Seeing a new child care facility through to completion will be among the top priorities for David Smith as he takes over the Sparta White County YMCA CEO.
Smith named the new CEO. His history with the organization began shortly after he graduated high school in 2019. He previously worked as an aquatics coordinator and at the welcome center.
“When passion and purpose intersect, that’s when really, those beautiful things happen,” Smith said, “And that’s when you see service. And that’s really what I’m excited to do, because a passion of mine which is helping people and a purpose that the Y has has now intersected, and now I get to serve people in this role, and I’m really excited for it.”
Smith said construction is underway on the childcare facility, which is expected to provide openings for up to 99 children upon completion next year.
“I want to make sure that child care is available and opportunity for people to use in our community, especially White County but also in the Upper Cumberland,” Smith said. “So that is going to be the biggest push that I see in my first year in this role.”
The YMCA plans to announce additional details about the facility as the project progresses through the construction phase.
“The child care is the big initiative,” Smith said. “It’s a need in our community; the statistics are mind-blowing at the need that it is. And it’s there and people feel it and they know it.”
The child care facility is one piece of what Smith sees as continued growth for the YMCA. The organization is also evaluating potential building additions and interior renovations as it looks at how to accommodate that growth.
Smith said youth development will remain another focus through organized events and sports programs designed to give children opportunities to build relationships and succeed socially.
“One thing that keeps coming up to me is being grateful,” Smith said. “I am grateful that God aligned my path the way He did, to come back to the YMCA, to get to work with Kyle at the YMCA and get to see him go into his journey, but then also getting to see the beautiful things that the YMCA already is, and then what’s coming up.”
Smith said the YMCA will also host a community event called Gather on November 23.
