“YAG has changed my public speaking and drive for advocacy!” Those are the words of one North Carolina Youth & Government participant, but that sentiment is common among participants, according to Amber McClure, State Director for Youth & Government and Director of Tee

YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly launched its inaugural Y Achievers Summit in August, hosting about 165 youth and staff from 23 associations in the United States and Canada.

Congratulations and welcome to the state’s newest CEOs: Laura Sweitzer is President and CEO of the Tom A. Finch Family YMCA in Thomasville, and Mark Pritchett is CEO of the Goldsboro Family YMCA.

Highschoolers Israel James and Ke’Sondra Pickett headed to Washington in June for the annual YMCA Youth Governors Conference. They represented the Harrison Family Y in Rocky Mount as one of the 46 Amazon Changemakers teams traveling to D.C. to present their Changemakers project, RISE (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence), which focuses on adult male mentoring.