August Team Member Newsletter

Last month, the LA Y launched a new website and today, the brand new CONNECT site for our Team Members is officially live! Built to be intuitive and informative, the new Connect site houses the info Team Members need to learn, grow and stay connected with the Y!

On Connect, you'll find:

Team Member perks
Team Member of the Month nomination form and archive list
Training and development opportunities
Y Leadership Certification info and much more!

To help celebrate the launch of the reimagined site, we're giving away two of the (crowd-favorite!) Center for Community Well-Being straw hats that were first seen at the Burbank Y Block Party! For a chance to win, follow the instructions below:

Connect Site Scavenger Hunt
1. Visit the new Connect site using the button below or by visiting ymcala.org/Connect
2. Email the answers to the following questions to ErinSacco@ymcaLA.org:

On what date will the next "The LA Y App: The Basics"training be held?
What is the name of at least one Team Member who celebrated 40 Years of Service recently?
How many Employee Resource Groups does the LA Y currently have?
Who is featured on Episode 11 of the Better Together Podcast?
Who is one person that you'd LIKE to be interviewed on the Better Together Podcast?

Submit your answers by Friday, August 29th at midnight for a chance to win!

This summer, I joined the thousands of other Y professionals that have made the efforts to invest in themselves and their professional development by completing my Y-USA Team Leader Certification.

Completing this was such a meaningful milestone for me in my YMCA journey - even more than I expected when heading into this certification track. The program gave me a chance to pause and really focus on how I show up as a leader while also giving me new tools and strategies that I can carry into my daily work. I feel more confident in my ability to support my teammates and Centers, strengthen relationships with others, and help create an environment where staff can thrive.

This certification feels like an important step in my growth and has deepened my commitment to building a long-term career with the YMCA, where I can continue to grow while serving the people that make our YMCA so special - YOU, our team members.

What made the experience so much more meaningful to me was the opportunity to learn alongside YMCA leaders from all over the country. Collaborating with peers from different communities from coast to coast not only expanded my professional network but also reminded me of the unique strength of the YMCA movement—our ability to come together, share knowledge, and support each other in pursuit of a common mission. Every new course felt like a reminder of how strong the YMCA movement is when we share ideas and learn from one another.

I loved having the opportunity to hear different perspectives and build connections with peers who are just as passionate about the Y’s mission as I am. That sense of connection left me feeling energized and even more motivated to bring fresh ideas back to my own YMCA community.

To any of our team members considering taking the next step in your YMCA professional development, I highly recommend making the investment in yourself and getting your next Leadership Certification.

Thank you, McKenzie, for sharing your Leadership Certification story with us! As more and more staff achieve Leadership Certifications, we look forward to sharing more inspiration and tools! Are you interested in pursuing a Y Leadership Certification? Join us at the next All About YMCA Leadership Certifications workshop on October 7th! Register here.

It is with heavy hearts and profound gratitude that we remember the extraordinary life of our teammate, friend, and sister in service, Carmelita Wilson. Carmelita wasn’t just part of the YMCA she was more than that. Her presence radiated warmth, and her bright, genuine, love-filled smile had a way of transforming any space she entered. That smile welcomed new members, reassured children, lifted colleagues, and reminded us all why we do what we do. It was often said, half-joking but fully true, that her smile belonged in a commercial. But we knew better it belonged here, at the Y, where it shined brightest.

Carmelita first joined us as a devoted member, showing up early each morning to work out and uplift others. After the pandemic, we were blessed to welcome her back in 2022 as a Summer Camp Counselor through our Beyond the Bell partnership. From that moment forward, she said “yes” to every opportunity to serve and she never said no. She joined our Membership team, where her smile became the first thing members saw when walking through our doors. She worked during our Tuesday Food Distributions, helping serve over 500 individuals weekly without ever losing the joy in her step. Her words were simple but powerful: “Use me wherever you need me. I’m happy to help.” And she lived those words every single day.

Whether opening the building at dawn or staying late to close, Carmelita poured love into every role she held. In the Child Activity Center, children ran to her with excitement. In the Aquatics Department, she was a steady, trusted presence committed to swim training and serving families with care, calm, and always, that unforgettable smile. In 2024, she pursued becoming a certified cycling instructor. We had the joy of watching her lead her very first demo class with pride and grace, and in that moment, it was clear she had a new passion.

Outside of her formal roles, Carmelita was a dreamer, a storyteller, and a writer. She often shared that one day she hoped to finish a book to give voice to the experiences and lessons that shaped her. She found deep friendship and belonging at the Y, often laughing, supporting, and bonding with the community she considered her family. Carmelita’s impact can’t be summed up in a job title or a schedule. She was a Member, Membership Representative, Summer Camp Counselor, Child Activity Center Lead, Lifeguard, Swim Instructor, Cycling Instructor, and Food Distributor. Her legacy lives on in the child who overcame fear and learned to swim, the member who felt seen at the front desk, the team who leaned on her laughter during hard days, and the community she served with relentless heart. We will forever miss her, but we will carry her light forward in every smile, every act of kindness, and every commitment we make to serve with love. Thank you, Carmelita, for being the soul of our Y.

If you would like to support Carmelita’s memorial services, donations of any amount may be sent directly to her brother, TQuan, via Zelle (email at TQUANMUSIC@gmail.com). Every contribution is deeply appreciated.