Past Projects

www.plannedparenthood.org/east-central-illinois/

Background
Planned Parenthood of East Central Illinois (PPECI) is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization that serves 36 counties with six health centers that offer reproductive and sexual health care. The affiliate in Champaign was begun in 1940 with the purpose of offering birth control to married women. From the 216 women served that first year, this location now reaches over 6,000 members of the community PLUS has contact with over 2,500 student and adult contacts through schools, churches, and health fairs. The mission of PPECI is to advocate for and provide sexual and reproductive health care and education in an environment that ensures and protects the rights and privacy of each individual.

Project Description
Currently, the Champaign and Urbana schools do not have a standardized sexuality education curriculum. The only state required topic is information on HIV/AIDS that is a part of the health curriculum in 6th and 9th grades. Several schools use abstinence-only resources and do not include information on birth control, condom usage and STI's. PPECI has 15 student peer educators, who are high school students that are trained to provide age-appropriate, medically accurate sex education to their peers. These students have influence with their peers and are sought out again and again for one-on-one encounters as well as for group presentations. With a coalition of the public health district, parents, and educators, we have been successful in encouraging the Urbana Schools to add resources for sexuality education but the individual teachers still make the final decision on what they will or won't teach.

Challenge Statement
Many people have no idea about Planned Parenthood's many facets, especially in education. While this is a respected organization, there are many misconceptions about the wide range of services that we offer. Sexuality education is a hot button topic for many. Vocal members of the community often object to "teaching kids how to have sex". We want to change the public perception about what we do and develop awareness about the benefits of age-appropriate, medically accurate, sexuality education.

• What approach for raising awareness would be most beneficial to the public at large?
• Would this approach also be non-threatening to the schools?
• How can we utilize our peer educators to deliver the message about the benefits of comprehensive, abstinence based, sexuality education?

www.universityymca.org/

Background
The YMCA at the University of Illinois was founded in 1873 and is Champaign's oldest charity. We receive no money from the University budget and no tax money. We are a non-profit organization and we exist solely from the donations of private individuals. Our mission is to challenge and nurture the mind and spirit of individuals and communities to develop and practice ethical principles and responsible leadership for social justice and integrity of our natural world.

Broadly stated, University YMCA programs fall under one (or more) of the following categories: (1) environmental, (2) human rights, (3) cultural, (4) volunteer, and (5) international. We have neither a pool nor a gym. Instead, our programs focus on service and social justice. The YMCA is home to fourteen student organizations, Amnesty International, Alternative Spring Break, Campus Vegetarian Society, Engineers without Borders, Green Observer, Invisible Conflicts, Korean Student Association, Libertas: To Raise Awareness of Human Trafficking, Red Bison, Students for Environmental Concerns, Students for Improving the Lives of Animals, United Students Against Sweatshops, and the Vis-a-Vis tutoring program. In addition, the Y holds two weekly lecture series, 'Know Your University," and "Friday Forum" as well as an international student reception and an international dinner in partnership with the Cosmopolitan Club and the International Student and Scholar Services department of UIUC.

Project Description
While the University Y is known for our annual Dump and Run garage sale and many of our student programs are some of the most visible and active in the university and surrounding communities, there still remains a sizeable segment of both the university and Champaign-Urbana communities that are not acquainted with the University YMCA.

This matter is further complicated by misconceptions about the YMCA's functions and mission. The acronym, YMCA, stands for Young Men's Christian Association. While the University Y continues to uphold traditional Christian values, it does so from an interfaith perspective and welcomes those of any or no faith. Likewise, the organization departs from its original form in welcoming those of any gender to participate in its programs. Moreover, in contrast with the majority of YMCAs, the University Y is not a recreational facility, a fact that has inspired the tagline, "No Pool. No Gym. Just Service."

