To fulfill our purpose of strengthening community for all, the Y is committed to being an inclusive, anti-racist organization and leveraging our collective impact to address social inequities.
During the Spring of 2023, our YMCA successfully completed four Scouting Reports, or informational sessions, with Orange Arrow. These sessions introduced Orange Arrow to our stakeholders (staff, volunteers, and members) and provided an overview of the work we are undertaking together over the coming months. A recording of the final Scouting Report is available here. Following the Scouting Reports, staff and volunteers were invited to complete two DEI surveys in anticipation of the Huddle Ups, or educational portion of the program. The dates and times for the Huddle Up sessions have been scheduled. Space is limited, so interested staff, volunteers, and members are encouraged to register as soon as possible. While it is not necessary to attend all seven sessions, it is highly recommended as the sessions build on each other.
Generously funded by the Eden Hall Foundation
The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh is offering a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Education Series starting on August 22nd. The series will begin with a session titled "Racial Equity Consciousness: An Overview." This session will provide participants with insights into understanding racial equity, its importance, and how it relates to building an inclusive and diverse community.
If you're interested in participating, find your class, date, and time below. All sessions build on the previous so we encourage you to participate as much as you can to get the most out of these trainings.
Follow the instructions provided by the YMCA to enroll or register for the DEI training program. This could involve filling out a registration form, providing necessary details, and making any required payments.
ATTEND THE TRAINING: Once you are registered, make sure to attend the training on the specified date and time. Be prepared to actively participate and engage in the learning process.
FEEDBACK AND FOLLOW-UP: After the training, consider providing feedback to the YMCA about your experience. This can help them improve their programs and cater to the needs of their participants better.
40% of the population today represent BIPOC (Black, Indigenous people of color) backgrounds
43.1 million people are living in poverty in the U.S.
19% of Americans live with disabilities
9 MILLION U.S. adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, as of 2018
1 in 4 kids under age 6 are the children of immigrants
Millennials are now the largest generation in U.S. history
We are committed to ensuring everyone reaches their full potential with dignity. While we haven’t always lived up to that inclusive vision, we have been on a steady journey toward making that powerful aspiration a reality for everyone in the communities we serve.
If you are a person of color, share the story of your lived experiences. Start by creating and cultivating those safe and brave spaces to share with each other and begin to have those crucial conversations in the workplace.
Speak up and out about injustice or uncomfortable situation as it happens. Allies and advocates need to support others so they will know they are not alone.
YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh is committed to creating safe and brave spaces for employees and volunteers to feel known, seen, and heard while empowering themselves and each other.
Building culturally competent teams, communities, and organizations.
OA Coaches provides sports-themed coaching and consulting services focused on building culturally proficient teams, communities, and organizations through our array of DEI engagement services, including our signature three-step approach of the Scouting Report(assessments), Huddled Up(education), and Game Plan(action planning).
Our services are designed to help organizations and teams understand and appreciate the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of their members and to create an inclusive environment that values and respects all members.
We lead through a diverse group of professionals with over 50 years of combined experience from various industries including youth development, higher education, healthcare, nonprofit management, and the sports industry, with a history of building cross-cultural relationships and breaking down racial barriers between ethnic groups.
Utilizing a sports-themed coaching approach to this work has proven to be effective, engaging, and readily understandable.
OA Coaches is the consulting arm of the Orange Arrow Players Association, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that helps youth build meaningful social connections and cross-cultural relationships while developing the off-the-field skills necessary for success.
Learn more about Orange Arrow