Community Calendar

The Human Rights Authority is the investigative branch of the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, a state agency that is dedicated to advocating for the rights of citizens with disabilities in Illinois. The Human Rights Authority investigates alleged violations of the rights of persons with disabilities by providers of services. The agency is unique in its use of citizen volunteers to conduct these investigations and make corrective recommendations. As such, Regional Authorities are always seeking to fill vacancies as they occur as well as maintain a pool of potential volunteer members for times when the need arises.

If you feel that you, or someone you know, has had their rights violated by a disability service provider or if you would like to volunteer to participate in the Northwest regional board, located in Champaign, please visit the website at gac.il.gov or call the statewide intake at 1-866-274-8023.

Lincoln and Liberty
November 2, 9-4 pm
November 3, 9-2 pm
2221 Freeport Rd, Rockton, IL

Observe the 160th Anniversary of the Election of 1864. You will experience casting your ballot, the reenlistment of American Civil War Veterans, and everything civilian life had to offer in 1864.
$5.00 per person, Members free

The Freeport Art Museum (FAM) is thrilled to announce the opening of two solo exhibitions, set to debut on October 25th at 5 p.m. These exhibitions are PERSEVERANCE, featuring new work by Dice White from Rockford, IL, and an installation, GREÑAPUNK, by Eddaviel from Fox River Grove, IL.

Both run through Dec. 27. The museum is open 10-5 Tuesdays-Fridays, and 12-5 on Saturdays.

GREÑAPUNK BY EDDAVIEL Is a collection of work, exploring the African heritage as Afro-Caribbean in the past-present-future, a space where myths, politics and the future merge to create a new universe. Greñapunk is an art show where every art form converges to talk about being Afro (Greña) in the future. The artist, Eddaviel is from the Dominican Republic, and has worked with films, advertising, publishers, galleries, museums, universities and cultural centers around the world.

Dice White is a 19-year-old artist from Rockford, Illinois, whose current success is a testament to the human spirit surmounting the impact of a mother addicted to drugs, his own psychological distress, and the challenge of homelessness. Dice has found a life in creating art that is boldly expressive, colorful, and complex.

The Next Picture Show is pleased to announce a brand-new sculptural show. Heavy Metal features talented artists who’s innovative and experimental works are crafted from a spectrum of mediums. Artists were encouraged to explore abstract and figurative works formed from steel, iron, bronze, aluminum, and more. This is a new show you won’t want to miss!

This exhibition is sponsored by Tri Star Metals of Freeport, Illinois.

Absolutely Abstract runs from October 24th through November 30th (the same time as our Heavy Metal exhibition). This juried exhibition showcases dynamic and out-of-the-box pieces.

Absolutely Abstract features talented artists who push the bounds of their work to create bold new worlds. Artists were encouraged to explore this work with fresh perspectives, bold colors, dynamic forms, and exciting textures.

Science Saturday: Nature's Mysteries is a FREE, family friendly event. Nature is full of mystery! Grad a magnifying glass and join us to uncover all of nature's wonders. Use a microscope to see nature up close and solve a nature mystery to win a prize.

Landscape art can depict a variety of different settings such as mountains, valleys, forests, cliffs, lakes, rivers, and beaches. The Nature’s Palette exhibit intends to offer a diverse collection of expressions, approaches, and renderings of landscapes from plein air to surreal to abstract and beyond.

If you were a parent with a young child and suddenly found yourself homeless, would you know how to get by? Relying on parents who have experienced homelessness, Diane Nilan and Diana Bowman, two longtime advocates for homeless families, wrote a book: The Three Melissas: The Practical Guide to Surviving Family Homelessness.

This book features three mothers named Melissa who offer tips, strategies, and words of wisdom for parents who are homeless. The Melissas also propose recommendations for improving services for homeless families.

Diane Nilan will be at the library to present on her experiences with writing this book and answering questions from the community. Diane, founder and president of HEAR US, chronicles poverty, family homelessness, and life along America’s backroads. She has traveled over 500,000 miles of mostly backroads through 48 mainland states, and Hawaii, making dozens of films viewed by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.

This program is free and open to all. No registration is required. Books will be available to purchase.

For additional information, please contact Samantha at samanthah@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 1701.

Beloit College’s Wright Museum of Art and student-run Gallery ABBA present “Day One DNA: 50 Years in Hip-Hop Culture,” an immersive multimedia exhibition featuring over 200 artifacts from the private collection of hip-hop legends Ice T and DJ Afrika Islam. Curated by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn, this exhibition offers a deep dive into the cultural, political, and economic influences that have shaped hip-hop over the last five decades.

The exhibition includes iconic items like DJ Afrika Islam’s first set of turntables, Ice T’s custom leather fashion pieces, and a host of rare photographs and memorabilia that document the evolution of hip-hop from its early days to its global dominance.

Singer and Songwriter Dennis Warner draws on his wealth of stage experience in creating a warm, welcoming, and intimate concert. Accompanying his vocals on six or twelve-string guitar, this concert will blend serious, thought-provoking songs with lighter, up-tempo material. Dennis will bring the audience into the performance with laughter and sing-alongs.

Dennis has released eleven albums and authored the book Beads on One String, now in its Ninth Printing. Radio monitoring service FOLK DJ named him one of the top folk singers in 2012 based on the success of his Seeds album, which they also listed among the top albums that year based on folk radio play around the world. His 2020 release, Pilot Me, debuted at number eight on the FOLK DJ radio charts that August.

“Great songs, contagious energy and an engaging personality make Dennis Warner an outstanding entertainer. Add his smooth vocals and solid guitar work, and you’ve got a fantastic show!” Dave Humphreys - Two Way Street Concerts, Downers Grove, IL

For more information on Dennis Warner click here.

This concert is free and open to all. No registration is required.

For additional information, please contact Samantha at samanthah@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 1701.