Creating Space for Teens to Belong — A Conversation with Leah Willig
Release Date: 11/19/2025
Turning Retirement into a Mission: Expanding Access to Camp
(Y) Connect
Today, we’re joined by Darrell Edquist, a member of the Community Engagement Board at the Isakson/Alpharetta Family YMCA, who has turned his retirement into something incredibly meaningful. Darrell set a personal goal to help 4,000 children—kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity—experience summer camp at the Y. And he didn’t just set the goal—he got to work. As of last week, he’s already raised enough support to send 74 kids to camp this summer. It’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when someone decides to use their time, their relationships, and their energy...
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Fan Favorite: Dr. Lori Duckett on Inclusion & Impact at the Y
(Y) Connect
Today on (Y) Connect, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Lori Duckett—physician, advocate, and proud member of the Andrew & Walter Young Family YMCA. Dr. Duckett is a passionate supporter of inclusive sports and has been instrumental in introducing Special Olympics programming to the Y. Her leadership is helping to ensure that athletes of all abilities feel seen, supported, and celebrated. In today’s episode, we’ll hear how Dr. Duckett’s medical background, personal experiences, and unwavering belief in equity have shaped her journey—and how the Y community is growing stronger and...
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Y Member Trinity Smith Helps Teen Girls Thrive
(Y) Connect
Today, we’re joined by Trinity Smith, a high school senior and member of the East Lake Family YMCA who is already making an incredible impact in her community. Through her nonprofit Roots In Her Health, Trinity leads weekly wellness sessions for middle school girls at the Y, creating a space where they can slow down, talk openly, learn about their health and well-being, and build confidence in who they are. Her work was inspired by her own experience growing up with a chronic illness and learning how important it is for young people to understand their bodies and advocate for...
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Y Summer Camp Turns Into a Lifetime Together
(Y) Connect
Every now and then, we get to share a story that just makes you smile from the very beginning. And this is one of those. Back in the summer of 1989, at YMCA Camp High Harbour, two teenagers met on the shores of Lake Burton. Think mix tapes, handwritten notes in camp mailboxes, long days on the dock, and campfire songs under the North Georgia sky. They spent that summer leading, laughing, and becoming friends in the way only camp can create. Then life took over. They went their separate ways. College. Careers. Marriage. Children. Health challenges: big milestones and hard seasons. Nearly thirty...
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You Belong Here
(Y) Connect
Today we’re talking about something that sits at the heart of our new Strategic Plan’s PEOPLE goal: building community within the YMCA. We’re joined by three leaders who live this work every day: Timika Tucker from the Robert D. Fowler Y, Keeley Chester from the Forsyth County Family Y, and Shirene Sethi from the Carl E. Sanders at Buckhead Family Y. Each of them leads the membership experience at their YMCA. They’re the people thinking deeply about what it feels like when someone walks through our doors for the first time, when a member is struggling, when a family is trying to find...
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A Living Legacy
(Y) Connect
This February, as we recognize Black History Month and its 100th anniversary, we’re honored to be joined by brothers Andrew Young and Walter Young, namesakes of the Andrew & Walter Young Family YMCA. Ambassador Andrew Young’s life of service spans the civil rights movement, Congress, the United Nations, and the Mayor’s Office here in Atlanta. Throughout it all, his leadership has been grounded in dignity, justice, and a deep belief in the power of people and community. Dr. Walter Young has led with that same spirit through healthcare, education, and civic life, showing what...
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Lauren Koontz on the Next Chapter of the Y
(Y) Connect
When we launched Y Connect in November 2022, one of our very first guests was our President and CEO, Lauren Koontz. At the time, we were just beginning this storytelling journey, and the Y was navigating a world still finding its footing after the pandemic. Fast forward to today. Lauren has now served as President and CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta for more than six years, leading the organization through moments of challenge, growth, and transformation. This month, the Y officially launches its new three-year strategic plan, a plan shaped by deep listening, data, and a clear belief in the...
