KICKIN' IT WITH MR Q

In this episode, host Ahmad Qawi, President/CEO of the Racine Family YMCA, interviews Emily Lock, LCSW, Director of the Racine Family YMCA's Family Service Mental Health Clinic and Vice President of Family Development and Wellness. Emily joined the Racine Family YMCA in April 2021 as Director of its Family Service outpatient counseling clinic, and Vice President of Family Development and Wellness to revitalize services in the Racine community. She oversees daily operations at the Family Service Branch, provides clinical therapist, staff and intern supervision and develops community emotional wellness collaborations throughout Racine County. Emily has worked in private practice, medical settings and not for profit clinics as a social worker in the local Racine community for the past 20 years, treating adolescents, young adults and their families; and has practiced as a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist for the past 12 years. During the therapy process, she assists clients in discovery of their strengths, building support system, and developing healthy lifestyle to set the foundation for life success. She also incorporates client’s spiritual beliefs into the treatment protocol in order to holistically address their needs. Emily uses a variety of therapeutic modalities to customize treatment approaches for every individual and family she serves. Emily received her Bachelor of Art in Community Leadership and Development from Alverno College and Master’s Degree in Social Work with emphasis on Children and Families from Loyola University. Emily has lived in the Racine community for over thirty years, has a young adult daughter who is a talented artist and advocate, a boyfriend who was a good friend for over twenty years, before realizing he was the love of her life, and several very eccentric and goofy pets. Emily is grateful to have a career that allows her treat those in need with dignity, respect and honor. The Racine Family YMCA is committed to providing total wellness for all. To learn more about the Y and its offerings, please visit our website at ymcaracine.org.

In this episode, host Ahmad Qawi, President/CEO of the Racine Family YMCA, interviews Mr. Damian Dolley, the Racine Family YMCA's Credible Messengers Coordinator. Racine's Credible Messengers Movement was launched in January 2019 in partnership with Racine County. This initiative connects juvenile offenders referred by the juvenile justice system to mentors who have overcome similarly challenging life experiences and also works with youth who are at high risk for involvement with law enforcement.  Through gang-diversion mentoring and instruction to broaden personal and educational horizons, students learn to seek positive life outcomes, reducing recidivism. The Family Engagement Specialist meets regularly with parents/guardians to identify and address family needs and provide appropriate resources, including referrals to other Y programs such as fatherhood mentoring through the Focus on Fathers Initiative, job training through the First Choice Pre-Apprenticeship Program, or the  Young Leaders Academy (YLA) for younger siblings. The Y also works with youth who are at high risk for becoming involved in the justice system. This could include siblings of current program participants, previously incarcerated youth who are no longer monitored by the court system, or youth in the community who are on the fringe of gang activity. These youth are identified by parents, school teachers and counselors, law enforcement, etc. Outreach to this population includes expanded meetings and services to parents, meetings in the community and other youth recruitment strategies. The Messengers also attend court appearances as sometimes parents/guardians do not show up. The Messengers also provide mentoring to youth who are currently incarcerated. Mr. Dolley was previously the Young Leaders Academy Coordinator for the Racine Family YMCA, a character and leadership excellence after school program for Racine youth in Grades 2-12, and also served on Racine's Gang Diversion Task Force.   Learn more about the Credible Messengers Movement here: https://ymcaracine.org/strong-communi...

In this episode, host Ahmad Qawi, President/CEO of the Racine Family YMCA, interviews Mr. Charles Tyler, Racine's first African American Director of the Racine Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. Mr. Tyler is also a longtime youth mentor and community activist in Racine. Born in Cairo, Illinois, Mr. Tyler grew up with a vision of service to help others in need. He began playing basketball in high school, played while stationed in Japan during his service in the Navy, and attended college in South Dakota on  a basketball scholarship. Upon arriving in Racine, Mr. Tyler worked for the City of Racine, eventually becoming the head of the Racine Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. Mr. Tyler was involved in Racine's Civil Rights movement to advocate for improved community center facilities for youth in the city. He is a beloved youth mentor in Racine who has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of youth. In 2017, Mr. Tyler published a book, titled "Youth in the Center of My Heart."

In honor of Black History Month, we are presenting four podcasts that highlight Racine's Black History. In the second episode in this series, host and first African American president of the Racine Family YMCA, Ahmad Qawi, interviews Ronald Tatum, son of the late Callie Tatum, a Racine community advocate. In 1961, Mrs. Tatum worked closely with other local leaders such as Thelma Orr and George Bray to provide an after-school safe space and neighborhood center for youth and families in Central Racine. (The Center closed in 2016 but reopened as the Racine Family George Bray A. Neighborhood Branch in 2017 with the help of Caron Butler, retired NBA star, Assistant Coach with the Miami Heat and Bray Center alumnus, the Ruud Foundation and the Racine community.) Mrs. Tatum's legacy of community advocacy, including her famous advice about Speaking Up and Speaking Out is discussed. Mr. Tatum is the Vice President of Operations at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

In honor of Black History Month, the next four podcasts will highlight Racine's Black History. The first episode in this series talks to the Racine Family YMCA's first African American President/CEO, Ahmad Qawi, aka "Q." This interview was done by Keith Vinson, Vice President of Operations at the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas. Q shares his Y story of joining the Racine Family YMCA, first as Community Development Director, ten years as Chief Operating Officer, and now as President/CEO. His leadership development journey is discussed, and the inclusive, professional development-focused YMCA culture.