Kent Shows Up for Unity in the Community

A Day of Connection, Celebration, and Community at the Kent YMCA 

Time and time again, the Kent YMCA is a gathering place for the entire community.

For the third year in a row, Unity in the Community took place on the Y grounds, led by Glover Empower Mentoring (GEM). The free event brought together young people, families, neighbors, athletes, businesses, community organizations, and volunteers for a celebration centered on connection, opportunity, fun, and belonging.

Throughout the day, the Y was buzzing with activity. Young people competed on the basketball court, families explored community resources, kids played carnival games and picked up free backpacks for the school year, and neighbors connected with local organizations and community leaders.

But what made the day special wasn't any one activity. It was seeing so many different parts of the Kent and South King County community come together in one place.

GEM created Unity in the Community to celebrate, empower, and unite young people and the people who support them — with the larger goal of helping make South King County a welcoming place for everyone. The event showed what that vision can look like in action.

We're grateful to Glover Empower Mentoring for its leadership and to the many partners, volunteers, athletes, community leaders, and neighbors who helped bring the day to life. Particular thanks to Blanket Coverage, the Richard Sherman Family Foundation and Xstadium Lounge Seattle.

And we're proud of the role the YMCA of Greater Seattle can play: opening our doors, bringing people together, and creating space for community to happen.

Take a look through some of our favorite moments from a remarkable day in Kent, and tag your friends in our social posts: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.