『(Y) Connect』のカバーアート

(Y) Connect

(Y) Connect

著者： Allison Toller Zarinah Winston & Robert Wright
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概要

 Welcome to The (Y) Connect Podcast. As the heartbeat of the community, the Y is a connector where people of all ages and walks of life come together to elevate their health, wellness, education, and essential life skills. Join hosts Allison, Zarinah and Robert as they have authentic conversations with individuals sharing personal connections and stories of what connects them to the Y. For 164 years, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta has built programs that foster community, address critical needs, and empower individuals to achieve their full potential. This work is only possible with our Y community. Together we champion communities where everyone belongs and would love for you to be part of it. Let's keep the conversation going about what the Y means to you and where you can find one near you. Please visit us at ymca atlanta dot org and subscribe to our Healthy Together newsletter. Biography: Robert Wright has 20 years of experience encouraging and motivating individuals in the human and social service industry, ranging from children to adults with mental health and substance abuse diagnoses as well as developmental disabilities. He utilized his experience of assisting others and has transferred his energy and focus to fitness and wellness. He is motivated to merge both arenas and give individuals with diagnoses and disabilities another avenue other than the traditional clinical and medicinal approach. Zarinah Winston began working for the Metro Atlanta YMCA in 1999. Zarinah has served the YMCA in multiple roles for the past 23 years. Currently, she serves as a Center Director of an Early Learning Center. Her role consists of supervising and leading staff, implementing program plans, overseeing daily activities, and managing the Center budget. Prior to becoming a Center Director for the Y, her YMCA experiences consisted of being a Summer Camp Counselor, After School Site Director, Assistant Teacher, Lead Teacher and Lead Instructional Support Coach. The YMCA honored Zarinah with the "Outstanding Performance Award" for the Covington YMCA. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies (Education) and a Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with a minor in Early Childhood Education. By pursuing lifelong learning, she intends to be an example for the amazing team that she leads at her school. Zarinah is proud to be a mother of 3 wonderful children, Zamaria, Zachary, and Zavier. Her oldest daughter Zamaria and her middle son Zachary entered YMCA Early Learning at the tender age of 6 weeks. The YMCA exposed the children to a safe and caring learning environment, friendships, rich language & literacy skills, strong communication skills, and so much more. Zarinah's family is her heart and inspiration for striving to be the best version of herself. The core values of the YMCA (Honesty, Caring, Respect, Responsibility) are characteristics that she strives to always live by. Zarinah enjoys owning her own candle business, journaling, traveling, exercising, listening to music and spending time with family and friends. Zarinah is influenced and mentored by her uncle who is the CEO/President of a YMCA.  Zarinah believes in enjoying life by being of service to others. She lives by the quote, "Feel the present, hold the vision, let go of resistance, enjoy the journey, trust the process and know that all is well." Fredrick Talloen Allison Allison Toller is the Chief Social Impact Officer for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. Charged with cultivating and stewarding the Y's strategic corporate, civic, and community partnerships, she and the Social Impact team also drive the Association's strategic plan, embedding it into the fabric of the organization. Additionally, she oversees the Y's volunteerism and advocacy initiatives. Prior to coming to the Y, Allison was a corporate social responsibility leader with Cox Communications'. With a dual background in broadcasting and education, Allison was Chief of Staff and Communications Director for two of the largest school districts in Georgia. Through these experiences, she has a deep knowledge of the education system having led several high-profile campaigns on a variety of issues including taxes, teacher shortages, school zoning, and crisis situations. Developing strong relationships among local, state and national media, Allison was a registered lobbyist working within the Georgia state legislature to fully fund schools throughout the state. She built an innovative and award-winning brand widely recognized among independent schools. As Chief of External Affairs for Mount Vernon, she amplified marketing efforts to increase year-on-year enrollment. Early in her career Allison was a television news broadcaster; live television was the perfect training ground where she learned the art of storytelling. For several years she shared these skills on a national level, conducting leadership training sessions in the corporate, civic, and university...2024 衛生・健康的な生活
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  • Y Summer Camp Turns Into a Lifetime Together

