Justin T. Weller

Supporting local businesses should be nonnegotiable. We all play a role in the success of our communities and cities. If you aren’t a business owner, your role is to support your neighbors who are to contribute to a flourishing local economy.

Being changemakers in our community begins with educating ourselves about the present needs and then taking action through two avenues: mutual aid and charity. Together, these tactics will build our communities up for years to come.

Every investment by Urbana citizens—of time, money, skills, or resources—is a piece of the puzzle that makes our city what it is. And because we’re coming together to invest what we can into our community, change for the better is on the horizon.

As the founder of the Urbana Youth Center, I’m humbled to say that we give youth members in our community a second chance at success. To donate to the cause, click here: urbanayouth.center/take-acti…

Fighting for freedom in Urbana is about far more than one lawsuit. It’s about coming together to build a community that’s stronger than ever before. To support our fight for freedom in Urbana, donate or get involved here: freedomforurbana.com/.

Making change in our local communities begins with partnerships. Why? Because everybody brings something slightly unique to the table. Where you need support, a strategic partnership might make up the difference.

K through 3rd grade is a pivotal time for developing lifelong skills such as reading. Statistics like this shouldn’t just concern us, they should spur us to immediate action. Attend a school board meeting, tutor students, or support programs designed to tackle this challenge.

Through ups and downs, our students remain the foundation of UYC. Without them and their desire to invoke change in their lives, we couldn’t have grown into what we are today. We’d love to hear your story. If you’re ready to tell it, send us a message.

Fighting for freedom means encouraging underrepresented community members. Fighting for freedom means identifying injustices and standing firmly against them. Fighting for freedom means acting even when you don’t know what the next step is.

Change begins with students. Our team at the Urbana Youth Center has dedicated all of our efforts to helping local Urbana youth become true students—students in school and students of life. It’s this kind of action that steers our local children toward a brighter, better future.

The path to stronger, healthier communities begins in our classrooms. That number reflects more than just academic outcomes. It speaks to systemic gaps in opportunity, resources, and support in our community. Change starts here: urbanayouth.center/take-acti…

More than 700 students are registered members at the Urbana Youth Center. We all have the ability to help make changes in these students’ lives. Start where you are. Take action today: urbanayouth.center/take-acti…

We need to work together as a community to push back against injustices like this and fight for freedoms for Urbana children. Start by donating today: freedomforurbana.com/take-ac…

Solving literacy issues in the present means preparing for a future with more jobs filled, more financially stable homes, more new businesses started, and more people with the resources to continue contributing to positive change in their own communities. It starts today.

We all have a part to play in making sure educational tools are available to children to prepare them for moving into the rest of their lives. To donate your time or money to help local Urbana children succeed, click here: urbanayouth.center/take-acti…

Let’s focus on leading with compassion and contributing the natural skillsets and the resources we have to people and places in need. Find one way to give back to your community this week. Then be consistent each week to help make lasting change.

Why is the Weller v. City of Urbana lawsuit so pivotal? This battle for justice is about protecting the constitutional rights of every citizen. To learn more about the injustices that have happened in Urbana and how to make a difference, visit freedomforurbana.com/.

There’s a chain reaction that happens when people and communities start being taken advantage of … And the cycle continues until someone takes action that interrupts it. Click here to make an interruption: freedomforurbana.com/take-ac…

There will always be someone in your local community who needs help. So take this as a reminder to be proactive at searching for the gaps in your community that need to be filled. For examples of what serving your community might look like, visit urbanayouth.center/

Let’s all be part of the solution. Our time and donations can create real opportunities for students who need them most. So let’s pursue academic equity in our local school systems, ensuring that students feel safe and supported in the classroom and in their futures beyond it.