Dear Y Community,

It was 245 years ago that our nation took its first breath independent of British rule. It was a breath filled with anticipation and joy for building a nation of great promise and hope for generations to come. At our nation’s inception, the joys of independence were not shared by all, and today, we remain in relentless pursuit of a perfect nation where the breathtaking joys of freedom can be enjoyed by all. 

As we celebrate the birth of our nation and acknowledge and learn from to our nation’s history, we must remember that our work is not done. We must ensure that our nation’s promise is shared by everyone and that everyone experiences our country as a great place of possibility, prosperity, and happiness. Everyone deserves the opportunity to live their best lives, from citizens by birth to newcomers who now call the United States of America home. In our country, shared promises and dreams are abundant and interconnected, and can be realized together.

By supporting our neighbors, empowering those furthest from opportunity, advocating for equity and justice for all, and loving one another, we breathe life into the future we want for our children and unleash the full potential of the rich, diverse fabric of our nation. 

This holiday, as we share barbecues, baseball games or family reunions, we pause to remember this day and reflect on who we are and who we can become when liberties and freedoms envisioned by our forefathers at the inception of our great country are shared and fully realized by all.  

This Independence Day is not the time to rest on the progress we have made. This is our time to lean into the opportunity we have as a country to make greater progress for everyone. As one inseparable, indivisible nation, this is our moment to recommit ourselves to the critical work that we must do together to fully live up to our nation’s creed of liberty and justice for all. 

In community and gratitude,
 
Loria Yeadon, CEO & President
YMCA of Greater Seattle