I had the honor of visiting the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati these past two days.
I was especially thankful to be joined by colleagues Eva Long, M.Ed. Barry Saunders
whose insights made this experience even more meaningful.
🔗 Team Up Project
As a proud Team Up partner, the Cincinnati Y is living out its commitment to bridgebuilding—creating spaces where people across differences can connect, reflect, and grow. We met with CEO Jorge Perez & Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer Kate Hanisian to better understand how achievement, relationship & belonging is deeply integrated into everything the Y does. At the Gamble Nippert YMCA, we saw belonging in action through in all their programs.
🌍 Welcoming Week
Welcoming Week came to life through a community dinner at Central Parkway YMCA, where staff, volunteers, and neighbors gathered to share stories, food, and connection. It was a beautiful example of how the Y is creating spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and welcomed
At the Music Resource Center, we joined a Reflective Structured Dialogue session hosted in partnership with EquaSion—a non-partisan civic organization rooted in interfaith dialogue. EquaSion works to foster greater understanding, compassion, and civic engagement across faith communities in Greater Cincinnati. Their mission to help people discover shared humanity and work together in community deeply aligns with the Y’s bridgebuilding efforts.
💪 Volunteerism That Builds Bridges
One of the most inspiring parts of our visit was learning about the Cincinnati Y’s volunteerism strategy. Through thoughtful leadership, training, and storytelling, volunteers are not just supporting programs—they’re building relationships, fostering belonging, and helping shape the future of their communities. Their work is a living example of how service can be a bridge between people, experiences, and purpose.
The Cincinnati Y is showing us what it truly means to live its strategic vision—to be a place where achievement is nurtured, relationships are built, and belonging is felt deeply. Through intentional bridgebuilding, they are helping shape a future where communities are not just welcoming, but woven together by trust, purpose, and shared humanity.
🕊️ A Powerful Ending
We ended our visit with a stop at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, where we experienced the Faith & (in)Justice exhibit—a deeply moving exploration of how faith traditions have shaped America’s journey toward freedom. The exhibit invites reflection on the role of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism in social movements and includes powerful artifacts like Muhammad Ali’s signed gloves, a praise house from the Black Church tradition, and Jefferson’s edited Bible. It was a fitting close to a visit centered on connection, reflection, and the ongoing work of building a more compassionate world.
Many thanks again to everyone we connected with!