Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Ann Arbor YMCA has remained committed to serving Washtenaw County and its citizens. The organization has been adapting to the challenges presented by the pandemic and is prepared to continue doing so for as long as necessary. In this week's "Washtenaw United," WEMU's David Fair spoke with Ann Arbor YMCA president and CEO Toni Kayumi about 2020, the Y's plans for the immediate future, and the lessons learned that will carry forward.
WEMU has partnered with the United Way of Washtenaw County to explore the people, organizations, and institutions creating opportunity and equity in our area. And, as part of this ongoing series, you’ll also hear from the people benefiting and growing from the investments being made in the areas of our community where there are gaps in available services. It is a community voice. It is 'Washtenaw United.'
ABOUT TONI KAYUMI:
In January 2016, Ann Arbor YMCA CEO Toni Kayumi and Grand Rapids YMCA CEO Scott Lewis simultaneously became the first YMCA CEOs of color in the state of Michigan. Toni Kayumi is the Chair of YMCA of the USA’s Asian Pacific Islander Leadership Network Employee Resource Group and the Chair of YMCA of the USA’s Diversity, Inclusion and Global Leadership Council. In 2019, Toni Kayumi also received YMCA of the USA’s Carlos Sanvee Diversity, Inclusion & Global Legacy Award.
RESOURCES:
UWWC STATEMENT:
UWWC is a long time investor in the work of the YMCA. Through our participation in the Washtenaw Coordinated Funders, UWWC and our partners have invested 97,500k annually between 2018-2021 in the launch and implementation of “The Collaborative” an innovative early childhood partnership between the YMCA and EMU to increase the availability of high quality early learning for students, staff and the Ypsilanti community on the east side of Washtenaw County.
Recently, UWWC has invested in the Y’s C-19 response efforts first through our Community Recovery Fund and then again throughfunding received by the State of Michigan’s Taskforce on Racial Disparities. Our initial investment of 15k in April of this year supported the Y’s efforts around providing childcare services to senior living community employees, hospital staff , first responders and essential workers and providing support for food distribution and delivery to families with children and older adults. Our second investment of 90k is now allowing the Y to stand up virtual learning sites throughout Washtenaw County to ensure more equitable internet access and academic supports to youth.
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— David Fair is the WEMU News Director and host of Morning Edition on WEMU. You can contact David at 734.487.3363, on twitter @DavidFairWEMU, or email him at dfair@emich.edu
