Racine Family YMCA

October 2015

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH!

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we would like
t o i n tro du c e o n e o f t h e R ac i n e F am i ly Y M CA STAFF PROFILE
programs...Salsa Sabor y Salud!
Salsa, Sabor y Salud (SSyS) is the first national program
of its kind designed by the National Latino Children’s
Institute (NLCI) to encourage healthy lifestyles among
Latino families. The long term goal of SSyS is to prevent
childhood obesity and chronic illness by increasing
physical activities in Racine’s Hispanic communities.
This is being accomplished by this eight-session
program assisting Hispanic families with children 12 and
under to make healthy choices for eating and
incorporating activity into their daily lives, involving the
whole family.
We have reached over 500 individuals in Racine’s Name: Blanca Vazquez
Hispanic communities since 2012 through our SSyS
Position: SSyS Facilitator
program.
Blanca has been a member of the Racine
Family YMCA since 2004 and became an
employee of the Y in 2006. She has
worked in various Y programs over the
years: Fitness instructor, Childcare
attendant and is Silver Sneaker certified.
Over the past four years, Blanca has lead
the SSyS team of three to improve the
health of Racine’s Hispanic communities,
which has increased the Y’s Hispanic
Hispanic youth exercising during a membership numbers.
Salsa Sabor y Salud session

725 Lake Ave. Racine, WI 53403 Office: 262.634.1994 Fax: 262.634.0401

THE AFRICAN CENTERED RITES OF PASSAGE STAFF PROFILE
In the spring of 2001, the Executive Director of the Racine
Youth Leadership Academy, Ahmad Qawi, completed the Asentu
Institute Adult Rites of Passage. What is the Rites of Passage?
A Rite is simply a ceremonial/
ritual or customary series of
acts marking some significant
occasion. Passage means the
act or process, transition, or
movement from one place or
condition to another.
Therefore, a working definition
of Rites of Passage (ROP) is simply an activity or celebration
marking the successful transition from one life state to another. Name: Cheree Morgan
One of the main philosophies the ROP teaches there are seven Position: Academy Achiever Administrator
(7) life passages in one’s life and that everyone regardless of
race or ethnicity needs a MATRIX to help pass through their Cheree Morgan has been working for
passages. the RACINE FAMILY YMCA in numerous
 A Matrix is a life-giving substance in by which his/her safety departments: Currently, she is the
was assured; the possibilities that were within them; and the Academy Achiever Administrator
energy source by which the tasks in each passage were working closely with all YLA
accomplished. components. She also successfully runs
 A Passage means the act or process, transition, or the Summer YLA program at Carthage
movement from one place or condition to another. College.
In each edition of the Village News, we will be explaining each
Life Passage, and Who or What is the Matrix.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Above is UW-Parkside Chancellor, Deborah Ford,

YLA Class of 2005 at their speaking to members of the Young Leaders
Rites of Passage Ceremony Academy Summer Session about the importance
of education.
 FOCUS ON FATHERS! YLA PROFILE

Around 2008, the Racine Family YMCA became very

interested in addressing the issue of children being raised
in fatherless homes. The first program implemented by Name: Samad Qawi
the Y was the Nurturing Fathers Program ™ (NFP). The Samad is currently a senior at William
NFP is a 13-session fatherhood education program that Horlick High School, where he
provides fathers with group-based parent maintains a 4.0 GPA, is the President
education that promotes positive and responsible fa- of the Horlick Interact Club, a member
therhood practices. of the National Honor Society, plays
Seven years later, that one fatherhood program has varsity basketball at Horlick, and has
grown into the Focus on Fathers Initiative (FOF). been active in the PEOPLES Program
Today, men who want to be better fathers have an option
through the University of Wisconsin-
of programs to participate in helping them
Madison. He wants to study medicine
become not only better fathers but men and life partners.
to become a Neurologist.
The Focus of Fathers Initiative is comprised of the fol-
lowing programs:
 The Nurturing Fathers Program: a 13-session father-  Within Our Reach™: Couples communication sessions

hood education program that provides fathers with that builds on participants’ existing strengths and

group-based parent education that promotes adds critical life and relationship skills to create

positive and responsible fatherhood practices. safer, more stable unions bettering the quality of life

 Father Friendly Employment Program: 6-week for couples as well as their children. Themes include:

employment readiness workshops in collaboration fostering improved communication, managing

with Racine Workforce Development and other critical expectations, and devoting themselves to a mutual

skills needed to help men become more employable. commitment and support.

 Daddy Day Out: A community collaboration of monthly  Racine Fatherhood Coalition: Local organizations
activities, to give fathers and father figures, an collaborating to support fathers in areas of

opportunity to interact with their kids in a low stress, education, employment, and job training.
safe environment throughout the year.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE YMCA STRONG COMMUNITIES ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
For over a century the Racine Family YMCA has provided quality programs and services
$100,000
for area youth, adults and families, responding with appropriate programs to meet the
needs of residents regardless of their ability to pay. Through the Strong Communities
Agenda, the Y will be able to positively affect the lives of more youth and families in
$75,000

YES! THE STRONG COMMUNITIES AGENDA DESERVES MY SUPPORT.

$50,000 I want to support the YMCA’s Strong Communities Agenda, to help youth and
families build positive developmental assets in all young people, support all families, and
mobilize resources to nurture and sustain the building of strong communities. To help
$40,000 achieve this vision, I pledge to support the YMCA’s Strong Kids, Strong Communities

 $100  $200  $300  $400  $500  Other $________.00

$30,000

Campaign. My pledge is:

Name: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
$20,000
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

$10,000 City: ___________________________________________________ State: _________________ Zip: ________________________

The RACINE FAMILY YMCA

Strong Communities Agenda
Advisory Board Members
James Eastman (C0-Chairman) Dr. Jack Parker
President Retired, RUSD
Merchants Moving & Storage
Carole Johnson
Tom Burke (C0-Chairman) Retired
CEO Johnson Family Foundation
Modine Manufacturing Company
Pas. Keith T. Evans
John Busey Greater Mt. Eagle Missionary Baptist Church
Senior Investment Consultant
Robert W. Baird & Co. Liz Powell
Executive Director
Dr. Arthur I. Cyr Racine Community Foundation
Director, Clausen Ctr. For World Business
Carthage College Lesley Walker
Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities
Chuck Tyler University Wisconsin-Parkside
Retired, City of Racine
Park & Recreation Dept. Sheriff Christopher Schmaling
Law Enforcement Center