COMMUNITY NEWS STARTING EARLY
In partnership with the NY State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Caucus, City Council’s Black, Latino, & Asian Caucus, the New York Foundling, and Daycare Council of New York, the Y hosted a panel discussion on early childhood education (ECE) at the SOMOS Conference in Puerto Rico.
Panelists discussed the future of New York City’s ECE system, the importance of affordable childcare, how New York State is supporting providers, the impacts of Head Start on families and communities, efforts to create a strong ECE workforce, and the importance of ensuring that services are accessible to children with special education needs.
The Y also partnered with State Senator Jamaal Bailey, the YMCA of San Juan, and the SOMOS Conference to organize a lively basketball tournament.•
(top l to r): YMCA President and CEO Sharon Greenberger, the NY Foundling President and CEO Melanie Hartzog, Day Care Council of NY Executive Director Tara Gardner, Council Member and Education Chair Rita Joseph, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, and Council Member Kevin Riley; (clockwise from above): New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos speaks about the value of children starting their educations early; Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso takes a shot; Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie introduces the Y’s panel on early childhood education; elected officials enjoy the Y’s signature sport.
YMCAS HOST GIVEAWAYS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON
YMCAs across the city partnered with elected officials, public figures, and businesses to host giveaways of food and presents.
In November, the Broadway, Castle Hill, Coney Island, Flatbush, Flushing, La Central, North Brooklyn, Northeast Bronx, and Rockaway Ys collectively gave out over 2,000 turkeys, chickens, and hams, along with other food items. This was made possible with support from partners such as Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Congress Member Ritchie Torres, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Council Members Sylvena Brooks-Powers, Amanda Farías, and Kevin Riley, Tampa Bay Buccaneer Christian Izien, Carpenter Contractor Alliance of Metropolitan NY, District Council of Carpenters, Edenwald Houses Tenants Association, and MetroPlusHealth.
In December, Y staff at the Castle Hill, Coney Island, Dodge, Flatbush, McBurney, and Park Slope Armory Ys played Santa by hosting drives and giveaways of new toys and coats. Partners included the Alliance for Coney Island, Brooklyn Sigmas, Council Member Amanda Farías, Morgan Stanley, and newly elected Assembly Member Emérita Torres. •
(l to r) Council Member Amanda Farías, Castle Hill Y Executive Director Sharlene Brown, and newly elected Assembly Member Emérita Torres get in the holiday spirit.
Members of the Castle Hill Y enjoy picking up free turkeys.
Tampa Bay Buccaneer and Far Rockaway native Christian Izien shares the wealth at the Rockaway Y.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie hands out turkeys at the Northeast Bronx Y.
(Clockwise from top l) Staff at the Park Slope Armory Y prepare to hand out donated toys and coats; Mr. and Mrs. Claus share a magical moment with a participant at the Ridgewood Y; Distribution day at the North Brooklyn Y; Morgan Stanley delivers over 700 gifts to kids served by the Y, which were beautifully wrapped by employee volunteers; Brooklyn Sigmas give back at the Bedford-Stuyvesant Y’s holiday party for families; Santa poses with a family at the Cross Island Y’s Winter Wonderland event.
MOVING ON UP
JAMAICA Y SECURES CITI GRANT FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
The YMCA of Greater New York has been awarded a transformative $500,000 grant from the Citi Foundation’s 2024 Global Innovation Challenge to expand our transitional housing program at the Jamaica Y. This critical investment, part of a $25 million initiative to address homelessness globally, will empower hundreds of homeless New Yorkers annually with tools for long-term financial stability.
Over the next two years, we will provide financial coaching, job training, employment opportunities, and stipends, prioritizing the diverse needs of our Spanish-speaking community and those affected by HIV/AIDS. With this grant, 750 individuals will benefit from financial counseling, and 250 participants will secure employment through job training and direct employer connections—helping them transition to stable housing and sustainable careers.•
Staff at the Jamaica Y provide support and resources to residents.
HONORING HISPANIC EXCELLENCE
THE Y AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS AT HISPANIC ACHIEVERS EVENT
The Y hosted our annual Hispanic Achievers Awards and Reception—a vibrant celebration of culture and achievement, highlighting our commitment to empowering Hispanic youth, supporting families, and strengthening communities.
A highlight of the night was honoring our Hispanic Achievers Scholarship Recipients, Joanne Henry (SUNY Binghamton) and Janessa Serra (SUNY Morrisville). These bright first-generation college students are part of our Y Rowe Scholars program, which has expanded to support students in their first year of college through AlumnY. Joanne and Janessa are two of the many students who receive scholarships from the Y that enable them to pursue their academic and professional goals.
The event celebrated our four Hispanic Achievers honorees pictured below and recognized the work of the 2024 Corporate Achievers: Catalina Monroy, Senior VP, Global Flavors & Fragrances, Global Technology, ColgatePalmolive Company; Iliana Menesick, Community Manager, Chase; Sherlyn Santana, Community Manager, Chase; Gil Valdes, Vice President, State Governmental Affairs, New York Life; and Nelson Del Valle, Port Operations Supervisor, Port Authority of NY & NJ.
