Campus-Community Compact
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Campus-Community Compact has awarded $94,000 through the 2026 Building Beyond the Barriers Grant Program to support collaborative projects addressing community-identified needs across Champaign County.
The Campus-Community Compact is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Building Beyond the Barriers Grant Program. Five campus-community partnerships have been selected for funding to address community-identified needs in Champaign County. Funded projects advance several of the Compact’s focus areas, including Community Health, Wellness, and Resilience; Inclusive Education; and Community Relations. The selected projects bring together university, nonprofit, public health, and K-12 partners to strengthen community capacity and support ALICE households.
The following projects were selected through the 2026 Building Beyond the Barriers Grant Program. Each project represents a collaboration between university and community partners working together to address one or more of the Campus-Community Compact’s six focus areas.
Inclusive Education & Community Relations
Building Beyond the Bus Stop
This project transforms a neighborhood bus stop in Ivanhoe Estates into a multifunctional community hub that supports transit access, social connection, and communication. The project is led by CU Early in partnership with Urbana School District 116 and the Illinois School of Architecture.
Community Health, Wellness & Resilience
Food Access Alliance Capacity Building Project
This project strengthens countywide coordination to address food insecurity by building the data and evaluation capacity of the Champaign County Food Access Alliance. Led by the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District in partnership with nonprofit, healthcare, and community-based organizations, the initiative will improve how organizations track impact, coordinate services, and align food access efforts.
Inclusive Education
French Pathway Project
This project unites dual-language teachers and the Department of French & Italian at the University of Illinois to strengthen multilingual education pathways for students in French immersion programs across Champaign and Urbana. The project is designed to support long-term multilingual learning for students from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
Inclusive Education
Ultimate Phonics Lessons
This project provides English and foundational literacy instruction for refugee women with limited prior formal education. Led by the Refugee Center in partnership with the University of Illinois Department of Linguistics, classes will take place at the Central Illinois Mosque and combine daily instruction with access to literacy software and technology.
Community Health, Wellness & Resilience
Nurturing Birth Justice
This year-long initiative expands community-based birth support through public education, doula training, and workforce development activities focused on maternal health. Led by Urbana-Champaign Reproductive Justice in partnership with local birth workers, healthcare providers, and the University of Illinois Dismantling Racism & Inequities Lab, the project includes community workshops, professional development opportunities, and partnership-building efforts intended to improve access to culturally responsive birth support services.
Campus-Community Compact
Explore the Campus-Community Compact, its six focus areas, and the programs and partnerships advancing shared priorities across Champaign-Urbana.
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