Economic Champion Spotlight: YMCA of Central New York

The YMCA of Central New York has served the community in Onondaga County and beyond for more than 160 years. They’re committed to leading with equity to better engage with the people it serves to help communities become stronger, safer and more cohesive as an anti-racist, multicultural organization.

Everyone knows the Y as a place to camp, swim or exercise, but they’re so much more. They work side-by-side with neighbors to address critical community needs that help kids develop into smart, resilient adults, for people to improve their health and build a sense of community, and for the most vulnerable young people to get the care and support they need.

Along with programs and services for its members and community, the Y is also a place for a first job for many teens, a place to find a flexible work schedule as a parent or retiree, as well as a place to build a lifelong career.

The Y’s efforts to transform its leadership has been profiled locally and they’re working with a cohort of other YMCAs nationally, along with Y-USA, to develop best practices and strategies for other YMCAs working toward a more diverse leadership. The Y infuses ongoing training in regular leadership staff assemblies around equity and change management and are working daily to transform its organizational culture to cultivate deeper trust and safety for all.

They Y believes that everyone should have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Put simply, the YMCA of Central New York is about the entire community growing better together.