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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, and university...2024 Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • Y Member Trinity Smith Helps Teen Girls Thrive

    Y Member Trinity Smith Helps Teen Girls Thrive
    Apr 8 2026
    Today, we're joined by Trinity Smith, a high school senior and member of the East Lake Family YMCA who is already making an incredible impact in her community. Through her nonprofit Roots In Her Health, Trinity leads weekly wellness sessions for middle school girls at the Y, creating a space where they can slow down, talk openly, learn about their health and well-being, and build confidence in who they are. Her work was inspired by her own experience growing up with a chronic illness and learning how important it is for young people to understand their bodies and advocate for themselves—especially when their experiences aren't always fully understood or supported. Recently, Trinity shared a mission moment at one of our YMCA board meetings, and our board members were truly moved by her insight, compassion, and the leadership she's already showing at such a young age. CBS Atlanta also recently highlighted the incredible work she's doing at just 18. Her story is a reminder of what's possible when young people are supported, encouraged, and trusted to lead. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✅ How teen girls' health and wellness programming at the YMCA creates safe spaces where middle school girls can build confidence-building skills and openly discuss what they are experiencing in their lives. ✅ How one young nonprofit founder turned her personal journey with chronic illness advocacy and chronic migraine awareness into a thriving youth nonprofit that is making a measurable community impact. ✅ How youth health education rooted in holistic wellness helps girls of color's health by addressing stress, self-care, journaling, and peer connection in ways that feel engaging rather than academic. ✅ Why health equity for Black girls' health matters in medicine and research, and how young leaders are stepping up to close those gaps before they ever enter a classroom or clinic. 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 Meet Trinity Smith, teen girls' wellness leader and nonprofit founder03:53 Trinity shares how she connected to the YMCA as a youth programming employee before launching Roots In Her Health05:55 Trinity reveals her diagnosis and how chronic illness advocacy shaped her mission08:35 How the lack of school support sparked Trinity's drive for girls' empowerment and self-care for teens17:40 A look inside the weekly wellness sessions Trinity leads for girls of color health at the East Lake YMCA 22:50 Trinity's college goals focus on pediatric health, Black girls' health, and closing gaps in health equity research26:43 A memorable conversation with a participant reveals the ripple effect of youth health education and planting seeds of leadership34:28 Trinity reflects on what holistic wellness and community impact through the Y has meant for Roots In Her Health's growth KEY TAKEAWAYS: 💎 Teen girls' health and wellness is not only physical. Trinity reminds us that stress, peer pressure, and identity all affect a young girl's overall well-being, making holistic wellness programming essential in community spaces like the YMCA. 💎 Chronic illness advocacy starts with being believed. Trinity had to fight to have her chronic migraine awareness taken seriously in school, and that experience became the foundation for everything she built through her youth nonprofit. 💎 Girls of color's health is a systemic issue. Trinity plans to pursue clinical research focused on health equity for Black women and young girls because representation in medicine is not optional. It is necessary. 💎 Leadership in youth programming does not require having all the answers. Trinity models that show up consistently, listening well, and equipping middle school girls with tools are how real change takes root. ABOUT THE GUEST: Trinity Smith is a high school senior, scholar, and advocate who is passionate about helping young girls understand their health and wellness. Growing up with a chronic illness made school really challenging at times and taught me how important it is to advocate for yourself—experiences that inspired me to start Roots In Her Health, Inc. Trinity is really interested in women's health and equity, and she hopes to become a pediatrician one day so she can help kids and families navigate health challenges. Her family has always been her biggest support, and they've shaped so much of who she is today. When Trinity isn't leading wellness sessions at the YMCA, she focuses on the things that help her feel grounded and whole—painting, cooking, traveling, or just trying something new that challenges me. She enjoys being creative in all kinds of ways and paying attention to what makes her feel balanced and alive. Those moments are what really recharge Trinity and keep her inspired. Roots In Her Health ...
