In celebration of Bill Sackter—the namesake of Wild Bill’s coffee shop in North Hall and Uptown Bill’s Coffee House and Community Arts Center—a series of events will take place April 10, 12, and 14.
The events center around what would have been Sackter’s 101st birthday, and recognize individuals who carry on his legacy by supporting persons with disabilities. All activities are free and open to the public.
Bill Sackter awards
The University of Iowa School of Social Work recognizes the contributions of an alumnus and a student with the Bill Sackter Award each year. Mary K. Corbin and Latasha Cardenas are the 2014 recipients.
Corbin and Cardenas will be honored at an awards ceremony Thursday, April 10th at Uptown Bill’s, 730 S. Dubuque St., at 7 p.m. The evening will be devoted to music, readings, and spoken word performances related to Sackter and his impact on individuals, communities, and the world. Photographs, artifacts, and memorabilia about Sackter will be displayed throughout the space.
Corbin received her masters of social work in 1984, and is currently the social work specialist at the UI Children’s Hospital in the Center for Disabilities and Development (CDD). Since 1986, Corbin has served as the liaison between the CDD and government and community agencies.
Cardenas is a graduate student who has worked with people with mental illness and disabilities for the past eight years. She is particularly interested in eliminating barriers to treatment for families impacted by poverty, and is advocating for Medicaid policy changes that would allow broader coverage for those with developmental disabilities.
All day birthday bash and North Hall celebration
An all day birthday bash will take place Saturday, April 12 at Uptown Bill’s Coffee House and Community Arts Center. The celebration will feature a different live band and cake every hour beginning at 10 a.m. A special harmonica rendition of “Happy Birthday” will be played at 4 p.m.
The day will include music by the Decrepitones, Rock Vornbrock, and Julie and Doug Rideout. A 7 p.m. performance by Mike Munson and Jake Ilika, Minnesota blues and folk musicians, will conclude the event.
On Monday, April 14 Wild Bill’s Coffee shop in North Hall will feature cake and ice cream all day. Donations are welcome at both events.
Bill’s story
At the age of 7, Bill Sackter was sent to the Faribault School for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic. Sackter remained at the school for 44 years until his discharge, when legislation stopped supporting the idea of separating people with disabilities from their communities.
It was following his release that he met Bev and Barry Morrow, who become his guardians. Sackter accompanied them to the UISchool of Social Work, where he was given the job of making coffee, marking the birth of Wild Bill’s.
Sackter became famous in 1981 when “Bill,” a movie about his life, aired on television. In 2008 the documentary “A Friend Indeed-The Bill Sackter Story” was released and very well received.
Wild Bill’s Coffee Shop continues to operate in North Hall on the UI campus, employing a dozen adults with intellectual or physical disabilities.
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, contact Uptown Bill’s in advance at 319-339-0804.