YMCA Blast by the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati

YMCA Enrolling Greater Cincinnati Students In Teen Achievers Program

The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati Black & Latino Teen Achievers (college readiness) Program is hosting an information and registration event Saturday, August 28 for the 2010 to 2011 school year. The event will be in the cafeteria (1st floor of the ATLC Building) at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Students with their parents throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are invited to attend to learn about the free program for area students, and meet some of the adult volunteers.

Since 1979, the YMCA Black & Latino Achievers Program has served over 5000 teens in grades 7 through 12, awarded more than $175,000 in scholarships and assisted students with access to $3 million in college scholarships, and engaged more than 4000 adult volunteers through a network of corporate and community partners. The Program includes college prep and leadership development activities focusing on study skills/time management, interviewing techniques, financial management, team-building field trips, community service-learning projects, and college tours and more.

 “Being a participant requires a commitment from teens but the personal rewards they get back from the program are life changing,” said Darlene Murphy, YMCA Black & Latino Achievers teen program director.

For more information, the public can contact Program director Darlene Murphy at the YMCA, 513-961-3510 or dmurphy@cincinnatiymca.org, visit the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati web site. 

YMCA Of Greater Cincinnati Is Fostering Resiliency In Students Through New Mentoring Program

The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati has a long history of fostering resiliency, life skills and character values in young people. Now we are taking engagement a step further with our all new YMCA Mentoring Program different in how it supports volunteers, involves parents, and empowers youth. The Program makes Hamilton County one of six regions nationwide chosen to replicate the successful Building Futures program developed by the San Francisco YMCA.

With adult role models committed to teaching good decision making in young people, our site-based YMCA Mentoring Program will nurture students ages 6 to 18 and will focus on outcomes such as improving academic performance, an improved relationship with his/her primary caregiver, and more positive behavior. YMCA mentors will meet with their mentees weekly for a year either at their local YMCA branch (they will have free use of the branches during their visits together) or at the student’s school.

A key feature of the program is the inclusion of parents from involvement in the youth application process to communication with the adult volunteer. Unique to YMCA Mentoring, youth will be empowered by developing with assistance a ‘goal plan’ that includes age appropriate career exploration and giving back by participating with their mentor in service learning projects.

Important to the success of our Program is support for mentors. We will provide 15 hours of training over four weeks in understanding cultural/social development, youth culture, risk factors, and more; ongoing support by a YMCA mentoring coordinator and the YMCA Mentoring Resource Center; and optional monthly mentor support meetings.
 
Students served in our YMCA Mentoring Program attend a CincyAfterSchool site managed by the YMCA (for Westwood Elementary, Mt. Airy Elementary, Riverview East or the Skyline Community Center) or participate in our YMCA Black & Latino Achievers college readiness program at Hughes High School, Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies or Withrow International.

Upcoming orientations on learning more about becoming a YMCA mentor will be at the Melrose YMCA (2840 Melrose Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45206) on:

Wednesdays – Sept. 1, 8 or 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Or
Saturdays – Sept. 11 or 18 from 9:30 a.m. until Noon

To register or to learn more, please call 513-246-3230.

YMCA Mentoring is funded by a federal grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Other regions also selected include Oakland, Phoenix, Nashville and Baltimore.

2010 YMCA Achievers Honorees Gathered For Reception

Our 2010 YMCA Black & Latino Achievers Program honorees gathered for the very first time at a reception held at the Cincinnati Museum Center. What an outstanding group of 43 professionals, all of whom share our passion for wanting to create opportunities where young people can thrive. Our Achiever honorees will be honored at the Salute to YMCA Black & Latino Achievers Gala on November 5. Afterward they will all continue to volunteer with program, partnering with the YMCA to engage young people of color, in aspiring to achieve their life dreams.

Below are some photos. To see the entire album of photos, please visit our YMCA of Greater Cincinnati Facebook page. 

Carolina Nelson and LaCosta Moore

Hildalia Santiago and Stace Darden

YMCA of Greater Cincinnati Youth Council Invites Area Students For Make The Parks Beautiful Cleanup

The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati’s Youth Council is organizing its first annual YMCA Youth in City Government Make the Parks Beautiful Cleanup. The student volunteer clean up project on Saturday, May 15 and they’re inviting all area youth to participate with them. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. students will be at both Alms Park (710 Tusculum Ave; 45226) and Madison Park (2501 Madison Road at Erie Ave; 45208).  Volunteers can help for the entire event or stay for as long as they can. To register or receive more information, students should contact Andrew Naab at xavierbomber15@aol.com or Jana Nattermann at jlavelle@cincinnatiymca.org.


(Alms Park in Cincinnati)

The YMCA Of Greater Cincinnati Honored Branch Volunteers Of The Year

Last year more than 2500 volunteers donated their time to assist the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati in carrying out its mission.  For their commitment, the YMCA recently presented Branch Volunteer of the Year Awards to individuals who went above and beyond to assist the YMCA in helping people to grow in mind, body and spirit. Each honoree was selected by his/her respective branch.

YMCA Volunteers of the Year include:

Hideo Core - YMCA Black & Latino Achievers

Mary Fischer – Blue Ash YMCA

John Adams – Campbell County YMCA

Ralph Mitchell – YMCA Camp Ernst

Patricia Baker – Carl H. Lindner YMCA

Sharon Ann Hardtke – Central Parkway YMCA

Marcia Hendrick – YMCA Child Development Services

Billie McAdams – Clermont Family YMCA

Debbie Smith – Clippard Family YMCA

Cherese Morton – Community Services YMCA

Heather Lethander – Powel Crosley, Jr. YMCA

Gary Heinrich – Gamble Nippert YMCA

James Stocks – Richard E. Linder YMCA

Jennifer Plattner – M.E. Lyons YMCA

Kendra Kelly – Melrose YMCA

Brian Heckber – R.C. Durr YMCA

David Rechtin – Williams YMCA

The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati also presented an Award of Excellence to Charles Neal, a board member of the Carl H. Lindner YMCA.