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MEN'S CONNECTION GROUP

Healthy Discussion Sessions

Our Men’s Connection Group brings men together at YMCAs around the county for healthy discussion on how to be the best version of themselves. Topics include:

  • Be the best version of yourself.
  • Be a person of mental, physical and spiritual wellness.
  • Balance life situations, family and employment responsibilities.
  • Develop a personal life goal.
  • Grow in self-mastery and sound character.
  • Be the person people want to be around.

Discussion meetings are free to men 18 and older who are members of the YMCA of San Diego County.

mens perspective group photo

"I got to vent about a relationship issue that’s been bothering me. Other guys in the group listened and gave great feedback — it was good to speak about problems with the other men."

— Men's Connection Group Member

LOCATIONS

Cameron Family YMCA

When: Wednesdays| 6:00–7:00pm
Where: Studio 1
Facilitators: Micah Cox and Greg Chase
Questions: Charles McKelvey, cmckelvey@ymcasd.org

When: 6:45–7:45pm, third Monday (drop-ins welcome; registration not required)
Where: Conference Room
Facilitators: Jim Grosby and Eduardo Cervantes
Questions: Stacey Ebert, sebert@ymcasd.org

When: 6:30–7:30pm, second Wednesday
Where: Community Room 2
Facilitators: James Carr and Rob Rota
Questions: Geraldine Cui, gcui@ymcasd.org

When: 7:00–8:00pm, first and third Wednesdays
Where: Mission Valley YMCA Activity Room
Facilitators: Guido Hamacher and Gabor Herman
Questions: Josh Beall, jbeall@ymcasd.org

When: 6:30-7:30pm, second and fourth Mondays
Where: Multipurpose Room
Facilitators: Ken Karl and Carl Steiner
Questions: Jeff Bence, jbence@ymcasd.org

When: 6:30–7:30pm, second Thursday
Where: Multipurpose room
Facilitator: Jerry Kwasek
Questions: Karen Prorok, kprorok@ymcasd.org

RSVP for a Session

FOUNDER & FACILITATOR

JERRY KWASEK

Jerry Kwasek, who has a master’s in social science, is a former senior media executive for the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Business Journal and The San Diego Daily Transcript. He has been married to Marlyne Kwasek for 48 years. They have two adult granddaughters and one great-grandchild. He has decades of real-life, family and professional experience dealing with family alcoholism, chemical dependency, marital tensions and separations, and criminal justice issues. Also, Kwasek is a lifeguard and swim instructor at Toby Wells YMCA, where he teaches preschoolers to swim. Learn more about Jerry Kwasek and why he founded the Men’s Connection Group.

Jerry Kwasek

The Impact of Men’s Connection Group

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the impact the Men’s [Connections] Group has had on my life. During a time when I was feeling lost and uncertain, this group helped me find purpose and meaning again.

Through our honest conversations and the support of such a caring group of men, I gained valuable perspective, renewed confidence, and a much stronger sense of direction. The friendships and encouragement I found reminded me that I wasn’t alone and helped me reconnect with what truly matters.

I especially want to thank you for your leadership. You have had a particularly meaningful impact on me, specifically in helping me gain a healthier perspective on interpersonal relationships. You encouraged me to look beyond my own challenges to better understand the experiences of others, and your lesson that a fulfilling life is rooted in a sense of purpose has stayed with me.

Your emphasis on helping others and contributing to the community continues to influence how I approach life today. Thank you for being there and for everything you do for the group.

Josef
Josef

My name is Eduardo C.; the Men’s [Connection] Group at the YMCA is important to me because it has become more than just a group — It’s a community and space for growth, connection, and support.

Life comes with different challenges, and having a place where men can come together, have honest conversations, and learn from one another is something I truly value. It reminds me how important it is for men to have a healthy outlet and strong support system.

I also take pride in being a facilitator alongside my-co-facilitator, Jim. Helping guide conversations and create a welcoming environment for others has been a meaningful experience for me. I enjoy seeing men open-up, share their perspectives, and build connections with one another. Being part of this group at the YMCA has not only helped me grow personally but it has also given men the opportunity to help support others on their own journeys.

Eduardo C.
Eduardo C.

Hi guys. This is Micah, one of the group facilitators for the Y Men’s [Connection] Group. We meet once month… I just wanted to say this. I understand we all have busy lives with families, kids. And not everyone can make it to these meetings. Totally understandable. But we are only meeting once or twice a month, your choice. And we created the Men’s [Connection] Group for us …as men, to vent, to share our thoughts, to bond.

Women get together all the time and do things. But us men tend to isolate or make excuses why we shouldn’t get together much less go to a men’s group. There are a million reasons that we can convince ourselves to just stay home or make other plans. The world is in a volatile state right now, there are a lot of things going on.

As men we are not only the protectors of our families and our loved ones, we are the protectors in our communities. What happens when everything in society breaks down? You can’t always rely on law enforcement. Or the military. Sometimes you may have to rely on your neighbor, or friends. Yes, as men we have egos, but ask yourself if your ego is serving you or hindering your growth?

This isn’t about men getting together to just talk about a bunch of BS. This group can help with depression. You can make new friends. Learn how to evolve and become a better man. Or learn what to do in a disaster. Help others in the community. We as Men’s [Connection] Group volunteer facilitators wanted to do this not for just us but for US Men!

Help yourself and help others. This is your group. Take advantage of it.

Micah C.
Micah C.

When my brother-in-law first told me about a men’s group at the YMCA, I was struggling with challenges in my marriage and looking for support. What I found difficult at the time was feeling understood and validated. In many conversations, especially outside of a men’s setting, I often felt like the assumption was that the man was automatically at fault. That left me feeling isolated and discouraged.

Joining the men’s group changed that for me. For the first time, I was surrounded by men who had experienced many of the same struggles I was facing. Hearing their stories helped me realize I wasn’t alone. The group gave me a place where I could speak openly without judgment, while also being held accountable in a constructive and supportive way.

The men challenged me to look honestly at my own behavior, but they also offered practical advice and healthier ways to approach both my own issues and the difficulties my wife and I were experiencing together. Over time, I learned not to take everything so personally and began to better understand that many of the challenges I faced were common experiences shared by other men as well.

Today, my relationship with my wife is much stronger, and I credit much of that growth to the support, perspective, and accountability I found in the men’s group.

The experience had such a positive impact on my life that I eventually became a men’s group facilitator myself at the YMCA. I’m grateful for what the group gave me, and I’m proud to now give back and help support other men who may be going through similar struggles.

Carl
Carl

I have other men listen to me. Other men also felt this was important when we talked about it. The most value has been that I have a forum to share my thoughts and feelings without judgement. And those men who can relate to my situation or have some input/feedback will contribute, while those who have nothing to add just say nothing. Either way, it’s important to get pressing issues off my chest, to vent.

Also, the other men have similar problems as I do. We are not alone in our suffering, but everyone else goes through their lot as well. It helps to know it's not just me.

Guido H.
Guido H.
Hi I am Jim, a volunteer Y Men’s Perspective facilitator along with my co-facilitator Eduardo at the Y. I have found that the Men’s [Connections] Group meetings are a safe and protected place where meaningful conversations can be had that bring out the day-to-day personal concerns and response to trends that we see in our community.

The meetings at the Y are free of judgements. The men in the meetings provide a supportive environment to find what unites us all in relationship and shared experience.

Jim G.
Jim G.
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