YLife Birmingham Summer 2013

YLife

K N I H E TUTSID Birmingham

July-September 2013 Volume 8, Issue 3

THE YMCA IN OUR COMMUNITIES

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FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILTY

LifeNotes

YLife Birmingham

“Think outside the box,” It’s a phrase heard so often that it has become as much a cliché as “a fish out of water” or “all for one, and one for all”. But this issue of Y Life Birmingham is about thinking outside our box, or, more specifically, our four walls. And we’re not only thinking—we’re doing, helping, working, and changing lives across the communities we serve in the greater Birmingham area.

Your Y is busy launching initiatives, creating programs, lending a hand—making an impact —in communities from Chelsea to East Lake. In our last issue, new President and CEO Stan Law spelled out the challenge: “We have so much ability to make an impact on the community outside of our four walls.” Not unlike a church, Law said, the YMCA needs to be as focused—or more focused—on the needs of people outside our buildings as we are on the people inside our walls.

Beginning on page 6, read about three initiatives happening right now, that address our three YMCA focus areas: youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. We have forged partnerships with fellow non-profit service agencies to tackle summer learning loss and literacy for Birmingham’s children. In Shelby County, there are group exercise instructors helping seniors remain active and healthy. And, in East Lake, the Northeast Y is offering help to mothers in need—when no one else in Birmingham would.

These are just a handful of ways that our YMCA goes outside our walls to impact the communities we serve. There are hundreds of staff, members, young people and volunteers working to make Birmingham the healthiest community in America—spirit, mind, and body.

July-September 2013 Volume 8 Issue 3

YMCA of Greater Birmingham Officers Chairman Joseph Mays, Jr. vice chairman David Woodruff treasurer Lloyd Shelton secretary Greg Weyandt

Board Members Anthony Berryman D. Laurence Blackstone Joseph S. Bluestein Walter Body Cecil Bostany Elizabeth Carpenter William N. Clark Denise Dauphin Sarah Duggan Andy Easterling Courtney French Eric Frye Ann Haas Phyllis Hall Roderick Hawkins Wayne Houston Ann Huckstep Frank S. James, III Lynn Jones Anthony A. Joseph John Lauriello E. James Loop Joseph Mays, Jr. Jazmine McDaniel

Ann D. McMillan Dan Monroe John Ott Rick Player Harlan Prater Emily Rushing Allen D. Rushton Lloyd Shelton Reeves Sims, Jr. Helen Catherine Smith J. Stephen Smith Walker Sorrell Andra Sparks Cedric Sparks Kim Strifert Britney Summerville Scott Vowell Chip Watts David Watts Tommy Wells Greg Weyandt Hunter Williams Sally Hartley Williams David Woodruff

Board of Trustees Chairman Ann Huckstep vice chairman William N. Clark Joseph S. Bluestein Frank S. James, III Allen D. Rushton Scott Vowell President and CEO Stan Law YLife Birmingham is published four times a year by the YMCA of Birmingham.

Copyright 2006 by the Metropolitan Birmingham YMCA. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the YMCA of Birmingham.

YLife Birmingham welcomes letters and story ideas. Please send them to: YLife Birmingham, 2101 4th Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203 or to ylife@ymcabham.org.

YLife Birmingham Staff

vice PRESIDENT, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS David G. Hill COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOr Loyd McIntosh designer Tracy Thomas

Mission: To put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

Join Me at the Y

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Think Outside

Circuit

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My Mission

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Vision: We will lead our community to become the healthiest in America.

United Way Partner.

JoinMe at the Y Those who can, do.

Those who can do more, volunteer.

In April the YMCA of Greater Birmingham honored our branch and association wide volunteers of the years at a beautiful and moving event at the Birmingham Metropolitan Museum of Art. In all three volunteers – or groups of volunteers in one case – were lifted up as the 2012 Birmingham YMCA Association Volunteers of the Year.

YOUTH: Hargis Retreat Tommy Kulkis only wants to “pay it forward.” As one of Hargis Retreat’s favorite Leaders in Training, his goal was to give the campers the same experience he had when he came to camp. Tommy has a talent; he has the ability to go from acting like an explorer and pretending to be Luigi from Mario brothers to conducting Olympic style relay races at the pool. Tommy was never too cool to “play” with any of the campers, which makes him really “cool”… and Hargis Retreat’s Youth Volunteer of the Year.

ADULT: Mountain Brook and Western Area Cecile Franklin “just can’t stay away from the Y. It’s just such a huge part of who I am.” She grew up in the Y and has been involved at the Mountain Brook branch for nearly 20 years as a member, mom, and now board member. But it is her handson work with Girls on the Run that sets Cecile apart. She coached 15 girls from the Youth Center last year; helping them learn to make smart decisions with their physical, emotional, academic and social lives. She also prepared them all to run and complete the Ruben Studdard 5K last fall. Cecile is coaching again right now, her third Girls on the Run group. We think Cecile has taken time out to let us all thank her. Cecile, Mountain Brook YMCA Adult Volunteer of the Year, run on down!

