Summertime and the swimming is easy for these children at the East Side Providence YMCA.
In 1853 the YMCA first opened its doors in Providence as a place for young men to go and feel safe. In following the tradition in which it was created, today the YMCA continues to be a safe haven for many. It has outgrown the stereotype as a “fitness facility” and instead has begun to take a role more often associated with social services agencies.
For Susan Rittscher, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Providence YMCA, the change is a good a one.
”Many people don’t know what really happens here,” she said. “We are hybrid of a lot of different things and we think it is wonderful.”
At the heart of the changes has been a redesign of the organization’s focus. Once considered an organization for males, today many of its programs are designed to meet the needs of families, from young children to older adults.
”Our focus has become children and families,” said Rittscher. “We try and reach families of all kinds and family to us is the not always ‘traditional.’ It can be a single adult, it can be a single parent, or it can mean a grandmother and grandchild.”
For Denise Barge, executive director of the Minority Investment Development Council, and a member of the YMCA’s board of directors, the changes in the organization have been the result of the community it serves.
”The reality is the new and emerging community doesn’t use the Y the way the Y was used previously,” she said. “They are using it more for social services. As in my case, as a young mother trying to raise my children, I use the Y’s day care after school program and feel secure about who is taking care of my kids. I think that people are looking at it as a linkage for family security and trying to use it that way.”
In response to that the YMCA of Greater Providence has released a five-year, $10 million plan that officials believe will help the organization better meet the needs of the changing community.
During the transitional period, which is anticipated to last from 2000 until 2003, the organization will undertake three major initiatives: launch a $10 million Capital Campaign, move some key program services out of the Broad Street location and disperse them at community locations, and begin to forge relationships for the future.
”Right now we are trying to figure out ways to do the funding and how we can make this plan work,” Rittscher said. “Overall, in the next 10 years we have come up with more than $30 million worth of needs and plans.”
After the transitional period, the organization will begin what it calls the Urban Campaign. According to Rittscher, this will bring a new YMCA facility to South Providence, add a new day care center to the downtown area, extend the current facility at the East Side YMCA, and turn the current Broad Street location into office space for a variety of social service agencies. The 178 housing units that are now at the Broad Street location would remain.
”We are taking very seriously the needs of the city, the families and the kids,” Rittscher said. “There seems to be a real void in certain areas and we feel we can fill those voids.”
Currently, the Greater Providence YMCA serves more than 2,000 children by providing child care 52 weeks a year at schools, hospitals, and day care centers in an around the city of Providence – all of which are licensed by the state.
In 1999, the YMCA increased its child care enrollment by more than 11 percent – statistics Rittscher said could go even higher.
”We are the largest provider of child care in the state,” she said. “We provide a foundation for many children. Right now, we are looking for a location in the downtown area. There are so many businesses and corporations there – we feel there is a real need for infant-toddler day care.”
Susan Rittscher, president, CEO of Greater Providence YMCA.
Maryellen O’Mahoney, a YMCA child care expert who is also executive director of the Newman YMCA branch in Seekonk, Mass., said that finding the right child care is often a problem for parents – something the Y considers in its program planning.
”Finding just the right environment for your child can be a tremendous advantage for your child’s education, personal development and social skills,” she said. “High quality child care enhances a child’s social, mental and physical development.”
Another major portion of the program includes the development of a new YMCA in South Providence. Rittscher said the organization hopes the new Y becomes a hub of com-munity life. As a result, the design of the new building calls for a teen center, a pool, gymnasium, health and fitness area, multi-purpose community space, classrooms, a com-puter center, and a state-of-the-art childcare center.
”We have found that this area is one with the highest needs,” she said. “There is really nothing like it in the area. It is really missing a multi-purpose center like this.”
Barge said the new facility is just what South Providence needs.
”We have done extensive community surveys and found that the needs of this community in particular are not being met,” she said. “I think that some of the needs are being met, but there are so many other needs that could be met. It all goes so well together, in terms of urban community economic development, education, and urban infrastructure support.”
But even after many of the programs have vacated the Broad Street building, Rittscher said the 178 housing units would remain. In addition, she said, it is the board’s hope that the building can be used by a variety of social service agencies including Travelers Aid, which is currently located on Union Street.
”The residents that live here will still be taken care of by us,” Rittscher said. “We are absolutely not leaving that. We are not abandoning them. We would like to retrofit this building to house four to six non-profit organizations that can help with community development.”
Still, some on the Providence City Council are re-luctant to move the Travelers Aid organization to the South Side of the city, saying it is already “at a high stress level.”
But even if that move doesn’t hap-pen, Rittscher said she is hoping the building can be used by similar agencies.
”One way or another we are committed to transitioning this facility for those who are in high need,” she said. “If not Travelers Aid, then I hope other social service agencies will use this building.”
Both Barge and Rittscher agree moving out of the Broad Street location was not easy decision to make. For many, the tall brick facade that towers over Route 95 has become a symbol of the Y itself.
”Unfortunately, the historical building isn’t meeting the needs of the community,” Barge said. “I think that once people see the new facility and they feel comfortable with what it has to offer they will understand what a plus it is for the community.”
Rittscher agreed. “I think that the YMCA can only get stronger by having a stronger presence in the areas of most need.”
