Empower Youth with YMCA Programs and Events

Actors Reach Out to Local Teens

A group of creative professionals who got their start here in Detroit and now are successful professionals in LA wanted to contribute to the city’s rebirth, so they raised money from their community of fellow Detroit expats to fund the Detroit Creativity Project. Their first project was 10-week improv classes taught at three Detroit schools,…

Posted by

Amy Kuras

April 4, 2012

Social Responsibility / Youth Development

Future Professionals Program Lets Girl Shine

A well-timed letter from the Y Future Professionals Program helped a young woman named Sparkle, who was going nowhere fast, to get on the right path. She’s now a high-achieving student, has been accepted to several colleges and been awarded a prestigious scholarship. Sparkle has gone from having no real goals beyond having fun and…

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Amy Kuras

March 31, 2012

Healthy Living / Social Responsibility / Youth Development

Creativity Aids Strong Kids Campaign

Staff at the South Oakland Y have come up with all kinds of creative ways to generate funds for the Strong Kids Campaign. From Zumba parties to a friendly competition between aquatics instructors, innovative fundraising ideas bring in dollars that support the Y’s mission and allow everyone to experience the fun and friendship at the…

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Amy Kuras

March 23, 2012

Youth Development

MY-Y Starts Path to a Bright Future

Brittany Morris was eager to go to college, but wasn’t entirely sure how she was going to make it happen. Her mentors at Metro Youth YMCA were just as determined as she was to see her succeed and stopped at nothing to help her — including finding her transportation to an out-of-state interview and intervening…

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Amy Kuras

March 4, 2012

Healthy Living / Social Responsibility / Youth Development

What You Don’t Know About the Strong Kids Campaign

You might see signs around your Y for the Strong Kids Campaign — you might have even written a check. But how much do you really know about what the Strong Kids Campaign does?

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Amy Kuras

March 2, 2012

Social Responsibility / Youth Development

Lifeguard Buoys The Strong Kids Campaign

Macomb Township YMCA lifeguard Chelsea Cheek donates money from her paycheck to the Strong Kids Campaign. And she goes above and beyond, raising funds through various community events — all this on top of another part-time job and a full class load at the University of Detroit Mercy.

Posted by

Amy Kuras

February 16, 2012

Social Responsibility / Youth Development

Volunteering Broadens Teen’s World

To Meaghan Schiffler, the world is bigger than just her family, her school, and her city. Inspired by her family’s devotion to serving others, she did two stints in the Plymouth YMCA’s Youth Volunteer Corps this summer. The experience broadened her horizons and made her understand that she can make a difference.

Posted by

Amy Kuras

February 16, 2012

Social Responsibility / Youth Development

Special Needs Kids Find Fun at the Y

So often getting special needs kids the extra help they need for a full and healthy childhood is either very hard to get or prohibitively expensive. Not so at the Y.

Posted by

Amy Kuras

February 8, 2012

Category: Youth Development