Illinois Soul

06/17/2026

⏰ Tomorrow!

Our FREE Juneteenth Celebration Concert featuring Raphael & Whitney takes place tomorrow at 5:30 PM on Stage 5 in the lobby of Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

Join Illinois Soul as we honor Juneteenth through music, community, and celebration.

📅 Thursday, June 18
⏰ 5:30 PM
📍 Stage 5 at Krannert Center
🎟️ Free and open to the public

Who’s joining us tomorrow? Let us know in the comments!



University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Media at Illinois
University of Illinois Black Alumni Network RAII & Whitney

06/17/2026

Check out Raphael & Whitney's playlist on Spotify 🎶

Take a listen, or even discover a few favorites!

And come hear Raphael & Whitney live at Illinois Soul’s FREE Juneteenth Celebration Concert on Thursday, June 18 at 5:30 PM on Stage 5 inside Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

🎧 Listen. Enjoy. Share with a friend.







University of Illinois Black Alumni Network
College of Media at Illinois University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

06/16/2026

BRIGHT SPOT on WCIA 3 News- Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams recently stopped by to support a local Kool-Aid stand run by a group of young entrepreneurs 🥰

06/16/2026

06/16/2026

❗📅 Juneteenth marks the arrival of U.S. Army troops in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. The troops told some of the last enslaved Americans that they were free. They were enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation, in which President Abraham Lincoln decreed some enslaved people to be free on January 1, 1863. (NPR)

Check out the latest episode of Dialogue, where we talked with Carla Boyd, Human Rights and Equity Officer in Urbana and Tom Unzicker, Human Rights Specialist in Urbana, on upcoming events.

Many central Illinois communities will commemorate Juneteenth.

Find the full list on https://will.illinois.edu/dialogue/episode/champaign-danville-and-urbana-to-mark-juneteenth-by-celebrating-black-freedom-and-families

Dialogue airs Tuesdays at 6 PM and Saturdays at 11 AM
101.1 FM | 90.9 HD2 or stream anytime at illinoissoul.org
📲 Download the podcast

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Black Alumni Network

06/16/2026

✨ Only 2 days until we celebrate Juneteenth together!

Raphael & Whitney will take the Stage 5 spotlight with an evening of soulful music, hometown pride, and community connection.

Admission is FREE, so make plans now to join Illinois Soul for this special Juneteenth Celebration Concert.

📅 Thursday, June 18
⏰ 5:30 PM
📍 Stage 5, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Come early, bring a friend, and celebrate with us.



University of Illinois Black Alumni Network University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Media at Illinois Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

06/15/2026

🎉 The countdown is on!

In just 3 days, join us at Illinois Soul’s FREE Juneteenth Celebration Concert featuring Champaign-Urbana favorites Raphael & Whitney!

❗🎶 Bring your family, friends, and community spirit as we celebrate freedom, culture, and music together on Stage 5 in the lobby of Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

📅 Thursday, June 18
⏰ 5:30 PM
📍 Stage 5 at Krannert Center
🎟️ FREE

We’ll see you there!



University of Illinois Black Alumni Network College of Media at Illinois University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign RAII & Whitney

06/15/2026

Juneteenth is this week and there are many ways to celebrate around C-U! Our "can't miss" event is the Illinois Soul Juneteenth Celebration with Raphael and Whitney at Krannert Uncorked! Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

**Come join us!**
- Thursday, June 18, 5:30pm
- Krannert Center Stage 5 (Lobby)
- Free Admission!

🎶 https://krannertcenter.com/events/illinois-soul-juneteenth-celebration-raphael-whitney

06/14/2026

The first Juneteenth celebration of the season took place yesterday in at Douglas Park in Urbana, but the week is just getting started. Communities across central Illinois are hosting events that honor the history, significance, and continued legacy of Juneteenth.

See our roundup of upcoming celebrations and activities.

Link in comments.