Welcome from Camille

When I first moved to New York City in 2000, I shared a one bedroom on 23^rd and 3^rd with a friend I’d met doing a church basement performance of “The Importance of Being Earnest.”  That sounds like about 80% of the young females who move to New York from the Midwest and, like them, I was eager to be a part of the city and find my place here.  Although I was actively auditioning, I also was armed with a certification in fitness and could pay the bills by teaching group exercise classes.

After evaluating how much I had saved to live on in this big city, I pulled out the yellow pages to see where I might be able to teach some fitness classes nearby.  For some reason, this funny little name stuck out:  “The Sol Goldman Y of the Educational Alliance”.  I called.

I spoke to someone.  I was hired.  I taught two classes a week to some fabulous women (and a few men)  many of whom are still taking those classes today.

That was 10 years ago.  As I got more disillusioned with my place in the theatre world, I became more involved with the east village neighborhood and the 14^th Street Y (Sol Goldman became the 14^th Street Y in 2004). I grew up here as the neighborhood changed. Eventually, I grew into my place as Director of Membership and Community Relations and thought it would be a really great idea to start our 14^th Street Y blog.

It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to see the neighborhood change and the Y grow.  What we really want to do with this blog is reflect this neighborhood, this community, this special intersection in New York City where the funk of the east village mixes with the families in progressive schools, the New Parents looking for a wise sage (we’ve got that), The college students, the Teens, the Seniors, and the Young Single Adults looking to be a part of the city and find their place here.

14th and 1st

It’s not a blog until it’s got a reader.  Welcome!