KICKIN' IT WITH MR Q

Racine Family YMCA

The Racine Family YMCA’s bi-weekly podcast series with President and CEO Ahmad K. Qawi, focusing on current events, diversity and inclusion and social justice in Racine, Wisconsin, the region and the U.S.

Episodes

  1. 04/01/2022

    Emotional Wellness at the Racine Family YMCA

    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.

    30 min

  2. 03/30/2021

    Uplifting Racine Youth

    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...

    28 min

  3. 02/18/2021

    A Man with a Spiritual Connection

    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."

    28 min

  4. 02/10/2021

    Speaking Up, Speaking Out

    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.

    29 min

  5. 02/03/2021

    Making Q—Story

    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.

    24 min

  6. 12/30/2020

    The New Year's Resolution

    In this sixth podcast episode of "Kickin' It With the Y," host Ahmad K. Qawi, President/CEO of the Racine Family YMCA, is joined by Mathias Werve, Personal Trainer at the Racine Family YMCA, to discuss how to start out the New Year right from the health and wellness perspective. Mathias also discusses how his personal support network and background in endurance sports helped him in his recovery from a brain tumor in his early teens. Having a support network is key to achieving and maintaining health and overcoming health challenges, and Mathias and his colleagues at the Racine Family YMCA help fill that essential role for our members and in our community. Mathias Werve is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin—Whitewater. A certified Personal Trainer, Mathias has been at the Y for six years, working with people through a variety of different Y programs to help them meet and maintain health goals, including cancer survivors and Parkinson’s patients, based on each individual’s needs.

    30 min

  7. 12/16/2020

    The 5 Social Determinants of Health

    In this fifth podcast episode, Ahmad Qawi, Racine Family YMCA President/CEO is joined by Teresa S. Johnson, PhD, RN, Associate Professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; and researcher in infant health measures and infant mortality rates to discuss the 5 Social Determinants of Health in providing healthy outcomes: Economic Stability, Education, Health & Health Care, Neighborhood and Built Environment and Social & Community Context and the challenges vulnerable populations experience in achieving healthy outcomes. Teresa S. Johnson received her Bachelor of Science from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, Masters in Nursing degree from University of Kansas, and doctoral degree from University of Illinois at Chicago. She has many years of clinical, teaching and research experience with newborns and their families. Her research with newborns has centered on infant health measures such as infant size at birth as a reflection of fetal growth, care and study of the breastfeeding mother-infant dyad in in- and outpatient settings, and barriers to initiation and continuation of breastfeeding, especially among high-risk populations. She is also leading a team to study infant mortality in a small urban community in SE Wisconsin. She looks for opportunities to include undergraduate and graduate students in her research. She practices as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and nurse/research consultant for Wheaton-Franciscan Healthcare in Racine. She has several publications in both nursing and interdisciplinary journals.

    31 min

  8. 11/26/2020

    Heart2Heart

    In this fourth podcast episode of "Kickin' It With Mr Q," host Ahmad K. Qawi, President/CEO of the Racine Family YMCA, is joined by Chris Leberfing, Director and Senior Investment Consultant with the Bishop Leberfing Group of Robert W. Baird & Co. to discuss Chris's personal journey to health and wellness and how discipline as opposed to diet can make big changes in health.

    31 min

  9. 11/10/2020

    #LETSGETHEALTHY

    Season One Episode Three Date: 11-10-2020 “#LETSGETHEALTHY” In this episode, Ahmad K. Qawi, Racine Family YMCA President and CEO, aka “Mr Q,” welcomes guest Lyn Boehm, the Y's Vice President of Healthy Living. Mr Q and Lyn discuss achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and how the Racine Family Y’s through specialty healthy living programs such as Salsa Sabor y Salud and LIVESTRONG, wellness facilities and our ongoing STRONG Challenge can help everyone develop overall health and wellness and a healthy lifestyle. To view information about our programs and classes, visit our website at https://www.ymcaracine.org and our current catalog at https://ymcaracine.org/2020-fall-program-brochure Our STRONG Challenge takes place Monday, November 2nd and Sunday, December 13th, 2020. · Sign up and we’ll add you to our STRONG Challenge participant list. · Visit our #STRONG Challenge page to learn about all of our free community activities. It’s the perfect time to take back our lives, reenergize, achieve goals, feel better and stronger! Donation links: PayPal: PayPal: Donation link: paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=B7DRCU78QTCFC&source=url Stripe: https://anchor.fm/racine-family-ymca/support Like and Subscribe to us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube!

    22 min

  10. 10/27/2020

    The STRONG Challenge

    Season One Episode Two Date: 10-27-2020 “The STRONG Challenge” In this episode, Ahmad K. Qawi, Racine Family YMCA President and CEO, aka “Mr Q,” welcomes guest Brenda Hughes, the Y’s Chief Philanthropy Officer, to discuss the Racine Family YMCA’s community development programs and the STRONG Challenge to improve overall health and wellness. The STRONG Challenge takes place Monday, November 2nd and Sunday, December 13th, 2020. What is the STRONG Challenge? The Racine Family YMCA invites listeners to participate in our FREE six-week STRONG challenge designed to help transform spirit, mind and body! Now, more than ever before, we need to recharge and refocus. The COVID-19 pandemic has worn us down and isolated us in many ways. This challenge provides an opportunity to get active and healthier by yourself or as a STRONG family, and a way to help others in our community. The Challenge: Between Monday, November 2nd and Sunday, December 13th, 2020: · Take 20 minutes per day, five days per week for six weeks to participate in home workouts, challenges, healthy activities and more based on our weekly themes. · Post your activities with videos and/or photos on our Facebook event page and/or track your activities on your #Strong Challenge tracking form, available on our STRONG Challenge webpage at https://ymcaracine.org/strong-challenge. · Email your completed STRONG CHALLENGE Tracking Sheet to akrusza@ymcaracine.org on Monday, December 14th. · Feel recharged in spirit, mind and body! Signing up is easy! · Sign up and we’ll add you to our STRONG Challenge participant list. · Visit our #STRONG Challenge page to learn about all of our free community activities. It’s the perfect time to take back our lives, reenergize, achieve goals, feel better and stronger! Donation link: https://anchor.fm/racine-family-ymca/support Like and Subscribe us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube!

    30 min

  11. 10/08/2020

    Introduction

    In this premiere episode, Ahmad K. Qawi, Racine Family YMCA President and CEO, aka “Mr Q,” introduces the series, which will discuss current events, diversity and inclusion, society and culture, social justice, the Racine Family YMCA, and other topics of interest in Racine, Wisconsin, and also local, regional and national issues. Each episode builds on previous topics and we recommend listening to each episode in chronological order. Season One, Episode One sponsor is Image Management.

    34 min
  • 11 Episodes

About

The Racine Family YMCA’s bi-weekly podcast series with President and CEO Ahmad K. Qawi, focusing on current events, diversity and inclusion and social justice in Racine, Wisconsin, the region and the U.S.

Information

  • Creator
    Racine Family YMCA
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2022
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Racine Family YMCA
  • Show Website
    KICKIN' IT WITH MR Q