As 2023 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect back on the six cover stories of the past year. One major theme this year has been creative outreach strategies. Community Rec has always been an industry which strives to assist surrounding families and neighborhoods, and this year was no different. So, here is Part One of the 2023 Cover Story Roundup that looks back at this year’s past features and their themes.
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Collective Energy at the Attleboro Norton YMCA
January/February 2023 Cover Story
When community members think about a place to belong that meets all their needs, nobody does it like the Attleboro Norton YMCA, especially when it comes to philanthropy and partnerships.
The Y, located in Massachusetts, was founded in 1867 and encompasses four locations: the Downtown YMCA, Pleasant Street YMCA, Sweet Community House and the Norton Outdoor Center.
Between these locations, the Y’s active board of directors and volunteers aren’t just a group who pops in once a month. Rather, many of them are in the Y daily, working out or attending a class.
For the immediate future, the Attleboro Norton Y set forth a bold, challenging and exciting 2023-2025 strategic plan with the vision to “Channel the collective energy of community to co-create healthier futures for all.”
Read the full story of how the Y meets community needs here.
A Start-Up Mindset at the YMCA of Metro Atlanta
March/April 2023 Cover Story
Lauren Koontz, the first woman president and CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, has been leading the Y since 2019 with most of that time focused on navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and serving those who need the Y most.
To do so, Koontz said the Y decided to lean into what they could do, instead of being consumed by what they couldn’t do. The result was empowering, and the organization now thinks like and operates like a start-up.
This organizational mindset can be seen in the Y’s outreach to Atlanta, Georgia’s westside community which has a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years less than those who live just a few miles away in more affluent areas of the city.
Read how else the Y is using a start-up mindset here.
Growing with the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades
May/June 2023 Cover Story
Programming at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades ensures all things body and mind are covered. This includes being home to the renowned Thurnauer School of Music, Leonard and Syril Rubin Nursery School, Neil Klatskin Summer Camps, and the JCC Dance and Dramatic Arts Schools.
Steve Rogers, the chief executive officer of the Kaplen JCC, said the JCC is proud to offer extensive, high-quality programs and services to children and adults of all ages, as well as to seniors and individuals with special needs.
One example of this is through the JCC’s goal to allow older adults to age in place successfully through several senior programs and services led by an experienced leadership team member.
