Sue Jones introduced our two speakers for today.
John Barber serves as interim CEO of the Jamestown Area YMCA, which includes leadership of the Jamestown YMCA, Lakewood Family YMCA, Camp Onyahsa and the Heritage House Childcare Center. He serves in this capacity with 18 years of experience providing leadership with the association. During his tenure with the Y, he has served in various roles, including directing teen programs, school-age childcare, HUD Housing and USDA Meal Programs. He has spearheaded the organization of a community-based sports league for non-varsity teens, launched a summer learning loss program called Power Scholars Academy, expanded Latino access to after-school programming and led the ten-fold expansion of USDA at-risk meal programs.
A Chautauqua County native, John is a 1995 graduate of Cassadaga Valley. He Holds a B.A. from Grove City College and an M Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary. He lives in Frewsburg with his wife and has three grown children and one grandchild. In addition to his role with the YMCA, John serves as Councilman in the Town of Carroll and as Board Treasurer for the UCAN City Mission.
Dr. Daniel DeMarte, Ed.D. has served as president of Jamestown Community College since August 2018. He was previously the executive vice president for academic and student affairs at Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, VA and, also, held leadership and administrative positions at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Macomb Community College and Genesee Community College. Dr. DeMarte has 30 years of experience in community colleges holds a doctorate from North Carolina State University and a master’s and undergraduate degrees from the State University of New York. He began his college education at the Community College of the Air Force while serving on active duty.
The YMCA and JCC are currently working on a building project that would serve both of their populations and their united goals of promoting youth development, healthy lifestyles and educational advancement. Mr. Barber began by sharing that the current YMCA building was built in 1929 and has several building and programming issues. It has old wires, old pipes and is not ADA compliant. The original new YMCA project located on Winsor Street was going to cost approximately $33-40 million. However, the newest project, Community Wellness Center will be located on the JCC Campus with an estimated shared cost of $45 million.
Dr. DeMarte shared that the physical education building on its campus is also old and in need of repair and upgrades. JCC has a strong athletic program and is currently losing potential athletes because of its outdated structure. The planned new facility will have separate spaces for each organization, as well as shared spaces. JCC plans to have two new turf soccer fields with overlays for baseball and softball. The YMCA will move its daycare program to the new location. Other Y programming will be integrated into these new facilities while some of their programming will remain as is ( ie after school programs) with the availability of all that the new facility will have to offer.
The two organizations are 18 months into their partnership. Initial state funding for the design phase has been approved. Both the YMCA and JCC must complete their fund raising and return to the state for final approval. The two programs are also looking for a health partner to enhance their ability to work with the whole person as they participate in the new shared vision of the Community Wellness Center.
This was an excellent program that allowed Rotarians to keep abreast of the new shared vision of two vitally important community organizations, the YMCA and JCC.
