New Litehouse YMCA Director Makes Community Needs Top Priority

Sometimes it’s not a larger facility or bigger operating budget that draws someone to a new job. Moving up the ladder in a company doesn’t always lead to larger clientele and fancier facilities.

For the new Litehouse Family YMCA executive director, the way up in her career is less about boosting numbers and bringing in more for the bottom line as it is about focusing on building up the community through meeting needs.

Lisa Lea came on board as the Litehouse YMCA executive director in January after the Lowell facility’s long-time director retired. An employee of the YMCA Grand Rapids who has held a variety of positions since 2010, Lea feels that what she does best is helping people to see and meet their potential.

As a former childcare director and senior living care director, Lea’s favorite demographic to serve makes sense. From leading day camps and a child care center to taking care of the frailest of the population during the Covid pandemic, devoting herself to the people who need care most is what she strives to do.

Lea was tapped to become executive director of the SpartanNash YMCA in Wyoming, and while she appreciated the beautiful, well-run facility, she felt unconnected to the people she was serving. When the Lowell branch started looking for a replacement for retiring director Marta Rozema, Lea saw it as maybe her chance to connect more with people again.

But she had to consider what it would be like to go from running the third-largest YMCA branch to running the smallest branch. SpartanNash YMCA has a membership of 9,000, and Litehouse had 1,000 last fall. Lea says Litehouse has increased its membership to 2,200 since last fall largely due to new programs recently implemented for seniors through Priority Health Advantage.

“One of the age groups and passions that fill my bucket is those seniors,” she shares. “Now I’m trying to figure out how do I get them engaged. How do I get them to keep coming so that they really reap the benefit of what Priority Health is doing for them?”

Though not a current resident of Lowell, Lea says she felt at home in the community immediately and she loves the way Lowell residents are connected with each other. The interaction amongst community members is what helped her make up her mind whether to take the Litehouse position.

“I love the people coming in and out of this branch. They’re just all connected and kind and have a totally different feel,” she says. “So yes, that’s what I’m missing in my life. The job is still the job, but I’m missing that connection piece. I feel like I’m one of those people who just needs to build relationships, and this is filling my bucket. I’m super excited to be out here.”

Rather than coming to the Y to only workout, Lea says at Litehouse people spend time socializing as well. One of the highlights during a regular day at Litehouse is the Fit for Life class that often has a lot of laughter and singing involved. There is also plenty of joking and friendliness happening in the front lobby.

The best time of the day, however, is around 3 pm when the facility becomes “middle school central” as it fills up with 30-40 middle school students who walk to the branch after classes are done. These kids workout, but they also are there to socialize until their parents pick them up.

Lea says Litehouse is in the process of renovating a nearby house to be used as a community center. As the Litehouse building used to be Impact Church, the renovating house was once the parsonage. Lea hopes renovations will be complete this summer, and the space will then be a place for mostly teen and senior citizen programming.

Caring about the whole person – not just physical fitness – is easier in Lowell, Lea says, because the community is inclusive and desires to help one another.

“We will welcome anyone into this building regardless of anything. So race, gender, ethnicity, and even financial,” she explains. “If you can’t financially afford to be here, but you really want to be here, we’re going to make it work for you. That’s where this Lowell community has been phenomenal with the philanthropy piece of supporting those in need in the Lowell community. People want to help people.”

The Litehouse YMCA has a “Spread our Love” campaign where individuals or businesses contribute donations to pay for memberships for those in need. This includes after-school programming for youth. Lea says generosity is something in which Lowell excels.

“We don’t have the bigger amenities, but we have the community for those teens to come in. You don’t get that just everywhere. Lowell’s got it. They understand how to take care of their people.”

Lea says one of the biggest challenges she’s had in her new position is filling the large shoes of her predecessor, and Rozema played a big part in helping her get started. She was introduced to community leaders and members and continues to immerse herself as much as possible. Lea is also striving to figure out how the many area non-profit organizations can work together with Litehouse as a connector.

“We’re so much more than a gym and a swim, but until you walk through the door, you don’t know that,” Lea says of the YMCA. “How do you get that message out into the community? We hang our hat on our community. When you join our team, our family here at the Y, you’re going to be set up with a coaching connection right away. You get to know the people that are on the wellness floor, who are there to assist in socializing because those connections are what get people engaged and get people to stay.”

Lea says the needs of the people in the community will always be her top priority, and under her direction, Litehouse YMCA will be welcoming and inclusive to all.

“We are always going to put people first. That’s our mission, putting people first,” she says. “We are always going to be welcoming no matter what, and we are going to be here for you, whatever you need.”