McLean County labor leader, historian to be honored at Obama Presidential Center
In The News
By Howard Packowitz
September 9, 2026
This announcement was originally published on September 8 by 25News Now.
CHICAGO (25News Now) - McLean County labor leader, civil rights advocate, and historian Mike Matejka is being honored later this month as one of four recipients of Illinois Humanities’ 2026 Public Humanities Award.
Matejka, an Illinois Humanities Road Scholar, will receive the honor at this year’s Public Humanities Awards gala, to be held Wednesday, Sept. 23 at Home Court of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
The honorees are being recognized for strengthening communities through storytelling, culture, and civic engagement.
Matejka serves on the board of the McLean County Museum of History, the Illinois Labor History Society, and the Friends of Pullman National Historic Park. He is co-chair of Not in Our Town Bloomington-Normal.
Q&A after the premiere of Over a Barrel at the Peoria Riverfront Museum Theater
Audience settling in for the premiere of Over a Barrel
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