Category: Neighborhood Services Department News

City Leads Blanket Drive on Behalf of Strides Low Barrier Shelter

The new Strides Low Barrier Shelter is scheduled to open on December 12, 2022. As part of their tangible needs, Strides staff included fleece blankets on their “wish list”, with a goal of securing 100 blankets prior to the shelter open date. Over the past month, the City’s Neighborhood Ambassadors (Neighborhood Services Department) collected blankets […]


Overview of Neighborhood Ambassador Program Presented to Strides Staff

The Strides Low Barrier Shelter is scheduled to open on December 12, 2022. This week, Neighborhood Ambassador Supervisor, Jacqueline Kalipeni, met with the Strides staff at the Champaign Public Library to provide an overview of the Neighborhood Ambassador Program. Strides will host their Community Service Day events on December 8 and 9. The service day […]


Hedge POP! Park Featured by American Planning Association 

The American Planning Association is a not-for-profit professional association for planners and has over 40,000 members.  The APA recently took note of the City’s efforts with the Hedge POP! Park and sought to have the effort featured as part of their Equity in Practice series. The blog post features the experience of the City in […]


Neighborhood Ambassadors Support Diwali Festival of Lights

On November 4, the Neighborhood Ambassadors supported the BAPS Campus Fellowship in their Diwali Festival of Lights celebration in collaboration with Hindu YUVA UIUC and the Vivekananda House. The event brought residents, students, and staff together to learn about the practices of Diwali and allowed participants to experience this tradition.  The Neighborhood Services Department was […]


Housing and Homeless Innovations (HHI) Consolidated Application

On November 4, the Cities of Champaign and Urbana published the Housing and Homeless Innovations (HHI) Consolidated Application for agencies that support affordable housing development and homeless services in Champaign County. A total of $5.8 million in grant funds are available to support permanent affordable housing units, homeless shelters, tenant-based rental assistance and program management, […]


Cities of Champaign and Urbana Accepting Applications for $5.8 million of Affordable Housing and Homelessness Innovations Grant Funds

Tomorrow, the Cities of Champaign and Urbana and the Urbana HOME Consortium will publish the Housing and Homelessness Innovations (HHI) Consolidated Grant Application for agencies that support affordable housing development and homeless services in Champaign County. A total of $5.8 million in grant funds are available to support permanent affordable housing units, homeless shelters, tenant […]


Neighborhood Ambassador Program Presented at Friday Forum Conversation Café

On October 21, 2022, Neighborhood Ambassador Supervisor Jacqueline Kalipeni participated in the Friday Forum Conversation Café, in partnership with the YMCA, and the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations at the University of Illinois to talk about the Neighborhood Ambassador Program and how the City Organization can work with and help students. Her presentation brought […]


Halloween on Hedge x Dia de los Muertos a Success

On October 22, 2022, the Planning and Development Department coordinated Halloween on Hedge x Dia de los Muertos, the final programming celebration of the season at Hedge POP! Park. Multiple departments, including Planning and Development, Public Works, Equity and Engagement, Neighborhood Services, Fire, and Police, came together to celebrate the community and all things spooky! […]


City Staff Recognized at Forty Under 40 Luncheon

On October 27, 2022, Central Illinois Business’ 15th annual Forty Under 40 event was held at the Champaign Holiday Inn. The City of Champaign is proud to share that this year’s class of 40 honorees included City employees Kathryn Cataldo (Legal), Jacqueline Kalipeni (Neighborhood Services), Brittany Millington (Library), Timothy Rivest (Police), and Mary Catherine Roberson […]


City Partners with Habitat for Humanity to Host Home Maintenance Workshop

On October 17, 2022, Rehabilitation Technician Dan Gaskin (Neighborhood Services Department) presented Home Ownership 101, a home maintenance workshop, in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity. Nineteen people attended the free, online workshop. The presentation consisted of maintenance tips for homeowners, including visual checks inside and outside the home, replacing furnace filters, smoke and carbon monoxide […]