TAKE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION The McGaw YMCA is partnering with the Arthritis Foundation for Walk with Ease, a free six-week community program that can help reduce pain and improve overall health, flexibility, strength and stamina just by walking. Walk with Ease is conducted in a group setting by a certified leader. Participants take 30-minute walks at the YMCA indoor track and learn stretching, warm up and basic exercise techniques. The program will help participants establish a progressive 3x week walking routine while experiencing the camaraderie of a group setting and benefits of a research-based program! Walk with Ease is free and open to the community. The program starts July 13 and will be held at the McGaw YMCA’s indoor track on Wednesdays at noon. Space is limited. Registration is required. Sign up online today!

Dear McGaw YMCA community, We are not okay. Over the past few weeks, our neighbors across the country and here in Evanston have endured countless acts of hateful violence, many of which were racially motivated. Whether it’s the nooses found hanging outside of Haven Middle School, the attacks targeting Black people in a Buffalo, NY, grocery store, the recent school shootings including the devastating loss of life at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX, or the ongoing violence that continues to harm families locally, we need to talk about how systemic racism and exposure to trauma is affecting our mental health and wellbeing. As an organization dedicated to creating a safe and supportive community where everyone belongs, the McGaw YMCA is committed to processing and reflecting on what is happening here in Evanston and across the country because actively addressing the root causes of violence requires everyone’s efforts. We also