Strong Kids. Strong Families. Stronger Racine.

Our mission is to be a catalyst for positive and lasting change leading to healthier environments and communities.

Strong Kids. Strong Families. Stronger Racine.

In November, the Johnson Foundation hosted a briefing to expand community understanding and support of the Strong Communities Agenda. A key component of the Johnson Foundation Healthy Birth Initiative to combat African American infant mortality in Racine, the Strong Communities Agenda of the Racine Family YMCA provides a range of programs dedicated to increasing the strength of the community by improving family conditions. The Agenda does this through four, main programs:

  • The Young Leaders Academy is a year-round program dedicated to reversing the negative trend of low academic achievement and stereotypical behavior of youth from low-income communities.
  • The Teen Achievers Program supports and encourages youth in the areas of academics, career exploration, civic involvement and leadership development.
  • The Women’s Wellness Initiative helps African American women of child-bearing age with chronic illness to improve their overall health to reduce the rate of infant mortality.
  • Focus on Fathers challenges men to re-examine their male identity, their relationships with their children and their role in preventing infant mortality.
Watch the story of one Young Leader whose life changed through his participation in Strong Communities programming.



Watch this video to see two men talk about life, loss, and how Focus on Fathers helps
them in their quest to become the best fathers they can be.



For more information on the Strong Communities Agenda, please visit ymcaracine.org.