January 01, 2019
Ken Banas credits his children’s sense of confidence and ability to think about nature differently to the Y's Adventure Guides program. He recommends that all fathers take advantage of the experiences offered by the program, which helps foster their children’s growth and understanding of the world.
December 12, 2018
When Jill Edelblute heard the YMCA of Metro Chicago needed a state expert, she went after the position “full-force.” Eleven years later, as our Senior Director of Government Relations, she’s still just as passionate about the Y’s mission.
October 31, 2018
A Channel Islands YMCA employee shares how the YMCA of Metro Chicago's anti-bias literacy approach helped her 5-year-old son overcome bullying and learn to be proud of himself.
October 25, 2018
For over 6 years, the Y’s Community Schools initiative has enabled more than 100 Chicago Public Schools students to experience the outdoors at YMCA Camp MacLean.
October 19, 2018
Join us in welcoming Ronald Anderson, the Irving Park YMCA’s new executive director. Ron began his career with YMCA of Metro Chicago in 2014 and has served at two centers.
October 17, 2018
Daniel Rubio has been part of the YMCA family for 10 years. After serving the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, he returns to the YMCA of Metro Chicago as our new executive director of the McCormick YMCA.
October 16, 2018
Barbara Blomquist writes about the late Naperville Mayor Pradel and the Mayor's Prayer breakfast origins. (Positively Naperville)
October 15, 2018
The Y’s Community Schools Initiative partnered with the Free Lunch Academy at McKay Elementary where our scholars participated in a performance titled “Be a Buddy, Not a Bully.”.
October 10, 2018
The focus of World Mental Health Day 2018 is young people and mental health in a changing world. A new partnership with Rush University Medical Center will make mental health service accessible to Youth Safety and Violence Prevention youth and their families, staff, and military veteran volunteers.
October 09, 2018
Comenecia O’Neal has been mentoring hundreds of youth for almost two decades. (NBC 5 Chicago, Making a Difference)
September 12, 2018
Bruce Shannon worked as a lifeguard and aquatics instructor at the South Side YMCA for 18 years. He describes how his childhood memories at the Y shaped his values, “there was no limit at what I could do at the Y."
September 05, 2018
“I tell people all the time, I have three biological children, but I really have a lot of kids.” Comenecia O’Neal serves as a mother figure to many of the youth that walk through Kelly Hall YMCA’s doors.
August 29, 2018
“Is it a war we’re winning? No,” said Almore. “But it’s a war I’m willing to fight.” Mike Almore, YSVP mentor and Senior Outreach Specialist shares why he decided to help youth exposed to violence in Chicago communities. (CBS 2 Chicago)
August 27, 2018
“These kids are over-alert and watching their backs, even when they’re in the safest environments. They try to explain that feeling to other people who don’t get it. But I do.” Julio Cortes, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and mentor. (NationSwell)
August 24, 2018
Jaime shares what he learned by working with court case dogs through a Youth Safety and Violence Prevention and Safe Humane partnership program.
August 23, 2018
“People have a choice of where to work out, so why not work out somewhere that benefits the community?”
August 21, 2018
When visiting the Lattof YMCA, Miner School adult students are given the opportunity to get out of the classroom and experience new environments where they can learn important life skills.
August 17, 2018
O'Dell Boyd, who's been with the Y for 17 years, greets everyone, in person and on the phone, with a smile. "You don’t know who’s on the other side of the line. You don’t know what’s going on in their lives.”
August 16, 2018
Every single employee at the YMCA of Metro Chicago is required to take CPR training. Last May, that policy saved a man’s life.
August 14, 2018
Camp remains a fond childhood memory for many people, but for Kent Dean, it’s a way of life.