The YMCA Accelerator and Nexus Youth and Families Combine to form the new Y Social Impact Center
Last updated: May 19, 2021, at 1:56 p.m. PT
Originally published: June 30, 2020, at 3:47 p.m. PT
The integration of the Y and Nexus Youth and Families agencies is complete, forming a new entity to increase our collective support of youth and young adults.
Seattle, WA, July 1, 2020 – Earlier this year, Nexus Youth and Families joined the Y to increase both organizations’ reach and better serve the young people of King County, and in particular, those residing in south King County.
Today, the Y is proud to announce the Y Social Impact Center, which integrates Nexus with the Accelerator Y, under one name. The Y Social Impact Center works to dismantle systemic inequities by connecting kids, teens, and young adults with critical support and resources.
When leaders from both organizations set out to meld the two groups, the goal was to preserve critical youth services in south King County, and to offer a broader continuum of services that support young people to care for themselves, to seek education, and to interrupt cycles of trauma, including behavioral health issues and adverse childhood experiences. The Social Impact Center is based on the idea that all young people deserve the tools they need to live happy and independent lives.
“Together, we’ve put ourselves in the position to reach more young people than ever before, and to reduce health inequities among families in our region.“ Loria Yeadon, President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater Seattle said.
The Social Impact Center supports young people from ages 0-25 to help them reach their full potential through homelessness services, behavioral health services, foster care services, and young adult services. Young people can access services at dozens of locations, including YMCA Branches, housing sites, behavioral health clinics, shelters, foster homes, high schools, colleges, teen centers, outdoor expeditions, and more.
The Y is dedicated to supporting youth and young adults who have been impacted by systemic barriers like poverty, foster care, homelessness, racism, and the justice system. Mark Putnam, Executive Director, Y Social Impact Center said, “The focus of our incredible staff team will continue to be on providing opportunities for young people to thrive. By combining our organizations into our countywide Social Impact Center, we will be better together.”
This integration would not be possible without the support of the Boston Consulting Group whose support accelerated the Y’s planning and enabled a successful integration and employee transition. BCG provided over 1,200 hours of pro-bono services to the Y, enhancing the Y’s planning capabilities and ensuring we stayed on schedule despite COVID-19.
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About the YMCA of Greater Seattle
The YMCA of Greater Seattle is the Northwest’s leading nonprofit organization strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Founded in 1876, the Y reaches more than 238,000 people of all backgrounds, abilities and financial circumstances annually through 14 branches, two overnight camps and more than 200 program sites throughout King and south Snohomish counties. It nurtures more than 92,000 kids and teens to develop their gifts and give back to our community and engages 23,000 volunteers who contribute more than 388,000 hours of service each year. Visit seattleymca.org.
For more information about the YMCA of Greater Seattle and the overall response to COVID-19, email abecker@seattleymca.org.