YMCA center on Casino Road gets new name

The name wasn’t inaccurate, just incomplete. Kids aren’t the only ones finding help and an inviting community at a center on Everett’s Casino Road.

This week brings a new name for what had been the YMCA Casino Road Youth Development Center. It’s now the YMCA Casino Road Community Center.

“This has evolved way past a youth after-school drop-in place,” said Cory Armstrong-Hoss, associate executive and director of evaluation with the Mukilteo Family YMCA.

It was September 2011 when the Mukilteo Family YMCA opened the center in the Children’s Village complex at 14 E Casino Road. The site, renovated by the YMCA of Snohomish County, is near seven schools and about 40 apartment complexes. The apartments are home to many immigrant and low-income families.

Over the past five years, more than 500 children and teens have been served annually at the center. Thousands of nutritious meals have been served. The center provides homework help, computer access, mentoring and simply a safe place to be after school.

It’s also a hub for the Y’s Minority Achievers Program, which helps teens strive toward college.

Doing all that has brought opportunities to help the area’s adults.

When the YMCA came to Children’s Village in 2011, there was a small English language learning program. “It was run by teenagers, and it was kind of on life support,” Armstrong-Hoss said Tuesday. “We were serving kids in the afternoon, and many of their parents didn’t speak English.”

He said the Y was approached by Todd McNeal to take over the English program. McNeal is executive director of Hand in Hand, an Everett-based nonprofit that provides short-term shelter for children entering foster care.

At first, the YMCA used its own staff to teach English language learners. By 2012, the YMCA had forged a partnership with Seattle Goodwill to provide English classes at the center. Goodwill has a job training and education center near the Everett Mall, but doesn’t provide child care.

“They sometimes have to turn away moms because they don’t allow kids in a classroom,” Armstrong-Hoss said.

Today, the newly named YMCA Casino Road Community Center provides English and other adult education classes, with free child care offered, along with GED preparation classes in Spanish and a Spanish play-and-learn group for young children.

And there is a new partnership with Edmonds Community College to offer high-level English language classes at the center. That coalition, between the YMCA of Snohomish County, Seattle Goodwill and EdCC, is called the Casino Road Adult Education Academy. “The first class is about to end,” Armstrong-Hoss said.

Students in the adult academy are offered family YMCA memberships at an 85 percent discount, giving children from the Casino Road area access to the Mukilteo Y.

“Now we’re seeing more kids coming for swim lessons and sports, and more moms are coming,” Armstrong-Hoss said.

There are still more goals.

“The dream is to have additional classes for credit,” Armstrong-Hoss said. “Wouldn’t it be awesome if parents on Casino Road could get credit for classes they take at Children’s Village?”

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460; jmuhlstein@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Edmonds Police Chief Loi Dawkins speaks after the city council approved her appointment on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds City Council confirms new police chief

Assistant Chief Loi Dawkins will begin in the role Aug. 1. She has more than 23 years of law enforcement experience, including three years in Edmonds.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

The Edmonds City Council discuss the levy during a city council meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds votes to place levy lid lift on the ballot

By a vote of 5-2, the council decided to put the $14.5 million property tax levy lid lift to voters in November.

A trash hauler from Republic Services. (Provided photo)
Growing Teamsters strike disrupts garbage pickup in Snohomish County

Republic Services said a temporary work stoppage is causing some customers in the county to experience “temporary service delays.”

Lily Lamoureux stacks Weebly Funko toys in preparation for Funko Friday at Funko Field in Everett on July 12, 2019.  Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Everett-based Funko ousts its CEO after 14 months

The company, known for its toy figures based on pop culture, named Michael Lunsford as its interim CEO.

‘Courageous’ teen dives into Silver Lake to rescue 11-year-old

Gauge Bryant, 13, brought the child to the surface. The 11-year-old is in stable but critical condition, authorities said.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Mukilteo in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
On second go, Mukilteo City Council votes against sales tax hike

A veto from Mayor Joe Marine forced the council to bring the potential 0.1% sales tax increase back for another vote Monday.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.