The Springfield Project at CAP 1908

A clear record can open the door to new opportunities. To date, we’ve assisted more than 400 individuals with the process of clearing their records.

Join us Saturday, October 17, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the 1908 Innovation & Coworking Center to start the process of expunging or sealing your criminal record at no cost.

Register at www.socialchange.site.

1908 Innovation & Coworking Center
1100 S. Grand Ave. East
Springfield, IL

Thank you to our partners at chisocialchange and Senator Doris Turner for helping make this work possible.

🎧 Ready to strengthen your listening skills? 🎧

Join us for our next CAPture Your Potential workshop, The Listening Advantage: An Active Guide to Active Listening. Learn how active listening can transform conversations, deepen connections, and help others feel heard and valued.

📅 Thursday, September 24 | 9:30–11:00 AM
📍 1908 Innovation & Coworking Center, Springfield, IL
✨ Free to attend.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/gDG5N26a

We're back after the summer break!
Join us for our next 'CAPture Your Potential' Workshop!

Trauma Informed: An Approach That Strengthens Communities

Discover practical strategies to better understand trauma, build resilience, and create stronger, more supportive communities.

📅 Friday, August 21
🕤 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
📍 1908 Innovation & Coworking Center
1100 S. Grand Ave. East, Springfield, IL

✨ Free to attend.

Register by scanning the QR code or visiting: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/ef2657f6746d4ff99f4d4a7d6b090eb2

We look forward to learning and growing with you!

We heard your feedback, and we’re excited to share an update.

1908 Culture Fest is now one signature event — still celebrating African, Latino/Hispanic, Caribbean, and Black cultures in one big day of community, food, art, music, and connection.

Saturday, August 1, 2026
11:30 AM – 3:00 PM
1908 Innovation & Coworking Center
1100 South Grand Avenue East

Vendor Meeting: Tuesday, July 21 at 4:30 PM

Thank you for the support. We’re excited to bring everything together for one powerful celebration.

🚨 VENDOR APPLICATIONS CLOSE THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 5 🚨

The 1908 Culture Fest: Summer Market Series is a four-week cultural marketplace experience designed to celebrate culture, community, creativity, and local entrepreneurship in the Southtown Cultural District.

We're currently accepting vendor applications and are looking for businesses and organizations that align with the vision of this unique community experience.

We're seeking:
Small Businesses
Artists & Creatives
Cultural Goods & Handmade Products
Community Organizations
Food Vendors

Week 1 — African Culture, Week 2 — Latino / Hispanic Culture,
Week 3 — Caribbean Culture, Week 4 — Black Culture

📍 1908 Innovation & Coworking Center
1100 South Grand Ave. E., Springfield, IL
🗓 Saturdays beginning July 11
⏰ 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Vendor applications and inquiries will be accepted through Friday, June 5, 2026. Following the application period, vendors will be selected to help create a curated and engaging experience for attendees throughout the series.

Interested in learning more?

(217) 670-8520
[email protected]

Tag a small business, artist, creative, or food vendor who should be part of this experience.

This month's 'CAPture Your Potential' session will be facilitated by Dr. Macy Ferguson-Smith.

They will be providing our quarterly session on Trauma-Informed Approaches, which is free and open to the community, before the series breaks for the summer.

Bring a friend, bring your team, register at the link below!

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/ef2657f6746d4ff99f4d4a7d6b090eb2

🚨 CALLING ALL VENDORS 🚨

We’re curating something different for Springfield this summer, and we’re looking for the right vendors to be part of it.

The 1908 Culture Fest: Summer Market Series will feature 4 weeks of culture, community, and curated experiences, and we’re selecting vendors that align with the vision.

✨ Cultural goods
✨ Small businesses
✨ Artists & creatives
✨ Food vendors

📍 1908 Innovation & Coworking Center – 1100 South Grand Ave, E.
🗓 Saturdays starting July 11
⏰ 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Spots are limited — apply now or reach out for more information.

📞 (217) 670-8520
📧 [email protected]

We’re excited to introduce the 1908 Culture Fest: Summer Market Series, a 4-week cultural marketplace experience launching July 11th in Springfield’s Southtown Cultural District.

If you’re interested in participating as a vendor or sponsor, please contact:

Nate Robinson
[email protected]
(217) 670-8520

People ask all the time, “What does The Springfield Project actually do?”

As a community development organization, we work to bring people, partners, and resources together to strengthen Springfield neighborhoods that have been overlooked for too long.

That looks like supporting small businesses, creating opportunities for young people, connecting residents to resources, building workforce pathways, hosting community programs, and helping bring new life to our neighborhoods.

At the core of it, we’re about access, opportunity, and community.

That’s the work.
That’s the mission.

👀👀👀👀