The University YMCA will be throwing a celebration in honor of its 150th birthday. This particular Y is one of only two independent campus YMCAs remaining in the United States and has been part of the University of Illinois campus community almost since its founding. Marc Alexander, the Director of Development & Membership, was kind enough to chat with me about the upcoming celebration. Alexander is originally from Champaign, after returning from college he was volunteering for the Dump and Run program when he learned about a job opening at the Y. He loved the Y’s mission of supporting work in social justice, sustainability, interfaith dialogue, and international understanding and he applied. Five years later, Alexander oversees the fundraising efforts, community and alumni engagement, helps student groups with their own philanthropic efforts, and runs the annual Dump and Run program. Read on for insight on what to expect at the celebration, including the opening of a 116 year-old time capsule.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Smile Politely: 150 years is a huge milestone. Why do you think this YMCA has had such longevity?
Marc Alexander: There are some simple practical reasons for this. For one, since 1950 the Y has had its own Endowment Fund, which has provided financial stability over the years that other campus Y’s may have lacked. The Y has also always been entirely separate from the University of Illinois, and while our history is naturally intertwined with the University, our status as a fully independent non-profit has at times provided students and others opportunities that the University could not. We have also had excellent leadership over the years, both paid staff and volunteers. Most importantly, though, I think the work of the Y has very often been dictated by the important issues of the day, and in many ways is student-led. This ability to shift based on the needs of the moment has allowed us to remain a relevant space for students and the community to engage, as well as provided a welcoming and dynamic environment during periods of social change.
SP: What are you most looking forward to at the celebration?
Alexander: One of my favorite parts of the Y is the intergenerational aspect of the organization. We have undergraduate students on our Board of Governors working with retired University administrators, long-time community members serving on program committees with current faculty and staff, and a membership that ranges in age from 18 to 94. This celebration is going to gather an incredible cross section of several diverse communities, and I’m as excited to see the reunions of old friends as I am the connections made between new ones.
SP: What do you hope people will take away from this celebration?
Alexander: Saturday is a celebration of the past 150 years; however we are also viewing it as the start of the next 150, including the dedication of an Anniversary Oak Tree to represent this. Throughout the day we have included discussions on the state of the Y and how our current programming can shape tomorrow’s change, as well as workshops led by current students and displays featuring their work today. I hope people will take away the impact that this organization continues to have today, and the incredible leadership that today’s students are showing in our communities.
SP: Can you tell me about the time capsule opening?
Alexander: This is super exciting! The time capsule was recovered this past February during the demolition of Illini Hall. That building was built by the Y, and was its home for about ten years before being rented and then sold to the Illini Union. The capsule itself is 116 years old, dating to the laying of the cornerstone in 1907. At our Annual Dinner in April we auctioned off the right to open the capsule for the first time at the celebration on Saturday, and one of our long-time supporters, Marlyn Rinehart, will do the honors to close out the Celebration Lunch. We have no idea what we’ll find, and hopefully it’s not an Al Capone’s vault type of situation! We’re also going to be using some of the other pieces of material recovered from Illini Hall over the next few months to secure a new time capsule.
SP: Can you talk a little bit about the impact the YMCA has on the students and vice versa?
Alexander: When I first started at the Y, one of our alumni told me that as a student, the Y was the place where the answer was always “yes”. If they had an idea, the staff was willing to help support and guide them. There is a long history of student-led efforts at the Y, and this idea of the organization as a supportive and welcoming environment has remained ingrained here throughout our history. Now what does that look like in practice? We currently sponsor 12 Registered Student Organizations, providing them with space in our building, office resources, financial support and mentorship. The Fred S. Bailey Scholarship Program awards nearly $200,000 annually to undergraduate and graduate students at the University. Students form a third of our Board of Governors and Committees, providing them with experience in the running of a non-profit organization. Staff-led programming like Friday Forum or the New American Welcome Center helps to connect them with those in the community doing similar work, internship opportunities, and more. Simultaneously, we are often led by their focus and interests. As an example, our current work with our local immigrant community really began back in 2010, when a student organization, La Colectiva, sought support from the Y for their own efforts on campus and the community. La Colectiva joined the Y as an affiliated student program shortly thereafter, and now that work is a core part of our programming. There are many examples of this throughout the first 150 years, and there will be more in the next 150 I’m sure!
SP: What is the Shark Tank 150? And what do you hope to see?
Alexander: Shark Tank 150 is an idea that came out of our 150th Committee planning sessions, and was really pushed by our Executive Director, Jim Hinterlong. The whole idea is to feature the work that students are doing today, by giving them the opportunity to propose high-impact projects that focus on positive change in our community. There are five finalist groups, with projects ranging from creating a new Zine focused on human rights, to establishing a monthly dinner series to feed the hungry and engage different religious and cultural groups in dialogue. The teams will have five minutes to make their pitch, and we will be investing up to $1,500 in the winning proposals. Rather than a panel of judges, the voting will come from the attendees in the room. We’re hoping and excited to see a diverse collection of innovative ideas from really exceptional students, as well as a lot of energy in the room from many of their peers.
SP: What does the future of this YMCA look like?
Alexander: You could probably ask this question to everyone on Saturday, and get different answers from all of them. From my perspective, our Association will continue to strive to provide a welcoming space for students and our community, and be a hub for dialogue and action. Will our work shift into different areas, or away from where we are now? That’s possible, but will be up to our membership when those issues arise. Whatever the path, it is important to me when those moments occur, the Y continues to listen and reflect, and provide a space where those conversations can happen.
SP: Anything else you want to add?
Alexander: Having grown up in Champaign-Urbana, I can tell you that I was not aware of the University YMCA for a long time, I think I assumed it was only for those at the University. It wasn’t until I joined the staff that I fully realized all that the organization has to offer both campus and the community. If you’re not familiar with the Y, we invite you to come on Saturday and take part in the celebration, join the discussions or workshops, and meet our community. Our building is always open and our programming is always free to the public. You can find out what’s happening on our website. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t thank all of the staff, students, members, and volunteers who have brought us to this milestone!
University YMCA 150th Anniversary
University of YMCA
1001 S. Wright St
Champaign
September 30th
9:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Free
