YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley showcases global media project at YUSA General Assembly

The YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley presented its multiyear “A Better Place” project at the YMCA of the USA General Assembly in New Orleans on Sept. 18, 2026. The effort spans songs, books, curriculum and a planned documentary, and it has drawn recognition from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.

Why it matters: - The presentation put a local YMCA project in front of more than 4,000 board members, volunteers and YMCA professionals at a national gathering. - “A Better Place” combines music, books and education to promote connection across cultures and communities. - The project has already earned outside recognition, including a 2024 citation from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.

What happened: - The YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley was invited to present “A Better Place” at the YMCA of the USA General Assembly in New Orleans on Sept. 18, 2026. - The General Assembly marked the Y’s 175th anniversary celebration. - Rome native Gabriel Day and Schuyler Johnson performed “Better Place,” the project’s third song, during the presentation. - YUSA President and CEO Suzanne McCormick appeared with YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley CEO Hank Leo in a post-performance photo.

The details: - “A Better Place” includes original songs, books, before- and after-school curriculum and a planned full-length documentary. - The project was created during the COVID-19 pandemic and grew over six years. - The effort was designed to show how the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley used music, books and education to help children understand and appreciate other cultures. - “Better Place” is a contemporary Christian rap song written by Day specifically for the project. - Day participated in YMCA before- and after-school programming as an elementary school student before moving to Ohio, where he later became a rap artist and pastor. - Day and Johnson sang over a new instrumental version of the project’s original piano track, developed with collaborators from the Yonkers YMCA. - The song’s lyrics focus on hope and faith during difficult times. - The project’s message also appears in three books written by Leo, curriculum developed by Mohawk Valley Community College, and two earlier songs written by local musician Mathew Beadle and blues artist Robert Kimbrough Sr. - The project features nearly 150 collaborators from seven continents and dozens of national recording artists. - The project has received multiple awards. - A future full-length film is in production. - More information is available in the project website.

Between the lines: - The national stage suggests the YMCA sees the project as more than a local arts effort; it is being framed as a model for community-building and cross-cultural learning. - The mix of music, curriculum and film points to a long-term media strategy designed to reach children, families and broader YMCA audiences. - Day’s background as a former Y youth participant gives the project a personal throughline that connects the Y’s youth programming to adult creative leadership.

What's next: - The full-length documentary is expected to expand the project’s reach and document how the effort came together. - The YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley will likely continue using the project to support its family and school-age programming in the Rome, Oneida and Whitesboro areas. - The organization serves the greater Rome, Oneida and Whitesboro areas through two primary branches in Rome and Oneida and school-age childcare in Whitesboro.

The bottom line: - “A Better Place” has grown from a pandemic-era creative project into a multi-platform showcase with national visibility and an expanding media footprint.