I Wanna Go to the Y-M-C-A!
By Kerri Cokeley
For some Clark County (IN) area residents – the YMCA is coming to you!
At Metro United Way, our teams of volunteers are always looking for new ways to address the underlying causes of issues faced by our community. Last summer, Metro United Way’s Clark County Community Solutions Committee held a conversation with local agencies working to combat childhood obesity to see if there was something more we could be doing in this area. What emerged was a pilot “Neighborhood Outdoor Youth-Play Initiative” that is being led by the YMCA of Southern Indiana.
The goals of the program:
• Get youth engaged in healthy outdoor play and games
• Encourage and foster lasting neighborhood friendships
• Reduce youth obesity
• Educate youth and adults about healthy actions and eating
• Help parents connect with other parents
• Empower neighborhoods to create safe opportunities for youth
• Be creative and have fun
The YMCA has been facilitating one week of organized games, activities, and a family gathering each season in five different neighborhoods. Each neighborhood will have four weeks of youth activities and four parent / family interaction activities in this year-long pilot program.
The next round of sessions will be held in the neighborhood surrounding the schools on the following dates:
Jan. 11- Jan. 15: Parkwood
Jan. 25 – Jan.29: Maple
Feb. 8 – Feb.12: Bridgepoint
March 1- 5: Jonathan Jennings
March 15-19: YMCA Clark County Branch
Do you live in one of these neighborhoods, or know someone who does? If so, will you help us spread the word about this new initiative? The more people who participate, the better our outcomes, and the greater the likelihood it can grow to even more neighborhoods.
Through this effort, we will do much more than play around! The YMCA will be creating opportunities for adult neighbors to participate in fun activities with the youth, meet one another, and exchange names and numbers with other parents with same-age children. Our hope is that we can engage adults to serve as mentors, catalysts, and safety patrol for ongoing youth play even if it is in the yards and common space close to their homes.
For more information, contact the YMCA of Southern Indiana at (812) 283-9622.