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    40 mins
  • Y Summer Camp Turns Into a Lifetime Together

    Y Summer Camp Turns Into a Lifetime Together
    Mar 25 2026
    Every now and then, we get to share a story that just makes you smile from the very beginning. And this is one of those. Back in the summer of 1989, at YMCA Camp High Harbour, two teenagers met on the shores of Lake Burton. Think mix tapes, handwritten notes in camp mailboxes, long days on the dock, and campfire songs under the North Georgia sky. They spent that summer leading, laughing, and becoming friends in the way only camp can create. Then life took over. They went their separate ways. College. Careers. Marriage. Children. Health challenges: big milestones and hard seasons. Nearly thirty years passed. And then… a dating app. In this episode, Molly and Baxter share how a YMCA summer camp connection turned into a second chance at love years later. What they discovered when they reconnected was that the trust and friendship they built as teenagers at the Y had never really disappeared. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✅ How summer camp friendships forged through YMCA Camp High Harbor in the late 1980s can quietly lay the groundwork for a second chance at connection decades later, proving that genuine community connection never truly fades. ✅ How one woman's courageous IVF journey and decision to become a single mother by choice reflect the kind of intentional parenting, faith and relationships that can redefine what family looks like on your own terms. ✅ How a cancer survivor, walking through leukemia twice, discovered that life's hardest seasons can sharpen your priorities and open unexpected doors to a second marriage and deep, lasting connection. ✅ How a dating app reconnection through Bumble brought two people with rich, complicated histories together, showing that long-lost love and blended family life can flourish beautifully when the timing is finally right. 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 The origin story of YMCA Camp High Harbor and how two teens met on the shores of Lake Burton in 198903:23 Molly describes her experience as a camp counselor and summer camp friendship during her summers at Camp High Harbor04:40 Baxter reflects on his summers at camp, the mentorship that shaped his path toward faith and relationships09:01 Molly shares her journey through teaching, dating, and her bold decision to pursue an IVF journey as a single mother by choice13:42 Baxter opens up about surviving leukemia twice as a cancer survivor and how illness reshaped his outlook on family and love16:12 Molly discusses going through her life with two children before her marriage to Baxter20:20 The magic moment: a Bumble dating app swipe leads to a dating app reconnection that reignites their long-lost love28:35 Molly and Baxter describe the intentional steps taken to build a thriving blended family rooted in intentional parenting and faith33:20 Reflections on Camp High Harbor KEY TAKEAWAYS: 💎 The second-chance love story of Molly and Baxter Crane proves that childhood friendships built inside a community connection like the YMCA carry a quiet, lasting power that no amount of time can erase. 💎 Baxter's experience as a two-time leukemia survivor and cancer survivor reshaped his understanding of what truly matters, ultimately clearing the path toward a stronger, more intentional second marriage. 💎 Molly's journey as a single mother by choice, achieved through a successful IVF, is a powerful reminder that faith and relationships can carry you forward even when the traditional path closes. 💎 Blending four children into one family required deliberate choices rooted in love. Baxter's decision never to use the word "stepchild" reflects the heart of intentional parenting and the beauty of a united blended family. ABOUT THE GUESTS: Molly was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended Marist School before continuing her education at the University of Georgia, where she studied Elementary Education. She completed her undergraduate degree at Brenau University and began her teaching career in 1996. Molly spent 10 years teaching third grade at Mount Vernon School in Atlanta before transitioning into school administration. Over 27 years at Mount Vernon, she served in a variety of leadership roles, concluding her tenure as Director of Community Events. In May 2025, Molly accepted the role of Administrative Director at Camp Greystone in Zirconia, North Carolina. She first fell in love with the camp when her daughters attended as campers, and it quickly became a place close to her heart. In August 2025, she and her family relocated to Greenville, South Carolina, to begin this exciting new chapter. Baxter is a fifth-generation native of Athens, Georgia, where he was born and raised. He attended Clarke Central High School before enrolling at the University of Georgia and later completing...