    Y Summer Camp Turns Into a Lifetime Together
    2026/03/25
    Every now and then, we get to share a story that just makes you smile from the very beginning. And this is one of those. Back in the summer of 1989, at YMCA Camp High Harbour, two teenagers met on the shores of Lake Burton. Think mix tapes, handwritten notes in camp mailboxes, long days on the dock, and campfire songs under the North Georgia sky. They spent that summer leading, laughing, and becoming friends in the way only camp can create. Then life took over. They went their separate ways. College. Careers. Marriage. Children. Health challenges: big milestones and hard seasons. Nearly thirty years passed. And then… a dating app. In this episode, Molly and Baxter share how a YMCA summer camp connection turned into a second chance at love years later. What they discovered when they reconnected was that the trust and friendship they built as teenagers at the Y had never really disappeared. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✅ How summer camp friendships forged through YMCA Camp High Harbor in the late 1980s can quietly lay the groundwork for a second chance at connection decades later, proving that genuine community connection never truly fades. ✅ How one woman's courageous IVF journey and decision to become a single mother by choice reflect the kind of intentional parenting, faith and relationships that can redefine what family looks like on your own terms. ✅ How a cancer survivor, walking through leukemia twice, discovered that life's hardest seasons can sharpen your priorities and open unexpected doors to a second marriage and deep, lasting connection. ✅ How a dating app reconnection through Bumble brought two people with rich, complicated histories together, showing that long-lost love and blended family life can flourish beautifully when the timing is finally right. Join the Y Connect Podcast to discover inspiring stories of transformation and wellness. Tune in for practical tips and community-driven insights on fitness transformation. Subscribe now to elevate your fitness journey! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 The origin story of YMCA Camp High Harbor and how two teens met on the shores of Lake Burton in 198903:23 Molly describes her experience as a camp counselor and summer camp friendship during her summers at Camp High Harbor04:40 Baxter reflects on his summers at camp, the mentorship that shaped his path toward faith and relationships09:01 Molly shares her journey through teaching, dating, and her bold decision to pursue an IVF journey as a single mother by choice13:42 Baxter opens up about surviving leukemia twice as a cancer survivor and how illness reshaped his outlook on family and love16:12 Molly discusses going through her life with two children before her marriage to Baxter20:20 The magic moment: a Bumble dating app swipe leads to a dating app reconnection that reignites their long-lost love28:35 Molly and Baxter describe the intentional steps taken to build a thriving blended family rooted in intentional parenting and faith33:20 Reflections on Camp High Harbor KEY TAKEAWAYS: 💎 The second-chance love story of Molly and Baxter Crane proves that childhood friendships built inside a community connection like the YMCA carry a quiet, lasting power that no amount of time can erase. 💎 Baxter's experience as a two-time leukemia survivor and cancer survivor reshaped his understanding of what truly matters, ultimately clearing the path toward a stronger, more intentional second marriage. 💎 Molly's journey as a single mother by choice, achieved through a successful IVF, is a powerful reminder that faith and relationships can carry you forward even when the traditional path closes. 💎 Blending four children into one family required deliberate choices rooted in love. Baxter's decision never to use the word "stepchild" reflects the heart of intentional parenting and the beauty of a united blended family. ABOUT THE GUESTS: Molly was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended Marist School before continuing her education at the University of Georgia, where she studied Elementary Education. She completed her undergraduate degree at Brenau University and began her teaching career in 1996. Molly spent 10 years teaching third grade at Mount Vernon School in Atlanta before transitioning into school administration. Over 27 years at Mount Vernon, she served in a variety of leadership roles, concluding her tenure as Director of Community Events. In May 2025, Molly accepted the role of Administrative Director at Camp Greystone in Zirconia, North Carolina. She first fell in love with the camp when her daughters attended as campers, and it quickly became a place close to her heart. In August 2025, she and her family relocated to Greenville, South Carolina, to begin this exciting new chapter. Baxter is a fifth-generation native of Athens, Georgia, where he was born and raised. He attended Clarke Central High School before enrolling at the University of Georgia and later completing...
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    41 分
  • You Belong Here

