Emilson YMCA member, Maria Husted, serves as the Transition Coordinator at Pembroke Public Schools. In this position, she is tasked with assisting students with disabilities in transitioning from a high school post-graduate program to a post-secondary setting, which could be a support program, employment, or post-secondary education.
I met Maria the summer of 2021 when she was setting up memberships for her students. Having a child with special needs myself, I knew she was a special person after the first conversation we had. It was evident how much she cares for these students, always making sure that they are engaged in activities that they would enjoy and would help develop skills to last a lifetime.
Maria has been in her role as Transition Coordinator for almost 12 years now. She and her team started bringing her students to the Y about seven years ago, creating a skills development and wellness program that also included a healthy eating program as part of their visits.
“I bring our students to the Y to provide them with the opportunity to independently participate in fitness activities of their choosing in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment. Also, to encourage health and wellness as skills for life. We want to help students develop what we all hope will be a lasting connection to the Y and continue when they leave school.”
Over the years, Maria’s students have volunteered in many different positions here at the Y. Maria is always working to seek out new volunteer opportunities, and we love having the students here to help our team. We currently have one of her students volunteering in our playroom.
When I asked Maria what she likes about the Y, she said, "I strongly believe in the mission of the YMCA and have seen firsthand how the YMCA fulfills its mission through the considerable opportunities that it provides to our students to be fully engaged and active members of the YMCA community."
These students are truly blessed to have Maria as an advocate for them. I have enjoyed watching her students grow over the past few years. We are lucky to have them all as part of our Y Family. You can find Maria and her students in the facility on Mondays and Thursdays almost every week.