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    41 mins
  • You Belong Here

    You Belong Here
    Mar 11 2026
    Today we're talking about something that sits at the heart of our new Strategic Plan's PEOPLE goal: building community within the YMCA. We're joined by three leaders who live this work every day: Timika Tucker from the Robert D. Fowler Y, Keeley Chester from the Forsyth County Family Y, and Shirene Sethi from the Carl E. Sanders at Buckhead Family Y. Each of them leads the membership experience at their YMCA. They're the people thinking deeply about what it feels like when someone walks through our doors for the first time, when a member is struggling, when a family is trying to find connection. They're shaping culture in real time. Today, we'll explore what welcoming really means, what they're learning from the people they serve, and how their work is strengthening belonging across our association. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✅ How small, intentional moments of community building drive powerful member engagement and long-term member retention strategies inside YMCA branches. ✅ Why first impressions in fitness matter deeply and how the first five minutes of a visit shape a member's entire sense of belonging at the Y. ✅ How frontline staff training and a service-first leadership mindset directly strengthen welcoming culture and create safer, more connected spaces for every member. ✅ How group exercises community programs like Parkinson's fitness classes transform not just individual health outcomes but entire family wellness journeys. 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 Hear how community building shapes every branch visit and a conversation about the YMCA strategic plan people goal 03:47 Timika shares her personal journey and how belonging at the Y became her professional calling 05:33 Shirene describes how a fitness community culture and a running club transformed her from a member to a leader 07:12 Keely explains how the words welcoming and belonging guided her into the YMCA membership experience and leadership 09:30 Keely unpacks what community building looks like on a Tuesday afternoon through small, intentional member engagement moments 11:14 How powerful first impressions are made 16:24 All three directors share real member stories revealing the true meaning of safe spaces for families and wellness coaching 23:49 Leaders discuss staff empowerment, team camaraderie, and building a culture where every team member feels they belong 30:10 The leaders share what they would want a listener to know about why the Y is specia KEY TAKEAWAYS: 💎 Body language in customer service is not a soft skill. It is a strategic tool. Your eyes, posture, and tone directly communicate whether someone feels seen, valued, and welcomed the moment they walk through the door. 💎 A genuine welcoming culture is never the responsibility of one singular department. From wellness coaching to the play center, every team member at every touchpoint either strengthens or weakens a member's sense of belonging at the Y. 💎 Active older adults and individuals managing serious health diagnoses are among the most powerful examples of why inclusive, program-driven group exercise community spaces matter beyond fitness. 💎 Team camaraderie built through creative internal engagement, like Thrilling Thursdays, directly fuels the energy staff brings to members, proving that a thriving team culture and strong member retention strategies are deeply connected. ABOUT THE GUESTS: Shirene moved to Atlanta from New Delhi, India. She brings over 18 years of experience as a Team Leader, Communication Skills Trainer, and Event Organizer. Outside of work, she enjoys running, singing, and acting. Shirene Sethi began her YMCA journey as a Wellness Coach at the Buckhead YMCA. Her love for group exercise and passion for organizing programs and events led her to the Group Exercise Coordinator role. Last year, she was promoted to Member Experience Director, where she continues to do what she loves most — creating meaningful experiences, planning community events, and working closely with members to strengthen connection and belonging at the Y. Timika Tucker is a proud veteran and the Membership Experience Director at the Robert D. Fowler YMCA in Peachtree Corners, GA. Her professional journey and personal life are both grounded in kindness, compassion, and a deep commitment to making others feel welcomed and supported. At the Fowler YMCA, Timika leads with intention—cultivating a culture of exceptional customer service and meaningful member engagement. Her natural ability to connect with people and her dedication to fostering belonging make her leadership not just effective, but truly impactful. Timika's service‑driven approach reflects who she is at her core and continues to inspire her team and community every day. ...
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    36 mins
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