Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Aug. 9, 2012, edition 1 / Page 2
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Y sees increased offerings as key to youth fitness BYLAYLAGARMS THE CHRONICLE In an effort to improve the health and wellness of the community it serves, the Winston Lake Family YMCA has hired its first-ever full time youth and adult sports coordinator. DeShaun Love, a city native, assumed the position on May 23. "Our goal is to engage children and adults year round in physical activity," said Winston Lake Y Executive Director Shawan Gabriel. "...It was time to have someone to dedicate f solely to that." Currently, Love, who played basketball at Glenn High School, oversees the Y's women's and adult basketball leagues; a modest soccer pro gram that Winston Lake offers in partnership with other branches; and the YBA, which has taught countless youngsters the joys of basket ball for decades. He is cur rently signing up kids for a volleyball clinic for middle and high school students that will be held on Thursdays from Aug. 16-Sept. 20. He is Photo by Lay U Ganrn DeShaun Love poses in the gym at the Winston Lake Y. also working to expand the soccer program, in addition to adding softball and flag foot ball to the Y's offerings. The branch is also rolling out an outdoor cycling pro gram, which Love will even tually oversee. Gabriel said he is excited about the new ath letic opportunities the facility is beginning to present to its members and guests. "The capacity for our branch to grow in that area is great," he said. "We just need ed someone with the desire to be the driver of that." Love said he is hopeful that the diversity in program ming could also increase the diversity of the Y's member ship. "I want to get out of the stereotype that this is a black Y," Love said. "This Y is for everybody." Love's ties to the Winston Lake Y date back to his child hood, when he discovered his passion for basketball under the tutelage of Y employee Lin wood Skinner, who was a standout college player at the time. Love, whose mother Angela Love worked in the Y's childcare department, said he always felt like he belonged to the Winston Lake fami ly. As an employee, Love said he has experienced the same supportive atmosphere that he remembers as a kid. "It's family-ori ented; everybody knows evervbodv. People care about each other | here," he stated. "They I encourage me. They're very laid back. They make it easy I for me. When I come in (to 1 work), 1 don't feel stressed." i As a former athlete. Love knows that the value of sports i goes far beyond a win or loss, j ii a muic mail JUM It's building relationships; it's building that sense of family," he said. "A lot of my relation ships, a lot of my friendships, were based off of sports." Love hopes to promote the youth sports program as a healthy outlet for kids of every color and creed. "I think for young people, sports is a great way to build lifelong friendships as well as keeping them active," he stat ed. "In our coun try, we're dealing with childhood obesity, and sports can really help deter that. It keeps them off the streets (and gives them) a safe envi ronment doing something that they like to do around great role models and Deo Gabriel pie who are going to steer them in the right direction." A former teacher's assis tant, Love said he came to Winston Lake because he needed a new direction. - "I love sports and I like working with people. It was a iob that I could see myself doing," said the 30-year-old. "I knew it would challenge me, and 1 felt like 1 needed a challenge." As sports director, Love hopes to use the platform of athletics to increase Winston Lake's presence and reach in the broader community. "1 want to get outside of the four walls and do things in the community and actually take sports to them," said the married father of one son. "I want people to see Winston Lake as not just a Y, but actu ally a Y that goes out into the community and makes a dif ference... We're a smaller branch so it's easier to touch people's lives." For more information about sports programming at Winston Lake, contact Love, d.love@ymcanwnc.org or visit www.ymcanwnc.org. The Chronicle (USPS 067-910) was established by Ernest H. Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is published every Thursday by Winston-Salem Chronicle Publishing Co. Inc., 617 N. Liberty Street, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101. Periodicals postage paid at Winston-Salem, N.C. Annual subscription price is $30.72. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Chronicle, P.O. Box 1636 Winston-Salem. NC 27102-1636 When you suffer from foot pain, every step is torture. If you suffer from foot or ankle pain, Wake Forest Baptist Health can help you get back on your feet. We offer a comprehensive range of foot and ankle care for patients of all ages. Our orthopaedic surgeons and podiatrists are experts in ankle replacement, athletic injuries, trauma and many other types of foot and ankle problems. For an appointment with a Wake Forest Baptist foot and ankle specialist at one of our many Triad locations, call 716-WAKE or visit WakeHealth.edu/Feet "^00" Wake Forest* To make an appointment, call 888-716-WAKE or visit WakeHealth.edu Bsptist H?3lth A Mission to Care. A Mission to Cure.
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