Our Six Areas of Opportunity

With community demographics rapidly changing and opportunity gaps and social divides widening, our communities need the Y to be a leader in driving social progress. The Y's diversity, inclusion, and global (DIG) policies, practices, and procedures must effectively serve individuals from all backgrounds and respond to the social issues with the opportunities they need to overcome barriers and reach their full potential.

Employee Resource Groups

Led by Y employees, employee resource groups (ERGs) are spaces for Y staff to network, mentor one another, share knowledge and experiences, participate in professional development, and enhance leadership skills.

YMCA of San Francisco encourages our employees to engage our ERGs:

  • African-American Resource Network

  • Asian Pacific Islander Leadership Network

  • Latinx Leadership Network

  • LGBTQ Resource Network

  • Women's Leadership Resource Network

Learn More

Dimensions of Diversity

The Y is made up of people from all walks of life who are joined together by a shared commitment to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. This Diversity Wheel diagram represents the various dimensions of diversity.

To truly be inclusive and welcoming to all, it is critical to understand the many factors that make up and influence a person’s individuality. If we hold too narrow a view of what constitutes diversity, we will miss opportunities to effectively engage, connect and serve ALL members of our communities.

View the Dimensions of Diversity Glossary

Celebrating Our Newest Neighbors

At the Y, we believe that our communities are stronger and more vibrant when everyone feels welcome and can fully contribute their unique talents for the greater good. For more than 170 years, the Y has helped immigrants access the integration support needed to thrive, which contributes to the economic, civic and cultural strength of a community.

Immigrants represent 13% of the population and make big a impact in communities by:

  • Paying taxes that sustain critical services like public schools and police departments.
  • Stimulating the economy and helping businesses to thrive.
  • Contributing to a skilled workforce that enables key industries to grow and innovate.
  • Advancing entrepreneurship, creating jobs and revenue.
  • Volunteering their time to help their neighbors.

Learn more about our New American Welcome Centers

WE BELIEVE

TRUTH & COURAGE

 

The YMCA of San Francisco strives to understand individual and societal truths and act courageously to live up to our convictions of service, equity, health, and justice.

DEPENDABILITY & CREATIVITY

The YMCA of San Francisco generates creative, responses to changing community needs in partnership with community.

DIGNITY & EMPATHY

The YMCA of San Francisco recognizes the inherent dignity in all people, welcoming them with respect and compassion.

AUTHENTICITY & ACCESSIBILITY

The YMCA of San Francisco is safe and accessible so everyone can participate according to their needs and preferences.

Supporting our LGBTQ+ Community

The YMCA of San Francisco has been selected as one of ten Ys in the country to launch a three-year effort that will foster LGBTQ+ inclusion and equity nationwide. The locally-led initiative is thanks to a national partnership between the Biden Foundation and YMCA of the USA (Y-USA).

Driven by a commitment to ensuring all people are treated with dignity and respect, we are working to develop and implement locally-focused strategies designed to engage and support LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. These strategies may include

  • staff training;
  • member outreach and engagement;
  • program innovation for LGBTQ+ youth, adults, seniors and families;
  • and community collaborations.

In following years, the best practices and tools developed by the ten YMCAs will be scaled to reach Ys nationwide

Additional Employee Resources

Bridging the Gap

    

Professional Learning

   

Translation Services

   

Think Globally, Act Locally

MY YMCA

Unique to the community it serves and addressing local needs, each Y is self-governed by it’s board. Our contributions are both far reaching and intimate- from effecting lasting social change to helping one child learn to swim.

YMCA OF SAN FRANCISCO

Founded in 1853, the YMCA of San Francisco operates under a rich history of building community. Currently, the Y of SF is 14 YMCA branches, 54 school and community-center based after school programs, and 120 program sites.

YMCA OF USA

Comprised of 2,700 Y’s and a national resource office, Y of the USA delivers grassroots, positive social change nation- wide through targeted programs and advocacy. 67.7 million households and 33.7 children under 14 live within 3 miles of a YMCA.

GLOBAL YMCAs

The Y has local presence and global reach. Worldwide, we serve more than 45 million people in 119 countries.  YMCA’s across the U.S. play an integral role in strengthening the leadership and youth programs in YMCA’s  around the world.