TIMES, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 • 24 Ridgewood Y Boss Leading In Service Giving Back To Local Families by Anthony Giudice As the executive director of the Ridgewood YMCA, Lakeisha Harris knows what it means to serve her community. Serving the community comes naturally to Harris, having earned her Masters degree in social work. “I have always been interested in giving back to children and families ... and it’s exciting to be able to do it in Ridgewood, Glendale, Middle Village and the communities that we serve,” Harris said. “That’s why I became a social worker to begin with, is to work in the community and be able to provide needed services to people who are unable, for whatever reason, to provide it themselves,” she added. Harris credited her mother for being her inspiration for getting into social work. Having worked hard to be where she is today, Harris emulates her mother and her work ethics. “Because of what she went through is why I decided to be a social worker to begin with, to really help other kids and families who might also be struggling and need some encouragement, some support to get through. I think I’ve been able to do the things I’ve been able to do because of her,” Harris said of her mother. “She’s just really resilient, really strong, and really passionate,” she added. “I still emulate her and when I get to be her age, I want to be where she is.” One of the challenges Harris faces as executive director of the Ridgewood Y is having “high expectations.” “I think the organization has high expectations and I think it’s making those expectations happen with limited resources,” she said. But meeting those challenges leads to great success. Seeing and hearing the success stories of the people who use the Y is one of the best parts of her job, Harris said. Being a prominent black woman in the community, Harris said, “I love that we have Black History Month. It’s definitely an opportunity for me to hear more about what black people have done.” “I definitely hope that what I do at the Y is an example for other brown and black children,” Harris said. As a mother, Harris hopes that her son is informed of the people of color who have done amazing things in the past, and even today. Tucked away off Fresh Pond Road at 69-02 64th St., the Ridgewood Y (formerly known as the Catalpa YMCA) has been there since 1931 and previously served as the Queens County Magistrate’s Courthouse. The YMCA of Greater New York purchased the building from the city in 1965. Renovations were made to the building in 2011, and is a state-of-the-art facility. Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.49) Across 1. Relay mail delivery 4. Quamash (var. spelling) 10. Egg on 14. Always, in verse 15. Functional 16. Coastal raptor 17. One of three equal parts 19. "Darn it all!" 20. "___ on Down the Road" 21. Santa's reindeer, e.g. 22. Auditory 23. Undetectable bomber 25. Do, for example 26. Cantankerous 27. "I do," for one 30. Persia, now 31. Complain 34. In perfect condition 35. Encyclopedia, e.g. (2 wds) 39. The "B" of N.B., Latin 40. Bow 41. "Cast Away" setting 42. Calypso offshoot 43. Certain tribute 48. Attempt 49. Scottish wind instrument 51. Fine-grained sedimentary rock used as fertilizer 52. Cold shower? 55. Length x width, for a rectangle 56. Advocate 57. Science of liquids in motion 59. Caddie's bagful 60. Upper-story bay windows supported by brackets 61. Deception 62. "B.C." cartoonist 63. Be a snitch 64. "Absolutely!" Down 1. Can't stand 2. Freshen 3. Indonesian dagger with a scalloped edge 4. Nod, maybe 5. English race place 6. Sports event in which teams compete to win 7. Not much (2 wds) 8. ___ gin fizz 9. Cast 10. Famous Am. Apache Indian chief 11. Handel bars 12. Designed for defense against armored vehicles 13. Downward slope 18. Accommodate 24. Harp's cousin 27. Any of various periwinkles 28. "___ bitten, twice shy" 29. Garden intruder 32. "-zoic" things 33. Eat like a bird 35. Stop on the way (2 wds) 36. Equipment that makes a photo bigger 37. Weakest 38. "Lulu" opera composer 39. Atomic number 83 44. Girasol, e.g. 45. In a jaunty manner 46. Coin 47. Come-ons 49. Military wear 50. Ever (2 wds) 52. Attempt 53. Vega's constellation 54. Cut, maybe 58. "It's no ___!" 7 6 3 2 2 4 6 1 5 1 5 2 3 6 3 1 2 9 1 6 4 6 7 9 8 4 8 9 4 1
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