Heartland Community College hosts Panel on Incarcerated Mothers

Heartland Community College is hosting a speaking panel to focus on the impact of incarceration on mothers and their children. 

The panel, entitled “When We Incarcerate Mothers, We Sentence Children,” will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2026 in the Astroth Community Education Center (ACEC) at Heartland Community College (1500 W. Raab Rd, Normal, IL). 

The event is hosted by students enrolled in the Heartland Community College Criminal Justice course The Criminalization of Women. 

A speaking panel and lunch-and-learn session will include formerly incarcerated individuals working with the Illinois Prison Project, an advocacy, education, and legal non-profit organization.

• 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Speaker Panel, Astroth Community Education Center (ACEC) Auditorium
  • Panelists include:
    • Kaitlyn Foust, Illinois Prison Project, Assistant Director of Education
    • Nia Frazier, Illinois Prison Project Ambassador
      
      
• 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Lunch and Learn, ACEC ClassroomThis event is free and open to the community. Local organizations will be present providing information regarding social services, mental health, and the re-entry process for formerly incarcerated individuals.

This event is free and open to the community. Local organizations will be present providing information regarding social services, mental health, and the re-entry process for formerly incarcerated individuals.

The event is funded through Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (LASS) Innovative Grant funds established by Heartland.