A chance for change: Pathway Inc. Sisters United and Wayman Palmer YMCA
Pathway Inc. Sisters United- helping mothers to become sisters; collaboration is key in our community
By Lidya Hollingworth, Sisters United Coach
Special to The Truth
In 2019, Pathway Inc. founded Sisters United. A mirror of Pathway Inc. Brothers United, Sisters United provides support and parenting education for mothers across Lucas County. In July of 2024, Pathway Inc. Sisters United received a grant from the Department of Children and Youth
( Maternal and Infant Community Grants) in the amount of $350,000.00 This grant, focusing on mothers who are pregnant or who recently gave birth, has served over 100 Lucas County mothers since 2024.
The services that Pathway Inc. Sisters Untied provides are parenting workshop sessions that specialize in four areas of content: personal development, life skills, responsible parenting and healthy relationships. We also discuss the importance of maintaining stress levels and hypertension, which is a leading cause of babies being born at low birth rates which increases the chance of infant mortality.
We conduct an ACES questionnaire with all mothers. ACES are adverse childhood experiences that directly affect your risk of developing stress-related diseases later on in life. Once the questionnaire is finished a resiliency plan is created for each mother with specific things she can do to become more resilient to adverse situations. The resiliency plan lays out a few actions on how the mother can heal from trauma.
Most times this is the first step for most mothers to develop healthy coping skills and deal with their mental stress head on! As we discuss coping with stress and healthy coping mechanisms, the mothers have shared how they would like to work on their physical fitness and teach their children to value this as well.
Since most of the mothers value physical fitness and health, Pathway Inc. decided to donate $6.120.00 to the new Wayman Palmer YMCA to purchase year-long memberships for the mothers and their children.
“It’s not often that grants allow flexibility to be creative with how you serve your community yet this one did and we are so excited to be able to partner with the Wayman Plamer YMCA in what I refer to as collective community impact, where organizations come together to support one another and the community” said Avis Files, director of Family and Supportive Services for Pathway Inc. Brothers and Sisters United.
Eric Wiliams, the director of operations for the Wayman Palmer YMCA, loved the opportunity to partner together as both organizations serve families in the neighborhood. This work will build the community even stronger. The new Wayman Palmer YMCA offers families in the Warren Sherman neighborhood an experience like no other. There’s a brand new pool with a rock climbing wall, grade A gymnasium, gaming room and much more! This new addition to the neighborhood will be absolutely perfect to say the least! This partnership was also very important to Cynthia Savage, the CEO of Pathway Inc.
“We are thrilled to announce the purchase of Wayman Palmer YMCA memberships for mothers and their children, emphasizing the importance of wellness and health in our community. By providing access to the Y, we are not just promoting physical fitness but fostering a supportive environment where families can bond, stay active, and prioritize their well-being together. Pathway, Inc. is committed to investing in health today because it creates a brighter, healthier tomorrow for future generations,” said Savage.
Pathway Inc. Sisters United is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside mothers together with the Wayman Palmer YMCA to create brighter futures for mothers and families.! For more information on how to join Sisters United text or call Director Avis Files at 419-279-0798!