Artspace Southern Illinois is pleased to present this program in partnership with Illinois Humanities.
Join us as we welcome Mark Motsinger, President of the Saline County Historical Society, for a session exploring how early migration and the debate over slavery shaped the culture of Illinois. We’ll set the context with Mark’s research on the Old Soldiers Reservation—Southern Illinois land grants awarded to Revolutionary War soldiers—which provides insights on how this wave of newcomers influenced the region's culture and identity. We’ll then examine the “Declaration of Sentiment and Plan of Action” written by the 1856 Colored Convention held in Alton, IL.
Experience a dynamic exploration to learn how these early movements, decisions, and voices shaped the Illinois we know today and gain a deeper understanding of our region and its history.
Presenter
Mark Motsinger, President of Saline County Historical Society, author, and the 2014 State of Illinois History Teacher of the Year
Facilitators
Yaya Vargas, Executive Director SI-CABE (Southern Illinois Culture and Arts in Bilingual Education)
Carolyn Deane, Artspace Southern Illinois
Event Details
FREE & Open to the public
Date: Saturday, June 6
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Light refreshments provided
Location: Shawnee Hills Arts Council
Part of the Illinois Humanities Community Conversations Program
Artspace Southern Illinois is proud to present this program in partnership with:
