The University YMCA is a great example of how funds received drive meaningful impact in the student and local/regional community. Not only does the organization help drive leadership in issues that students are passionate in exploring, but also build a bridge to the greater Champaign-Urbana community for broad reaching impact. As a past student and now current volunteer in the organization, I am excited to continue supporting and giving my time to this organization.
The University YMCA offers top notch programming related to current events and social justice. They have the best staff who are always ready to help students in need. Finally, they are among the most important relationships that the Philippine Student Association has fostered in our time as a registered student organization.
There are few organizations as deserving of a volunteer's time and attention as the University Y. Since my arrival on campus 7 years ago, I have witnessed the incredible impact the Y has not only upon students but upon the community as a whole. Countless leaders have emerged from Y programs to spearhead social initiatives, protect the environment, foster interfaith dialogue and promote global engagement.
I became involved with University Y through the annual Dump and Run sale. I have been a volunteer for over 12 years. Over this time, I have come to know the staff and the students on a personal basis. These are people who not only talk the talk but walk the walk in trying to address the many issues that our local and world communities are facing. The University Y offers space and time for many groups and individuals to be heard in a respectful and safe manner. I am truly blessed to be a part of this organization.
When I needed assistance to apply for a Green Card the staff at The TMCA of the UofI put me in touch with the Immigration Project, which I had no knowledge of at the time, but they gave me good advice.
Through this, I also helped Ricardo Diaz with several projects on immigration, one of which was to give an interview to a local TV station on the subject!
I would thoroughly recommend anybody seeking help on the UofI campus to approach the YMCA, they are full of knowledge that most other places lack!!
During my time at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, I was a volunteer with La Linea. Because of this experience, I was inspired to attend law school to become an immigration attorney. I've seent the positive impact the University YMCA has had on both the University community as well as the broader community. I am proud that I was a part of an organization that supports their community and is always adapting to the changes and needs of the community.
I had the pleasure and good fortune of working on immigrant integration as an intern at the University YMCA's New American Welcome Center last summer. It was a truly special and heartening experience that immersed me in the compassion, dedication, and the work ethic of the Y's staff and volunteers. The Y provides incredible opportunities and services to students, locals, and newcomers from all ages and backgrounds, such as the Bailey scholarship program, wide-ranging student programming on core social justice themes, and resources that engage and support the community, particularly marginalized groups. I am grateful to have my education supported by the Bailey scholarships and am delighted to currently have access to the YMCA Climate Solutions Summit as a team delegate. I am so thankful for the University YMCA and feel lucky to engage with such an outstanding and generous nonprofit.
The University YMCA has provided me countless of opportunities to get involved with my community and pursue things I had never done before