Auburn Valley Y Board Member Lauren Flemister is an avid advocate for the Y. As the former city planner for the City of Auburn, she saw the needs of her community every day in her work, and believes the Y is making a difference for people in South King County.

“A lot of people don’t quite understand how access to healthy environments can impact you, how much being physical helps you learn and feel good about yourself. It’s so important for self-esteem, confidence, and even the ability to learn.”

For that very reason, the Auburn Valley Y is working to expand their facility to provide more opportunities for youth and families to gather and engage in physical activity together with a healthy kids campus and a new and improved outdoor day camp.

“A lot of people don’t have access to healthy places like that,” says Lauren. “This project is trying to create space for that holistic lifestyle change. It’s really awesome and innovative.”

In addition to the traditional swim and gym programs the Y is most known for, Lauren said she was pleased to learn about the Y’s Alive and Free Violence Prevention Program that serves the Auburn Area.

“The thing I love about the Y is you’re always finding out about new things they are doing,” Lauren says. “In south King County, there’s a lot of gang involvement. The Y develops relationships with those youth that the police officers just don’t have the time or ability to connect with. I was so impressed by the impact police officers said the program has on the community.”