hispanic heritage month!

Racine Family YMCA
October 2015
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH!
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we would like
t o i n tro du c e o n e o f t h e R ac i n e F am i ly Y M CA
programs...Salsa Sabor y Salud!
STAFF PROFILE
Salsa, Sabor y Salud (SSyS) is the first national program
of its kind designed by the National Latino Children’s
Institute (NLCI) to encourage healthy lifestyles among
Latino families. The long term goal of SSyS is to prevent
childhood obesity and chronic illness by increasing
physical activities in Racine’s Hispanic communities.
This is being accomplished by this eight-session
program assisting Hispanic families with children 12 and
under to make healthy choices for eating and
incorporating activity into their daily lives, involving the
whole family.
We have reached over 500 individuals in Racine’s
Hispanic communities since 2012 through our SSyS
program.
Hispanic youth exercising during a
Salsa Sabor y Salud session
725 Lake Ave. Racine, WI 53403
Name: Blanca Vazquez
Position: SSyS Facilitator
Blanca has been a member of the Racine
Family YMCA since 2004 and became an
employee of the Y in 2006. She has
worked in various Y programs over the
years: Fitness instructor, Childcare
attendant and is Silver Sneaker certified.
Over the past four years, Blanca has lead
the SSyS team of three to improve the
health of Racine’s Hispanic communities,
which has increased the Y’s Hispanic
membership numbers.
Office: 262.634.1994
Fax: 262.634.0401
THE AFRICAN CENTERED RITES OF PASSAGE
STAFF PROFILE
In the spring of 2001, the Executive Director of the Racine
Youth Leadership Academy, Ahmad Qawi, completed the Asentu
Institute Adult Rites of Passage. What is the Rites of Passage?
A Rite is simply a ceremonial/
ritual or customary series of
acts marking some significant
occasion. Passage means the
act or process, transition, or
movement from one place or
condition to another.
Therefore, a working definition
of Rites of Passage (ROP) is simply an activity or celebration
marking the successful transition from one life state to another.
One of the main philosophies the ROP teaches there are seven
Name: Cheree Morgan
Position: Academy Achiever Administrator
(7) life passages in one’s life and that everyone regardless of
race or ethnicity needs a MATRIX to help pass through their
passages.

A Matrix is a life-giving substance in by which his/her safety
was assured; the possibilities that were within them; and the
energy source by which the tasks in each passage were
accomplished.

A Passage means the act or process, transition, or
movement from one place or condition to another.
Cheree Morgan has been working for
the RACINE FAMILY YMCA in numerous
departments: Currently, she is the
Academy Achiever Administrator
working closely with all YLA
components. She also successfully runs
the Summer YLA program at Carthage
College.
In each edition of the Village News, we will be explaining each
Life Passage, and Who or What is the Matrix.
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
YLA Class of 2005 at their
Rites of Passage Ceremony
Above is UW-Parkside Chancellor, Deborah Ford,
speaking to members of the Young Leaders
Academy Summer Session about the importance
of education.
FOCUS ON FATHERS!
YLA PROFILE
Around 2008, the Racine Family YMCA became very
interested in addressing the issue of children being raised
Name: Samad Qawi
in fatherless homes. The first program implemented by
Samad is currently a senior at William
Horlick High School, where he
maintains a 4.0 GPA, is the President
of the Horlick Interact Club, a member
of the National Honor Society, plays
varsity basketball at Horlick, and has
been active in the PEOPLES Program
through the University of WisconsinMadison. He wants to study medicine
to become a Neurologist.
the Y was the Nurturing Fathers Program ™ (NFP). The
NFP is a 13-session fatherhood education program that
provides
fathers
with
education that promotes
group-based
parent
positive and responsible fa-
therhood practices.
Seven years later, that one fatherhood program has
grown into the Focus on Fathers Initiative (FOF).
Today, men who want to be better fathers have an option
of
programs
to
participate
in
helping
them
become not only better fathers but men and life partners.
The Focus of Fathers Initiative is comprised of the following programs:

The Nurturing Fathers Program: a 13-session father-

hood education program that provides fathers with
that builds on participants’ existing strengths and
group-based
adds critical life and relationship skills to create
parent
education
that
promotes
safer, more stable unions bettering the quality of life
positive and responsible fatherhood practices.


Within Our Reach™: Couples communication sessions
Father
Friendly
Employment
Program:
for couples as well as their children. Themes include:
6-week
employment readiness workshops in collaboration
fostering
with Racine Workforce Development and other critical
expectations, and devoting themselves to a mutual
skills needed to help men become more employable.
commitment and support.
Daddy Day Out: A community collaboration of monthly

improved
communication,
Racine Fatherhood Coalition: Local organizations
activities, to give fathers and father figures, an
collaborating
opportunity to interact with their kids in a low stress,
education, employment, and job training.
safe environment throughout the year.
managing
to
support
fathers
in
areas
of
PLEASE SUPPORT THE YMCA STRONG COMMUNITIES ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
$100,000
$75,000
$50,000
$40,000
$30,000
$20,000
For over a century the Racine Family YMCA has provided quality programs and services
for area youth, adults and families, responding with appropriate programs to meet the
needs of residents regardless of their ability to pay. Through the Strong Communities
Agenda, the Y will be able to positively affect the lives of more youth and families in
YES! THE STRONG COMMUNITIES AGENDA DESERVES MY SUPPORT.
I want to support the YMCA’s Strong Communities Agenda, to help youth and
families build positive developmental assets in all young people, support all families, and
mobilize resources to nurture and sustain the building of strong communities. To help
achieve this vision, I pledge to support the YMCA’s Strong Kids, Strong Communities
 $100
 $200
 $300
 $400
 $500
 Other $________.00
Campaign. My pledge is:
Name: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
$10,000
City: ___________________________________________________ State: _________________ Zip: ________________________
The RACINE FAMILY YMCA
Strong Communities Agenda
Advisory Board Members
James Eastman (C0-Chairman)
President
Merchants Moving & Storage
Tom Burke (C0-Chairman)
CEO
Modine Manufacturing Company
John Busey
Senior Investment Consultant
Robert W. Baird & Co.
Dr. Arthur I. Cyr
Director, Clausen Ctr. For World Business
Carthage College
Chuck Tyler
Retired, City of Racine
Park & Recreation Dept.
Dr. Jack Parker
Retired, RUSD
Carole Johnson
Retired
Johnson Family Foundation
Pas. Keith T. Evans
Greater Mt. Eagle Missionary Baptist Church
Liz Powell
Executive Director
Racine Community Foundation
Lesley Walker
Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities
University Wisconsin-Parkside
Sheriff Christopher Schmaling
Law Enforcement Center