What makes a track club run? In the case of the club at the Western Area YMCA, it’s the parents. From the club’s start two years ago, it’s been members’ parents who have supported, assisted, and committed to the success of the team. They don’t miss a race or a competition, and when they arrive, they come to work … even stepping up to help coach if need be. Without the sacrifice and commitment of these parents the track club would not be where it is today. They are a living example of the saying: Teamwork Makes it Happen! Let’s all support the Western Area YMCA Adult Volunteers of the Year, the track club parents!

Alagasco Supports Alabaster YMCA of Birmingham President/CEO Stan Law was recently presented with a check in the amount of $50,000 to support programs and initiatives at the new YMCA branch in Alabaster. Presenting the check to Law was Judy Tramble, Manager of Business Development for the Energen Group and a longtime supporter of the Birmingham YMCA.

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On the podcast …

Protein Primer

YMCA Greystone dietician Suzanne Pirkle talks about protein in this episode of the Y Life Birmingham Podcast. Pirkle discusses how much protein a normal person needs daily, which foods contain the proper amount of amino acids for healthy living, and how to ensure you’re getting the right amount to maintain an active lifestyle.

LifeSkills

Four Reasons To Never Give Up Focus on the Inside Not The Outside Everybody wants to look better but once you get passed that and just focus on being healthier, being consistent about your diet and being consistent about coming to the Y the looks will follows. You have work from the inside out. Remember, it’s a lifestyle change and once you’re set into it, it becomes second nature.

Nobody’s Perfect Remember we’re human, all of us. I have doubts and temptations just like you. What’s important is how you deal with those distractions. I work out all the time and I think ‘why can’t I just go eat that chocolate cake or that entire pizza.’ Every now and then I’ll have a little something I probably shouldn’t. You just can’t go overboard. You have to be dedicated and just keep going to the Y. For me, it’s just who I am.

No Excuse Is A Good Excuse Many times I’ll meet with people who have every excuse in the book why they can’t do something to get in shape. Even though I don’t like to, I’ll pull that card out and say ‘you don’t think it was hard for me to get back into the shape?’ It was extremely difficult. There are no books or magazines that are dedicated to someone missing an arm and a leg on how to get back in shape. I’ve had many people tell me after learning about my injury how inspired they were by my. It took all their excuses away.

Anything Is Possible People tell me all the time ‘I have this problem, or that problem,’ or ‘I can’t do this, I can’t do that.’ Truthfully, with an injury, a lot of times, you are limited. However, there are always other options out there. Like me with my left arm being amputated above the elbow, I can’t bench press. But, I can still work my chest on both sides, I just find new ways of doing it. Whatever injury or illness a person has, there are still ways of being active and healthy. If there is something you can’t do, they we’ll find something you can do.

Good Times Indeed!

The children from the Youth Center, Western Area, and Northeast YMCAs got to meet television and film star Bern Nadette Stanis yesterday at the Youth Center in May. Known primarily for her role as Thelma on the television series Good Times, Ms. Stanis, who is currently teaching theater classes at Miles College, talked to the kids about perseverance, making good choices, and following your dreams.

Noah Galloway is a health coach at the Alabaster YMCA and a former Army soldier in the 502nd Infantry and the 101st Airborne Division. Noah lost his left arm and left leg after an IED attack in Yusafiah, Iraq, on December 19, 2005.

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K N I H E TUTSID THE YMCA IN OUR COMMUNITIES

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Today the Birmingham YMCA is about more than what goes on inside each branch’s four walls. While that work is important, the Y is now reaching out into the greater community in unprecedented ways, making impact on people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. The Greystone, Shades Valley and Northeast YMCA – among others – are operating new and innovative programs that are having a positive effect on their communities by focusing on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

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FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Summer Days, Dear Old Golden Rule Days Summer camp at the YMCA has always pushed the three S’s: swimming, sports and socializing. But at four Birmingham YMCA locations this summer, the three R’s: reading, writing and arithmetic, are just as important. In an effort to get a handle on what educators have termed summer learning loss, the Y is partnering with local agencies to ensure Birmingham area children are ready to resume their studies when school bells ring again in August.

The Shades Valley and Northeast YMCA, in partnership with the Birmingham-based children’s literacy organization Better Basics, is conducting a Summer Learning Camp for children who have just completed second and third grades but are seeking continued instruction in reading and math. Utilizing five classrooms donated for the summer at Southside Baptist Church, “certified teachers will give these students additional support for skills that they may have missed during the school year as well as help to prevent the summer learning loss,” said Mickal Thomas, Associate Executive Director of the Shades Valley YMCA. After piloting the program in 2012 at Shades Valley, the YMCA and Better Basics Summer Learning Program will expand to Northeast for five weeks in 2013. Certified teachers will work with students in small groups of 8 to 10 to provide instruction in reading and math. Each student will receive approximately one hour and 30 minutes of reading intervention each day and approximately one hour and 15 minutes of math instruction daily.

