Youth Development

In 2026, YMCAs across the country are celebrating 175 years of making a difference. Since 1850, the YMCA has been more than a gym or a pool; it’s been a place where people come together to learn, grow, achieve, connect, and belong. 

In 2024–2025, 25 YMCA associations across North Carolina used the Hello Insight platform to assess and strengthen their teen programs.

On October 11-12, 2025, teens from across North Carolina came together at YMCA of Greensboro Camp Weaver to launch the YMCA’s inaugural NC State Teen Mental Health Advisory Council (TMAC).

One year ago, Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, leaving homes, businesses and communities in crisis. In the storm’s aftermath, YMCAs across the state joined together to deliver truckloads of supplies, and YMCAs in the region stepped forward as pillars of relief, recovery and resilience, providing essential resources to support those in need.

During Suicide Prevention Month, we are highlighting two young North Carolina changemakers who are helping shape the future of how YMCAs address youth mental health through Y-USA’s Teen Mental Health Fellowship. This 18-month initiative empowers teens to create youth-led, youth-informed solutions that promote emotional well-being resilience and community support through local YMCAs.

For anyone that knows Alisha Reynolds Welch, a longtime member of the William G. White YMCA in Winston-Salem, it’s no surprise that she was just one of 21 youth leaders selected to serve on Y-USA’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) this year. 

APPLY HERE BY SEPTEMBER 10!

As teen mental health challenges reach alarming levels, the NC Alliance of YMCAs is stepping up with a new interactive Teen Mental Health Resource Hub, now live at www.ncymcas.org/YMCATeenMentalHealth.