Challenge Statement

• How can the University YMCA develop a more visible identity within the Champaign and Urbana communities? How can we create a better understanding of the Y's programs and mission?
• How can the University Y improve its campus outreach? How can we better market our programs to faculty, staff, and students? How can we create a better understanding of the Y's programs and mission?

www.inclusiveillinois.uiuc.edu/

Background
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign strives to create living, learning, and working environments in which all campus community members feel valued and respected. Under the Chancellor's charge, with support by the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, the Inclusive Illinois education and information initiative aims to promote and foster an inclusive and diverse campus community through programs that educate, motivate, and advocate. Inclusive Illinois, one campus, many voices, was created to serve as a vehicle that could address the impact of intolerance, hatred, discrimination, and similar issues on the campus community, while offering opportunities for dialogue and action. The objective of Inclusive Illinois is to serve faculty, staff and students by heightening awareness about issues of identity, and to encourage the campus community to examine and understand the importance of respecting differences, like race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, age, physical ability, and religion, and exploring how perceptions, ideas, and experiences influence their conduct and behavior. Inclusive Illinois, one campus, many voices, was created and refined by a core committee of faculty and staff, a student advisory group, and appointed unit representatives to assist with the initiative's development. For more information about Inclusive Illinois, one campus, many voices, visit www.inclusiveillinois.uiuc.edu.

Project Description
On the Inclusive Illinois Website, there is a Commitment Statement that gives individuals the opportunity to register their commitment to Inclusive Illinois. Organizations and departments will also have the opportunity to register their commitment collectively. This provides a way to measure and track the initiative's success and receive the campus community's support, thus transforming the campus climate through positive conduct and respect for difference. In addition, with the inception of the Inclusive Illinois Ambassador Program, we would like the students to learn skills that will help them navigate the world, while they are here and after graduation. As an Ambassador, campus community members will be responsible for implementing Inclusive Illinois in the workplace, academic classrooms and residence halls.

Challenge Statement
As Inclusive Illinois continues to progress, we would like to increase campus participation by developing and promoting Inclusive Illinois among peers and across campus.

• What efforts should be made to encourage students and organizations to register their commitment?
• What format or method of delivery would be most effective in reaching out to students about Inclusive Illinois?
• If a Campus Climate Survey were to be conducted, what types of questions would students want to answer?
• What are the most relevant skills for students to acquire through the Ambassador Program that cultivate the benefits of diversity and respecting difference? What will they find most valuable?

http://www.couns.uiuc.edu/

Program Summary
The Counseling Center is a member of the Division of Student Affairs and reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs. Located at 610 E. John St in the Turner Student Services Building, the Center includes 21 full-time equivalent (FTE) professional clinicians, 10 full-time professionals employed in educational programming, 1 research data analyst, 7 support staff members, 10 graduate assistants, and 42 student paraprofessionals.

The mission of the Counseling Center is to serve all students of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by helping them to address many of the emotional, relational, and academic concerns they face such as: relationship problems, adjustment to college life, depressed or anxious moods, family difficulties, diversity and cultural differences, and recovery from trauma (physical, emotional, or sexual). Through collaborative and innovative clinical services, outreach presentations, and educational programming, we strive to educate and empower students to increase self-awareness, develop lifelong skills, and gain a more useful perspective on a problematic situation.

Our services include:

• Group psychotherapy
  
• Individual psychotherapy
• Emergency services
• Referral services
• Consultation services
• Workshops and presentations
• Educational programs
• Self-help brochures

Challenge Statement
Over the past several years, the number of suicidal threats, gestures, and attempts on the UIUC campus has increased dramatically. While our rates are still below that of other Big Ten universities, it is imperative that we find a way to reverse this disturbing trend.

In 1984, the Suicide Prevention Program was instituted on our campus in an attempt to reduce the risk of suicide in the student community. This program enables any member of the community (i.e. student, faculty, roommates, classmates, professors, TAs, etc.) to complete a report if they become aware of a student who is expressing thoughts of self-harm, or if they have made an actual attempt. The report would be investigated and, if deemed legitimate, the student would be required to complete a mandated 4-session assessment. Our goal is to reach for the student who may be considering suicide as an option and help them to see that the suicidal crisis is temporary, and help is available. While we do training each year for all residence hall assistants and members of the various academic departments, we would like to educate the entire campus community on identifying students who may be suicidal and how to intervene.