Most students lose about two months of grade level in math skills over the summer months, while many low-income children also lose more than two months in reading skills. Thanks to a $40,000 grant from the United Way of Central Alabama, The Daniel Foundation, The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham and Summer Adventures in Learning (SAIL), the YMCA of Greater Birmingham will help eliminate this kind of summer learning loss in children throughout Birmingham. “Skills in both reading and math are aligned with the Alabama Course of Study and Common Core State Standards to ensure that your students will have the best possible chance at success next school year,” explains Thomas.

While not part of the grant-funded Summer Learning Program, the Greystone YMCA has also launched its own literacy initiative this summer. Partnering with Vulcan Park, kids from the Greystone Y will spend six weeks learning about the history and geology of Birmingham through the eyes of the big guy on Red Mountain.

Every other week during the summer, a group of kids from Greystone’s Summer Day Camp will spend each day at Vulcan Park taking classes and participating in projects on a variety of subjects ranging from health and wellness to Red Mountain’s natural habitat. “We’re just trying to do some new things to help with learning retention over the summer months,” says Tanya Hiers, Childcare Director at the Greystone YMCA. “We’re going to basically take over Vulcan Park for six weeks.”

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Each program is scheduled to last two hours, and includes a visit to the tower and museum. “We’re trying to make them fun and also very practical and to have some sort of educational content within them,” says Christina Almanza, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Vulcan Park.

Hiers has also engaged with Tony Morrow, a volunteer and member who operates a learning program called Brain Power to work with the kids once a week during the summer. Also, realizing that they’re beginning to lose the fight against electronic devices like e-readers, cell phones and mp3 players, Hiers has created a reading program “encouraging

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responsible use of those electronics instead of saying ‘no you can’t have them,” she says. “We’re going to encourage them to use them for good not evil.”

Throughout the summer kids will be urged to read books on their devices and will receive prizes for reaching their reading goals. “Every single kid has some kind of device with them and they have down time where they’re sitting waiting on the bus or something like that,” Hiers said. “If you sneak in 30 minutes here, 30 minutes there, they don’t realize how much they can learn during the day.”

FOR HEALTHY LIVING

Senior Strength in Shelby County It’s 10 a.m. on Thursday; more than two dozen healthy and active people are getting ready for an hour of intense group exercise. A few minutes later Marsha, their instructor for the day, arrives, the music starts playing and the group begins its warm-up exercises. Within minutes, the group is moving at a rate that gets the heart pumping and blood flowing. This scene plays out countless times at YMCA’s all across Birmingham. However, this class happening in a YMCA group exercise room – this one is occurring at the Heardmont Park Senior Community Center in the Shelby County community of Indian Springs.

Through a partnership with Shelby County the Greystone YMCA provides offsite group exercise classes at three different locations each week – Heardmont Park, and the senior centers in Chelsea and Pelham.

The partnership provides health and wellness benefits to seniors throughout the county, in most cases free of charge. YMCA Greystone Group Exercise Director Renae McCullough says providing this service throughout the county for people who can’t afford or travel to a YMCA is simply a part of how the Y is fulfilling its vision of transforming Birmingham into one of the healthiest communities in America. It’s also proved to be incredibly popular. “Greystone’s offsite classes at the Chelsea Senior Center have tripled in in size in three months,” said

McCullough. “We’re thrilled to be able to provide this service to seniors who throughout our community, many of whom don’t have access to health and wellness services.

Group Exercise instructor Keri McIntyre leads the Chelsea class on Tuesday mornings and says the results have been astounding and inspiring. “A senior from my class has been coming consistently since we started in February, and was so proud to announce that she could once again cross her legs,” McIntyre said. “That’s something so many of us take for granted and do not think about.”

Back at Heardmont Park: the class of mostly 70 and above seniors is working at a pace that would make many people 20 years younger huff and puff. The room is packed with barely any elbow room between each participant. Tammy Lowery joined this group three years ago and looks forward to catching up with her new friends during this hour of activity.

“It’s like a second family. These people are great,” says Lowery.

Lowery, who has fibromyalgia, says the weekly group exercise class, combined with warm-water therapy she receives, also at the Y, Lowery has improved her health and quality of life immeasurably. “When I first

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started coming I didn’t have any balance or anything and I was really down,” she said. “They’ve really helped build and strengthen me since I’ve been coming.”

Lowery says she enjoys all of the instructors, particularly Donna Jones who incorporates dancing into the workout. She also appreciates the fact that they “remember we’re all seniors.” But that doesn’t mean they take it easy on them. “It’s a little more intense and a little more varied,” said Laverne Lamb, a 76-year-old who looks is in better shape than most people do at 40. Lamb first started doing low-impact aerobics nine year ago and says this class has “definitely stretched me a little bit. I’m 76 years old and I’m chasing nine grandchildren around. It’s something I feel like I have to do to keep going and for my quality of life,” she said.

On the back row of the class is a woman named Jo. In her 80s and swizzle-stick thin, Jo keeps up with the pace of the class with a smile on her face as Marsha leads the group through exercises that include stepping in place, weigh-bearing with dumbbells, and even a few yoga poses during the cool down. To look at her one would never know she

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had surgery to replace a heart valve and repair another in February. ”This class kept me strong enough that I went through heart surgery really with no problems whatsoever,” she said. “I’m stronger than ever. I attribute the fact that I bounced back so quick because I did come down here.”

