Youth Development

Thanks to grant funding, the Cleveland County Family YMCA is now offering behavioral health to children, adolescents and adults in the community. While some Ys around the country offer such services, the Y in Cleveland County is the first in North Carolina to provide these services, and it’s needed now more than ever.

Community health partnerships are the cornerstone of two new North Carolina YMCAs: the Foundation YMCA of Wilson and the new Phifer Family YMCA in Morganton.

“YAG has changed my public speaking and drive for advocacy!” Those are the words of one North Carolina Youth & Government participant, but that sentiment is common among participants, according to Amber McClure, State Director for Youth & Government and Director of Tee

YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly launched its inaugural Y Achievers Summit in August, hosting about 165 youth and staff from 23 associations in the United States and Canada.

Highschoolers Israel James and Ke’Sondra Pickett headed to Washington in June for the annual YMCA Youth Governors Conference. They represented the Harrison Family Y in Rocky Mount as one of the 46 Amazon Changemakers teams traveling to D.C. to present their Changemakers project, RISE (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence), which focuses on adult male mentoring. 

North Carolina YMCAs are helping students build relationship skills and manage their emotions, which improves academic performance, confidence and behavior in the classroom and beyond.

YMCA associations across the state have participated in social and emotional learning (SEL) professional development training and peer cohort meetings this year, thanks to a grant the Alliance received from the NC Department of Public Instruction.

During the pandemic, Jen Fuller-Allen, CEO of the J. Smith Young YMCA in Lexington, began sending an email each Friday to her Board of Directors. “I wanted to connect with our Board more regularly to share highlights from the week to better equip them to help tell our story,” Fuller-Allen said.

When the new Foundation YMCA opens in Wilson late this summer, a group of middle schoolers will know they played a role in designing spaces for their peers.