As part of Black History Month, the Galesburg Public Library Foundation was pleased to host an afternoon screening of Alice’s Ordinary People, in partnership with the Galesburg Public Library and the NAACP. The program offered a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the history of grassroots organizing, civic education, and the often-unseen work that fuels lasting social change.
Before the screening, filmmaker Craig Dudnick joined us for a brief discussion, sharing context about the film and his collaboration with Alice Tregay. His remarks helped frame the documentary not just as a historical record, but as a living lesson in how ordinary people build movements through persistence, strategy, and shared purpose.
The film centers on Alice Tregay’s early activism in Chicago, beginning with her involvement in Operation Breadbasket, a key initiative of the Chicago Freedom Movement focused on economic justice. Through this work, Alice came to understand that protest alone was not enough—communities also needed access to political knowledge and practical tools to create change from within existing systems.
That realization led to the creation of the movement’s Political Education Department, an effort devoted to preparing everyday citizens for civic leadership. One of the examples highlighted in the documentary is a 10-week course on how to run a political campaign. The goal was to remove barriers to participation, helping people understand the mechanics of elections, governance, and advocacy so they could confidently step into leadership roles themselves.
Alice’s Ordinary People is a powerful reminder that history is shaped not only by well-known figures, but by community members who commit to learning, organizing, and empowering others—values that align closely with the spirit of Black History Month.
If you were unable to attend the screening, there are still opportunities to watch the film. Alice’s Ordinary People is available to stream on Kanopy with your Galesburg Public Library card, or you can check out the DVD from the library’s collection.
The Galesburg Public Library Foundation is happy to support programs like this that expand access to history, encourage thoughtful conversation, and connect our community to stories that continue to shape our understanding of civic life.
