Community Relationship

The YMCA is provided to the community to create more welcoming and fun programs. It is a place that nurture people of all different ages and different backgrounds.

The YMCA relates a lot to the indigenous perspective of community development. The indigenous perspective "is crucial in recognizing diversity in community development movements and welcoming newcomers" (Brown & Hannis, 2012). The YMCA encourages all of the Niagara Region to join their community services. It a place where all ages and backgrounds are accepted. All the programs and services have a wide range of individuals and their different stages and situations in life.

 

video 1

This YouTube is a brief insight of one of the adult fitness classes. It is in a comfortable setting with a wide range of levels of individuals and backgrounds



https://www.niagararegion.ca/default.aspx?header=1

References

References

Brown, J. & Hannis, D. (2012). Community development in Canada (2^nd ed.). Toronto.

ON: Canada.

Niagara Region. (2006). Retrieved from: https://www.niagararegion.ca/default.aspx?header=1

Your YMCA Community. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.ymca.ca/en/home.aspx

YMCA of Niagara. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.ymcaofniagara.org/index.php

Photograph 1-11 (2016). Retrieved from: https://www.google.ca/search?q=ymca+niagara&biw=1366&bih=651&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6lKet0ufKAhUH_R4KHXm4CfcQ_AUICCgD

Video 1 (2014). Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psXYjiLrJtQ

Niagara Region

There are 12 local municipalities located in the Niagara Region. There are many individuals and family members who unfortunately live in poverty in Niagara. This has a major impact on the community. It affects the individual’s stability and safety, their family mobility, community health and limited choices (Niagara Region, 2006). There are income and employment programs offered. In addition to these programs, there are support social group programs and services for the community.

The income in the Niagara Region is slightly lower than the Canadian Median (Niagara Region, 2006). The unemployment rate was also lower (Niagara Region, 2006). There are many initiative projects that are in the Niagara Region. There are self-employment programs, hostels and homelessness prevention, Ontario child benefit, emergency assistance and support for immigrants to come to Niagara.

The six YMCA membership offered in the Niagara Region continues to grow. They are located in St. Catharines, Welland, Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, Grimbsy and Port Colborne. The YMCA’s that were placed in these areas are solely for the individuals and their families to a have a place of leisure. The YMCA has come into a low income housing region and is there to support the community.

Photograph 11

Photograph 12

https://www.niagararegion.ca/default.aspx?header=1

Adult Education

Adult education is much different then teaching children. Adult education is something that is voluntary and is something that is a lifelong process (Brown & Hannis, 2012). Adults have life experiences that influence new learning. The main difference of adult education and child education is the motivation that comes from the expectation that new knowledge will help achieve a goal (Brown & Hannis, 2012). The YMCA has created adult programs that foster directly to the individuals in the Niagara Region. They are programs that will be beneficial to the adults and will help with their everyday lives. The YMCA has created programs that encourage are appealing to the community. There are two types of adult education that are relevant to the YMCA community: “Community education is education for the community, within the community” (Brown & Hannis, 2012). The purpose of community education is to bring individuals to a common social surrounding to encourage learning and interaction. The YMCA Niagara provides this. The variety of classes that are offered are an opportunity for adults to create dialogue with one another, sharing a common interest, develop a voluntarily range of learning and reflection opportunities (Brown & Hannis, 2012).

Photograph 9

 

Radical adult education builds on the sense of community but then takes it a step further. The YMCA offers adults programs, for example; parenting classes, housing support, public seminars, adult learning classes, etc), that allow these individuals to see that there are other people in their community who they can relate to. It allows them to be more in touch with their community and what is going on around them.

YMCA's guiding principles:

• Collaborative: Supports and works with the expectations of Member Associations while respecting the uniqueness of each different association and recognizing their interdependence  
• Ethical and accountable: Maintains the federation’s values, constitution and by-laws and is transparent and trusted

• Proactive: Advances and protects the interest of member Associations and influences their work for maximum impact
• Open and Responsive: YMCA welcomes new ideas, encourages interaction and plays a leadership role in response to member Associations’ needs
• Integrated: Engages, stimulates and uses its vibrant network as it coordinates and integrates its Delivery of Service to fulfill its role.



Photograph 10

Effecting lasting change. The YMCA collaborates nationally and internationally so that they can continue to deliver exceptional community service. It also allows the YMCA to effect meaningful and long lasting social change that will bring up the discussions of challenges in their community.

Why is the YMCA important for the Niagara Region?

The people of Niagara are concerned about unhealthy lifestyles, unemployment rates, supports for families and newcomers to Canada, an aging population, and a growing gap between those who have and those who do not (YMCA Canada (2016)). How can the YMCA help? The YMCA program is designed to serve each community specifically. The YMCA Niagara envisions a Niagara region where healthy living is promoted to the children, youth and adults. They envision a place for the individuals to be supported and for social responsibility to be looked after. The YMCA is so perfect for the Niagara region because the level of accessibility to the YMCA programs and services will be increased by building their capacity to raise charitable contributions to provide financial support. The Niagara region is made up of a majority of working class families. The YMCA provides these individuals and families with affordable programs and services that they are able to participate in that is all inclusive.

Photograph 8

http://www.ymca.ca/en/home.aspx

YMCA Community Services

The YMCA of Niagara continues to grow with 6 Membership Centres: the Walker Family YMCA in St. Catharines, the Niagara Centre Branch in Welland, the Niagara Falls Branch, located in the MacBain Community Centre, the Fort Erie Branch, the Niagara West Branch in Grimsby, and the Port Colborne Branch, located in the Vale Health & Wellness Centre.

Photograph 5

The YMCA community outreach and newcomer services are designed to help improve the health of our world starting off by helping to improve the health of our very own communities. The programs that they offer reflect the needs of the community. YMCA programs are offered all year round including the summer months. The program schedules are designed to allow families the opportunity to participate in programs with family convenience in mind.   

Adults can take advantage of newcomer services. These services are prenatal and parenting classes, housing support, English as a Second Language, public seminars, adult learning, computer access, short-term housing and more.

Photograph 6

Computer class

The YMCA emphasizes the importance of health for adults and that it is much more than just being active. It is about having a network of support, a job, good working conditions, education and literacy, and safe place to live while also staying active. The team of YMCA experts, develop a wide variety of national programs for adults. These programs have national standards to ensure high quality and maximum effectiveness. Some of these programs are:

• Group and older adult fitness classes
• Swimming classes
• Creating balance- an adult weight management program
• Individual conditioning
• Instructor training in fitness and aquatics

Photograph 7

Adult fitness class

The YMCA also offers family programs as well. They strive to build strong families and include activities where families can participate together. It provides the families with an opportunity to participate in a safe, friendly environment. Family swims are available to the parents to enjoy with their children. Family time at the Y is a time for children and parents to play activities with one another. Children are welcome to use the track with their parents and they are invited to shoot some hoops or play catch in the gym. Parents have the opportunity to play, learn and grow with their children in the Preschool parent participating programs. Crafts, face painting and games can be enjoyed during special family events.




http://www.ymcaofniagara.org/index.php

Reasons For Choosing YMCA

Hey ADED 3P41!

For this adult community outreach program assignment, I decided to focus on the YMCA located in the Niagara region. When we think of the YMCA, we automatically think of all the youth programs that they have to offer but the YMCA is accessible to all different stages of ages. I grew up with a YMCA in my hometown and enjoyed many summers there. The YMCA offers such a wide variety of classes to adults and communities that are designed to help enhance their ways of living. The statement of purpose that the YMCA has is 'dedicated to the growth of all person in spirit, mind and body, and to their sense of responsibility to each other and the global community.' YMCA programs are everywhere! Join me in learning more about YMCA in the Niagara regions and how these programs and services are amazing for encouraging adults to have a healthy lifestyle and supporting them throughout different stages of life.

Enjoy!
Robyn

Photograph 4

What is YMCA?

Photograph 1

What does YMCA stand for? Young Men’s Christian Association

YMCAs in Canada have a strong vision that they commit to achieving and maintaining:

1. Building stronger kids, families and communities
2. Making  communities better places for everyone to live
3. There are more people joining with them as participants, members, volunteers, staff, donors and partners
4. Thriving and vibrant network that exchanges ideas, information and expertise in faster and better ways.
5. Help and support each other more than ever
6. YMCA is a leading Canadian charity

Photograph 2

The YMCA is a charity that is dedicated to building healthier communities. The YMCA was established as a charity that was dedicated to the health of individuals and communities and was established roughly over 160 years ago. The YMCA targets adults, youth, children and families. The YMCA’s focus on inclusiveness and accessibility means that they attend to all individuals of different ages, different backgrounds and different abilities through all stages of life across Niagara. Through the YMCA financial assistance programs, the YCMA is accessible to all individuals.



Photograph 3

Adult aquatic classes

The YMCA of Niagara has deep history of involvement in the community. There are over 112 sites across the Niagara Region. It is amazing that the YMCA of Niagara is the largest employer of young people in the region. There are over 1 400 staff and 840 volunteers that provide programs to the community members 365 days a year, seven days a week. The YMCA’s in the Niagara region impact close to 92 000 directly and endless numbers of people indirectly.

YMCA of Niagara is a charity that is open to all. It provides leadership and opportunities for people and their community to grow in spirit, mind and body. YMCA community initiatives help individuals and families address the barriers that limit their potential to leading healthier and more secure lives.

http://www.ymcaofniagara.org/index.php