The grant will support a partnership between the Design For America Studio at Elon and the YMCA of the Triangle to implement new ways to recruit and retain quality lifeguard staff.
William Moner, assistant professor for communication design, received $1,000 from Design for America for his 2019 YMCA Innovation Project: Lifeguard Recruitment and Retention project.
DFA Elon and YMCA of the Triangle are one of five participating YMCA/DFA partnerships to test innovations that have been developed by DFA studios across the country. Economic and social trends have made recruiting and retaining qualified lifeguards a more competitive process than ever for facilities nationwide.
Innovation is a critical part of YMCA of the USA’s next strategic plan. Y-USA has partnered with Design for America to test a new and comprehensive approach for accelerating innovations. While Y-USA has taken steps to help address these challenges, we recognize that more could be done to solve the lifeguard crisis by tapping the creativity of Ys around the country and using a framework to translate ideas into replicable solutions.
Design for America is a national, university-based network of campus studios that use design to create local and social impact. DFA uses a design framework that fosters community involvement and encourages young people to become innovators, both now and in he future. DFA has a national network of 1,300 current students on over 40 campuses and a growing network of young alumni, currently numbered at more than 1,700. Since its inception at Northwestern University, DFA has engaged over 3,000 students who have worked on more than 650 projects in the areas of education, health, the economy and the environment.
To become involved with the DFA Studio at Elon, please contact Moner at wmoner@elon.edu. For more information about Design for America, visit the national organization's website at http://designforamerica.com.