SRPINGFIELD, Ill. (WRSP/WICS) — The Faith Coalition for the Common Good organized an expo at Comer Cox Park, aiming to unite community members and discuss environmental changes. Brandon Derman, chairperson of the Environmental Justice Task Force, emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “Bringing different groups together is our main purpose today.” The event featured stands from organizations like Memorial Health and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, offering visitors insights on positively impacting the environment.

Dr. Lesa Johnson, associate professor of sociology at UIS, highlighted the need for community education, saying, “We need to be able to educate our community members…so that they can start to make the changes to make our entire community healthier.” The expo also attracted groups from outside the local area, such as the United Congregation of Metro East. A representative named Wen noted, “We also want to try to learn from them and what they care about.”

Derman described the event as part of a broader effort to strengthen community networks and identify new opportunities for collaboration. “Days like today are also about getting our presence out into the community and helping to open those channels of communication,” he said. The expo, which built on last year’s trial run, was well-attended, and organizers expressed gratitude for the community’s support.