Celebrate Independence Day with a hands-on chalk pastel art project that's as fun to make as it is beautiful to display. Using star templates, chalk pastels in red, white, and blue, and a little smudging magic, participants will create a stunning piece of patriotic artwork, perfect for decorating your home for the Fourth of July. This free program is open to the public and recommended for participants ages 6 and up. All materials will be provided, and each participant will receive a glow stick bracelet to take home.

Nurture is a mixed media art exhibit that focuses on artists' perspective of the concept of Nurture. Join us to experience the inspiration and expressive interpretation of Nurture though art.

Take Root: A Farm Business Class Farmers Rising - The Land Connection - Food Works

January 13 – June 6, 2026
Tuesday and Thursdays
6-8pm
Four quarters · Four weeks each · One-week break between sections
Final presentations on June 6
(Last official class day: May 21, followed by a two-week break)

Mentorships to follow (optional)

About the Program

Take Root is a comprehensive virtual training program designed for people exploring farm business ownership and farmers in their first 1–5 years. This guided, step-by-step course helps participants build the confidence, clarity, and practical skills needed to launch or strengthen a farm enterprise.

The course follows a structured 4-section curriculum, each lasting four weeks. Between each section, participants take a one-week pause to reflect, catch up, and prepare for the next phase. After the final session on May 21, students will have two weeks to finalize their plans before returning on June 6 for peer presentations. Once presentations are complete, students will have the opportunity to join a mentorship program specialized to each person.

What are the benefits of Take Root?

✔ Build a complete farm business plan

✔ Join a supportive community

✔ Learn from experienced farmers

✔ Strengthen your business knowledge

Course Sections:

Quarter 1: The Dream: Foundations of Farm Life

Quarter 2: Enterprise: The Business of Farming

Quarter 3: Operations: Building it Out

Quarter 4: Finance: Keeping and Maintaining the Farm

Tuition & Accessibility

Total cost: $500 (not including mentorship)
Enrollment fee: $25 (applied toward tuition)

To ensure the program is accessible to all, we offer:

Payment plan

Need-based scholarships (based on current grant-supported scholarship fund availability)

Mentorships to follow

We can not wait for a great year with Take Root!

Jillae- Farmer Training Program Facilitator at Farmers Rising

The Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble and the Bloomington-Normal Flute Club join forces for an evening of music tracing the iconic highway from Chicago to California. The program follows Route 66 state by state, from Illinois through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and on to California, with each piece evoking the landscapes, cultures, and spirit of the communities along the way. It's a musical road trip you won't want to miss!

Based at Music Suite 408 in Peru, the IVFE has been a cornerstone of the Illinois Valley music scene since 1991. The ensemble has performed at venues ranging from the Hegeler Carus Mansion to the Chicago Flute Festival and has released three recordings. Director Sue Gillio, Principal Flute of the Illinois Valley Symphony, faculty at IVCC, and a nationally recognized flute educator, founded the ensemble and has shaped its legacy for over three decades.

The Bloomington-Normal Flute Club, founded in 2022 by Rachel Bailey, is an all-abilities adult ensemble dedicated to musical growth, community, and low-pressure performance. The group has performed at assisted living facilities and public events throughout central Illinois. The concert is free and open to the public.

In his second inaugural address in 2013, President Barack Obama said “What binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names. What makes us exceptional, what makes us American, is our allegiance to an idea articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Today, we continue a never-ending journey to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. Explore a deeper understanding of our country’s most famous declaration in this presentation.

This event is free and open to all. No registration is required. It is part of the America 250 initiative: celebrating our nation throughout the year.

For additional information, please contact Susan at susang@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 2114.

Join us for a delicious new program that brings DKPL’s collection to life! On the last Tuesday of each month, we’ll dive into a carefully chosen cookbook to explore its organization—whether it's structured by season, ingredient, or technique—and evaluate the author’s writing style, from their storytelling to the helpfulness of their notes.

Each participant is asked to read the cookbook, choose a recipe, prepare it at home, and bring the dish to share with the group. We’ll gather potluck-style to enjoy a meal and compare our experiences, discussing what inspired our recipe choice and how the author’s style or the cookbook’s layout impacted our time in the kitchen. Cookbook Club is the perfect way to test-drive a new title while enjoying a feast with fellow food lovers!

Each month, the chosen cookbook can be picked up in the Adult Services Department near the reference desk.

June: Cooking in Real Life by Lidey Heuck
July: Jubilee by Toni Tipton-Martin
August: Open Wide by Benny Blanco

Registration is not required. This program is intended for adults.

For more information, please contact Amy at amyf@dkpl.org or (815) 756-9568 ext. 6108.