Partnership in Action: The Independence Academy
At the Copple Family YMCA, community isn’t just something we talk about. It is something we build together every day. This fall, that sense of togetherness has grown even stronger thanks to our partnership with The Independence Academy, a Lincoln Public Schools program for students with disabilities that helps them gain real-world educational, social, and career experience.
Each weekday, Independence Academy students spend part of their morning at the Y, lending a hand in ways that help our team keep the facility welcoming, clean, and organized. But more importantly, they are bringing smiles to everyone they meet.
“For me, this partnership is a reminder that community is at the core of our mission,” shared Aaron Edwards, Copple Family Y’s Youth, Teen and Family Director. “I feel honored to help the students gain real-world work experience. They greet and build relationships with members, help around the building, and continue to create a space where people can come together.”
The impact runs both ways. Members and staff have shared how much they look forward to seeing the students each day and how quickly they have become part of the Y community.
Karleen Guretzky, Health and Wellness Director, says the experience has changed her own perspective. “Working with these students has given me a deeper understanding of how to support individuals with different learning styles,” she explained. “It has reminded me of the importance of patience, clear communication, and individualized approaches to engagement.”
Partnerships like this one reflect what the YMCA stands for: building healthy spirit, mind, and body FOR ALL. Whether through a shared smile or a new skill learned, everyone involved leaves a little more connected and a little more inspired.