“Turkey Knuckles“ I can’t lead off with “Turkey Knuckles” and leave you hanging too long without an explanation, but please afford me a minute to acknowledge that I’ve had to share...

“BitterSweet Sixteen“ Many of you reached out to me after last month’s message regarding the Blanchard Park YMCA. You shared stories about the importance of the Y as a gathering...

“Much More than a Gym“ With Hurricane Idalia now passed and most of us, gratefully, faring much better than we did in the wake of Hurricane Ian, the last few...

“Real Talk” Early last year, I got away on a “fellas” trip to Vegas. It was my first trip there in at least twenty years and will likely be my...

“Transitions” I love this time of year. The transition from spring to full-on summer, the longer days, and the permission I give myself to eat more ice cream. One of...

“NEW Math” In my mother’s house, “homework time” was a time to limit distractions and focus on the work at hand. I had a fairly typical work desk in my...

“Life’s Principles” When I committed to writing these First Friday messages, I did so with the goal of sharing many of the issues that I wrestle with in trying to...

“Dirty Little Secret” Whenever I get the chance to meet current students at my alma mater or those considering that fine school in Charlottesville, I have to work on keeping...

“You Did It!” Moving here in late summer of 2021, my wife and I were consumed with trying to find the right community for our family. We were leaving a...

A timeline of milestones by African-Americans in the YMCA 1850 – 1900 The first YMCA created by the black community began less than two years after Thomas Sullivan bought the...