Roots of Resilience: My Lifelong Journey with the YMCA
- Chetney Stone
- Mar 28
- 6 min read
When we talk about the "One Life, One Connection" philosophy here at Fail Forward Enterprise Holdings LLC, we aren’t just throwing around a catchy slogan. We’re talking about the fundamental truth that a single organization, a single mentor, or a single opportunity can rewire the entire trajectory of a person’s life. For me, that connection started in the heart of the Bronx, at the Castle Hill YMCA.
I wasn’t just a kid who dropped in for a basketball game once a week. I was a "Y" kid through and through. My journey with the YMCA began when I was just four years old. Most kids that age are just trying to figure out how to tie their shoes, but I was being dropped off at the Bronx YMCA to learn how to swim with swim instructor John Cotto. Looking back, there’s something deeply symbolic about that. Before I could even navigate the complexities of the world, the Y was teaching me how to keep my head above water.
From the Pool to the Path of Leadership
Learning to swim was just the entry point. From the age of four, the YMCA became my second home. I moved through their summer camps, which in the Bronx, are more than just a place to stay busy, they are sanctuaries. They are places where you learn discipline, teamwork, and the importance of showing up.
But here’s the part people don’t always know: my YMCA story wasn’t a one-building, one-borough situation. It was a multi-city foundation.
Yes, the Bronx (Castle Hill) is where it started and where my roots go deepest. But I also had chapters at The Gateway Family YMCA in Elizabeth, NJ, and up in Rochester, NY. And during the summers when I wasn’t at the Bronx YMCA summer camp, I attended the Rochester YMCA’s summer camp. Different city, different faces, same standards: structure, accountability, and “you’re not quitting” energy.
That’s what people miss when they think “Warrior training” is one moment or one place. Mine was everywhere I went—Bronx, Elizabeth, and Rochester—and that’s exactly why leading a multi-state organization like Fail Forward today doesn’t feel foreign. It feels familiar. The Y trained me to walk into new rooms, adapt fast, respect community, and still keep my backbone.
Major Ask: Vote Daily for the “Entrepreneur of Impact” Grant (March 23–April 6)
Alright Y family—this is where I need you to show up for me the same way the YMCA showed up for me.
I, Chetney Stone (yes, the ultimate Y kid), have been selected for the Entrepreneur of Impact opportunity: a $25,000 grantand a Forbes feature on the line. That’s not just a personal milestone—that’s a megaphone for the mission. Vote for Stone by click this link. You'll see I am holding strong in 2nd place.
If the YMCA helped build me, then this win belongs to the whole village: Castle Hill Bronx, The Gateway Family YMCA in Elizabeth, NJ, and YMCA in Rochester, NY—every camp day, every mentor, every “keep going” moment that shaped me.
Here’s the ask: please vote daily from March 23rd through April 6th.
Vote every day (seriously—daily matters)
Share it with your Y circle, your church circle, your business circle—every circle
Run it up for the Bronx + Elizabeth + Rochester because this is a multi-city foundation on a national stage
Because a win for Stone is a win for the “One Life, One Connection” mission. It’s proof that community organizations don’t just “help kids stay busy”—they create leaders who come back and build.
And look… Proverbs 18:21 reminds us life and death are in the power of the tongue. So let’s speak LIFE over this, and then back it up with action: vote daily by clicking the "vote daily" hyperlink.
As I grew, so did my involvement. By the time I hit my teen years, I wasn’t just a participant; I was a student of their teen after-school programs at PS 174. This is where the "mentoring" part of my life really took root. I had counselors who saw things in me that I hadn’t yet seen in myself. They didn’t just watch over us; they poured into us. They taught us that where you start doesn't have to be where you finish.
The First Spark of Justice: Albany and the Mock Trial
One of the most defining moments of my youth happened through the YMCA’s litigation program for high school students. If you want to know where the heart of the Warriors of Justice (or Guerreros De Justice) movement came from, it started right here.
