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June 29, 2026

Congratulations to long-time EJP members Lee Ragsdale and Erick Nava on their 11th wedding anniversary, which they celebrated in Mexico yesterday, June 28.

Friends of EJP (FJEP) Seeks New President

Since 2019, Friends of the Education Justice Project (FEJP) has been providing invaluable financial support to EJP.

This independent non-profit was formed to assist with EJP fundraising. Its contributions over the years have made a real difference, especially to the emergency grant program.

FEJP's board is fully volunteer and there is no staff. The president convenes the annual board meetings, oversees the organization's expenses, and writes occasional checks to EJP. In the past, FEJP has also held fundraisers to support EJP.

It is a completely separate and independent non-profit and currently seeks a new president. Mark Sanchez, a former UIUC PhD and EJP instructor who now teaches history at Vanderbilt University, has held the office since 2021 and will be stepping down later this year. We are very grateful for his service. Mark plans to remain on the board of FEJP.

The position of president is a great fit for anyone who used to work with EJP and has moved away, but wants to stay connected and to contribute. It's also possible for someone who has not been a member of EJP, but who supports our work and wants to play a role in ensuring our financial health, to be FEJP president.

If this has piqued your interest, you're encouraged to reach out directly to Mark to learn more about the position. Or if you'd like to learn more about FEJP generally or explore serving on its board of directors, please also contact Mark directly.

Take Care,

Rebecca Ginsburg

EJP Director

Upcoming EJP Events

EJP Summer Lunches

Friday July 10
12 - 1pm Central
Hybrid

We're holding summer lunches this year! All EJP members and interested others are welcome to join us in person, at the EJP offices on campus (1001 S. Wright St), or via Zoom.

In-person lunches are always veggie-friendly. In July, we'll provide food from Y Thai, or bring your own bag lunch. Individuals who join via Zoom should expect discussion to start around 12:10, after in-person participants have had a chance to order their lunch and settle into their seats.

Our August lunch will be on Thursday August 20.

You can sign up for July and August lunches via the RSVP link below.

If you have any questions or concerns, or need any accommodations to fully participate, please reach out to events@educationjustice.net.

EJP Becoming a Center

Tues July 14

3 - 4pm Central
Hybrid

We hold monthly updates on the progress we are making towards becoming a center at UIUC. It's been a long journey and becoming a center (as opposed to a research project) has many implications.

Upcoming updates are scheduled for:

Tuesday July 14, 3 - 4pm

Thursday August 27, 4 -5pm

You're welcome to share your questions and concerns on the RSVP form, link below, so we can be sure to address them at the meeting.

If you have any questions or concerns, or need any accommodations to fully participate, please reach out to events@educationjustice.net.

Volunteers Needed!

Reentry Simulation

Oct 10, 2026

in Person


EJP and the Restorative Justice Initiative at Penn State University are co-hosting a Reentry Simulation with the purpose of exposing structures and systems that create barriers after incarceration. 

Location: The University YMCA (1001 S Wright Street, Champaign Urbana)

Date: October 10, 2026

Volunteer Timeframe: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM.

If you are interested in volunteering with setup, station roles, acting as a floater, or takedown and clean up, please sign up below.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Chrissy Ferree at

cferr3@illinois.edu

If you have any questions or concerns, or need any accommodations to fully participate, please reach out to events@educationjustice.net.

EJP Picnic

Saturday August 29

12 - 4pm

In Person

Save the date for the annual EJP picnic in Custer Park, Illinois, just outside Kankakee River State Park. We're holding the event at a private Airbnb, pictured above, with plenty of room for outdoor and indoor activities. Families and friends are welcome to join. EJP will provide grilled burgers (veggie and non-veggie), drinks, snacks, and salads. Feel free to bring your own dish to share if you like.

Children are welcome. Like all EJP events, the picnic is alcohol-free.

There is a wheelchair accessible entrance into the rec room in the basement of the cabin, with tables, chairs, and a bathroom.

If you have any questions or concerns, or need any accommodations to fully participate, please reach out to events@educationjustice.net.

EJP Member Announcements

Are you an EJP member looking for weekly announcements? Please look for member announcements in your Bamboo mailbox instead of being linked to this newsletter, as they were formerly.

Paid Positions with EJP

Some EJP positions can be held virtually, some are hybrid, and some (those based at Danville Prison) require that an individual be able to regularly visit the prison. Our preference is always to hire local individuals and we especially seek candidates who have personal experience of incarceration. Click on the links below to see complete job descriptions. Most positions based at the prison are part-time.