When I came into this job back in 2006, I admittedly didn’t have a deep or long-term connection with the Y. My childhood didn’t include any Y experiences (although I certainly could’ve used them!), and I had only a few transactional experiences as an adult. As such, I honestly didn’t even understand fully when people began telling me how formative the Y had been in their childhoods and later in life. Now, after 14 years of hearing so many of those stories, and having the privilege of playing a small role in providing some of those opportunities for people, I’m starting to get it!
A few decades ago, a child named Sharisse was enrolled by her mother in a Y swim class for infants. That was eventually followed with a wide range of Y youth program opportunities, including sports, summer camp and more. Fast forward to today and Sharisse is now a volunteer mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters at the Y, working with a young person in the MentorU college readiness program we run at Frederick Douglass High School, a Y Community School.
Something tells me that there’s likely a connection between Sharisse’s youthful engagement with the Y and her recent decision to become a Y mentor.
I’m no genius, but Sharisse confirms that suspicion when asked:
"I have been participating in the Y experience ever since I was born. As an infant I started with Mommy and Me swim classes and later participated in other sports. I also went to camp every summer at the Y and now I mentor through the Y. The Y has been an integral part of my upbringing and I have enjoyed it each and every step of my life. I'm fortunate to have been able to participate in programs like this which helped me to build confidence, develop teamwork and leadership skills, and develop great moral character, and for this I am thankful and are honored and feel compelled to now be able to mentor the youth of the future."
At the core of the work we do is building community and a sense of inter-connectedness. While great parenting goes a long way in raising successful kids, it also takes a broader web of positive social relationships and experiences to provide young people with the confidence and sense of community they need to thrive into adulthood. The Y is one of the best social institutions anywhere, given the comprehensive nature of our work, which across ages, stages, demographics and throughout communities.
Thank you Sharisse for your incredible commitment to helping young people to have the chance to reach adulthood as successfully as you have. Thanks also to Y associates Janica Alston, Miguel Anderson and Carlos Muhammad for their roles in supporting Sharisse and her mentee. Finally, thank you to all our donors, funders, volunteers and associates who play a role in making journeys like Sharisse's possible for tens of thousands of people in this community.
All the best,
John
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland