September 16, 2019
One of the most important (though lesser known) legacies of the organization of which you are a part is that the Y has stood for inclusivity often in the face of societal impulses in the opposite direction. Often going squarely against the tides of the times and also appropriately changing with the times to include women, the Y has long been more welcoming, compassionate and inclusive than popularly accepted norms. A quick look back in time will tell you that the diversity and inclusion work in which we are actively engaged is not new to the Y nor "the flavor of the month." Indeed, although the Y is far from perfect in this respect, it has more often than not pushed in the right direction on this front.
Here are just a few examples over the past 160 years:
- In 1853 in Washington, D.C., the first Y for African Americans was founded by Anthony Bowen, a freed slave.
- In 1856, the nation’s first-known English as a Second Language (ESL) class was held for German immigrants at the Cincinnati Y.
- Y housing was started in the 1860s to give young men moving to cities from rural areas safe and affordable lodging. Among those who stayed at Y residences: African American leaders Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young.
- In San Francisco, Ys serving Asians were established in 1875 to serve the large Chinese population there, followed by a Japanese Y founded in 1917.
- U.S. Native American Ys started in 1879 with the founding of a Y by Thomas Wakeman, a Dakota Indian, in Flandreau, South Dakota.
- During World War II, Ys worked secretly in U.S. internment camps holding 110,000 Japanese Americans, organizing clubs and activities for the children.
- In 1910, 25 African American Ys were built (including the Druid Hill Y) in 23 cities as a result of a challenge grant program announced by Sears Roebuck founder Julius Rosenwald. The Ys included clean, safe dorm rooms and eating facilities, which were a boon to African American travelers, especially servicemen, in a segregated and discriminatory era.
- Motivating African-American teens to academic and career success was the goal of a Black Achievers program (now known as Y Achievers) conceived in 1967 by Quentin Mease at the South Central Y in Houston, Texas.
- Many African American Ys became meeting places and rallying points for the Civil Rights Movement. In 1967, racial discrimination was banned in all Ys. In Baltimore, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his entourage were known to have stopped at the Y in Druid Hill to rest, relax and refresh while on the road in the height of the civil rights movement
This past Friday marked the beginning of the Y’s "Welcoming Week," which we are actively celebrating in our association through hands-on activities and intentional messaging. Plans include:
- Tuesday, September 17th - The Y at Parkville is hosting a community resource fair. Resource partners will include, but won't be limited to: Asylee Women Enterprises, Kids In Need of Defense, Maryland Pro Bono Resource Center, Intercultural Counseling Connection, Centro Sol, Counsel on American- Islamic Relations, Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center Alliance
- Saturday, September 21st - The Weinberg Y in Waverly has scheduled a variety of activities throughout the week and a large community-driven event on Saturday, 21st from 11am-1pm, highlighted with a Latin Dance demo and instruction, International Snacks, International Flag tattoos, and more. The week will be supported by the ACLU, League of Women Voters, Casa de Maryland, International Rescue Mission, US Census Bureau, and Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Immigration Affairs, and other organizations.
- Monday, September 16th – The Y’s Preschool at UMBC is hosting a Cultural Festival for Welcoming Week and Back to School night from 6-8pm. The event will highlight shared dishes from around the globe, and an activity for parents to share their heritage. The lobby will also have a “diversitree” of all the unique students
As you travel around the Y this week, you will encounter many messages that underscore the Y’s commitment to being welcoming to all:
Kudos to our former colleague, Lauren Reyes (who recently left to work for the Y in Tampa), for leading the effort, and to Jane Yoon for the amazing job creating the visuals (online/print) to acknowledge our commitment to 'Welcoming ALL'. Thanks also to Eric Somerville, Ashley Funk, Kimberly Meekins, Sasha Batts, Megan Slaughter, Jovan Custis, and Natasha Bentzen for their work to make this happen.
Most importantly, thanks to everyone in the Y community for your commitment to inclusivity and to a culture of being welcoming with open arms and open hearts.
All the best,
John
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland