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(Y) Connect

(Y) Connect

By: Allison Toller Zarinah Winston & Robert Wright
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 Welcome to The (Y) Connect Podcast. As the heartbeat of the community, the Y is a connector where people of all ages and walks of life come together to elevate their health, wellness, education, and essential life skills. Join hosts Allison, Zarinah and Robert as they have authentic conversations with individuals sharing personal connections and stories of what connects them to the Y. For 164 years, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta has built programs that foster community, address critical needs, and empower individuals to achieve their full potential. This work is only possible with our Y community. Together we champion communities where everyone belongs and would love for you to be part of it. Let's keep the conversation going about what the Y means to you and where you can find one near you. Please visit us at ymca atlanta dot org and subscribe to our Healthy Together newsletter. Biography: Robert Wright has 20 years of experience encouraging and motivating individuals in the human and social service industry, ranging from children to adults with mental health and substance abuse diagnoses as well as developmental disabilities. He utilized his experience of assisting others and has transferred his energy and focus to fitness and wellness. He is motivated to merge both arenas and give individuals with diagnoses and disabilities another avenue other than the traditional clinical and medicinal approach. Zarinah Winston began working for the Metro Atlanta YMCA in 1999. Zarinah has served the YMCA in multiple roles for the past 23 years. Currently, she serves as a Center Director of an Early Learning Center. Her role consists of supervising and leading staff, implementing program plans, overseeing daily activities, and managing the Center budget. Prior to becoming a Center Director for the Y, her YMCA experiences consisted of being a Summer Camp Counselor, After School Site Director, Assistant Teacher, Lead Teacher and Lead Instructional Support Coach. The YMCA honored Zarinah with the “Outstanding Performance Award” for the Covington YMCA. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies (Education) and a Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with a minor in Early Childhood Education. By pursuing lifelong learning, she intends to be an example for the amazing team that she leads at her school. Zarinah is proud to be a mother of 3 wonderful children, Zamaria, Zachary, and Zavier. Her oldest daughter Zamaria and her middle son Zachary entered YMCA Early Learning at the tender age of 6 weeks. The YMCA exposed the children to a safe and caring learning environment, friendships, rich language & literacy skills, strong communication skills, and so much more. Zarinah’s family is her heart and inspiration for striving to be the best version of herself. The core values of the YMCA (Honesty, Caring, Respect, Responsibility) are characteristics that she strives to always live by. Zarinah enjoys owning her own candle business, journaling, traveling, exercising, listening to music and spending time with family and friends. Zarinah is influenced and mentored by her uncle who is the CEO/President of a YMCA.  Zarinah believes in enjoying life by being of service to others. She lives by the quote, “Feel the present, hold the vision, let go of resistance, enjoy the journey, trust the process and know that all is well.” Fredrick Talloen Allison Allison Toller is the Chief Social Impact Officer for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. Charged with cultivating and stewarding the Y’s strategic corporate, civic, and community partnerships, she and the Social Impact team also drive the Association’s strategic plan, embedding it into the fabric of the organization. Additionally, she oversees the Y’s volunteerism and advocacy initiatives. Prior to coming to the Y, Allison was a corporate social responsibility leader with Cox Communications'. With a dual background in broadcasting and education, Allison was Chief of Staff and Communications Director for two of the largest school districts in Georgia. Through these experiences, she has a deep knowledge of the education system having led several high-profile campaigns on a variety of issues including taxes, teacher shortages, school zoning, and crisis situations. Developing strong relationships among local, state and national media, Allison was a registered lobbyist working within the Georgia state legislature to fully fund schools throughout the state. She built an innovative and award-winning brand widely recognized among independent schools. As Chief of External Affairs for Mount Vernon, she amplified marketing efforts to increase year-on-year enrollment. Early in her career Allison was a television news broadcaster; live television was the perfect training ground where she learned the art of storytelling. For several years she shared these skills on a national level, conducting leadership training sessions in the corporate, civic...2024 Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • Ep. 68 Feedback Fuels the Y’s Summer Camp Experience

