It’s Fun to Stay at the YMCA

We all know the KYYMCA as the home of our beloved youth government and United Nations conferences. The Y truly does it all, making these theater-esque assemblies run smoothly. The overarching goal of this organization is profound and consequential; engage leaders, affect change in our Commonwealth and in our Nation, and to “foster critical thinking, leadership, and responsibility.” These morals are even further conveyed at Go For It and Leadership Training Conference, where students develop character, participate in deep, guided discussions, and forge lifetime friendships.

Most of us know about these conferences, whether you’ve attended yourself or heard a spill on them from the PO team. What most of us are not familiar with, however, is what the YMCA, the mother organization of the KYYMCA, does in our states and throughout our nation annually.

The YMCA was founded in 1844 as a place of refuge from tenement houses and harsh working conditions in London, England. Since then, it has developed into an international coalition, providing platforms on which students can influence policy and develop professional skills. The Y affects over 10,000 neighborhoods in the US, and their iconic community centers help thousands of people every year stay healthy and educated.