Meg Rawley has found a place where she can make a difference.
“I actually stumbled on MAYC (Mahomet Area Youth Club) through Facebook,” Rawley said. “I just saw a random post where they were looking for group leaders for the summer.”
With a background in social work, Rawley knew the open position could be a good fit.
“There weren’t a lot of like major influences in my life growing up,” she said. “So, social work was something that I just kind of gravitated to because I wanted to be the person that I didn’t have in my life for other people. I just wanted to be some stability in other people’s lives.”
Coupling Rawley’s vision with MAYC’s mission: to “develop, support and encourage youth in the community for lifelong success,” helped the University of Illinois graduate to fit right in.
“I think the most interesting thing was coming in and I was immediately being greeted by the kids,” she said. “I’ve never had that warm welcoming feeling.”
The summer was filled with games and activities, field trips, and service projects.
Then as the school year rolled around, the MAYC staff could see that Rawley had the skill set to bring a little more.
“I want people to know they have a safe environment to come into, not just fun activities, but a safe space,” she said. “We’re open and welcome to anybody. I’m open to listening to any problems and working through anything with anybody, even if it’s outside of hours. I want people to know that I’m there for them and they have a spot to come to.”
Program Director Dustin Sears spoke to Rawley, letting her know that his spot would open in the fall. The position that requires planning for structured activities, service projects, and growth, both educationally and personally, was exactly what Rawley was looking for.
In her first month working with between 10 to 20 junior high students after school, Rawley helped students focus on emotional and social-emotional behavior. The group did a lot of self-positive work, like hanging sticky notes with messages in the bathrooms, reminding people of their beauty and worth.
Now, with a few weeks under her wings, Rawley hopes to take that confidence the students have to make a difference in both Mahomet and surrounding communities.
“My hopes would be that we get the kids more involved in things, not just in the Mahomet community but in Champaign Urbana, as well so they get more of a diverse experience.”
The Mahomet Area Youth Club not only offers after-school programming for Mahomet-Seymour Junior High students but also offers a safe place for youth to be over breaks in the school schedule.
