Guest columnist Timothy Hilk is president & CEO of the YMCA of Greater Cleveland.
As summer unfolds across Northeast Ohio, many of us turn our attention to getting in shape –walking more, swimming laps or returning to an exercise class.
Physical activity is an essential part of staying healthy. But if we’ve learned anything in recent years, it’s that wellness is about far more than fitness.
Wellness today must be redefined. It is no longer just a matter of strength or stamina. It’s about mental resilience, emotional balance, social connection and a sense of belonging.
It’s about having safe spaces to gather, opportunities to grow and access to resources that support every aspect of life.
In Greater Cleveland, many individuals and families face real challenges in achieving this holistic well-being.
Affordable childcare, mental health services, senior support and accessible recreation remain out of reach for too many.
During the summer, these gaps often widen, particularly for youth out of school, older adults experiencing isolation or families stretched thin by rising costs.
If we want to build healthier communities, we need to think beyond the treadmill.
Where can someone go when they’re not just trying to lose weight, but looking for connection? Where can a teenager find a mentor, or a parent find relief from stress, or an older adult find purpose?
These questions are at the heart of what community wellness should look like.
Fortunately, organizations across our region are stepping up. Libraries, health clinics, schools, nonprofits and neighborhood groups are increasingly working at the intersection of physical, mental and social health.
The YMCA of Greater Cleveland is one example.
While many people associate the Y with fitness centers and swimming pools, its deeper mission focuses on strengthening the foundations of community life — providing programs that support youth development, address social isolation, and promote mental wellness alongside physical activity.
Across Greater Cleveland, the YMCA offers evidence-based programs for managing chronic conditions, support groups for those in recovery, enrichment opportunities for kids and gathering spaces where people of all ages and backgrounds feel welcome.
This approach — one that serves the whole person — is increasingly essential in a world where disconnection and stress have become chronic.
And in an ever-complicated world we now give 24-7 access to Y wellness programs, including classes and nutrition, at our YMCA 360 app.
To redefine wellness, we must also rethink access. Too often, the resources supporting well-being are most available to those with options: stable incomes, quality insurance and flexible schedules.
But proper public health is measured not by what’s available to the most fortunate, but by what’s accessible to everyone.
The YMCA offers scholarships to remove financial barriers, many of our Ys are located on bus routes and we’re increasing our efforts to deliver programming in areas where it is most needed.
Wellness shouldn’t be a privilege. It should be a shared priority.
As we enjoy the warmth and energy of summer, let’s embrace a broader vision of what it means to be well.
Let’s support policies that prioritize mental and community health. Let’s build partnerships that close the opportunity gap.
And let’s continue investing in places and programs that bring people together, offer support, and help us all move forward — spirit, mind and body.
Readers are invited to submit Opinion page essays on topics of regional or general interest. Send your 500-word essay for consideration to Ann Norman at
. Essays must include a brief bio and headshot of the writer. Essays rebutting today’s topics are also welcome.
