Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Youth Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Greater Beverly YMCA presents McPherson Youth Center plans as city readies new facility
Summary
The Greater Beverly YMCA and city leaders updated the council on McPherson Youth Center construction (expected opening in early 2026) and described programs at the temporary site, PASS early‑intervention education, Fuel Up Friday food support and plans for expanded 2026 programming for hundreds of youth.
Tim Flaherty and YMCA staff presented the McPherson Youth Center update to the City Council and highlighted programming, partnerships and staffing while the new facility is under construction.
Flaherty, who led the center in earlier decades, said the construction is progressing and that "we're excited to get them into their long term home soon." He introduced staff including Sarah Barth (McPherson Youth Center director), Jimmy Carroll (camp, youth and family director) and Rebecca Jackson (community programming director), who described weekly and upcoming youth activities.
Barth outlined routine offerings and events — bingo night, ice‑cream socials, Fuel Up Friday (a free food program to reduce food insecurity), and plans for a holiday coat drive and a Thanksgiving meal service. Jimmy Carroll said enrollment dipped during the temporary site move but attendance is steadily rising with plans to bring a few hundred more youth into programs before year end.
Rebecca Jackson described the PASS (Positive Alternatives for Student Support) program, an early‑intervention model for students suspended for nonviolent offenses that provides psychoeducational groups, academics and one‑on‑one clinical support. She said PASS has served more than 2,000 students systemwide, 363 last school year, and 72 Beverly students from the most recent data, with an average suspension time at PASS of a little under three days.
Flaherty and councilors praised the collaborative governance model between the Y and the city and highlighted funding: McPherson programming operates with a roughly $140,000 budget (a combination of Y funds, fundraising and municipal support), and the new youth center construction includes ARPA funds and a $1 million earmark secured by Congressman Moulton.
What happens next: the city and YMCA will continue programming at temporary locations while construction proceeds; councilors asked for continued updates and for slides in advance to support deeper Q&A at future quarterly updates.
