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...
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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...
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Shared International Purpose: The Y Welcomes Tushig from Mongolia
(Y) Connect
Today 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...
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Creating Space for Teens to Belong — A Conversation with Leah Willig
(Y) Connect
Today 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...
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Fueling the Y’s Impact: When Companies Listen to What Communities Need
(Y) Connect
Today on Y Connect, we’re joined by a powerhouse leader whose commitment to purpose and community is shaping what corporate social responsibility looks like in Metro Atlanta and beyond, Carley Stephens, Director of Corporate Giving at Gas South and Executive Director of the Cobb EMC Foundation. Gas South, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cobb EMC, is one of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta’s most generous corporate partners, giving not only through financial support but also through the countless volunteer hours employees dedicate to helping others. Carley is known for leading with heart and...
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Fan Favorite: Building Community through Fitness at the Y
(Y) Connect
When people join the YMCA, they have access to more than 3,000 group fitness classes. The Y offers everything from cycling to dance to yoga, flexibility, strength and more, all of which impact a person’s overall physical, mental and emotional health. As our guests explain, perhaps one of the best parts of these classes is the close-knit community that is formed as a result. IN THIS EPISODE: 02:13 Jennifer describes what goes on in determining the variety of classes offered at the Y and how a participant determines which class they should take depending on their fitness level 04:23 Maura...
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Beyond Weight Loss: Jim’s Transformation Through Coaching & Community
(Y) Connect
We have two inspiring guests today. Jim Snoddy, a member of the Robert D. Fowler Family Y, who has lost nearly 100 pounds through the YMCA’s supportive wellness programs, and Beth Girmay, the health & wellness instructor who has guided Jim every step of the way. Jim also serves on the Branch Community Engagement Board, which, as I understand it, plays pickleball almost every day. Today, we’re discussing transformation, body, mind, habits and the role of coaching, community, consistency, and mindset. We’ll delve into how the YMCA’s Coach Approach & Weight Loss For Life programs...
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Ep. 71 From YMCA to Team USA: Kari Knotts’ Volleyball Journey
(Y) Connect
On today’s episode of (Y) Connect, we’re joined by someone who’s already making waves on the national stage while still just beginning her high school journey. At only 14 years old, Kari Knotts has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in U.S. volleyball. Kari is a freshman at The Lovett School, a proud member of the Northeast Cobb Family YMCA, and a fierce competitor for A5 Volleyball Club. She recently became the youngest member of the U19 USA National Volleyball Team, where she was named both MVP and Best Spiker at the Pan-American Cup. From her start at the YMCA to winning...
info_outlineThe 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, they’ll share the thinking behind the campaign, how it reflects the lived experience of the Y, and what it means for our staff, members, and communities moving forward.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ How the Y's brand campaign reflects the real member experience of connection and belonging that happens daily in branches across the country, addressing social isolation through intentional programming.
✅ Why this brand refresh takes a bolder, louder approach to challenge outdated perceptions while maintaining the Y's core identity and values that have existed for 175 years.
✅ How staff engagement and authentic community connection turn the "No Place Like This Place" tagline into reality through moments that matter and cultural programs tailored to each neighborhood.
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 Introduction to the Y's national marketing initiative "No Place Like This Place" and what makes the brand campaign timely
03:31 The campaign captures both the physical buildings and the community connection that happens outside the Y's walls. Eliminating the stigma that the Y is just a swim and gym for older adults
11:05 Belonging begins when you walk through the door: a personalized member experience and how listening to the members sets the tone for activities offered
21:09 Rolling out the brand refresh across websites, social media, and branches with staff engagement strategies
27:21 Introducing YCONS: celebrating the people who make the Y special through volunteer impact and leadership
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
💎 The "No Place Like This Place" brand campaign is a brand refresh, not a complete rebrand—it's the icing on the cake that amplifies what the Y has always been while using bolder visuals and messaging to break through outdated perceptions.
💎 Staff engagement is the heartbeat of making the campaign authentic, as team members create "moments that matter" through personalized greetings, remembering names, and celebrating milestones like the Classics Club for 90+ year old members.
💎 Each Y reflects its neighborhood through local programming such as Bollywood dancing, community gardens, and cultural events, ensuring the national marketing message feels authentic and relevant to diverse communities.
ABOUT THE GUESTS:
James Reynolds
As Chief Marketing Officer for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, James Reynolds oversees Marketing and Communications, including revenue generation, digital media, brand standards, public relations, and social media. Previously, he was Vice President of Marketing for GoTo Foods International, overseeing 2,000 locations across six brands in 60 countries. He has held marketing and strategy roles with Tropical Smoothie Café, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, American Golf Corporation, and the Atlanta Braves. James holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Florida State University with certificates in Digital Advertising and Social Media. He grew up at the Decatur Family Y and now volunteers as a youth soccer coach at Cowart Family Y, where his two daughters play.
Kristin McEwen
As Chief Experience Officer for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Kristin McEwen leads day-to-day operations, membership strategy, and health and wellness programs to advance the YMCA's mission through positive community impact. Kristin has been with the Y for over three decades, beginning as Operations Director at the Bainbridge Y in 1989 and holding leadership positions at multiple branches, including J.M. Tull-Gwinnett, Robert D. Fowler, Cowart, and Sanders Family Ys. She has established impactful partnerships, including the Winship at the Y Cancer Survivor program with Emory, Parkinson's Movement classes, and Shepherd Center programs across Georgia. Kristin holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alabama. She lives in Peachtree Corners with her husband Scott and two daughters, Lacey and Mallory, who grew up in the Y.
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