A Childhood Shaped by the Y
For as long as she can remember, the YMCA has been home for Makenzie. Her mother was a changemaker and worked at the Ransburg Y for nearly two decades. As a child, Makenzie grew up in the daycare and participated in nearly every program offered.
“We were just known as the Y kids,” she recalls. “I did swimming, dance, gymnastics, Zumba — everything I could. The Y was where I spent my childhood.”
Overcoming Barriers Through Opportunity
Makenzie’s journey wasn’t without challenges. Growing up in a single-parent household and experiencing periods of housing instability, opportunities like professional certifications or specialized training often felt out of reach.
“I come from an impoverished area,” she explained. “The only reason I hadn’t gotten my personal training certification earlier was because it was so expensive. I just didn’t have access to it.”
That changed when Makenzie joined the YMCA’s Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Pathway program. Designed to prepare young adults for careers in health and wellness, the program provided training, mentorship and covered the cost of certification.
“This program came at the perfect moment in my life,” she said. “My confidence was at an all-time low. I wasn’t sure where I belonged professionally. But through the CPT program, I learned that I did have the skills and the knowledge. It reaffirmed that I belong in these spaces.”
Finding Strength in Mentorship
Her mentors, YMCA leaders Shalaman and Kate, played a pivotal role. “They uplifted me, highlighted my strengths and gave me perspective on my weaknesses. They really built me back up at a time when I needed it most,” Makenzie shared.
With their encouragement and hands-on training, she earned her certification, gained real-world experience and discovered a renewed sense of purpose.
A Teen Leader in Action
Yet Makenzie’s YMCA story didn’t start with personal training. At just 16, she was teaching dance, cheer and gymnastics. By high school, she was coordinating programs at the Baxter Y and organizing large community performances that brought together dozens of children, parents and neighbors.
“I wanted the kids to feel what it’s like to perform on a real stage,” she remembered. “So with the help of my high school and other teens, we put on shows at the Baxter Y. It was truly a community effort and it showed me that I didn’t have to do this alone. Community had my back.”
Creating Space for Others to Shine
Today Makenzie is carrying that lesson forward. After graduating from Indiana University Indianapolis with a degree in public health, she co-founded Dance 2 Connect, an organization that provides free dance and acrobatic classes for Indianapolis youth.
With support from grants and community partners, the program now serves more than 20 children each week, offering them the same kind of supportive and empowering environment Makenzie once found at the Y.
Her long-term goal is to grow Dance 2 Connect into a full nonprofit with its own studio space, expanding opportunities for children who may not otherwise be able to afford them.
“We want to fill that gap in the creative space,” she explained. “A lot of the kids we serve can’t afford costumes or dance shoes, so we make sure they have what they need to perform.”
A Message of Belonging and Confidence
When asked what advice she would give to another teen facing similar barriers, Makenzie’s answer reflects the resilience and confidence she’s built through her YMCA journey:
“If you’re in the room, you belong there. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
From a Y kid growing up at Ransburg to a teen instructor shaping community programs to a young professional charting her own path in health and wellness, Makenzie’s story is proof of the YMCA’s impact. We are here to create spaces where young people are not only supported but empowered to lead.
