Jakob’s YMCA Journey of Leadership and Belonging

The YMCA of Orange County strives to be a community, a support system, and a launchpad for growth for people of all ages. Jakob Martinez is a perfect example of this, he is a bright and driven young leader whose journey through YMCA programs has shaped his passion for service, education, and leadership.

Jakob first got involved with the YMCA through Youth & Government, a program that brings together teens across California to experience government first-hand. Teens like Jakob can debate bills, model real governmental roles, and participate in events like Camp Bob and the statewide Model Legislature & Court in Sacramento.

As President of his delegation, Jakob helps fellow members improve their public speaking, works to foster a culture of respect and open dialogue across the political spectrum, and encourages others to step into leadership. This environment of mutual respect and intellectual curiosity has expanded Jakob’s worldview and shaped his sense of civic responsibility.

Jakob’s passion for working with youth took another big step when his Youth & Government advisors, now also his bosses, encouraged him to apply for a position as a childcare advisor at Orangewood Elementary School, one of YMCA OC’s school-based childcare sites. It was his first job, and it’s become much more than that.

“I could never have prepared myself for how much fun it would be or how much I would learn,” Jakob said. “Everyone always told me my first job would be so stressful, but this is such a welcoming environment. I look forward to coming in every day.”

The YMCA’s after-school program at Orangewood is designed to support children’s academic success, social growth, and physical well-being. Staff members like Jakob work closely with schoolteachers to help with homework, promote fitness, and encourage healthy habits. But for Jakob, the most rewarding part is the relationships. This experience has also ignited a deeper ambition in Jakob to pursue a career with children, perhaps as a pediatrician or a teacher.

As President of the San Gabriel Valley delegation in YMCA Youth & Government and a Youth Development staff member at Orangewood Elementary, Jakob embodies the YMCA of Orange County’s mission to develop youth, foster responsibility, and build community.

“I love the YMCA because it’s a family,” he says. “Whether that’s in a political club like Youth & Government or at a school like Orangewood, I know they have my back.”