While federal funding has had its woes in the past several months, a two-year fundraising campaign to expand YWCA Stepping Stones — McLean County’s only rape crisis center — has reached its goal and renovation is nearly completed. The nonprofit raised $100,000 more than initially anticipated, for a total of $1.5 million, and YWCA McLean County CEO and President Liz German said every penny is going into the expansion.
Throughout the fundraising campaign, German said an unexpected benefit has been raising awareness of the rape crisis center’s work.
“I can't tell you how many conversations we've had with people who this is not a topic they think about, talk about, or even was in their mind,” German said on WGLT’s Sound Ideas. “And after having a conversation, they're either educated and they mentioned they're going to tell somebody something, or they disclose, or they know more about, you know, rape culture and ways to approach survivors.”
An $850,000 grant from Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin pushed Stepping Stones over the finish line when it was appropriated in March 2024, and German said the nonprofit now has the money in hand. She and Alicia Whitworth, YWCA’s director of development and public relations, said the community support has gone a long way.
“This is truly for our community, by our community in every sense of the word,” Whitworth said.
In an ideal world, German said construction would finish in the next month, but she acknowledged that construction can be unpredictable, so a more realistic date is June.
Once renovations are complete, Stepping Stones will be double the size. Whitworth said prior to the expansion, the YWCA had been operating out of what was effectively a community center space. Clients met with staff in old birthday party rental areas, vending machine spaces and pool staff offices. Staff offices were in an old exercise studio with mirrors lining the walls.
“So when you think about what that space was created for, it's not soundproof. It's not in one central location, there's no real way to have confidentiality or any of the pieces that are necessary for the stepping stones component [of YWCA],” she said.
Now, Whitworth said old locker rooms and event spaces have been transformed. Instead of four counseling rooms, there are seven — and German said the waitlist is gone. She pointed out that the need tends to ebb and flow, but the additional space already circumvents a common barrier to care.
“I would foresee that over time, just… the fact that we, unfortunately, have new survivors every day, that we will continue to seek funds to add counseling staff, advocacy staff as we see those trends happening."
The nonprofit will not release floor plans since confidentiality is important, Whitworth said.
In addition to the soundproof counseling offices, Whitworth said there will be a convertible group therapy space and a reception area with a private waiting room.
“It's just going to meet the needs of everyone simultaneously, all of our clients in whatever walk they're in,” Whitworth said.