Beyond the health benefits, the participants come for the camaraderie and to see their friends, old and new. “The fellowship is absolutely wonderful,” said Chelsea resident Shirley Rhand. “If you miss you feel like something is missing. It’s like oxygen is not totally getting into your body.”

FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Partnering for Children

Northeast YMCA helping children from The Lovelady Center

K N I TUHTSIDE

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Located in former East End Hospital, The Lovelady Center serves over 400 women who have been placed there through various means - the criminal justice system, escaping domestic violence, homelessness, etc.

During their stay, the women receive counseling, job training and other services to help them make the transition back into society. Still, many of the center’s residents have been separated from their children for some time when they arrive and are allowed to have them live with at the center during their stay.

However, when school is out during the summer, MeGahee says finding available space and activities for school-aged children is a constant problem. They’ve even used the adjacent parking deck and a nearby vacant lot for space, but, for the most part, most of the children are cooped up inside the building all summer long, a situation that is neither fair the children or to their mothers. “When they’re in the building it makes it extremely challenging for their moms to do what they need to do,” said MeGahee.

Many of the children living at Lovelady have lived problematic lives and have been in-and-out of foster care or living with relatives, a situation that can lead to behavioral or emotional problems. MeGahee and her staff contacted several agencies throughout Birmingham earlier this year looking for help and were turned down by all of them, except for one – the YMCA. “We understand that value of connecting a parent with a child because we serve so many foster children who long to be with their parents and they act out because of that,” said Sophia Glenn, Associate Executive Director of the Northeast YMCA. “So this is a great way for us to continue to carry out our mission.”

The YMCA is providing transportation for 35 children each week, where they will participate in summer day camp, learn water safety, and, for those who qualify, receive tutoring through program run jointly with the Shades Vally YMCA. Along the way children will learn social skills, make new friends, and develop character values such as respect, caring, honesty and responsibility, core tenets of youth programing at the YMCA. “I do believe that this will help the children in more ways than I can sit here and list,” said MeGahee. “I think we will see a lot of healing in these children through this program and the outlet with the Y.” For one Lovelady resident, the YMCA program is a true blessing. Brandy Alexander is a 23-year old mother of three who came to Lovelady after finding herself without a place to live. Her oldest son is currently in the summer program and believes the Y is providing more than just recreation, but also valuable life experiences. “I think by him attending this program it will help me as a mother to see my son getting a chance to do new things and talk about what he learned,” said Alexander.

“When he gets older he will remember this and will look back and remember the things what we went through and how we did it.”

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Sweaty,dirty,

nasty, exhausting

Finding a place

... and

hea

for tweens at the Y They’re called ‘tweens’ for a reason. They’re not young kids anymore, who need constant supervision or endless Disney reruns. But they haven’t reached their teenage years yet and earned the freedom - and responsibility - that comes at that age. They’re in between and, frankly, the YMCA hasn’t always known what tweens are capable of, or interested in, particularly when it comes to their own health and wellness. All that is beginning to change at Y’s across the greater Birmingham area; as kids come home dirtier, sweatier, nastier and healthier than ever.

Wellness staff and trainers are coming up with new, exciting and fun ways to incorporate 8 – 13 year olds into the branch Healthy Living experience. Youth exercise programs – the names and focus differ from branch to branch – are giving ‘tweens’ a place at the Y to learn to be healthy adults.

PELHAM Y

“Before this they went to our Childwatch area which is a great program for kids who are younger not necessarily for kids who 8, 9, or 10 years old,” said Erin Brown, Interim Healthy Lifestyles Director at the Pelham YMCA and an instructor in the branch’s youth fitness program.

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A certified personal trainer takes tweens through a variety of activities: traditional jumping jacks and pushups, skills and techniques for individual sports, even how to use cardio and strength training equipment safely and effectively. “Parents love it because their kids are so tired by the time they get home that they just want to go to bed,” Brown said. “We try to wear them out. My favorite

line was from a parent who said they wanted something so their kids could get sweaty, dirty, nasty and exhausted.”

For Sherry Cleveland, the program is a gift that keeps on giving. A foster parent to seven children, three of whom are on the Pelham Y swim team and practice at different times, Cleveland said it has eliminated the boredom

lthy “They love it, because they’re old enough now that they want to be going and doing.”

Interim Healthy Lifestyles Director Erin Brown

her non-swimmers felt while waiting for the others to finish their water workout.

“It’s been great for them to have a special place that’s fun and energetic and where they can learn and not just sit around watching TV or coloring a picture,” said Cleveland. “They love it, because they’re old enough now that

they want to be going and doing. They have become much more active this year. They are more interested in playing outside and not sitting around watching movies or playing video games.”

