A shy girl learns to break out of her shell and make new friends. Parents exercise daily trying to set healthy examples for their children. Cancer survivors regain strength and work to get back into everyday life. These are just some of the reasons Linda Ambis loves working at the Community YMCA.
Linda is the vice president of health and wellness at the Community YMCA in Red Bank. She began her career in social work, receiving a master’s degree in social work and nonprofit management. Growing up, Linda’s parents taught her the importance of giving back to the community through volunteering and being involved in community activities.
“I’m one of those people that believes that it’s everyone’s responsibility to make your community a better place and I sort of saw my role as a social worker as being able to do that, to help improve our overall community,” Linda shared.
And that’s exactly what Linda has been doing for 17 years at the Y in Red Bank.
After six years as a social worker for the YMCA, Linda realized she wanted a change.
“I really wanted to impact our community in a very different way and focus more on improving the overall health and well-being of our community, not just through mental health services,” Linda said.
As vice president of health and wellness, she oversees all programs which run out of the Red Bank facility, including swimming lessons and fitness classes. The switch from social work to health and wellness has allowed her to work more closely with schools and other community groups in different ways.
Linda’s passion for her work comes alive as she tells the hundreds of stories that have made her certain she chose the right fit. From providing free swim lessons to all third graders in Red Bank, to giving subsidized membership to families that struggle financially, Linda is able to see how the YMCA benefits people in the community.
“When people think of the Y, they think ‘let me go jump on a treadmill,’ not realizing the impact that we have on families that are struggling both within our branch and outside of the community,” she said. The Community YMCA serves over 20,000 people in Monmouth County
A staunch fan of TED Talks, Linda was excited to hear about TEDxNavesink when it first began.
“At the Y we believe very much in play and that play means different things to different people,” Linda said. The Y held a breakout session at the 2014 TEDxNavesink event and encouraged people to grab a hula-hoop, a jump rope and just play.
“I have always heard of TEDx events being in other communities and parts of the country, but to have it right in our backyard is really exciting,” she said.
TEDxNavesink 2015: Accelerators will take place on Saturday, April 11 at Monmouth University. Click here to purchase tickets and participate in an amazing TEDx event right in your backyard!
Audrey Ardine graduated from Douglass Residential College at Rutgers University in May with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is currently working for a trade association in Monmouth County. She resides in Red Bank and has lived there for most of her life.