#BeCauseY: Meet Ruta Rauber, a leader of the Y's community recycling program

This year is Ruta Rauber’s 11th year as a volunteer for the Y’s Dump & Run Community Recycling program. Now that Dump & Run has long outgrown the Y building, Ruta helps out in the kitchen department at the Sale every August at the U of I Stock Pavilion.

As kitchen coordinator, a fun part of the job for Ruta during the Dump & Run Sale is that she gets to help those first-year students figure out what they need to buy for their kitchens. In a global sense, for Ruta, it means not only helping people find great stuff at a fraction of the cost or helping the Y raise funds to support programming, but also about not wasting a single thing if you can help it.

“I take a moment to stand in the doorway of the of the immense space of the Stock Pavilion when we have it all set up. The stands and the ground floor are covered to the inch with furniture, lamps, rugs, bikes, electronic accessories, books, office supplies, etc. So much that it’s impossible to take it all in at once. I stand there and look at it and think this could have easily ended up in the landfill.”

 
When Ruta is not volunteering at the Y, Ruta works as a studio assistant in the Art Department at Parkland Community College. She is a perpetual student of metalsmithing and ceramics at the college. Ruta says ifyou’re considering volunteering at the Y, do it. You will be warmly welcomed into the fold whether it’s an hour here or there. It’s worth it, she says.

La Línea Internship Fall 2015

La Línea Internship Fall 2015

The University YMCA's La Línea program is seeking an intern for the Fall 2015 semester. La Línea is a free Spanish and English language helpline for the community that provides information, referrals, and advocacy services as a program of the University YMCA. We are seeking an intern to invest 15 hours a week with flexible hours in duties such as phone operator, case advocacy, and volunteer outreach, among others. For more details, see complete description below.

If interested, please contact Megan Flowers at megan@universityymca.org with a cover letter and current resume. The deadline to submit your application is August 24. Please email Megan with any questions.

La Línea Internship Description

About University YMCA

The University YMCA has been a vital part of campus life at the University of Illinois since its formation in 1873. The Y has played a powerful role in developing students into leaders who share a commitment to make our world a better place. As the oldest non-profit in Champaign County, the University YMCA has a proud legacy of responding to community needs and serving as a bridge between the university and community.

Throughout our history, we have worked to address campus and community needs by encouraging student engagement in projects and programs that expand their view of the world, deepen their understanding of community, and integrate the ideas, knowledge and skills gained in school by applying to real life situations. The University YMCA has sponsored programs, organizations and activities dedicated to fostering ethical and principled leadership dedicated to building a better world, better human relations and better care for the Earth.

La Línea Overview

La Línea is a free confidential, volunteer-run helpline for the community. For the past 5 years, La Línea has worked to bridge the local Spanish speaking community to local community resources by providing information, referrals, and assisting community members navigate through various systems to gain the resources they need to thrive in our local community. La Línea is not a 24-hour crisis hotline and does not provide services that need immediate urgent attention and emergency response.

Primary Functions:

• Work in conjunction with Case Supervisor, Intake Coordinator, and Administrative Coordinator in various tasks that may include but are not limited to:

o Operator – Listen to and take detailed notes on caller issues

o Case Advocacy – Set and attend appointments on an as needed basis

o Volunteer Outreach and Retention – Work in tandem with Executive Volunteer team in creating resources, materials, trainings and social events and opportunities to outreach and retain volunteer force.

• Responsible for initial Volunteer requests and interviews

• Send weekly newsletters and updates to volunteers

• Attend community and outreach events

• Serve as La Línea program liaison to the University YMCA and program staff and various other partner agencies

• Connect and nurture relationships with various community agencies and community leaders in order to create and coordinate various services as well as outreach to prospective clients

• Contribute to La Línea’s Cheat Sheet, a resource manual detailing various community resources

Secondary Functions:

• Translation of vital information

• Other duties as assigned or requested

Other notes: Knowledge of Spanish is preferred, but not required.

For more information, see

http://lalinea.weebly.com/

Location

University YMCA

1001 S. Wright St.

Champaign, IL

217-337-1500

The 2015-2016 Intercultural Horizons Internship

Applications must be received by Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at 11:59am to aacc@illinois.edu

The Intercultural Horizon Internship Program promotes cultural awareness on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus by addressing various social issues that affect international and domestic students. The purpose is to establish a stronger connection between international and domestic students to create a more inclusive campus community. The goal of the internship is to develop recommendations to these issues and to implement programs throughout both semesters.

Selected interns will receive 3 credit hours of GLOBAL STUDIES 199 during the Fall semester, and 1 credit hour of GLOBAL STUDIES 199 during the Spring semester as well as a $500 stipend during the Spring semester.

This internship is a partnership with the Asian American Cultural Center, the University YMCA, International Student and Scholar Services, and Diversity and Social Justice Education.

Primary Responsibilities

-GLOBAL STUDIES 199 ( 1 credit hours Fall semester, 1 credit hour Spring semester)
-Weekly class meetings on Mondays 4:00-5:30pm and Thursdays 6:00-7:30pm
-Readings and Response papers
-Cultural immersions
-Participate in weekly discussions about international and domestic student integration issues
-Develop and implement several projects throughout both semesters
-Create a list of recommendations for bringing together international and domestic students
-Maintain a schedule of 10 hours of work per week
-Communicate effectively with the Asian American Cultural Center, the University YMCA, International Student and Scholar Services, and Diversity Education and Social Justice

Qualifications
· Demonstrates commitment to bringing together international and domestic students
·  Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team and independently with a high degree of initiative
· Undergraduate student at U of I enrolled in both Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 semesters
· Must attend weekly class meetings
· Federal Work Study preferred but not required

Application Procedure
Submit a resume, contact information for 3 references and a letter of interest addressing the following questions below. Application must be received by August 12 at 11:59am to aacc@illinois.edu.
 

1. How would this internship benefit your experience on campus and your future career goals?

2. What are your past experiences working with international or domestic students?

3. Describe you impressions of international and domestic student relations on campus from your own personal experience.

4. What skills and passion can you bring to the Intercultural Horizon Internship Program?

5. Why do you think you should be an Intercultural Horizon Intern?
Do you currently have Federal Work Study?

This internship will run August 2015 to May 2016
Please contact Assistant Director Mai-Lin Poon at mpoon@illinois.edu if you have questions.

TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS

The University YMCA's Student Board is hosting Tools for Schools on August 14 and 15 from 9am to 7pm here at the University Y. The purpose of the event is to provide things necessary for the school year (ex. school supplies, youth recreation, and healthcare information) to students of families with low-income. 

School supplies and monetary donations are now being accepted through the time of the event.

The University YMCA is a donation site for Tools for Schools. Please bring items to donate such as markers, pencils, glue, crayons, spiral notebooks, backpacks, folders, etc. 

Monetary donations are being accepted through paypal at:http://tinyurl.com/oumsr4q Any donation will help! 

Thank you!

 

August 14 & 15, 2015 from 9am to 7pm  at the University YMCA 1001 S. Wright Street Champaign, IL  Nearby Bus Stops:  Wright and Chalmers, Transit Plaza, Armory and Wright