Welcoming Gloria and Tyler to the YMCA staff!

The University YMCA is pleased to announce two new additions to their staff: Tyler Rotche and Gloria Yen. For contact information and to view the YMCA staff page, visit: universityymca.org/staff


Tyler Rotche is the Student Engagement Program Coordinator, providing consultation and assistance for student groups housed at the YMCA. He most recently worked as Water Policy Specialist at Prairie Rivers Network, focused on coal pollution issues. Tyler received his B.S. in Environmental Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Gloria Yen is the New American Program Coordinator, working with local leadership from newcomer and receiving communities to curate local resources and coordinating referrals for immigrant and newcomer integration. Gloria received her undergraduate degree in Music History from the University of Illinois before earning a Masters of Social Sciences at the University of Chicago. Gloria’s commitment to social justice and immigrant services is largely influenced by her experiences as a second generation Taiwanese American.

Three Spinners joins our New American Welcome Center on campus!

Three Spinners joins our New American Welcome Center on campus!

Opening in early June, the Three Spinners Community Resource Center will provide refugees, immigrants, and newcomers to the community with support and advocacy services when they are faced with the difficult task of starting their lives over in a new country and culture. 

As part of the YMCA’s New American Welcome Centers effort to build a more inclusive and welcoming communities, we welcome all people without regard to nationality, religion, or legal status. Some of the services that will be offered include material aid, language practice, job preparation, and acculturation. 

To learn more or volunteer, visit 
threespinners.org/community-resource-center

Ready to be the change? Learn more at the AmeriCorps VISTA virtual info session.

Are you ready for the next step in your career? 

Are you passionate about making a difference and working alongside communities to fight poverty? 

Want to learn valuable non-profit management and sustainable community development skills? 

Consider joining AmeriCorps VISTA! To learn more about the program, and hear from some currently serving members, tune in to our Virtual Information Session on Wednesday, May 24, 2017  3pm ET (12pm PT).

Register here.

We have year-long and short summer service opportunities available and are looking to hire now! From Alaska to Puerto Rico and everywhere in between, AmeriCorps VISTA members work alongside community leaders to find sustainable solutions to poverty including: developing job opportunities, increasing access to education and housing, promote healthy living, and much more. During this session, learn about the AmeriCorps VISTA program, hear from currently serving members, and have all your questions answered!

WE'RE HIRING NOW!

Learn more about the University YMCA's AmeriCorps VISTA postings

The University YMCA seeks two full-time VISTA Members who will build infrastructure of our immigrant and student programs, develop partnerships within our community, and investigate and develop new possible resources to support these programs. VISTAs will develop leadership skills in fundraising, program development, volunteer coordination, nonprofit management and more.

One VISTA will focus on our New American Welcome Center work and help build capacity for our immigrant outreach services. The other VISTA will focus on our YMCA student programs. Applicants are welcome to apply to one or both.

VISTAs serve for one full year and have access to fantastic benefits through the AmeriCorps program (click here for more information), including a living allowance (approximately $1000 a month in Champaign County), relocation allowance if you move 50+ miles, an end-of-service award of either $5,815 for education expenses or a cash stipend of $1,500, healthcare benefits, professional development trainings and more. 

The YMCA hopes to start VISTAs in June or July, but actual start date depends on the training schedule of the Americorps program. For best chance at consideration, please apply by Friday, May 19 at 11:59pm. 

The Immigrant Outreach Capacity VISTA posting can be found here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=73353&fromSearch=true 

The Youth-at-Risk Capacity VISTA posting can be found here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=73355&fromSearch=true 

Apply now at my.americorps.gov. 

For questions, e-mail Emily Cross at emily@universityymca.org or Megan Flowers at megan@universityymca.org. 

Make one of the biggest recycling events in CU happen. Join us for Dump & Run!

