ICC Resource Fair

Bailey Newhouse

March 20, 2023

Thursday, March 9, Illinois Central College (ICC) held its Resource Fair, where any local organization could come in and talk about its organization’s goal and purpose. Harbinger Student Media (HSM) was able to interview some organizations and what they wanted to achieve by participating in ICC’s Resource Fair, as well as some of their future plans.

One organization that was interviewed was International Friendship, Inc (IFI). They are an incorporation that works with ICC to help welcome international students and get them accustomed to their new surroundings.

“IFI helps provide hospitality, accommodations, needs, and a safe environment at ICC for all incoming international students,” says Paula Hans, the lead director of IFI.

Their goal for participating at the fair was to introduce themselves to any international students that they missed during orientation or that would like to know more about the program, even if they meet them prior. Some activities that they have planned for in the future include working with other volunteers around central Illinois at the Morton Food Bank to help package food for locals in need and ice skating during spring break.

While this organization mostly focuses on helping international students, there was an organization we interviewed that is open for everyone to use; the Center for Prevention of Abuse (CPA).

Their goal for participating at the fair was to let ICC students know that, if they or anyone they know is going through abuse, there is a safe organization they could contact to seek help. They offered flyers, pamphlets with information about different types of abuse, and contact cards that contained different forms of contact information.

“Our mission statement is to help free those who are suffering from violence and abuse,” says Grace Fritz, a member of CPA.

Even though they are an organization that mostly helps people escape from abuse and helps them deal with the trauma that may occur from those situations, they do host many activities that are open to the public. Some of their future activities include their 5k marathon promoting awareness of sexual assault in April and their annual summer duck race, which will be hosted at the East Side Center in Peoria near the end of August.

The ICC Resource Fair is a great way for many local organizations to promote themselves to both ICC students and staff. Many of these organizations provide great services and opportunities to young people, allowing them to start entering the workforce once they’ve graduated college or assuring them that there are local groups that they can rely on if anything happens to them, their friends, or their family and provide the help and support needed.