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SHADES VALLEY Y

Across town at Homewood’s Shades Valley Y, the afternoon youth fitness program attracts almost two dozen tweens for a workout led by trainer and group exercise instructor Jasmine Coffee-Dunning. Much of the class resembles a typical group exercise class, such as muscleworks, but also incorporates a sense of competition and games. For instance, in a recent class Jasmine used a pair of jump ropes to create an impromptu long jump course in the upstairs group exercise room. For almost 10 minutes tweens took turns competing to see who had the longest jump.

Mickal Thomas, Shades Valley’s Associate Director said this program, even in its early stage, has become popular enough that parents are

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now asking about it at the front desk. He already envisions ways to expand it into something more like a typical adult Healthy Living experience.

“Eventually, we would like to have a fitness program schedule for tweens, just like we have a group exercise schedule for adults,” said Thomas. “It will give parents peace of mind when their kid knows exactly what they’re doing when they come to the Y.”

HOOVER Y

While most branches that offer health and wellness programs for youth include some strength training, the Hoover YMCA is taking weight training to another level. Healthy Lifestyles Director Kelly Kidd began using the new Mobile Fit system along with weight training to help some of the young athletes at Hoover who were struggling with injuries.

“What we’ve been asked to do is help athletes strengthen and stabilize their joints because that helps to prevent injuries,” Kidd explained.

“We had to figure out a way to accomplish that without compromising the safety of the fitness floor and their safety.” The result is a program for 11-13 year olds who, with proper instruction, can be on the fitness floor without interfering with adult members who are also working out.

Originally, Kidd said, the tweens were keeping up with their workouts with a paper and pen which, she said, proved to be ineffective.

Realizing how naturally kids take to technology, she enrolled an entire youth basketball team onto Mobile Fit which gives them the opportunity to compete with each other, earn points by achieving certain goals, and to interact with technology.

The goal, she said, is to familiarize tweens with proper form and technique, and to get them more familiar with the fitness floor. “Not only have they become stronger more fit, but we’ve seen very few injuries with that team,” Kidd said. “We have also seen their self-esteem improve dramatically, with a lot of them going through that awkward growth-spurt phase where they don’t know where their body begins and ends.”

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Weight training for tweens is growing in popularity, which leads to worries about safety and appropriate behavior on the fitness floor.

Kidd said she believes -- based on what she’s seen -- that these worries are unfounded.

“These young people are some of the most well behaved because they have received more training than most adults.”

Parents are also coming around to the idea, such as Frank Poe whose 12-year-old son Jonathan lifts weights on a regular basis. A

baseball player Frank and his son have seen improvement in his swing and his speed, however, he is happy to see his son enjoying his time at the Y. “I like that he enjoys coming with me,” says Frank. “I come for the cardio and he comes in here like he’s on a mission and he does his thing.”

Jonathan had five sessions with a personal trainer, and after passing a test, earned a badge allowing him to exercise on the fitness floor. Frank says he doesn’t worry about all

about his son while he’s working out because he knows he has been shown the proper way to build strength for his age. “(The trainer) showed him exactly how to do everything, and didn’t load him up to where he’s trying to see how much weight he can lift every time,” he said. “He does what he’s comfortable with and working his way up. If you do it that way then I don’t think that you’re too young. It hasn’t hurt him any. I think it’s good for him.”

“Not only have they become stronger more fit, but we’ve seen very few injuries with that team.”

Healthy Lifestyles Director Kelly Kidd

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circuit connecting you to the birmingham YMCA branch by branch

YMCA Shades Valley

juLY-SEPTEMBER 2013

205.870.9622

3551 Montgomery Highway Birmingham, AL 35209 ymcabham.org/SHADESVALLEY Executive Director

Cham Norman

Circuit has always been about connecting you to the programs that are for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. We hope that connection is even easier now. By connecting you directly to the areas on our website—ymcabham.org —you can find all the details, all the dates, times, and branches for those programs, along with direct links to online registration. Look for ymcabham.org/ … and then the name of the program. Type it into your browser, and you’re there!

Membership Director

Dawn Pilleteri

YMCA Trussville 5920 Valley Road Trussville, AL 35173

256.655.2224 ymcabham.org/TRUSSVILLE Executive Director

Jerry Wang Membership Director

Wendy Newland

YMCA Vestavia 2086 Columbiana Road Vestavia Hills, AL 35216

205.823.0144 ymcabham.org/VESTAVIA Executive Director

Susan Becker Membership Director

Clay Coleman

YMCA Western Area 1195 Bessemer Road Birmingham, AL 35228

205.923.1195

Directory YMCA Alabaster 117 Plaza Circle Alabaster, AL 35007

205.663.7240 ymcabham.org/ALABASTER Executive Director

Rhonda Elmore Membership Director

Carol Hamilton

YMCA Camp Cosby 2290 Paul Bear Bryant Road Alpine, AL 35014

ymcabham.org/WESTERNAREA Executive Director

Terri A. Harvill

YMCA Greystone 5414 Highway 280 Birmingham, AL 35242

205.981.0144 ymcabham.org/GREYSTONE Executive Director

Pat Tate Membership Director

YMCA Mountain Brook 2401 20th Place South Birmingham, AL 35223 ymcabham.org/MOUNTAINBROOK Michelle Oliver Membership Director

Kristin Harris

Kristie Nix

YMCA Hargis Retreat

YMCA Northeast

928 Hargis Drive Chelsea. AL 35043 ymcabham.org/HARGISRETREAT

Executive Director

Program Executive

Kevin Casey

Kim Sharp

Terri A. Harvill

YMCA Downtown

YMCA Hoover

YMCA Pelham

205.324.4563 ymcabham.org/DOWNTOWN Executive Director

Christian Rieseberg Membership Director

Caroline Bundy

205.682.1399 ymcabham.org/HOOVER

ymcabham.org/YOUTHCENTER Program Executive

Anthony Sparks

ymcabham.org

205.833.7616

205.678.6512

ymcabham.org/CAMP COSBY

2250 John Hawkins Park Hoover, AL 35244

205.324.1643

628 Red Lane Road Birmingham, AL 35216

256.268.2007

2101 Fourth Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203

2400 7th Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203

256.870.0144 Executive Director

YMCA Youth Center

ymcabham.org/NORTHEAST Executive Director

2610 Pelham Parkway Pelham, AL 35124

205.664.9622 ymcabham.org/PELHAM

Executive Director

Executive Director

Julie Broday

Lane Vines

Membership Director

Membership Director

Cindy Reams

Leslie Lazaro

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circuit AFTER SCHOOL; MILES AHEAD FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT Games, crafts, and skits give students the chance to show and grow self esteem, group interaction, respect for everyone and assets that are important to a better life. Homework assistance is only the start; working with Alabama Public Television we use PBS’ “Electric Company” materials, like “Wordball”, to help us enhance what your children are learning, while their reading skills grow!

swimming

In Y Swim Lessons young people and adults learn and practice new swimming skills and feel a sense of achievement from mastering something new that they can enjoy the rest of their lives. While participating in fun water sports and games, children also increase their physical activity levels. Participants in Y Swim Lesson are connected to others in the class, make new friends and recognize new role models. Swimmers become more comfortable and secure around water, as they learn water safety and improve their swim skills.

We call it “CATCH,” but at the end of each day’s nonstop, inclusive, no elimination, active round of unconventional games - with a side of nutrition information - students call it fun!

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Swim Birmingham YMCA is a year round swim team offering training for beginners to senior levels. SBY’s certified coaches will dramatically improve your child’s swimming ability, while maintaining the YMCA’s focus on positive character values; caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. SBY is also the most convenient and economical swim team in town. To participate with SBY your child must be evaluated by a Swim Birmingham YMCA Coach. Please note that Group placement will be done by a Swim Birmingham YMCA Coach.

For specific practice times please contact your local branch.

FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Help your children be miles ahead, through YMCA Afterschool programs.

Find yours online at ymcabham.org/LOCATIONS

(Greystone, Pelham, Trussville, Shades Valley, Vestavia, and Hoover)

Year round swim team will kick off August 20, 2012 with each branch having practices at various times and day. Please make sure to contact the Aquatic Director at the branch you wish to participate at. Fall Session runs Aug 20 to Dec 21 at branches.

Not all levels are offered at all branches.

FOR HEALTHY LIVING

YMCA Afterschool care is a safe environment; we design it that way.

Counselors are at least 19 years old; they have background checks, they have national certifications in first aid and CPR, and they receive more than 20 hours of training -including bus safety – in addition to on-going classes throughout the year.

Counselor-to- student ratios are 1:10, up to second grade; and 1:12, third grade and up.

YMCA Swim Team

Swimming Lessons Session Dates: July 8-19, July 22-August 1, and 5-16 Deadline to register is the Thursday before the session starts.

Fall swim lessons session begins on September 3.

Contact the YMCA in your community, or go online to ymcabham.org for complete information.

Register ON LINE at ymcabham.org/registerforprograms Please contact your local YMCA for specific dates and times for all swimming programs.

Programs are available based on age, by swimming ability (level), with parents, in groups, private, and semi-private.

FOR YOUTH

Birthday Splash Parties Nothing’s cooler than a birthday party in a pool!

Wetter, either.

Splash party packages are available at YMCAs in Alabaster, Greystone, Hoover, Mountain Brook, Pelham, Shades Valley, Trussville, and Vestavia.

YOUTH SPORTS Pelham, Alabaster, and Greystone YMCA

ALABASTER Volleyball Skills Coaching Ages: 8 and up| Registration: Year Round

Youth Soccer, Volleyball, and Flag Football Registration: July 13-August 10 Age groups/grades: ages 3-4 (Pre K) - Grade 11

Contact the Aquatics Director at the branch, or go online for complete information.

Lifeguarding/CPR (Downtown) Lifeguarding, at the Mountain Brook Y: Wednesday and Thursday from 4 - 9 p.m. and Friday from 4 - 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. July 10-14, August 7-11, September 11-15, October 16-22, November 13-17

Pelham YMCA Challenger Soccer Clinic and Mini Kickers Program

ymcabham.org

Registration: July 13-August 10 Sessions: Fridays August 16 – September 27 Age groups: ages 3–5 (for a fun introduction); ages 6–14 (for technical and tactical aspects of the game)

CPR, at the Downtown Y: August 12, September 9, October 14, November 11, December 9; at 5:30 p.m.

