Young Men Christian Association Of Western North Carolina

Programs: During fiscal year 2017, in an effort to serve everyone regardless of their ability to pay, the ymca of western north carolina provided financial assistance and subsidized services for individuals and families who might otherwise have been unable to participate in ymca programs and services. The most important measure of the ymca is the impact is has on the lives of the people and communities it serves. Together, these diverse groups find a place of welcoming and belonging at the ymca of western north carolina, which is committed to strengthening our community. See schedule o for continuation. Through our six centers (seven as of november 2017), 35 child care sites, and programs throughout the community, the ymca has a positive impact on people of all ages and from diverse backgrounds. The organization publishes a list on its website that describes its charitable work, which supports youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Below are programs that make a positive impact in those three focus areas. Youth development - horizons horizons is a federally funded program that provides free afterschool services for more than 250 middle school students. It emphasizes academic achievement by including one hour of daily math/literacy tutoring and homework-help led by certified buncombe county schools teachers. - afterschool child care our afterschool programs provide elementary-aged children in buncombe and mcdowell counties with developmentally appropriate activities that offer a combination of individual and group activities based on weekly themes and lesson plans. These programs incorporate the national healthy eating and physical activity (hepa) standards, increasing the physical well-being of participants and promoting health-promoting behaviors. - early learning readiness (elr) the ymca's early learning readiness program is a free research-based community program that gives children ages 0 to 5 years high-quality physical, emotional, and cognitive experiences. Caregivers are given the confidence, tools, and support they need to be their children's first teacher, ensuring that kids start kindergarten ready to learn. - summer day camp at summer day camp, children ages 5-15 have opportunities to make new friends, learn new skills, and explore the world around them. The y offers a variety of camps to fit the needs of families throughout the community. - summer discovery summer discovery is a free seven-week summer learning-loss prevention program targeting economically disadvantaged middle school youth. Students receive academic enrichment through experiential learning focused on stem (science, technology, engineering, math), literacy, arts, and culture, and enriching recreation, all of which align with the north carolina common core and essential standards. - ymca camp watia ymca camp watia is an affordable overnight camp for all children in western north carolina, regardless of family income. It is made accessible to all families through comparatively low costs and scholarship opportunities. - leaders club the leaders club promotes young leaders through volunteerism, advocacy, and character development. Teens in grades 9-12 receive leadership training and learn the importance of social responsibility and service to others. - middle school model united nations (msmun) middle school united nations trains participants in the art of diplomacy. From october to april students explore the globe, discovering the beauty of each place they find. They then become ambassadors to the u. N. From a faraway land. The ambassadors immerse themselves in the culture and politics of their assigned country and learn to advocate for what is best for the respective nations. Every april, the ymca of western north carolina diplomats attend a statewide model united nations conference in black mountain, n. C. - youth & government youth and government is a national debate program with 55,000 participants across the country and 1,300 in north carolina. Throughout the year, students prepare to be a legislator in the house of representatives or senate, an attorney or justice in front of the supreme court, or any number of other positions. Each february, students from across north carolina come together in raleigh to form a new state government where participants can create the changes they are passionate about. Healthy living - aquatics programs through our aquatics programs, we offer lessons for swimmers of all levels and ages, including educational and fun swim lessons for children ages 3 months through 12 years. We also offer safety around water, a four-to-eight lesson scholarship-based program for youth to learn water safety when in and around water, as well as some basic swim skills. Additionally, we have the piranhas, a year-round competitive swim team for swimmers ages 6-18. - youth sports youth sports programs honor the core y values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. We strive to provide a quality experience for players, coaches, and families, and we promote the development of each athlete to reach their highest potential through skill refinement, teamwork, and sportsmanship. We serve youth ages 3-16. Population health - enhancefitness enhancefitness is a center-based senior fitness and arthritis management class. The 16-week program meets three times a week for a one-hour class. Each class is taught by a certified instructor and focuses on cardiovascular endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance. Exercising with other people in a relaxed atmosphere adds a fun, social element and keeps motivation high. - nutrition programs with more than 18% of all north carolina families suffering from food insecurity, the y is working hard to turn the tide for a healthier western north carolina. Through our mobile kitchens and mobile market, we distribute fresh food to local families, and we offer practical, cost- effective cooking demonstrations to make a lasting impact on our community. Currently our 39 monthly produce markets are held in buncombe, mcdowell, haywood, madison, and henderson counties. Our outreach is done by providing healthy, fresh food along with information on how to store and prepare it. Reaching more than 300 families each month, the nutrition department continues to broaden its reach through innovative approaches to addressing food insecurity. In addition to mobile produce markets, the y also manages 29 afterschool meal sites and eight summer meals sites where anyone under the age of 18 can receive a free, healthy meal during the summer months in buncombe and mcdowell counties. - livestrong at the ymca livestrong at the ymca is a free 12-week, evidence-based, small-group program for adult cancer survivors who have become deconditioned or chronically fatigued from their disease or treatment. Goals of the program include building muscle mass and strength, increasing flexibility and endurance, and improving functional ability. - moving for better balance moving for better balance is a 12-week, 24-session, evidence-based falls prevention program. It uses the principles and movements of tai chi to help older adults improve their balance and increase their confidence in doing everyday activities. - diabetes management and prevention taking control of type 2 is a one-year program to improve the health of individuals with type 2 diabetes and lessen their risk of developing complications. It focuses on lifestyle changes and uses education to increase awareness of and knowledge about type 2 diabetes, increase participant exercise levels to 150 minutes per week, and decrease participant's a1c levels (average of blood glucose levels used to diagnose type 2 diabetes). The ymca's diabetes prevention program is a year-long, community-based program for overweight adults at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The program provides a supportive environment for participants to work together in a small group to learn about eating better and increasing physical activity, both of which help reduce the risk for developing diabetes. Social responsibility - y-access the y-access program offers ymca programs and memberships on a case-by-case basis to individuals and families who otherwise would not be able to afford them. - diversity and inclusion the ymca of wnc is dedicated to welcoming all. We are a part of the ymca of the usa's diversity, inclusion, and global (dig) innovation network, a cohort of ys throughout the country in fast-growing areas that are leading the y movement's efforts in outreach to diverse and underserved communities and driving program innovation so that everyone, regardless of who they are or where they come from has an opportunity to reach their full potential. Our first employee resource group (erg) was formed in september 2017 for lgbtq staff that has now followed with our multicultural erg. These ergs are organized to provide leadership development of minority staff members in the ymca, and, more specifically, f