A Struggle for Change
Speaker: Anne Moseley, Director of Sangamon Experience at the University of Illinois at Springfield

Thursday, February 15, 2024
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Illini Country Club, 1601 Illini Road in Springfield

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Topic: Sangamon Experiences’ newest exhibit: A Struggle for Change

“The Struggle for Change,” a new exhibit by the University of Illinois Springfield’s Sangamon Experience, will tell the history of underrepresented people in central Illinois on the lower level of the UIS Public Affairs Center. The exhibition will run through Sept. 6.

“The exhibit is part of a critical process toward creating new narratives and symbols of central Illinois that represent our collective vision and honor the underrepresented histories of the people, places, movements and events that have made up the past 200 years as we look to the future,” said Anne Moseley, director of engagement and curator of the Sangamon Experience.

In the face of challenges that spanned eras, countless individuals and organizations have emerged as beacons of hope and catalysts for transformation. The groups of individuals mentioned in this exhibit are a small sample of many citizens who have fought for women's rights, underrepresented groups, LGBTQ+ individuals and those with disabilities. From civil rights activists advocating for equality to pioneers who challenged societal norms, each narrative contributes to a complex tapestry of struggle and triumph. This exhibit serves as both a commemoration and an education, inviting participants to engage with the narratives of those who dared to question the status quo and pave the way for a more just and equitable world.

“As visitors navigate through these corridors of history, they should be prepared to confront uncomfortable truths, celebrate milestones of progress and acknowledge the tenacity required to confront systemic injustices,” Moseley said. “This exhibit is a reminder that the pursuit of change often comes at a high cost, but it is through these very struggles that societies evolve and progress.”

Partners for this exhibit include Hope Institute, the Illinois State Archives, Springfield NAACP, Phoenix Center, Sangamon Valley Collection at the Lincoln Library, SIU School of Medicine’s Pearson Museum, Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum, Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network (SIAN), the UIS Archives and the UIS Diversity Center.

For more information on the exhibit, visit the Sangamon Experience website.

Our luncheons are open to all IWIL members and their guests. Registration is $22 for members and guests through February 9; $27 on or after February 10. Online Registration will close on February 12!

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SPEAKER BIO: 
Anne E. Moseley, CIT is the first Director of Engagement and Curator of the Sangamon Experience and Acting Director for the Center for Lincoln Studies. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE) and a Master’s degree in Public History from the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS). Before she began her position at UIS she was the director and curator of the Lincoln Heritage Museum at Lincoln College. In 2013 she was certified by the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) as a Certified Interpretive Trainer (CIT). Anne was awarded the Illinois State Historical Society’s Malkovich Award for Young Museum Professional in 2015 for her outstanding contribution to Collections Management and Exhibit development at the Lincoln Heritage Museum.

*IWIL is unable to provide refunds. If you cannot attend an event for which you have registered, we encourage you to send someone in your place. Simply have your guest indicate at the check-in table that she is your substitute. We appreciate your understanding.