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Fan Favorite: The Legacy of South Fulton Running Partners and the YMCA
(Y) Connect
Today on (Y) Connect, we're thrilled to highlight the story of a community rooted in strength, endurance, and an unwavering commitment to health and wellness. Joining us is Monte Fowler, a veteran member of the South Fulton Running Partners—the nation's oldest Black recreation running group. For decades, this remarkable group has shared a deep connection with the Andrew & Walter Young Family YMCA, fostering a space where individuals unite to run and uplift one another. Monte brings a unique perspective as someone who grew up at the Y served on the YMCA board, and has dedicated years to...
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YMCA’s New National Campaign: No Place Like This Place
(Y) Connect
The YMCA has launched a new national brand campaign titled No Place Like This Place. At its heart, the campaign captures something many of us instinctively know to be true: the Y is more than a building, a workout, or a program. It’s a place where connection happens, where people belong, and where lives are shaped in quiet and meaningful ways every single day. To help us tell the story behind the campaign, we’re joined by two leaders who play an important role in bringing it to life. James Reynolds, our Chief Marketing Officer, and Kristin McEwen, our Chief Experience Officer. Together,...
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What 2025 Taught Us at (Y) Connect
(Y) Connect
Before we jump into another year of Y Connect, we wanted to pause and look back. 2025 was a meaningful year for this podcast. We sat down with members, staff, partners, and community leaders who reminded us why the YMCA matters and how deeply it shows up in people’s lives. We heard stories of belonging, resilience, leadership, and impact that stayed with us long after the microphones were turned off. Today, we are reflecting on our favorite moments from this past year, the conversations that surprised us, what we learned about the YMCA that we didn’t fully understand before, and what...
info_outlineToday on Y Connect, we’re joined by Leah Willig, the Y’s Director of Teen Programs. Leah brings over a decade of youth development experience, having spent years leading impactful programming at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta before joining the Y. Her work has always focused on creating spaces where teens can explore who they are, connect, and envision what’s possible in their futures.
At the Y, Leah is leading efforts to expand and elevate teen programming across our association from monthly Teen Nights that bring youth together in fun, safe environments to academic and career-readiness initiatives, such as our partnership with The Princeton Review for SAT prep boot camps. She’s passionate about helping teens see the Y as a place where they belong, grow, and lead.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ How teen youth development programs create consistency through Universal teen night events, providing teens with fun opportunities while building community youth engagement, belonging and connection for youth across metro Atlanta
✅ How the Princeton Review partnership provides free SAT prep bootcamp sessions with certified instructors and 365-day portal access, building career readiness for teens through comprehensive college preparation resources.
✅ How innovative partnerships with Trilith Studios and the changemakers program provide teens with hands-on film production experience, script writing workshops, and connections to industry professionals, helping develop youth workforce skills through project-based learning.
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Leah shares her journey into creating teen youth development programs, discussing her decade of experience creating belonging and connection for youth at the YMCA
06:46 Launch of universal teen night events, creating consistency across branches with themed activities
09:18 Princeton Review partnership providing free SAT prep bootcamp sessions, teaching career readiness for teens with certified instructors
13:18 Trilith Studios partnership offering fully-funded after-school programs for teens, teaching cinematography and scriptwriting, while planning a 12-week changemakers program film festival
18:22 Leah shares how moving to Atlanta for college soccer taught her to encourage teens to step outside comfort zones, emphasizing the Y as a place of belonging and connection for youth
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
💎 Success in teen youth development programs isn't measured only by attendance numbers—it's about ensuring teens in each community are engaging with their Y, whether through work opportunities, college tours, SAT prep bootcamp sessions, or monthly teen night events, meeting each branch's unique needs.
💎 The Princeton Review partnership provides free career readiness for teens through comprehensive SAT preparation, giving all Y teen members access to certified instructors, practice booklets, and a 365-day online portal—making college preparation accessible regardless of when students plan to take the test.
💎 Building relationships through listening is essential for effective teen programming—visiting branches, learning teen names, understanding what each youth development director and their community needs, and staying current with evolving career interests ensures programs remain relevant and impactful.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Leah Willig brings over 10 years of youth development experience to our team and has served in various director roles at The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. Throughout her career, Leah has developed dynamic programming that provided diverse career opportunities for teens while building partnerships with local corporations and communities for unique learning experiences.
RESOURCES MENTIONED: