Join Us for Engaging Breakout Sessions!

A MESH (+) Framework: Assessing the Cost of Employee Well-Being

John Hamilton

Alliance for Camp Health

A recent Gallup poll revealed that one's mental well-being is the single biggest catalyst to individual, team, and organizational success. According to Lyra Health, 65% of employees say their mental health has interfered with their ability to work. What does this mean for us in youth development work? What next step can you take for your organization when so many leaders are growing weary of MESH (Mental, Emotional, of, Social, and Spiritual Health) related challenges? We know the biggest hurdle isn’t treatment; it’s access to support. Organizations must reduce stigma and elevate care. Utilizing evidence from ACH's CampWell program, this session will harness the practice of internalization and explore a layering of content that will teach participants to feel safe, supported, connected, and create a culture of well-being. Come learn practical tools to support your team's well-being, improve dynamics, and create a positive health framework for your organization.

Quick Six Simplified: Top HR Hacks for YMCA Senior Leaders

Matt Freeman

Jackson Lewis PC

Ten-minute quick hits on the top six performance management, disability/leave management, complaints/investigations, and wage and hour issues facing leadership today.  

Beyond the Job Title: Leading with Identity, Purpose, and Belonging

Jeurys Santiago

Minds with Purpose Foundation

People bring much more to work than their job titles. They bring culture, lived experience, values, relationships, aspirations, challenges, and untapped strengths. When leaders recognize these dimensions of identity, they can build teams where staff feel seen, young people feel supported, and communities experience a stronger sense of belonging.

When the Map Changes: Leading Your Team Through Organizational Change Without Losing Their Trust 

Erin Saylor and Courtney Seely

Phoenix Rise Consulting, LLC

Change is a constant in mission-driven organizations. Restructuring, leadership transitions, shifts in funding, evolving community needs — YMCA leaders are rarely navigating calm water, and the people on their teams are watching closely to see how they respond. 

Most change management training is built for corporate environments, where the primary motivators are efficiency, profitability, and competitive positioning. The YMCA operates from a fundamentally different foundation. When the work is rooted in youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, the human cost of getting change wrong is not just organizational. It is felt in the community the organization exists to serve. 

Building a Culture of Advocacy at Your Y

Meg Helming

YMCA of the USA

This workshop explores how local Ys can build a culture of advocacy by applying YMCA Advocacy Leading Practices. Participants learn practical approaches to strengthen communication, engage advocates, build relationships with decision-makers, and advance policy priorities. The session includes real examples and tools that show how advocacy can be implemented across different roles within the Y. Overall, the workshop focuses on making advocacy practical, achievable, and integrated into daily operations.

The Power of Relational Leadership: Building Teams That Stay, Grow, and Thrive

Rachelle Hannoush

Rooted Leaders LLC 

Today's leaders are navigating unprecedented challenges, staff burnout, workforce shortages, increasing community needs, and constant organizational change. While strategic planning and operational excellence remain essential, the organizations that thrive are those led by leaders who intentionally build trust, belonging, and meaningful relationships.

This interactive session introduces the principles of Relational Leadership and explores how leaders can intentionally create workplace cultures where employees feel seen, valued, connected, and empowered. Participants will discover practical strategies to strengthen team engagement, improve communication, increase retention, and cultivate resilient leaders who inspire purpose-driven work.

Grounded in neuroscience, organizational leadership, and real-world nonprofit experience, this session provides immediately applicable tools that directors and executives can use to strengthen their teams while advancing the YMCA's mission of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

The Power of Play

Max Fripp, Molly Rosen

Playworks 

Experience the value of play and explore its role in creating positive learning environments and moments of joy for students and staff. In this fun, active, and experiential workshop, you will learn new games and best practices to leverage play in support of students' overall growth

and development.

A Conversation About Fraud, Waste, and Abuse

Robert Zuengler 

CLA

YMCAs oversee significant financial resources. With appropriate management, you can help protect your YMCA from fraudulent financial losses, mitigate risks, stay in compliance with various regulations and laws, and uphold your YMCA’s integrity and reputation. This presentation is designed to help recognize the signs and types of fraud, waste, and abuse in nonprofit organizations. Get the knowledge and skills to tackle these issues effectively — and help create a more secure, ethical, and efficient environment that supports your mission and goals. 

Discover How Artificial Intelligence Can Help YMCA Leaders Work Smarter, Serve Members Better, and Advance Mission Impact

Kendall Bennett & Michael Ricci

Old Colony YMCA

This interactive session cuts through the AI hype and focuses on practical, real-world applications tailored to YMCA operations and community organizations. Participants will learn key AI concepts in plain language, explore what AI can and cannot do, and see demonstrations of how AI can support decision-making across organizations. Real YMCA examples will help attendees generate ideas and build confidence using leading AI platforms. Whether you're an AI beginner or already experimenting with new tools, you'll leave with actionable ideas you can immediately apply in your YMCA.