    Ep. 68 Feedback Fuels the Y’s Summer Camp Experience
    Jul 23 2025
    At the Y, summer is our Super Bowl—a season of high energy, big moments, and unforgettable memories for thousands of kids in our summer day camps. Today, we’re joined by two incredible youth development leaders: Ashley Baker from the Tull-Gwinnett Family YMCA and Aminata Lawton-Edwards from the Decatur Family YMCA. They’re not only shaping amazing camp experiences—they’re also listening closely to what families are telling us through surveys and using that feedback to make camp even better. We’ll talk about what makes Y day camp special, what we’re learning from families, and how that insight is helping us raise the bar each summer. IN THIS EPISODE: (00:00) Intro: We’re back! (03:03) Summer camp is the Y's "Super Bowl" (06:48) Creating a "Disney World-like" camp experience (09:57) Importance of collecting family feedback (14:32) Using feedback to improve camp programs (18:32) Why parents should consider Y camp (22:08) How camp leaders stay motivated (24:54) The lasting impact of Y summer camps KEY TAKEAWAYS: Summer camp at the Y is likened to Disney World for many children, providing a magical experience that may be their main highlight of the year. This perspective encourages staff to create unforgettable memories and relationships, even if everything doesn't go perfectly. The Y's summer camp program focuses heavily on social-emotional learning, incorporating daily discussions on core values and group projects that tie into weekly themes. This approach helps children develop important life skills while having fun. Feedback from families is used to make real-time adjustments to the camp experience, with staff meetings addressing both positive shout-outs and areas for improvement. This responsive approach helps maintain high-quality programming and shows families their input is valued. The Y invests significant time and resources into preparing for summer camp, with planning and staff training occurring year-round. This dedication to preparation ensures a safe, engaging, and well-organized experience for campers. Camp counselors are given opportunities for professional growth, including learning to recognize when they need breaks and how to handle challenging situations. This focus on staff development contributes to a positive camp environment and helps young employees build valuable skills. RESOURCE LINKS: Facebook: YMCA Metro Atlanta LinkedIn: YMCA Metro Atlanta Twitter: YMCA Metro Atlanta Website: YMCA Metro Atlanta Day Camp at Metro Atlanta YMCA BIOGRAPHIES: Ashley Baker began her career with the YMCA of Metro Atlanta as an after-school counselor in the fall of 2016. Working in a school-based after school program provided the opportunity to bring the Y to the community and the community to the Y. Ashley worked in both the after school and day camp programs for several years, eventually becoming an After School Site Director in the fall of 2020. She has served as Youth Development Director at the JM Tull-Gwinnett YMCA since April of 2022. In January 2024, the role expanded to oversee both Youth Development and After School. For Ashley, the best part of her job is the privilege of seeing 6-year-old campers grow into 16-year-old counselors. When she is not working, Ashley enjoys being with her family, reading, college football, and Broadway shows. As an Atlanta native, Aminata Lawton-Edwards proudly embodies her roots and is passionate about the opportunity to give back to her community. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgia State University as well as a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education. She believes in the importance of addressing the needs of the whole-child academically, socially, emotionally and beyond. Her six years as a classroom teacher in the DeKalb County School District opened her eyes to the many challenges children face in their holistic development which encouraged her commitment to comprehensive program development. This led her to stepping out of the classroom and towards developing her own tutoring and coaching program for students of all ages. Aminata's own experience as a child nurtured with the support of the Decatur Family Y through day camps and other youth programming paired with her extensive knowledge of supporting children and families strengthened her capacity to create enriching and engaging programs for diverse groups. Her goal is to ensure every child has a positive, rewarding experience and to have fun while doing it. KEYWORDS: YMCA, YMCA, Metro Atlanta YMCA, Day Camp, Summer Camp, Campers, Day Campers, Youth Development, Camp Counselors, Role Models, social-emotional learning, staff development, youth development leaders, Tull-Gwinnett Family YMCA, Decatur Family YMCA, feedback, YMCA summer camp, camp activities, family feedback, staff motivation, safe spaces for children, community impact, camp themes, specialty camps, child growth, camp leadership, summer programming, outdoor activities, camp ...
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    26 mins
  • Ep. 67 Fan Favorite: A 7-Year-Old and His Y Heroes

    Ep. 67 Fan Favorite: A 7-Year-Old and His Y Heroes
    Jul 9 2025

    In this fan favorite episode of the Y Connect podcast, you’ll meet Oliver and his mom, Juliet. Oliver is a remarkable seven-year-old young man and Y member with a heart as big as the state of Georgia. We invite you to hear his story of extraordinary gratitude. It’s a story that will inspire you and remind you what it means to be a superhero.

    IN THIS EPISODE:

    • (02:16) Oliver shares his Y story and talks about what inspired him to give gifts to the Y staff

    • (05:01) Juliet tells how she reacted when Oliver made his request

    • (07:20) Oliver is overwhelmed by how the staff at the Y responded and is surprised by how hard the Y staff work

    • (10:10) Juliet is proud of her son, and Oliver has more ideas of how he wants to be generous

    • (14:43) Oliver and his mom, Juliet, share their Y story

    KEY TAKEAWAYS:

    • Oliver is a generous giving young man who gives back to those who have enriched his life.

