Tag: Forgottonia

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Panel Discussion on Poverty in Rural America – What Can Schools Do to Help Address Rural Poverty? Summary Report Part 4 of 5

The following is a summary of a panel discussion about poverty in Fulton County that took place March 23, 2017.  The forum took place at the Canton Church of the Brethren and was moderated by Pastor Kevin Kessler. Panelists included Missy Kolowski of the Health and Wellness Clinic of Fulton County,  Rolf Siversten Superintendent CUSD #66, Paster Monroe Bailey of the First Baptist Church, Brooke …

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Panel Discussion on Poverty in Rural America – How Can We Serve the Needs of Those Living in Rural Poverty? Summary Report Part 3 of 5

The following is a summary of a panel discussion about poverty in Fulton County that took place March 23, 2017.  The forum took place at the Canton Church of the Brethren and was moderated by Pastor Kevin Kessler. Panelists included Missy Kolowski of the Health and Wellness Clinic of Fulton County,  Rolf Siversten Superintendent CUSD #66, Paster Monroe Bailey of the First Baptist Church, Brooke Denniston Executive Director of the YWCA, Paula Grigsby Executive Director of the YMCA, Rhonda Morgan from the Salvation Army and Teri Williams director of Spoon River Pregnancy Center.

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S1 – Blog 04: The Gender Gap: What are the Greatest Concerns for Young Women Growing Up in Rural America?

We are pleased to share this interview with Dr. Lori Baker-Sperry from Western Illinois University Department of Women Studies.  We asked Dr. Baker-Sperry several questions concerning the topic of gender, especially in regards to rural America.  This interview prompted us to interview key community leaders to also share their experience with things like gender stereotypes and advice to women growing up in rural America today.  Dr. Baker-Sperry provided us with several links to her responses as well that you will find helpful.  We hope you enjoy and please contact us with any questions you might have. 

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S1 – Blog 03: Notable Rural Americans – What Lessons Can We Learn from the Passing of John Mahoney?

Many Americans recognize beloved actor John Mahoney from his days as Frasier's dad, Martin Crane on the hit NBC sitcom.  However, most natives of Forgottonia may not realize that Mahoney actually lived in McDonough County for a time as a young man.  Although he was actually born in England and associated most with living in Chicago, he came to Macomb, IL to live with his sister where he studied at Quincy University and joined the army to help him become a citizen faster. 

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S1 – Blog 02: Burma Shave Ads and Materialism: What are the Consequences of Conspicuous Consumption?

Burma-Shave was a brand of shaving cream famous for its humorous advertisements during the 1920s (check out the link here to see some examples for yourself).  They had a reputation sort of like Geico does today; a company known for doing unconventional commercial advertisements with their own quirky sense of style.  Yet perhaps another reason for their success lies not in the content of their ads, but new trends in American life in the 1920s that emphasized more materialistic values of status and wealth.  Or as sociologist and economist Thorstein Veblen called conspicuous consumption; spending money on luxurious goods to flaunt the wealth and status of the buyer.  

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S1, E6 – Education Puts Food on the Table: What Can We Do About Job Loss in Rural America? Part 2 of our Conversation with Dr. Trenton Ellis

We previously spoke with Forgottonia native Dr. Trenton Ellis about job loss throughout  rural America. In this interview Dr. Ellis mentioned factors like technology, globalization, and the lack of economic diversity as contributing to job loss. Since our talk with Dr. Ellis was so rich in material and we didn't want to depress you by …

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History of all 16 Counties: #12 Morgan County

MORGAN COUNTY Population: 32,140 (2023 estimate) Morgan County's population has seen a decline in recent years, with a 12.28% decrease since 2000. Key Facts Named For: Revolutionary War hero Daniel Morgan. Historical Importance: Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas frequently practiced law here. Education Legacy: Home to Illinois College (founded 1829) and the now-closed MacMurray College, …

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History of all 16 Counties: #11 Mercer County

MERCER COUNTY POPULATION: 15,699 (2023 estimate) Mercer County has experienced a slight decline in population over the past decades, reflecting broader trends in rural Illinois counties. Key Cities and Villages Aledo (Population: 3,618) County Seat: Known as the hub of Mercer County, Aledo flourished with the arrival of the railroad in the 1850s. Cultural Significance: …

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S1, E5 – Value Pollution: Why Should We Ban Advertisements in School?

The following is a portion of the transcript from our interview with Tim Kasser about value pollution. On this edition we return to our conversation with Dr. Tim Kasser, a psychology professor at Knox College who is no stranger to rural living. We were extremely fortunate to speak with Dr. Kasser, he is the well-known …

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History of all 16 Counties: #6 Greene County

GREENE COUNTY Population Approximately 11,850 (2020 Census) Interesting Facts Named after Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene. Home to the Koster Site, a prehistoric archaeological site considered one of the oldest and most significant cemetery sites in North America. It is a key discovery for the Center for American Archaeology. Hosts landmarks like the Virginia Tillery …

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