The Talley-Reece Award was established to encourage and reward compassion, leadership, teamwork and a sense of responsibility toward the greater community shown by middle school youth.
The award takes its name from two people who themselves have provided significant leadership and changed our community for the better. The Rev. James Rayford Talley was the driving force behind the founding of the Emerson Street Branch YMCA, a center of leadership, education, and socializing for African Americans at a time when many parts of Evanston, including the Grove Street YMCA, were closed to them. Mr. Robert Earl Reece, who grew up in Evanston and benefited from the leadership skills he learned at the Emerson Street Branch YMCA, has worked tirelessly on behalf of the youth of this community, showing by example how to energize, lead, advocate and effect positive change. He was the first African American Board Chair of the McGaw YMCA and his exemplary service to the community continues to this day.
Nominees must be in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade and live in the North Shore area. The project may be local, national or international in scope, but must involve or benefit residents of the North Shore area. The nominees should have identified a problem or need and then implemented a plan to address it. The project may be in the area of health, education, environment or community. Nominations must be submitted to the McGaw YMCA by 5:00pm on December 5, 2011.
The winning student or group receives a plaque to be displayed at the YMCA, one year’s membership to the Y, and a $500 award as a donation toward the project in the case of a group, or as a savings bond for an education fund in the case of an individual winner.
Nomination Forms:
Tally-Reece Youth Nomination Form