PSA/Press Release

For Immediate Release

May 3, 2017

For media inquires, contact: 

Megan Flowers, University YMCA Communications Director

[217-337-1500; megan@universityymca.org] 

WE NEED YOU (AND YOUR STUFF) FOR ONE GREAT CAUSE

Dump & Run, A Community Recycling Event

YMCA of the University of Illinois

Be a part of reducing litter and consumer waste, saving space in landfills, & providing inexpensive items for folks to purchase in the fall. The University YMCA is seeking volunteers to help with collecting, sorting, and packing donations during May collection days for their annual Dump & Run recycling sale in August. The Y's Dump & Run program has been a completely volunteer-run program since its inception 15 years ago as a small garage sale at the University YMCA. Each year, the Y relies on volunteers in the community and on campus to make one of the biggest recycling events in Champaign-Urbana happen. 

To sign up to volunteer, please visit: universityymca.org/dump_and_run/volunteer/ When you volunteer, you get first dibs on the things collected (after only 6 hours of volunteering) - and we get an unbelievable amount of great things donated!  Dump & Run volunteer opportunities during May Collection Days start May 8 and run trough May 24, 2017.  The Y especially relies on the help of volunteers during peak collections activities on the dates of Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13. Volunteer drivers are also greatly needed! If you are interested in driving to pick up and drop-off donations, please indicate that you are willing to drive in the "comment" section of the volunteer sign-up form. 

The University YMCA also asks community and campus members to donate any gently used, accepted items at the University YMCA (corner of Wright & Chalmers) during May 2017 collection days of the Y's Dump & Run recycling program. The Y is also hosting free pick up days for unwanted furniture and bikes in the community from May 10 & 11 from 9am to 4pm only. Please visit our website at universityymca.org/dump_and_run to schedule an appointment for us to come pick up your donated furniture or bikes for free. Please note that do NOT take sofa beds or TVs.

For more information about the University YMCA's Dump & Run program, please visit: universityymca.org/dump_and_run/

May 2017 Collection Days

Donation Drop-Off Location: University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright St, Champaign, IL 61820 (Corner of Wright and Chalmers on the U of I campus)

Collection Dates & Times:
Monday-Friday, May 8-12 from 9am to 4:00pm

Saturday, May 13 from 9:00am-12:00pm 
& May 15-19 from 9:00am to 4:00pm

OPEN LATE until 7:00pm on Thursday, May 11!

Free pick-up days for donated furniture and bikes
Tuesday, May 9 & Wednesday, May 10
9:00am-4:00pm

By appointment only. Please schedule an appointment for us to come pick up your unwanted furniture or bikes for free at univeristyymca.org/dump_and_run/

We collect furniture, dishes, glassware, pots & pans, small household appliances, computers, electronics, bicycles, office & school supplies, nearly-new clothing, books, toiletries, lawn & garden, artwork, vinyl & cds, musical instruments, sporting equipment & other household goods.

We do not collect televisions, paint, child/infant car seats, stoves, washers, dryers, non-working electronics & computer parts, sleeper sofas, mattresses, televisions, or large exercise equipment.
The University YMCA reserves the right to refuse any donation offered, based on but not limited to, its size, weight, and condition.

Questions? Contact the University YMCA at 217-337-1500 or email us at dumpandrun@universityymca.org 

Visuals: During May Collection Days, the University YMCA's Latzer Hall becomes a fine-tuned collections hub; volunteers collecting, sorting, and packing items donated from campus and community members alike.

Photo Opportunities: Friday, May 12 from 9pm to 4pm and Saturday, May 13, from 9am to 12pm will be peak collection activity times, in which we are loading and unloading donations from dormitories and sorority and fraternity houses, sorting and packing donations at the University YMCA in preparation for the Sale in August.

###

Seeking Two Full-Time VISTA Members at the Y

The University YMCA seeks two full-time VISTA Members who will build infrastructure of our immigrant and student programs, develop partnerships within our community, and investigate and develop new possible resources to support these programs. VISTAs will develop leadership skills in fundraising, program development, volunteer coordination, nonprofit management and more.

One VISTA will focus on our New American Welcome Center work and help build capacity for our immigrant outreach services. The other VISTA will focus on our YMCA student programs. Applicants are welcome to apply to one or both.

