Creating Space for Teens to Belong — A Conversation with Leah Willig

Today on Y Connect, we're joined by Leah Willig, the Y's Director of Teen Programs. Leah brings over a decade of youth development experience, having spent years leading impactful programming at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta before joining the Y. Her work has always focused on creating spaces where teens can explore who they are, connect, and envision what's possible in their futures. At the Y, Leah is leading efforts to expand and elevate teen programming across our association from monthly Teen Nights that bring youth together in fun, safe environments to academic and career-readiness initiatives, such as our partnership with The Princeton Review for SAT prep boot camps. She's passionate about helping teens see the Y as a place where they belong, grow, and lead. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✅ How teen youth development programs create consistency through Universal teen night events, providing teens with fun opportunities while building community youth engagement, belonging and connection for youth across metro Atlanta ✅ How the Princeton Review partnership provides free SAT prep bootcamp sessions with certified instructors and 365-day portal access, building career readiness for teens through comprehensive college preparation resources. ✅ How innovative partnerships with Trilith Studios and the changemakers program provide teens with hands-on film production experience, script writing workshops, and connections to industry professionals, helping develop youth workforce skills through project-based learning. Join the Y Connect Podcast to discover inspiring stories of transformation and wellness. Tune in for practical tips and community-driven insights on fitness transformation. Subscribe now to elevate your fitness journey! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Leah shares her journey into creating teen youth development programs, discussing her decade of experience creating belonging and connection for youth at the YMCA 06:46 Launch of universal teen night events, creating consistency across branches with themed activities 09:18 Princeton Review partnership providing free SAT prep bootcamp sessions, teaching career readiness for teens with certified instructors 13:18 Trilith Studios partnership offering fully-funded after-school programs for teens, teaching cinematography and scriptwriting, while planning a 12-week changemakers program film festival 18:22 Leah shares how moving to Atlanta for college soccer taught her to encourage teens to step outside comfort zones, emphasizing the Y as a place of belonging and connection for youth KEY TAKEAWAYS: 💎 Success in teen youth development programs isn't measured only by attendance numbers—it's about ensuring teens in each community are engaging with their Y, whether through work opportunities, college tours, SAT prep bootcamp sessions, or monthly teen night events, meeting each branch's unique needs. 💎 The Princeton Review partnership provides free career readiness for teens through comprehensive SAT preparation, giving all Y teen members access to certified instructors, practice booklets, and a 365-day online portal—making college preparation accessible regardless of when students plan to take the test. 💎 Building relationships through listening is essential for effective teen programming—visiting branches, learning teen names, understanding what each youth development director and their community needs, and staying current with evolving career interests ensures programs remain relevant and impactful. ABOUT THE GUEST: Leah Willig brings over 10 years of youth development experience to our team and has served in various director roles at The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. Throughout her career, Leah has developed dynamic programming that provided diverse career opportunities for teens while building partnerships with local corporations and communities for unique learning experiences. Trilith Studios - Website Princeton Review - Website RESOURCES MENTIONED: Website: YMCA Metro Atlanta Facebook: YMCA Metro Atlanta LinkedIn: YMCA Metro Atlanta