A Program Made for the Powerful...
The Kershaw YMCA is a branch of the YMCAs of Greater Montgomery located on Fairview Avenue in Montgomery, Alabama. Here, you can enjoy an array of programs and activities for all age groups from young children to older adults. Currently, this branch is offering a special program to enrich the youth in their break from the traditional academic school year. through a partnership with BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life), students K-8 can enjoy a fun-filled summer of learning at the Kershaw YMCA. This program is designed to enhance and combat the potential loss of learning over the summer for children in under-resourced areas. The heart of this program is to help produce a greater retainment of knowledge and development leading into the academic school-year.
Heading the efforts of the program is Mr. CJ Vandiver. Mr. Vandiver has been with the YMCA for nine years and is going into his tenth. He serves as the Power Scholars Lead and site director. It has impacted his life by giving him the chance to impact younger lives as well as the parents he gets to work with. He wishes for the YMCA to bring the community together to benefit everyone's lives. "The Power Scholars Program means a lot to me. There's an acronym with Bell: Building Educated Leaders for Life, but now we are working under Bell Excel where we are building educated leaders for life." Mr. Vandiver believes that through programs such as these, the community can grow together.
Mrs. Eleanor Thomas acts as the Operations Director for the Kershaw branch. Mrs. Thomas has been with the organization for seven years. This position has given her the chance to help people suffering from health issues, poverty, and financial struggles. She wants the community to know that the YMCA is here for you and the community. From the SPIN program to Power Scholars, there's a variety of programs for you to be involved in. Mrs. Thomas encourages all to come in and see what the YMCA can do for you. "I would want the community to come in and be involved. The Power Scholars Program is a summer learning-loss prevention program. And for me, it means our kids can go to school next year, they're not behind, and they're eager to learn." Mrs. Thomas is proud of her position because it has given her the ability to be grounded and humbled.
During this program, students will have the opportunity to learn under trained professionals and be offered nutritional meals during the day. Students will also have the ability to engage with other students during this time to maintain the normal learning environment of traditional academics. The Kershaw YMCA offers more programs and activities as well besides the Power Scholars Program. Visitors can enjoy full-court basketball, a pool with water slides, and a workout area with numerous weight-lifting machines and cardio equipment. Here at the YMCA, the community is encouraged to be involved in every way possible. There are many programs to be involved in. The Kershaw facility welcomes any and all to be in whatever program that suits you.
