Metropolitan Young Mens Christian Association

OUR MISSION: TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: Y YOUTH PROGRAMS FOCUS ON HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF BELONGING, ACHIEVE NEW SKILLS AND DEVELOP CHARACTER TRAITS THAT FOSTER POSITIVE BEHAVIORS. THROUGH MEANINGFUL LIFE-ENHANCING PROGRAMS WE INSTILL CHARACTER AND CORE VALUES THAT HELP THEM FIND A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. WHEN TAMEYA CAME TO THE YMCA YOUTH SERVICES BUREAU, SHE HAD A HARD TIME CONNECTING WITH OTHERS - EVEN HER FAMILY. THE PRESSURE OF PERFORMING WELL AT SCHOOL AND AT WORK CAUSED HIGH LEVELS OF ANXIETY FOR TAMEYA, WHICH IMPACTED THE WAY SHE INTERACTED WITH EVERYONE. TAMEYA'S YOUTH ADVOCATE, MYRIAM FOSTER, QUICKLY REALIZED IT WOULD TAKE TIME TO CULTIVATE TRUST IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP. MYRIAM DEEPENED HER ADVOCACY FOR TAMEYA BY MEETING WITH HER ENTIRE FAMILY. THESE MEETINGS GAVE EVERYONE A CHANCE TO SPEAK OPENLY AND HONESTLY, WHICH PROVIDED THEM THE TOOLS THEY NEEDED TO WORK ON THEIR RELATIONSHIPS. MYRIAM HELPED TAMEYA REALIZE SHE HAD A VOICE WORTHY OF SO MUCH MORE. SHE DISCOVERED HER LOVE FOR SINGING AND BECAME INVOLVED IN SHOW CHOIR. SHE ALSO IMMERSED HERSELF IN HER STUDIES AND GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL WITH HONORS. TAMEYA IS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN ONE OF THE TOP NURSING PROGRAMS IN THE NATION AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEGINNING TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY. GROWING THROUGH ANY KIND OF TRAUMA CAN BE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT. YMCA YOUTH ADVOCATES MENTOR VULNERABLE YOUTH WHILE DEMONSTRATING LOVE, CARE AND COMPASSION. THE TRUST THEY ESTABLISH IN THESE CRITICAL RELATIONSHIPS HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE OVERCOME CHALLENGES, FIND HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES AND PREPARE FOR THEIR BRIGHT FUTURES.

HEALTHY LIVING: THE Y AIMS TO IMPROVE THE NATION'S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE WELLNESS, REDUCE THE RISK OF DISEASE AND HELP OTHERS RECLAIM THEIR HEALTH. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WAS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED AS THE COUNTRY CONTINUED TO FIGHT THROUGH THE COVID -19 VIRUS PANDEMIC IN 2021. THE MISSION OF THE Y IS "TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THOUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL." THESE PROGRAMS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THE Y DOES ARE IN SERVICE OF MAKING US AND OUR COMMUNITY BETTER. SERVING FAMILIES IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT THE Y DOES. TANYA'S STORY HELPS TO DESCRIBE HOW THE Y HAS HELPED HER FAMILY. "I STARTED COMING TO THE YMCA AFTER WELCOMING A 17-MONTH-OLD CHILD INTO OUR HOME, MAKING US A FAMILY OF SIX. I KNEW I NEEDED TO START FOCUSING ON MY HEALTH BUT TO DO THAT, I NEEDED ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, QUALITY CHILD CARE. THANKFULLY, THE Y ALLOWED ME TO PRIORITIZE MY HEALTH WHILE MY YOUNGEST ENJOYED Y CHILD CARE PROGRAMS. THE PEOPLE IN MY Y ZUMBA CLASS HAVE BECOME ANOTHER LITTLE COMMUNITY FOR ME, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM TWICE A WEEK. AND OUR YOUNGEST CHILD ALWAYS LOOKS FORWARD TO CHILD CARE - HE JUST LOVES IT." ALONG WITH HEALTHY PROGRAMS THAT FAMILIES CAN PARTICIPATE IN, THE Y OFFERS MANY PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED HELP EITHER STARTING OR MAINTAINING