1 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend. 2 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: Each week right here we come together talk about all 3 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 1: the topics important to you and the place where you live. 4 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,639 Speaker 1: Thanks again for tuning in this week. I'm Nicole Davis. 5 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:21,959 Speaker 1: Families on the South Shore have been able to rely 6 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: on their local YMCA for more than one hundred and 7 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: thirty years so far. That's not changing anytime soon. From 8 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: youth programs to sports, social services, to early ed and 9 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: so much more. Trevor Williams says they've got a plan 10 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 1: to not just keep all of these options going, but 11 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: expand those offerings and serve even more people in the 12 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: years to come. Trevor is the newly appointed President and 13 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: CEO of the South Shore YMCA, and he joins us 14 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: now we're going to talk all about their plans. So Trevor, 15 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,279 Speaker 1: thank you so much for the time. Let's begin here 16 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 1: with a rundown of your wise history and what you 17 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: have to offer for people right now. 18 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 2: Well, thanks for having me. I would say that if 19 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 2: you have been to a while, you have been to 20 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 2: that why because all wives are a little bit different, 21 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 2: and here on the South Shore we are not different 22 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 2: than that. We have some things that we tend to 23 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 2: focus on a little bit more than others, but we 24 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: have a lot of similarities as well. On the South Shore, 25 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 2: we are comprised of twelve different locations, two of which 26 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 2: are what most people think about when they think about 27 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 2: a YMC, a place of the pool in a basketball 28 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 2: court and gymnasiums and weight rooms and all that. Those 29 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 2: would be considered our kind of traditional branches. But the 30 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 2: Sousha Ms also operates the Germantown Neighborhood Food Pantry, which 31 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:39,680 Speaker 2: is right here in Quincy, which is an extremely vital 32 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 2: element to the city where it is a massive resource 33 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 2: for people within food and securities. A little bit further 34 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 2: south and Norway, we operate the Nature Science Center or 35 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 2: what we call the Nature Center. That's a whole educational 36 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 2: piece with a five caroom preschool that is all center 37 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 2: around the natural environment and those kids spend like eighty 38 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 2: percent of their day outside learning about the natural environment 39 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 2: and obviously everything to get them ready to go to school. 40 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 2: A little bit further south than that, we have an 41 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 2: outdoor aquatic center, we have an early learning center. So 42 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 2: we're not all and most wives are like this, They're 43 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 2: not all places with the basketball course, but that's what 44 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 2: most people tend to think about when they think about 45 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 2: the WISE. 46 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: Sure, but you're out there in your community and you're 47 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 1: providing services that frankly right now a lot of people 48 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 1: need more than ever. 49 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:37,959 Speaker 2: Well that's how WISE were formed, you know, Wise were 50 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 2: formed on community service that was needed in your local community. 51 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 2: So that's why all the WISE don't do the same 52 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 2: things or look the same. Each community might need something different, 53 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 2: and so a really good why is actually serving the 54 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: needs of their community. And in many of our communities 55 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 2: in food and security is a big deal, so you'll 56 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 2: see a lot of the WISE are helping out there. 57 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 2: We're also in the state of Massachusetts, the largest provider 58 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 2: of early education in the entire state if you combine 59 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 2: all the wives together. And why are we in that space, Well, 60 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 2: not only have we been doing it since the beginning, 61 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:18,919 Speaker 2: it is such an expensive cost in most people's households, 62 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,359 Speaker 2: so the YMCA can only do it at a high 63 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 2: high standard. We also can try to keep the prices 64 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 2: pretty affordable. And then of course every one of our 65 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 2: programs in services has the ability to have financial aid 66 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: applied to it. So we are what I consider when 67 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 2: I think about the communities that we serve in. I 68 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 2: think we are the leveling of the playing field for 69 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 2: all socioeconomic classes because everybody can afford to come to 70 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 2: the Why. 71 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: How many people would you say you are serving in 72 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: that part of the Commonwealth at this point. 73 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 2: Last year, just at our two large branches, we had 74 00:03:57,720 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 2: over one million, three hundred visits. 75 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: Wow. 76 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 2: And so you are saying large, large volumes of people 77 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 2: use these programs. But I would say if you just 78 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 2: said individuals, we're serving over sixty thousand individuals in our 79 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 2: communities annually, and those are a lot of people who 80 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 2: come more than once. But if you just took out 81 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 2: the repeat customer and just said, you know, unique people 82 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 2: could be well over sixty thousand people. I'm not even 83 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 2: sure we know how to calculate it. But members aside, 84 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 2: I think we impact a whole lot more people than 85 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 2: just our membership. 86 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: Well, sure you're not just working in the community, but 87 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: you're working with cities and towns and well, we'll talk 88 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: a little bit more about your future over there at 89 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: the South Shore Why in a minute, but I want 90 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 1: to talk about you for just a few moments, because 91 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: you actually, sir, have a new job in a way. 92 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 1: You have been appointed as the president and CEO as 93 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 1: of just about three months ago, maybe three months in, 94 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 1: like a week or two. Tell us a little bit 95 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: about your promotion and how you feel about this. 96 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 2: Well, thanks for asking. Now, this is a very exciting 97 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 2: time for our Why Luckily for me, I had been 98 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 2: the chief operating officer at the Selsial Wife for the 99 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 2: past five years, and then just this past year, the 100 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 2: board had worked with the outgoing president and CEO and 101 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 2: I did to create this whole transition year because we 102 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 2: really believed an organization our size really needed a transition 103 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 2: plan rather than a succession plan, rather than a refresh 104 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 2: or restart. The board was really excited about what we 105 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 2: had been working on in the trajectory and the culture 106 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 2: that we had developed, so they were more interested and 107 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 2: let's keep this rolling and not have any setbacks. So 108 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 2: we had promoted a succession plan, as any large organization 109 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 2: should do. The board was excited about it, and so 110 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 2: luckily for me, I got to take over as the 111 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 2: president and CEO this past January. And so I am 112 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 2: it's oh blessed to be here because it's not a 113 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 2: new organization for me, and nor is it a new 114 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 2: YMCA for me, so with that we can kind of 115 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 2: hit the ground running. And the board put a lot 116 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:14,919 Speaker 2: of time last year into writing our new strategic plan, 117 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 2: which gives me the roadmap for the things we're going 118 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 2: to focus on right out of the gates. So we 119 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 2: haven't missed a beat, you know. I'm really excited about 120 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 2: the team and the group of volunteers that we have 121 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 2: working with us to just kind of keep the momentum going. 122 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 2: It's been a great start to the new year. 123 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: Well, not to mention, I mean, you've been in the 124 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,840 Speaker 1: Y movement for something like twenty years or twenty years 125 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: plus at this point. So to be able to take 126 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:44,160 Speaker 1: all that experience and that time and all the people 127 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: you've met and put it forward into this new leadership role, 128 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 1: I can't imagine how much you have to draw from 129 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: from that past experience. 130 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I appreciate it. It's another fun way of saying that 131 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 2: I've gotten kind of old here. 132 00:06:56,200 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: That's not what I meant, but okay, I. 133 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:04,720 Speaker 2: Will tell you. It's a culmination of a great career 134 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 2: that has been influenced by some really terrific people, some 135 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 2: great mentors who have all helped me work toward this 136 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 2: goal for a long time, and an organization this size, 137 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 2: you know, you want to make sure you have a 138 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 2: very mature, experienced person to run it, and luckily for me, 139 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 2: hit my age. Now I fit that bill and hopefully 140 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 2: I'll do a great job. But a lot of people 141 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 2: have sewed into me, and I'm hoping to return that 142 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 2: to the not only the next generation, but to reward 143 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 2: the people who have helped me get here. But it's 144 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 2: been a great career. It's been all I've ever done. 145 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 2: I actually didn't even join the YMCA until I was 146 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 2: thirty four, So when you said I've been here for 147 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 2: over twenty years, it's like on top of a lot 148 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 2: of experience in the for profits side of this industry. 149 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 2: So I kind of learned a little bit differently than 150 00:07:56,720 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 2: most YMCA folks. And then I've applied that to my 151 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 2: passion for helping the community and helping people, and it's 152 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:06,600 Speaker 2: been a match made in heaven ever since. 153 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 1: Well, you talk about putting energy back into the people 154 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 1: who've helped you and the community that's helped you, and 155 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: that kind of segues nicely into this Together We Thrive 156 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: strategic plan. You were touching on a few minutes ago. 157 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: This is just starting to roll out now. You said, 158 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: the board has spent about a year putting this together. 159 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: Tell me about how this changes things, if it does 160 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: change things at the south Shore why, and what you 161 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: really want to focus on moving forward in the coming 162 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: months and years with this. 163 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks for asking. This is such an important part 164 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 2: of our start here. So it's a three year plan. 165 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 2: We launched it in January, and this was a year's 166 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 2: worth of work that the board put into listening to 167 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 2: the community. Again, we're here to serve the community, so 168 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 2: by listening to the community and really utilizing a lot 169 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 2: of their community needs assessments that they had accomplished in 170 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:56,200 Speaker 2: the last year. That could be the City of Quincy, 171 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 2: the Town of hanover all, the major hospitals and so on. 172 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:02,839 Speaker 2: We took all their research and said, all right, here's 173 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 2: what they're identifying as the needs of our community. How 174 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 2: can we help Where do we fit into that? And 175 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 2: we identified five pillars that we think if we can 176 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 2: help focus on, it will not only strengthen this why, 177 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 2: but it'll strengthen our whole community. The five pillars are 178 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 2: not going to shock you, but we want to go 179 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 2: much deeper. And have a much bigger impact than all 180 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 2: of them. So the first one is to expand youth, 181 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 2: team and family programming, because as we listen to the community, 182 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 2: what we hear is that families just continue to need 183 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 2: a place to be together. It brings the whole community together, 184 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 2: and it also allows families to either go to work 185 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 2: or continue to prosper while we take care of their kids, 186 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 2: whether that be teaching them how to swim or something 187 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 2: that they all do together. So that's our first thing. 188 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 2: We've already got out of the gates pretty strong until 189 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:59,319 Speaker 2: a number one. We just opened nine thousand square foot 190 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:03,199 Speaker 2: group sorry excuse me, a gymnastics center here in Quincy, 191 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 2: and from what we could find, it's the only gymnastics 192 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 2: center that's in Quincy, and we think it's going to 193 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 2: serve a great deal of population here that has been 194 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 2: probably driving out of the city to go find this 195 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 2: product or to participate in this way, and we just 196 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 2: want to bring more people into that kind of programming. 197 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 2: So we're off to a good start there. The second 198 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 2: pillar was to increase impact invisibility to what we call 199 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 2: medical wellness programs. So a lot of people would hear 200 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 2: that and think what's a medical wellness program. We serve 201 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 2: a lot of people, you know, post post surgery, post cancer, 202 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 2: or pre diabetes, and so there's a lot of programming 203 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 2: that would support that. For example, our Stay Strong program 204 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 2: is a cancer survivor program for anybody who's been diagnosed 205 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 2: with cancer. The sweet spot for us is when they're 206 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:00,559 Speaker 2: just about finished with their treatments. You know that patient 207 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 2: now is saying, Hey, what's next for me? And the 208 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 2: next step is to come to the why. It's a 209 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 2: free program, you don't have to be a member. Your 210 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:10,199 Speaker 2: whole entire family's going to get a free membership. The 211 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 2: kids are going to get all kinds of benefits. We're 212 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 2: going to take your whole support network. We're going to 213 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 2: support them all. But that program is essential to someone 214 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 2: getting back their strength a routine and they're going to 215 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:26,439 Speaker 2: be surrounded by a whole bunch of other cancer survivors 216 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 2: and people who understand cancer very well. And I think 217 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 2: it's a not only a socio like a social setting 218 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 2: to express yourself and be around like minded people, but 219 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 2: it's also going to hopefully get your strength back. That's 220 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 2: an example of a medical wellness program. The wise do 221 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 2: them very very well, we are not the doctors, but 222 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 2: we are hopefully the next thing after your doctor tells 223 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:55,719 Speaker 2: you you're kind of on your own. Third pillars to 224 00:11:55,760 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 2: elevate the member experience. So this is in our own 225 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 2: best interest to make sure that we create communities within 226 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 2: the bigger community. So we want our members to feel 227 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 2: like this is their second home. And the more we 228 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:11,319 Speaker 2: can know them and know about them and put them 229 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 2: in smaller groups where they know each other, the better 230 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 2: we'll be. We're really seeing and trying to address social 231 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 2: isolization with that goal, not only for seniors who are 232 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 2: at home, maybe living in the house that they've been 233 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 2: in for a while by themselves and not getting out enough, 234 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 2: but it's also for teams who were finding are just 235 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 2: spending way too much time either in groups, but on 236 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 2: their phone or home all So we think that that's 237 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 2: going to have a great deal of help there, and 238 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 2: that's one of the things we heard from every community 239 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 2: needs assessment with social isolization. It's a big, big, upcoming problem. 240 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 2: Fourth pillar was to really work out our own staff 241 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 2: prioritize staff retention through workforce development. And this might be 242 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 2: a funny one because when I tell people this, they 243 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 2: think it's a little else serving like, well, that's going 244 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:03,839 Speaker 2: to help the Why Actually, it's going to help a 245 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 2: lot of things because if we can keep great employees 246 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 2: here employed in our community and they don't leave our community, 247 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 2: it actually helps housing, it helps social services. It's a 248 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 2: wrap around concept. We need to keep our employees really happy, 249 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 2: we need to keep them career growth and development. If 250 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 2: we can do that, we will absolutely help the community 251 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 2: with their with their needs as well. And then the 252 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 2: fifth is to optimize the facilities in our infrastructure. So 253 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 2: one of the things that South Shore or YMC is 254 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 2: best known for is its facilities. These are fantastic facilities, 255 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 2: every single one of our twelve locations, but the two 256 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:45,679 Speaker 2: major branches. These are some of the biggest YMC is 257 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:50,439 Speaker 2: in the country and they're spectacular. They serve a lot 258 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 2: of people and it's been very important for us to 259 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 2: utilize them in a way that we can serve as 260 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 2: many people as possible. Those are the five pillars. You 261 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 2: can only imagine how how many sub bullets are under 262 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 2: every one of them. 263 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: What are you hearing from your not customers, that's not 264 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: the right word, but the people who use your facilities, 265 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: do they tend to agree with this program. Do they 266 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 1: have any other suggestions? What have you heard so far? 267 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 2: It's a great question, because the members are the heart 268 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 2: of the organization, right The members are the YMCA. So 269 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 2: the membership or the YMCA is led by volunteers a 270 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 2: volunteer board. They are non paid volunteer board, and they 271 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 2: ac set the tone for the whole organization. So you 272 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 2: start at the top with volunteers, and our members are 273 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 2: no different. The members are the most passionate people about 274 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 2: the YMCA. They obviously could join anywhere they wanted to 275 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 2: if they felt like it was just about getting access 276 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 2: to a treadmill or getting access to a strength equipment 277 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 2: like other people have that too, of course, but I 278 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 2: think they joined the why because they take a great 279 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 2: deal of pride in the fact that by being part 280 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 2: of a community organization, you're actually serving and helping the community. 281 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 2: And that's where it just starts. So then you take 282 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 2: a member who says, well, I want to help out 283 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 2: with the Hope for the Holidays program or the Thanksgiving drive, 284 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 2: or I want to come to one of the events, 285 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 2: or I want to spend some time helping other people, 286 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 2: or just being here every day lifting the spirits of 287 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 2: someone who might need it. Right, that's where community really starts. 288 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 2: And I know our members I love the Why for that. 289 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 2: I hope it's their second happiest place outside of their 290 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 2: own home. I hope it's their second happiest place to 291 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 2: go every day. And the last part of the question 292 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 2: you asked about what do I hear from them? I 293 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 2: hear wonderful, uplifting and very inspirational stories daily. That's what 294 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 2: happens at a Why. But if they had their way, 295 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 2: they would want me to add more and more facilities 296 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 2: to these already very large facilities. 297 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 1: Of course they do. I mean that they need more pools, 298 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 1: and they want more tennis courts, and I mean I 299 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: think they want to enjoy those facilities. But unfortunately doing 300 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: that requires money. We all hate to talk about, but 301 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 1: it's true it does. And tell me a little bit 302 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 1: about how people can support you. You've got this great 303 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 1: event coming up, Taste of the South Shore. We'll talk 304 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 1: about that in a minute. But if somebody in the 305 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: community wants to give back to the Why, but they 306 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 1: haven't really been sure, how you know, can local businesses 307 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 1: donate to you? Can nonprofits? How can they help you 308 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 1: in this. 309 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 2: Mission well as a charitable nonprofit five oh one C three. 310 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 2: This allows us the ability to not only raise charitable funds, 311 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 2: but in a really strong YMC like mine, one hundred 312 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 2: percent of those funds, one hundred percent of every dollar 313 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 2: goes toward whatever we're raising it for. So because of 314 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 2: the strength of the YMC, because of the strength of 315 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 2: the organization, we can take a charitable dollar and apply 316 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 2: it in a one hundred percent toward whatever that might be. 317 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 2: And I think my answer to this question would simply be, 318 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 2: let me talk to the person, because we'll have something 319 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 2: that I bet they'll be interested in serving. Now, remember 320 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 2: the YMSA serves infants and and everybody in between. So 321 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 2: whatever that person's passions are, whatever their interests are, I 322 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 2: bet you we have something that would appeal to them 323 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 2: more than just by saying, hey, we do one thing 324 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 2: or two things in a charitable fashion. We do hundreds 325 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:20,640 Speaker 2: of things in a charitable fashion, so it's not uncommon, 326 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:22,880 Speaker 2: and I can find two or three things that light 327 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 2: them up very quickly, and then we have a really 328 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 2: robust conversation going about how excited they are to help 329 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:31,600 Speaker 2: out with that. So I would encourage anybody who wants 330 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 2: to get involved with the YMCA and support is just 331 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 2: reach out to your local YMCA leaders and ask them 332 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:38,679 Speaker 2: how you can help. And I bet that conversation that 333 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 2: goes for the next few minutes is really exciting. 334 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:43,679 Speaker 1: One Taste of the South Shore this is happening in 335 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 1: May Wednesday, May sixth. Tell me about what somebody who 336 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 1: goes to this event is going to experience when they 337 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:49,440 Speaker 1: get there. 338 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 2: All right, the Taste of this Shore is so a 339 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:56,880 Speaker 2: unique event. So this is a collection of the best 340 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 2: chefs in our area, all donating their time to a 341 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:04,200 Speaker 2: really great cause and is this year we're focusing on 342 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:09,439 Speaker 2: child growth and development, and so they are going to 343 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 2: compete against each other to serve the best tastes of 344 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:16,199 Speaker 2: the South Shore and we will award one of those chefs, 345 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:19,920 Speaker 2: one of those restaurants the award every year. So they're 346 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 2: going to bring their best and as a participant, you 347 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 2: get to sample over I think there's forty to fifty 348 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 2: booths of different foods and drinks and you get to 349 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 2: play the game with us to try to pick who 350 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,920 Speaker 2: was the best taste. And while we're doing all that, 351 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 2: of course, we're selling tickets and getting sponsorship for this event, 352 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:44,879 Speaker 2: and all that money, all that donated dollar goes toward 353 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 2: are all of our youth serving programs that support families 354 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 2: and the kids that are in them. So we're really 355 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 2: excited about this event. This is not the first time 356 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 2: we've done this. I think we're really in the high twenties, 357 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 2: if not almost thirty years of doing this. But it 358 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:06,360 Speaker 2: gets bigger and grander and more extravagant every year. 359 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,120 Speaker 1: This is super exciting and the South Shore honestly has 360 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 1: so many great chefs and so many amazing restaurants. It's 361 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:14,960 Speaker 1: going to be worth it no matter what you have 362 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 1: to do to get there. I would say it is 363 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:18,120 Speaker 1: a night not to miss. 364 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 2: I would agree it is a fantastic event. I know 365 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 2: I'm biased in saying that, but if I wasn't even 366 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 2: associated to the why this is the event I'd bring 367 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:28,720 Speaker 2: my wife to every year. No question. 368 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 1: Where can people go to get tickets for this event, 369 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 1: because I'm sure they're going to start selling out pretty quick. 370 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,160 Speaker 2: YEP, tickets are available on our website. You can also 371 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 2: just call any one of the South Shore YMCA branches, 372 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 2: but tickets are available easiest through the website. You'll find 373 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 2: all the information, dates, times, and all the arrangement sets. 374 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:51,880 Speaker 2: The ss YMCA dot org short for Sushore YMCA dot org, 375 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 2: and you'll have all the information right that. You can 376 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 2: buy tickets right online. 377 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: All right, great, and again ss YMCA dot org. That 378 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: is where somebody wants to donate, they want to volunteer, 379 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:03,640 Speaker 1: or they want to sign up and get a membership. 380 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 1: They can do it all there. 381 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:05,880 Speaker 2: As well, right, do it all right there? 382 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:08,920 Speaker 1: Yep, all right, beautiful. Well, Trevor, this is really exciting 383 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 1: and congratulations to you on your new gig. I really 384 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:13,680 Speaker 1: look forward to seeing what comes next in the next 385 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 1: few years for the South Shore YMCA. 386 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 2: Thanks for the time, Nicole, Thanks again for having me. 387 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 2: It's been a great deal of fun. 388 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 1: Have a safe and healthy weekend. Happy Spring, by the way, 389 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,479 Speaker 1: Join us again next week for another edition of the show. 390 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: I'm Nicole Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.