You may have heard the term “third place” bandied about in this or other Y blogs, and you may be a bit confused or befuddled by it. Allow me to provide some context and an explanation, if I might.According to this generation’s encyclopedia – Wikipedia – the “third place”…
… is a term used in the concept of community building to refer to social surroundings separate from the two usual social environments of home and the workplace. In his influential book The Great Good Place, Ray Oldenburg (1989, 1991) argues that third places are important for civil society, democracy, civic engagement, and establishing feelings of a sense of place.
Oldenburg calls one's "first place" the home and those that one lives with. The "second place" is the workplace — where people may actually spend most of their time. Third places, then, are "anchors" of community life and facilitate and foster broader, more creative interaction. All societies already have informal meeting places; what is new in modern times is the intentionality of seeking them out as vital to current societal needs. Oldenburg suggests these hallmarks of a true "third place": free or inexpensive; food and drink, while not essential, are important; highly accessible: proximate for many (walking distance); involve regulars – those who habitually congregate there; welcoming and comfortable; both new friends and old should be found there.
Well, that idea of an “anchor of community life” is the very definition of what we work to make your family center Y be. I often tell people that a Y is really a community center providing healthy, active and positive opportunities for all. That’s why we have spent so much time in the past few years rethinking our programming and spaces – and why we’ve made and continue to make significant changes to our design and programs.
Consider this. All of our new and renovated Ys have and will have family rooms. They have teen and senior spaces. They are designed to foster interaction – not the walling off – of people. We want families to be able to come to the Y together and participate in activities together while they’re there. Of course, if they want, we want family members to have the option of choosing different activities based on individual interests and ages, but to be able to do so at the same time. We want people of all shapes, sizes, ages, races, interests, beliefs, orientations, etc. to see the Y as a comfortable, inviting, friendly place where those differences don’t really matter.
On a visceral level, a Y membership is about belonging in a time when people have fewer and fewer places where they feel they truly belong. The feeling of belonging is something that you just feel in your gut. “I fit here. I am welcomed and accepted.” It’s also a fluid and dynamic thing. In the beginning it might be about losing weight or staying in shape. As time goes on, it will hopefully come to mean more:
· connecting with other members and being a more engaged part of your community
· knowing your neighbors
· learning new things and challenging yourself
· reinforcing who you are as a human being
· feeling a part of something bigger and more important than just you
· being rewarded for giving back
· demonstrating your values to your children, friends and neighbors
· improving in spirit, mind and body
· strengthening your family unit
· volunteering and giving back to the community at large
As a result of an on-going, long term commitment to one’s health and well-being (in the broadest sense of that term), an opportunity for on-going relationships (with other Y members, staff and volunteers) occurs. While for most, the initial motive for becoming a member is self-focused; as members’ lives are impacted (in spirit, mind and body), they become far more focused on giving back and investing in their community. Because membership in the Y of Central Maryland is available to all, regardless of age, race, religion, gender, income or any other difference that may divide us, Y membership is a crucial asset that keeps one connected with the larger community.
As such, we are working to move our programming beyond the “body” (what is currently most commonly understood to be part of a Y membership – fitness, aquatics, group exercise, basketball, etc.) to include programming aimed at developing the “mind” (book, chess and travel clubs) and “spirit”(parenting classes, meditation, etc.). It seeks to accomplish all of that within the context of a community-enhancing model – i.e. bringing people together around common interests who may have never known each other if it wasn’t for the Y. In the end, the member’s experience becomes fuller and more meaningful.
Join us.
Yours in Community,
John
Posted by John K. Hoey, President & CEO, Y of Central Maryland