Several specific challenges arise:

• What information should the Counseling Center be providing regarding the prevention of suicide among students?
• Which audiences should we be targeting?
• How can we most effectively deliver this information to our target audience?

http://www.crisisnursery.net/about-nursery/about-us.htm

Program Summary
Crisis Nursery is committed to creating an island of safety dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect through the provision of emergency intervention, respite care and support to families in crisis. Begun in 1983-4 by dedicated community individuals and organizations, Crisis Nursery is the only 24-hour, 365-days a year child abuse prevention and family support agency of its kind in Champaign County. Our clients are children (newborn through 5 years old) whose families are experiencing a crisis/emergency and have no support resources available at the time. A secondary client is the family entity. Most clients are young, single parents who have multiple children, are under- or un-employed, under-educated and have minimal parent-child interaction skills or understanding. However, our services are also utilized by parents who are simply in need of emergency care for a crisis or unexpected situation which could put a child at risk of harm and don't have any help available.

Our program goals include:

• Immediate crisis childcare, keeping our most vulnerable young children out of harm's way during critical times of parental stress, illness, or emergencies.
• Respite care to prevent mounting problems from exploding with harmful results to children.
• Parent support and parent education groups to enchance self-esteem, parent-child interaction, child management, and discipline.
• Community resources of in-kind goods, such as diapers, formula, etc., when families have no other resources.
• Crisis counseling regarding the immediate situation.
• Referrals and follow-up services addressing the client's crisis situation.

Challenge Statement
Through Crisis Nursery services, children's lives can be forever affected in a positive manner. By letting our community know we see them, we hear them, and we care; we communicate to our children and families that you never have to do anything alone. We are a safe haven, striving to ensure child abuse and neglect does not have to happen. Our services are offered through the help of over 120 volunteers we see weekly; most of whom are students from the University. Because we rely so heavily on volunteers as part of our ratio for crisis care, we would like to find ways to increase their participation through their time, philanthropy, and continuing advocacy.

These challenges include:

• Development of campus awareness of our agency
• Increasing the number of volunteers who are committed to our mission.
• Increasing University based philanthropy and fundraising for Crisis Nursery.
• Moving students of the next level of retention- how do we keep them involved as professionals after graduation?

http://www.campusms.org/

Program Summary
Campus Middle School for Girls (formerly Home Hi Middle School for Girls) is the only single-gender middle school for girls in the Champaign-Urbana area, providing individual attention and strong, diverse course offerings to its students. CMS is an independent school designed to provide a quality education for middle school aged girls in grades 6-8.

The goal of Campus Middle School for Girls is to provide a safe, challenging environment where all girls can:

• Develop their creative and intellectual powers
• Develop their love of learning and a passion for excellence
• Gain an sense of emotional and physical well-being
• Celebrate cultural differences

To this end, we aim to promote confident, enthusiastic, and responsible young learners through a combination of small class size and a curriculum emphasizing the development of academic skills. We welcome all girls to come learn with us regardless of race, color, nationality, or ethnic heritage. CMS is a not-for-profit organization and is fincancially supported by tuition, fees, private donations, and fund raising events.

Challenge Statement
CMS has seen a steady growth in enrollment over the past thirteen years. The school anticipates future enrollment to continue to increase steadily. Space constraints currently limit continued growth for the school. Campus Middle School has been very fortunate to be housed in a conveniently located facility at an extremely low cost within the Wesley Foundation building at 1203 W. Green Street in Urbana, Illinois. CMS is unable to acquire any additional space from the current landlord. For CMS to continue to grow and fulfill the demand of prospective families, a larger space is required.

Campus Middle School is a not-for-profit organization. As a 501 (3) ((c)), we endeavor to keep our tuition reasonable. We want to continue to attract a diverse background of students without pricing ourselves out of the private school market. In comparison to other schools in the area, our tuition is still considered reasonable. We do not wish to continue to raise tuition.

Over the years, CMS has engaged in a variety of cooperative and collaborative relationships and groups, departments, and organizations at the University of Illinois. These relations have always been mutually beneficial for the U of I students who work with our school and CMS students. CMS would like to forge permanent relationships with the University whereby our school would continue to offer outreach opportunities for departments on campus in a formalized manner. We propose to seek funding from the U of I to underwrite a new facility for CMS at 1201 University. In return, CMS will offer more formalized outreach and research opportunities to departments on campus. Additionally, the facility will be available for outreach activities such as staff training, GAMES camp, etc.

• Is our proposal to seek financial assistance for the new site from the U of I feasible? Is it attractive enough? Will it work?
• What would make our proposal more feasible?
• If seeking funding from the U of I is not feasible, what are other options that we can pursue in order to secure assistance for a new site for our school?