A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE. SOME PROGRAMS OFFERED ARE BLOOD PRESSURE SELF MONITORING, ENHANCED FITNESS, LIVESTRONG AND DIABETES PREVENTION. SOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACE A FINANCIAL OBSTACLE BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN Y PROGRAMS AND MEMBERSHIP. IN 2021, THE Y PROVIDED $1,943,073 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 32,598 INDIVIDUALS SO THEY COULD REALIZE THE BENEFITS OF A Y MEMBERSHIP. WE ALSO PROVIDED $805,236 IN PROGRAM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 5,071 INDIVIDUALS.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: THE YMCA AND OUR COMMUNITY SHARED A VERY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN 2020. DESPITE ALL THE CHALLENGES AND HEARTACHES OF THE PAST YEAR, WE LOOK AHEAD TO AN EXCITING 2021. WHILE WE REFLECT ON THE PAST, WE ARE ALSO FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE FUTURE. THE Y HAS ALWAYS BEEN RESPONSIVE AND RESILIENT. WE MAY HAVE HAD TO CLOSE THE DOORS OF OUR FACILITIES, BUT WE OPENED OUR ARMS EVEN WIDER. THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS OF THE YMCA RESPONDED WITH AN AMAZING SPIRIT OF SERVICE THROUGH SOME VERY DIFFICULT TIMES. WITH THE COMMUNITY'S HELP, WE TOOK ON NEW RESPONSIBILITIES, SUCH AS DISTRIBUTING FOOD, PROVIDING EMERGENCY CHILDCARE, AND SUPPORTING OLDER ADULTS WHEN THEY NEEDED TO STAY HOME. THESE NEW RESPONSIBILITIES HELPED STRENGTHEN OUR RESOLVE TO DO EVEN MORE AS WE BUILD A BETTER FUTURE. WE ARE BUILDING A FUTURE THAT NEEDS THE Y NOW MORE THAN EVER. WE ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING A FUTURE WHERE EVERY PERSON HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, GROW, AND THRIVE. THE YMCA IS ONCE AGAIN A GATHERING PLACE AFTER MONTHS OF ISOLATION AND INACTIVITY. OUR STAFF ARE RE-ENGAGING ADULTS AND FAMILIES THROUGH HEALTHY ACTIVITIES THAT FOSTER GROWTH IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. WE ARE ENHANCING AND EXPANDING OUR FOOD PROGRAMS BY ENGAGING COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS. WE ARE DEEPENING OUR IMPACT ON YOUTH BY PROVIDING POSITIVE SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, NURTURING ROLE MODELS AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT. ONE OF THE MANY STORIES THAT REFLECT THE YMCA'S COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES, INVOLVES THE STORY OF 16 YEAR OLD SIERRA. WHEN SIERRA DIDN'T GET THE ATTENTION SHE NEEDED AT HOME, SHE BECAME INVOLVED WITH AN ADULT WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF HER VULNERABILITY. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, SHE WAS REFERRED TO THE YMCA YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM WHERE SHE LEARNED ABOUT THE DANGERS OF UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING. SIERRA HAS COME TO BE KNOWN FOR HER INTELLECTUAL AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. "I'VE CHANGED A LOT. I REALIZE I CAN'T DEPEND ON ANYONE ELSE FOR MY HAPPINESS," SHE SAYS. SIERRA BECAME OPEN TO ENCOURAGEMENT AND GUIDANCE WHICH HELPED HER SEE THAT SHE CAN RELY ON SEVERAL ADULTS WHO CARE AND BELIEVE IN HER. SHE HAS LEARNED TO LOVE HERSELF AND HAS ALSO BEEN BRAVE ENOUGH TO SHARE HER STORY WITH OTHERS AND HELP THEM FIND THEIR OWN VOICE. Y YOUTH PROGRAMS FOCUS ON HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF BELONGING, ACHIEVE NEW SKILLS AND DEVELOP CHARACTER TRAITS THAT FOSTER POSITIVE BEHAVIORS.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE INCOME