Statement from the Board of Directors

The country and our community are undergoing a transformation. Our awareness is raised, and we are joining with others to do the hard work to increase equity and justice in our own organizations and across our communities.

At the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS), we are committed to learning from our history, leading by example, and becoming an anti-racist and inclusive gathering space where people of all colors, religions, genders, and backgrounds are welcomed and have the opportunity to succeed, be healthy, and thrive. For us, that means closely examining what we do – our systems, hiring practices, partners, contracting and all of our processes, programs, and locations – to ensure we are learning, adapting, and doing all that we can to build a more equitable, healthy, and just community in the future.

This is in line with the overall historic Y mission:

Building a community where all people, especially the young, are encouraged to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body.

At YGS, we want to do our part to help eliminate systemic racism, and in doing that, be leaders in our community and in the national YMCA movement.

We, the Board of the YMCA of Greater Seattle, want to express our individual and collective support for this urgent mission, and for President and CEO Loria Yeadon, as she leads this work, made especially challenging amid the COVID-19 pandemic and an economic recession. We stand with YGS in its pledge for equity and justice for all and fully support the establishment of a new Equity and Justice Center of Excellence. In support, it is our honor and privilege to pledge $1 million, as the anchor of a $10 million goal, to seed the initial investment in our vision of this new center to enable equity innovation and proliferation of learning, to enhance youth development and health curricula, build systems and talent capacity, build future equity leaders, and advance individual and community healing.

We are resolved that together – and with our tremendous staff, members, and community of supporters – we can build an equitable and just community for all.

YMCA of Greater Seattle Board of Directors