Program Summary
The Greater Community AIDS Project was established in 1985 as a grassroots, 501(c) (3), not-for-profit organization. Over the past 20 years, GCAP has remained true to its mission: to educate persons about HIV/AIDS and to address the needs of persons affected by HIV/AIDS. The work of GCAP is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors, staffed by 2 part-time employees and one full-time employee, with all programs and projects implemented by volunteers.

GCAP owns and operates Champaign House, a transitional shelter for HIV+ persons who are, or are in danger of, becoming homeless. It is GCAP’s goal to transition residents and stabilize consumers into permanent, self-directed, independent living. Consumers are not charged for these services, nor are they charged for access to any GCAP program. GCAP makes it possible for consumers to save or apply their own limited resources to expenses associated with obtaining or maintaining independent, self-directed living arrangements whenever possible.

Challenge Statement
Like many other nonprofit social service agencies, GCAP has limited human and financial resources. Due to these limited resources, we are not able to provide the amount and quality of services needed to bring and keep HIV/AIDS issues in the public eye. GCAP’s main goal is to gain support for the Greater Community AIDS Project (GCAP) by offering outreach and education efforts which would address the increasing need for services in our communities.

• We would like to create a group of volunteers that would educate community members about the wide-spread impact of HIV/AIDS on the community. What types of programs, services, or activities could this group organize?
• How could GCAP’s community outreach and education efforts address and improve the community’s understanding of HIV/AIDS?

http://www.careercenter.uiuc.edu/

Program Summary
The Mission of The Career Center is to serve all students of The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign regarding professional and career development. Through collaborative and innovative programs, services, and resources, the staff seeks to educate and empower students to actively plan their futures as contributing members of a global community. Primary areas of focus include: Career and Major Exploration, Job Search Strategies, Experiential Education Planning, Health Professions Advising, and Graduate School preparation.

Our services include:

• Individual Career Counseling Appointments
• Individual Career Counseling Appointments
• Pre-Health Advising
• Resume and Cover Letter Critique Services
• Mock Interviewing program
• Workshops
• Career Resource Center with wireless internet access
• Career Fairs and Special Events
• Presentations and Workshops by Request
• Externship Program
• Career eResources

Challenge Statement
Experiential education is actively engaging students in an authentic experience that enhances practical learning and skill development. As experiential education becomes an increasingly important part of student's career planning process, we would like to position ourselves as the primary source of internship and experiential education information on campus. Our goal is to prepare students for the search process and provide them with the resources necessary to locate available experiential education opportunities.

Because The Career Center is not a "placement office", but a counseling, coaching, and educational office, three challenges arise:

• What information should our office be providing regarding experiential planning that would helpful to students?
• How do we encourage/motivate students to seek internship and experiential educational opportunities during their academic career?
• What delivery methods would be most effective in delivering this information?
  

http://www.prairienet.org/cwt/index.html

Program Summary
The Center for Women in Transition is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization that has provided long-term shelter and support for women and children in the throes of homelessness since 1985. Our mission specifically reads, "To provide homeless women and children support services and safe transitional housing to foster and sustain self-sufficiency."

CWT's 20-year history has taught us that providing basic shelter to individuals is only a first step. To actually prevent a homeless situation from reoccurring, further comprehensive and support services, as well as sufficient time, are necessary.

The Center provides housing for up to two years for women 18 years or older and their children who are homeless. We offer the following programs to address each woman's needs: Assessment & Resource Coordination, Client/Family Advocacy, A Children's Program, an Aftercare Program and a "Skills in Transition" Group. We have two Advocates (a Family Advocate and a Singles Advocate) on staff full-time as well as a full-time Children's Program Coordinator and a full-time Aftercare Coordinator.

Challenge Statement
More college students and recent graduates are involved in service work and service-learning than ever before. In addition, there are far more recent college graduates (young professionals) who are donors to various non-profits nationally than ever before. Many of these individuals became donors after being involved as volunteers while in college.

