Posted on: Monday, July 25th, 2016
Youth Leadership at the Y
Through our leadership programs, the Y makes sure that every child has an opportunity to envision and pursue a positive future, and to take an active role in strengthening community. Our Leaders Clubs develop youth ages 12 to 18 as leaders while fostering a culture of service. Learn about the experiences these teens have had at our Y:
Lindsey DeRusha, a 2016 King Philip Regional High School graduate, began her journey with the Hockomock Area YMCA at age 11. The Y soon became her second home. Lindsey was a Counselor-in-Training, and later a camp counselor. Lindsey has been part of the Invensys Foxboro Branch’s Leaders Club for four years, serving on the Executive Board for three years. This year she was the Club President. Lindsey is most proud of her role in the “Be a Star” project. Leaders from all over the region planned and provided a senior luncheon, helped at an elderly housing community, and assisted at food pantries, homeless shelters, and domestic abuse centers. “I am proud of who the Y has made me and who it’s let me be,” shares Lindsey. “I try to positively impact everyone I meet. It’s through the Y that I have learned to do that.” Lindsey was this year’s Youth of the Year for the Invensys Foxboro Branch.
Samantha Bellavance, a 2016 graduate of Franklin High School, is another model of someone who cares and gives back to their community. She describes herself as a “Y lifer,” since she started going to the Y at age 3. Active in the Y’s Leaders Club, Sam has spent an astonishing 2,000 hours performing community service. She was also active in the School’s Out program, where she was a group leader for the before and after school child care at the Y. This year’s Youth of the Year for the Bernon Family Branch, Sam credits the Y for helping instill in her important values, asserting that “I learned to focus on others. I was inspired to be honest and super respectful. I don’t know what my life would be like without the Y.”
Lindsay Robinson, the North Attleboro Branch Youth of the Year, serves to be another example of a young Y member with both leadership skills and compassion for others. A North Attleboro resident, Lindsay’s first experiences at the Y came when she was a child. Her passion for gymnastics began at our Y and she has progressed to become an exceptional gymnast earning many accolades for her dedication and skill. “I’m most proud of the life skills I’m learning at the Y. They take an interest in me and encourage me to reach for success through hard work,” beams Lindsay. Recognized as a leader in the gym with a strong work ethic and friendly demeanor, Lindsay has also earned a reputation outside the gym for giving back to her community. Last year, Lindsay organized a leotard resale campaign for her Bat Mitzvah project to raise funds for our Y’s Reach Out For Youth and Families Campaign. Lindsay has also donated time to many other causes like Lenore’s Food Pantry, Clean North Attleboro, and our annual ROFY Flip Fest.
To learn more about teen leadership opportunities, click here.