    You Belong Here
    2026/03/11
    Today we're talking about something that sits at the heart of our new Strategic Plan's PEOPLE goal: building community within the YMCA. We're joined by three leaders who live this work every day: Timika Tucker from the Robert D. Fowler Y, Keeley Chester from the Forsyth County Family Y, and Shirene Sethi from the Carl E. Sanders at Buckhead Family Y. Each of them leads the membership experience at their YMCA. They're the people thinking deeply about what it feels like when someone walks through our doors for the first time, when a member is struggling, when a family is trying to find connection. They're shaping culture in real time. Today, we'll explore what welcoming really means, what they're learning from the people they serve, and how their work is strengthening belonging across our association. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✅ How small, intentional moments of community building drive powerful member engagement and long-term member retention strategies inside YMCA branches. ✅ Why first impressions in fitness matter deeply and how the first five minutes of a visit shape a member's entire sense of belonging at the Y. ✅ How frontline staff training and a service-first leadership mindset directly strengthen welcoming culture and create safer, more connected spaces for every member. ✅ How group exercises community programs like Parkinson's fitness classes transform not just individual health outcomes but entire family wellness journeys. Join the Y Connect Podcast to discover inspiring stories of transformation and wellness. Tune in for practical tips and community-driven insights on fitness transformation. Subscribe now to elevate your fitness journey! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Hear how community building shapes every branch visit and a conversation about the YMCA strategic plan people goal 03:47 Timika shares her personal journey and how belonging at the Y became her professional calling 05:33 Shirene describes how a fitness community culture and a running club transformed her from a member to a leader 07:12 Keely explains how the words welcoming and belonging guided her into the YMCA membership experience and leadership 09:30 Keely unpacks what community building looks like on a Tuesday afternoon through small, intentional member engagement moments 11:14 How powerful first impressions are made 16:24 All three directors share real member stories revealing the true meaning of safe spaces for families and wellness coaching 23:49 Leaders discuss staff empowerment, team camaraderie, and building a culture where every team member feels they belong 30:10 The leaders share what they would want a listener to know about why the Y is specia KEY TAKEAWAYS: 💎 Body language in customer service is not a soft skill. It is a strategic tool. Your eyes, posture, and tone directly communicate whether someone feels seen, valued, and welcomed the moment they walk through the door. 💎 A genuine welcoming culture is never the responsibility of one singular department. From wellness coaching to the play center, every team member at every touchpoint either strengthens or weakens a member's sense of belonging at the Y. 💎 Active older adults and individuals managing serious health diagnoses are among the most powerful examples of why inclusive, program-driven group exercise community spaces matter beyond fitness. 💎 Team camaraderie built through creative internal engagement, like Thrilling Thursdays, directly fuels the energy staff brings to members, proving that a thriving team culture and strong member retention strategies are deeply connected. ABOUT THE GUESTS: Shirene moved to Atlanta from New Delhi, India. She brings over 18 years of experience as a Team Leader, Communication Skills Trainer, and Event Organizer. Outside of work, she enjoys running, singing, and acting. Shirene Sethi began her YMCA journey as a Wellness Coach at the Buckhead YMCA. Her love for group exercise and passion for organizing programs and events led her to the Group Exercise Coordinator role. Last year, she was promoted to Member Experience Director, where she continues to do what she loves most — creating meaningful experiences, planning community events, and working closely with members to strengthen connection and belonging at the Y. Timika Tucker is a proud veteran and the Membership Experience Director at the Robert D. Fowler YMCA in Peachtree Corners, GA. Her professional journey and personal life are both grounded in kindness, compassion, and a deep commitment to making others feel welcomed and supported. At the Fowler YMCA, Timika leads with intention—cultivating a culture of exceptional customer service and meaningful member engagement. Her natural ability to connect with people and her dedication to fostering belonging make her leadership not just effective, but truly impactful. Timika's service‑driven approach reflects who she is at her core and continues to inspire her team and community every day. ...
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    36 分
  • A Living Legacy

