2012 STATE ADVOCACY DAY
February 29, 2012
Statehouse Inn, Springfield
Connect with your local Y and join us in advocating the Y’s cause to our IL legislators!
Our Legislative Priorities
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT | Providing Access to Affordable Quality After School and Child Care
Illinois Ys provide a wide range of after school activities. The Y advocates for legislation that increases access and affordability as well as improves the quality of child care and after school programming. The Y supports increases in funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers at the Illinois State Board of Education as well as Teen REACH, Action for Children and other child care subsidies at the Illinois Department of Human Services.
HEALTHY LIVING | Building Partnerships to Increase Physical Activity and Access to Healthy Foods for Children and Families
Nearly one-third of Ys throughout the state are convening local coalitions to make policy, systems, and environmental changes that will increase access to physical activity and nutritious foods. At the statewide level, The Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs is partnering with the Illinois Food, Farm, and Jobs Council, and others to advocate for healthy living policy changes.Â
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY | Helping Our Neighbors
The Y is a cause driven organization that provides accessible and affordable services to everyone who wishes to participate. Implementing taxes and fees on non-profits inhibits our ability to provide services to those that need us most. Our goal is to continue and enhance The Y’s partnership with the state to reduce government costs by delivering quality services to the community with the financial assistance of private and public donors.
Click here to download document:
2012 State Legislative Priorities
Advocate with us–we could use someone like you!
Tools You Can Use:
- Personal Visits with Legislators from the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest
- PresentingTestimony from the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest
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2011 State Advocacy Day | Springfield | February 9th
2011 Legislative Award Recipients (click to enlarge)
Our Public Policy Team
In 2011, the Illinois State Alliance restructured the Alliance and formed a public policy comittee to work closely with our lobbyist team in identifying and monitoring legislation that impacts local Ys across the state. This committee is driven by dedicated Y policy volunteers and Y CEOs.Â
*Ryan VanMeter, Lake View YMCA Board Chair–Public Policy Chair
*David Reed, McGaw YMCA–Public Policy Vice Chair
*Representative Bill Black, Danville YMCA
*Michael Franklin, Heritage YMCA Group
*Sue Brown, YMCA of SW Illinois
Dan Chonowski, CEO, Greater Peoria YMCA
Jan Pate, CEO, West Cook YMCA
Rob Wilkinson, CEO, Kishwaukee Family YMCA
Ruth Knous, Resource Director, YMCA of the USA
Ray Vazquez, Chief Policy Advocate, IL State Alliance of YMCAs
YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
Jill Edelblute, Policy Advocate, IL State Alliance of YMCAs
YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
*denotes volunteer
Click here to download the Public Policy Committee Commission
To find out more or wish to volunteer on the public policy committee, please email Ray Vazquez at rvazquez@ymcachicago.org or call 312-932-1200.
Resources on the Web
State
State of IllinoisÂ
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