YMCA CEO Appointed to Governor’s Safe Start Group

YMCA Opens Child Care For Essential Workers to Serve Hundreds of Families

Seattle, WA, May 7, 2020 – To bring a lens of equity and social justice to the reopening of our state, Loria Yeadon, CEO & President of the YMCA of Greater Seattle has been appointed to Governor Inslee’s Safe Start advisory group as a member of the Social Supports group.

“I am honored to serve alongside others on the Governor’s Community Recovery Group.” Loria said. “At the YMCA of Greater Seattle, we have experienced firsthand how this crisis has disrupted the lives of youth and families and disparately impacted vulnerable and underserved populations. By convening this group, Governor Inslee has created an incredible opportunity for us to help reimagine and build safer, healthier, more equitable communities for all by learning and innovating together, sharing best practices and ideas, and lifting the voices of community.”

“These groups include a diverse group of voices, from community leaders in labor, business, government and nonprofit organizations,” Inslee said during a press conference Tuesday. “They represent a broad cross-section of Washingtonians from east and west of the Cascades, different generations and a focus on different impacts from the pandemic on our state.”

Each advisory group constitutes a forum for the community to consult with the governor’s office and state agencies on next steps as Washington moves forward. The members of these community leader groups are in touch with communities around the state and will inform decision-making.

The three community leader advisory groups will be led by state cabinet officials:

• Public Health and Health Care System led by Department of Health Sec. John Wiesman
• Safe Work and Economic Recovery led by Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown
• Social Supports led by Department of Social and Health Services Sec. Cheryl Strange

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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.

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For more information about the YMCA of Greater Seattle and the overall response to COVID-19, email abecker@seattleymca.org.