Daily Digest for Jan. 15, 2009:

Green View program aids 145 pets, 170 kids

BLOOMINGTON - Green View Nursery partnered with the Department of Children and Family Services and local animal shelters to support local children and pets through the Giving Tree and Pets in Need Tree over the holiday season.

The program bought gifts for 145 pets and 170 children. The gifts were made possible by customers buying ornaments from Nov. 1 to Dec. 20 at Green View's six locations in Central Illinois and West Oswego.

Obama's promise topic of YWCA, NAACP event

BLOOMINGTON - The YWCA of McLean County and the NAACP will have a panel discussion Monday (Jan. 19) on the promise of a Barack Obama presidency.

The free event, which commemorates the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bloomington Police Department's Osborn Room, 305 S. East St.

The goal is to initiate conversations that can lead to better interracial and multicultural relations.

For more information, call (309) 662-0461, Ext. 274, or email nball@ywcamclean.org.

Gates Foundation to aid YouthBuild

BLOOMINGTON - The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is awarding $600,000 to YouthBuild McLean County as part of a national effort to double the number of low-income students who earn a college degree or vocational credential by age 26.

In YouthBuild, low-income youth ages 17-24 work toward their GEDs or high school diplomas while learning job skills by building affordable housing.

Police union donation aids car seat purchase

BLOOMINGTON - The Children's Home + Aid Children's Foundation has received a $5,000 grant award from the Bloomington Police Benevolent & Protective Association Unit 21 to purchase infant, toddler and booster seats for families who can't afford them.

The seats will be provided by Scott Early Learning Center, Healthy Start Program, Butterfly Project, Crisis Nursery Program, Family Visit Center, Family Solutions Program and foster care program.

CNN contributor to speak at Ill. State

NORMAL - Journalist Roland Martin will present "Living Black History: President Barack Obama and the History of the Race" at a Black History Month cultural dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 2 in the Illinois State University Bone Student Center Brown Ballroom.

Martin, a CNN contributor, also will sign copies of his book, "Speak, Brother! A Black Man's View of America."

Tickets are $15.25 plus tax and may be purchased through Jan. 25 at the Linkins (West Campus), Watterson Food Court and Southside dining facilities. Meal plan participants may purchase a ticket with one meal access. All ticket purchases will be entered to win a signed copy of Martin's book.

Martin is the former editor of the Chicago Defender and hosts a morning radio talk show on WVON in Chicago.

The dinner will also feature music from local jazz band, Soft Touch, and the Interdenominational Youth Choir.

The event is sponsored by Watterson Unity, Campus Dining Services, University Housing Services, Watterson Area Government, Association of Residence Halls, MECCPAC-a Dean of Students' Diversity Initiative, and the Student Government Association.