February All Staff Newsletter

Imagine that you've found the perfect car. You're at the dealership and they've offered you two payment options. One is just outside of your monthly budget, however, they've offered you a lower rate if you extend the loan by twelve months. What do you do? Even with experience and research, financial decisions aren't always as straightforward as you'd think. Join us on Friday, Feb 21st for a virtual Question and Answer session with Jorge Serrano from Rize Credit Union. During this hour, Jorge will answer all of our financial questions so pop in, listen and walk away feeling more confident and prepared for your next purchase, loan or credit decision!

The Y stands apart with its diverse range of positions—from flexible part-time roles to impactful full-time executive opportunities. Each role plays a vital part in advancing our mission, and it’s essential that we prioritize the development of both our current team and the next generation of Y leaders.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the LA Y’s Empowered Leaders Resource Network (ELRN)! As one of eight officially recognized Employee Leadership Groups, ELRN is designed to uplift and empower team members committed to their professional growth. By becoming a member of this volunteer-driven network, you will gain access to exclusive mentorship, networking opportunities, Y-USA leadership assessments, and priority registration for Y-USA training and conferences. The ELRN will convene both virtually and in person, offering a dynamic platform for career advancement.

If you're eager to get involved, please complete our interest form here, and we will connect you with Brittani and Erin, the ERG co-chairs!

At the YMCA, we’re more than a place for fitness and programs – we’re a community that supports one another in times of need. Today, we’re reaching out on behalf of one of our employees, Puneet Gupta, and her family. Puneet is a valued part of the YMCA community, sharing her passion for yoga with many of our members. Her husband, Robin, is in immediate need of a kidney transplant due to kidney failure caused by an undiagnosed congenital defect. Robin, a devoted husband and father of two, runs a small business focused on sustainable products and is working hard to avoid dialysis. Unfortunately, the average wait time for a kidney in California is 8–10 years. Family and friends have stepped forward, but due to their own health conditions, they have not been able to donate. For this reason, Puneet and Robin have reached out to our YMCA community for support.

How You Can Help
If you or someone you know would consider being a kidney donor, it could save Robin’s life. There is no medical cost to the donor, and even if a direct match isn’t possible, donors can still help through a paired donation program which creates a chain of donors to find a match for Robin. Your generosity could truly be life-changing for Robin and his family. If you would like to learn more or have questions, Puneet would be happy to provide additional details.

Here is the link to take the qualifying survey: https://uclakidneydonor.org. Puneet & Robin can be contacted at Puneetsingh1@gmail.com.

In a recent interview, a candidate asked our People team “What is the Y Way?” Upon reflection of that, it was clear that at the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, we are so much more than just a company or an employer. Every day, we're the living embodiment of strengthening our communities, and for our team, that also includes our team members. To reflect on “The Y Way” with a candidate is tough because it means a lot of things to a lot of people, but for me and our team, it means leading with compassion and empathy in everything we do - from staff development to events and even in investigations and coaching opportunities. For so many of our team members that work in direct service to our communities, our team is persistent about how we integrate our mission into our everyday work and to our team. Because you are our community, we want to ensure that you know that we are here to support you and to be a resource for you.

We also hope to inspire you and provide you with the tools to live “The Y Way” in your roles. Together, we have the opportunity to implement this by leading with kindness, supporting one another, and striving to make an impact on the people who live all across Los Angeles County. Through our Core Values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility, we are able to take the Y’s mission out of an email or off of a page and put it into action, no matter what our role is, here in the Association. Let’s continue to keep this Y spirit in the forefront of our minds when we interact with each other – remember to celebrate your successes and the success of others, embrace challenges as opportunities to grow, and learn from our missteps and failures to move forward as a better version of ourselves. Because that is “the Y way” and if we meet each day with that mindset, we believe that our team can do anything they set their minds to.