January - March 2025

If you live in the Illinois or Michigan area, please join us for our Homecoming Reception on Thursday May 15th. You can purchase your ticket by clicking below!

We are delighted to share that the Young Center will be honoring Help for Children (HFC) with the 2025 Maria Woltjen Child Advocate Waymaker Award!

Named after our founder Maria Woltjen, this award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact in advancing the rights and best interests of immigrant children and  will be presented to HFC at our Homecoming Reception on Thursday, May 15th, 2025, in Chicago, IL. 

HFC was one of the very first grant-makers to support the Young Center’s work and is one of the few to fund our programs both regionally and nationally. HFC was also the first foundation to recognize the importance of our Technical Assistance Program, providing critical financial support and championing its vision.

We are deeply grateful for our long-standing collaboration with HFC and cannot think of an organization more deserving of this recognition. The leadership and support of HFC has been vital in ensuring unaccompanied immigrant children are safe, free from detention, and reunited with their families.

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month! We want to give the biggest of shout-outs to all of our volunteers. They are the lifeblood of our organization and a critical support for the children we serve. Throughout the month of April, follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, and Facebook and learn a little bit about the amazing folks who do so much to make sure that children in government custody never feel alone.

You can also check out how you can get involved and become a volunteer yourself by clicking the link below. 

In honor of the Young Center's 20th Anniversary, we hosted a virtual panel discussion on April 8 to unveil a new video showcasing the Young Center’s history and the advocates who have been on the front lines.

The event brought together instrumental members of our community who reflected on how we can uplift the voices of immigrant families, change harmful narratives, and dismantle biases. Panelists included Javier Zamora, author of “Solito”; Young Center Executive Director Gladis Molina Alt; and  Maria Woltjen, Young Center Founder and Former Executive Director.

Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights
2245 S. MICHIGAN AVE, SUITE 301,
Chicago, IL 60616
United States
www.theyoungcenter.org

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