• How can college students be involved as decision-makers and leaders, perhaps in conjunction with the Board of Directors, as part of a Student Advisory Committee for CWT?
• What would the specific guidelines (roles/responsibilities) look like for these volunteers?
• Would they be responsible for an annual event or marketing activities to raise money and awareness for CWT on campus?

http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/champaign/mg/

Program Summary
Sponsored by University of Illinois Extension, the Master Gardener program trains adult volunteers to help disseminate up-to-date, research- based horticulture information to home gardeners. Since 1992, at least 350 Champaign County residents have completed the program, which is sanctioned by Land Grant universities in all 50 states. Yearly training sessions are typically offered one day a week over a four-month period and are led by University of Illinois Extension educators and other horticultural experts. Training topics include: trees, lawns, flowers, vegetables, fruits, insects and diseases. An online option is also available. A total of 66 hours of instruction is required to complete the program. Anyone can become a Master Gardener--it does not require a degree in horticulture.

A person does, however, need to:

• Have a sincere desire to learn and share home horticulture information.
• Have practical experience or knowledge of gardening.
• Be willing to follow U of I pest control recommendations and home horticulture information.
• Be able to communicate effectively.
• Devote time to training sessions and volunteering.

Master Gardeners learn to be effective volunteers. There are many ways to fulfill the commitment of at least 60 intern hours in order to become a certified Master Gardener:

• Answer home gardener questions in the Extension office.
• Serve as a team member with U of I Extension staff to plan and present consumer horticulture information.
• Design and maintain the Idea Garden at the U of I Arboretum.
• Serve as a resource person in community gardens at schools, parks and nursing homes.
• Assist in preparing and staffing exhibits, displays and demonstration sites.
• Give demonstrations and talks to local civic groups.

Challenge Statement
Although Champaign County has a successful Master Gardener program, the actual volunteer retention rate is fairly low. Initially, after volunteers complete the training and their internship, many remain active within the program but a majority become inactive after a few years.

• How do we retain volunteers after they have successfully completed the training and internship requirements?
• Does recognition contribute to increased volunteer retention?
• If recognition is not a motivator then what makes people stay within a volunteer program?

http://www.ccfpd.org/

Program Summary
The Champaign County Forest Preserve District oversees more than 3,500 acres of natural area at four sites throughout Champaign County. The mission statement and planning philosophy are aimed at serving the citizens and guests of the county by pursuing conservation efforts, developing educational opportunities and providing recreational activities consistent with preserving the District’s resources base.

The desire, need for and value of open space and natural areas have been well documented. The Champaign County Forest Preserve provides a good mix of both. Golfing, camping, hiking and biking all require open space. Reforestation, prairie restoration, and wetland conservation all require high-quality natural areas. The District has been striving to provide these activities and management practices for more than 55 years.

In addition to work by staff, volunteer help has been critical in helping to achieve the District’s mission. In March 2004 the District hired a part-time volunteer coordinator with the intention of growing a volunteer network. Volunteer efforts are needed throughout the District in various departments including natural resources, botanical gardens, golf course, Early American Museum, campground, environmental education, operations and maintenance and administration. Additional help with computer programs that facilitate mapping, graphing, publishing, artwork and data-entry is also solicited. Approximately 150 volunteers work at the District throughout the year with an additional 225 volunteers offering help at one-time events.

Challenge Statement
When asked how they found out how to become involved with the District volunteers mentioned the newspaper, website and word of mouth as the top three resources.

List of courses:

• How can the Champaign County Forest Preserve market volunteer needs to all citizens of Champaign County, not just those individuals or volunteer groups who live near a preserve?
• How does the District reach volunteers in Champaign-Urbana and rural areas?
• Finally how can the District entice volunteers to help in the most remotely located preserve, Middle Fork River Forest Preserve located in Penfield, at the north-east corner of the county?

http://www.vcsa.uiuc.edu/leaders/

Program Summary
Reporting to the Office of Campus Development and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the Office of Student Affairs Development is a nationally recognized model for fundraising for student affairs programs and services. Student Affairs Development works closely with the departments of Student Affairs, alumni members of the Student Affairs' Advisory Council, Campus Development and the University of Illinois Foundation to promote the programs and activities available through Student Affairs. Each year around 1,500 alumni, friends, corporations, and foundations provide over $1.5 million+ in support of Student Affairs programs and services.

Some Student Affairs programs supported by alumni and friends include: Illinois Leadership®, The James Newton Matthews Scholars, The Generation to Generation Scholarship Program, Student Leadership Awards and Scholarships, Volunteer Illini Project, and Illini Union. The Office of Student Affairs Development also hosts special events and programs to connect students with alumni. For instance, the Imprint program in Illinois Leadership allows students to network with alumni regarding job placement or mentoring opportunities in addition to exploring leadership development skills.

