In episode 24, Jorge Perez, the president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, details the upcoming 2026 Community Rec Leadership Summit in Fernandina Beach, Florida.
Perez, a previous attendee and the moderator for the 2026 Summit, shares his enthusiasm for the event, highlighting its value in bringing together diverse leaders to explore innovative approaches in community recreation. He emphasizes the importance of being curious, making connections across different sectors and understanding the deeper purpose of their work. The summit offers attendees an opportunity to learn from each other, share insights and develop new strategies for addressing community challenges, with a focus on moving from transactional to transformational experiences.
Interested in attending the Summit on February 17-19? Contact editor John Reecer at john@peakemedia.com.
Top Takeaways from Podcast
- Diverse Perspectives Matter. Perez emphasizes the value of gathering leaders from different sectors to share insights, challenges and innovative solutions in community recreation, moving beyond traditional siloed conversations.
- AI’s Transformative Potential. Perez is passionate about artificial intelligence, believing we’re currently in the “dark ages” of AI and that its rapid evolution will significantly impact community services and leadership in the near future.
- Purpose-Driven Approach. The 2026 Community Rec Leadership Summit focuses on deeper conversations about the purpose of community recreation, challenging attendees to think beyond traditional program offerings and explore how experiences can create meaningful community impact.
- Networking and Connection. The event provides intentional opportunities for attendees and sponsors to build genuine relationships, not just transactional interactions. These connections can lead to practical implementations of new ideas, such as the mobile Y concept.
- Learning Mindset. Perez advises attendees — especially first-timers — to approach the summit with curiosity, be open to learning from different models and perspectives, and be willing to share their own experiences. The underlying philosophy is that when leaders gather with a shared goal of human development, they can collectively drive positive change.
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