VISTAs serve for one full year and have access to fantastic benefits through the Americorps program (click here for more information), including a living allowance (approximately $1000 a month in Champaign County), relocation allowance if you move 50+ miles, an end-of-service award of either $5,815 for education expenses or a cash stipend of $1,500, healthcare benefits, professional development trainings and more. 

The YMCA hopes to start VISTAs as soon as possible this summer, but actual start date depends on the training schedule of the AmeriCorps program. DEADLINE EXTENDED. For full consideration, please apply by June 2, 2017. 

The Immigrant Outreach Capacity VISTA posting can be found here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=73353&fromSearch=true 

The Youth-at-Risk Capacity VISTA posting can be found here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=73355&fromSearch=true 

Apply now at my.americorps.gov. 

For questions, e-mail Emily Cross at emily@universityymca.org or Megan Flowers at megan@universityymca.org. 

Immigration Project and University YMCA host Citizenship Application Workshop in Champaign County

PSA/Press Release

For Immediate Release

May 1, 2017

For media inquiries, contact:

Megan Flowers, University YMCA Communications Director

[217-337-1500; megan@universityymca.org]

Immigration Project and University YMCA host

Citizenship Application Workshop in Champaign County

U.S. Citizenship Workshop

May 13, 2017 from 9am-1pm

at St. Patrick Catholic Church 

708 W. Main, Urbana, IL

Attention eligible permanent residents of Illinois. The University YMCA and the Immigration Project would like to share with you an upcoming opportunity to get help in becoming U.S. Citizen. U.S. citizenship is the path to full participation in our country. As a U.S. citizen, you will be able to vote, travel freely, petition to unite with other family members, have access to a wider range of job opportunities, and have access to all of the rights, benefits, and responsibilities of a full member of the United States of America. Under the New Americans Initiative, the University YMCA is collaborating with the Immigration Project to host a Citizenship (N400) workshop in Champaign County on Saturday, May 13th, 2017 from 9am-1pm at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Urbana, IL. The New Americans Initiative is a not-for-profit partnership with The State of Illinois and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, which helps permanent residents in Illinois through the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. 

At the May 13th workshop, permanent residents (green card holders) will start an initial screening to verify if they are prepared enough to continue through the workshop, followed by the legal screening conducted by qualified immigration attorneys of the Immigration Project and DOJ accredited representatives, and then through other help stations such as the fee waiver eligibility station all the way to the final checklist station to complete the application packet. For prepared applicants who pass through each station, the average time to complete the workshop is 2.5 hours. 

We want to make sure permanent residents living in Illinois have all their documents together for them to bring to the workshop on May 13th so that they can leave the workshop with the application completed and ready to mail. Our goal is to help 30 permanent residents (green card holders) who are ready to apply for U.S. citizenship make it all the way through the workshop with an N400 application ready to mail. Permanent residents across the State of Illinois will be traveling to attend this workshop. Multilingual assistance in Spanish and French will be available at the workshop. Other language assistance may be available upon advance request. 

If permanent residents show up without the documents they need (list of documents are on page 2 of the attached flyers in English, Spanish, and French) they will receive more information about the naturalization process and will be asked to come back to another workshop at a later date with the documents. The University YMCA is also helping permanent residents prepare for the workshop and to get more information about the process of applying for U.S. citizenship by scheduling one-on-one appointments at any time. 

Even if you do not plan to apply at the workshop but want more information about the process of naturalization, do not hesitate to call the New Americans Welcome Center team at the University YMCA.  Contact Megan at megan@universityymca.org or by calling 217-337-1500. For assistance in Spanish and French, contact the Y's La Linea Community Helpline at 217-417-5897. 

Assistance with document preparation and informational appointments through the University YMCA are always free, confidential and open to the public. The service fee for the Immigration Project to process your N400 (naturalization) application at the May 13th workshop is $50 (check or money order). See the attached flyers for more information about what you need to bring to the workshop. 

View the Flyers in English, Spanish, and French  for more information including the documents you will need to bring to the workshop. If you also feel that you are not ready to apply but want more information, feel free to come to the workshop to learn more. 

###