Main Body
In 2025, the YMCA National Board will include for the first time a representative from the Youth Advisory Council to help prioritize youth voice in strategic decision-making and amplify youth leadership.
CHICAGO (February 10, 2025)—YMCA of the USA (Y-USA), the national resource office for the 2,600 YMCAs across the country, is pleased to announce the addition of five new members to its National Board of Directors, along with the first youth member elected from the Youth Advisory Council.
The National Board of Directors, composed of 28 leaders from across the country, provides strategic direction and policy support to strengthen the Y's mission of connecting all people to their potential, purpose and each other. The new board members bring a wealth of expertise from various industries and will work collaboratively to advance the Y’s goals of empowering communities nationwide.
The six newly appointed members to the National Board of Directors, along with three additional members who were elected in August of 2024 are:
- Karen Deblieux, Head of US Corporate Banking & Market President, Capital One
- Ian Holder, Financial Advisor & Managing Director, Cary Street Partners
- Eric Huffman, Retired Insurance Agent, State Farm
- Scott Lewis, President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
- Jim Sandgren, CEO Commercial Banking, Old National Bank
- Kathy Lonowski, Former Regulatory Executive, FDIC (elected Aug 2024)
- Julie Sills Molock, Founder & CEO, Blue Sky Collaborative Partners (elected Aug 2024)
- Troy Vincent, EVP of Football Operations, NFL (elected Aug 2024)
- Elijah “Eli” Cooper, Youth Advisory Council Member, Kentucky YMCA Youth Association
Nationwide, only 3.8% of YMCA board members are under the age of 30. As a youth-serving organization, the Y has the opportunity to move the needle on the representation of young people on its governing boards. The Youth Advisory Council was formed in 2023 to apply a youth lens to emerging issues. Working with Y-USA leadership, the Youth Advisory Council is comprised of 21 individuals, ranging in age from 16-24 from across the country. The strategy behind the Youth Advisory Council is to shift the paradigm and recognize young people as active contributors rather than passive recipients of programs and services.
The newly appointed members to the Youth Advisory Committee include:
- Nayeli Almanzar Lizardo, Merrimack Valley YMCA
- Ethan Flores, YMCA of Delaware
- Jaiden Goodman, YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South
- Elizabeth Higgins, Greater Somerset County YMCA
- Megan Jones, Florida State Alliance of YMCAs
- Kush Kaur, YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas
- Jehu King, YMCA of Florida’s First Coast
- Connor Mattox, Altavista Area YMCA
- Kaylee Prewitt, YMCA of Greater Indianapolis
- Alisha Reynolds Welch, YMCA of Northwest North Carolina
- Brian Stamper, YMCA of Greater Richmond
- Faith You, Greater Missoula Family YMCA
- Melinda Zhang, Gateway Region YMCA
The returning members to the Youth Advisory Committee include:
- Eli Cooper (National Board), Kentucky YMCA Youth Association
- Stephanie Granobles, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
- Ezekiel Lu, YMCA of Metropolitan Washington
- Raine McAngus, Valley of the Sun YMCA
- Adora Olisa, YMCA of Southern Maine
- Brady Sternberg (Chair), YMCA of the North
- Aishwarya Swamidurai, YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City
- Yana Zenefski, Door County YMCA
Elijah “Eli” Cooper, Kentucky YMCA Youth Association, will represent the Youth Advisory Council as a non-voting member of the National Board of Directors, bridging perspectives across generations and enriching board discussions.
Cooper, originally from Owensboro, Kentucky, discovered his passion for public service and community development through leadership programs with the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association. As a high school senior, he served as a Youth Member of the Board of Directors, representing 10,000 youth in the organization's programming. Eli later joined the staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he launched the Student YMCA Advisory Council to amplify youth voices and enhance support for future Youth Board Members. His involvement expanded nationally, supporting youth advocacy efforts and engaging in Youth and Government initiatives. Now a Harvard Law School student, Eli remains committed to advancing the YMCA movement at both national and local levels.
"Our Youth Advisory Council and our National Board both reflect the Y’s commitment to elevating a range of voices in our organization," said Suzanne McCormick, President and CEO of Y-USA. "These new members will strengthen our board, bringing unique perspectives and experiences to its work. Y-USA is blessed to have accomplished volunteer leaders who are dedicated to ensuring that Ys across the country have the resources and support they need to shape a brighter future for their communities."
About the Y
Driven by its founding mission, the Y has served as a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community for more than 175 years. The Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from, by ensuring access to resources, relationships and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives and generations, the Y’s goal is to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment and demonstrate the importance of connections in and across 10,000 communities nationwide. Learn more at ymca.org.