SILVER BAY – Silver Bay YMCA is thrilled to announce that Renee Ahmeti, the sales manager at Silver Bay YMCA and one of the co-chairs for the Silver Bay YMCA C.A.R.E. (Culture, Accountability, Respect, Engagement) Committee has been accepted into the Belonging Innovation Lab (BIL) Narrative Fellowship run by the Center for Inclusion and Belonging at the American Immigration Council.  

The BIL Narrative Fellowship is a cohort of leaders who are committed to strengthening trust, connection, and belonging in their communities. It is designed for individuals who understand their local context deeply and recognize that us-versus-them dynamics are often shaped by stories, identities, and the fragmented media environments we all navigate.   

Consisting of 19 fellows from across the U.S., the BIL Narrative is a 12-week, cohort-based virtual experience composed of six interactive sessions, light readings, and a peer learning network. Fellows will have the opportunity to engage with peers working across different geographies and sectors who share a commitment to addressing polarization and division through narrative change.   

In Ahmeti’s fellowship application, she outlined how the North Country is historically and culturally seen as white, homogeneous, and insular.  

“Historically, the Adirondacks have been marketed as a pristine, empty wilderness, a narrative that obscures Indigenous displacement and the long-standing relationship between marginalized communities and land stewardship. That framing continues today in tourism messaging, community identity, and local pride, often without critical reflection. When a place is understood as naturally homogeneous, diversity is treated as either temporary or disruptive rather than integral. This fuels subtle but persistent ‘us vs. Them’ dynamics, particularly around immigration, religion, and cultural differences,” Ahmeti wrote in her application.  

Silver Bay YMCA VP of Sales and Marketing Lindsey Butler shared, “We are so excited that Renee was accepted into this fellowship. The work she does with the C.A.R.E. committee has already been so impactful to belonging at Silver Bay. I’m excited to see her impact grow from the tools she gains during the fellowship.”  

“I’m committed to seeing the North Country become a place where people can see themselves reflected, welcomed, and connected. This fellowship will meaningfully accelerate that long-term work,” stated Ahmeti.  

In addition to the knowledge Ahmeti will gain from the BIL Narrative Fellowship, Silver Bay YMCA will also be awarded $10,000 for Ahmeti to use to support the development or advancement of her narrative intervention that addresses the us-versus-them dynamics in the community.  

To learn more about Silver Bay YMCA and the work they do for the community visit silverbay.org.