For complete class information, and to register online, go to ymcabham.org and then to the branch.

HOOVER Acrobatics/Tumbling Cheer Skills Clinic Volleyball Martial Arts Survey of Sports

6 years+ 6 years+ Grades 4-8 5 years+ 3-6 years

For complete class information, and to register online, go to ymcabham.org/HOOVER .

DEVELOPMENT July-September 2013 | YLife Birmingham | 19

circuit Personal Training Health seekers in YMCA Personal Training programs experience increased self-confidence, a strong sense of belongingness, and a high sense of achievement as they pursue their health and well-being goals in a safe and supportive environment.

Work out in a variety of individual and group settings, at your own pace, surrounded by others just like you. It is “personal,” with trained and skilled facilitators listening to your needs, and designing programs to meet your individual goals.

Personal Training is offered at these YMCAs: Downtown, Greystone, Hoover, Mountain Brook, Northeast, Pelham, Shades Valley, Trussville, Vestavia and Western Area.

For specific offerings, go to the YMCA in your community at ymcabham.org

Group Classes Healthy living through physical activity is central to the Y’s cause.

YMCA Group Exercise programs are fun and interactive ways to engage members in activity and positively impact their health. Tailored to health seekers, group exercise classes provide a variety of experiences that are designed to engage individuals in a supportive group setting, enhancing social bonds and strengthening community.

The YMCA’s Group Exercise instructors are highly trained to provide health seekers safe and effective exercise programs.

Additionally, YMCA Group Exercise instructors facilitate connections within the class setting and create opportunities for storytelling and relationship building.

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Health seekers participating in YMCA Group Exercise programs have improved physical activity, enhanced overall well-being, and heightened self-mastery to stay motivated to participate and engage in physical activity over a sustained period of time.

The full range of Group Exercise Programs can be found online at: ymcabham.org/groupexercise Search by program or YMCA in your community.

Some of the special group exercise classes that are offered include: At Downtown: Boot Camp At Greystone: Women On Weights, TRX Suspension Training, Running, Youth Fitness/Exercise At Mountain Brook: Boot camp, Kinesis, Youth Orientation, Tactical Strength and Conditioning, Glute Camp, TRX Suspension Training, Reformer, Self Defense At Pelham: Bars & Buns, TRX Suspension Training, Running Club, Minute Mania At Shades Valley: Horizontal Tabata Core Conditioning, Tactical Boot camp, Peak Strength, and Athletic Potential At Trussville: Basketball, Tennis

Sign up for a “Quickstart”

powered by MobileFit at the front desk of your YMCA. Our most successful members do two things: -- they get started quickly (in the first month of membership) and -- they get help. You deserve to succeed; we want to make that happen.

Quickstart includes: Meeting with a trained YMCA Health Coach who will listen carefully to what you want to accomplish and help you get on the right track.

Orientation. Whether you want to learn to use the equipment, get help choosing classes, personal training, family activities or just where to get towels! Plus, we will help you set up a support account on Mobilefit to track your progress, learns your preferences and connects you to a health coach.

Access Mobilefit through kiosks located in branches, online tracking from home on your computer, smart phone or tablet device.

Nutrition program

Offered at YMCAs Downtown, Greystone, Mountain Brook, Pelham, and Trussville, programs address such issues as meal planning, emotional eating, shopping lists, sports specific diets, family meal planning, and diets for medical conditions such as IBS, high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, metabolic disorder, eating out and weight loss.

Diabetes Prevention

Currently the only signature program in dissemination, the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program helps adults at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes reduce their risk for developing the disease by taking steps that will improve their overall health and well-being. The program provides a supportive environment where participants work together in a small group to learn about healthier eating, and increasing their physical activity in order to reduce their risk for developing diabetes.

Diabetes Prevention classes are held at these YMCAs: Downtown, Greystone, Mountain Brook, Northeast, Pelham, Shades Valley, Trussville, and Western Area. For complete information, go to ymcabham.org/dppinterestform

There are four essential components to every group exercise class: Warm-up includes slow dynamic movement using all major muscle groups.

Cardiorespiratory Endurance strives to increase heart rate to 40–85% of its maximum.

Work at your own pace while the instructor creates safe and appropriate exercise intensities, sequences, and methods of monitoring cardiorespiratory levels.

FOR H

TENNIS

TRUSSVILLE Y SUMMER TENNIS CHALLENGE ADULT TENNIS TOURNAMENT August 9-11 6.0-9.0 levels 2 matches minimum Doubles and Mixed doubles only Starting August 19:

BACK TO SCHOOL TENNIS Beginners/10 and Under Tennis Tuesday/Thursday, 3:30—4:30 p.m.

Advanced Beginners/ Intermediate

Monday 3-4:30 p.m.; Wednesday 3:30-4:30 p.m. Middle Schoolers.

Muscular Strength and Endurance promote muscle balance, functional fitness, and proper progression. Typically the strength exercises chosen for group exercise classes include those that strengthen major muscle groups used for routine living. If participants cannot perform the strength exercises correctly, the instructor offers assistance or changes the exercise.

Flexibility and Relaxation includes stretching major muscle groups, followed by relaxation and visualization at the conclusion of the flexibility segment.

Group exercise classes in many YMCAs include: Young fitness, strength training, sports skill development, even yoga. Beginning at 8 years of age. Check with your YMCA for programs and details, or go online to ymcabham.org.

Tips for staying hydrated this summer -- Drink half your body weight in ounces. If outside in extreme heat or humidity drink more.

-- If the taste of water isn’t enjoyable try adding flavor like sliced fruit.

-- Plan ahead. Take water with you if you’ll be outside for an extended period of time.

-- If going for a long run, playing rigorous sports, or any activity that causes extreme sweating, replace fluid loss with water.

-- Limit caffeinated, and alcoholic beverages.

-- Keep water readily available at home, and remember our kids do what we do and eat what we provide.

Being a good role model begins at home!

Keep your family healthy as you get ready for back-to-school

Tournament Training I

Tuesdays/Thursdays, 4:30-6 p.m. Must have played Middle School tennis, competed in novice tournaments and desire to play and improve in High School tennis. Players will be divided according to ability.

Tournament Training II

Mondays/Wednesdays, 4:30-6p.m. High school player.

Strength/Speed/Core Training.

Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday groups from 6-6:30 p.m.

Contact Pam Wildt at pwildt@ymcabham.org for all Trussville tennis information.

Exercise Together: it builds healthy relationships and fosters communication Plan your weekly meals together on Sunday Pack healthy lunches together

ADULT SPORTS Pelham YMCA

U18 and 18 and Over Recreational Soccer Registration: July 13-August 10 Age groups: Ages 15-17, and 18 and up Pelham and Greystone YMCA Adult Co-Ed Volleyball Ages 16 and up | Registration Dates: July 13-August 10

EALTHY LIVING

July-September 2013 | YLife Birmingham | 21

circuit MyMission:

GREYSTONE YMCA SCHOLAR-ATHLETE SWIMMERS

Pearce Edwards

Four Senior Varsity swimmers have earned scholarships and spots on their college teams at their institute’s division level! Please join us in congratulating them for their accomplishments. With hard work and discipline, they have excelled both in and out of the pool. They have attended as many as 9 practices a week and maintained excellent academic standings.

Alex Gray will be attending the University Alabama.

of

Hal McKay will be attending Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina.

Mallory Mathias will be attending the University of Kentucky.

Jordan Ames will be attending Birmingham- Southern College.

Congratulations!

Texas Christian University ‘13 Political Science & History

Civil Rights Bus Tour Finds Hospitality at Birmingham YMCA My long journey across the American South with more than a dozen fellow students from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, showed me the struggle for liberty which grew in the Civil Rights Movement. From Memphis, Tennessee, to Selma, Alabama, the legacy of oppression and discrimination still clings to their aging buildings and the wounded hearts of their citizens. Yet the Birmingham Downtown YMCA met us with the warmth and Southern hospitality which energized us to take our bus tour of civil rights sites in the South.

In Memphis we visited the heart of American soul music at the Stax Museum and drove past the Lorraine Motel at which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968. At First Congregational Church we –sometimes clumsily! – learned to dance, draw and talk about the experience of finding a community of equality.

In Jackson we explored the efforts of college students to pursue voting rights and economic justice for African-American residents of Mississippi during the Freedom Summer of 1964. In Selma we saw the crowning achievement and darkest hour of civil rights side-by-side: the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge and the police dogs and tear gas which waited on the other side. In Montgomery we toured the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church where Martin Luther King catapulted to leadership of the bus boycott and the Rosa Parks Museum.

Helping Little Swimmers YMCA Junior Board Chair Daron Drew, second from left, presents a check for $2800 to Pelham Aquatics Director Jennifer Dick, left; Joe Mays, Metro Board Chair, third from left, and Stan Law, YMCA President/CEO, right. In its first fund-raiser for the association, the two-year old Junior Board’s basketball tournament proceeds will be used to provide summer water safety programs at the Northeast and Western Area YMCAs, and at the YMCA Youth Center downtown. The December event had six corporate teams competing in a single elimination tournament at the Youth Center. The Board will expand the event later this year.

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Birmingham’s Civil Rights Institute taught me more than any other single location on the trip, and I saw the lengths to which your city has gone to heal the scars of civil rights violence. In the nearby Kelly Ingram Park and the 16th Street Baptist Church, monuments and statues showed the hard, silent struggle of a community against injustice. Having visited Birmingham in 2009 for a national high school debate tournament, I was excited to return and find friendly faces in your Downtown YMCA.

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FOR SOCIA

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The Birmingham Downtown YMCA met us with the warmth and Southern hospitality which energized us.

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YMCA of BIRMINGHAM

2101 Fourth Avenue North Birmingham, Alabama 35203 www.ymcabham.org

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1072 Birmingham, AL