Honoring the rich history of rural western Illinois, and examining the problems we currently face
"Rural schools may lack big-city resources, but they have something just as powerful—strong community ties, flexibility to innovate, and educators who wear many hats to make learning meaningful." On This Episode We sit down with John Glasgow, Program Director of the Rural CTE Project (in partnership with The Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools …
"Our job is to find out what the needs and barriers are around early childhood care and education… and help align goals so we’re all working on the same thing." Shannon McKee, Family & Community Engagement Specialist, Birth to Five Illinois: Region 26 On This Episode We had the privilege of speaking with Paul Larson, …
"How we define rural is very personal and why we care about it is often for very personal reasons too." On This Episode We sit down with Dr. Pamela Riney-Kehrberg, a historian whose work brings the complex and often misunderstood story of rural America to life. Dr. Riney-Kehrberg helps us unpack two chapters from the …
Continue reading "Exploring Rural Identity and History with Dr. Pamela Riney-Kehrberg"
“Once upon a time, Chicago and downstate belonged to the same economy…Factories downstate made things Chicago needed. That’s gone away. What’s replaced it in Chicago is the global economy. What economic vitality there is in Illinois is in Chicago. The economic fortunes of Chicago and downstate are diverging.” Richard C. Longworth, "Caught in the Middle: …
Continue reading "Illinois: A State Apart – Episode #4 – The State of Chicago (1925)"
"In Forgottonia, political concerns run deep and personal. They’re about survival, identity, and fairness. Whether it’s fixing roads, supporting farmers, or amplifying rural voices, these issues remind us why local perspectives matter in national debates." Objectives In this episode, we explore the unprecedented political shift in western Illinois, a region known as Forgottonia, where all …
Continue reading "Election Results in Forgottonia: Trump’s Unprecedented Appeal"
"Title IX wasn't just about athletics, it was about education. At that time, we had only a few female leaders. We needed a level playing field, everyone needed a fair shake." Robbi Ball Rhonda Garrett and Robbi Ball talk to CHS student athletes Kayleigh Harr (class of '24) and Kacie White (class of '27) On …
"Vulnerable populations were already feeling the pressure” in an economy that saw a shrinking of middle-wage jobs... the middle class has begun to disappear, and fewer workers are able to meet their needs & the needs of their families with wages earned from 40 hours of work each week." -Illinois Future of Work Task Force, …
Continue reading "Forgottonia at Work: Future Trends and Community Impact"
"Since 2005, the U.S. has lost more than ¼ of its newspapers and is on track to lose ⅓ by 2025." ON THIS EPISODE On this episode we are pleased to share some interview sound bites from students in our current events class at Cuba H.S. Their work is featured on our inaugural monthly newsletter …
Continue reading "Forgottonia Gazette: Rural Youth Reporting, Issue #1 (Podcast Edition)"
"More & more people are “ravenous for admiration” and have “little or no commitment to others... people have “illusions about their importance & fail to recognize their own shortcomings?” Christopher Lasch, The Culture of Narcissism, 1978 ON THIS EPISODE We dive deep into research about self-absorption and its impact on community, inspired by Dr. John …
"Work ethic is instilled in us and sticks with us throughout our lives. This county also comes together when something happens. We’ve suffered through a lot of loss as a county but we always persevere." Patrick O'Brian, Fulton County Clerk and Recorder ON THIS EPISODE Should our local government have political parties? When and where …
The Forgottonia Project 