Kids have powerful voices at the Block Party.
Three very different stories, from very different presenters, one shared message… the Metro Y is supremely committed to youth development.
Mary, age 10, approached the podium with her mom and without a care in the world. She proudly introduced her family. She talked about swimming, her Special Olympics gold medals and playing with her brothers and friends. There was no doubt in the minds of more than 250 guests that the West Essex YMCA was one of Mary’s favorite places in the world. Her mom Marnie shared a heartfelt appreciation for the responsiveness of the West Essex YMCA staff in not just accommodating a little girl with Down’s Syndrome, but rather collaborating and creating a new approach to inclusion. Read Full Story >
Residents across the state watched the forecast and prepared. When Tuesday came, the high winds blew and the power went out, most people, including those in rural Sussex County not only lost lights and heat, they lost communication and any sense of what was happening across the state. When the wind stopped, the landscape and roads were littered with a web of wires and giant timbers. It was obviously going to be a long time before this would be cleared.
Compassion and sense of oneness is not something we can teach, be we can appreciate it when we see it in action.
On July 18, 2012, in less than one-hour, the Minisink program lodge at the Fairview Lake YMCA Camps was ablaze and ultimately destroyed by what Sussex County fire officials have determined to be a lightning strike. No one was harmed during the blaze. The entire lodge structure was totally destroyed and was unsalvageable. Though program equipment, the popular ETC plaques and color war flags are gone, what remains is priceless – 100 years of memories of our amazing camp.
Bringing experts and concerned members of the community together to promote change.
Darkness to Light, a nationally recognized authority on the issue of child sexual abuse prevention and creator of the award winning Stewards of Children curriculum has partnered with our YMCA to inform, educate and mobilize advocates for children. The Metro YMCA of the Oranges has set a goal to train 5% of the adults in our YMCA service area about how to protect children. This 5% goal represents what the research tells us is the critical point for positive change in a community. The Y intends to facilitate this change through training individuals and engaging community partners including local civic and volunteer groups, non-profits, school districts and local government.
Metro YMCA is leading the way in providing the opportunity for local change.
Across our seven Branches 430 staff have been trained in the Stewards of Children curriculum. EVERY Metro YMCA Branch has made a commitment, focusing on a year-end goal of training 100% of full-time staff and 50% of part-time staff.
The South Mountain YMCA is leading the way in keeping kids safe with 100% of their staff trained. The South Mountain Branch has also secured the commitment of the Maplewood Kiwanis Club to be a Partner in Protection. This partnership includes a commitment to have 90% of the organization’s members trained in the Stewards of Children program. Local organizations such as the Kiwanis and Rotary have also made donations towards the purchase of additional training materials and books so that others in the community can be trained.
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Fairview Lake is more than just a camp to me. It’s a place where I see kids everyday grow and become the best version...
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139 East McClellan Avenue | Livingston, NJ 07039 | P 973 758 9622
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