The Danville High School Fieldhouse was full of DHS and area students between 4:30 and 7 PM Thursday, as the Jelani Day Foundation hosted the Central Illinois HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Fair. During the fair, all conversation at all tables was halted so Jelani’s mom Carmen Bolden Day could speak about her son’s unsolved death in 2021. After completing his undergrad years at Alabama A&M, Jelani disappeared from Illinois State University, where he was a 25-year-old grad student. Jelani’s body was found weeks later, far north of the ISU campus in the Illinois River.
Jelani Day’s mom Carmen Bolden Day addresses crowd during HBCU Fair at DHS Fieldhouse.
Carmen Bolden Day promised that the foundation would be hosting more events, as they continue to seek “Justice for Jelani.” Speaking with us after she addressed the fair crowd, Day told us what she felt Jelani would have done with his life.
AUDIO: He would have helped people. Jelani was going to school to be a speech pathologist. He wanted to be a doctor. He wanted to make sure that individuals that had problems with their speech; to help them communicate better. He was a good communicator; a good debater. So Jelani liked to make sure that people could articulate.
(First and Third Pictures) Students standing and listening as Carmen Bolden Day spoke.
We also had the chance to speak with Jelani’s brother DeAndre Day, and DHS principal Jacob Bretz; about Jelani, and the educational event itself.
AUDIO: (DEANDRE DAY) Jelani was a product of an historically black college. He went to the Alabama A&M University, and he wanted to honor that. (JACOB BRETZ) I think it shows the commitment Danville High School and the district has to education, and providing opportunities for all students.
Jelani Day was a graduate of Danville High School.
