PURPOSE

Throughout its history, the Urban League of Champaign County has viewed academic achievement as a blueprint for empowerment. Therefore the Urban League has created the Center for Education, Youth Development, and Family Support Services, which is a direct response to the educational, social and emotional issues in our community. These programs were created to ensure African Americans and other minority youth and their families have equal and ample opportunities to obtain full participation in our society.

The newly developed Center for Education, Youth Development and Family Supports recognizes the importance of providing support to youth and their families while in the pursuit of academic excellence, positive sense of history, community and self worth. Development and support of strong family systems is essential in this endeavor. The Center utilizes a strength based, culturally competent and collaborative approach to assessing, developing, implementing and evaluating resources, services and supports to youth and families as we prepare them to meet the demands of the 21st century.

ACHIEVEMENT MATTERS

Achievement Matters is the slogan that explains why we do what we do. In March, 1997, the National Urban League in partnership with 20 national Black organizations joined forces to develop the Campaign for African American Achievement. The Campaign is an organized sustained effort to raise the achievement levels and strengthen the social skills of African Americans and other youth of color.

COMPONENTS OF THE CENTER FOR EDUCATION, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND FAMILY SUPPORTS

Education, Youth Development,and Family Support services are the center's main components. Under the auspices of each component are diverse, interrelated programs and services for children, youth, and families. These programs are listed below.

• National Achievers Society
• Senior Celebration
• Finals Fiesta
• National African-American Parent Involvement Day-NAAPID

Click here for more information about these programs.

Youth Development

• Nia Nation
• Freedom School Summer Program

MLK Day On Not a Day Off, Learn and Serve Project #1

Click here for more information about this program.

Family Support Services

• Community Day Care
• Teen REACH Family Support

The following are financial partners for the Achievement Matters Program: The United Way of Champaign County, State Farm Insurance Companies, WLRW, Oldies 92.5, WIXY, National City, Provena Covenant Health Care.

To learn more about our Education, Youth Development and Family Support Center, contact Vernessa Gipson at (217) 355-5990 or via email at vgipson@aol.com.