The second episode featuring recorded content from the 2022 Regional Multicultural Learning Experience conference held December 2, at the Wayne YMCA. Darrin Anderson hosted a CEO panel discussion around such topics as diversifying leadership in the YMCA movement, advice around growing one's YMCA career, and leading with vision as YMCAs continue to emerge out of the pandemic. WNJY presents the full discussion recording. CEO panel includes Bertram Lawson, president and CEO of YMCA of Central New York; Alex Martinez, president and CEO of Lakeland Hills YMCA; Louise McCants, CEO of Capital Area YMCA (Trenton); Rick Gorab, president and CEO of Metro YMCA of the Oranges; and Jarrett Royster, president and CEO of YMCA of Delaware.

The Emerging Multicultural Leadership Experience (EMLE) is a learning experience designed to provide emerging professional staff of color the opportunity to become further engaged and connected to the Y Movement. Participants will become better positioned to grow and thrive at the Y by learning from and connecting with Multi-Team or Branch Leaders and Organizational leaders who are dedicated to educating and mentoring younger staff leading to a deeper engagement with the Y Movement.

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In what we hope to be a multi-episode series, WNJY presents the morning Keynote speech of the 2022 Regional Emerging Multicultural Leadership Development Experience December 2 at the Wayne YMCA. Rodrigua Ross, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas and Chair of the National African American Resource Network for YUSA, speaks about what it means to mobilize oneself in the pursuit of career growth and leadership opportunities within the YMCA movement. She has collaborated with government entities, public and private nonprofit agencies, and corporate partners nationwide to address issues such as youth development program deficiencies, improving family stability, increasing access in resource deficient communities, poverty, reducing social stigmas associated with certain populations, and the dismantling of inequitable systems. Special thanks to Washima Redding from Metro YMCA of the Oranges for help with this podcast, and WNJY host Nya Noziere for emceeing the event.

In anticipation of the upcoming Regional Emerging Multicultural Leadership Experience (REMLE) happening on December 2nd at the Wayne YMCA in Wayne, New Jersey, we speak with Khalilah Harrison, Manager of Multicultural Leadership Development (MLD) with Y-USA and Liaison to the Regional EMLE Tour Hosts! The Emerging Multicultural Leadership Experience (EMLE) is a learning experience designed to provide emerging professional staff of color the opportunity to become further engaged and connected to the Y Movement. Participants will become better positioned to grow and thrive at the Y by learning from and connecting with Multi-Team or Branch Leaders and Organizational leaders who are dedicated to educating and mentoring younger staff leading to a deeper engagement with the Y Movement. The one-day event is open to ALL YMCA STAFF, and costs $75. To register please visit the LCDC registration page here. Questions about the event may be directed to Washima Redding at wredding@metroymcas.org. Scholarships are available. There is also a pre-REMLE event on Thursday Dec. 1 from 6:30-8:30PM at the Hilton Garden Inn in Wayne called the REMLE Round-Up, open to all. To join the REMLE Round-Up, which is distinct from the December 2 event registration, please RSVP here.

To connect with Khalilah Harrison and Multicultural Leadership opportunities, she can be reached via social media: 

@MLD_2021 (Twitter); @ymcamld2022 (Instagram); @multiculturalYMCA (Facebook); @Multicultural Leadership Development (YMCA LinkedIn)

For more information about YPN, please visit www.YPNchapter17.org.