March 27, 2023
The Y continues to support and empower youth in our programs. Elana Kean is a youth aide for one of our before and after school programs in Hunterdon County. What is special about her story is she is working part time for the same program she attended as a child growing up!
“Finding my voice has been my biggest life accomplishment, and it happened in the Y program when I was in fifth grade. Being able to express myself while in the program in the school, with school friends, helped me become confident. I started playing lacrosse and taking leadership roles in school. Now I’m a junior in high school working in the same program I grew up in, and it is very nostalgic. When I talk with my friends about going to work I tell them it’s the best part of my day because it’s so much fun! I love working with the school agers. The kids here in our program pick each other up, no matter how close of friends they are outside of the program. That’s what it was like for me when I was growing up here. That’s why I love working here now.”
At our Y, empowering kids to be themselves and find their voices is just one way our mission supports youth development, and makes our community stronger. Cause membership makes sure we continue to provide opportunities to teens like Elana to find their place in their community.