Presenter: Lauren Koontz, President and CEO, YMCA of Metro Atlanta

Within 10 days in March 2020, as a result of the pandemic, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta shut our 18

locations for member programming and got to work addressing the sudden flood of food insecurity in our community and the need for essential worker childcare. With traditional sources of revenue hampered by the closures, our commitment to the Atlanta community was still a constant. How did we overcome obstacles to continue our service during this critical time? “Silver Linings of Leading Through a Pandemic” is the story of how our Y locked arms with partners across the city to confront the practical and societal needs of the moment, aligned our capabilities to meet circumstances, shifted thinking about our potential and embraced our role as a crucial leader in the nonprofit and equity spaces for the health and wellbeing of Atlanta. It’s been a challenging ride with joy in the journey.