University YMCA at the University of Illinois
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Mission Statement
The University Y develops campus and community leaders committed to social justice, environmental protection, interfaith cooperation and global engagement by fostering dialogue, reflection and action.
About This Cause
Since 1873, the YMCA at the University of Illinois has served as a place for meaningful dialogue and interaction between students, faculty, staff and community members. As the oldest non-profit in Champaign County, the University YMCA has a legacy of responding to community needs and serves as a bridge between the campus and the community. For decades, the University YMCA has focused on building student leaders who in turn become community leaders dedicated to addressing community problems and needs. Specifically, our mission statement reads: The University YMCA develops campus and community leaders committed to social justice, environmental protection, interfaith cooperation and global engagement by fostering dialogue, reflection and action. With a dynamic, cooperative and interfaith setting, the YMCA facilitates partnerships between diverse groups of individuals and creates a welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds. The University YMCA provides students new and challenging opportunities that expand their view of the world, deepen their understanding of community, and effectively integrate the ideas, knowledge and skills gained in school by applying them to real life experiences. Although we are based on campus and work closely with a number of colleges, departments and offices at the University of Illinois, an emphasis of the University YMCA has been to strengthen the ties between the University and our community. Over the past forty years, much of our programming has focused on the development of student leaders through student and staff programs. We currently sponsor 11 student organizations and provide 7 additional programs, providing community service, promoting cultural awareness and tackling environmental and social justice concerns. Last year, nearly 1,000 students participated in our student programs. All of our programs at the University YMCA focus on linking their work with the community and serve our four core principles of social justice, environmental protection, interfaith cooperation and global engagement. Programs: 1. Student Programs: The University YMCA works with students at the University of Illinois to develop cause-driven leaders, ready to affect tangible change in today's world, centered around our four core values of social justice, environmental protection, global engagement and interfaith dialogue. We currently sponsor and work with 11 Registered Student Organizations at the U of I: -Alternative Spring Break -Amnesty International -Engineers Without Borders -Green Observer -Interfaith-in-Action -La Colectiva -Philippine Student Association -Prison Justice Project -Red Bison -Students for Environmental ConcernS -VIS-A-VIS Tutoring 2. The Bailey Scholarship: The Fred S. Bailey Scholarship program was created by Fred S. Bailey to provide financial support to University of Illinois students who demonstrated unique skills and talents that would allow them to flourish as community leaders who could make a difference. Over $100,000 in scholarships are awarded each year to students who demonstrate a record of leadership, scholarship and intelligence, evidence of thoughtful consideration of issues, involvement in their community, a commitment to giving back to their community, a history of community service and volunteering. Since 1957, the Bailey Scholarship has been administered by the YMCA of the University of Illinois. 3. Art @ the Y: Some of the most profound insight, critique, and creative thinking around the issues which comprise the mission of the Y happen in and around the arts. Art @ the Y seeks to engage issues of social justice, international understanding, environmental activism, faith and cultural understanding through quality arts programming. Art @ the Y includes a revolving exhibition space in Murphy Gallery on the first floor of the University YMCA. All Art @ the Y events are free and open to the public. 4. Dump and Run: Dump and Run keeps over 30 tons of used, quality goods out of Champaign-Urbana’s dumpsters and landfills each year. During move-out week at the University of Illinois in May we collect donated items from students, as well as the surrounding community, sort through them and sell them at low cost in August at our Big Sale. This project reduces litter and consumer waste, saves space in landfills, lowers dumping costs for certified housing and apartments and provides inexpensive items for folks to purchase in the fall. 5. Friday Forum: Friday Forum is a weekly lecture series held during the fall and spring semesters that strives to raise awareness about national and international trends and events. Friday Forum has been continuously running for over 90 years at the University YMCA, continually adapting to the times while remaining committed to providing talks that address topics of relevance and urgency in our society. All lectures are held at noon in Latzer Hall for approximately one hour. 6. Interfaith Action: It seems like wherever you look, you’ll find stories of religious strife and images of hatred and violence. It’s no wonder the narrative around religious difference is constantly about conflict. Let's come together to tell a different story. Faith has always been an important part of the mission and programming of the University YMCA. The Y has become a hub for student-led initiatives and community engagement around issues of faith, ethics, justice and equality. Recognizing that for many people their faith calls them to serve and work for justice, Y staff work to generate programs which connect faith with justice issues, and to provide a safe, thoughtful interfaith space for both campus and community members, that can be a gathering place to talk, process and pray for students and faculty of all faiths. 7. International Dinner For 37 years the University YMCA has hosted its Annual International Dinner & Performance Night, a fun-filled evening with family and friends, featuring food from all over the world and entertaining performances from community and campus members. At this critical time in history, the YMCA of the University of Illinois stands by its work as a builder of bridges between campus and surrounding communities. In Champaign County, we can show all that our differing identities are actually assets in making our communities and nation stronger. In light of our collective work to lift up the welcoming efforts of our communities, we see the Y’s International Dinner and Performance Night as a key community bridge-building event that raises awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone and bringing together newcomers and U.S.-born residents in a spirit of unity. 8. The New American Welcome Center The New American Welcome Center at the University Y helps immigrants fully integrate into American society and prepares receiving communities around Champaign County to be welcoming and inclusive. By engaging local institutions and mobilizing community resources, we help make our community a place where newcomers and immigrants can thrive and flourish. 9. Sierra Leone Partnership: As the world continues to become more interconnected, Y USA has committed to engaging in activities and programs that promote global awareness and engagement. The University YMCA has taken this idea to heart with both locally focused programs as well as international work in Sierra Leone. The YMCA has begun forging a strong partnership with the local YMCA in Kenema, SL. Our work focuses on needs identified by the Kenema YMCA and local leadership and includes three main areas: Youth development and job training, water projects, and mental health. The University YMCA continues to serve as a connecting link between students, community members, organizations, and our international partners at the YMCA of Sierra Leone. Through these connections, the Y fosters the growth of the next generation of globally-minded leaders and promotes partnership-based strategies in community development.