colored People. “(By) not looking at all and the Southtown Construction Training Springfield is planning to redevelop vacant they want to see long term,” Watson said. the history of Springfield, not just being the Program occupy the one-story brick building and dilapidated properties into affordable The Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, but also acknowledging just east of the South Town Theater. The housing, and is looking to partner with Pitts program trains people to launch careers in the for that work. The city also recently received building trades. $80,000 from the state’s marijuana sales tax When he started the program in 2013, for economic and community development Publisher’s note Pitts said he had a chance to locate on the planning on the east and north sides of the As Juneteenth becomes more widely recognized beyond the Black community, there are an west side, but turned it down. He grew up city, where rates of gun violence, poverty and increasing number of activities and events happening in Springfield. For the first time, we’ve on the east side and had a lot of relationships unemployment are highest. Watson wants to put together a guide to Juneteenth, and explained some of the history and culture behind the there. “I wanted to get back to the ensure that residents are at the heart of these holiday, so all may join in the celebration of emancipation. We invited a number of writers community where there’s people that look like plans. “There needs to be that consistent and photographers of color to contribute to this special issue, and we hope you enjoy their I do,” he said. “And the people that I wanted partnership that we haven’t seen in the past, perspectives. –Michelle Ownbey, Illinois Times publisher to serve within that area.” and (that’s) led by the community.” Pitts said he doesn’t “bank on” many Cover photo by Zach Adams, 1221 Photography promises from politicians or organizations Mary Hansen is a reporter for NPR Illinois in about revitalizing the neighborhood, Springfield. June 10-16, 2021 | Illinois Times | 3 4 | www.illinoistimes.com | June 10-16, 2021 NEWS Beyond standardized testing Legislature passes Higher Education Fair Admissions Act EDUCATION | Madison Angell TaRael Kee is Collinsville High School’s admissions tests are taken in person – and assistant principal and president-elect of the test anxiety. Some of Kee’s students opted not Illinois School Counselor Association. During to take the test. When the state announced his 10-year career as a school counselor, Kee has the tests were still to be administered, Kee watched students struggle with standardized said, “We had parents who were terrified to evaluations like the ACT and the Scholastic send their kids to school.” The state sought Assessment (SAT). waivers but Kee said he was powerless over the “We’ve had kids puke during testing and decision. have had to step out because of anxiety,” said The science behind the legislation is clear, Kee. Others fully “shut down,” he said. “They according to Kee and Belt. “Grade point are feeling like they’ve worked so hard for these average is a better indicator and everyone four years and then this is the moment, this is knows it,” said Kee. If tests aren’t optional, the one thing that can stop them” on their path especially for college admission processes, to higher education. “you get poor kids who are ending up further Shayla Scruggs graduated from Midwest in debt than the kids who have money,” said Technical Institute in Peoria this year. Before Kee. That is because scholarship opportunities becoming a college student, Scruggs completed offered during the admission processes are the ACT four times. She paid for three of the also frequently dependent on standardized test tests and attended an extended preparatory scores. course. “I got tired of taking it,” said Scruggs. “I think that your test score should add Scruggs graduated from high school with a A new measure would help ease test anxiety. the scores with applications optional earlier to your resume, but it shouldn’t take away 4.7 grade point average. She was involved It passed both chambers during session and last year. Belt said the schools that have gone from your admissions profile,” said Kee. This in various performance arts groups and awaits a signature from the governor. Public that route are better for it. Incoming student year, Kee has seen more of his students receive was a student athlete. She played a stringed colleges and universities in Illinois would no bodies for these colleges have changed. The nearly full ride scholarships who “would have instrument and was inducted into the national longer require applicants to submit test scores.