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May 2019Newsletter

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Advocacy

Public Policy Update

Celebrating theYMCA's 175thBirthday

MayYMCASpotlights

Youth andGovernment

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ADVOCACY

PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE

Kate-Marie Roycroft, Director Public Policy

The 2019-2020 legislative session is in full swing. TheMassachusetts House of Representatives recently passed their FiscalYear 2020 budget. The YMCA priorities did really well! A big thank youto all of the YMCA advocates for getting the Y budget prioritiesthrough the House. For the final House budget the Y's received:

* $1.7 Million for the Youth-at-Risk earmark, we had arecord number of co-sponsors for our amendment thisyear at 95!

* $20 Million for the Early Education Rate Reserve

* $300,000 for the HomeWorks program.

We now turn our attention to the Senate. We expect the SenateWays and Means budget to be released next week. Please look for anAction Alert in your email and call your Senators to support ourpriorities mid-week.

As the budget process works towards its conclusion in June, we arecontinuing our legislative efforts. One of our top priorities, the

Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund legislation, will have ahearing. Thank you to Karen Peterson from the South Shore YMCA fortestifying on behalf of all the Ys across Massachusetts.

Regulations are also being reviewedA final draft of the Paid Family Medical Leave Regulations have beenreleased. Thank you to everyone who has provided me with theirthoughts and questions on these. We expect to turn in our collectivefeedback to the Department of Family and Medical Leave next week.

And with the end of school and camp just around the corner, now isthe time to start planning for your Local Advocacy Day at your Y! Weurge you to invite your elected officials to visit your Y or your campthis summer. There is a toolkit on the Alliance website on planningyour Local Advocacy event!

CELEBRATING THE YMCA's 175thBIRTHDAY

On Saturday June 8, 2019, YMCAs around the world are celebratingthe YMCA's 175th birthday with a day of action! In honor of this

special occasion, YMCAs will invite members, program participants,partners and neighbors to volunteer 175 minutes of their time to

improve their community. This is how the US Y Movement willparticipate in World Challenge

World YMCA - the global resource office for Ys worldwide - has issued

a World Challenge to Ys to mobilize their communities on June 8 for a

day of good. YMCA of the USA is inviting U.S. Ys to participate

because it's a great way to connect with the global YMCA Movement,

celebrate a historic milestone, honor our legacy as a volunteer-led

organization and build stakeholder awareness of the Y's impact -

locally and globally.

The Basics - What You Need to Know

Who: All Ys are invited to participate and to mobilize staff, volunteers,members and neighbors

What: Participants volunteer for 175 minutes to improve theircommunity

When: Saturday, June 8, 2019 Where: Your community... and communities around the world where

the Y is present Why: To celebrate the Y's 175th birthday and our legacy of

empowering people to strengthen their communities!

How to Participate

Whether your Y hosts a volunteer event or collaborates with other

organizations in the community to host an event, the goal is to

connect people to an opportunity to volunteer for 175 minutes on

June 8. Participating YMCAs are invited to register with YMCA of the

USA to be included in an interactive map on our national website

(ymca.net/volunteer175) to help the public locate an event near

them. In early spring 2019, Ys can access marketing materials and

templates on the Brand Resource Center to promote this event. Visit

Link to stay up to date on the latest information and resources.

MAY YMCA SPOTLIGHTS

EXTRA EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! YMCAs in Massachusetts have been taking greatstrides in their work to serve our members and

communities. Check out the latest news from localYMCA leaders across the state:

Signature Healthcare, Old Colony YMCA EastBridgewater unite to establish Healthy Living

Center

State Representatives Josh Cutler and DavidDeCoste made a visit to the South Shore YMCA!

Rep Josh Cutler (6th Plymouth) toured the Emilson YMCA with CEO,Paul Gorman and Grant Writer, John Galluzzo on the morning of

March 12th. Rep David DeCoste (5th Plymouth) toured the Y laterthat afternoon. The photo below captures Rep DeCoste (left), CEO

Paul Gorman (middle), and John Galluzzo (right).

Old Colony YMCA Participates in the Healthy

Plymouth Healthy Vacation Program

PLYMOUTH - From hiking to basketball, yoga to hip hop, and birding tobeekeeping, there's something for everyone during the fourth annual

Healthy Plymouth April Vacation Program.

The program for middle school students ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.,Monday to Friday on April 15th to 19th, and was offered free ofcharge to sixth, seventh and eighth grade students who live inPlymouth. Lunches and snacks were provided for free as well.

The programs were based primarily at the Loring Center at 384 CourtSt. in North Plymouth. Two programs were hosted elsewhere - at St.Peter's Parish Center downtown and Plymouth Fitness in the Plymouth

Industrial Park.

Students who opted to stay at the Loring Center will enjoy a Poundexercise class with the Old Colony YMCA, mindful meditation and

yoga, a high-energy hip hop class led by Karen Rich and a nature walkexploring Russell and Sawmill Pond Conservation Area with guides

from Wildlands Trust.

Such a wonderful way to keep kids active during April break!

Malden YMCA Grocery Program Reaches NewMilestone

On March 30, the Malden YMCA Grocery Program reached amilestone of distributing over 100,000 pounds of free food and

household items since the start of its program in February 2018. Themilestone was reached during the Y's first ever Grocery Market in

Medford. This event was open to the public and held at the ColumbusElementary School courtyard.

The event was made possible by the Tufts University CommunityOutreach Project which provided 11 student volunteers, as well as by

the generous staff of the Columbus School, Malden YMCA, WillisAvenue Community Center and other community volunteers. Mayor

Stephanie Muccini Burke was in attendance and helped distributegroceries for the duration of the event.

The market distributed over 5,000 pounds of groceries such asdiapers, laundry detergent, trash bags, shampoo, watermelons,

pineapples, honey dew, frozen fish and chicken, potatoes, carrots andcabbage. The event served nearly 100 families, including 118 children,

139 adults, 27 seniors and distributed 193 bags."The Malden YMCA strongly believes that no child should be hungry orfeel shame because of what they have, or don't have, to eat," said

CEO Debbie Amaral.

For over 20 years, the Malden YMCA has made a commitment thatno child will feel the insecurity of not knowing where their next meal is

coming from. Throughout the year, the Y serves over 74,000 freemeals and 41,000 healthy snacks to over 2,000 youth and teens at29 summer sites and seven year-round sites in Malden, Everett andMedford. Additionally, the grocery program is reaching hundreds offamilies in need in the community through food pantries, weekend

grocery programs and "Pop-Up Market" events such as the ColumbusSchool event.

Read the full article HERE

Volunteers plant, mulch and more at DartmouthYMCA's Sharing the Harvest Community Farm

for annual Spring into Service event.

DARTMOUTH - Rain poured down Saturday, April 13th, turning grassyfields into puddles of sticky mud, but that could not keep volunteers

away from YMCA's Sharing the Harvest Community Farm.

The volunteers gathered for the farm's annual Spring into Serviceevent where they planted potatoes and strawberries, mulched paths,

and put up chicken coop fencing despite the wet weather.The event was one of eleven volunteer-driven events across the Bay

State sponsored by the Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA) forNational Volunteer Week.

Congratulations on the great event, Dartmouth Y!

Read the full article HERE

SOUTH SHORE YMCA: Camp Helps CombatSummer Learning Loss

At summer camp, children build skills and memories that last alifetime, in a place where they can truly belong. Camp is where kidsmake new friends, discover new talents, build character and actively

explore their imagination.

The South Shore YMCA offers a wide variety of camp experiences thatmeet the needs of every family and child - from day camp, to

overnight camp, to vacation camp. Today, The South Shore Y ishome to three summer camps in addition to its twin resident camps

on the Cape.

Camp Gordon Clark in Hanover, located at the Emilson Y, offerstraditional, art, sports, Match Point Tennis Academy and specialtyenrichment camps for children ages 3.5 to 15 years old. This year,partnerships will continue on with Harmon Golf in Rockland, LevitateSurf in Hull, Hingham Maritime Center, and the North & South RiversWatershed Association, providing campers with popular Golf Camp,

Surf Camp, Sailing Camp, and River Adventures programs.

"We have also expanded our specialty camps, thanks to Wicked Coolfor Kids and Playwell Tek, to include Rocket Science, Cool Med School,

Harry Potter Engineering, and a whole collection of STEAM basedprograms," said Camp Director Christopher Crossen-Sills. "In addition,

we have expanded our nature programs in collaboration with theSouth Shore Natural Science Center, to include survival skills and

expanded farming programs."

Learn more about what South Shore Y is doing to prevent summerlearning loss HERE

Greenfield YMCA Water therapy: A Prescriptionfor Better Health

"Splish, splish, splash" is more than a catchy Bobby Darin song. It'salso the sound that comes from the Greenfield YMCA's pool every

weekday, as local residents partake in water therapy classes.

The classes, created 28 years ago under former Aquatics DirectorPam Mickiewicz, are a fun and stress-free way to exercise gently in a

pool without putting unnecessary pressure on muscles and joints.

"We want the water therapy class to enhance on core strengtheningand help minimize fall risks," said Sarah Smith, the current aquaticsdirector. "I want my participants to make new friends, increase their

self-confidence and overall improve upon their physical health."Smith teaches four classes a week with a total of 70 participants.

Water Therapy I and II focus on balance, flexibility and core strength,making sure everyone has steady footing when they're movingaround. Participants are aided by floatation belts, and also use

lightweight resistors for stretching and jumping jacks. Participantsages 15 and older are welcome.

Read more about Greenfield YMCA's Water Therapy ProgramHERE

Hampshire HOPE, YMCA Partnering on OpioidPrevention and Overdose Training

Hampshire HOPE and The Hampshire Y are teaming up to offer acommunity training May 14, 7 -8 p.m. at the Hampshire RegionalYMCA on combatting the opioid epidemic. The session is open to Y

members and the wider community as well. There's no need toregister in advance.

Their work was recently published in the Gazette. Read the full articleHERE

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR MASSACHUSETTSYMCA'S FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS

OVER THE PAST MONTH. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

Today's Youth, Tomorrow's Leaders

Engage youth in your Y and create the leaders of tomorrowby starting a YMCA Youth and Government Program!

If you are interested in starting a Youth and Government program,please reach out to Caitlin Cavanaugh

by phone: 617-688-2043 or email: caitlin.cavanagh@maymca.com

http://www.mayouthandgov.com/

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

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