The program afforded me the opportunity to travel to Albany. Imagine a teenager from the Bronx, stepping into the halls of power in the state capital, preparing to litigate a mock trial case. That was my first real taste of the legal world. Standing there, presenting an argument, and understanding the weight of the law, it changed me. It gave me a voice. It taught me that justice isn't just a word; it’s a practice that requires preparation, courage, and a humble hustler mindset.
Disclaimer: While we celebrate these early experiences in litigation and advocacy, please note that the information shared in our blog is for educational and inspirational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For specific legal concerns, always consult with a qualified professional.
My First Job: Learning the Business of Service
By the time I was a freshman in high school (13 years old), the YMCA transitioned from being my mentor to being my employer. They gave me my very first job as a teen counselor for the YMCA summer program hosted at Hostos Community College in the Bronx.
I’ll be honest: it wasn't always easy. Dealing with a group of energetic kids in the heat of a New York summer requires a level of patience they don't teach you in textbooks. But it taught me about responsibility. It taught me that leadership is about service. I stayed with the YMCA throughout my entire high school career, working my way up the ladder. By the time I graduated, I held the position of Assistant Administrative Assistant for their after-school programs PS 174 in The Bronx.
I was learning the "back office" of impact. I wasn't just on the ground with the kids; I was learning how programs are run, how schedules are made, and how a community organization stays afloat. Those years at the Y were my "Empire Accelerator" before I even knew what an accelerator was.
Turning the Journal into a Legacy
During all those years of swimming, counseling, and litigating, I was also writing. I’ve always been someone who processed the world through a pen and a notebook. My journals were my safe space: a place where I recorded the "fails," the "forwards," and everything in between.
Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to take those private reflections and turn them into something much bigger. With the help of the Artisan Signature Edition and Left Handed Right Hearted Publishing, I turned my journal into a book... and then a sequel!
Seeing those words in print was a full-circle moment. It’s one thing to live through the struggle; it’s another to document it so that someone else can find their way through their own—especially when that story turns into something like the Guerreros De Justice book / Warriors of Justice message we’re building out right now.
This is why we do what we do at Fail Forward Enterprise Holdings LLC. We believe your story is your greatest asset. Whether you’re a business owner looking to scale or someone trying to find their footing after a setback, your history is the fuel for your future.
Why the YMCA Matters to the Fail Forward Mission
You might wonder why I’m spending so much time talking about a community center from my childhood. It’s because the YMCA provided the "Architecture of Resilience" that I use every day in business consulting.
At Fail Forward, we focus on:
Community Impact: Just as the Y served the Bronx, we aim to serve our communities in NY, NJ, PA, CT, CA, FL, and GA.
Resilience: Learning to "swim" through life's challenges.
Legacy: Moving from being a student to being a mentor.
We are built on the idea that everyone needs a foundation. For me, that foundation was laid at the Bronx YMCA in Castle Hill. It’s where I learned that even if you fail at first: whether it’s a mock trial case or a difficult administrative task: you keep moving. You fail forward.
A Heart of Gratitude
I am incredibly grateful for the people at the YMCA who didn't just see a kid from the Bronx, but saw a future leader. That experience is why I am so passionate about our community resource portal and our personal mentoring services. I know firsthand that one connection can change everything.
Thank you for being part of this community. Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or you’re just finding your way to the Humble Hustler path, we appreciate your trust. We are here to help you build your own roots of resilience.
If you’re ready to turn your own journey into a legacy: whether that’s through business growth or sharing your story: reach out to us. Let’s see what we can build together.
Stay Resilient,
Chetney Stone
Connect With Us: Explore more about our mission and resources at failforwardinc.com. Check out our latest updates and community stories on our blog page.
Fail Forward Enterprise Holdings LLC Empowering the Humble Hustler. Building Legacies. One Connection at a Time.
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I LOVE the one life one connection. heart of the Warriors of Justice / Humble Hustler! - SLAY