Written by Jyot Sandhu, External Communications Manager.
At the Y, we’re proud to recognize and celebrate the contributions individuals have made to our association over the years. This Pride Month, we’re spotlighting Melissa Wilson, a senior health and well-being director who has dedicated her career to helping people feel welcomed.
Breaking Down Barriers
Melissa’s career at the Y began in 2021 as a health and well-being coach at the Haselwood Family YMCA, followed by a stop at the Tom Taylor Family YMCA as the health and well-being director, and now as the senior health and well-being director at the Pearl Street Family YMCA. Her soon-to-be 18-year-old son, Jaden, started volunteering at the Y when he was 14 and then participated in Teen Late Nite, and her 5-year-old daughter, Jessi, has participated in dance, day camp, gymnastics, and swim at the Y. Her wife, Tamara, is a member at the Haselwood Family YMCA.
Melissa’s Y story goes beyond her title and includes a deep sense of responsibility to the members and staff who walk through the doors, as well as a chance to break down barriers.
“My immediate supervision is the health and well-being programs,” Melissa said. “But it's absolutely my responsibility and the part of the job I take the most pride in to be able to support all of our members that come in, whatever their needs are.”
Melissa recalls an interaction when she worked at the Tom Taylor Family YMCA which left a member crying tears of relief. The woman’s son played soccer at the Y and she wanted to help coach his team, but she was fearful that because he had two moms, it would cause a ripple effect that negatively impacted her son.
When Melissa casually mentioned that she also had a wife and her own daughter was taking classes at the Y, the woman broke down. She wasn’t expecting to see a fellow member of the LGBTQ+ community in a position of leadership at the Y.
“I said, that won’t cause any issues here. I don’t know why it would,” Melissa said. “And when I told her I have a wife, she cried at the front desk because she realized the Y would be okay with her son having two moms and her coaching his team. I can't imagine wanting to do something with and for my daughter and thinking I wasn't able to because they weren't accepted in this program. That's not a little thing.”
Safe Environment for Staff
Moments like this reinforce Melissa’s sense of duty to be authentically herself at all times, because any interaction could make someone feel like they belong. That authenticity extends to her staff, too, which is a team of more than 70 part-time and full-time employees.
“It feels nice to be at a place where people are in the same community as you. Melissa has always been sweet and she doesn’t make you feel awkward,” a weight room attendant said about Melissa, praising her ability to help create an environment where people feel safe to be themselves.
“Whether people are part of the community are not, talking about it has an impact,” Melissa said. “Young kids sometimes don't see hope on the other side, but there is hope when they see people like themselves doing well and in leadership positions.”
We celebrate Melissa’s commitment to her family, community, and staff.