EDWARDSVILLE, IL- You may be used to fundraisers and galas, hesitant to show up out of fear of boredom or redundant conversations. On Saturday, May 2, 2026, we decided to do something a little different and interrupt regularly scheduled programming.

UCM’s Disco and Disruption was a friend-raising event that not only honored community leadership but challenged our position on current events while allowing us to boogie down in the process.

The theme was Disco & Disruption: Groove for Good Trouble. Disrupt for Radical Change. This isn't just a nice phrase for a party. It has a much deeper meaning. Disco is a genre of dance music that emerged in the 1960s in the urban nightlife scene. It was widely criticized for celebrating marginalized and underrepresented communities. We know that joy is a form of resistance and disco embodied that.

We wanted joy to radiate through The Leclaire Room and the Dirty Muggs provided the soundtrack, getting guests up from their seats and out on the dance floor.

Our disruption started with a panel led by our Development Director, Bria, that engaged in thoughtful discussion around the strategic disenfranchisement of voting rights, how to encourage informed voting and why it’s imperative that we collectively realize our power.

“If your vote didn’t matter, why would they try to take it?”

— Tyshianna Bankhead

While disruption formally means a radical change to an existing industry due to technological innovation, it is cognitively recognized in the activist community as a monumental and historical event that causes change in the system. We honored 6 community disruptors. A disruptor is someone who radically changes or challenges traditional ways of doing things - breaking barriers to build something better.

Barry Malloyd

Constance Harper

Shontay Ford

Reggie Smith

Rev. Wade Halva

(Add brief bios)

Our final award for the afternoon was very special. We honored our board president, Donna Brooks-Sanders, with the Diamond Legacy Award, recognizing record-breaking dedication and timeless impact.

Our host, Jade Harrell, was amazing throughout the program. Keeping us engaged with chants such as “GOOD GROOVE. GOOD TROUBLE.” And noted how intentional everything was. From the vinyl records and revolutionary books on each table, to our exclusive VIP lounge that hosted an audio guestbook with thought provoking, community-driven questions.

The Dirty Muggs took us home with a high energy set so good that a soul train line formed! This work can get heavy, it is imperative that we take every joyous moment that we can. Disco and Disruption was full of them.