University YMCA - UofM

04/01/2026

Release of our 2nd Alumni: Mentor Edition magazine - created by our student interns!
Enjoy!

03/27/2026

We have an exciting announcement to share!
Our University YMCA at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities was recently recognized as one of the Best in America through Interfaith America TeamUp Project, and their work shows why.
This past summer, UY mentors and staff traveled to the Atherton YMCA at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa for an immersive week of service, learning, and connection with families experiencing housing insecurity.
Together, they built bridges across culture, faith, age, and geography, creating a sense of belonging that continues long after the trip home.
Read More: http://interfaithamerica.org/.../minnesota-to-hawaii.../

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/189Wopr7HM/

01/20/2026

University Y student community of leaders, interns and mentors - here we go! We have 125 values activated and ready to serve with our SPPS and MPS partners! We could not do this without all of friends, alumni, donors, family, educators, funders - each day brings us the miracles of service and reflection! We stand on the shoulders of generations of greats, over 60 years of mentoring - close to 140 years of partners and service. We got this 2026!

01/19/2026

In honor of National Mentoring Month, the University Y Student Community would like to share the
UNIVERSITY Y MAGAZINE
Mentoring Legacy Edition
By UY Interns, Sahra Jilaow and Julio Rojas Duarte

Check out this Magazine designed by Julio.

01/01/2026

Thank you from the Y!!!

Your YMCA Mission Advancement Team shared a video

12/28/2025

“Best of America, TeamUp Project…”
Yes, the UY went there too (see trailer below). A deeply meaningful partnership with Y USA, Interfaith America, Catholic Charities and Habitat for Humanities—- incredible honor!
2025 for the University Y, was a transformational year full of 20,000 packed service hours and experiences!
We saw 125+ college students activate their values within communities, we supported their growth and development through mentor, internship and leadership positions.
Together we created a community of belonging and inclusion lifting the “power of yet” far beyond campus.
We built bridges between people, places and things, locally, nationally and globally, all the way to South Korea!
Sharing the trailer below (video to be out soon) brings out many personal and professional goals for me. Standing on the shoulders of those that came before me brought me this far, keeping faith forward will carry us into 2026, launching back into and with community on 1-20-26!
Peaceful New Year to all, and a year ahead!
University Y Director
Patti Neiman, MA EPsy

The Best of America campaign is part of the Team Up Project, a national partnership of Catholic Charities ...

12/22/2025

The University Y community needs your continued support: https://www.ymcanorth.org
With your support, we will continue on this journey, together, impacting 100's of lives! From young adults in college, to young people in MPS and SPPS to young people in child care (Pen Pals) on O'ahu - and 20,000 hours of service in 2025 truly tells the effort. Your time, your talent and your treasure - it's been with us every step of the way.
Grateful! When I think of you all, the many alumni, friends in the community, friends at the U of MN - I know you have all been on the journey with me, and helped me to lead this organization with you. It's been a stretch and a gift, and I am forever grateful to the team that interviewed me and hired me. They saw me, my strenths and a vision that in time I have embraced and done my best to lift.
Your support means we get to continue to activate the values of young adults, support them through their growth, while they learn to lead with authenticity and care of others. Join me, and support my leadership and the student community into 2026. As they say, better together!

12/14/2025

The University YMCA on Nov. 6 hosted a vaccine clinic in partnership with Vaccinate Your Family, UCare and Cub Foods Pharmacy as part of the Health is Wealth Health Fair.

JJ’s Jab-oree honors 2-year-old JJ Neiman-Brown, who passed away from the flu in 2020. For the past four years, Patti Neiman, director of the University Y and JJ’s great-aunt, has led vaccine programming in JJ’s honor. Special guests included Dr. Maurine Neiman, JJ’s mom and University of Iowa professor, and Serese Marotta, deputy CEO of Vaccinate Your Family.

In addition to vaccinations, the fair offered mental health resources, health insurance and medical care information, cancer screening outreach, naloxone kits and training, blood pressure and blood sugar checks, substance abuse prevention resources, toxic-free product education, puppy visits, and giveaways.

JJ’s Jab-oree provided 88 flu vaccines and 29 COVID vaccines to students. Additional YMCA of the North clinics provided 301 flu vaccines and 213 COVID vaccines to community members.

Thank you to all who joined to support health and wellbeing at the University Y and across YMCA of the North!

12/13/2025

October 24. 2024, I attended a celebration of life for former student, staff and leader of the UY, Doug Wallace. Every evening when I leave the UY I thank Doug, for believing in me and my life work. Truly an honor.
I am so proud of carrying this legacy of his authentic leadership and mentoring programs in the community forward in 2026. I stand on the shoulders of so many…thank you to all that have supported the UY.
If you’d like to support the UY please join me on this journey, select University Y: https://www.ymcanorth.org/give

12/11/2025

12/10/2025

Hello to from snowy Minnesota !!

11/24/2025

Care to be on a journey impacting 1000's of lives - TOGETHER?
TIME, TALENT AND TREASURES...we have options!

TIME...
ALUMNI of the UY - click on the link below to support a current UY student - and help them prepare for their career. It can be a "1 time" chat, some emails - or beyond - up to you, the person making the difference. I call it "UY Alumni Circles"
https://forms.gle/VNuR8swV3iG6vWp3A

TALENT
WE WELCOME partnerships, colloborative opportunities and ways to bring the talent of our community to the University Y student community! I am an email away - let's brainstorm together!
[email protected]
University Y Director

TREASURE
DONATE TO THE UNIVERSITY Y (we are in the Y of the North) in the name of someone you care to celebrate, or remember! What a great way to honor great people.
Your donation will support the University Y community directly - and impact the 100's of young people being mentored by young adults - 100's and 100's - in MPS and SPPS - !