(Y) Connect

Written by: Allison Toller Zarinah Winston & Robert Wright
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  • Summary

  • 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...
    2024
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Episodes
  • Ep. 52 - Hope and Opportunity: The Y & The Ansley School Alliance

    Ep. 52 - Hope and Opportunity: The Y & The Ansley School Alliance
    Nov 20 2024
    Today on the Y Connect Podcast, we are discussing a powerful story of community partnership between the Carl E. Sanders at Buckhead Family YMCA and the Boyce L. Ansley School, an afterschool enrichment program designed to support students facing challenging life circumstances, including homelessness, economic hardship, or unforeseen setbacks. Joining us are three key figures in this initiative: Jared Guyer, Executive Director of the Buckhead Y; Ray James, Head of School at Boyce Ansley; and Rachael Barron, a Y board member and CEO of Effective Students, to share insights on the program's structure, its impact on students and families, and the importance of community support. This episode underscores the transformative power of collaboration and the need for ongoing community engagement and advocacy. Join today’s enriching conversation and to learn more about how you can support this life-changing initiative. IN THIS EPISODE: [2:35] Robert introduces the partnership between the Buckhead YMCA and Boyce L. Ansley School and the inspiration behind the collaboration [6:31] Ray outlines the school's goal of eradicating generational poverty through education, mentorship, and providing essential supplies and services to their students [12:12] Jared discusses how the program is funded through community support and fundraising efforts. Rachel shares insights on the board's innovative responsibilities and the importance of community needs [16:42] How the program’s structure best impacts the students and their families [20:21] Jared explains the importance of volunteers and collaboration between organizations for effective community support, highlighting the significance of being curious and committed in community engagement efforts [27:26] The Ansley School and the unique services and support it offers creates an impact students and their families as well as the staff and volunteers working with students [29:55] Encouraging community support and awareness for the Ansley School's mission and services KEY TAKEAWAYS: The Y and the The Ansley School Alliance are committed to eradicating generational poverty through education by utilizing community mentorship, enriching activities, and the comprehensive structure of the after-school program The afterschool program doesn’t just benefit the students that attend the program, it has also made positive impacts on their families and the mentors that volunteer The Ansley School Alliance is a life-changing resource that supports families experiencing economic hardship, homelessness, education barriers, medical setbacks, and so much more. The school is 100% tuition free, which means it relies solely on community support, volunteers, donations, and word of mouth to spread awareness of the growing need for similar programs in the community RESOURCE LINKS: Facebook: YMCA Metro Atlanta Linkedin: YMCA Metro Atlanta Twitter: YMCA Metro Atlanta Website: YMCA Metro Atlanta Carl E. Sanders at Buckhead Family YMCA Boyce L. Ansley School-Website BIOGRAPHIES: Jared Guyer, Executive Director of the Carl E. Sanders at Buckhead Family YMCA is a results-driven, community-minded executive with more than 10 years of experience in leadership development, partnership development, facility and program operations, customer experience, strategic communications, and community engagement. Jared has been a leader in a variety of Ys throughout the movement. In addition to working for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, he led youth, family and membership programs for the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA as well as serving as the Executive Director of the YMCA of South Hampton Roads in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Adept at fostering a cohesive culture across diverse stakeholders, including team members, community members, and external partners, Jared has a proven and successful track record of collaborating with non-profits, educational institutions, and other service providers to address community needs. Rachael Barron, Y Board Member A graduate of Emory University, Rachael has spent her professional career coaching and solving complex educational problems. From applying problem solving and vision casting skills in the business environment through applying these principles to the education realm, she excels at helping individual students and families find educational success. Prior to founding Effective Students, Rachael solved complex educational problems in her role as an educational advocate mastering the maze of finding solutions for families within Georgia’s public and private schools, helping the most difficult learners find success. Over her five year tenure on the board at the Carl E. Sanders YMCA Board, Rachael helped leadership to navigate the pandemic, expand the offerings of the After School Enrichment program and later to expand the breadth of services to the community specifically serving individuals with disabilities and other at risk populations with the Ansley School ...
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    33 mins
  • Ep. 51 - Connecting Family, Community, and Impact at the Y

    Ep. 51 - Connecting Family, Community, and Impact at the Y
    Nov 6 2024

    Today, we’re joined by someone who wears a couple of hats in her connection to the Y—Lindsey LeFaivre. Lindsey is not only a passionate Y member and mom who participates in programming for her young children at multiple Ys across the city, but she’s also the Vice President of Customer Success with AchieveIT. This software company helps the YMCA track and measure the success of our strategic plan. In this episode, we’ll explore how Lindsey’s family benefits from the Y, what it’s like to be part of a community serving people of all ages, and how her professional expertise is helping the Y evolve and expand its impact.

    IN THIS EPISODE:

    • [3:37] Lindsey talks about her journey to the Y and the convenience of experiencing the different Y’s in Atlanta

    • [12:06] Lindsey explains how her company integrates with the Y, enabling the Y to track its success

    • [15:36] Lindsey describes the volunteer event AhieveIt hosted at the Y for older adults who have survived breast cancer, and she explains what she finds exciting about the Y

    • [20:15] Different fitness programs are offered at various Y locations. Lindsey emphasizes the cost-benefit of joining the Y as opposed to a private fitness club, and she talks about the resource the Y is for underserved communities

    • [25:12] Lindsey shares her vision for the evolving Y, capitalizing on toddlers

    • [29:59 Lindsey’s message to parents

    KEY TAKEAWAYS:

    • The Y is much more than just swimming—many people don’t realize its wide range of activities and programs. In Atlanta, different Y locations provide various opportunities for kids throughout the school year, on weekends, and during summer camps. If you haven’t explored your local Y yet, do yourself and your family a favor and check it out!

