YMCA News Archive

Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation and YMCA Offer Free Summer Memberships to Teens

jeffrey.needham — Thu, 31 May 2018 16:04:40 +0000

Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation and YMCA Offer Free Summer Memberships to Teens jeffrey.needham Thu, 05/31/2018 - 11:04

Thousands of youth entering grades nine through 12 across the metro will have free access to the Y’s health and wellness and youth enrichment programs all summer long

Minneapolis, MN – The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation and the YMCA of the North (YGTC), a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, will offer free summer memberships for thousands of teens across the Twin Cities. From June 4 to August 31 youth entering grades nine through 12 can access a free membership to 25 YMCA locations throughout the Twin Cities.

Statistics show that risky behaviors like violence, drinking and drug use increase during the summer when young people’s time is less structured. According to Pew Research Center, only 20 percent of today’s 16 to 17 year-olds hold a summer job, and that rate is even lower among teens of color. Participation rates in camps and similar programs have remained stagnant or fallen in recent years. Teens need a safe place to go in their communities that is flexible, engaging and accessible to all.

The YGTC is positioned to help bridge this gap in the Twin Cities and ensure that youth of all backgrounds and incomes have access to learning opportunities outside of school. The YGTC’s locations cut across city, county and school district boundaries. More than 80 percent of Twin Cities teens live within 15 minutes of a YMCA location that offers opportunities for wellness, sports, leadership programs, pathways to part-time jobs at the Y and more.

“The YMCA Get Summer program is making a real difference in our community by providing a safe space for youth to connect and have fun while learning important lifelong skills,” said Mark Dienhart, president and chief executive officer of the Schulze Family Foundation. “We believe supporting this program offers a truly unique opportunity to engage youth in their neighborhood with educational and enriching experiences with caring mentors and role models.”

This year the YMCA will increase the number of youth served with 250 per location for a total of 6,250 youth. There will be more teen specific programming added including:

health and wellbeing classes and youth specific fitness challenges using the Y app
leadership and character development programs including Leaders Club, Achievers and Youth in Government
job readiness workshops and courses designed to prepare youth for employment opportunities in their community and at the Y.

In addition, some teens do not have access to a nutritious meal during the summer. To meet the need, the program is also offering free meals at eight Y locations including Blaisdell, Minneapolis, Burnsville, Coon Rapids, East St. Paul, Maplewood, Midway St. Paul, New Hope and West St. Paul.

“To be able to go to any YMCA in the summer was really cool,” said Deonte, a 17 year old from Minneapolis. “I was able to play basketball, swim and I got to actually work out for the first time in my life. I’m excited to do this again this summer and I hope my brother does, too.”

“The YMCA is thrilled to partner with the Schulze Family Foundation to provide a safe environment for young people to engage in programs that promote healthy living, build character and leadership, and support success in school and in life,” said Glen Gunderson, president and chief executive officer for the YGTC. “The Y is committed to eliminating barriers to participation so all have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive during the summer months. This program is possible because of the generous donation from the Schulze family.”

The program is open to all students of all backgrounds and incomes. Youth entering grades nine through 12 can visit any participating Y location beginning June 1 to enroll with a valid ID, class schedule or report card and the permission of an adult. Each participating location can accommodate up to 250 participants for over 6,000 teens in 2018. For more information, visit ymcamn.org/getsummer.

About the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation

The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation (RMSFF) was created in 2004 by Best Buy founder, Dick Schulze, as a way to give back to the community where Dick and his family grew up and where he built Best Buy to become the world’s largest consumer electronics retailer. Schulze and his family believe that a good education, a supportive family and a strong work ethic prepare children for a successful future. To support that belief, it supports organizations operating in the areas of human & social services, education, including scholarship awards to graduating students from eligible high schools, and health & medicine.

About the YMCA of the North

The YMCA of the North is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Established 162 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities. The 29 Y locations and program sites, seven overnight camps, 10 day camps, and more than 90 child care sites engage more than 350,000 men, women and children of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. To learn more about the Y’s mission and work, visit www.ymcamn.org.