With community partnerships and philanthropic support, the
Y delivers foundational support like civic engagement opportunities, leadership development, and financial literacy courses that empower Hispanic youth and drive meaningful change in our city.•
(left) Scholarship Awardees Joanne Henry (SUNY Binghamton, Class of 2028) and Janessa Serra (SUNY Morrisville, Class of 2028).
(l to r) Sharon Greenberger (YMCA President and CEO), Nancy Rosado Santiago (HLX+, Hispanic Achievers Event Committee), Carolina Jannicelli (Honoree, Head of Sales Strategy at JP Morgan), Dr. Denise Nuñez (Honoree, Pediatric Critical Care Specialist), Mayra Linares-Garcia (Honoree, VP of Public Affairs & Communications at Liberty Coca-Cola), José Villafañe (Honoree, CEO & CRO at Nueva Network), and Juan Pablo Zamorano (Colgate-Palmolive, Hispanic Achievers Event Committee).
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
THE Y AND ITS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS DEEPEN IMPACT IN COMMUNITIES
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Former Y teen Laralyn Jackson, who attended a City Council-funded journalism program at the Flushing Y’s Beacon 189, is now a reporter with ABC 6 in Rhode Island.
State Senator Brian Kavanagh and Council Member Christopher Marte joined the fun as the Chinatown Y celebrated 50 years of programming with over 250 supporters, raising over $220,000 for programs in the process. The event also honored Kaushal Challa, Chief Executive Officer at Charles B. Wang Community Health Center; UA3, a Community Not-for-Profit Organization; Sergeant Jeremy Lau, NY/NJ Port Authority Police Department; and Thomas Yu, Executive Director at Asian Americans for Equality.
FEVER PITCH
The Y is partnering with the U.S. Soccer Foundation to expand access to soccer spaces and skills citywide, and with support from Genesis Gives and the MLS Players Association the Broadway Y opened a brand new mini-pitch. This is part of the Foundation’s Safe Places to Play program, which aims to create 1,000 mini-pitches across the country in the lead up to FIFA World Cup 2026.
FALL FESTIVAL
Community members came out in droves for the Flushing Y’s Fall Festival.
TO HER CREDIT
Governor Kathy Hochul (pictured with YMCA President and CEO Sharon Greenberger, Vanderbilt Y Executive Director Jamel Davis, and other Y staff) visited the Vanderbilt Y to propose a historic expansion of New York’s child tax credit, increasing the annual rate and possibly impacting over 2.75 million children.
MRS. MET
Council Member Julie Won talked with Spiderman and a skeleton at the Long Island City Y’s pre-K program.
PLAYING OUR PART
THE Y EXPANDS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The Y ended 2024 and started 2025 with an eye on expanding opportunities for members of our communities to be civically engaged. Across the city, the Y hosted 24 voter engagement events before the November election. Many of these events featured voter registration opportunities from partners such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA), Brooklyn Board of Elections, Brooklyn NAACP, Brooklyn Voters Alliance, League of Women Voters, MinKwon Center for Community Action, NYC Votes, Office of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Unite NY, and the Williamsbridge NAACP.
The Y’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee also hosted a special civic engagement event for Y staff, with Council Members Kevin Riley and Yusef Salaam serving as guest speakers. The event featured a powerful panel with representatives from our partners at Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA), NALEO Educational Fund, NYC Votes, and OCA-NY. In the coming year, the Y will partner with NYC Votes to host special trainings for Y staff and to offer voter registration and education at a staff event that brings together hundreds of young Y staff members from across the city.•
(above l) Council Member Yusef Salaam addresses Y staff; (above r) Council Member Kevin Riley tells Y staff that voting is an extension of the good work they do in their communities; (right, l to r): Sharon Levy, YMCA Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, moderates a panel featuring Omar Suarez, Director of Partnerships & Outreach, New York City Campaign Finance Board (NYC Votes); Malikka D. Karteron, CEO/President, Global25 and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; Angela Li, President, OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates; and Orlando Ovalles, Northeast Director of Civic Engagement, NALEO Educational Fund.
(above) Voter outreach events across the city
YMCA of Greater New York
5 West 63rd Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10023
212 630 9600
ymcanyc.org
ON A MISSION
Y TEENS FOCUS ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Nearly 80 teens from across the city came together in December to kick off another program year of Teens Take the City, the Y’s signature civic engagement program. Supported by the New York City Council, TTC empowers teens to learn about city government, hold elected office, and draft and debate policy.
The Mission NYC event was led by Youth Elected Officials (Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, and 5 Borough Presidents)
and featured an introduction to Parliamentary Procedure and policy development. It also included a panel of advocates discussing how government should work and voting pre-registration with NALEO Educational Fund. •
with teens about voting and helps them pre-register; (left, l to r):
Dion
, a Teen Advisor from the Flushing Y, poses a question to panelists Caitlyn Passeratti from Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, Michelle Aviles from Children’s Aid, and Gio
(above) Orlando Ovalles of NALEO Educational Fund talks
Moderator
Ward
Barcenes from City Year.