    • A YMCA membership is both affordable and packed with value. Compared to private classes and gyms, the Y offers a wide range of activities at a fraction of the cost, making it accessible for all. Adults enjoy the Y as much as kids do—you can join in on activities or take a well-deserved break while your child participates.

    • The Y provides a safe environment for children, giving parents peace of mind that their kids are well cared for. Plus, the Y hosts seasonal events like Trunk or Treat, Fall Festivals, and more for families to enjoy.



    RESOURCE LINKS:

    Facebook: YMCA Metro Atlanta

    Linkedin: YMCA Metro Atlanta

    Twitter: YMCA Metro Atlanta

    Website: YMCA Metro Atlanta

    AcheiveIt - Website

    Lindsey LaFaivre - LinkedIn

    BIOGRAPHIES: Lindsey LaFaivre

    In addition to being an avid fan and member of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Lindsey LaFaivre is the Vice President of Customer Success for a software company called AchieveIt. She has been with AchieveIt for six years. She has over 10 years of experience in Customer Success – specifically working in SaaS platforms and has assisted hundreds of clients in tracking their most important initiatives and growing their business. Lindsey has been a resident of Atlanta since 2018 and, before that, lived in Phoenix, AZ, where she got her bachelor's degree from Arizona State University. She lives in Westview with her husband, their two young daughters, and a very large dog, appropriately named Cheesecake. In her free time, she enjoys thrift shopping, biking and spending time with friends and family. She's been a member of YMCA Atlanta since 2022.
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    34 mins
  • Ep. 50 - Senator Sonya Halpern’s Commitment to the Y & Community

    Ep. 50 - Senator Sonya Halpern’s Commitment to the Y & Community
    Oct 23 2024
    We’re honored to have Georgia State Senator Sonya Halpern join us today. Senator Halpern, who leads District 39, which includes neighborhoods in Atlanta, South Fulton, College Park, East Point and Union City. She has built an extraordinary career focused on advancing education, healthcare, and economic empowerment. As the Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus and Chair of the Fulton County Delegation, her leadership extends well beyond the legislature. Senator Halpern's deep community involvement with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Andrew J. Young Foundation, and the YMCA of Metro Atlanta—where she's been a long-time board member—has been pivotal in advancing equity and the Y's mission. Don’t miss this conversation with such a dedicated advocate for positive change. IN THIS EPISODE: [4:42] Senator Halpern reveals why she joined the Y’s board and how her work with the Y aligned with her mission to empower underserved communities[7:13] Senator’s perspective on how the Y aligns with statewide initiatives [12:13] The Senator discusses fundamental principles she learned in building partnerships and the need for child care and pre-K learning [22:17] Discussion of Senate Bill 235 to promote growth in the communities around HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and the specific existing needs [30:25] How the Y’s commitment to youth leadership aligns with the Senator's beliefs and initiatives [35:40] The Senator explains how she remains grounded and balanced as busy as she is KEY TAKEAWAYS: The Y played a crucial role in helping to develop state-level legislation on drowning prevention, working closely with lawmakers to shape the bill that is now law. Swimming safety is a daily practice and priority at the Y.The Y’s early learning centers have mobilized volunteers to support Pre-K Reading Week, contributing to a statewide initiative and enhancing government efforts through existing programs.Literacy has been a significant focus for the Y over the past two years, recognizing that early success in kindergarten readiness is crucial for ensuring students can read at grade level by third and fifth grades. This effort is vital for building a talented, diverse, and productive future workforce, and the Y is working to ensure that all young people have the opportunity to reach their full potential through literacy initiatives. RESOURCE LINKS: Facebook: YMCA Metro Atlanta Linkedin: YMCA Metro Atlanta Twitter: YMCA Metro Atlanta Website: YMCA Metro Atlanta Senator Sonya Halpern - Website Senator Sonya Halpern - LinkedIn BIOGRAPHY: Senator Sonya Halpern was first elected in 2020 and serves in her second term in the Georgia State Senate. Representing neighborhoods across five cities, including Atlanta, District 39 is one of the most socio-economically diverse districts in Georgia and the country. Sen. Halpern is a passionate leader blending business and political acumen with a heart for community. She has quickly embraced leadership roles as the elected Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus and Chair of the Fulton County Delegation. She is a proud co-sponsor/sponsor of more than 15 bills, now Georgia state law. Sen. Halpern’s engagement with the community extends beyond politics. She currently serves on the YMCA of Metro Atlanta's Executive Committee, where she co-chaired their $70 million “Here for Good” campaign. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Regents at the University of Hartford. She is a founding co-chair of the Electing Women Alliance/Atlanta, a founding member of the Atlanta School for the Arts Foundation, a lifetime member of the NAACP, a member of the League of Women Voters, and the African American Leadership Council of the Democratic National Committee. Sen. Halpern earned her Master's in Business Administration from the University of Hartford’s International MBA program and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and three children.
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    39 mins

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