Birmingham YMCA Podcast: Recent Episodes
YMCA of Greater Birmingham
The YMCA of Greater Birmingham is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
Across Jefferson and Shelby Counties, the 14 Y locations engage more than 40,000 men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors.
Thanks to the Birmingham Y’s donors, policy-making volunteers and program volunteers, no one is turned away from the YMCA for inability to pay. Approximately 22% of member families receive financial assistance, with subsidies as high as 95%.
With long-standing relationships and physical presence the YMCA is able to not just promise, but to deliver lasting personal and social change.
YMCA of Greater Birmingham radio advertisement for the April 2017 Pay The Day campaign.
In this episode of the Birmingham YMCA Podcast, Alabaster Branch Executive Director and lead staff member on the Y's youth development programs, discusses the expansion of the Afterschool Academy program into Walker County.
Jason Beasley, the Executive Director of the YMCA of Greater Birmingham Pelham Branch, stops by to discuss the 2016 Fall Golf Classic, the annual golf tournament at Timberline Golf Club to raise funds for the YMCA of Greater Birmingham Annual Campaign.
Learn more online at http://www.ymcabham.org/pelham.
Get a sneak peek of the YMCA of Greater Birmingham's new radio ad that will begin airing on local radio later this summer.
Rhonda Elmore, Executive Director of the YMCA of Greater Birmingham Alabaster Branch and a staff leader for education programming, stops by to talk about the 2016 Thingamajig Invention Convention. The 2016 THINGAMAJIG® Invention Convention will bring together every child in the YMCA of Greater Birmingham’s Summer Day Camp program to Bill Harris Arena at the Crossplex on Friday, July 21. There, kids will participate in a number of educational activities and invention challenges, as well as bring together volunteers from many local companies and partnering non-profits who will be on hand to lead activities and open minds to all that is possible through science, technology engineering, and math. Learn more at ymcabham.org/thingamajig.
Debby LaCruz stopped by to discuss the changes to the Run to the Courthouse 5K. This year, the race will take place in September. The name has also changed to reflect the impact the race and the Downtown YMCA has had on the community. The Noojin & White Race for the Cause will benefit the Annual Campaign of the Greater Birmingham YMCA. Teams and families are invited to participate in the 5K and the 1 mile fun run.
Rhonda Elmore, Executive Director of the YMCA of Greater Birmingham Alabaster Branch and a leader in the Y's education initiatives, stopped by to discuss a new program called Power Scholars Academy. A summer learning loss program aimed at helping at risk students in the Alabaster City Schools system, Power Scholars Academy helps children close the academic achievement gap with programs that improve students’ educational readiness, engagement and outcomes, while helping them grow emotionally and physically, too. Learn more online at ymcabham.org/power-scholars-academy.
In this episode of the Birmingham YMCA Podcast, Haley Keith, a community organizer with the Citizens Conservation Corps, and Sarah Wilson, Association Healthy Living Director for the YMCA of Greater Birmingham, discuss the Let's Move Outside initiative. Let's Move Outside aims to inspire millions of kids to play, learn, serve and work in the great outdoors. Through providing opportunities on public lands, the initiative seeks to foster the next generation of leaders and outdoor stewards in communities nationwide and help Interior reach its goal of hosting one million volunteers on public lands annually.
In this episode of the Birmingham YMCA Podcast, staff member Michelle Varnell discusses the YMCA of Greater Birmingham's Safety Around Water program. A FREE initiative for underserved communities throughout Greater Birmingham, the Safety Around Water program teaches children and adults valuable and potentially life-saving waster safety skills during the summer at the YMCA of Greater Birmingham Youth Center. Learn more online at ymcabham.org/watersafety.
Summer's An Adventure! CAMP ON! YMCA of Greater Birmingham Camp Cosby' 30-second radio currently playing on radio stations throughout Birmingham, Alabama. Interested in registering your child for a week of sleepaway camp at the Camp Cosby? Visit Camp Cosby at campcosby.org to learn more.
Trussville YMCA member Letitia Smiley discusses how the YMCA has made a difference in her life and the lives of her family in this episode of the Birmingham YMCA Podcast. After losing her son, Dante, to cerebral palsy, Letitia joined the YMCA as a way to deal the stress and grief through physical fitness. What she found, however, was a community that rallied around her and helped her rebuild her spirit as well as her body.
There are a lot of great things happening throughout the YMCA of Greater Birmingham, with new renovation projects at the Downtown, Alabaster, and Northeast locations. Here to talk about it is Lane Vines, COO of the YMCA of Greater Birmingham.
Great things are about to happen at the Downtown YMCA in Birmingham, Alabama. Christian Rieseberg Executive Director of the Downtown Y discusses plans to completely renovate the fourth floor, renovating the track and converting the space into a high-energy, functional fitness space. The top floor also happens to have great views of downtown Birmingham, which is going through its own Renaissance at the moment as well. By mid-December, the fourth floor of the Downtown Y will be completely transformed into a bright, exciting, vibrant space for the entire community. Listen as Rieseberg talks about the project and other plans for the future of the Downtown Y.
In this episode of the Birmingham YMCA Podcast, Elliot Kasprzak, a naturist at YMCA Camp Cosby, talks about The Outdoor Classroom. An overnight outdoor education program at Birmingham's premiere sleepaway camp, The Outdoor Classroom allows students to explore relationships in nature and and learn about the world around them, while developing problem-solving, critical thinking and leadership skills. Learn more about The Outdoor Classroom at Camp Cosby online at campcosby.org.
In this episode of the Birmingham YMCA Podcast, Jaronda Little discusses her health challenges and how the Birmingham Y was able to help. A success story of the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, Jaronda talks about what led her to seek help and how the program has changed her life for the better. Learn more about the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program online at http://www.ymcabham.org/diabetesprevention.
The Birmingahm YMCA is BACK! In this epsisode Hoover YMCA member Angela Schaefer talks about how becoming a member of the Y not only helped her take control of help, but take control of her life.