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<p class="" style="line-height:170%"><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:170%;font-family:Verdana">Press Release:</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:170%;font-family:Verdana"> <br>
</span><i><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:170%;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(35,31,32)">For Immediate Release:
January 23, 2014</span></i></p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">For media
inquiries, contact:</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana"><br>
Megan Flowers, Communications Director<br>
[217-337-1500, email: </span><a href="mailto:megan@universityymca.org"><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">megan@universityymca.org</span></a><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">]</span></p>


<p class="" style="line-height:170%"> </p>

<p class="" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><font color="#231f20" face="Verdana" size="4"><span style="line-height:170%">Rethinking Economic Security</span></font><span style="line-height:22.100000381469727px"><br>
</span></b><span style="line-height:170%;color:rgb(35,31,32);font-family:Verdana;font-size:12pt">New Friday Forum series on c</span><span style="line-height:170%;color:rgb(35,31,32);font-family:Verdana;font-size:12pt">ommunity-based approaches</span> </p>


<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(35,31,32)">[Champaign-Urbana,
IL]</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(35,31,32)"> </span><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">The University
YMCA announces the Spring 2014 Friday Forum lecture series, <i>Community Approaches to Economic
Development.</i> The series runs from January 31st to April 18, 2014. Notable
speakers include <b>Saru Jayaraman</b>,
Co-Director of the Restaurant Opportunities Center and author of Behind the
Kitchen Door: The Real Cost of Dining Out, <b>Paul
Glover,</b> founder of Ithaca Hours, and others.</span></p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">What</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">: The
Spring 2014 Friday Forum series, <i>Rethinking
Security: Community Approaches to Economic Development</i>, will challenge
mainstream conceptions of economic security and center economic development on
ensuring true security to our communities in areas such as food, housing,
income, and health-care.</span></p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">Why: </span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">“This series will bring a year-long look at American security to
a close, from rethinking incarceration as means to security to exploring ways
to achieve security by bringing economic perspectives to the center,” says
University YMCA Program Director Kasey Umland. 
“We are looking forward to a series that looks beyond GDP growth and
offers economic alternatives that provide true economic security to all members
of our society.”</span></p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">When:</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana"> Fridays
at 12noon during the spring and fall semesters. The Spring 2014 schedule is
provided below.</span></p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">Where:</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana"> Latzer
Hall | University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright Street</span></p><p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:13.800000190734863px;font-family:Verdana">Sponsored by:</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:13.800000190734863px;font-family:Verdana"> Wesley United Methodist Church, Wesley Foundation at the U of I, Institute of Genomic Biology, Center for Advanced Study, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Resource Center, Center for Business and Public Policy, Russ Rybicki, AIF, of Progressive Asset Management Group, the Socially Responsible Division of Financial West Group, Nancy Dietrich, Graduate Employees Organization, Dept of Recreation, Sport, and Tourism, International Programs and Studies, Prairie Research Institute, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church, Asian American Cultural Center, Dept of Urban and Regional Planning, Chapel of St. John the Divine, Dept of Latina/Latino Studies, Dept of Sociology, College of Nursing, Dept of French, Dept of Political Science, C-U Branch of AAUW, Channing Murray Foundation, Urbana Champaign Friends Meeting, Jobs with Justice and The Office of Public Engagement and The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Access at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Department of African American Studies</span><br>
</p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">Website:</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana"> </span><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana"><a href="http://www.universityymca.org/friday_forum">www.universityymca.org/friday_forum</a></span> </p>
<p class=""><b>Media Kit: 4 photos attached-</b>Friday Forum Q&A.jpg, Friday Forum Fall 2012-Samuel Gomberg.jpg, Friday Forum Q&A2.jpg, Friday Forum Q&A3.jpg</p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">Additional
Information</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">: Friday Forum is a weekly lectures series held
in the fall and spring semesters that strives to raise awareness about national
and international trends and events. Friday Forum lectures are typically
followed by a Q&A. The views expressed by the speakers do not necessarily
reflect the views of the University YMCA, co-sponsors, or the Friday Forum
committee. A sign language interpreter is available with a 72 hours notice
(contact Carol Nunn at 217-337-1500). All forums are radio broadcast at 6:00
p.m. on WEFT 90.1 the Monday following the lecture. Video recorded lectures can be found on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/UniversityYMCA?feature=watch">YouTube</a>.</span></p>

<p class=""> </p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">Spring 2014
Friday Forum lecture series schedule:</span></b></p>

<p class=""> </p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">January 31</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">-Addressing
Food Insecurity in the United States</span></p>

<p class=""><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">Craig Gundersen, Soybean Industry Endowed
Professor of Agricultural Strategy</span></p>

<p class=""><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">Executive Director, National Soybean Research
Laboratory</span></p>

<p class=""> </p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">February 7-</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">The Power
of Community Currency</span></p>

<p class=""><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">Paul Glover, Founder of Ithaca Hours</span></p>

<p class=""> </p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">February 14</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">-Global
Poverty: What is to be Done--and Why?</span></p>

<p class=""><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">David Schweikart, Professor of Philosophy, Loyola
University Chicago</span></p>

<p class=""> </p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">February 21</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">-Behind
the Kitchen Door: The Real Cost of Dining Out</span></p>

<p class=""><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">Saru Jayaraman, Co-director of the Restaurant
Opportunities Center</span></p>

<p class=""> </p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">February 28</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">-Redefining
Security and Abundance Through a Permaculture Lens</span></p>

<p class=""><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">Bill Wilson, Lead Certifying Instructor and
Co-founder of Midwest Permaculture </span></p>

<p class=""> </p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">March 7</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">-Working
to Make Chicago the Most Immigrant Friendly City in the U.S.</span></p>

<p class=""><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">Adolfo Hernandez, Director, Chicago Office of New
Americans</span></p>

<p class=""> </p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">March 14</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">-Domestic
Microfinance, Credit Unions, and Payday Loans</span></p>

<p class=""><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">A panel featuring Robin Greiner of Accion
Chicago. More panel speakers to be announced.</span></p>

<p class=""> </p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">April 4</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">-Dreaming
Beyond the Rolling Jubilee: Towards a Debt Strike and Global Jubilee</span></p><p class=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:9pt;line-height:115%">Thomas Gokey, Co-founder of Rolling Jubilee and
organizer for Strike Debt</span></p><p class=""></p>

<p class=""> </p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">Aprill 11</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">-Cooperatives-Creating
a Community of Wealth</span></p>

<p class=""><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">Jacqueline Hannah, General Manager of Common
Ground Food Co-Op</span></p>

<p class=""> </p>

<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">April 18</span></b><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">-Consumer
Futures in the Healthcare Marketplace</span></p>

<p class=""><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">Daniel Yunker, CEO, Land of Lincoln Health</span></p>

<p class=""><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">Sponsors of the Spring 2014 Friday Forum lecture
series are to be announced.</span></p>

<p class="" style="line-height:170%"> </p>

<p class="" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:170%"><i><span style="font-size:9pt;line-height:170%;font-family:Verdana;color:rgb(35,31,32)">###</span></i></p>

<div><br></div>-- <br>Best,<br>Megan Flowers <br><span style="color:rgb(102,102,102)">Communications Director<br>University YMCA<br>Office: 217-337-1500<br>Fax: 217-337-1533<br>Email:</span> <a href="mailto:megan@universityymca.org" target="_blank">megan@universityymca.org</a><br>
<br>
</div>