YMCA Blast

Cincinnati Has A New YMCA Youth City Council

front row - Patrick Reagan (Aldersgate Christian Academy), William Donovan (Summit Country Day School), T'Erica Byse (Western Hills Engineering High School), Samantha Bowling (School for Creative & Performing Arts), Jasmine Renee Riley (Aiken High School), Colleen Flynn (McAuley High School), Tiarra Costen (Western Hills Engineering High School), and Robert Marshall (St. Xavier High School)

back row - YMCA Youth Mayor Andrew Naab (St. Xavier High School) and YMCA Youth Vice Mayor Ian Martin (School for Creative & Performing Arts)

The election of the YMCA Cincinnati Youth City Council was the culmination of a two-day conference in downtown Cincinnati that immersed area high school students in hands-on, interactive exercises aimed at teaching them responsible citizenship. At the YMCA Youth in City Government Conference, teens of diverse abilities, and socio-economic, cultural and religious backgrounds worked together and independently to learn how government works and how they can be full participants in their community. Campaigning for a Youth City Council seat was part of the education.

The year-round YMCA Youth in City Government program gives Cincinnati area students the opportunity to learn about local, state, national and international politics. It offers teen participants a venue to gain leadership skills, strengthen their ability to express ideas clearly and persuasively, and learn fellowship by working together with peers from diverse backgrounds. 

YMCA Partners With Search Institute In Bringing National Conference To Cincinnati

On November 5 to 7, 2009, Cincinnati will host more than 800 teens and adults from across the country  – all visionaries working to create a world where young people thrive – at a conference aimed at shifting attitudes from keeping teens out of trouble to a mindset of helping them succeed.

Unique to this conference, teens are equal planners and participants helping to teach, learn and create strategic ideas that will make the most positive impact on their own development and communities.

Presented by the Minneapolis-based Search Institute, the nation’s leading action tank for helping communities grow great kids, with support from the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, this 13th Annual Healthy Communities ● Healthy Youth® Conference  will include more than 100 learning sessions, exhibits, intergenerational social activities, nationally renowned experts in positive youth development. Attendees will also participate in a ‘Give Back’ event, packaging meals for more than 100,000 children to be distributed by Kids Against Hunger.

Why Cincinnati?

Last year, the Greater Cincinnati region caught national attention with an unprecedented collaborative effort to help young people thrive through developmental asset building. Four large youth serving non-profit organizations led by the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati formed the Asset Builders Alliance with a two-fold goal – to determine if local young people were acquiring essential building blocks to succeed in life and using that information to begin a sustained, collaborative energy focused around creating an environment where young people would succeed. (The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, and Boy Scouts Dan Beard Council are also members of the Alliance.)

More than 500 people representing diverse backgrounds and groups attended an event to learn the survey results and participate in a dialogue facilitated by the Search Institute on next steps. Since then more than 1000 individuals have been trained in utilizing the data to develop strategies for helping young people find their ‘spark’ and thrive. Over 60 organizations and school districts are incorporating asset development into their programs and visions.

The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati is just one of many examples. It has become the YMCA’s strategic vision that All Kids Deserve A's meaning children and youth in our community need Asset-Rich experiences; Adults who Care; Access to Opportunities; Activities that Build Confidence, Life Skills and Resilience; and Advocates. To that extent, each of the YMCA branches has at least one Assets Champion overseeing the development of asset programs.

To view the complete news release on the conference, please click here.

For more information about the conference, please click here.

For information about developmental assets, please click here.

Powel Crosley Jr. YMCA To Host A Health Fair November 11, 2009

On Wednesday, November 11 the Powel Closely Jr. YMCA will host a free community health fair from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. It will include body fat tests, blood pressure checks and a variety of informational tables on wellness topics. A doctor from Primary Alliance Care will also present informational sessions on the H1N1 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Jewish Hospital will be on site registering women for mammogram appointments when the mobile unit comes to the YMCA on February 15. Regular flu shots will also be given at the health fair (there will be a fee for the shots). For more information the public can call the branch at at 513-521-7112.  The Powel Closely Jr. YMCA is located at 9601 Winton Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45231.

Lights on AfterSchool! Celebrated Student Accomplishments

More than 22 Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky YMCA-led afterschool sites invited the community to help them celebrate all of the wonderful, enriching activities that are making a positive impact on young people. It was all part of a national celebration organization by the Afterschool Alliance and sponsored by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. 

