Illinois § 15

§ 15.

Duties of Commission. The Commission shall have the following duties: (1) to provide resources for individuals and local entities seeking to learn more about the Underground Railroad in Illinois, including: (A) an online resource website, including, but not limited to maps of journeys, historical sites, and conductor cemetery markers; (B) a calendar of related events in this State; (C) research sources and bibliographies; (D) videos and links to videos; and (E) pictures, brief histories, and other materials developed locally and at the State level; (2) collaborate with organizations focusing on the Underground Railroad, including: (A) local and regional Underground Railroad groups; (B) county and regional historical societies; (C) museums, especially museums that focus on slavery and the African American experience; (D) academic programs, especially African American Studies at the college level and history departments; and (E) organizations in African American communities; (3) to create a grant funding program; (4) to work with the National Park Service's Network to Freedom program and serve as a liaison between the National Park Service and local entities; (5) to explore heritage tourism opportunities connecting the locations of freedom seeker journeys and Underground Railroad sites, working with the Illinois Office of Tourism and regional tourism agencies; and (6) to connect freedom seekers and Underground Railroad stories to the range of freedom stories across and throughout the history of Illinois. (Source: P.A. 104-113, eff. 8-1-25.)