Bloomington man elected to lead teachers union
The Illinois Education Association’s new permanent president is Karl Goeke, a former Spanish teacher from Bloomington who has been serving as the IEA’s interim leader since September (Illinois Education Association). Originally from Dakota, Goeke is a graduate of Highland Community College in Freeport, Western Illinois University and Illinois State University. Goeke’s wife is also a teacher. He was elected by the IEA membership March 14 along with official vice president Gina Harris of Oak Park, a climate coach who had been serving as interim vice president with Goeke; and secretary/treasurer Gladys Márquez, a language educator from Blue Island who was also a member of the National Education Association’s executive committee. Newly elected board members are elementary school teacher Alison Rohrbach of Cary; curriculum specialist Adriana Caballero of Berwyn; and teacher Benjamin Bear from Coal City.
Miller Park wants community input on future goals, changes
BLOOMINGTON — Aiming to be more accessible, preserve its natural and cultural features and offer more ways to have fun, Miller Park is seeking community input through a survey. You’ll have a chance to share your preferred design for 12 planned park improvements, including the amphitheater, playground, pavilion, train exhibit, dog park, park walks, gardens and more. The survey is part of an ongoing master plan for the park that started in 2024, when more than 700 people expressed themselves in a first round of input, wrote CIProud. Results of this round will be shared at a future meeting before being implemented into the park’s master plan.
"Getting to Zero" by 2030 storytelling event Tuesday
SPRINGFIELD — You have a chance to hear people living with HIV share their story in person Tuesday evening. The “Voices of Zero” storytelling event will feature people from throughout Illinois sharing their personal stories about the real impact of “policy, advocacy and systems” in Illinois geared toward “getting to zero” — or ending the HIV epidemic in Illinois by 2030 by increasing the percentage of people living with HIV who have reached a low enough viral load to no longer transmit the virus, and by increasing the use of HIV prevention medicine. The night is hosted by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, which focuses on bringing “equity and justice to people living with and vulnerable to HIV or chronic conditions.” The event is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, 3100 S. Dirksen Pkwy, Springfield. Register here to attend.Â
