The Gateway Region YMCA is taking the Y on the road.
The organization, in partnership with the City of St. Louis鈥� Office of Violence Prevention, is bringing the Mobile Y directly to St. Louis鈥� youth. The goal is to further prevent youth violence by giving kids and families easier access to YMCA programs.
鈥淲e thought about what do youth like to do?鈥� said Chiamaka Onuoha, a senior teen program director at the Gateway Region YMCA. 鈥淲hat is a fun way for them to come together, build relationships with their peers but also with trusted adults? How can we start teaching them new skills? Because at the Y we also do youth development. Part of that is making sure they鈥檙e gaining new skills. That鈥檚 what led to the Mobile Y.鈥�
The Mobile Y鈥檚 large trailer is a kid鈥檚 paradise on wheels. It鈥檚 filled with the latest game consoles, mobile DJ units, STEAM programming, recreational games and access to free community resources.
鈥淪ome of them are like, 鈥楾hank you so much for bringing this to our neighborhood,鈥欌�� Onuoha said. 鈥淥ther ones are like, 鈥業 don鈥檛 have an Xbox, I don鈥檛 have a PlayStation at home, and I鈥檝e really been wanting to play this game,鈥� or, 鈥楬ey, I met this new person. I made a new friend, because of this Mobile Y that is in my neighborhood.鈥�
The Office of Violence Prevention allocated $235,111 in American Rescue Plan Act funds toward the Mobile Y.
Wil Pinkney, director of the city鈥檚 Office of Violence Prevention, said many in St. Louis still feel the effects of violent crime even though data shows crime is on the decline. He鈥檚 happy the Mobile Y is creating a safe space for kids to be kids and put parents at ease.
鈥淵oung people don鈥檛 feel safe, comfortable going outside. Their parents don鈥檛 feel safe with them going outside or even taking them to another location. So this is an opportunity to bring these activities and resources directly to their communities.鈥�
Mobile Y is hosting its launch event at Lafayette Square from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday. City residents interested in bringing the Mobile Y to their community .
Funding for the Mobile Y runs through September 2026.
