New Board Members!

The Jackson YMCA Welcomes Four New Board Members

The Jackson YMCA is pleased to introduce four community leaders that have recently joined its board of directors, expanding the Y’s leadership team to better serve families, youth, and the Jackson community.

Tim Hernandez

Tim Hernandez, senior marketing lead for Henry Ford Health, believes the community is proud of its YMCA and ready to hear more about its impact.

The Jackson Y has been a large part of the Hernandez family since his kids played summer soccer and took swimming lessons as youngsters. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hernandez saw a different side of the Y as it reached into the community to keep people healthy and connected.

Hernandez served on a marketing subcommittee for the Y’s capital campaign, furthering his connection to the Y. Now, as a board member, he will use his communication expertise to find new ways to share the Y’s story. That means reaching people where they are, through a wide variety of channels, Hernandez says.

As a Y member, you play a vital part in telling that story, he says. Talk to friends. Tell them why you chose the Y and what it means to you and your family. And invite them to join you there!

Dr. Clevester Moten

Dr. Clevester Moten, instructor and program head of Public Administration and Management at Jackson College, is passionate about helping the Y build a more equitable community.

A Y member since the 1990s, Moten is passionate about its programs, especially those that echo his personal dedication to promoting avenues for social mobility. Over the decades, he has seen local young people learn valuable skills like team building, collaboration, and communication through the Y’s programs, opening doors for them as they grew into today’s community leaders.

He brings to the board a knack for program development, public policy expertise, and, via the consulting business he operates, skills in coaching nonprofits and building their capacity for excellence.

The future is bright for the Y, says Moten, who sees the coming years as ones of growth as it continues to provide a welcoming, uplifting place for all.

Brigette Robinson

Brigette Robinson, director of annual giving and alumni relations at Jackson College, specializes in building connections and community support. She plans to use that experience to help the YMCA broaden its reach and strengthen its relationships.

Her first Y memory is experiencing a warm welcome while attending a Girl Scout lock-in as a child. Now, as the parent of a special needs child, Robinson values the Y for its inclusivity. Especially visible in the design of its new building space, the organization strives to be a place all people can thrive together, no matter their limitations, Robinson believes.

She brings to the board not only relationship building expertise from her job but also the wealth of connections she has built in her personal and volunteer life with local organizations that support people with special needs. She is eager to play a part as the Y continues to build programs that support health for everyone.

Exercise doesn’t just strengthen the body, Robinson says. The Y’s classes and activity spaces promote good mental health by bringing people together in ways that promote their overall wellbeing. After all, she says,

“It’s all about connections.”

Captain Anthony Stewart

Captain Anthony Stewart, jail administrator at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, says the YMCA helps create a safer community by giving kids a safe place to belong and build healthy habits.

When CEO Shawna Tello asked Stewart, a longtime Y member, to serve on the board, he eagerly agreed.

“I know the benefits from my own experience,” Stewart said.

He uses the facility to stay physically fit and as a place to make positive connections with the community. When police personnel work out alongside members of the public, or they play pickup basketball games together, those activities build trust and understanding. Stewart encourages his staff to spend time at the Y, get on a first-name basis with kids, and cultivate positive relationships that can impact lives.

The recent renovation project created a phenomenal facility. Now, the public needs to know what goes on inside ― and know that they, too, are welcome to join the Y family, Stewart says.

Welcome to the Team!

Please help us welcome the four new board members. Their diverse set of skills and experience will be valuable assets in continuing the YMCA mission.

To meet the rest of the board, visit https://www.jacksonymca.org/about