<div>Hello to the Independent Media Center, <br><br>This is Carlos Velazquez, I am the communications manager for the Illinois Humanities Council; I wanted to follow up with you on the email below on the the recruitment of adults in Champaign for the Odyssey Project, our free college-level liberal arts courses to adults living on low-incomes.. Perhaps your audiences may be interested in hearing about them? </div>
<p>With Ethnic Studies programs, which are essentially humanities programs, under attack in Arizona, I wonder if these programs would be outlawed there? Another quote, this time from a former student, speaks to the programs ability to empower the disenfranchised. <em>"I've always been opinionated. This is the first time that's been looked upon as something good....If President Obama was sitting right there, I wouldn't be intimidated to discuss Socrates with him. Socrates is my new best friend."</em> </p>
<p>We would appreciate any opportunity to get this information out to your audiences. Let me know if there is any information I can provide; I can put you in touch with faculty or alumni from the Champaign area. Thank you so much for all of your great work!<br>
<br></p><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Jun 12, 2012 at 9:23 AM, Carlos Velázquez <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:cav@prairie.org" target="_blank">cav@prairie.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid" class="gmail_quote">
<div><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px"><br></span> </div>
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<font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt"> </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt"> </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">Free College-Level
Courses in the Humanities Begin This Fall<br>
<br>
</span></u></b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt"></span></i></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">Odyssey Project offers classes on literature,
philosophy, history and art<u></u></span></i></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt"> </span></i></b></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">CHICAGO</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">, IL-<b> June 12,
2012</b>—</span><span style="font-size:11pt"><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">Illinoisans in the areas of Chicago
and Urbana-Champaign are invited to apply to be part of a unique program
offering a free college liberal arts course to adults living on low-incomes,
complete with college credit.<span> </span><span> </span><b></b></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt"> </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">The Odyssey Project, a program
of the Illinois Humanities Council in partnership with the Clemente Course in
the Humanities, </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">is a free </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">college-level introduction to the humanities,
founded on the conviction that engagement with the humanities can offer
individuals a way out of poverty by fostering habits of sustained reflection,
critical thinking, and skilled communication.</span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt" lang="EN"> </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">Classes are offered in literature, philosophy,
history, art history, and writing, taught by faculty members from top
institutions including the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, and DePaul University. In partnership with the Bard College
Clemente® Course in the Humanities, students may receive up to six units of
college credit. </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt" lang="EN"> </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">Courses are taught at AKArama Community Service
Center in Woodlawn on Chicago’s South Side, the Howard Area Community Center in
Rogers Park on the North Side, and Spanish-speaking students meet at the Gads
Hill Center in Pilsen. The course in Champaign is held at the Illinois Program
for Research in the Humanities on the UIUC campus. <b>Since its inception, more
than 500 students have graduated from the program.<span> </span></b></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt" lang="EN"> </span></b></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">Earl Shorris, the late founder of the Clemente
Course in the Humanities, of which the Odyssey Project course is a part, said
that, “If one has been ‘trained’ in the ways of poverty … what is needed is a
beginning, not a repetition. The humanities teach us to think reflectively, to
begin, to deal with the new as it occurs to us, to dare. If the
multigenerational poor are to make the leap out of poverty, it will require a
new kind of thinking—reflection.”</span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt" lang="EN"> </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">The
Odyssey Project is now accepting applications for its 2012-2013 school year.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and live in a household with income no
more than 150 % of the Federal poverty level.<span>
</span>Classes are free of charge and books, on-site babysitting and transit
cards are also provided. <b><span> </span></b>Classes
are held mid-September through May at all locations. <b>The application
deadline is August 1, 2012. </b>Applications and </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">information about the Odyssey Project are available on the Odyssey
Project page at </span><a href="http://www.prairie.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt"><font color="#0000ff">www.prairie.org</font></span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt"> or
by contacting Amy Thomas Elder at <a href="tel:312.422.5580" target="_blank" value="+13124225580">312.422.5580</a>. </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt" lang="EN"> </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">About the Illinois
Humanities Council </span></u></b></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt;layout-grid-mode:line"> </span></i></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt;layout-grid-mode:line">The Illinois Humanities Council is an independent,
nonprofit state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, </span></i><i><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt;layout-grid-mode:line" lang="EN">dedicated to fostering a culture in which the
humanities are a vital part of the lives of individuals and communities. The
IHC creates programs and funds organizations that promote greater understanding
of, appreciation for, and involvement in the humanities by all Illinoisans,
regardless of their economic resources, cultural background, or geographic
location. The IHC is supported by state, federal, and private funds. </span></i><i><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt;layout-grid-mode:line" lang="EN"></span></i></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt"> </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">Media
Contact: </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">Carlos
Velázquez</span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">(312)
422-5580, x233</span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:cav@prairie.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt"><font color="#0000ff">cav@prairie.org</font></span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt"><span> </span></span></p>
<font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">D A R E T O K N O W</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN"><br>
<b># # #</b></span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt"></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font>
</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><p style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><i style="font-size:13px"><span style="font-size:10pt"><font face="'Book Antiqua'">Carlos Velázquez</font><font face="Arial"><br>
</font></span></i><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">~~~~~<br></span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">Communications Manager<br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">Illinois Humanities Council<br></span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">Suite 1400<br></span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">17 North State St.<br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">Chicago, IL 60602.3296<br></span><a style="color:rgb(0,0,204);font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px" value="+13124225580">312.422.5585</a><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px"> ext 233<br>
</span><a style="color:rgb(0,0,204);font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px" value="+13124225588">312.422.5588</a><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px"> </span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">Fax<br>
</span><a style="color:rgb(0,0,204);font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px" title="http://www.prairie.org/" href="http://www.prairie.org/" target="_blank">http://www.prairie.org</a><br><a style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13px" href="mailto:cav@prairie.org" target="_blank">cav@prairie.org</a><font style="font-size:13px" face="Arial"> <br>
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