Challenge Statement
Most students do not realize the impact private support has upon the quality of student life on campus. Even smaller gifts ranging from $25-$100 have a significant collective impact. Exemplary opportunities such as the I-programs, Volunteer Illini Projects (VIP), The Career Center, numerous scholarships, and many other Student Affairs programs and services would not be possible without support from alumni and friends. Each year over 6,000 students graduate from UIUC and join the ranks of over 300,000 UIUC alumni. Although many alumni support their alma mater after graduation, over 80% do not.

How can the Office of Student Affairs Development help create an atmosphere on campus where students have the desire to give back to UIUC, both time and financial support, once they are young alumni?

Project Description
The Spurlock Museum is located on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a division of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It is a museum of world cultures, celebrating the people and places of our world…our heritage as members of individual cultures and as the community of humanity. Museum exhibits are introduced through the Central Core Gallery and are installed in five rooms holding six Feature Galleries: the Laubin Gallery of American Indian Cultures, the Workman Gallery of Ancient Mediterranean Cultures, the Workman Gallery of Asian Cultures, the Simonds Pyatt Gallery of European Cultures, the Faletti Gallery of African Cultures, and the Leavitt Gallery of Middle Eastern Cultures. The Focus Gallery and the Campbell Lobby hold special exhibits that change during the year. Special events, including lectures and performances, take place in the Knight Auditorium which seats 215 individuals. Special programs take place in the Rowe Learning Center as well as throughout the galleries and in the auditorium. The Museum is fully accessible to individuals in wheelchairs and the auditorium is equipped with and audio enhancement system.

The Spurlock Museum traces its beginnings back to 1911 when the University Of Illinois Board Of Trustees established the Museum of Classical Archaeology and Art and the Museum of European Culture in small rooms on the fourth floor of Lincoln Hall. In 1917 the Oriental Museum was added, and in 1954 all collections were combined in the Classical and European Culture Museum. Over the years collections increased in number and cultural scope, and the Museum was renamed the World Heritage Museum in 1971. Finally, through a gift made by William and Clarice V. Spurlock, the Museum was relocated to a new facility on campus and became the Spurlock Museum, opened to the public on September 26, 2002.

Challenge Statement
Though the Spurlock Museum (and its precursor, the World Heritage Museum) have been a part of the University of Illinois for nearly 100 years, only a small percentage of the student body knows the Museum exists and an even smaller percentage of the student body actually visits the Museum. The majority of student visitors come to the Museum as required by professors for class assignments.

Our problem is two-fold:

• Within a very tight marketing budget, how does the Museum "get the word out" about the Museum where students will most readily find it?Within a very tight marketing budget, how does the Museum "get the word out" about the Museum where students will most readily find it?
• What types of programs and events should the Museum hold OR what types of elements should be added to programs and events already planned to encourage students to visit the Museum once they find out about it?

Spurlock - Group #1 Presentation
Spurlock - Group #2 Presentation

Project Description
Girl Scouts Green Meadows Council is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, serving 6 counties in East Central Illinois. The purpose of Girl Scouts is to inspire girls with the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism and service so that they may become happy and resourceful citizens. With over 90 years of history the Girl Scout movement continues to be the preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls. Over the course of the 90 years, the core values of Girl Scouts has remained constant; honesty, courtesy, respect for others, knowing the Girl Scout Promise and living by the Girl Scout Law. As with all things though, change has also been a constant. Today’s girls are earning badges in computer science, stress management and high adventure. In order to keep up with the girls, it is essential that we provide leadership that relates to the girls. A survey was done by the Girl Scout Research Institute, telling the Girl Scout councils across the country that things needed to change. Girls want leadership that is closer in age to them. They want advisors and mentors, more than they want the traditional leader, usually someone’s mom. They also want more diversity in the volunteer leadership. Our job is to meet their needs, without losing the long standing traditions associated with Girl Scouts.

Challenge Statement
How and where do we recruit volunteers in the 18-29 year old age bracket that are willing to commit to the girls?

How do we attract a diverse population of volunteers?

