Community Development YMCA

On Wednesday, our team had the opportunity to celebrate and thank all the amazing students, parents, advisors, and community partners that make our Youth & Government programming so impactful.

At the YAG End of Year Celebration, we were able to honor 5 amazing students from across our association:
☆ Naomi Adou Gbougbo - CIVIC LEADERSHIP AWARD
☆ Rondre Philips - CIVIC EXCELLENCE AWARD
☆ Ethan McGinnis - EMERGING JUNIOR LEADER AWARD
☆ Staicie Hill - EMERGING CIVIC LEADER AWARD
☆ Kingston Johnson - SENIOR OF THE YEAR

Huge congratulations to our graduating seniors and thank you to all participants and volunteers for an amazing 2025-2026 year of Youth & Government!

Help us keep our kids safe! YMCA Summer Day Camp starts soon, so our parking lots will be busier with families and staff. Please slow down and be patient during camp pick up/drop off hours! Thank you. 🧡

There’s only 2 weeks left to submit your Junior Leadership applications! You don’t want to miss this opportunity to learn about St. Louis, leadership, and more with other passionate teens in the region.

During this nine month program, participants are introduced to various social service organizations, develop 21st-century leadership skills, and apply their learning through a service project. This is a unique opportunity to experience the various non-profit & public sectors of St. Louis!

Access the application at 🔗 https://bit.ly/4csS7yA (Submit by May 31, 2026)

Ambassadors assemble! The YMCA is proud to have joined Civitas STL for our first Middle School Model UN General Assembly. Our students from the Monroe County YMCA - HTC Center spent the day debating global issues and proudly representing their chosen countries. 🌎

A huge congratulations to our young ambassadors! If you're interested in your middle schooler being involved, more information for the next Model UN program session will be coming soon! 👀

💛💐 Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms and mom figures in our Y family! Thank you for everything you do to lift up our families and communities. Here's a little virtual card for you (no fridge magnet required 😉)!

Every learner’s journey looks different and that’s what makes tutoring through our YMCA's Community Literacy program so impactful. 📚

Whether it’s helping someone feel more confident speaking or improving reading skills each week, YMCA volunteer tutors meet learners where they are and make a real difference every day!

Have you had a teacher or mentor that made a difference in your life? Shout them out in the comments below! 👇

🔗 Become a tutor today (just 1 hour a week makes a huge difference): https://bit.ly/4n8HMLU

Calling all high school Sophomores in the St. Louis region! YMCA Junior Leadership is more than team building exercises and field trips… When you’re a part of this program you’ll be making friends, building connections, and growing as a leader.

Over nine months, with other teens across the region, participants will learn how to be an informed, civically-engaged leader and explore non-profit & public sectors of St. Louis!

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until May 31, interested teens can apply at 🔗 https://bit.ly/4crZWES

Thanks for following along this week in learning about the Gateway Region YMCA's global efforts and international partners for this ! The Y is proud to be a welcoming place that fosters community engagement and bridge-building. Our community is full of individuals from different cultures and backgrounds, and we seek to meet the needs of all! 🫶🌎

The Y offers many programs serving our foreign-born community, including:
— English language learning classes
— Financial assistance for Y membership and programming
— Discounted soccer and swim lesson programming at many Ys in the area

Learn more about our global relations and community engagement initiatives: https://bit.ly/41PdEvd