St. Petersburg residents and civic leaders gathered today at the St. Petersburg Coliseum for the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg’s 24th annual Community Prayer Breakfast, an event that underscores the city’s focus on family, faith and neighborly connection.
According to St. Pete Catalyst, the breakfast featured two keynote speakers. Educator and activist Erin Gruwell, known for her work with the “Freedom Writers” at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, recounted how she helped students replace violence with writing, noting that all 150 “Freedom Writers” graduated and many pursued higher education. Gruwell highlighted her partnership with the YMCA, saying the organization helped guide her students toward “connection” and “family.”
Joining Gruwell, Suzanne McCormick, the first woman to lead the YMCA of the United States, addressed the crowd about the nation’s “epidemic of loneliness and isolation.” McCormick, who assumed the YMCA USA presidency in 2021 after leading United Way Suncoast in Tampa, marked the organization’s 175th anniversary and introduced the new “Creating Connected Communities” vision, urging civic, business, faith leaders, educators, neighbors and parents to work together to build welcoming neighborhoods.
The ceremony also honored St. Petersburg Police Department Chief Anthony Holloway with the Chester James Award. Holloway, who began his law‑enforcement career with the Clearwater Police Department in 1985 and became St. Petersburg’s chief in August 2014, said the award “means a lot” and reflected the department’s collaborative work with the community.
Organizers emphasized that the breakfast’s purpose is to celebrate unity and to encourage residents to “push ourselves” in creating inclusive, faith‑centered communities. The event aligns with the YMCA’s broader mission to address loneliness, foster purpose and strengthen the family unit across the city.
What’s next: YMCA officials announced that future “Creating Connected Communities” initiatives will include local workshops and volunteer opportunities, with details to be shared on the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg website in the coming weeks.
Sources: stpetecatalyst.com