"Being unemployed, I appreciate that J.C. gets his homework done in afterschool, and can work on a computer or play sports. It helps mothers a lot to know their children are off the streets and in a positive environment," said Jamie posing here with her son. J.C. attends CincyAfterSchool at Riverview East Academy, a site that is managed by the M.E. Lyons YMCA.

  

Olivia is practicing singing the 'YMCA' song. Singing and dancing are fun exercises that students can participate in together.

Kristina's parents said that before she began attending the YMCA's CincyAfterSchool, she would often sit by herself and not participate with other kids. Now can't play with her friends when classes are through.

 

Clippard Family YMCA YZONE Featured On www.Cincinnati.com

Thank you to Glenn Hartong of the Cincinnati Enquirer for visiting the Clippard Family YMCA all new YZONE interactive exercising gaming center. Kids, parents, and families can have fun playing and exercising together. The YZONE is also available for party or event rentals. To learn more, please call the Clippard Family YMCA at 513-923-4466.

A Message From Hill Harper

To our friends of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, and the 

HILL HARPER PSA3

For more information on the November 20, 2009 Salute to YMCA Black & Hispanic Achievers Gala, please click here.

Thank you to Radio One for recording Hill's message.

Clippard Family YMCA Opens YZONE - Interactive Fitness Gaming Center

In one corner children are kicking their feet up, running side to side trying to avoid the red ball chasing them on the lighted floor. Next to them are teenagers riding stationary bikes through vividly graphic outdoor adventures and across the room is a mother racing her son against the clock, seeing who can punch or kick the most number of flashing lights. In the room’s center are people of all ages playing Wii sports, standing on XR-Boards while navigating the computer-generated snowboarding race, and keeping up with the musical beats of Dan
ce Dance Revolution.  

If this DOES NOT sound like a traditional idea of a fitness center, that’s because it is not. The Clippard Family YMCA is one of the region’s first wellness facilities to offer such a comprehensive, intergenerational interactive gaming fitness center with 22 stations. The greatest part about it is that members – including children, teenagers, and parents – have so much fun, they don’t even think about it as exercise. Although they are definitely moving their bodies.

Research has demonstrated the value of this technology when it comes to healthy lifestyles. One study found children six times more likely to engage in physical activity if combined with games, and children were observed to be three times more likely to choose sedentary games over physical activity without the interactive component.

Really, all one needs to do is look around the Clippard Family YMCA YZONE to see how quickly people of all ages are eager to play.

The Clippard Family YMCA welcomes the public to come play in its YZONE at an open house, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. It is located at 8920 Cheviot Rd in Colerain Township (45251).

“At the YMCA we are continually looking for new opportunities to strengthen communities with activities that encourage families to participate and be active together,” said David Martorano, district vice president. “Our YZONE is a place where exercise is fun and challenging. It’s one more way parents and children can live abundantly healthy lives through the YMCA.”

The Clippard Family YZONE is also available for birthday parties, community rentals for schools, businesses, and more.

Parents, Children, Caretakers, Community Volunteers & Advocates Invited To Area YMCA Lights On Afterschool! Events

On October 22, parents, children, caretakers, community volunteers and advocates, are invited to area YMCA-led afterschool programs throughout Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati to celebrate the accomplishments that children enjoy because of the enriching experiences at afterschool sites. More than 22 sites including CincyAfterSchool and locations managed by the Melrose, M.E. Lyons, Clippard Family, and R.C. Durr YMCA branches will host Lights On AfterSchool! Events. (specific times are below)

It is all part of a national celebration organized by the Afterschool Alliance and sponsored by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. ‘Lights On Afterschool!’ shines the light on after-school programs and calls attention to the need for more after-school resources nationwide.

A national study showing 15.1 million children left alone after the school day demonstrates the strong need for engaging activities after the last classroom bell. Greater Cincinnati children are fortunate because YMCA-led afterschool programs are offering them opportunities to thrive; however, there continues to be a growing need for more sites to serve more students. *Please see below for more on the research.*

“We know that quality after school activities are good for children and for communities because we have seen success firsthand. Lights On AfterSchool! is an opportunity for parents and others who care about the futures of our young people to experience our programs and help ensure all children have access to them,” said Jennifer Henderson, YMCA senior program director.

