Clanton native Mary Beth Wyatt has been Chilton County YMCA’s new executive director for about three weeks, but the Y has been a part of her life for years.

“I was a Y kid growing up,” Wyatt said.

A graduate of Chilton County High School, Wyatt still lives in Clanton and has the privilege of frequenting her old childhood hangout every day now.

“This job is more of a calling than a career choice,” Wyatt said. “It’s very similar to when I was here. A lot of things are the same, which is one of the things you’ve got to love about the Y.”

According to Wyatt, the YMCA is the nation’s second largest charitable institution. Its primary mission is “to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.”

“The YMCA mission is something that’s very near and dear to my heart,” Wyatt said.

The face-to-face conversations with YMCA members and staff are one of her favorite aspects of the job.

“In my other job, every interaction I had was by email or by phone,” she said. “Now, there’s people constantly in and out the door. It’s fun to have some other interaction.”

The Y offers soccer, ballet, gymnastics, Zumba and afterschool care for students in Clanton schools, and more activities are in the works.

“We have a long list of ideas,” Wyatt said. “We have plans for an arthritis seminar starting in November to precede the arthritis walk. We’d love to have more of the Zumba parties like we had the other night.”

Wyatt said renovation is about to begin on the facility to make long-needed updates and repairs.

The Chilton County YMCA is located at 405 Ollie Avenue in Clanton.

For more information, call (205) 755-2382.