We are experiencing 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 across our country. However, we know the issues that are leading to these times are 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐰.

The systemic racism, injustice, and inequity 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 affecting people of color are longstanding. Recent events have only unveiled what has plagued our nation for generations and resulted in the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others before them.

As we see community members coming together across our state and country calling for equity and justice 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥, 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞. This can only begin by doing the hard work of speaking up against racism, educating yourself and others on true history, facts, and structural bias based on race, income, and other factors of diversity, and having productive conversations with people outside your ethnic circles and personal experiences to begin understanding this issue from different perspectives and listening…really listening.

At the Y we believe in our core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility and we work daily to foster these values in everyone we serve. At this time of anger, frustration, and confusion – 𝐰𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞. We need to 𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 the places of racism in our communities, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 that Black lives matter, 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲y to be part of the solution, 𝐟𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 and do it all with abundant care.  Our YMCA is reviewing our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that we are not unintentionally contributing to systemic and institutional racism, and we will continue to be involved in community conversations about ending inequity.

With strong leadership from YMCA of the USA President and CEO Kevin Washington, we are ready, willing and able to stand up for what is right.

At the La Crosse Area Family YMCA, we are here for you.

𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨: https://vimeo.com/425367756

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐊𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧’𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞: https://www.ymca.net/…/hurt-but-hopeful-my-perspective-on-w…