Thousands of teens can hit the gym for free at metro YMCAs this summer

jeffrey.needham — Wed, 30 May 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Thousands of teens can hit the gym for free at metro YMCAs this summer jeffrey.needham Wed, 05/30/2018 - 00:00

Thousands of high school students across the metro area can hit the gym this summer free of charge thanks to a program aimed at offering young people safe and healthy options when school is not in session.

The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation and the YMCA of the North are partnering to offer some 6,000 youth free memberships to 25 YMCA locations scattered throughout the Twin Cities-area.
The organizations’ effort aims to decrease risky behavior such as drinking, drug use and violence that teens are more apt to engage in during summer months.

Only about 20 percent of 16- and 17-year-olds hold a summer job these days, according to research the groups cited from the Pew Research Center. That figure is even lower for teens of color.

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said he hopes teachers, parents and other adults in the community will help spread the word to teens and encourage them to take advantage of the program.

“I think it’s great to have these types of opportunities to keep high school kids engaged during the summer months,” he said Wednesday. “… You’ve got parents who might be working during the daytime and the whole host of issues where you’ve got young people without that structured school setting. Having things to keep them occupied and their mind and body engaged is always a positive thing.”

In addition to offering the free memberships, the participating Ys will offer health and well-being classes, leadership and development programs, youth-specific fitness challenges and job-readiness workshops.

“Anytime kids have something positive to do, somewhere safe to spend their time, that’s a good thing,” said Steve Linders, a St. Paul police spokesman. “Our officers love and support the YMCA and YWCA and all youth programming in the city.”
Some teens don’t get healthy meals at home, so eight locations also will offer free meals to youths who obtain memberships. Those sites include Blaisdell in Minneapolis, Burnsville, Coon Rapids, East St. Paul, Maplewood, Midway St. Paul, New Hope and West St. Paul.

All teens entering ninth through 12th grade are eligible to participate by visiting one of the 25 involved locations beginning June 1 with a valid ID, class schedule or report card, along with the permission of an adult.

Adults can sign registration forms at home and bring them to their YMCA site or complete the online registration for teens at home.

Each participating location can accommodate up to 250 participants.

The program was first offered last year to 4,800 kids. The spots filled in 12 days, meaning this year’s memberships are likely to go quickly as well, according to YMCA staff.

There are wait lists available for any teens who sign up after spots fill.

The memberships are valid from June 4 to Aug. 31. Visit ymcamn.org/getsummer for more information.

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Twin Cities YMCAs Offering Free Teen Summer Memberships

jeffrey.needham — Wed, 30 May 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Twin Cities YMCAs Offering Free Teen Summer Memberships jeffrey.needham Wed, 05/30/2018 - 00:00

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The YMCA of the North is rolling out the red carpet for teenagers this summer.

Young people in grades nine through 12 will be eligible for a free Summer Membership at 25 YMCA’s in western Wisconsin, Rochester and the Twin Cities.

“Only 20 percent of teens are reported to have a job in the summer, 20 percent, which is obviously an issue,” said Matt Kjorstad, executive director of Harold Mezile North Community Y. “When you start to looking at young people of color, you see even a bigger disparity.”

The Y partnered with The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation to offer more than 6,000 teens free memberships for the summer. Sophomore Serenity Primus was a part of last year’s program.

“Everybody was trying to help one another, and there was just so much positivity in that one space that you don’t usually get being outside of there, like, because there are so many negative things going on in the world, and so I feel like it was really important to have that space to feel safe,” Primus said.

Statistics show risky behaviors — like violence, drinking and drug use — increase during the summer.

“To be able to have an opportunity to go to the Y for free is really important to all of us, and we did feel really safe in that community,” said sophomore Talia McWright.

“If I wasn’t at the Y, I’d be home, you know, eating chips, soda in my couch, every day on my phone,” said sophomore Rohit Koirala. “And I feel like going to the Y and lifting weights and, you know, swimming, running and working on my endurance, I felt like it really pushed me to be a better version of myself.”

Sign up for the free program starts Friday. Each Y has 250 openings. And once they are gone, your name goes on a waiting list.

Eight YMCA’s across the metro will also offer free lunch to teens along with the free membership.

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From back of a napkin to new law: Bill of rights will help siblings in foster care

jeffrey.needham — Tue, 29 May 2018 05:00:00 +0000

From back of a napkin to new law: Bill of rights will help siblings in foster care jeffrey.needham Tue, 05/29/2018 - 00:00

Vivianna Castillo-Roybal doesn't have a typical relationship with her two younger brothers, Fernando and Elanzo.

Coming from a "neglected" home, Castillo-Roybal said she was more like a mother figure to her brothers, even showing up to their teacher conferences in place of her parents. They helped her out, too. When she was suffering from anxiety and panic attacks, only her brothers knew how to calm her down.

But when Castillo-Roybal was 13, she was separated from her brothers and placed in a different foster home. She was allowed to see them only once every six weeks, and if she acted up, her contact with them could be revoked as a punishment.

"It was extremely traumatizing for all of us," she said. "The only two people in the world who knew exactly what it felt like to be in our situation, and suddenly I didn't see them anymore."

This year, Castillo-Roybal, now 19, was part of a push at the Legislature to make sure other kids aren't separated from their siblings when they are placed in foster homes. With other children who lived in foster care, she helped write the first draft of the foster care sibling bill of rights, which creates guidelines in state law to keep siblings placed together, or at the very least to facilitate regular contact, including in-person visits, social media or phone calls.

The Republican-led Legislature passed the bill, and Gov. Mark Dayton signed it earlier this month. In a session where many proposals of significance were vetoed or didn't make it to the finish line, it was a rare example of success.
Even as other bipartisan issues were falling apart in the final days of session, the foster care sibling bill of rights managed to make it through, in part because it was the foster kids — not legislators — who shepherded it through every step of the process.

The effort began in fall of 2016, when Castillo-Roybal was part of a group that traveled to a conference for youth foster children in Washington, D.C. They met kids from other states, including some with policies that prohibited siblings from being separated and kept from contacting each other.

On the way back to Minnesota from Washington, she and several others started writing their ideas on airplane napkins. By the end of their flight, they had the first draft of the sibling bill of rights.

"We were all new to this and didn't know this was something going on nationwide," Castillo-Roybal said. "We just kept asking for more napkins."

They presented the idea to people they knew at the YMCA of the North, who connected them with sources in the Minnesota Department of Human Services. By the time the 2018 session rolled around, Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, signed on to carry the bill in the House and it was scheduled for its first hearings.

"I just thought: It's just common sense, this should already be happening," said Bennett. "I just give kudos to those young people for doing something like this, because it's going to have a positive impact for kids for generations."
Bennett invited several of the women who helped draft the bill to the House floor for the vote. They broke into tears when the voting board lit up green: It passed unanimously.

"It was a really emotional moment," Bennett said. "They were just so overwhelmed to see it pass."

In the end, the sibling bill of rights was included in a massive, 990-page budget bill that Dayton vetoed over other objections. At first, supporters weren't sure if that meant their proposal had died along with it, but then they got good news: He signed it in another, standalone bill.

"My jaw dropped," Castillo-Roybal said. "Something that started on the back of airplane napkins is now a flipping law?"

That success has inspired her to push for more changes. Castillo-Roybal and others are now drafting up a broader foster children bill of rights, which has passed in other states. The proposals inform foster children of their rights and create guidelines to keep foster kids involved in school, extracurricular activities and provide them access to mental and physical health resources.

Despite her efforts, Castillo-Roybal is still struggling to stay connected with her brothers, who are now living with her biological mother. But under the new law, each child placed into foster care must be shown the sibling bill of rights. She hopes other kids can use them to stay connected with their brothers and sisters.

"That part has been hard for me, especially after being a parent figure to them for so long," she said. "I feel like if I would have been able to maintain a better relationship with them I could have had more influence in keeping them on the right track. I guess I just hope other people get that chance."

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Thirty-nine Local Youth Recognized for Outstanding Community Service With YMCA Youth Thrive Awards

jeffrey.needham — Wed, 23 May 2018 19:58:31 +0000

Thirty-nine Local Youth Recognized for Outstanding Community Service With YMCA Youth Thrive Awards jeffrey.needham Wed, 05/23/2018 - 14:58

Minneapolis, MN – The YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, presented Youth Thrive awards to 39 youth leaders across the metro area who have made an impact on their communities while demonstrating a commitment to the YMCA way.

The YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, presented Youth Thrive awards to 39 youth leaders across the metro area who have made an impact on their communities while demonstrating a commitment to the YMCA way.

“The YMCA continues to invest in helping youth thrive because we know youth are the real change-makers building stronger communities,” said Glen Gunderson, president and CEO of the YMCA of the North. “Youth are getting connected and making a difference through their active participation in the Y’s many youth development programs along with their commitment to serving all in our community.”

2018 YMCA Youth Thrive Award Winners

Stefan Duvnjal, Andover YMCA Community Center
Diego Vazquez, YMCA Beacons in Minneapolis
Anisa Ali, YMCA Beacons in Minneapolis
Aisha Xasan, Blaisdell YMCA in Minneapolis
Olivia Brammer, Burnsville YMCA
Henry Holcomb, YMCA Camp du Nord
Andrew Byrne, YMCA Camp Icaghowan in Amery, WI
Gunnar Legler, YMCA Camp Ihduhapi in Loretto
Alex Nicklow, YMCA Camp Menogyn in Grand Marais
Will Johnson, YMCA Camp St. Croix in Hudson, WI
Maya Chadda, YMCA Camp Warren in Ely
Grace Tillotson, YMCA Camp Widjiwagan in Ely
Morgan Robinson, YMCA CycleHealth
Tavee Long, Eagan YMCA
Jennica Buck, St. Paul Eastside YMCA
Emily Barrett, Elk River YMCA
Mandisa Vang, Emma B. Howe YMCA in Coon Rapids
Savannah Stuttgen, Forest Lake YMCA
Naimah Muhammad, Harold Mezile North Community YMCA Youth and Teen Enrichment Center in Minneapolis
Kaitlin O’Tool, Hastings YMCA
Molly Diaz, Hudson YMCA
Isabelle Guardette, Lino Lakes YMCA
Tolchi Nwankpa, Maplewood Community Center YMCA
Alyissa Sanders, St. Paul Midway YMCA
Bella Ellstrom, Minneapolis Douglas Dayton Downtown YMCA at Gaviidae
Alexia Sanders, Mounds View Community Center
Shaprea Chance, New Hope YMCA
Eve Clarkson, Ridgedale YMCA in Minnetonka
Anesia Taylor, Rochester YMCA
Imani Cornealius, River Valley YMCA
Danielle Fay, Shoreview YMCA
Ben Jaeger, Southdale YMCA in Edina
Laykun Getachew, St. Paul Downtown YMCA
Yohanis Shitta, University YMCA at the University of Minnesota
Celestine Ashley Rodriguez, West St. Paul YMCA
Paulina Barcenas, White Bear Area YMCA
Evelyn Harrison, Woodbury YMCA
Brent Hauck, Minnesota YMCA Youth in Government
Sasha Martin, Jr., YMCA Youth Intervention Services

About the YMCA of the North

More MN teens joining labor force this summer

jeffrey.needham — Wed, 23 May 2018 05:00:00 +0000

More MN teens joining labor force this summer jeffrey.needham Wed, 05/23/2018 - 00:00

With low unemployment and employers looking for workers, there is plenty of opportunity for teens looking for jobs this summer.

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Water safety reminders ahead of Memorial Day weekend

jeffrey.needham — Wed, 23 May 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Water safety reminders ahead of Memorial Day weekend jeffrey.needham Wed, 05/23/2018 - 00:00

WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. - The warmest Memorial Day in more than a decade is forecast for Monday.

As people head to the beach, the YMCA of the North is reminding people about water safety.

"We want to make sure that people are wearing their life jackets. Just not bringing them with them but actually wearing them. Because if you're sitting on them and something happens in a boat, you're not going to be able to grab it. So don't pack it, actually wear it," said Shannon Kinstler, senior association aquatic director of YMCA of the North.

Kinstler said make sure the life jacket says on it that it's U.S. Coast Guard approved and make sure it's the right fit.

Once in the water, Kinstler said parents should keep an eye on their kids even if there is a lifeguard on duty.

"We go places and we think they'll be safe because there's other people around. You really need to watch them," she said.

"Probably two great things for kids to know to do to be safe in the water is being able to have the ability to swim and then roll over and float, to take a breath, and then be able to continue to swim," Kinstler explained. The second skill is to know how to jump in and get back to safety.

Kinstler said people should never swim or boat alone, saying, "You need to have somebody there who can keep an eye on you if something happens."

Even though temperatures in the Twin Cities are expected to hit the nineties, it's still early in the season and cold water can be a shock to your system.

"With colder water your body is going to protect your brain and your heart and it actually pulls the circulation out of your arms and your legs so you're not going to react and swim quite like you used to," Kinstler said.

It's another reason to wear a life jacket. Kinstler said if you fall out of your watercraft and cannot get back in, stay with your craft.

"You're much easier to see versus if you're just alone in the water," she said.

The Y offers swim lessons throughout the summer and free lessons for people who cannot afford them. Free lessons are supported by donations from Abbey's Hope, Hawkins Inc., Delta and USA Swimming Make a Splash Foundation.

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Looking for a break from workday stress? Try hydromassage at downtown Minneapolis Y

jeffrey.needham — Fri, 18 May 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Looking for a break from workday stress? Try hydromassage at downtown Minneapolis Y jeffrey.needham Fri, 05/18/2018 - 00:00

If essential oils and salt lamps no longer soothe your stress, or you just need a quick break, you can try hydromassage at the Douglas Dayton YMCA and George Wellbeing Center at Gaviidae Common in downtown Minneapolis. The Y has two hydromassage chairs near the cardio equipment, and the center has a hydromassage chair and bed near the entry.

What is it? Think of this as a massage chair with an upgrade. Hydromassage uses pressurized water, like Jacuzzi jets, to give you a full-body massage — without the massage therapist. “Massage, in general, has so many benefits, and it can be experienced in the chair. It’s less invasive,” said Jennifer Menk, senior director of health and well-being at the downtown Y.

The benefits: You can use it after a workout or as active recovery. Sally St. John, director of the George Wellbeing Center, said hydromassage is part of the center’s focus on Eastern healing practice. “In shamanism, traditional practice utilizes water to clean the negative spirit energy you may be experiencing,” she said. “This cleanse will help transition out of a negative pattern.”

Trial run: It’s as easy as lying down, with all your clothes on. I lay down on the hydromassage bed, then adjusted the pressure, speed and location of the jets. Because my shoulders were tight from sitting at a desk all day, I decided to direct the jets on my shoulders. The jets were a bit loud, so I used the headphones and chose to listen to acoustic guitar, which allowed me to relax. When I finished, I felt less tension in my shoulders. It was a great way to start a workday. I’d be interested in trying it again, especially after a hard workout.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a quick massage (the recommendation for hydromassage is a maximum of 10 minutes a day). It’s also great for people who don’t like being touched. Y members can use hydromassage at both locations. Nonmembers are welcome to use hydromassage at the Wellbeing Center.

Who it’s not for: While pregnant women may use the hydromassage chair, it’s not recommended in the later stages of pregnancy.

Cost: For first-time users, you try the chair for $10 for 10 minutes. For a monthly fee of $15 for members or $20 for nonmembers, you can use the hydromassage for 10 minutes once a day.

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YMCA Engages and Educates Youth and Families On Importance of Water Safety

jeffrey.needham — Thu, 17 May 2018 12:34:59 +0000

YMCA Engages and Educates Youth and Families On Importance of Water Safety jeffrey.needham Thu, 05/17/2018 - 07:34

According to the USA Swimming Foundation and University of Memphis, two children die every day because of drowning.
According to a national research study conducted by the USA Swimming Foundation, the University of Memphis and University of Nevada-Las Vegas, 60 percent of African American and 45 percent of Hispanic children cannot swim compared to 40 percent of Caucasian children.
In 2017, 44 people drowned in Minnesota in boating and non-boating related accidents, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, engages and educates parents about the importance of water safety skills and emphasizes access to water safety lessons for America’s youth during National Water Safety Month.

As the season turns from winter to spring, the YMCA encourages children and parents to explore the many benefits of swimming, while also keeping safety top of mind. In Y swim programs participants can enjoy water sports, enhance or learn new techniques, meet new friends and develop confidence, and most importantly learn safety skills that can save lives.

“It’s never too early to get children involved in swimming to keep them active, healthy and safe around water,” says Glen Gunderson, president and CEO of the YMCA of the North. “There are so many options for parents and the best place to start is by learning basic water safety skills that help get kids familiar with the water and then often continue with swim lessons, competitive swim programs and possibly even a career like lifeguarding or coaching.”

Gunderson added as part of National Water Safety Month, parents are encouraged to take an active role in fostering a relationship between their children and swimming. The Y offers several programs promoting the benefits of swimming including:

Safety Around Water: This free program for kids ages five to 14 years helps them learn how to stay safe around water, including personal water safety techniques and what to do if they see someone who needs help.
Y Swim Lessons: The Y’s swim lessons for infants, kids and teens are the most accessible community resource to prevent drowning and encourage a lifelong enjoyment of swimming.
Competitive Swim: YMCA competitive swimming and diving teams are the natural progression from Safety Around Water and Y Swim Lessons by encouraging children and teens to continue their love of swimming while providing an ideal environment for cognitive, physical and social-emotional development.

See how Johnson High School Junior Sarena Vue became a lifeguard and how the Y combats a nationwide lifeguard shortage. – Lifeguards Keep Pools Safe

Learn about the YMCA Free Swim program that provides access to swim lessons in underserved communities. – Free Swim Lessons

Discover how John E. Johnson Achievement Plus Elementary School partners with the St. Paul Eastside YMCA to provide water safety classes for their students. – Be Safe Around Water

The YMCA Safety Around Water program teaches kids what they need to do to stay safe in pools, lakes and rivers. In addition to learning what to do if a friend is in trouble, kids develop skills to help if they find themselves in the water unexpectedly:

Jump, Push, Turn and Grab – teaches a child to push off the bottom of the pool as they are submerging to get back up to the surface and turn to grab the side of the pool.
Swim, Float, Swim – teaches children to swim a short distance on their front, roll over on their back to rest, and then roll on their front to continue swimming to safety.

The YMCA reaches over 4,000 people through the Safety Around Water program. Thanks to partnerships with Abbey’s Hope, Delta Air Lines, Hawkins Inc. and Hennepin County, the program is available free of charge so all can participate.

Along with the Safety Around Water program, the YMCA offers kids and parents life-saving tips including:

Never swim alone.
Adults should constantly and actively watch children in their care.
Always keep young children or non-swimmers within arm’s reach of parent or guardian.
Inexperience or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

Because the Y is a leading nonprofit committed to helping all young people and their families thrive, financial assistance is available to those in need. To learn more about the Y’s programs, please visit ymcamn.org.

Kris joins the YMCA bike challenge

jeffrey.needham — Mon, 14 May 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Kris joins the YMCA bike challenge jeffrey.needham Mon, 05/14/2018 - 00:00

The "Century Club Tour" is a challenge for families to bike 100 miles over 10 days. Kris Laudien decided to join in on the fun.

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