PRESS RELEASE/ PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: The University YMCA hosts the 30th Annual International Dinner and Performance Night

For Immediate Release

Please publicize until March 10^th, 2013

What: The University YMCA, Cosmopolitan Club and the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) announce their 30^th Annual International Dinner and Performance Night. Families, international students, and faculty come together for an evening of great food and live music. Tickets are only $8 for a sampling of food and music from all over the world. All are welcome to attend.

When: Sunday, March 10^th, 2013, 6-8pm

Where: University YMCA-UIUC, Latzer Hall, 1001 S Wright Street, Champaign, IL 61820

Details: Tickets are on sale now for $8 and can be purchased at the University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright Street, Champaign (checks should be made to Cosmopolitan Club). Seats are limited, so plan to purchase tickets early).  Past menus have included food from Vietnam, Hawaii, Korea, Brazil, Ukraine, Poland, Turkey, Romania, Ghana, Peru, Russia, Malaysia, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, Ecuador, Israel and several other countries as well as cultural performances.  Performances TBA. 

For more information and updates on the menu and performance schedule, visit:

http://www.universityymca.org/international/dinner/

Background: The University YMCA, Cosmopolitan Club and ISSS have been co-sponsoring this event for the campus and community for 30 years. "Champaign-Urbana is a community that is rich with cultural diversity,” says Program Director Kasey Umland, “and International Dinner and Performance Night is an opportunity for all to come together around delicious food and celebrate that.”

Since 1918, the University YMCA has hosted and sponsored programs to foster international understanding and cultural awareness and provide service to international students, faculty, and staff. We have continued this legacy of international programming on campus that embraces diversity, encourages progress through democracy, and promotes peace through sympathy and understanding, and service to humanity.

Media Kit: 29^th Annual International Dinner and Performance Night: Video Footage, Link: http://youtu.be/a-flM8ddlW8, Four photos, courtesy of Laura Rezha

Contact: Kasey Umland, Program Director

[217-337-1514, kasey@universityymca.org]

Press Release/Public Service Announcement: University YMCA Seeks Global Partnerships

For Immediate Release, February 8^th, 2013

Who: University YMCA of the University of Illinois, engaging people in service, reflection, and action since 1873.

What: The University YMCA announces that the International Program Committee will hold an informational meeting on the application process for the University Y’s request for global partnerships.

When: Wednesday February 13^th, 2013 at 4pm.

Where: University YMCA, Wahl Room, (Second Floor), 1001 S. Wright Street, Champaign, IL 61820

Details: The informational meeting, coordinated by the University Y’s International Committee, will concern the initial application that describes the project, its impact, and potential.  That initial application is due March 1, 2013.  A small number of finalists will be selected and asked to submit a full proposal for consideration. Organizations and individuals, including students, faculty, staff, departments and units at the University of Illinois, including Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), are invited to submit proposal suggestions now through the online application. The University Y also encourages proposal suggestions from community groups, other YMCAs, and NGOs. 

Background:  For nearly 100 years, the University YMCA has played an active role on the University of Illinois campus welcoming international students and promoting cultural exchange. With a recent gift of $300,000 from the Cosmopolitan Club, the University YMCA is seeking to expand and strengthen its programs on Global Engagement.  Specifically, the University Y is seeking to develop new partnerships that are innovative, sustainable, and promote growth and cross-community cooperation, including groups beyond Urbana-Champaign.  

Proposals are being sought that contain new, bold and creative ideas for global engagement and can come from a broad cross section of student, university, and community constituencies, which share the Y’s values and mission. The aim of this partnership program is to combine Y resources with those of partner groups to develop new global initiatives that will maximize the converging goals of both organizations in ways that would not be possible if each were acting alone. 

Website: www.universityymca.org/international/partnerships

For more information, contact: Mike Doyle, Executive Director

[217-352-6533 or mike@universityymca.org]

Press Release: “Nuns on the Bus" on Campus to Stand with People in Need for Economic Justice

For immediate release: January 25th, 2013

What: The University YMCA announces that the Spring 2013 Friday Forum lecture series, “Faith in Action,” will kickoff with a talk by Sister Mary Ellen Lacy, of the “Nuns on the Bus” tour, highlighting the work Catholic Sisters do to meet the needs of people at the economic margins and revealing how federal budget cuts proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and passed by the House of Representatives will hurt struggling families here in Illinois.

When: February 8, 2013, 12 Noon

Where: Latzer Hall, University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright Street, Champaign, Illinois 

Details: Inspired by the national “Nuns on the Bus” tour organized by NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, Sister Mary Ellen-Lacy will call attention to local needs and illustrate how faith-based social service agencies that serve people who will be further harmed by proposed budget cuts.  Local Church and political officials and the media are invited to meet with Sister Mary Ellen Lacy.

Background: Catholic Sisters stand with the Catholic Bishops in criticizing the Ryan budget and are committed to staying faithful to their mission to serve those in need. Because of their work, Sisters see the suffering of people in poverty on a daily basis. As a result, they recognize the harm that the Ryan budget will cause, including:

•  Undermining the food stamp program (SNAP) at a time when millions need it to feed their families
• Giving large tax breaks to the wealthy at the expense of protections for struggling families
•  Drastically cutting funding for health insurance programs for low-income people, causing millions to lose access to healthcare
• Increasing Pentagon spending while cutting programs that serve people in need -- despite the Pentagon saying there are military programs that should be cut.
• Beginning to shift Medicare to a voucher program, thus driving more seniors into poverty

The “Nuns on the Bus” tour was meant to focus attention on the enormous moral choices facing our country.  Do we choose to be a nation of individualism and fear where the rich get richer at the expense of those in need? Or do we reclaim the principles of our founders and work together for all the people to form a more perfect union?

“Nuns on the Bus” is a part of the Friday Forum Spring 2013 lecture series, “Faith in Action.”  The series will feature speakers from across the spectrum of faith traditions who are compelled by their faith to engage in bold and creative forms of action.  From the frontlines of interfaith activism, the series brings to life faith as a bridge of cooperation, rather than a barrier of division.  Speakers in the series schedule include Inner-City Muslim Action Network, Soulforce, Eboo Patel, member of President Obama’s Advisory Council and author of Sacred Ground: Pluralism, Prejudice, and the promise of America and others. 

Sponsored by: University YMCA, Channing-Murray Foundation, The Chapel of Saint John the Divine Episcopal Church and Foundation, Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Wesley United Methodist Church, Wesley Foundation at the University of Illinois, UIUC Hillel/Cohen Center, Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations, Interfaith in Action (RSO), LGBT Resource Center, Paid for by SORF.

Friday Forum is a weekly lecture series held during the fall and spring semesters that strives to raise awareness about national and international trends.  Lunch is available at the Y eatery for $6.50/3.00 student.  The Y Eatery now accepts credit cards.   For more information, including a complete list of sponsors, visit: www.universityymca.org/friday_forum.

Additional Information: The views expressed by the speakers do not necessarily reflect the views of the University YMCA, co-sponsors, or the Friday Forum committee.  A sign language interpreter is available within a 72 hour notice (contact Carol Nunn at 217-337-1500).  All forums are radio broadcast at 6:00pm on WEFT 90.1 the Monday following the lecture. 

Contact: Ann Rasmus, Program Director

[217-337-1514, ann@universityymca.org]