Spring 2026 Update
Healthy Living at the Y is about people, connection and opportunity. Over the past six months, our teams have advanced health, strengthened families and built community across the Triangle.
Aquatics
Our aquatics efforts advance Positive Youth Development and Community Health & Well‑Being by building leadership, confidence and safety skills for youth while expanding access to swim lessons and Safety Around Water programs.
YOTA made waves at the YMCA National Championship in Greensboro (March 20–April 3), competing alongside more than 1,200 athletes from 180+ teams nationwide.
Results at a glance:
- 34 athletes competed
- 6 individual swimmers and 7 relays placed top 16
- Women’s team: 12th nationally
- Men’s team: 15th nationally
- Overall national finish: 12th
Congratulations to our national athletes and coaches on an outstanding performance!
Swim Lessons
Leader: Linda Singh
Team Members: Antoinette Pujol, Margaret Widener, Jaime Jewett, Anna Maria Galardi, Max Turner
Key Accomplishments:
- Developed Swim Instructor In‑Service Guidelines
- Strengthened swim lesson grant compliance
- Enhanced instructor training and development programs
Swim Team
Leaders: Madison Temple, Finley Baldwin
Team Members: David Huie, Stanley Bass
Key Accomplishments:
- Onboarded new swim teams across the association
- Standardized swim team guidelines
- Developed the summer swim meet schedule
Safety & Risk
Leaders: Eric Bjorkquist, Kevin Moffitt
Team Members: Brandon Hicks, Waleska Brown, Luke Edmonds
Key Accomplishments:
- Updated swim band policy
- Revamped camp buddy check procedures
- Updated and refreshed aquatics program guidelines
For the fourth-consecutive year, Delta Air Lines awarded the Association $30,000 to support Safety Around Water programs. Sessions are underway this Spring at Finley, Southeast Raleigh and Taylor.
Safety Around Water is a life-saving initiative offering free water safety education for children and families in under-resourced communities. The program addresses disproportionate drowning rates among specific populations by ensuring swimming is a skill accessible to all children.
Thank you to our Aquatics Directors for their continued commitment to reducing drowning risk and building water confidence across our communities!
Community Health
This work directly supports Community Health & Well‑Being by promoting prevention, education and healthy lifestyles for staff and community members. New collaborations deepen impact by advancing Strategic Partnerships that extend reach and responsiveness across the Triangle.
The YMCA of the Triangle’s Y Health programs and services are designed to empower individuals to take control of their health through a comprehensive, supportive approach. By combining evidence-based programs, personalized health coaching and access to YMCA membership, Y Health provides a pathway for participants to build sustainable, healthy lifestyles.
At the core of Y Health are six nationally recognized, evidence-based programs that address chronic disease prevention and management:
Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring (BPSM):
Supports individuals with hypertension in developing the skills and habits needed to monitor and manage their blood pressure effectively.
Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP):
A 12-month lifestyle change program that helps participants at risk for type 2 diabetes improve nutrition, increase physical activity and achieve modest weight loss.
LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA:
A small-group program designed for cancer survivors, focusing on rebuilding strength, reducing fatigue and improving overall quality of life.
Weight Loss Program:
Provides structured guidance on healthy eating, physical activity and behavior change to support sustainable weight management.
Healthy Weight and Your Child:
A family-based program that engages children and caregivers in building lifelong healthy habits together.
Moving for Better Balance:
Based on Tai Chi principles, this program helps older adults improve balance, flexibility and strength to reduce fall risk.
Together, these offerings advance the Y’s commitment to improving community health, reducing chronic disease risk and ensuring all individuals—regardless of background—have access to the resources and support needed to thrive.
The YMCA continues to invest in staff well-being through educational and supportive opportunities that promote resilience, balance and overall health. Recent and upcoming offerings include:
Nutrition HealthWorks: Fight Stress with Food and Activity
March 23, 2026 | Association Resource Center
A hands-on session where 24 staff members explored practical ways to manage stress through nutrition and movement, including building healthy snacks like trail mix.
Avance Care: Preventing Burnout in the Workplace
May 11, 2026 | Association Resource Center
Focused on strategies to stay motivated, prevent burnout and reduce workplace exhaustion.
Avance: Supporting Your Child Through Life’s Big Transitions
May 13, 2026 | A.E. Finley YMCA
Led by therapist Loryn Jones, MSW, LCSW, this session provides guidance for helping children navigate transitions such as school, summer and college.