With more than 60 after school locations, the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati is one of the largest providers of child care programs in this region. In Cincinnati, the YMCA is a lead agency in the nationally recognized CincyAfterSchool Network – a partnership between Cincinnati Public Schools, the YMCA and other leading youth development agencies, school leaders and volunteers representing the after school component of Cincinnati Public School’s Community Learning Center initiative.  With 28 sites, CincyAfterSchool serves students in grades K through 12. Tutoring/mentoring; telecommunication/technology; career exploration; service learning; fine arts; leadership training; recreation; multi-cultural/diversity; non-school day programs including Saturdays, holidays, summers, evenings and family sessions are offered at each one. Some of their successes include: 46.6% increase in reading test scores from 2007 to 2008; 44.8% increase in math test scores from 2007 to 2008; 93.6% plan to attend college.

YMCA AfterSchool program goals include: increasing student achievement, reducing risk-taking behavior, and providing balanced programming opportunities for all children, youth, and their families.

18 Million Children Need Afterschool Programs

Despite an increase in the number of children attending afterschool programs over the last five years, today more than a quarter of the nation's schoolchildren are on their own in the afternoons. The parents of 18 million children say they would enroll their kids in afterschool programs, if programs were available. These are the findings from a new study of nearly 30,000 households across the United States conducted for the Afterschool Alliance and sponsored by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. It was released on October 6.

America After 3PM updates the 2004 study of the same name. The new survey finds that the number of children left alone after the school day ends has risen to 15.1 million children (26 percent of school-age children) - an increase of 800,000 since the 2004 study. Thirty percent of middle schoolers (3.7 million kids) are on their own, as are four percent of elementary school children (1.1 million children).

At the same time, Americans see afterschool programs as a solution: Nine in 10 adults surveyed agree that there should be "some type of organized activity or place for children and teens to go after school every day that provides opportunities to learn."

For more details on the study, please visit: http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/AA3PM.cfm

"The bottom line is that more children need - and don't have - afterschool programs today than five years ago," said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. "We have increased the number of children in afterschool programs, but not enough to keep up with demand.”

Local YMCA Lights On Afterschool! Events

All events on October 22 will include tours and information, and a variety of fun activities for children.

Melrose YMCA                          3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
2840 Melrose Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206

M.E. Lyons YMCA                     3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
held at Riverview East Academy – 3555 Kellogg Ave (45226-2180)

Clippard Family YMCA               3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
held at Mt. Airy Elementary School – 5730 Colerain Ave (45239

R.C. Durr YMCA                       4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
5874 Veterans Way, Burlington, Kentucky 41005
***NOTE: This location is open to parents of attending children and parents of children at Erpenbeck School

For all other locations, the public can contact Jennifer Henderson at the Community Services YMCA,
513-961-3200.

Blue Ash YMCA Fall Festival Is October 25

The leaves are turning and homes are already starting to be decorated with pumpkins. That can only mean one thing - it's almost time for the Blue Ash YMCA's 9th annual Fall Festival! It's coming up Sunday, October 25 from 4 to 7 p.m.

The FREE community event will have hayrides, a haunted hike, carnival games, face painting, crafts, food, hot cocoa and lots more fun for the entire family!

While the event is FREE, advance tickets are required. Please visit the Blue Ash YMCA at 5000 YMCA Drive (45242) to pick up your tickets today. Volunteers are also needed. For more information, please call Karen at the branch, 513-791-5000.

Blue Ash YMCA Recognized Boy Scouts For Volunteer Efforts

The Blue Ash YMCA recently recognized six area boy scouts for giving of their time and energy to help maintain and improve its grounds, especially with projects on its outdoor par course fitness trail. Branch board members, staff, previous scout volunteers, and family members were present when the Blue Ash Y Campus Improvement Plaques were presented.

Honorees are Aaron Markiewitz (Troop 502); Kevin Doherty (Troop 258); Eric Snyder (Troop 243); Sean Hogan (Troop 502); Charlie Fry (Troop 502); and Andrew Jensen (Troop 151).

Since the summer of 2007, 16 boy scouts have done 30 projects for the Blue Ash YMCA. Other community service groups who would like to donate their time to campus improvement projects are invited to call the branch at 513-791-5000.