    • A seven-year-old boy can inspire an adult to be kind and generous.

    • The staff at the Atlanta Y’s have a reputation for friendliness.

    RESOURCE LINKS:

    Facebook: YMCA Metro Atlanta

    Linkedin: YMCA Metro Atlanta

    Twitter: YMCA Metro Atlanta

    Website: YMCA Metro Atlanta

    YMCA Atlanta Membership - Website

    YMCA Sizzle Reel - YouTube

    BIOGRAPHY:

    After living in Naples, Florida and Chicago, Illinois, seven-year-old Oliver Amoaku and his mother, Juliet, moved to Johns Creek a year ago. Needing to keep up with his swim lessons, friends led them to the Ed Isakson Family Y in Alpharetta. Fortunately, the people at the front desk were so nice when they arrived they signed up with the Y immediately, saying it has been nothing but an amazing experience since. Oliver attends Ocee Elementary School and has two sisters and a brother. He loves basketball, bike riding, swimming and the YMCA.
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    19 mins
  • Ep. 66 Drowning is Preventable: The Y’s Call to Action

    Ep. 66 Drowning is Preventable: The Y’s Call to Action
    Jun 25 2025
    Please note that this episode contains mentions of fatal drownings. Listen with care. Today, we’re diving into one of the most vital—and lifesaving—initiatives at the Y: water safety. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children, and the Y is on a mission to change that. Joining us today are three passionate changemakers who are helping the Y turn the tide on drowning prevention: Megan Benvenuto, Group Vice President and Executive Director of the Northwest Cobb Family YMCA who oversees the YMCA’s association-wide aquatics program; Shannon Atty, Aquatics Director at the Northwest Family YMCA; and Ryan Greenstein, the Y’s Advocacy Program Manager and lead for the Atlanta Water Safety Coalition. Together, we’ll explore how the Y is teaching thousands of children to be safe around water—especially in under-resourced communities—and how partnerships, policy, and passion are driving this work forward. IN THIS EPISODE: (00:00) Intro: Catch up with Zarinah, Robert, and Allison (02:48) Today’s focus: water safety to prevent drownings (03:54) What sparked the guests’ interest in water safety and drowning prevention (09:08) Metro Atlanta faces challenges due to rising drowning rates, and Megan details the plan to teach 10,000 children to swim safely in 2025 (15:14) The focus of the Atlanta Water Safety Coalition (21:16) Shannon recounts a story illustrating the program’s transformative effect (23:05) Engaging policymakers to secure funding and support initiatives (30:02) The importance of dedicated watchers, accessible safety skills, and online resources for drowning prevention KEY TAKEAWAYS: Drowning prevention is critical and is the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children, particularly ages 1-4, with rising rates in Georgia, emphasizing the need for water safety initiatives. The YMCA, through the Atlanta Water Safety Coalition, collaborates with community partners, secures grants, and advocates for policy changes, such as offering lifeguard training as physical education (PE) credit. Additionally, the organization provides scholarships to deliver swim lessons to under-resourced youth. Having a designated watcher and teaching accessible, memorable water safety skills (e.g., life jacket use, "reach and throw, don’t go") are crucial to preventing drownings. RESOURCE LINKS: Facebook: YMCA Metro Atlanta LinkedIn: YMCA Metro Atlanta Twitter: YMCA Metro Atlanta Website: YMCA Metro Atlanta Atlanta Water Safety Coalition and Atlanta City Council Join Forces to Proclaim May 2024 as Water Safety Month in Atlanta | Children's Healthcare of Atlanta BIOGRAPHIES: Megan Benvenuto, Group VP & Executive Director at Northwest Family YMCA, leads Metro Atlanta YMCA efforts to promote equity. As Aquatics Cabinet Lead, she oversees 16 locations and 23 pools, expanding Safety Around Water to deliver thousands of swim lessons yearly to underserved kids. With 25 years at the YMCA, she doubled giving at Twin Rivers YMCA, boosted membership via Pound Plunge at YMCA Cape Cod, and restored pre-pandemic levels at Northwest Family Y. She earned an MBA from Springfield College (4.0 GPA) and YMCA Organizational Leader certification. A Leadership Cobb 2023 member, she also served on the United Way board. Shannon Atty, with a Physical Education degree from SUNY Cortland, taught for 13 years before focusing on aquatics at Greenbush Area YMCA as a lifeguard, swim instructor, and coach. Relocating to Georgia in 2013, she worked in aquatics with Georgia Parks and Recreation in Smyrna and Cartersville. She is now a certified instructor in Lifeguarding and Water Safety by the YMCA and the American Red Cross. 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.
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    34 mins
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