Innovation:
True innovation is a discipline that requires
not only discovery but also testing, evaluating,
and promoting so that what was once
unfamiliar becomes conventional and creates
the foundation for further growth and
development.
Mission Statement:
To provide programming for youth ages 5-18
years old, who might not otherwise have the
opportunity to be involved in positive,
Structured, and safe learning environment
during the summer and out of school time.
Goals of UNITY Community Center
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Give youth creative and innovative ways to
interact and work with other youth in a positive
setting and too develop the necessary social skills
Increase youth participation in community service
activities and make more aware of community
resources.
Increase the grade point averages, and attendance
of participants in school.
Increase knowledge and interest in future
educational & career choices.
UNITY on the Inside Before
Reading & snack prep area
Look at us Now…
Small but mighty…
• 1500 Square Feet
• Plenty of Parking
• Convenient Location off of north Main Street
• Easily accessible
• Near Illinois State University & Heartland Community College
UNITY Community Center
Adult & Youth Programs
• M-F 4-7pm (during the school year)
•M-F 4-8pm *Summer Hours
• Mentoring/Tutoring/Advocacy
•Community Service Programs
•Meeting Room, Special events, and more
UNITY Kids Cheer
We’re UNITY Kids
We NEVER Give Up
We have INTEGRITY
TAKING us where we’re gonna be
YES, yes, yes
We shall be the best
We’re KEEPING it real
INCREASING our abilities
We DARE not stop
Because we’re goin to the top
Yes, yes, yes
We SHALL be the best
Because we’re UNITY KIDS!
Jr. Chef Program
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Youth will learn about “Food Safety.”
The “Food Pyramid.”
Learn how to make healthy after school
snacks.
Learn table etiquette.
Food Demonstration and Career
opportunities in being a Chef.
McLean County 4-H Club
4-H Future Leaders
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4-H Pledge
4-H Projects
4-H County wide activities
4-H Community Service projects
McLean County Fair Participation
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4-H Clover Buds ages 5-7.
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4-H Future Leader member works on 4-H
Project for the McLean County Fair
4-H Future Leaders Projects
2005
UNITY Community Center Sign
 4-H CloverBud Jewelry Box
 Food Demonstration
 Visual Arts
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Junior Toastmasters
A Success Communication Series
 Participants have opportunity to present 3-6
speeches, and write their own speeches
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UNITY Veggie-Mites
Junior Master Gardeners
Teaching of basic garden skills
 Soil and water
 Ecology and Environment Horticulture
 Youth learn to create and maintain a
community garden.
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UNITY Jr. Gardener at work
“look I have worms
from our garden. “
It’s watering time…
D.E.A.R
(Drop Everything And Read)
Program created to instill a life long love of
reading materials featuring various cultures
for youth participants to learn about.
 KWL/Venn Diagram/Crafts
 Reading logs kept by youth who participate
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Junior Newsletter
Kids Have Fun
A newsletter for community room news that
the youth participants will write.
 Program updates are featured.
 Report of grades, activities, achievements,
etc.
 Upcoming events and community news
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Music Program
Providing both instrumental and vocal
music instruction.
 Performances throughout the county.
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UNITY Steppers perform @ Cultural
Festival
UNITY Steppers perform on ISU quad
Junior Business Alliances
O A Teen biz & UNITY Veggie-Mites
Learn basic business skills
 Create own business
 Management of own business
 Example:Community garden to become a
produce stand in Summer 2004
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Homework Time!
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Providing youth participants with homework assistance in
reading, writing, spelling and computer programs.
Community volunteers and ISU America Reads America
Counts students aide youth with their daily homework
Various donated homework help books, and online
resources available to youth and volunteers.
CENTRILLIO GIRL SCOUTS
Troop #237
Girl Scout & Brownie Troops
 Community service projects
 Camping, Crafts, Skating, and much more
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Double Dutch & Steppers Clubs
Youth will learn self discipline and be
encouraged to work as a team
 Leadership skills
 Travel to competitions and perform
throughout the county.
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UNITY EBC
(Exclusive Boys Club)
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Exclusive Boys club formed for the young men of UNITY.
Ages 5-18.
UNITY parents & community volunteers help with the
planning of events, outings, community service and much
more.
Young men have group discussions and team building
exercises.
UNITY Urban Girls
Urban Girls is a program for young ladies ages 1218 residing in Normal. Focus of the group is to
address issues or topics pertaining to young ladies.
Offering community service opportunities, tutoring,
mentoring, and encouragement from community
volunteers for
present and future endeavors.
Urban Girls Cheer
Urban Girls is who we are
Urban Girls will take us far
Urban Girls is what we GOT!
Urban Girls we will NOT stop!
Step…
We bring to you a brand new cheer as Urban Girls we stand right here
Cause Urban Girls is WHO we are
Urban Girls will take us far
Urban Girls is what we got, as Urban Girls we will NOT stop!
UNITY S.E. Club-Jr. Leadership
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New club formed by ISU Presidential Scholar in 2004.
UNITY youth who have participated at UNITY for over 1
year involved in orientation of new youth participants.
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Learning how to be leaders
Involved in recruitment of new youth participants, and
much more.
UNITY Collaborators & Volunteers
Over 200 volunteers at UNITY since June 2003
•Town of Normal
Centrillio Girl Scouts
• Normal Police Department
ISU-America Read-America Counts
•University of Illinois Extension
State Farm
• Unit #5 School District
Illinois Prairie Community Foundation
•NICOR
Bloomington Human Relations
•Illinois Wesleyan University
UNITY Volunteers
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UNITY would not be where it is today with out the many
volunteers who come out to support the innovative
programs offered to the youth and adults.
Urban Girls learn African dance w/Janet Z.
Volunteers really get in the act at UNITY
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UNITY Summer
Camp-Too costumes
for; The Eagles
who thought they
were chickens-by
Michal Wynn play.
Team building with summer volunteers
UNITY Jr. Gardeners work
w/Master Gardener volunteers
Sgt. John MerrifieldIllinois State Police
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UNITY kids learn
some basketball
tricks from Sgt.
Merrifield who also
plays with a
traveling basketball
team
Summer Fun at UNITY
Summer 2004 -Theme “Choices”
 Illinois State Trooper Merrifield & Illinois
State Trooper Shavers Guest Speakers
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More Summer Fun at UNITY
Mr. Tim Howell-Guest Speaker
Brown vs. Board of Education
UNITY Kids learn to give back by
“Making a Difference”
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UNITY Youth collected canned food items that were donated to HSH
Mission
UNITY Youth collected old eyeglasses as a part of Sight Night-30 pair
collected
UNITY Youth put on a talent show to raise funds for Florida Hurricane
victims
UNITY Youth 4-H club members donated $100 to Martin Luther King
Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC.
Tree planting right outside UNITY
McLean County 4-H Clubs Katrina Hurricane drive 2005
Special Olympics
EBC Coat Drive
UNITY Kids learn to give back..
UNITY Kids plant 2 trees on Orlando Avenue.
UNITY Kids continue to give back
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UNITY Urban Girls
at Special
Olympics-”it is so
cold. “
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UNITY EBC collect
coats for the
homeless-35
collected
A New Year, A New Time, A New Way!
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UNITY New theme song “Wake Up Everybody”
Cheers & Chants: If my mind can CONCIEVE it, and my heart can
BELIEVE it, I will ACHIEVE it-Willy Jolly
I know I can!
Keep your H-E-A-D U-P, Never G-I-V-E U-P
U-N-I-T-Y We’re from UNITY
GOOD Job!
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Black History 365-Everyday UNITY youth will hear or read a black
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history fact.
4-H Club Future Leaders-Club projects, community service, and more…
WELCOME TO UNITY
UNITY Summer Camp-TOO
June to July M-TH 8:30-12 noon
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Chili Pepper Piñatas
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Craft-Huichol Art
UNITY Summer Camp-TOO
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Wake UP time as part of start to
morning summer camp activities
Taste of Africa event-2005
Ms. Kathy-UNITY Program Coordinator
 Dressed in African attire
for special cultural event to
kick off
UNITY Summer Camp-Too
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UNITY Kids & Parents, University of
Illinois Extension, Town of Normal
WELCOME
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Mrs Tabitha Major
as the UNITY Site
Coordinator.
ISU graduateTheatre Education
Minor-English
UNITY Advisory Board Members
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Ms. LaConda Lewis-
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Chairperson/UNITY Parent
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Mr. Steve Westerdahl-
State Farm/Kappa, NAACP
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Mrs. Charlotte Talkington-
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University of Illinois Extension Council
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Mr. Jim Sikora-Adhoc
Illinois Wesleyan University Professor
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Ms. Venus WintersIllinois Wesleyan University Professor
Mr. Otis EvansBloomington Human Relations
Town of Normal Community Development Director
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Mr. John Elliot-
Mrs. Helen LeakeUniversity of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners
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Mr. Brian Williams-
Community Outreach Officer Normal Police Department
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Mrs Essie MaxwellState Farm-Secretary
Contact Information
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Interested in being a part of UNITY or just
dropping by..
UNITY Community Center
632 Orlando Avenue
Normal, IL 61761
(309) 862-4041
Email: UNITYcommunitycenter@insightbb.com
www.mcleanextension.org or www.normal.org