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Curious about Camp Echo? Attend the Virtual Info Night (Oct. 20)

Thinking about summer plans? Join us for an informal Camp Echo Virtual Info Night where you can: Meet the directors & key staff Learn about youth program highlights for 2027 Get pro tips for the Early Registration Lottery Have your questions answered in a live Q&A Whether you’re new to Camp Echo or a returning family, this is the best way to see what’s in store for summer before registration opens. Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Time: 6:00-7:00 p.m. Focus: Traditional Camp & Teen Programs Location: Zoom (link sent after RSVP) RSVP today and bring your questions (and maybe a s’more). See you online, The Camp Echo Team

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Parking Lot Update for McGaw YMCA

Please note this important update about parking at the Y. The owner of Lot 1, the dirt parking lot on Grove Street across from the McGaw YMCA, is taking back a portion of the spaces currently used by McGaw YMCA.  As a result, parking in Lot 1 will be limited beginning September 15. Please review the resources below to understand where Staff, Members, and Resident Members may park. Lot 1 (East Side): Beginning September 15, staff may park on the YMCA side (east side) of Lot 1 during designated staff permit hours, Monday-Friday from 8:00am-4:00pm. Members may park in this section of Lot 1 outside of staff permit hours, as indicated on the Parking Lot Map. Lot 1 (West Side): The west side of Lot 1 will be reserved for Gem Museum Suites employee parking at all times. Beginning September 15, McGaw YMCA staff and members must not park in

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The True Cost of Housing is Not Measured in Rent

The following essay by McGaw YMCA President and CEO Monique Parsons was published in the Evanston RoundTable on July 6, 2026. A young man in his twenties moves to Evanston to start a career. He knows no one and has little savings, but he has a chance to build a life. A father going through a divorce wants to stay close to his children but cannot afford a second home while helping support the first. A transit worker struggles to keep up with rising costs despite working full time. A man loses his job, then his health, then his savings, and eventually his home. Different stories. Different circumstances. The same challenge: finding a stable place to live. When we talk about housing, we often focus on rent prices, zoning decisions, or development proposals. Those conversations matter. But they can obscure a larger truth: the cost of housing is not measured

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