Wellness for All
The Why
Wellness for All offers year-round, free or low-cost enrichment programs for kids, their families, and their communities. These programs get families moving, build positive networks, and provide access to health and wellness resources, many through a lens of celebrating culture and connectedness.
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A growing body of research is making the case for play to boost the well-being of young people, especially as the pandemic continues (Mader, 2021). Regular movement helps children maintain their physical health while gaining cognitive and social skills, fortifying mental health and self-confidence, strengthening positive relationships with peers and adults, and more. For more on the benefits of play and sport in youth, check out the Aspen Institute's Project Play.
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In addition, strengthing cultural identity results in stronger feelings of belonging and security for people of all ages and, as a result, is an important contributor to their well-being (Diaz and Bui, 2017). In particular, children begin to understand and declare their identity as early as four years old (Perszyk, et. al. 2019) and it is essential to create a safe, inclusive space for that development.
Our Programs
Indoor Soccer Camp
Soccer games, skills and drills, fun activities, and fruit for the family - all free!
Weekend Activites
Movement and play for the whole family on the weekeends!
Preschool Program
Academic enrichment, social and emotional learning, and celebrating identity.
Mission Trips
Domestic and international trips for youth to experience new places.
Drill Team
Dance, cheerleading, and drumline!
Classes for Adults
Self-empowerment, self-care, parenting workshops, and more, for adults.
Mr. Dace is a program manager and community activist in the areas of juvenile justice, educational opportunities for youth placed at risk, and mentoring Black boys. He has over 10 years of experience in higher education and youth development. His professional career has focused on increasing organizational capacity to impact youth and young adults involved in multiple systems. Having lived in both urban and rural communities, Mr. Dace has gained broad professional experiences in managing culturally responsive services and building supports for children’s mental health needs in afterschool settings.
In Champaign, he is involved in social justice projects related to African American youth empowerment. Since May 2010, he has provided the strategic vision in the design and growth of the Motivating More Males (M3) Mentoring Initiative. M3 is a youth-guided, grassroots initiative developed to give voice and positive direction to male youth affected by multiple risk factors such as poverty, minority status, and system involvement. Leading M3 is Mr. Dace’s personal and professional contribution to social change in an effort to disrupt the school to prison pipeline.
Wellness for All is led by Executive Director Tracy Dace.
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