Westfield Y enters into partnership with newest YMCA in the world

By Christine Alger From nj.com

The Westfield Area YMCA is happy to announce that it has entered into a partnership with the YMCA of the Cayman Islands, the newest YMCA in the world. The YMCA of the Cayman Islands was originally started with resource and training development from the YMCA of the USA and the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg, FL. The Westfield Area YMCA is proud to be lending a hand.

The Cayman Islands was a “Y without walls,” with three full-time staff members, a summer camp and community and teen programs when the Westfield Area Y was first introduced to them in 2015. When the opportunity to become the key school age child care provider on the Island, serving nearly 1,500 kids, they quickly realized they needed help gearing up.

In January 2016, four members of the Westfield Area Y staff traveled to the Cayman Islands along with four staff from the St. Petersburg YMCA to conduct an International Collaborative Youth Leadership Training Conference for approximately 100 staff members and volunteers (many newly hired) that would be providing YMCA programs. The full day conference included sessions on topics such as Working with Adolescents, Leadership, Aquatic Safety, Healthy U, Literacy, Curriculum Development, STEM Programs, Arts & Crafts Activities and Working with Special Needs Children.

In June, two of the staff from the Cayman Islands YMCA traveled to NJ and were able to participate in a variety of trainings, meet YMCA staff members and volunteers, and attend two state-wide YMCA training events.

Both YMCAs benefit from the partnership, from a cultural perspective as well as simple information-sharing. More than 230 U.S. YMCA’s maintain more than 370 relationships with Y’s in other countries.

For more information or to get involved with the Westfield Area YMCA’s International Committee and Partnership, please contact Bonnie Cohen, Director, Communications & Development at the Westfield Area YMCA, [email protected], 908-233-2700 x240.

IMAGE: The Westfield Area YMCA has entered into a partnership with the YMCA of the Cayman Islands, the newest YMCA in the world. Pictured (from left) are Rob Faggiano, Westfield Area YMCA Interim Director of Aquatics; Mark Elsasser, Westfield Area YMCA Chief Executive Officer; Carolyn White, Westfield Area YMCA School Childcare Director; Amanda Aguirre, Westfield Area YMCA Director of Physical Programs; Bonnie Cohen, Westfield Area YMCA Communications/Development Director and Liaison to the International Committee; Cayman Islands YMCA Program Coordinators Jenny Stuesser and Carl Morgan; and Marty Collett, Westfield Area YMCA Camp and Youth/Teen Director. (courtesy photo)

For more on this story go to:  http://www.nj.com/suburbannews/index.ssf/2016/07/westfield_y_enters_into_partne.html