• How do we implement plans in all six counties?
• How do we retain volunteers in the 18-29 year old age bracket?
• What would be the costs associated with a recruitment campaign for these volunteers?
• What amount of staff time would be expended to recruit these volunteers?

Girls Scouts - Group #1 Presentation
Girls Scouts - Group #2 Presentation

Project Description
Salt and Light is a non-profit ministry that focuses on sharing the love of Christ through meeting the needs of those at or below the poverty level in Champaign County. Everything offered is completely free to our clients.

Services include:

• Food Pantry: Providing a week’s worth of food for everyone living in the household every thirty days.
• Clothing Closet: Providing assorted clothing and various household items. This service also provides larger items such as furniture and large appliances.
• Bible Studies: Providing weekly Bible study for our clients and volunteers.

Challenge Statement

How to implement a tutoring program with measurable guidelines for success?

• Design a measurement system that will assess a student’s advancement
• Planning activities that include, but also go exceed, doing daily homework assignments
• Determine effective methods for the recruitment of volunteers
• Determine ways to finance start up and continual expenses

Salt and Light - Group #1 Presentation
Salt and Light - Group #2 Presentation

Project Description
The Mahomet-Seymour (M-S) Foundation for Educational Excellence is a nonprofit, fund-raising, organization that supports the Mahomet Seymour schools in pursuit of academic excellence. The foundation is currently in its 8th year of operation. Developing an M-S alumni association has been identified as both a short term and long term goal for the foundation.

Currently there is no formal alumni association for the district. The High School subscribed about 3 years ago to a service called 1-800-reunion in order to attempt to keep alumni contacts. Attempts are also made by the high school to contact class officers as they are planning high school reunions.

The Situation
The Mahomet-Seymour Foundation in collaboration with the Mahomet Seymour High School would like to develop an alumni association. Important aspects to consider are methods of collecting data, cost effective ways of contacting alumni, and staffing requirements needed to maintain the association.

Mahomet-Seymour - Group #1 Presentation
Mahomet-Seymour - Group #2 Presentation

Program Summary
The Mental Health Center of Champaign County was founded in 1956 as a not-for-profit corporation and was funded as a community mental health center for the purpose of providing community-based mental health services for persons in Champaign County. Services that have been offered through the years have been free to consumers or fees have been charged on sliding-fee scale basis when someone does not have private health insurance.

Provena Behavioral Health provides services for persons of all ages (children, adolescents, adults, and families) based on their level of need. Some situations may be situational and easily corrected in a short term basis while other persons may be living with severe a persistent mental illness that requires medication monitoring and specialized program throughout most of their adult life.

The following are examples of services provided:

• Behavioral Health Promotion (education, prevention, volunteer programs)
• Short-term treatment (crisis intervention, personal counseling, youth detention service, etc.)
• Long-term Rehabilitation (psychiatric evaluation, medication monitoring, case management, crisis stabilization, residential and vocational programs, etc)
• Housing Development, Management, and support (3 apartment project, TIMES Center)

The Situation
Most people believe that mental disorders are rare and happen to someone else. The fact is that mental disorders are common and widespread, affecting an estimated 54 million Americans each year. The use of negative labels that lead to branding and shame is also known as stigma. Stigma leads to discrimination. Everyone is aware of the reasons for discrimination against a person because of their race, religion, culture, or appearance. However, the community is less aware of how people with mental illness are discriminated against.

How can Provena Behavioral Health implement a coordinated strategy to reduce the stigma of mental health in the Champaign/Urbana community?

Behavioral Health - Group #1 Presentation
Behavioral Health - Group #2 Presentation

Program Summary
Champaign-Urbana Family Week is a community-university group focused on grassroots organizing around a local commemoration of a "Family Week". Originally proposed in the 1960s by an Indianapolis schoolteacher, similar weeks in other locations across the nation have resulted in increased unity and goodwill among participating families and communities. Family Week will include daily events intended to enhance family members' capacity to enjoy and support their own family, as well as reach out to other families in the community.

The Situation
How can we transition the week from a small-scale 'pilot' of the week this April in Garden Park Neighborhood to a more community-wide event during National Family Week in November?

