Young Men's Christian

Association
Megan Medford

Why you need to know

It is good to review various institutes for

adult education so
that you can have a better understanding of:

What types of organizations facilitated or emphasize adult learning

Who often participates in adult learning
What subjects are commonly taught
Availability and accessibility of education for adults

It is also good to be aware of how organizations can change

over time, as well as what impact they have on the

community
Knowing these things helps better prepare you for finding a
job that is well suited for you

What do you know about the YMCA?

Have you ever:

Taken classes there?

Anyone who has done one of the above?

Played a sport on one of their teams?

Gone to a Y sponsored even?

Do you know:
Anything about the YMCA?

Founding dates
Originally founded in 1844 in London by George Williams
Later transferred to the U.S. by Thomas Sullivan in 1851
Anthony Bowen started the first YMCA for African Americans

in 1853 in Washington D.C.

In 1963 Women officially became involved in YMCA activities
In 1967, racial discrimination was banned in all YMCAs

About its founding

George Williams was a 22 year old farmer-turned-department store

worker
Young men were migrating to the city from rural areas to find jobs, only
to be faced with a bleak landscape of tenement housing and dangerous
influences
He and 11 friends wanted to form a refuge for young men seeking to
escape from the hazards of life on the streets
Thomas Valentine Sullivan was a retired Boston sea captain, working as
a marine missionary
Inspired by stories of the YMCAs success, and seeing a similar need, he
created a safe home away from home for sailors and merchants in
Boston

Fun Facts
In 1881, Robert J. Roberts coined the term "bodybuilding to

describe his organized exercise regimes

in 1885 the YMCA started Camp Dudley, Americas first known
summer camp program
In 1891, YMCA physical education teacher James Naismith
invented basketball
In the 1895, YMCA instructor William Morgan blended elements
of basketball, tennis and handball creating what is now know as
volleyball
In 1950, YMCA volunteer Joe Sobek invented racquetball

Adult education
Founded the nations first-known English as a Second

Language (ESL) class in 1856, for German immigrants in

Cincinnati
Made many vocational and higher education programs
available to working-class Americans
In 1893, large-scale evening classes began offering liberal
arts and vocational courses
By 1950, YMCAs operated 20 colleges in cities across the
country, many of which have become freestanding
institutions

Who Learns at the Y

The YMCA was originally only for Christian men
While they did not ever limit people by social class, due to the

affordability and nature of the programs, The Y has often considered

to be targeted at the lower to lower middle class.
Today, many of its current adult Ed. programs are designed to help
people earn their GED, gain computer skills, improve literacy, master
English (as a second language), or improve health and wellness
These classes focus on people who didnt finish high school,
immigrants or children of immigrants who struggle with a new
language, and the elderly who struggle with technology, or struggle to
stay active and healthy.

Classes at the Y
They are often based on a need within the community

(assumption 1)
Their continual availability allows people to take classes when
they are ready (assumption 4)
The majority of classes are focused on helping solve a
problem in peoples lives (assumption 5)
Many of the classes can help people get better jobs, earn
higher salaries, and improve self-esteem and quality of life
(assumption 6)