McGaw Y employees Melissa Franada (left) and Alicya Dennison were selected for two national YMCA leadership networks.  EVANSTON, IL. – The McGaw YMCA is proud to announce that employees Alicya Dennison and Melissa Franada have been chosen to participate in two prestigious national YMCA leadership networks focused on multicultural leadership development. These leadership networks are two of the six staff-led Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) recognized by the YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) at the national level. ERGs are part of the Y’s multicultural leadership development efforts to grow and support a network of diverse cause-driven leaders at all levels and to ensure that the Y leadership reflects the diverse communities served by YMCAs. ERGs are open to all YMCA staff and volunteers. “At McGaw YMCA, we believe that everyone has the potential to be a leader. We are committed to providing our employees with the resources they need to grow […]

Editor’s Note: Melissa Franada, McGaw YMCA Marketing Director, is one of eight YMCA staff members nationwide chosen for the 2022-23 Asian and Pacific Islander Leadership Network-International Leadership Institute (APILN-ILI). The APILN-ILI is a 12-month program that focuses on providing leadership development opportunities for Y employees who identify as Asian and Pacific Islander (API). As part of the program, participants took part in a 10-day global immersion experience in March 2023 that connected them to the work of the YMCA in South Korea and the Philippines. Below is Melissa’s recap of this journey. By Melissa Franada Embarking on a 10-day global immersion trip to South Korea and the Philippines was a journey of a lifetime. I joined a talented team of YMCA leaders from associations across the country for an experience that left an indelible mark on my life. Throughout the journey, our team met with key YMCA and community leaders