Oklahoma didn’t feel like home for Kathia G. until she found the Y
Born and raised in Mexico, Kathia and her husband, Daniel, moved to the United States in 2007. Years later, their arrival in Oklahoma began on a difficult note, landing in Moore just before the devastating 2013 tornado that tore through the city.
The couple overcame the disaster and now resides in Edmond, but Kathia struggled with starting over again in a new place without her friends and family. She didn’t know where she belonged. That all changed when she started taking group exercise classes at the Mitch Park YMCA.
“I was shy and didn’t speak English very well, but I started doing a class with Denise Arnold and loved it,” Kathia said. “Because of that, the YMCA has become so much more than a gym. It’s a community that has welcomed me with open arms and helped me build real friendships.”
She now attends one or two classes per day, where the motivation of the instructors and energy in the room have helped her gain strength and overcome past health issues. But Kathia has developed much more than a healthy lifestyle — she’s found a place where she can share her culture and learn from others.
She continues to practice and improve her English every day through conversations at the Y with members and staff, who create a comfortable environment where she doesn’t feel embarrassed. The people Kathia has met have become like family, making such an impact on her life that she invited several of them to her daughter’s quinceañera.
“I have such an amazing group of friends because of the Y,” Kathia said. “It also helped shape my view of America and Oklahoma as the most welcoming place where I feel happy and supported. The Mitch Park YMCA has truly made Oklahoma feel like home.”
Last month, the Y hosted Welcoming Week, an event celebrating community and cultural understanding. Kathia’s story exemplifies what the week was all about, showing how the Y is a place where every neighbor belongs.
