With each punch, the teenager gained confidence.
“Boom, boom — just think about the rhythm,” instructor Jose Hernandez told him as they squared up in a studio at the Maplewood YMCA.
Moments later, the young man started landing his jabs, his gloves hitting Hernandez’s pads with pulsing repetition.
“There you go!” Hernandez said, urging him on.
Teens are the heart of the YMCA of Greater Rochester’s growth projections.
A new five-year strategic plan aims to triple the number of city youths and teens in YMCA programs. And double city membership, from 10,000 up to 20,000, with a focus on the west side.
“I think that’s more than doable,” said Ernie Lamour, president and CEO of the local YMCA chapter.
The push comes as the nonprofit is seeing overall membership rebound to pre-pandemic levels. Its program revenues and participation are on the rise as well.