“I was always interested in the YMCA; I like what we stand for and we do.”

“I have loved the water since I started swim lessons as a kid, and I like helping people.”

“The team made me feel welcome. I really didn’t speak any English when I came here and the Y was very welcoming and tried to help me assimilate.”

“I’ve met some really great members and I like hearing their stories, hearing them talk about their kids. You also see how the world is really small.”

“I’m in college now and I want to become a guidance counselor. I realized that the Y would be really good practice for that.”

“I had friends who worked here, and although I had never worked with kids before, working at camp sounded fun and I was looking to try something new for the summer.”

“I thought working at camp would be a good first job that would teach me skills that I can use later in life.”

“At camp, I love being able to spend time with the kids all day, doing fun activities and bonding with them.”

“I have very fond memories of playing games and doing activities with my counselors growing up, and I like to be there for my kids now. I’m passing it on.”

“Growing up, I came to this Y for dance, gymnastics and swim classes and was in the after care program. I always knew I wanted to work here.”

“Working in camp is my full circle moment.”

“With Discovery Camp, not all the kids know how to swim yet and I enjoy watching them develop their swim skills from day one to the end of summer.”

“At camp, I like all the activities the kids get to do and all the fun they have.”

“I love being around the kids. I think being with them and giving them a fun summer is my favorite part of camp.”

“It ended up being a really good community and friendly atmosphere, and I wasn’t necessarily expecting that.”

“I like that the Y is 5 minutes from my house, and that I am able to come back during breaks from school. Especially in the summer, I know I have a job when I come home.”

“Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, I took a boxing class at the Greenwich YMCA, which was led by professional boxer Ron Casella. I met a great bunch of friends there. This really got me connected to the Y.”

“As a lifeguard, I like feeling like I’m helping. I like having that responsibility of keeping people safe.”

“I want to help make this Y the safest, best and most enjoyable place it can be.”

” I am so happy when I swim and I feel like I am passing that happiness, along with my knowledge, on to others.”

“I like that along with lifeguarding comes important life skills like first aid and CPR.”

“For water safety, one tip is for adults to always keep an eye on their kids.”

“It helps them build their confidence and social skills, and it’s also a place of comfort because some of the kids come here for activities outside of school.”

“I was very interested to learn what goes into running a very local organization, one that is embedded in the community.”

“It’s a really great environment. We love the community side of it and the kids are happy and enjoy it.”

April is National Volunteer Month and we’re highlighting one of our fantastic volunteers

“I’ve had so many wonderful mentors here – people who really care about what they are doing and that has inspired me.”

“I am so happy to be a part of the Y, and I’m happy to bring restorative yoga, yin yoga and teen yoga to our community.”

“I have been working here for 12 years. Prior to working here, I was a teacher of the deaf for 19 years.”

“As a lifeguard at the Y, I enjoy interacting with different groups of people – the Swim Team, lap swimmers and those here for swim lessons.”

“It’s exciting to see the kids grow up, learn how to do new things, and having a part in that. We bring joy into their day and they brighten our days.”

“I like how every day is different. It’s never the same day twice.”

“I’ve always felt really comfortable around water. Being in the pool is my element.”

“With our growing community, our Y also needs to grow and have the space to meet community needs.”

“Now that it’s the new year – when people tend to exercise more – I’m hoping we can help even more families in Child Watch, especially since reservations are no longer needed.”

“I wanted to work somewhere that people were motivated to be there because they were giving back – some place that added value to the community, not just a job.”

“My older brother was a lifeguard and he had a good experience with it. He was a beach lifeguard and has had to save people. That inspired me to become a lifeguard, too.”

“I’m now a senior in high school and I started looking for jobs last summer. I wanted to find the right fit.”

“I love the creative ways that the kids play and think, and how they are willing to take on ideas and games and make them their own.”

“You’re also a constant in their life and I like making the programs enjoyable for them.”

“The best part of my day is coming here.”

“It’s rewarding when they repeat what we’ve taught them and shows how much they are learning from us.”

“This is the third year we have been part of Jeremy’s Giving Tree. The tree takes a little pressure off being able to provide the type of Christmas that our children deserve, but we are unable to always afford.”

“The days when I don’t come, I feel like my day hasn’t gone right. I can’t imagine our community without this Y.”

The children share what they are thankful for this holiday season

The children share what they are thankful for this holiday season

“I enjoy the social atmosphere and sharing knowledge with other people. I like seeing members advance in class as we go along, and see their confidence increase.”

“The Y has been a huge part of my life. It’s just become part of who I am.”

“I started working here in September, but my family has been members for 11 years – since we moved to the area.”

“I like the feeling of winning and training hard to achieve the big goals that I have.”

“I like being around kids and I enjoy working with them. Each one is so different and it’s great to see them grow into their personalities.”

“I have a passion for health and wellness and I love working with people. I’m looking forward to working with the members and bringing new ideas to the Y.”

“Working here is going to help me in the future. I’m getting my master’s in clinical psychology with a concentration in children and families.”

“The Y is a place where I can use my versatile aquatic background and I get to work with different groups of people.”

“We felt very included and I think a lot of that had to do with the teachers and how they bring everyone together.”

“I’m a sports management major at my school and last semester, I was offered an internship at the YMCA. I actually used to be a member of a different Y when I was younger.”

“My siblings and I all did swim lessons at the Y when we were young, and this eventually led to my sister, Hannah, joining the Swim Team. The combination of our great experiences with the Y and Hannah being on the Swim Team made the Y the ideal place to work.”

“I’ll be here for 3 years in October. I started as a lifeguard and Ellen (the Aquatics Director) asked me if I would help with swim lessons one day and I liked it. What I like about swim lessons is you never know what to expect from the kids.

“I originally applied to be a volunteer at a special event. I was still new to the area and I was trying to meet people and thought volunteering would be a good way to do this.”

“I like doing the activities with the kids, like tie dye, and it’s nice that I know a lot of the kids from sports classes or from working at camp last summer.”

“I love all the different elements of gymnastics. It teaches mental toughness as well as physical fitness.”

“STEAM Camp combines my two favorite things: kids and science.”

“I’ve been coming here for as long as I can remember. At camp, I was always one of the kids all the counselors knew and I kind of figured I would work here one day.”

“I wanted to become a counselor since I knew I liked working with kids. I have babysat before and helped with my younger sister and cousins.”

“This is a really great camp program. It’s my first time working with kids like this. I think it’s important to give kids as many resources as we can, including over the summer.”

“I love the group exercise classes and the family environment. It was a great beginning for me and now exercise is a big part of my life.”

“I used to come here as a kid and took swim classes with my sisters. We would use the gym, too. This was back when I was in elementary school. Now, I’m seeing the Y from a different perspective.”

“I feel like my life has come full circle. I came here as a kid and now I’m working here.”

“I decided to join the Challenge because I wanted to lose more weight and get more fit. I figured if I sign up, I’m going to do it.”

“I really enjoy working with the kids here. Watching them learn and figure things out is pretty cool.”

“Being exposed to different cultures at the Y helps strengthen our community and bond.”

“On the Swim Team, we can’t run any meet without parent volunteers. The parent volunteers are the backbone of the team. But as much as we need to put in, we definitely get back so much more.”

“I wanted to get better and move on from it all. The YMCA helped me from a physical and mental standpoint.”

“I always believed that you need to do something physical, not just to be physically fit, but for your mind. Keeping active is good for your brain health.”

“The YMCA has a special place in my heart. I took swim lessons at the Y as a kid and I’m thankful to the Y for making me a stronger swimmer.”

“I love walking into the Y and pretty much know everyone on my way to the locker room.”

“My favorite aspect of the job is how flexible my schedule can be and just running around playing sports with the kids.”

“By volunteering, we have made the community just a little better.”

“What I like about working for the Y is the warm and friendly atmosphere, plus greeting, helping and interacting with all the wonderful members.”

“I live only a few minutes from the Y, and I saw a sign that said the Y was hiring. I had worked for a different Y in college as a summer camp group leader, so I knew that the Y was a great place to work.”

“It was hard for me to find the motivation to exercise on my own. I like that the other people taking the classes hold you accountable in ways. It’s encouraging to know that if I’m not here, they’ll notice.”

“The reason why interning here really interested me is the management side of it. I want to possibly run my own gym in the future.”

“I like meeting a variety of people and there is always something to do.”

“We’ve always had such a wonderful staff. Everyone always worked together as a team, which to me is very important. My mantra is ‘together, everyone achieves more.’”

“Everyone here has become part of our family. The YMCA has been very supportive.”

“At the Fanwood-Scotch Plains Y, I’m looking forward to more community involvement and working for a larger organization, while also working with a bigger team.”

“The joy and good vibes that come from leading a class and that special shared experience with members in the gym every Monday night, cannot actually be described in words; it’s just something that grabs your heart and soul, amps up your life and makes you feel like a more complete person.”

“I moved to this area in 2019, three months before the pandemic started. I was starting to get to know my neighbors and the neighborhoods a bit and then March came and everything went into lockdown.”

“I first started working at the Y because a lot of my friends worked here and I also wanted to get some experience working with children. I like working with kids and now I’m in school for early childhood education. Working here definitely impacted my choice on what to go to school for.”

“In my new role at the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA, I want to bring as much knowledge and guidance as I can to members of all ages – teenagers, college students, adults, seniors. I take a lot of satisfaction seeing people grow their health, nutrition and fitness routines.”

“It’s the perfect job really. It pays well, it’s a great learning experience and my co-workers support me.”

This coming year marks our Y’s 75th anniversary and I’m most excited about our upcoming building project and the opportunities it will provide to our community.

“This is my family’s third year receiving gifts from Jeremy’s Tree. We started when my son was in day care at the Y.”

“We joined the Y not long after our son was born in 2005. We started my son in swim classes when he was very young, and then the Y turned into a place for our whole family.”

“I’ve met a lot of people since starting here – everyone is really friendly – and there’s always something going on at the Y, which I like.”

“The past almost two years have made me realize that although money is important, if you’re not out there helping someone, you are missing out.”

Answers include turkey, family and my pet snake!

Answers include family, toys, the earth and more!

“On Veterans Day, like I did last year, I’m going to play Taps outside my house as part of the program Taps Across America.”

“I really like the atmosphere and being a college student, I like the flexibility and how they work with my schedule.”

“I’ve always been good with kids – I come from a pretty big family and would always help take care of the kids.”

“I knew I needed to keep healthy both mentally and physically. My doctors tell me that if I didn’t come to the Y to exercise, I’d be a lot worse off.”

“I love being here. It’s a great experience. I love meeting different kids and being around different personalities.”

“The smile on people’s faces after you’ve fixed something is the best.”

“I worked in advertising and marketing throughout my career, but I always felt that something was missing until I came here.”

“I like working with the kids and doing artwork, celebrating the different holidays in the room and spending time with the children.”

From left to right is Gina, Ted, Doris and Indira, who say anyone is welcome to join them in the café any day!

“The best part about the Y is, although things have changed, the mood and mindset of the people has stayed the same. It still has that hometown feel. It’s a breath of fresh air in here. Everyone is so friendly and social, whether it’s a new person or someone you’ve known for years.”

“I think I make a positive impact on those around me by fostering creativity and promoting kindness toward others. Since the Y did the same for me as a child, I hope to be able to give that back.”

“I honestly love the excitement the kids get over the fun stuff we have planned for them that day. The relationship you build with the kids is also awesome.”

“It’s where I learned to swim, do gymnastics and yoga, and overall learn to live an active lifestyle – not to mention build a community around myself.”

“Our job at the YMCA has impacted us as much as anyone we come into contact with. It has taught us many important life lessons that we will carry on with us.”

“I want to be a teacher – either for elementary or high school – and I thought this would be a good experience before going into teaching.”

“At the Y, I just love the interactions with people, especially the populations I work with, and I enjoy having an impact on them.”

“I think it’s really important to keep physically fit. It’s important for your weight, for your emotional health and for your mental health.”  

“I’d tell others who have had a cancer diagnosis, it’s very easy to assume your new self is a weak person, but you can get strong.”

“I am so much stronger now. I lost a ton of weight, too. I’ve been learning how to lift weights and do them properly and it’s been such difference.”

“I like the teachers here and the way the Child Care is run. It’s just fun to be with the kids all day.”

“I like working in this kind of environment where I can do personal training and work on the Wellness Center floor. I like that it’s welcoming for people of all fitness levels, including beginners.”

“It’s about finding the right style that works for you. There are many benefits to Tae Kwon Do: you’re getting in shape, learning self defense and you keep moving.”

“I was a member of another Y before this, pretty much for my whole life. It’s where I learned to swim and in high school, my swim team used the Y pool for practice.”

John has been a member of our Y for around 40 years and can be seen almost daily in our Wellness Center.

“Every day, I enjoy going to work. They are just fun to be around, and when you’re able to help them, it’s a good feeling.”

“Working here actually inspired me to get my teaching degree. It wasn’t something I was planning to do when I graduated from high school.”

“As a swimmer, lifeguarding seemed like something I could do. I also appreciate having the opportunity to swim and wanted to give back.”

“I’ve studied Tae Kwon Do since I was in high school. My best friend in high school was a black belt in Karate and I was shocked by what he could do. I wanted to learn, too.”

“I enjoy being so involved in the classroom and getting to know the kids. I like seeing how they interact with each other and with us.”

“We joined as a senior couple after reading about a ‘Father’s Day’ promotion. The Y is part of our family history, however, since our two children (now in their 40s) learned to swim at the Y and our son attended the pre-k program.”

“I came back to work at the Fanwood-Scotch Plains Y in early March. I had previously worked here during the 2017-2018 school year as a lifeguard and swim instructor.”

“I’ve always just enjoyed working with kids and sports is a huge part of my life. When I got the opportunity to work at the Y, I realized that I wanted youth sports to become a long-term career at some point.”

“For me, it’s a win-win-win. I get to exercise, I get to go to work, and I help other people get healthy.”

“This is going to be my 5th year working here. I’ve pretty much grown up at the Y though. My older brother and I went to camp here when it was Camp Mak. Some of the people here basically know me from when I was born.”

“Over the past year, as a member of the YMCA Board of Directors, I got to see up close the work being done to ensure the YMCA would continue to be there in whatever ways possible to help the community.”

“The kids are just fun; they’re really cute. I like to watch them grow. The kids I’m with now have been with me since they were around 18 months and now they’re going to be 4.”

“I started working here around September. I lost my previous job when COVID hit and I had no place to work.”

“We moved from Maryland to Fanwood in 1970. Our dad had worked for the Y in the Middle East when he was younger, and after he came here in his late 20s, worked for a Y in Indiana while he went to college.”

“I started working here in March 2017 and worked in the after care program at several schools, including Evergreen, School One and McGinn.”

“We originally started with the YMCA’s Special Olympics program, the swimming team. Kevin was part of the team that trained here and then would compete at the state level.”

“My family has been part of the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA for about six years now. We originally joined FSPY for the Swim Team.”

“My family has had a membership with the Y for about 18 years, since we moved to the Scotch Plains-Fanwood community.”

“I enjoy the many close friendships I’ve made over the years with both members and instructors, some which go back 27 years and are still going strong today!”

“I’m a Y person, whenever I move, I look for the YMCA. There I always find a community.”

“We have been members of the Y for three years. As new residents of Scotch Plains at the time, we joined the Y in an effort to acclimate and network with members of our local community.”

“I came to the Fanwood-Scotch Plains Y when I was a senior at Union County Vo-Tech with a focus in Child Development. I interned with the Y’s former Kinderwrap program to get my first real teaching experience.”

“I started working here again in July 2019, but I was also here back in the 80s. I was a lifeguard, I worked at the front desk and was also a camp counselor when it was Camp Makawakmo.”

“Jack has been in the Y’s Child Care program since he was 6 months old. He started in the infant room and this is our 4th year in the program.”

“Our son Arlo has been in the child care program for the last two years, since he was about eight months old. Two things really stood out about the Y’s program as opposed to some others in the area – one is we really liked that the Y had a focus on physical activity as well as socialization and academics.”

“Atticus has been at the Y’s Child Care program for 4 years and 4 months. When we toured the YMCA while picking child care providers, the child care wing was still under construction. We saw the potential of what the Y was building and what they were aiming to achieve.”

“First, in elementary school, I participated in the Y’s after care for about four years from first to fourth grade.”

“I initially came to this YMCA because I wanted to be part of a pre-diabetes support group that was led by Donna Peart. This was and continues to be a great experience.”

“I have been a member of the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA for over 30 years. Until I retired in 2017, I was commuting to Manhattan and needed a gym with flexible hours close-by to squeeze in any workouts that I could.”

“I joined the Y in 1993. Before the closure, my work schedule allowing, I went to the Y every morning, Monday through Friday for 1 to 2 classes.”

“I have been a member of the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA for five years. I first joined the LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA program after treatment for breast cancer.”

“I have been working here on and off since I was 17. I started working in the after care program and then switched over to Grand Street, where I worked in child care and at the front desk.”

“I came to the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA for swim lessons for my children. Little did I know at the time that I would find a wonderful supportive community to connect with.”

“I have been working at the Y since 2017. A few of my friends went to camp until they aged out and I knew Katie from when I was in after care.”

“I have worked at the Y for 4 years. I started with camp first. I went to Y camp and Y after care my whole life.”

“I first was a substitute at Grand Street in August of 1992 and I joined the child care staff in May 1993. This was my job when I went to college. I always say, ‘the Y has always been what I needed it to be.’”

“I’ve been working here for five years. I started my senior year in high school. I wanted to work with kids and I thought this was the perfect job for me.”

“I’ve been working at the Y for three years now. I started in Discovery Camp and have worked camp every year since, and I’ve also helped out in the Wellness Center.”

“I joined the Fanwood-Scotch Plains Y 20 years ago to learn how to swim properly. Before COVID-19, I would swim four to five times a week and use the Wellness Center on the other days. When FSPY was closed, I decided to keep up my membership in order to help, in some small way, keep someone employed. I missed swimming and was excited when I heard the pool would be open on a limited basis…

“This is my fifth summer working here, but I’ve pretty much been a member since I was born.”

“I personally took ballet lessons at the Y’s Grand Street location when I was a child, and my children took swim lessons and gymnastics here growing up.”

“I have been working here for 24 years. My husband was doing the lawn maintenance and snow plowing at the time. We were friends with the Membership Director, Joanne, and my husband came in and said my wife would like a job at the Y.”

“My Y story started when I was around 2 years old. I first came here to do parent and me swim lessons and then started regular swim lessons.”

“We’ve been members of the Y for 9 years. We initially joined for swim lessons for our oldest daughter.”

“During my junior year in high school, I met the Director of Child Care for the YMCA at a school job fair. I applied for a 3-day position that was then held in the main Y building.”

“I have been working here for about 7 years. I needed a job and I emailed the Camp Director at the time. She hired me for Summer Camp and I also started working in the after school program during the year.”

“My journey here at the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA started when I was 3 years old with parent-child swim lessons. My father would bring me every Saturday for classes.”

“We initially joined the YMCA for a place for our daughters to take swim lessons and enjoy open swim.”

“We have been members of the Y since 2006. We joined when our son Jack was 6 months old and we wanted to sign him up for swim lessons. Water safety and teaching our kids how to swim was very important for us.”

“I have been enjoying membership at the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA for about 41 years. I joined to participate in activities that promote physical, emotional and mental health and to become acquainted with members of the community.”

“We joined the Y in Spring 2010 after our first son, Ant, was born so we could participate in parent/child swim and gymnastics class.”

“I joined the Y in January of 2017. I was employed as a clinical social worker in a psychiatric inpatient unit, and was fortunate to be able to take early retirement.”

“I started at the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA in 1993 after joining the FSPY Swim Team. I started working as a lifeguard and swim instructor in 1997.”

“My Y journey began with swim lessons run by my local Y when I was 9 years old. From there, I joined the Swim Team and stuck with it through grade school.”

“My Y story goes back a bit. Our family moved to New Jersey from Massachusetts in 1996 when my boys were 5 years old and 11 months old. My husband was working in the city and I was alone with the two boys. So, the first thing I did was seek out the YMCA!”

“My story started when I was in college. I was taking an education course that required me to either volunteer or work at a school or child care center. I found myself at the Grand Street Y working as a teacher’s aide; 30 years later, here I am as a senior program director.”

“I started part-time 10 years ago as an instructor teaching cycle. I was a member and had been taking another instructor’s class and she asked if I’d be interested in becoming an instructor myself.”

After I graduated high school, I moved away and went to college. But I wasn’t 100% committed. I changed majors and decided it was best to take a break, figure out what I wanted to do and then go back.”

“My Y journey started when we moved to Scotch Plains in 2004. My son attended the YMCA Child Care at Grand Street as an infant, and through the years, my kids took swim lessons, my husband and I use the gym and both my daughters started gymnastics at age 4. In 2015, my former director asked if I would be interested in teaching preschool gymnastics classes. That summer, I trained and started teaching. I then…

“I started at the Y in Union when I was 17 as a camp counselor. I had no intention of working for the Y as my career. When I graduated college, I decided to work for the Y one more summer and then find a ‘real job.’”

“I was at the Y as a member for at least 15 years before becoming a teacher. I learned to swim there as an adult, and my kids also learned to swim there.”

“A doctor had suggested working out in the water to help ease the symptoms of my MS.”

“I started coming here as a member five years ago. In 2015, before I moved to Scotch Plains, I knew I needed to be healthier. I had hypertension and was overweight and I had to do something about it.”

“When I was in college, I majored in sports management and I was looking for an internship. I participated in a lot of sports growing up like football, basketball and track which led to my interest in sports management. I knew that the Y offered a lot of sports programs and applied for an internship.”

“My twin sons were 15 months old and I thought I might like a little part-time job for a couple of hours a week. I worked in Child Watch, back then it was called Babysitting, for about 2 weeks and then was moved to the Front Desk.”

 “When I was little, I used to go to the Fanwood-Scotch Plains Y for Preschool and to take swim lessons.”

“I started working here in January and this is the first Y I’ve worked for. I used to belong to the Y in Union about 15 years ago and I always felt at home.”

“During the Fall semester, I was looking for internships related to my major. My university connected me to the YMCA with an internship in marketing/communications.”

“I started taking gymnastics classes at the Grand Street building when I was very young and was invited to join the Gymnastics Team by the time I was 9 years old. I competed for the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA Gymnastics Team for nine years, representing the team at Nationals several times.”

“I joined about 18 years ago when my oldest was a baby. I was looking for a gym that offered babysitting so I could exercise. Over the years, the Y has provided my family with classes to meet our needs at every stage.”

“Two years ago, I was 43 years old and 398 pounds, that was my heaviest. I decided to undergo weight loss surgery, a lot because of my 8-year-old daughter Avery. I started thinking, how many 70-year-olds do you know who weigh 400 pounds? I didn’t know any.”

“After I retired, I came to the Y to work out. Someone suggested to me that I try the pool. I saw the older women in it and wanted to try. At first, I didn’t think it was possible because of my age.”

“I started coming here in August 2013 just to work out, not to mingle. Fortunately, a year later, I started mingling and going into the café.”

“I have been working here since 2014 and started at the old Grand Street location. I was looking for a new job after my old daycare closed, and the family I was nannying for told me that the Y was hiring.”

“I started here in September 2017 in the Aquatics Department. I was under a tremendous amount of stress in my life the year before and started taking water exercise classes to help alleviate some of my stress.”

Sophia recalls: “Our Y story started a long time ago. Ari was born with Down Syndrome and I had a hard time even finding people to babysit for him. We had taken mommy and me swim lessons and when he got a little older, I wanted to continue with the swim lessons. Anywhere I went, the first response was always, ‘we don’t have a special program here.’

“I came here as a lifeguard and swim instructor and now I’m the Aquatics Coordinator. My job is coordinating the Red Cross trainings for Lifeguarding and CPR for our staff, developing plans for pool safety, inservice trainings and helping to manage the pool chemicals.”

“I moved to the area in May 2017 and became a member of the Y. About a year later, I started working here as a substitute fitness instructor.”

Never an “exerciser,” Darlene was pleasantly surprised by how good working out made her feel. “I never exercised, ever. I didn’t like to sweat. In the early 2000s when my kids were young, one day out of total curiosity, I decided to see if I could run a mile. I did it and then started running regularly.”

“I have been working here since late August, but I’ve been a member for years. I first joined to get in shape. Our twins then joined the Swim Team and have been on it since they were 6 – they are now 15.”

“This is my fourth month working here. I grew up in Scotch Plains and grew up going to the Y when I was younger. I took gymnastics and swim lessons and my brother played basketball. The Y, to me, was always like the center of the community.”