Today's Pathway to the Y brings us the stories of Nicole Lovecchio, Chief Social Emotional Learning Officer at Wings for Kids and Mary Moua, Quality Youth Programs Director at the Y. Nicole shares how the partnership between WINGS for Kids and the YMCA led her to the Y. Mary discovered the YMCA through her friends and family. Her passion for youth development led her into her career, with over 12 years of impactful experiences in youth programming. Nicole and Mary make a positive impact in the lives of others every day using Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
IN THIS EPISODE:
[0:45] Nicole reflects on how SEL brought her to the Y and began her Y story.
[2:35] Allison shares insight into how the partnership was received by the Y team and the impact that WINGS for Kids has made.
[3:50] Nicole shares how the Metro Atlanta YMCA has worked to bring SEL into the lives of its members and staff.
[4:05] Mary has always been passionate about the process of youth development. She discovered the YMCA through her friends and family. She quickly realized that the Y embodies many of the qualities that Mary believes in.
[5:15] Our guests put SEL into practice as they reflect on their feelings about the end of the episode.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Nicole believes that the YMCA and WINGS for Kids is a right fit partner, because from the beginning, SEL was built into the foundation of the program.
Many people do not know what SEL is, but through hands-on lessons, learn that SEL can be incorporated into the lives of everyone involved, not just children.
SEL can help people learn to process, express, and reflect on their feelings both in their personal and professional lives.
RESOURCE LINKS:
BIOGRAPHIES:
Nicole Lovecchio serves as the Chief SEL Officer at Wings for Kids–an all-female-led nonprofit dedicated to equipping children from under-resourced communities with the social-emotional skills they need to succeed in school, stay in school, and thrive in life. For 21 years, Nicole has helped transform a single afterschool program into a national organization with multiple direct service sites across the southeast and partnerships from coast to coast. What's most impressive? She's accomplished this with heart, grit, and a loyal following of employees, coworkers, and students of all ages. Nicole develops curriculum for elementary students and training/professional development content for adults working with youth—inside and outside WINGS. Also, she cultivates partnerships with other youth-serving organizations and schools nationwide to help them build a foundation that fosters social-emotional safety and development for their students and staff.
Mary Moua is a seasoned professional with over 12 years of impactful experiences in youth programming, having orchestrated magic at the Boys & Girls Clubs before joining the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. As the Quality Youth Programs Director at the Y, Mary provides leadership and support across Afterschool, Day Camp, and Middle and Teen programs, leveraging her expertise to support the strategic development and execution of quality programming and assessments for all Y youth programs within the Association. Mary Moua is a vibrant part of the "village" that provides professional and impactful youth developmental best practices in shaping the future of youth.
