Racial Equity

Congratulations to Karen Jeffries, Executive Assistant to the President/CEO at YMCA of Greensboro, who was named as the co-recipient of the 2021 Carlos Sanvee DIG Legacy Champion Award last month at the YMCA Emerging Multicultural Leadership Experience.

Three YMCA associations in North Carolina participate in the first cohort of the national YMCA Boys and Young Men of Color (BYMOC) Initiative led by Michael DeVaul with YMCA of the USA. While this work began prior to COVID-19, it’s more critical than ever, DeVaul said.

In the wake of the horrific murder of George Floyd and other people of color in 2020, many Ys across the state and the country have taken action to focus with intentionality on diversity, equity and inclusion at their Ys and, in some cases, in their communities. 

YMCAs in the western part of the state are working with each other and community partners to better serve the region’s Latinx residents. 

The YMCA of Greater Charlotte received a surprise $18 million gift at the end of 2020 from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, who donated billions last December to 384 organizations nationwide.

YMCA of Greensboro launched The 8:46 Series in August 2020, educating 900 community members on systemic racism and its impact on our society. Hosted by the Y and the NCCJ of the Piedmont Triad, the series returns this year with additional topics and experts to educate our community. 

Last month the Duke Energy Foundation announced a $25,000 grant awarded to the Cleveland County Family YMCA to advance work around systematic solutions to racial equity.

At the YMCA, we work to create a community in which every person feels valued, emboldened and loved. Like you, we struggle to make sense of the recent events in Minneapolis and all over our country. We recognize the pain, frustration and anger caused by the death of George Floyd and the long history and prevalence of systemic racism, and we stand united with our neighbors demanding change.