Y Health Instructor Info Sessions
May 26, 2026 | Virtual
Designed for prospective instructors to learn about program commitments, training requirements, job expectations and compensation.
Together, these efforts reflect our commitment to supporting staff as whole individuals—at work, at home and in the community.
We expanded our reach through new partnerships with:
- Relay for Life Media
- Sisters Network of the Triangle
- Aging Well
- Community Health Coalition
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties
Community Navigation
Our Navigators advance Community Health & Well-Being by removing barriers to essential services and fostering a strong sense of belonging. Through trusted Strategic Partnerships, they connect individuals and families to critical resources efficiently and with dignity. This work also supports Positive Youth Development, helping ensure youth, teens and families are resilient, supported and able to thrive.
The Community Navigation program addresses the social determinants of health—the everyday conditions that influence overall well-being. These factors include access to safe housing, reliable food, employment, transportation, healthcare and social support. Strengthening these areas is essential to improving health outcomes and ensuring individuals and families can thrive.
Through a tiered approach, the YMCA meets people where they are, providing support that helps individuals and families build stability, navigate resources and move toward long-term well-being.
Community Navigation services are currently available at:
- Alexander Family YMCA
- Northwest Cary YMCA
- Southeast Raleigh YMCA
- Taylor Family YMCA
In partnership with El Pueblo, we hosted a Resource Fair connecting community members to essential services, including FaithAction IDs and U.S. passport assistance. The event provided on‑site application support and photo services, welcomed more than 100 attendees, and featured 10 community partner organizations.
FaithAction International’s Community ID Program offers a critical form of identification for individuals who may not have access to federal, state, or consular IDs. While not a government‑issued ID or driver’s license, it plays an important role in fostering access, inclusion, and community connection.
At the new Alexander Jones Wright YMCA Youth Center, our Community Navigators launched a new wellness series focused on promoting mental and emotional health for program participants and Alexander Y members. The March kickoff event featured a calming yoga session led by a fellow Community Navigator trained through the YMCA’s yoga certification program.
Participants connected with one another, reflected through personal affirmations, enjoyed fresh‑pressed juices, and learned about local therapeutic resources available in the community. The event was a great success, and we’re excited to continue offering inclusive, healing‑focused experiences in this space.
Membership & Wellness
Membership & Healthy Living advances Community Health & Well-Being and Positive Youth Development through personalized, family centered experiences that foster connection and lifelong wellness, supported by strong Operational Infrastructure through enhanced digital tools, training and service culture.
Member Pathways is now available in the YMCA mobile app, offering personalized 8 week workout plans based on:
- Goals
- Fitness level
- Preferred training frequency
Current Pathways
- Get Fit
- Get Strong
- Get Lean
How to Access
- Open the YMCA Mobile App
- Select Workouts
- Tap Member Pathways
- Click the + icon
- Complete the 3-question assessment
Coming soon: website tutorials and member newsletter features.
Launched March 30, this cross functional initiative strengthens how families engage with the Y.
Focus areas:
- Understanding shifts in family needs and behaviors
- Aligning programming, engagement, and pricing
- Embedding family experience across the full member journey
- Developing a strategic roadmap centered on togetherness—being active, serving, and connecting as families
Special thanks to Nikko Tayleor for co-leading this effort.
Retention remains a strategic priority driven by collaboration between Membership, Healthy Living, and Adult Associates.
What’s working:
- Quarterly data reviews and aligned strategy
- Impact Sprint focused on habits, identity, and loyalty
- “See a Habit, Celebrate a Habit” behavior reinforcement
- Elevated service standards: stand, smile, speak, invite—and call members by name
Results
- Staff and Courtesy consistently highlighted in member feedback
- Staff scores of 80+ at multiple branches
- Courtesy scores above 80 across all branches
Human connection continues to be the strongest driver of loyalty and long term engagement.
Thank you to Julie Bradshaw and Jamie Gaskins for leading this work.
We are redefining Personal Training through a holistic model built on five pillars:
- Physical Fitness
- Sleep
- Nutrition
- Mental wellness
- Recovery
Personal Training Academy
The PT Academy elevates both member experience and staff development by offering:
- Workshops focused on high impact member experiences
- Continuing education credits
- Leadership and presenter development opportunities
The YMCA of the Triangle is now an approved continuing education provider for:
- ACE
- NASM
- AFAA
Thank you to the Personal Training Project Team: Paula Ruff, Casey Tucker, Christine Arndt, Amy Davidson and Simeon Ruff.
