GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

When you join the Y, you are not just joining a gym. Members will always find a supportive community full of friendly faces. And at the Morris Community YMCA, one of these friendly faces belongs to Steph Latta. Steph is a valued part of our membership team, always there to share a smile and a warm and welcoming greeting when members walk through our front door. Learn more about Steph in the Q&A below:

Q: Why do you enjoy working at the Y?

“I enjoy being here because of the people. The relationships I have with members and fellow staff are special.” I love the atmosphere. I open on a lot of mornings and the group that comes in right when we open at 5 o’clock always make my day. It’s always great to see new members come in too!”

Q: What are some of your favorite Y moments or memories?

“I love all the members who come in everyday smiling. Everyone is so friendly. The Fab 50 group in particular is great. Most of them come in well before senior fitness classes start and you get a chance to chit-chat. Most of them love pickleball too.”

Q: How has working at the Y impacted you? 

“Working at the Y has made me a better person. I was never really sociable and now I’m better at communicating. I enjoy being sociable with the members.”

Q: What should someone who is thinking about joining know about the Y?

“Many people can be self-conscious about themselves when they workout and I tell them that’s one thing they don’t have to worry about when they are here. We don’t judge people, everybody supports one another, and you’ll often end up making new friends.

We are so proud to have Steph on our Y team! If you are interested in joining our staff team, you can stop by one of our Employment Open Houses this week, visit our Employment Opportunities page, or apply online today.

At the Y, we believe the values and skills learned in our youth development programs are vital building blocks for life. In YMCA programs like Kid Zone and summer day camp, children can explore their unique talents and interests, helping them realize their potential. 

These efforts would not be possible without the support and dedication of our amazing Y team members, like Bailey Roberts. Bailey, a senior at Plainfield Central High School, first got involved at the Y in 2021 as a summer day camp volunteer. Bailey now works as a YMCA Kid Zone Counselor at Central Elementary School.  Learn more about Bailey in the Q&A below.

Q: What was your Y experience like before you became a member of the part-time staff team?

“I was aware of the Y because my family had a membership. I had been to places like the pool, but hadn’t been involved with anything like the summer camps so I didn’t consider myself a ‘Y kid.’ Then I heard about the Y’s summer camp volunteer program from my mom. I like being around kids and I thought it would be something fun to do over the summer. At first it was only supposed to be for a couple weeks, but it was so much fun I ended up volunteering for the whole summer.”

Q: How did you get started in the YMCA’s Kid Zone program?

“After summer camp ended, I asked if there was anything else I could do and that’s when I learned about the Before and After School program. I live really close to the site, so it was an easy choice.”

Q: What are some of your favorite Y moments?

“At summer camp, there are so many great activities for kids to participate in and there is always something new. I think one of my favorites was working with kids in the garden. The kids got to help plant vegetables and ultimately got to take home and eat what they grew. That was really cool to see.”

Q: How has working for the Y impacted you?

“I’ve made great friendships with the other counselors and the kids are fun to be around. I want to be a teacher, so this experience has also helped me prepare for my future.

Q: What do you enjoy most about working for the Y?

“Y programs are organized very well which creates a strong work environment. I look forward to work every day, and if I ever need any help the other Y staff members are extremely helpful. Everyone here is open and friendly.”

We are so proud to have Bailey on our Y team! If you are interested in joining our Kid Zone or summer day camp staff teams, visit our Employment Opportunities page or apply online today.