Ammons Highlights Staff Work, ‘Empowering the Illinois African Diaspora’

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, is highlighting a recent  publication that dives into an adopted resolution establishing first-of-its-kind scientific DNA processes through the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s (UIUC) Department of Anthropology and the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.

“This resolution is not just about genealogy — it’s a declaration that every individual deserves the opportunity to know their history and connect with their roots, regardless of the barriers that history has placed in our way,” said Ammons.

The Family Roots Genealogy Program Pilot will allow African American descendants of previously enslaved individuals to trace their roots back to their ancestral homelands by providing saliva samples to UIUC’s biotechnology center.

Policy and Research Legislative Fellow serving Ammons’ office, Jailene Aguirre, was recently published in the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) for her dedication to the resolution. To read the full article “Empowering the Illinois African Diaspora,” download The Register here: NBCSL_TheLegislatorSummer2024.pdf

“I’m extremely proud of my staff, like Jailene, who does not shy away from taking the tough stuff head-on to meet a common goal for our community — ensuring that everyone has the chance to learn about their ancestry to thrive in their daily lives,” said Ammons. “Whether spiritually or through traditions, we all feel a tug to our lost family members. This is a historic movement for the state, which is recommitting itself to righting the wrongs of the past and providing a pathway for Black Illinoisians to reclaim their heritage. ”