A Brief History of the YMCA Community Action Program of the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South

In keeping with the original YMCA purpose of providing wholesome activities for young men, the YMCA of Middle Tennessee established the YMCA Community Action Program (Y-CAP) in 1985 with a $25,000 private grant. Initially the program provided services and activities to rehabilitate youth and young adults through value development and positive goal setting. As the program evolved, the focus shifted to early intervention with an emphasis on a younger target population. The purpose for the shift in focus was to enhance the effectiveness of the program by reaching young people at an earlier age and instilling in them wholesome values. The program proved to be successful in reducing the incidence of juvenile crime while improving academic achievement and school attendance for those referred to Y-CAP by juvenile court.

With a foundation for the Y-CAP model having been established, YMCA executives throughout the state of Tennessee proposed expansion of the program statewide. In 1998, the Tennessee State Legislature approved the awarding of a 5-year grant to the YMCA that would expand the program to three additional regions of the state. The YMCAs of Tennessee developed a plan that initially targeted Chattanooga, Knoxville and Memphis. Once established in these cities, Y-CAP hoped to expand to other communities where YMCAs were operating.

The Memphis Y-CAP program was established by the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South in 1998 and began the process of building and developing relationships within the community in an effort to impact the lives of at-risk youth and their families. Having learned of the success of the Memphis Y-CAP program, a coalition of community leaders in West Memphis, Arkansas provided initial funding to establish the program in their community in March of 2000. During the spring of 2000, Y-CAP staff also met with community leaders from DeSoto County, Mississippi. The community leaders were very interested and supportive of Y-CAP goals and objectives. Because of the need of services for at-risk youth in DeSoto County, YMCA/Y-CAP staff submitted a grant to the Mississippi Department of Human Services to provide initial funding to implement and operate a Y-CAP program in DeSoto County. The Y-CAP program was implemented in DeSoto County on October 1, 2000. In addition, Y-CAP also received a grant from the Maddox Foundation to further enhance the program services that were provided in that community.

In the spring of 2002, the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South submitted an application to the YMCA of the USA for Y-CAP to become a recognized "stand alone" community outreach branch. The YMCA of the USA granted the Y-CAP Branch its charter on June 15, 2002. The Y-CAP Branch now operates as an independent sole-cost center of the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South.

Today, the Y-CAP Branch has program operations in Memphis, Tennessee and DeSoto County, Mississippi with the support of various federal, state and private agencies/organizations. The staff and volunteers of the Y-CAP Branch are actively seeking funding and program support in an effort to continue the operation of the "life-changing" programs that Y-CAP provides to the Mid-South community. The Y-CAP Branch Administrative Office is located in Memphis, Tennessee. The Y-CAP Branch also has a program office in DeSoto County, Mississippi.

Y-CAP Regional Executive Director - Kris Crim
Mr. Crim obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Crichton College in Memphis, Tennessee. His experience of over ten years includes: supervision, budget development, financial management, grants management, database management, human resource administration, information system maintenance, and client record management. His current responsibilities with the Y-CAP Branch YMCA include managing all operational aspects of Y-CAP in the Mid-South area, budgeting, fundraising, adhering to the Y-CAP program model, and acting as a Y-CAP liaison in the community.

You may contact Kris Crim at: kcrim@ymcamemphis.org

Y-CAP Senior Program Director, Memphis, Tennessee - Shauna Murphy Bateman
Ms. Murphy obtained her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. Her experience includes over four years in the areas of supervising, customer service, training, curriculum development, maintaining research, recruiting volunteers, and database management. Her current responsibilities in the Memphis Y-CAP program include assisting with the development of program curriculum, teaching the curriculum, tracking client data, developing relationships as a liaison to the community, recruiting volunteers and participating in fund-raising. Ms. Murphy works with college students, referred by local universities, who receive practical experience in social work.

You may contact Shauna Murphy Bateman at: sbateman@ymcamemphis.org

Y-CAP Program Director, Memphis, Tennessee - Megan Epperson   

Y-CAP Executive Director, Desoto County, Mississippi - Chester Beasley
Mr. Beasley has over twenty-four years experience in providing supervision to youth and resources for families, working with Youth Services law enforcement officials, recruiting and training volunteers, organizing fundraising, and managing client cases. His current responsibilities in the Desoto County Y-CAP program include assisting with the development of program curriculum, teaching the curriculum, developing relationships as a liaison to the community, organizing fund-raising initiatives, and recruiting volunteers.

You may contact Chester Beasley at: cbeasley@ymcamemphis.org

Y-CAP Program Assistant, Desoto County, Mississippi- Anita Beasley