Family Week - Group #1 Presentation
Family Week - Group #2 Presentation

Program Summary
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Business is nationally recognized as one of the country's leading undergraduate schools of business. The college's four academic departments - accountancy, business administration, economics, and finance - are highly ranked in annual surveys. With 3,200 undergraduates and 900 graduate students, Business offers a small-college environment within a larger university setting. As a new member of the Business community, students are exposed to having the opportunity to interact with the college's faculty and upperclassmen and to participate in extracurricular opportunities from the moment they arrive on campus.

The College has approximately 25 undergraduate organizations, three of which are geared towards assisting Minority Students (Latino Association of Business Students, Minority Business Student Association, and National Association for Black Accountants). These organizations serve as a support network for students. Each organization has a staff or faculty advisor from the college.

The College of Business would like to increase diversity, and ultimately offer a meaningful experience to all students. The College recognizes that diversity is important to the learning experience of all students, which is why there is concern regarding the participation of minority students in programs offered by the college.

The Situation
How can the College of Business enhance the social interactions between students and departments in order to foster a more meaningful learning experience (e.g., participation and collaboration)?

College of Business - Group #1 Presentation
College of Business - Group #2 Presentation

Program Summary
The Champaign County Humane Society (CCHS) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals, promoting animal welfare, and educating the public about humane care and treatment for all animals. We are an adoption facility; as well as a housing facility for Animal Control. We also accept stray animals found by the general public, as well as animals that can no longer be taken care of by their owner.

The Situation
As an adoption facility, the CCHS has thousands of homeless animals waiting for an adoptive home every year. While there are thousands of homes adopting animals, there are even more homes that do not have the ability to adopt an animal because the landlord will not allow animals in the residence. The CCHS would like to see more landlords become open to the possibility of allowing tenants to have a pet in the residence, therefore raising the adoption rate and lowering the rate of animals surrendered to the shelter because the new landlord will not allow animals.

Champaign County Humane Society - Group #1 Presentation
Champaign County Humane Society - Group #2 Presentation

Program Summary
The United Way is an international organization devoted to improving people's lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. The United Way is a non-profit organization, founded in Champaign in 1923. Using volunteer and monetary resources, they utilize multiple strategies to impact and improve the lives of those in need within Champaign County. Funding is targeted to a variety of impact areas devoted to critical age groups and other resources.

The Situation
The Young Community Leaders Initiative (YCL) was initially conceptualized as a sociable way to engage young professionals within the community to United Way's mission. United Way would like to develop the YCL Initiative into a training program with a defined curriculum as a way of investing in YCL members so that they become United Way donors as well as active community members.

United Way of Champaign County - Group #1 Presentation
United Way of Champaign County - Group #2 Presentation

Program Summary
The Champaign Park District, dating back to the early 20th century, acquires, develops and maintains parks, open space and facilities to meet the needs of residents within the community. They provide a number of programs and services for residents, targeting all age groups.

The Situation
Increase in involvement from University of Illinois students, participation in programs and volunteer assistance. Help design and incorporate programs that would meet the demands and desire of all interested parties.

Champaign Park District - Group #1 Presentation
Champaign Park District - Group #2 Presentation

Program Summary
The United Way is an international organization devoted to improving people's lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. The United Way is a non-profit organization, founded in Champaign in 1923. Using volunteer and monetary resources, they utilize multiple strategies to impact and improve the lives of those in need within Champaign County. Funding is targeted to a variety of impact areas devoted to critical age groups and other resources.

The Situation
Considering shifting priorities due to funding and politics, seek areas of collaboration between United Way, City of Champaign, City of Urbana, and Champaign County Mental Health Board. Create ways to become more effective with the use of funds by defining ways to be more effective in monitoring and reporting methods.

United Way of Champaign County - Group #1 Presentation
United Way of Champaign County - Group #2 Presentation

Program Summary
University Housing supports the academic mission of the University of Illinois by enriching the academic development and enhancing the integration of the diverse student body into the campus community through programs, personnel, services, and facilities.

The Situation
University Housing, in conjunction with the Equal Opportunity Committee within the University of Illinois Faculty-Student Senate, have recognized the value in diversifying the residence halls. Each residence hall tends to attract similar students, and a proposal has been brought forward to automatically assign students based on their demographic backgrounds. How can the University Housing achieve greater diversity, while emphasizing the communities currently encouraged by the residence hall structure?

University Housing - Group #1 Presentation
University Housing - Group #2 Presentation