

# Event Details

- **Event Name**: Illinois Network to Freedom Collective Conference
- **Event Start and End Date**: Fri, 06 Feb, 2026 at 06:00 pm – Sat, 07 Feb, 2026 at 05:00 pm
- **Event Description**: Join scholars, educators, community leaders, preservationists, students, and Freedom-Seekers descendants for this inaugural event!About this EventIllinois Network to Freedom Collective ConferenceJoin scholars, educators, community leaders, preservationists, students, and Freedom-Seekers descendants for the 2026 Illinois Network to Freedom Collective Conference, a two-day gathering dedicated to exploring the histories, geographies, and legacies of freedom-seeking in Illinois and the broader Midwest. Through plenaries, workshops, cultural offerings, and collaborative networking, this conference centers the Underground Railroad as both a historical movement and a living framework for resilience, justice, and community stewardship.Hosted at Illinois College, the conference opens on Friday. February 6th evening with a reception and cultural celebration in the historic Siebert Theatre. The evening will feature poetry and spoken word performances, remarks from Illinois College President Dr. Barbara Farley, and a keynote Freedom Address by Dr. Asif Wilson, setting the tone for a weekend of deep reflection and collective learning.Saturday’s full-day program includes a morning plenary on the status of the Illinois Freedom Trails Commission, with insights from state legislators and Commission leaders. Attendees will then participate in themed breakout sessions highlighting current work in museum interpretation, archeology and research, site recognition, and curriculum for K-12 schools. Each breakout session will be led by experts advancing the preservation and interpretation of freedom-seeking histories across the state.Networking lunch sessions will provide space for collaboration among educators, community organizations, and historical institutions. Afternoon sessions will shift toward action, inviting participants to engage directly with ILNFC subcommittees-Archeology and Historic Preservation; Curriculum and Education; Database and Mapping; and Membership, Outreach, and Tourism-to help shape the next chapter of collective statewide work.Attendees are invited to deepen their conference experience by exploring Jacksonville’s rich history of freedom-seeking and the Underground Railroad through local institutions. Opportunities may include guided tours and special programming at key historical sites, offering participants a meaningful way to engage with the community and the landscapes that shaped Illinois’ freedom-seeking legacy.Local Partners: -Jacksonville African American History Museum-Morgan County Historic SocietyThis conference provides an important opportunity to foster partnerships, elevate under-told histories, and strengthen the network working to preserve Illinois’s significant role in the Underground Railroad.Registration InformationAdults In-Person: $50Virtual Conference/Graduate Students: $25Undergraduate Students &amp; Youth: FreeRegistration includes access to all conference sessions, Friday’s reception, Saturday breakfast, refreshments, and networking lunch.Hotel InformationA conference room block has been secured for at the following Jacksonville Hotels:Hampton Inn Jacksonville: 1725 W Morton Ave, Jacksonville, IL 62650Phone: (217) 291-0415• Best Western Jacksonville Inn: 1709 W Morton Ave, Jacksonville, IL 62650Phone: (217) 245-4500Room blocks open on Tuesday, December 23rd.We invite you to join us as we honor the past, assess the present, and build pathways toward a future rooted in resilience, equity, and shared remembrance.For more information, contact Dr. Brittney Yancy, Conference Chair at 2026ILNFCConference@gmail.com
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/jacksonville/illinois-network-to-freedom-collective-conference/100001978615010760
- **Event Categories**: business, conferences, art, workshops, theatre, literary-art, it, trips-adventures, virtual, spoken-word
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 0

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: https://consumer.pxf.io/c/1339408/3151484/39691?partnerpropertyid=1191892&MediaPartnerPropertyId=1191892&svlink=14105511&level=1&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventbrite.com%2Fe%2Fillinois-network-to-freedom-collective-conference-tickets-1978615010760
- **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 55.2, currency: USD

## Event venue details

- **city**: Jacksonville
- **state**: IL
- **country**: United States
- **location**: Illinois College
- **lat**: 39.7321849
- **long**: -90.2469327
- **full address**: Illinois College, 1101 West College Avenue, Jacksonville, United States

## Event Organizer details

- **affiliate_id**: 10
- **organizer**: Illinois Network to Freedom Collective (https://allevents.in/org/illinois-network-to-freedom-collective/27279618)

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: banner
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/42128fdfec1abbc54f234e0d6194d1353165928d6850f2d8019bd504d1cf104c-rimg-w919-h637-dcc0ab8f-gmir.jpg?v=1766622831
- **Alt text**: thumbnail
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/f5028ee8c2fbc77c3a119dbf5fd14524b3eb1e9a25d7cde652f9e0cf6e41d679-rimg-w400-h400-dcbeaa90-gmir.jpg?v=1766622830

## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Fri, 06 Feb, 2026 at 06:00 pm
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** Illinois College, 1101 West College Avenue, Jacksonville, United States
- **Q**: What is the ticket price?
  - **A:** starting from 0 up to 55.2 USD
- **Q**: Who is organizing the event?
  - **A:** Illinois Network to Freedom Collective
- **Q**: What type of event is this?
  - **A:** business, conferences, art, workshops, theatre, literary-art, it, trips-adventures, virtual, spoken-word
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about Illinois Network to Freedom Collective Conference ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

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                "description": "The Illinois Network to Freedom Collective brings together leading experts on the Underground Railroad from across the State to document a critical period in our Nation’s Past.Within the last decade, there has been a renewed interest to document one of Illinois’ most elusive histories--that of the Underground Railroad. Earlier this year, the Governor signed into law the Illinois Freedom Trails Commission Act (Public Act 104-0113) to: “explore, research, and commemorate the journeys of freedom seekers and the sites and landmarks in this State that became the networks of the Underground Railroad.”As part of this recent effort, we are pleased to announce the creation of the Illinois Network to Freedom Collective; a statewide collaboration of leading historians, experts, educators, and community members. We look to work in tandem across local, state, and federal levels to fulfill the missions of the Illinois Freedom Trails Commission. However, we need YOUR help putting the pieces of this puzzle together! If you are interested in learning more or joining our efforts, please contact: NILNTFC@Gmail.com for further information."
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