In this episode of The Story Place, Lauren shares the unexpected path that took her from theater and stage management to working behind the scenes in finance at the YMCA. While the roles may seem worlds apart, Lauren explains how the same skills that once helped her keep a production running now help ensure the resources of the Y get where they need to go.

She also reflects on helping the Y adapt during the earliest days of the pandemic, why donating blood has become deeply personal to her, and what gives her hope for the future of the YMCA.

For Lauren, it all comes back to people. Buildings may change and systems may operate quietly behind the scenes, but it’s people who have carried the heart of the Y for generations and will carry it forward.

It’s a conversation about adaptability, purpose, and saying “yes, and” to wherever life takes you next.

🎧 Listen now and follow The Story Place for more YMCA stories.

Subscribe and share your YMCA story with us at [email protected]. Your story may be featured in a future episode.

The Story Place is back next week, but while we’re away, we’re revisiting a few stories worth hearing again.

This week, we’re going back to our conversation with YMCA member, volunteer, and Snohomish County Councilmember Jared Mead.

Jared shares what it was like growing up at the Y, spending afternoons with his brother, friends, foosball, and plenty of popcorn. Years later, he gets to experience the YMCA all over again through the eyes of his own son.

Along the way, Jared reflects on the importance of creating places where young people from different backgrounds can come together, find community, and begin discovering their place in the world.

🎧 Revisit Jared’s episode of The Story Place on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you listen.

Subscribe and share your YMCA story with us at [email protected]. Your story may be featured in a future episode.

The Story Place is taking a few weeks off for summer, but while we’re away, we’re revisiting a few stories worth hearing again.

This week, we’re going back to one of our youngest conversations yet with Aria and Bailey. Through their eyes, we get a glimpse of what the YMCA feels like to the kids who experience it every day: a place to have fun, try new things, make friends, and discover what they’re capable of.

Sometimes the best way to understand the impact of the Y is simply to ask the kids.

🎧 Revisit Aria and Bailey’s episode of The Story Place on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you listen.

Subscribe and share your YMCA story with us at [email protected]. Your story may be featured in a future episode.

The Story Place is taking a few weeks off for summer, but while we’re away, we’re revisiting a few stories worth hearing again.

This week, we invite you to go back to Jason’s episode. Beyond stories of snowboarding and adventure, Jason shares a powerful moment about what can happen when we take the time to show up for someone who needs us.

When a mom was doing her best but needed a little help, Jason slowed down, listened, and gave her child the time and encouragement he needed to find peace, build confidence, and accomplish something new.

It’s a simple story, but one that captures so much of what the Y is about: meeting people where they are and being there when it matters.

🎧 Revisit Jason’s episode of The Story Place on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you listen.

Subscribe and share your YMCA story with us at [email protected]. Your story may be featured in a future episode.

In this episode of The Story Place, Jerry shares memories from Camp Casey's early days, his family's role in its story, and why he's so passionate about making sure this special place belongs to the whole community.

Subscribe and share your YMCA story with us at [email protected]. Your story may be featured in a future episode.

Some people see a camp kitchen. Auntie Jackie sees 21 dinner tables.

For Jackie, every meal is an opportunity to create something much bigger than food. It's a chance for stories to be shared, memories to be made, and for every camper and guest to feel like they belong. Rooted in her Portuguese-Italian family tradition where every celebration, milestone, and even heartbreak happened around the table, Jackie believes that love is the most important ingredient in every meal.

In this heartfelt conversation, Jackie shares why Camp Casey has been the heartbeat of her life, how hospitality can change someone's day, and why her greatest hope is that every person who leaves camp feels like they found a home, even if only for a little while.

This episode is a reminder that some of life's most meaningful moments don't happen during the big events. They happen around the table.

🎧 Listen now, then subscribe and share your YMCA story with us at [email protected]. Your story may be featured in a future episode

This week on The Story Place, we explore the lasting impact of YMCA Camp Casey with Senior Vice President of Island County and Camping Services, Kyla McNulty.

From the breathtaking views of Puget Sound to the life-changing experiences that happen every summer, Kyla shares why Camp Casey has become such a special place for generations of campers. We talk about the importance of unplugging in a screen-filled world, helping young people build confidence and independence, and the vision for preserving and growing this incredible place for years to come.

Kyla also reflects on her own camp experience, beginning with a week away from home as a child that sparked a lifelong passion for camping and eventually led her back to Camp Casey as a leader.

Whether you're a longtime camper, a parent considering camp for the first time, or simply curious about what makes Camp Casey so meaningful, this episode offers a look at the people and purpose behind one of the YMCA of Snohomish County's most treasured places.

We encourage you to watch this episode on Spotify or YouTube.

🎧 Listen now and follow The Story Place for more YMCA stories.

This week’s episode is a little different! Join us as we walk the grounds of YMCA Camp Casey with Senior Graphic Designer Lincoln Young, talking about the evolution of the YMCA of Snohomish County’s brand, storytelling, and what it means to create a brand that reflects our mission.

We encourage you to watch the video to experience the beautiful scenery along the way.

Subscribe and share your YMCA story with us at [email protected]. Your story may be featured in a future episode.

For Rob, every detail matters because every person matters.

In this episode of The Story Place, Rob shares how his work creating and caring for YMCA spaces is really about creating opportunities for connection, belonging, and joy. From helping a member with dementia maintain her independence, to dressing up in an inflatable dinosaur costume to delight campers, to his passion for making programs accessible for children of all abilities, Rob reflects on the countless ways small acts of care can make a lasting impact.

Drawing from both his professional experience and personal life, Rob shares why inclusion matters and why he believes every person deserves to feel welcomed, valued, and supported.

It's a conversation about accessibility, community, and the people who quietly make the Y feel like home.

🎧 Listen now and follow The Story Place for more YMCA stories.

Subscribe and share your YMCA story with us at [email protected]. Your story may be featured in a future episode.

For Amy, the YMCA has always been more than a gym.

In this episode of The Story Place, Amy shares how the Y became a source of support during one of the most challenging seasons of her life. As she navigated postpartum depression, the YMCA provided a place where she could move her body, find connection, and know she would be seen and welcomed.

Amy also reflects on parenting, community, and why spaces like the Y matter so much. From helping children build confidence and relationships to creating opportunities for people facing isolation, hardship, or uncertainty, she shares stories of how community can change lives in both big and small ways.

It's a conversation about belonging, resilience, and the power of showing up for one another.

🎧 Listen now and follow The Story Place for more YMCA stories.

Subscribe and share your YMCA story with us at [email protected]. Your story may be featured in a future episode.