CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — When Tracy Parsons speaks to a room filled with community members, city leaders, and educators, he makes sure each person introduces themselves — and shares why they’re there.
“Everyone has a place in this work,” says Parsons. “We’re not just here to talk — we’re here to find solutions to tough problems.”
Parsons serves as the Equity and Engagement Director for the City of Champaign, a position created specifically for him after years of dedicated community work. He began as Community Relations Manager in 2015 under former City Manager Dorothy David and now serves under City Manager Joan Walls. His current role, which didn’t previously exist, was formed in recognition of the growing need to invest not just in physical infrastructure — but in people. “We know there are investments in fiscally sound bricks-and-mortar,” Parsons says. “But what about human capital?”
It’s a question he continues to raise through his leadership of the Champaign County Community Coalition, a network of organizations and individuals working collaboratively to address violence, poverty, education, and equity.
Born from Tragedy, Grown with Purpose
The Coalition was created in 2012, following the police shooting of Kiwane Carrington, a 15-year-old Black teen killed during an encounter with a Champaign police officer. The shooting deeply impacted the community and led to calls for more transparency, trust, and systemic change.
“We started looking for ways to bring positivity and tangible benefits to the communities most affected,” Parsons recalls.
By 2016, a spike in gun violence — affecting both youth and adults — drove the coalition to deepen its work. That same year, Parsons shifted into his role full-time, with a clear mission: “To grow the partnerships and continuity of the coalition.”
Back then, meetings were held in the Douglass Annex, with just about 20 people. Meetings have expanded to larger venues, including the Champaign Police Department, Champaign Public Library, and now the Holiday Inn to accommodate increasing attendance. At the August 2025 meeting, 125 people showed up. “Anyone who wants to come is welcome,” says Parsons. “We want people to find where they fit in.”
A Post-George Floyd Lens
Parsons says the work of the coalition is now viewed through a different lens — shaped by national events and local needs. “There’s before George Floyd, and there’s since George Floyd,” he explains. “That tragedy gave people new clarity about how systems are functioning — or not functioning — equitably.”
Neighborhoods like Garden Hills, West Springfield, areas near Centennial High School, and communities north of Downtown Champaign are being heard more often. And that, Parsons says, is progress. “We’re coordinating efforts, listening to needs, and making real investments in those areas.”
A Community Responding
Parsons believes the community is stepping up. The coalition is structured to respond to feedback and adapt to the evolving needs of the city. At the September meeting, the coalition will continue its format – invite individual organizations to present their missions and seek community help in making goals: “Intentional, rational, and economic.”
But recent violence underscores the urgency. This past summer, three young people under the age of 17 were killed in Champaign — all of whom were out of school and known to community programs. “We should be alarmed by that number as a collective community,” Parsons says. “The streets got them.”
He adds that many young people fall into cycles of violence due to poverty, home environments, and a search for credibility. “People always say, ‘he was a good kid.’ But then the streets — or the circumstances — take over.”
At the next coalition meeting, law enforcement and the State’s Attorney’s Office will discuss public safety, legal challenges, and how to address ongoing violence. But for Parsons, intervention must come sooner. “We can’t skip steps. The kids who make it, who succeed — they follow steps. We have to catch them early, in school, and help them get to that next step.”
Collective Commitment
Parsons works closely with leadership across sectors — including the University of Illinois, Parkland College, area school districts, police departments, park districts, and local government.
They’re all part of the Coalition’s mission, and the Executive Committee meets quarterly to coordinate broader strategy. “These kids are watching us,” Parsons says. “They’re watching how we solve societal issues — through violence and war. If we’re modeling that, why would it be different on the streets?”
To learn more about the Champaign County Community Coalition, visit champaigncommunitycoalition.org or call 217-403-8831. Meetings are open to the public, and all are welcome.
“The community is responding,” Parsons says. “And we’re going to keep responding too.”