Culture Connection June 2024

CULTURE CONNECTION

AT THE YMCA OF METRO FORT WORTH

SUMMERTIME AT THE Y

INSIDE THE ISSUE

For Your Education

Diversity Wheel

Advancing Equity: Your Role in Community Engagement

For Your Engagement

EMLE 2024 MMP

For Your Calendar Pride Month

Juneteenth: Freedom Day Father’s Day

JUNE 2024

Over the summer, our organization has the privilege of serving a remarkably diverse group of individuals, each bringing unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. This diversity is not just a statistic to us; it is the heartbeat of our mission. Each person we encounter enriches our community, offering new insights and fostering a culture of inclusivity and mutual respect. Whether it’s through cultural exchanges, shared stories, or collaborative efforts, the variety of people we serve transforms our work into a vibrant tapestry of human connection. This diversity makes our organization special, reminding us daily of the beauty and strength found in our differences.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

“We are all different, which is great because we are all unique. Without diversity life would be very boring." -Catherine Pulsifer

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AT THE Y

Our Commitment

The Y is made up of people of all ages, from all walks of life, working side-by-side to strengthen communities. Together, we strive to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, age, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender expression, gender identity, ideology, income, national origin, race or sexual orientation has the opportunity to reach their full potential with dignity. Our core values are caring, honesty, respect and responsibility they guide everything we do.

Together, we celebrate strong inclusive communities. FOR ALL.

We Believe

Access, inclusion and engagement helps to ensure the Y’s continued relevancy, viability and impact as a cause-driven organization focused on strengthening community.

FOR YOUR EDUCATION

THE MANY 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.

Having many dimensions of diversity on a staff team is crucial for fostering creativity, improving decision-making, and enhancing employee satisfaction. Diverse teams bring a variety of perspectives and experiences, which can lead to innovative solutions and comprehensive problem-solving. Moreover, such teams better reflect and understand the needs of a diverse client base, enhancing the organization's reputation and market reach. Embracing diversity also helps meet legal and ethical standards, promoting a culture of inclusivity and social responsibility. Ultimately, diverse teams are more adaptable and resilient, driving the overall success and sustainability of the organization.

Want to take a deeper dive into Dimensions of Diversity? Register for the upcoming workshop here.

CONTINUE YOUR LEARNING ON LCDC WITH THIS MONTH’S FEATURED COURSE: Advancing Equity: Your Role in Community Engagement

The Y’s purpose is to strengthen community by making a positive impact in youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. This requires YMCA staff to effectively engage and collaborate with individuals and groups internal and external to the Y. Recognizing that many YMCA staff work collaboratively with the community on a daily basis, this course seeks to help build your knowledge of community engagement where equity is at the core, provide some examples for how community engagement work looks within the context of YMCA work, and connect you to resources to support community engagement work.

Competency Developed: Inclusion

EMLE 2024

FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT

FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT

The Emerging Multicultural Leadership Experience (EMLE)

2024 will mark the 10th National EMLE since the inaugural experience in 2010. This year’s experience will be in Virginia Beach/Norfolk, VA from October 2-4.

EMLE provides a space for multicultural Y staff and volunteers to learn, grow, thrive and connect with hundreds of peers from across the Movement. Attendees access personal and professional growth opportunities, from mentoring and career coaching sessions to networking events to breakout sessions on a wide variety of topics relevant to staff at any level in their careers. Attendees return to their Ys with an increased knowledge of professional development resources, an expanded network and a stronger commitment to the Y.

Who should attend EMLE?

The primary audience is full-time multicultural staff and volunteers from those just starting their Y careers to Y veterans, and our most senior leaders.

In addition, staff and volunteers who identify as white always are welcome to attend as allies to their multicultural peers and supporters of the Y’s efforts to develop a pipeline of diverse leaders in the Y.

For questions and inquiries, email multicultural_development@ymca.net! You can find more information here.

THE MULTICULTURAL MENTORING PROGRAM (MMP)

Mentoring is a partnership between two people that supports a personal and professional development strategy. The Multicultural Mentoring Program (MMP) is a 12 month commitment and includes workshops on topics relevant to leading the Y movement in today's climate and culture.

For Mentors

Are you a dedicated leader looking to serve as a mentor and positively impact emerging leaders across the Movement?

Mentor Application

password: Ymca9622

Requirements

• YMCA full-time staff member who identifies as multicultural

• Currently holds a Multi-Team Leader Level position or higher in the YMCA Movement (i.e., Associate Executive Director, VP, COO, CEO, etc.)

• Currently holds Multi-Team Certification or higher

• Has a four-year degree

• Has completed Fundamentals of Mentoring: For the Mentor*, available on LCDC

• $10 fee; free to YMCA Professional Network (YPN) prime members

For Mentees

Are you looking to connect with an amazing mentor who can provide insight and guidance toward your professional development?

Mentee Application password: Ymca9622

Requirements

• YMCA full-time staff member who identifies as multicultural

• Has completed Fundamentals of Mentoring: For the Mentee*, available on LCDC

• $10 fee; free to YMCA Professional Network (YPN) prime members

LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH

June is Pride Month. The Y’s commitment to diversity and inclusion celebrates the contributions and achievements, and recognizes and uplifts the struggles of individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.

At the Y, you BELONG here. Pride Month is an opportunity to live up to our mission of providing a safe, welcoming community for all. #YPride #YForAll

FOR YOUR CALENDAR

For more information and resources on Pride Month visit:

JUNETEENTH: FREEDOM DAY

Juneteenth, observed on June 19, celebrates the emancipation of those who were enslaved in the United States two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. While the holiday has gained more mainstream attention recently, there are still some who do not know the history behind the celebration.

Together, the Amon G. Carter, Jr., Downtown Y and the William M. McDonald Y, are hosting a joint Juneteenth event on June 19 from 5-7pm at the Downtown YMCA. We invite you join us as we learn more about this day of freedom.

You can RSVP for the event here!

FATHER’S DAY

Did you know Father’s Day began at the YMCA? As you prepare to celebrate dad on June 16, you may be surprised to learn Father’s Day began at the YMCA. It was founded in Spokane, WA, at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd, whose father, William Jackson Smart, had raised six children on his own.

EVENTS AROUND THE MOVEMENT

June 17: Join the National Women's Leadership Network (WLRN) on Monday, June 17th at 2:30pm Central to explore the language we use - and its importance, as well as what makes a good ally as it relates to the transgender community. Additionally, our transgender colleagues will share their lived experience and insights with us. As always, we hope to have time for your questions and discussion as well. Register Here

June 18: The National African American Resource Network (AARN) invites you to celebrate Juneteenth and learn more about this day of freedom on Tuesday, June 18th at 1pm Central! Register Here

June 26: It's time to sashay your way to the ultimate celebration! Join the LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group on June 26th at 3pm Central, for a PRIDE Happy Hour event about laughter, community spirit, and having an absolutely fabulous time. This event is the perfect opportunity to network, connect, and find out more about the amazing work our LGBTQ+ ERG is doing. Register Here

After hearing a sermon about Mother’s Day, Dodd told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday honoring them. Although she initially suggested June 5, her father’s birthday, the pastors did not have enough time to prepare their sermons, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June. In 1972, President Nixon recognized Father’s Day as an official holiday.

NATIONAL CANCER SURVIVORS MONTH

There are currently 16.9 million cancer survivors in the United States. Despite the challenges of short-term and long-term effects of treatment, cancer survivors are resilient. National Cancer Survivors Month is an opportunity to celebrate all cancer survivors whether someone is still undergoing treatment or has long since won their battle against cancer.

The Y celebrates survivors, and encourages individuals touched by cancer to learn more about how we support recovery in our community through our programs and initiatives such as LiveStrong at the YMCA.

For more information on our programs and initiatives, please contact our Executive Director of Mobile and Community Health, Jacklinn Sotello.

TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD

TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD

INTERNS AT THE WILLIAM

Liliana Franco recently graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, a Minor in Sociology, and a certificate in Managing Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations. She started her journey with the YMCA as a Reach & Rise mentor then became a Community Engagement Intern at the William M. McDonald branch. Liliana has a passion for community work and plans to dedicate her career to advocating for minority youth in underserved communities. She will be pursuing a Master of Science in Health, Community and Policy from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Thanh Dinh helped our William M. McDonald YMCA by volunteering as our Community Engagement Intern this Spring. Coming from an immigrant family and being a first- generation college graduate, he pursued public health because it was not only a financially secure field but also provided an avenue for him to learn more about and engage with a variety of paths in healthcare. It was through UTAs Public Health program that he learned about the many health professions that existed outside of the traditional medical and nursing school routes and found his passion for disease prevention. In July, T will be interning with Tarrant County Public Health as an environmental health intern and in the next year, he will be pursuing a Masters in Public Health, where he will study epidemiology. In the long term, he plans to pursue a PhD in Public Health Sciences and work in hospital disease prevention and government infectious disease research.

Thank you to both Liliana and Thanh for interning with us this spring.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANIE GRAY!

Last month, we had a handful of employees complete the Anti-Racist Multicultural Organization Common Language Video. Anie Gray, of the Northpark YMCA, was randomly selected as the winner of a $50 Gift Card. You can be the lucky winner in June by completing the course of the month, and sending a copy of your transcript to mpierce@ymcafw.org. (see page 2 for a link to the course of the month)

SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEAM AT THE BEDFORD CENTER YMCA

Did you know the Bedford Center YMCA has a Special Olympics team? The YMCA Friends of Mustang Panthers, and four of their athletes made it to the 2024 Special Olympics Summer Games, hosted in San Antonio from May 16-19. The event was an incredible success! Thousands of athletes, coaches, family members, and volunteers came out in full force to help make this years’ Summer Games the most magical event yet.

For more information on this unique program, please reach out to Carolanne Dunaway at cdunaway@ymcafw.org

GOOD NEWS TO SHARE?

Do you have a good news story around diversity, equity and inclusion, and want to be featured in our monthly newsletter? Send your news and a photos to mpierce@ymcafw.org.