    A Living Legacy
    2026/02/25
    This February, as we recognize Black History Month and its 100th anniversary, we're honored to be joined by brothers Andrew Young and Walter Young, namesakes of the Andrew & Walter Young Family YMCA. Ambassador Andrew Young's life of service spans the civil rights movement, Congress, the United Nations, and the Mayor's Office here in Atlanta. Throughout it all, his leadership has been grounded in dignity, justice, and a deep belief in the power of people and community. Dr. Walter Young has led with that same spirit through healthcare, education, and civic life, showing what sustained, community-rooted service looks like over time. In this conversation, we reflect on the meaning of Black History Month, the lessons of the civil rights movement, and how places like the YMCA help carry those values forward today. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✅ How Ambassador Andrew Young and Dr. Walter Young credit the YMCA Atlanta as a foundational space for developing community leadership and civic engagement from childhood through adulthood. ✅ How Black History Education was not a once-a-year observance for the Young brothers but a living legacy woven into church, school, and youth development programs 365 days a year. ✅ How the lessons of the Civil Rights Movement taught everyday people that service and leadership are inseparable, and why those values remain urgent during Black History Month's 100th Anniversary. ✅ How early access to swimming and youth programs through the YMCA and historically Black colleges shaped generations of leaders who went on to transform Atlanta history and beyond. Join the Y Connect Podcast to discover inspiring stories of transformation and wellness. Tune in for practical tips and community-driven insights on fitness transformation. Subscribe now to elevate your fitness journey! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction: Meet Ambassador Andrew Young and Dr. Walter Young for a Black History Month conversation on Civil Rights Legacy 02:03 Andrew Young shares how the story of the Amistad and Historically Black Colleges shaped his understanding of Black History Education 07:12 Walter Young reflects on growing up in New Orleans, where Black History Education and community leadership were part of everyday life 11:21 Ambassador Andrew Young discusses what connects every chapter of his life, including Congress, the United Nations, and YMCA Atlanta 12:47 The Young brothers share early YMCA youth development memories, including forming their own junior club and the role of civic engagement in their upbringing 17:14 Andrew Young explains how growing up in a mixed New Orleans neighborhood taught him the strategy of using his mind over his fists, shaping his work in the Civil Rights Movement 25:28 Dr. Walter Young describes launching a mobile dental healthcare access program serving rural communities during the height of segregation and education inequality 31:53 Andrew Young recalls using swimming and youth programs and lifesaving skills learned at YMCA Atlanta 36:07 Both brothers reflect on Atlanta history, Black History Month's 100th Anniversary and why community leadership is still calling us forward 42:40 Closing reflections from Ambassador Andrew Young and Dr. Walter Young on working with all people and the enduring living legacy of the YMCA Atlanta KEY TAKEAWAYS: 💎 The YMCA Atlanta was not simply a recreation center for the Young family. It was the original after-school program, a training ground for civic engagement, and a place where boys from all backgrounds learned to lead with dignity and purpose. 💎 Ambassador Andrew Young's father instilled a philosophy of "don't get mad, get smart," a mindset rooted in discipline and strategy that carried directly into his work alongside Dr. King during the Civil Rights Movement. 💎 The Black History Month 100th Anniversary is a moment to honor progress while acknowledging what remains unfinished. Atlanta's history proves that when communities invest in education and infrastructure, transformation follows. 💎 Dr. Walter Young's career in dental healthcare access and mobile health services throughout rural Louisiana was a direct extension of the service and leadership values both brothers absorbed through family, faith, and the YMCA. ABOUT THE GUESTS: Ambassador Andrew Young is a civil rights leader, diplomat, and public servant whose life of service spans more than six decades. He worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a key strategist and negotiator during the civil rights movement and played a role in advancing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Young went on to become the first Black congressman from Georgia since Reconstruction, later serving as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President Jimmy Carter, where he helped shape the nation's first Africa policy centered on human rights. From 1982 to 1990, he served two terms as Mayor of Atlanta, leading the city's transformation ...
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    45 分
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