Imagine more than 3,500 YMCA staff and volunteers from communities across the country coming together in one place, united by a shared belief that stronger communities begin with stronger human connections. That was the energy we experienced in New Orleans at this year’s YMCA General Assembly—and our Boothbay Region YMCA team came home inspired by what we heard, what we learned and, most importantly, what it could mean for our community. 

I was fortunate to experience General Assembly alongside Wen Wolf, vice chair of our Board of Directors; Lisa McIntosh, director of Operations; and McKayla Groat, director of Finance. Our team was able to attend through support from YMCA of the USA as part of a grant focused on strengthening connections in rural communities. That made the experience especially meaningful. We weren’t simply attending a national conference—we were there thinking about our own community, the unique challenges and opportunities of life on our peninsula, and how our Y can be even more intentional about helping people feel connected and supported. 

Throughout General Assembly, one message came through loud and clear: people need people. 

Across the country, people of all ages are experiencing loneliness and social isolation. Technology may keep us constantly connected, but it doesn’t necessarily provide the relationships, shared experiences and sense of belonging that help us thrive. 

The YMCA movement is responding by becoming more intentional about something the Y has actually been doing for generations—bringing people together. 

That message resonated deeply with our team because we see it happening every day here at home. 

Someone may first walk through our doors simply looking for a place to exercise. They start coming a few mornings a week and begin recognizing the same faces. A staff member learns their name. Someone in a class notices when they aren’t there. A conversation after a workout turns into coffee, and coffee turns into friendship. 

Then life happens. 

There may be an illness, the loss of a spouse, a difficult transition or simply a season when someone needs a little extra support. What began as a place to exercise has quietly become something much more. There are people who notice when they are missing, check in on them, celebrate with them and show up when things are hard. 

They came to the Y to work out. Somewhere along the way, they became part of a community. 

That is the power of connection. 

We see it when a child arrives at Camp K nervous on the first day and leaves with new friends. We see it when teenagers find a safe place to gather, laugh and be themselves. We see it when older adults build friendships that extend far beyond an exercise class, or when a family new to the peninsula begins finding their place in the community. 

Sometimes the most important thing that happens at the Y has nothing to do with the activity someone originally came here to do. 

This work is particularly important in rural communities. Distance, transportation, seasonal rhythms, an aging population, changing family structures and long Maine winters can make staying connected more challenging. In a place like ours, creating opportunities for people to know one another and feel that they belong is an important part of building a healthy and resilient community. 

The Y-USA grant is giving us an opportunity to think more intentionally about what connection looks like here. How do we create more opportunities for people to build meaningful relationships? Do our young people have trusted adults and peers in their lives? Do older adults feel known and valued? How do we reach someone who may be isolated? And how do we know whether the programs we offer are actually helping people feel more connected? 

We also know the Y cannot do this work alone. Creating a more connected Boothbay region takes schools, businesses, nonprofits, healthcare providers, families, neighbors and community leaders working together. 

For generations, the Boothbay Region YMCA has been a gathering place for this community. Programs have changed, facilities have grown and generations have passed through our doors, but our purpose has always been about more than a building or a program. 

Our team returned from New Orleans inspired by where the YMCA movement is headed and excited about what this grant will allow us to explore right here at home. 

Because sometimes someone walks into the Y looking for a workout—and finds a community instead. 

And increasingly, we believe creating those connections may be some of the most important work we do.