YMCA offers more than just a place to work out
Everyone knows the YMCA has a pool and a gym, but the folks at the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City also want everyone to know there is much more to the Y than a place to exercise.
“We are focused on three key areas,” said Rachel Klein, APR, vice president of communications with the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City. “These are youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.”
“Beyond the classroom, the Y provides opportunities for youth to learn new skills, understand community, discover healthy options, develop new friendships, think critically, gain leadership skills and experience interacting with positive adult role models,” Klein said.
The youth development programs include the Y Achievers program, a college readiness and career exploration program designed to help underserved, first-generation college-bound and minority teens achieve higher education through experiences, exposure and empowerment.
One of the major Y Achievers success stories is Julio Barron, 25, who participated in the program while attending Santa Fe South High School.
“He has a quiet confidence and a shy demeanor, but don't let that fool you,” Klein said. “Julio is a young man on a mission, and the Y played a part in helping him find his path.”
When Barron was a junior in high school, his counselor told him about the Y Achievers program and how it could help him prepare for college and learn about different career possibilities.
“I thought it sounded interesting, so I took a chance,” Barron said.
During his senior year, he made friends with other Y Achievers participants as they visited the Oklahoma City Thunder corporate offices, Kimray, the Oklahoma State Capitol and other businesses around the metro area. The Y Achievers program also takes high school seniors on college visits.
“The visits gave me an open mind about job opportunities. We learned about how the Thunder business runs and how the government works,” he said. “We visited classrooms, toured the campus, and met with students who told us about their experience and gave us tips on transitioning into college life.”
Following high school graduation, Barron attended the University of Oklahoma, where he graduated in five years with degrees in criminology and Spanish. Before graduating college, he enlisted in the Army, completed basic training and became a military police officer.
He recently was accepted into the Oklahoma City Police Academy. Barron is working on a masters in criminal justice with the goal of becoming a lawyer.
The Y Achievers program operates during the school year in these Oklahoma City public high schools: Capitol Hill, Douglass, John Marshall, Northeast, Northwest Classen and Santa Fe South Charter. The inschool program pairs local business leaders with high school freshman participants to help them build successful paths to higher education.
High school sophomores engage in interactive sessions with local college students to learn about leadership, morals, ethics and values in order to become leaders and pursue their dreams of higher education. For high school juniors, one Saturday each month, local businesses host Y Achievers in their buildings/offices to show young people a variety of career opportunities.
One Saturday each month, seniors meet to finalize all details that are necessary to enter college. A local expert helps the students with everything from college applications to scholarship essays to financial aid forms, resume writing and more.
“Julio's story shows how the Y can be a positive force for young people,” Kelly Kay, president and CEO with the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City said. “But Y Achievers is just one of the many programs offered for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.”
More than just working out, healthy living at the Y means a gathering place for those with like interests, a place for families to build stronger bonds and achieve balance, a built-in support system and a place to help prevent, delay or live better with chronic conditions.
“Outside of our walls, we are working side-byside with our neighbors to create change,” Kay said. “From building partnerships to address needs during the Teacher Walkout, to providing volunteer opportunities through member-led Togetherhood® projects, to supporting Ys beyond our borders and advocating for our communities, we are creating positive social change.”
All of these opportunities are provided through the generosity of volunteers and financial supporters. Kay encouraged community members to support the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City during its annual fund drive, which runs through March.
“It's very important to us that we don't turn anyone away because of finances,” Kay said. “We provide free or subsidized programs, including programs like Y Achievers through our fundraising.”
To learn more about the Y and all its programs, visit ymcaokc.org.
This article is sponsored by the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City.