Whitney Hodge with CASA of Jefferson County was in studio with Big Jake Tuesday morning to talk about Coffee with CASA on Wednesday and the Golf Scramble on October 4th.

 

United We Stand: A Weekend of Unity, Culture, and Community Connection

Mark your calendars for August 8th and 9th as United Way of South Central Illinois proudly presents United We Stand, a two-day celebration dedicated to embracing diversity, building bridges of understanding, and strengthening the bonds that tie our community together.

Friday, August 8 – United We Stand

A Meal with Meaning

(Centralia)

Begin the weekend with a moving community gathering at the United We Stand Dinner in Centralia.

 Featured Speakers:

  • Alex Kor, son of Holocaust survivors Mickey and Eva Kor, will share his family’s powerful story and speak about compassion, remembrance, and the importance of standing united in the face of injustice.
  • Dr. Linda & Carl Flowers, respected community leaders and educators, will offer insight on the importance of connection, understanding, and resilience in building a stronger Southern Illinois.

 Dinner Provided By:

Chammies Food for the Soul — enjoy a delicious soul-filled meal that nourishes both body and spirit.

 This event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited - ticket required - click here for ticket.

Saturday, August 9 – United We Stand Cultural Festival (Mt. Vernon)

The celebration continues Saturday at the brand-new Commons Park in Mt. Vernon with a full day of global flavors, local artists, music, and cultural exploration.

 Speaker: Alex Kor

Alex will speak with a heartfelt message about healing, resilience, and the power of shared history.

 Featured Artists:

  • Brandy Mount
  • Cortez Hodges
  • Robbie Edwards
  • Janis Steury
  • Vanessa Thomas

 Live Entertainment:

  • Performances by Center Stage
  • Local talents throughout the day.

 Food Vendors:

  • Chammies Food for The Soul – Southern cuisine
  • Joe's Pizza – Local favorite
  • Jee Family – Representing Canada
  • Papa Knocks – Comfort food & soul favorites
  • Crazy Asian Eats – Asian fusion flavors

吝 Family Fun:

A fun and educational way to explore the world!

 Free and open to the public — bring the whole family!

Why It Matters

In a time when connection matters more than ever, United We Stand is an opportunity to share stories, build bridges, and create lasting memories with neighbors near and far. Let’s come together to celebrate who we are — and who we can become — side by side.

 Save the Dates:

  • Friday, August 8 – United We Stand Dinner (Centralia)
  • Saturday, August 9 – United We Stand Cultural Festival (Mt. Vernon Commons)

 
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Noelle with the Jefferson County Child Abuse Awareness Committee (JCCAAC) joined Big Jake's show alongside Dale from Roadhouse Harley-Davidson to discuss their hosting the annual community collaborative.

This is a FREE community event for families. The event is a collaborative effort amongst many area agencies that provide services to Jefferson County. The event has the traditional “proclamation reading” by the mayor (or someone from their office) and other speakers focused on the same goal. The reading of the proclamation reminds the community that April is nationally known as child abuse awareness month.

During the month of April, efforts are ramped up to spread awareness with the goal of prevention for ALL abuse and neglect. Please join in supporting the area agencies to learn more about what they do for our county, along with having fun, free giveaways, free food, and the annual Pinwheel Planting.

Save the date!

https://www.facebook.com/jeffcochildabuseprevention

 
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We had some connections issues as the boys of Parmalee are on the road out east but thankfully we muddled through it and got some great stuff. Parmalee is the most played group/band on Country Radio in 2023. Five #1 singles, multi-platinum selling records, and over 1 billion streams online… and coming to Nashville – Illinois- on July 9th to the Washington county fair. Get your tickets at thewashingtoncountyfair.com and we'll see you in NashVegas this summer! Thanks again to Barry Knox, Josh McSwain, Matt Thomas, and Scott Thomas for the time this morning!

 
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