The Greater Joliet Area YMCA was proud to announce a new partnership with Joliet Junior College (JJC) at a special ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, February 6. This partnership will strengthen both organizations’ shared commitment to serve youth in the community, offering invaluable services and programs to children throughout the year.
Through this new partnership, the YMCA and JJC will work together to host programming on the college’s Main Campus. These programs will include year-round youth sports leagues and camps, offered as part of YMCA Junior Wolves, where youth will have the opportunity to train with JJC athletes and coaches and YMCA staff. Another initiative is the newly launched Paws on the Street program, which brings JJC student-athletes into schools and the YMCA’s after-school Kid Zone program to mentor and inspire younger students. This spring, the YMCA Junior Wolves NFL flag football league, supported in part by a partnership with the Chicago Bears, will also be hosted at JJC, giving local youth access to high-quality training and facilities.
“Our mission at JJC goes beyond education—it’s about building community,” said JJC President Dr. Clyne Namuo. “By welcoming these YMCA programs to our campus, we are not just providing space; we are creating new opportunities for young people to grow, explore and feel a sense of belonging at JJC.”
JJC first opened its doors to the YMCA in 2024, with the YMCA Teen REACH summer day camp program running on-site for 10 weeks. The success of that initiative laid the foundation for a more formalized collaboration, and the new partnership will allow the Y to work together with JJC to host additional programming on the college’s main campus.
“We are so grateful to our partners at JJC for sharing their beautiful facilities with the YMCA and the kids and families we have the privilege of serving in our programs each day,” said Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair. “Together, we will work tirelessly to reimagine the ways we can support families in the greater Joliet area by expanding YMCA summer camps and youth sports programs.”
To help facilitate this partnership, several members of the Y’s Joliet Youth Development Team will work onsite in an office located inside the JJC Event Center.
“We are very excited to roll up our sleeves and begin working with the team here at JJC to expand Y programs and serve families in Joliet,” said YMCA Operations Director Brooke Hall. “With this wonderful facility and this new partnership, the sky’s the limit.”
For more information about upcoming YMCA programs at JJC, contact Joliet Youth Development Team Operations Director Brooke Hall at [email protected] or (815) 744-3939, ext. 316.
