More than 30 children attended Camp Noah at the New River YMCA in Jacksonville for five days this past summer. It was just five days, but the Y staff believe that time was life-changing for the children in their care, and they know it was for themselves. 

Three YMCA associations in North Carolina participate in the first cohort of the national YMCA Boys and Young Men of Color (BYMOC) Initiative led by Michael DeVaul with YMCA of the USA. While this work began prior to COVID-19, it’s more critical than ever, DeVaul said.

Despite COVID-19 challenges, the YMCA of the Triangle served 525 medical members during year 2 of the three-year Medical Membership pilot.

In the wake of the horrific murder of George Floyd and other people of color in 2020, many Ys across the state and the country have taken action to focus with intentionality on diversity, equity and inclusion at their Ys and, in some cases, in their communities.