DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Statement of Diversity and Inclusion
The YMCA of Greater Cleveland is an organization of people joined together by a shared commitment to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. By prioritizing diversity and inclusion, we seek to ensure that all segments of society have access to the YMCA and feel welcome and fully engaged as participants, members, staff and volunteers.

For more information on the Diversity & Inclusion efforts at the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, 
email us.

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LeadDIVERSITY Program
As part of the D&I initiative, the YMCA of Greater Cleveland participated in The LeadDIVERSITY program. The program is applicatio-selected and prospects must meet specific criteria to be selected, including essay, questionare and references. The program's goals are:

• Their own cultural, racial, and social identity and the divergent perspectives of their classmates.
• Theories of how to reduce prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping and the impact of those practices.
• The ways top corporate and civic leaders have improved their organizations by attending to diversity as a critical success factor.

Participants gain:

• Improved skills in leadership and communication.
• Regional best practices from the Northeast Ohio community.
• Opportunities to gain practical experience through the Legacy Project.

Organizations Gain:

• An increased pool of involved and educated diversity leaders.
• Employees with an increased understanding of the connection between inclusion and organizational success.
• Employees with enhanced organizational leadership skills and vision for the future

The Diversity Center of NE Ohio started its LeadDIVERSITY program in 2001 and the first graduating class was in 2002. Since its inception, they have had 391 participants from all over Ohio. 










D&I NEWS

Y recognized by Greater Cleveland
Partnership as 2015 Commission 50


YMCA of Greater Cleveland recognized for Best Workplace Diversity by the Greater Cleveland Partnership

The YMCA of Greater Cleveland's Diversity & Inclusion efforts were recognized on June 20 as a Commission on Economic Inclusion 2012 Best-in-Class member organization.

Selections were based on results of the 2012 Employers Survey on Diversity™, and follow-up interviews by Commission staff. Three honorees—one nonprofit/government organization, one for-profit company and a middle-market member—were chosen in each category. Click below to read more about their initiatives that drive diversity and inclusion within their organizations.
Click here to read more about the Y's Best-in-Class Workforce Diversity - Middle Market Award


YMCA of Cleveland's Diversity Efforts Recognized in Phenomenal Woman Magazine
Click here to read the Issuu publication. The Y is featured on page 14. 


Newsletters
Rising Tide (D&I Committee Publication)
Winter 2012-13 
Spring 2013 
Fall 2013

Multicultural Development (Y-USA Newsletter)
September 2012

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The Games for All!

From August 9-16, 2014, the cities of Cleveland and Akron welcomed 9,000 participants and 20,000 visitors for the 2014 Gay Games. The Gay Games are an international sporting and cultural event held every four years, which began in 1982. The Gay Games are open to all athletes regardless of their sexual orientation, race, gender, religion, nationality, ethnic background, political views, athletic or artistic ability, age, physical challenge or health status. Normally, 10% of the participants are allies. 



The YMCA of Greater Cleveland Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Employee Resource Group (LGBT ERG), which was founded in January 2014, led the way for the YMCA of Greater Cleveland to become a Community Partner with the 2014 Gay Games. During the Gay Games all of the YMCA of Greater Cleveland branches will open their doors to all Gay Game participants as well as email all of our YMCA members the importance of diversity and inclusion within the City of Cleveland.

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