Shared International Purpose: The Y Welcomes Tushig from Mongolia
Release Date: 12/03/2025
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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,...
info_outline
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_outline
The Heart of Head Start: How the Y Supports Children & Families Every Day
(Y) Connect
The YMCA’s Head Start programs provide comprehensive support that transforms entire families, not just children. In this powerful episode of Y Connect, hosts Zarinah, Robert, and Allison speak with early childhood education leaders LaShaundra McDonald and Shamyra Thompson about the life-changing work happening at YMCA early learning centers. Both directors share their personal journeys from being Head Start parents to becoming passionate advocates for family support services. They discuss how comprehensive child development goes beyond academics to include mental health support, workforce...
info_outlineToday on Y Connect, we’re stepping into a global conversation. Over the past several weeks, our team has had the privilege of hosting Tushig Samdan, a nonprofit leader from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, who was in Atlanta through the U.S. Department of State’s Professional Fellows Program. Tushig has spent nearly a decade leading the Badraa Foundation to Justice, an organization dedicated to expanding educational opportunities for Mongolian university students.
Joining Tushig for today’s conversation is our colleague Ryan Greenstein, the Y’s Advocacy Program Manager. Ryan first learned about this fellowship through his work at The Carter Center, and he actually spent time in Mongolia last year on an exchange visit before joining the Y. Ryan and Tushig worked together over the previous few weeks, and today we get to learn from their shared experience.
We’re excited to talk about what brought Tushig to the U.S., what she’s learned during her time with the YMCA, and the ways global partnerships can strengthen local impact.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ How international exchange programs foster nonprofit leadership development through the U.S. Department of State's Professional Fellows Program, creating opportunities for cross-cultural learning and building sustainable government partnerships that strengthen community impact across continents.
✅ Strategies for building sustainable alum mentorship networks and educational opportunity initiatives that create long-term organizational sustainability, including how fundraising models and endowments can support youth development across generations.
✅ The power of community engagement and nonprofit collaboration in addressing challenges during uncertain times, demonstrating how civic organizations work together with corporations and government to prioritize community needs and create intentional partnerships.
Join the Y Connect Podcast to discover inspiring stories of transformation and wellness. Tune in for practical tips and community-driven insights on fitness transformation. Subscribe now to elevate your fitness journey!
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Tushig Samdan from Mongolia and Ryan Greenstein discuss international exchange programs and nonprofit leadership development
02:54 Tushig describes her professional development experience through the Professional Fellows Program, emphasizing cross-cultural learning and community engagement
04:57 Ryan shares his reciprocal Mongolia visit and the importance of hosting fellows from civic organizations to build government partnerships and strengthen international relationships
06:49 Tushig highlights impressive nonprofit collaboration between universities, corporations, and communities, noting how alumni mentorship programs create educational opportunity for students
14:03 Discussion of Y's community impact through early learning, teen leadership training, and accessible programs from infants to seniors, demonstrating organizational sustainability
17:50 The differences in fundraising models between Mongolia and the United States, and the value of the international exchange programs
25:24 Tushig shares her vision for creating Mongolia's first education-oriented endowment inspired by the Carter Center's model for building sustainable youth development
28:11 Closing gratitude and acknowledgment of host family, social enterprise connections, and the upcoming 2026 reciprocal exchange opportunity
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
💎 International exchange programs create a powerful return on investment for nonprofit leadership development by fostering lasting relationships between nations. Tushig's four-week experience through the Professional Fellows Program demonstrated how cross-cultural learning builds stronger leaders who carry lessons back home.
💎 Sustainable nonprofit collaboration requires intentional partnerships between civic organizations, corporations, and government. The stark difference between U.S. and Mongolian nonprofit ecosystems lies in established fundraising models, formal support systems, and coordinated responses during challenging times, such as government shutdowns, where community engagement ensures vulnerable populations continue to receive services.
💎 Building organizational sustainability beyond individual leadership creates generational impact. Inspired by the Carter Center's endowment model, designed to last beyond President Carter's lifetime, Tushig envisions creating Mongolia's first education-oriented endowment to support youth development, alum mentorship, and educational opportunity forever, transforming short-term passion into long-term community impact through social enterprise thinking.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Munkhtushig (Tushig) Samdan is a board member of the Badraa Foundation to Justice, an education-oriented NGO in Mongolia established in 2006 to promote educational equity and empowerment. The foundation is dedicated to supporting Mongolian university students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in business, finance, economics, and IT by providing scholarships and mentorship opportunities to those who might otherwise be unable to complete their studies.
Tushig has been actively involved with the foundation since 2014, serving as CEO for nearly a decade before transitioning to the board. Alongside her professional career and full-time job in mining construction projects as a Business Improvement Specialist, she has led initiatives to expand the foundation’s reach and impact. Currently, she is spearheading the development of a structured mentorship program that connects alumni with alumni, students with alumni, creating a strong support network for academic and professional growth.
She holds a master’s degree in Project Management, Finance, and Risk from City, University of London, and a bachelor’s degree in Financial Management from the University of Finance and Economics in Mongolia.
Ryan Greenstein has served as Advocacy Program Manager at the YMCA of Metro Atlanta since January 2025. He focuses on water safety and manages the Atlanta Water Safety Coalition, which the Y co-founded in 2023. Ryan joined the Y from The Carter Center and previously lobbied for various nonprofits in Washington, DC.
RESOURCES MENTIONED: