This Is Y

Aquatics at the First Coast YMCA isn't just about providing swim lessons. It's also about making sure all children have access to lessons. The First Coast YMCA also makes it a priority to teach children about general water safety as well. In addition, the FCYMCA provides swim instruction to adults so that the entire family can be safe in and around water.

The First Coast YMCA is making a concerted effort to provide a variety of populations the resources they need to live a healthy life, including women aged 45-60. Next month, the First Coast YMCA will be hosting two Women’s Wellness Days at the Williams Family YMCA and the Winston Family YMCA to help provide awareness to all of the programs and services that are available to women in that age group. To talk about those events on today’s episode are Connie Smith, Senior Healthy Living Director, First Coast YMCA; Olivia Smith, Senior Director of Development, First Coast YMCA; and Susie Chapman, Senior Membership Director, First Coast YMCA.

Serving hundreds of thousands of members and participants at more than two dozen branches and sites across five counties in Northeast Florida, the First Coast YMCA is a diverse ecosystem of opportunities and resources. It takes a considerable amount of staffing to provide that, and the First Coast YMCA is always looking for the next great addition to its team. On this week’s edition of This Is Y, we sit down with Leslie Cook, Director of Recruiting & Onboarding; Autumn Franks, Youth Development Program Director; and Luke Proctor – Regional Aquatics Director to discuss what makes working at the First Coast YMCA so special and why there truly is No Place Like This Place.

To better serve the western neighborhood of St. Augustine, the First Coast YMCA, in partnership with several organizations, including the West Augustine Historical Community Development Corporation, recently opened the YMCA at West Augustine branch inside the Greg and Lydia White Wellness Center. The branch provides much-needed healthy living resources and impactful community programming as part of a revitalization of the area. Joining this podcast to talk about how the branch vision came to life are Seth Gonzalez, District Executive Director – St. Augustine, First Coast YMCA; Greg White, Founder & President, West Augustine Historical Community Development Corporation; and Mark Bailey, First Coast YMCA Trustee.

The First Coast YMCA is committed to helping people of all ages live healthy lives, including children. For parents who homeschool, the Y provides a Homeschool Physical Education program, where children can build connections with their peers and maintain consistent physical activity in a more flexible schedule while they are educated at home. Today’s episode features Connie Smith and Melinda Lewis of the First Coast YMCA’s Healthy Living team, along with Katie Anne Sider, a homeschool PE parent, as they discuss the benefits of this unique program for children who are homeschooled.

In this episode, we discuss the legacy of female leadership at the First Coast YMCA and what it means to truly serve as a committed volunteer.

The First Coast YMCA and Jewish Community Alliance Racing Against Hate 5K Run/Walk is an annual event that brings the community together to celebrate the unique aspects of what makes Northeast Florida special. The event, which will be held Sunday, February 22nd and presented by Regency Centers, is the culmination of the third annual Together Against Hate, which featured community discussion events that covered a variety of topics, including human trafficking, youth mental health, Jew-hatred, Indigenous peoples and more. Today’s guests include Eleanor Blair, Vice President of Strategic Communications and Connections at the First Coast YMCA; Heather Terrill, J Institute Director at the Jewish Community Alliance; and Thomas Bolton, Culture & Community Impact Specialist, Regency Centers.

As part of its ongoing focus on youth development, the First Coast YMCA is educating the leaders of tomorrow through YMCA Tiger Academy, a free charter school in Northwest Jacksonville. This week’s episode will explore how this innovative school is providing a critical resource to the community by guiding children in their educational journey. Guests include YMCA Tiger Academy Principal Easter Brown, YMCA Tiger Academy Executive Director Lauren Gibbs, and YMCA Tiger Academy parent Tatiana Pittman.

In this week's episode, we explore the weight loss and personal fitness options offered by the First Coast YMCA and talk to a member who is tremendous weight loss success story.

There are about 1,800 employees at the First Coast YMCA with positions ranging from part-time to full-time to seasonal, encompassing all age ranges and levels of experience. In this episode, we talk about what kind of positions are available, what it's like to work at the YMCA and what makes the YMCA stand out from other places of employment.