We are Stronger Together & We Will Heal Together

Dear Y Supporter,

In the past week, our neighbors in Buffalo, New York, and Laguna Woods, California, faced the unthinkable: a racially motivated extremist attack in which community members lost their lives or faced serious injury.

We at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago are devastated by these hateful acts, and we send our heartfelt support to the victims, their families, the greater Buffalo and Laguna Woods communities, our neighbors at the YMCA, and all who are affected by these horrific tragedies.

It is not lost on us that these attacks targeted a local grocery store in a historically Black neighborhood—a place for people to nourish their bodies and tend to their wellbeing—and a Taiwanese church—a space that promotes spirituality and peace.

As an organization committed to creating safe, welcoming spaces for all to pursue wellness in body, mind, and spirit, these events are a sobering reminder of the work we have to do—at the Y and everywhere—to actualize the promise of multicultural, equitable, and antiracist communities.

Our mission to connect all people to their potential, purpose, and each other calls on us to act with true compassion and in solidarity with one another. No matter your community, from Chicago to Buffalo to Laguna Woods, we are stronger together, and through our shared efforts to end racism, we will heal together.
 

Sincerely, 
 

Dorri McWhorter

President & Chief Executive Officer, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago