Omega Autry came to Charlotte from Marshville, North Carolina, in 1969 to attend Johnson C. Smith University. She became involved with the McCrorey YMCA in the 1970s, encouraged by Willie Stratford, a well-known community activist and YMCA supporter. She has risen to become one of the YMCA's most influential Black trustees, and talks at length about racial challenges the Y has faced and continues to face. In addition to her YMCA activities, the interview covers her experiences at Johnson C. Smith and how she handled the discrimination she faced at her first job in a newly integrated setting.