The Alexander Family YMCA is building a 10,000-square-foot youth center to serve youth in the downtown Raleigh area.
Quality programming for youth outside school hours is critical to their physical, mental and social-emotional health. The YMCA will boldly serve this need. The Alexander Jones Wright YMCA Youth Center will allow the Y to directly impact more children, teens, families and individuals in the community.
The Facility
The Alexander Jones Wright YMCA Youth Center will include a 10,000-square-foot facility with designated outdoor areas for group and individual recreation and wellness activities.
- Multi-purpose gym for youth and teen sports
- Flex space for academic assistance, after school, day camp and teen leadership programs
- Fresh air space for outdoor play
- Expanded parking
- Expanded group fitness space in the current facility
Project Scope
The Alexander Jones Wright YMCA Youth Center will allow the following Y programs to expand:
- Academic remediation for students after school who are not meeting school benchmarks
- Inclusive spaces to support teenagers who often feel isolated in this digital world
- Safe, quality child care so parents can work
- Youth and teen sports that build confidence
- Fully dedicated outdoor workout options to allow ongoing physical activities in all circumstances
30 percent of U.S. teens state they have poor mental health with 22 percent having seriously considered suicide.
Less than one-quarter (24%) of children 6 - 17 years of age achieve the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
1 in 5 American kids is considered obese.
“Providing kids and teens with a safe and fun space outside of home and school is a driving principle of the YMCA mission. We know it is critical to their physical, mental and social emotional health to have somewhere they can know and grow their self-worth, where they can unplug and be themselves and where they can be active, creative and studious.”
- Bruce Ham, YMCA CEO
Pearl Alexander, Earl Jones and Willie Wright worked at the YMCA on Hillsborough Street for more than 130 combined years and the care they showed YMCA members through that time helped build a culture of family. Their remarkable commitment to creating community within the walls of the Y made the individuals who entered the doors feel welcomed, loved and included each and every day. To honor their work, the new YMCA Youth Center behind the Alexander facility will be named The Alexander Jones Wright YMCA Center.