State Leaders Representative Steve Tyson and Senator Bob Brinson Visit Twin Rivers YMCA

New Bern, NC (June 23, 2026) – The Twin Rivers YMCA welcomed Representative Steve Tyson and Senator Bob Brinson on Monday, June 22, for a visit focused on the YMCA's community impact and future opportunities to serve families and individuals across Eastern North Carolina.

During the visit, Eastern Carolina YMCA Chief Executive Officer Kelly Millington and Associate Executive Director Beth Hardee provided a tour of the facility and shared how the YMCA continues to expand programs that support youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility throughout the region.

A key focus of the visit was the YMCA's aquatics facility, which serves as one of the community's most valuable and widely utilized resources. Both the indoor and outdoor pools provide opportunities that extend far beyond recreation, supporting water safety education, emergency response training, competitive athletics, and community wellness initiatives year-round.

"Water safety is a life skill, especially in Eastern North Carolina where so many families live, work, and spend time around water," said Kelly Millington, CEO of the Eastern Carolina YMCA. "Our aquatics programs help save lives, build confidence, support first responders, and create opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to stay active and connected."

Each year, more than 3,000 elementary school students receive life-saving water safety instruction through YMCA programs. In 2024 alone, 2,419 youth participated in YMCA swim lessons, helping children develop skills that can prevent drowning and increase confidence in and around water.

The aquatics center also serves as a regional training hub for public safety and community organizations, including:
• Annual water rescue training for the New Bern Fire Department
• Swim practices and an annual swim meet for approximately 100 Special Olympics athletes
• Underwater robotics training and competitions involving local high school robotics teams
• Weekly practices and swim meets for area high school swim teams
• Self-rescue and kayak rollover training for local paddle and kayaking clubs
• Swim skills preparation for military personnel and recruits
• Water safety training for North Carolina Marine Fisheries staff
• Baptisms and faith-based gatherings hosted by local churches

"The YMCA's pools are truly community assets," said Beth Hardee, Associate Executive Director of the Eastern Carolina YMCA. "On any given day, you may see a child learning to swim for the first time, a firefighter training for a water rescue, a Special Olympics athlete preparing for competition, or a senior participating in a wellness program. These spaces bring people together and help meet real community needs."

Representative Tyson and Senator Brinson had the opportunity to learn more about the YMCA's vision for future program growth and how strategic investments in community resources can strengthen quality of life across Craven County and the surrounding region.

Founded in 1980, the Eastern Carolina YMCA continues to serve as a gathering place where individuals and families can build healthy spirit, mind, and body through programs that foster belonging, personal growth, and community connection.

About the Y:
The Eastern Carolina YMCA is dedicated to strengthening community through programs that support youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Guided by its mission to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all, the Eastern Carolina YMCA is comprised of the Twin Rivers YMCA and the YMCA Early Learning Center at Little Hands. Together, they serve thousands of individuals and families each year, providing opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to connect, grow, and thrive. ecymca.org