My name is Jane Lynch and this is my Y story.
I grew up in the south side
of Chicago in a suburb. I can't remember a moment where I didn't want to be an
actress, where I didn't want to be on stage. And I never wanted to be up there
alone either, I always wanted be a part of group.
and as much as I loved being a part of a group, I always felt outside of the group.
I was taller than everybody. I was louder than everybody.
Once I realized that I was gay, and I looked around and nobody else was, and it also
was something that was spoken of like this, that was an alienating force within me.
Deep down inside of me I had a desire just to fit in.
I moved to Los Angeles in 1992.
I didn't necessarily want a place to work out so much. I guess I just kind of
wanted a place to go every day, and the Y opened not far from my house. I felt so
much a part of and I'm really grateful to the Y for that.
I volunteer because I love it,
because it makes me feel really good. Just as the Y is for all, the Y
provides volunteer opportunities for all.
Today here at the Y, we have teenagers
from like the age of 13 to 17 who are going to perform for their family and
friends, and I am here today to give them a hand,
take a look at their act, maybe give them a few notes, maybe just applaud and
tell them they're doing great. Andrea. Come here, darling. Hi! It's so nice to meet you.
Jane Lynch is so cool. Glee was such a great
show for me and seeing her as Sue Sylvester was so funny, and seeing her as
a person that has succeeded in the acting world is really inspirational to me.
Hi, darling, I'm Jane. Stephanie! Come to me.
My biggest challenge is being confident. When it's like a big crowd, I
get all shy and stuff. So tell me about what you're going to be doing today.
Today we're going to be dancing a jazz number.
Like when you're nervous, how do you like get the nerves out of you? There's
so much to be said about confidence. Most people in an audience aren't judging you.
Most people want you to do well. You know the steps, it's in your body, and you're
gonna be great.
In this day and age, teenagers are really afraid of what
other people think of them. Even though people are like always judging you, it
doesn't really matter what they think. It's more about what you think about
yourself, and I think the Y has definitely helped me with that too. And
how? Well, I'm part of the program Youth and Government, so I have to make
speeches and whatnot. B-A-L-I-M-A-L-I-Y- N-G straight flexing. Wooh!
Very good! Be very "yes, and", which is the first rule and only rule of
improvisation. When you're very present, and you see what's in front of you, go
with it. So when you're performing today maybe tell a little story.
So you're listening to each other, you're hearing each other. You do the "once upon
a time," and by the time it gets to say, Cheyenne, you do the ending.
Get out there and slay them!
Okay, the first thing I want to do is we're going to get our tongues all nice and loose.
Good blood bad blood. Good blood bad blood.
Now shake your arms out and breathe through your lips like this.
Don't spit on each other.
One, two, three. We got this. Oh, yeah!
Ladies and gentlemen, Andrea!
The Y is all about connection and community.
April, Stephanie, and Ashari!
The Y offers after-school meals, daycare, camps,
computer learning, mentoring programming, ESL.
Improv comedy by the newly minted Poly Squad!
The Y could be a resource for virtually anyone.
It's about being a place where our community can
come together that's just full of positivity.
Not only are you safe from just being out on the streets, but
it's a safe place to express who you are.
The Y is a place to learn and grow, and
be a better person, and that's valuable.