“The name Illinois is the French representation of a word that means “he/she speaks in the ordinary way.” That powerful sentence might be updated to the colloquial phrase “real talk.” This volume is a first step towards living up to the state’s name. Illinois, it’s time for real talk on…
Tag: Illinois
Ancestry
Illinois Launches Free DNA Program to Reconnect Black Residents with African Heritage
The Illinois Family Roots Pilot Program, launched in June 2025 with $500,000 in state funding, offers free DNA testing and genomic analysis to help Black residents trace their ancestry and reconnect with familial roots in Africa, particularly West Africa. Led by researcher LaKisha David at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign…