Celebrating 20 Years of the Boll Family YMCA

A child learning to swim with their siblings. A young adult building strength and stability between work shifts. A senior swapping stories at stretch class. And a staff member who knows your name and greets you like family.

These are the quiet, everyday moments that have taken shape since the Boll Family YMCA opened its doors on Broadway St. in 2005. And they’re the stories we honor in this 20th Anniversary project.
For two decades, our branch has been downtown Detroit’s “third place” between home and work, a space where households from every neighborhood and walk of life come together for movement and mentorship, camaraderie and care.

To celebrate this milestone, we’ve gathered 20 honorees: members and staff, donors and volunteers, parents and kids, lifters and learners. Some have been here since day one. Others are just beginning their Y journey. Woven together, their stories compose the tapestry that is our Boll Family YMCA community.

A sincere “thank you!” to Lane Konkel and the Shinola team for their generosity; to Amanda Passage and Aimee Ridella for their storytelling care; and to our Executive Director, Rheanne Suszek, for her vision and leadership. Their combined efforts have brought these portraits, and the stories behind them, to life.
As you turn these pages, we hope you get a glimpse of what we’ve seen for 20 years: a beautiful and resilient community, deeply rooted in Detroit.

Jonathan Demers
Board Member, Boll Family YMCA
20th Anniversary Project Chair

Explore the Stories