Non-pro t UNIVERSITY YMCA organization of the University of Illinois US Postage Paid 1001 South Wright St, Champaign, IL 61820 Permit #183 Champaign, IL www.universityymca.org

SPRING 2013 NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2013 NEWSLETTER

SUSTAINING THE LEGACY University YMCA of the University of Illinois WHAT’S INSIDE: EBOO PATEL Celebrating 140 Years of Service, Reflection, and Action at the Y Home Away From FOUNDER OF Home for Miss V For the past 140 years, the University In the coming months, there will be a GLOBAL CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE INTERFAITH YMCA has served as a bridge between the number of opportunities to learn more how Global Centers campus and community, providing student you can join in on this exciting new initia- for Excellence YOUTH CORE leaders the opportunity to apply what they tive. The first such event will be in learn in the classroom by making a differ- on Monday, March 11 when Governor Pat Y Bike Share ence in the community. Quinn will join us for a reception to Coming Soon Interfaith Activist Eboo Patel will Author of the book Acts of Faith: celebrate our 140th Anniversary and kick- To help celebrate this incredible milestone, speak at Friday Forum at noon The Story of an American Muslim, “SACRED GROUND” off the Sustaining the Legacy campaign “Faith in Action” our Board of Governors has announced the with our friends and alumni in the Chicago about his core belief that religion is and his latest book Sacred Ground: @ Friday Forum FRIDAY FORUM LECTURE creation of our Sustaining the Legacy cam- area. For more information, please contact a bridge of cooperation rather than Pluralism, Prejudice, and the Prom- paign. This five year campaign seeks to Becca Guyette at 217-337-1500 or at Keep the Giving a barrier of division. He has been ise of America, Eboo is also a regu- APRIL 5, 2013 @ NOON raise $1 million to provide critical resources [email protected] by March 1st. Going Update inspired to build this bridge by his lar contributor to the Washington that will strengthen programs at the Y that University YMCA. Latzer Hall faith as a Muslim, his Indian heri- Post, USA Today, Huffington Post, support students working for social justice, We hope you will join us on this exciting New Bailey Fellows tage, and his American citizenship. NPR, and CNN. 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign fighting to protect our environment, new initiative and make Sustaining the encouraging faith in action and promoting Legacy part of our contribution to future For more information: visit: www.universityymca.org/friday_forum global engagement. generations at the University of Illinois. KEEP THE GIVING GOING The Spring 2013 series, ‘Faith in Action’, features speakers from across the spectrum of faith traditions who are compelled by their faith to engage in bold and creative forms of action. Update Highlights include:

March 8 | Soulforce | Rev. Dr. Cindi Love Dedicated to Relentless, Nonviolent Resistance to Oppression Arising out of Fundamentalism

SPRING 2013 April 5 | Eboo Patel | Interfaith Youth Core NEWSLETTER Author of Acts of Faith and Sacred Ground: The University YMCA ended our 2012 Annual Pluralism, Prejudice, and the Promise of America FRIDAY FORUM FRIDAY Fund Drive at over $112,500, which was an increase of over 25% from 2011! A HOME AWAY FROM HOME Our Y Bike Share campaign has exceeded the goal of $1,075. We want to thank all of our friends and supporters Thanks to you and a generous grant from the Community who made a gift in 2012. Most notable is our When Aurora Villacorta had her first interaction with Foundation of East Central Illinois, we are taking some impor- donor renewal rate of almost 80% and a signifi- the University YMCA, she had no idea the relationship tant steps toward a clean and safe Champaign-Urbana. The cant increase in student memberships. We feel would last decades. Aurora, or Miss V as she is more program offically begins in March, and we’re happy to report this is a reflection of our supporters' belief in the commonly known, first became involved as an that we’ve sealed the deal and bought bikes! international graduate student. The University YMCA excellent programming the Y does. hosted Freshmen Camp, which took new students for After some great advice from friends, we are going to trial If you are local and have not joined us for an Art a week-long leadership and bonding experience at some airless, chainless bikes. These bikes are simple, easy, @ the Y Exhibit Opening, a Friday Forum talk, or Allerton Park. It will come as no surprise to anyone comfortable to ride, and maintenance should be a breeze. Cosmopolitan Coffee, we encourage you to do so. who knows Miss V that after attending the camp, More details about the program can be found here: shereturned as a group leader for new students. If you are an out-of-town friend and have not www.universityymca.org/green_initiatives/transportation

recently visited our website, please see us at Y BIKE SHARE The Y soon became a "home away from home" for www.universityymca.org which is updated daily Miss V as she attended international dinners and with photos and write-ups of what's happening joined Y-sponsored spring break bus trips to learn around the Y. ‘Artists on the Environment: Paintings by Molly Briggs, about different parts of the . Viktoria Ford, and Glen Davies’ is the exploration of three Fast-forward a few decades when Miss V's teaching As we celebrate 140 years of service, action and local artists on the topic of the environment through their career at the Y began. As a kinesiology professor at reflection, we are ever aware of the role our individual styles and subject matter. Each offers a unique vision the University she had long-taught students on donors play in allowing us to continue to advance that invites the viewer to explore their own relationship to the campus, but the inception of her classes at the Y our mission each day. We hope you will join us by world around them and the ecological challenges of the day. began an institution in and of itself. pledging your support. On February 28th, Art @ the Y will host the opening reception For over forty years Miss V's dance classes have been You can return the enclosed envelope today or of the work of multicultural spiritual artist Salma Arastu, featur- a part of the Y's weekly routine. So beloved has she visit http://www.universityymca.org/support_us, ing Arabic Calligraphy Paintings. The exhibit explores unique become, that her students honored her with a to pledge your support online. Every gift, of any opportunities to create harmony and world transformation ballroom dancing sculpture in Urbana's Meadowbrook amount, counts! through the expression of the Universal in art.

Park. There is no substitute for her discipline, focus @ THE Y ART and good will. She still considers the Y a "second www.universityymca.org/art home" on campus, and there is no doubt others feel the same way because of her warmth and kindness. For the past 55 years, the University YMCA has awarded thousands of U of I undergrads financial assistance through GLOBAL CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE our Bailey Scholarship program. Now for the first time ever, the Bailey Committee is accepting As part of our efforts as a GCE, our International Programming applications for the Fred S. Bailey Fellowship for Community Committee has distributed a Request for Partnership Proposal Leadership, Service, and Activism. The fellowship will be (RFPP). Proposals are sought from a broad cross section of awarded to a University of Illinois Urbana campus graduate student who has shown a strong commitment to community student, university, and community constituencies, which share organizing, activism, and/or service in one or more of the follow- the Y’s values and mission. The aim of this partnership is to ing areas: social justice, environment, global engagement, combine resources to develop new global initiatives that will and/or faith in action. Fellows will receive a $12,600 stipend and maximize the converging goals of both organizations in ways tuition and fee waiver for qualifying programs. that would not be possible if each were acting alone. Proposals are due March 1. More information at www.universityymca.org/bailey BAILEY FELLOWS BAILEY

For more information, please contact Program Director Kasey Umland at [email protected].