YWCA York Archives - Central Penn Business Journal

More than $69,000 in grants have been provided to eight local nonprofit organizations by the Racial Equity Fund (REF) Grant Program of York County Community Foundation (YCCF). The REF is made up of community leaders of color who choose projects that focus on issues of racism and integrity, addressing “shifting the paradigm of equitable opportunities.”

Grants of up to $10,000 each for projects that address equity gaps for communities of color are awarded by the REF in the following areas:

Education and job readiness
Criminal justice system
Community leadership and development
Income and wealth creation within communities of color
Racial and cultural education

Health and wellness within communities of color

“The REF is pleased to have completed its second round of grant funding for 2022,” Lisa Kennedy, Chair of the Racial Equity Fund, said in a statement. “We continue to encourage potential applicants to reach out to us with any questions about the work we do to advance racial equity within our community.”

The REF was created in 2020 by the YCCF to establish a dedicated grant program to support meaningful, positive action towards addressing racial inequities in the York community. To establish an endowment to ensure meaningful grants are distributed every year, additional contributions are being sought.

The following programs received grants to address iniquities in York County:

Appell Center for the Performing Arts for its Culturally Responsive and Teen Empowered Creative Career Programs that prioritize culturally responsive pedagogy, youth empowerment and pipelines into the performing arts.

Handle with Care Project UPLIFT US Project to unpack issues related to interactions between police and racially diverse community members with disabilities through a series of interactive presentations and dialogue circles.

Junior Achievement (JA) of South-Central PA for its Empowering Equitable Tomorrows in the School District of the City of York Program. JA is working with York City School District to increase its students’ participation in JA’s programs to more equitable levels as other York County students.

Shiloh Baptist Church for The Impact Project (TIP) – an education/job preparedness project that seeks to address equity gaps and racial disparities within communities of color through job training, career preparedness, and income equity.

York College of Pennsylvania for its Race, Mentorship and Career DEI Readiness Program to provide mentors for women of color and career DEI readiness for its BIPOC students.

York County History Center to support the Community Historian for Diversity and Inclusion Position. With YCCF’s support, the York County History Center will be able to offer a Full-time Community Historian Position for Diversity and Inclusion.

YWCA York Leadership for its Youth Summit Expansion Program. The Leadership Summit engages high school students in dialogue around racism and provides activities for continued growth and education throughout the year.

YWCA York for its Voice/Vision/Value – An Advocacy Workshop Series for Teens. This series focuses engaging teens in harnessing their talents to drive equity and build a stronger York. It incorporates the Voice/Vision/Value message through sessions on advocacy through art, music, poetry, civic engagement, and podcasting.

Four grants were awarded to help nonprofit organizations build their diversity, equity, and inclusion capacity through training. Half the cost for these DEI-related trainings will be covered by the YCCF, the other half by the organizations. The organizations include the following:

Children’s Aid Society SOPA COB
LifePath Christian Ministries
MidPenn Legal Services

PennCares Support Services

“Strengthening the cultural competence of the nonprofit sector by investing in the leadership, boards, and staff will enable them to become vocal advocates for the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our community. It is important to work together to affect positive change,” said Adrian N. Buckner, vice president of grants and community engagement and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer at YCCF.

Nonprofits seeking to qualify for a grant must be working directly with people of color, with a preference for projects that are led by people of color. 

YWCA York announced today its board of directors has selected C. Kim Bracey as their next CEO, effective July 5.

C. Kim Bracey – PHOTO/PROVIDED

She will succeed Jean Treuthart, who plans to retire from the organization after nearly eight years.

“After a highly competitive nationwide search, I’m excited to welcome C. Kim Bracey as YWCA York’s next CEO,” said YWCA York Board of Directors President Kristy Bixler.

“We were searching for a CEO who would advance our mission in York County. Kim’s passionate leadership lifted her to the top of the list,” she said. “We are excited to support her in this new role. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the search committee which was comprised of board and community members.”

Bracey will be the first African American woman to serve at CEO in YWCA York’s 131-year history. She will bring her innovative leadership as well as a demonstrated track record of commitment to issues key to the YWCA’s mission to meet this historic moment, Bixler said.

Bracey currently serves as the executive director of the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services. In this role she has created and directed the development of regulations, policies, and standards involving 2,560 local governments across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

A York native, Bracey served in the United States Air Force. After a decade of service with distinction, she returned to York to serve as the program manager of the Crispus Attucks YouthBuild program, and later as the president of the South George Street Community Partnership.

She was mayor of the City of York from 2010 to 2018 and led a renaissance in financial stability, economic and community revitalization, and governmental reforms, while overseeing a workforce of approximately 400 employees and a $98 million budget.

In 2017, she received the Athena Award. In 2021, Bracey co-chaired the 100th United Way of York County Campaign and helped to raise $5.6 million.

“I am incredibly excited to join the dynamic team of the YWCA York and continue my career of community commitment to York County. The YWCA York is a storied, legacy institution impacting lives daily in our York community,” Bracey said. “I am so honored to assume the role of the CEO and I look forward to continuing the important work ahead, and to further embody the YWCA’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women.”

Bracey attended Bloomsburg University, the United States Air Force Community College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama and Drexel University in Philadelphia. She is a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate degree of Humane Letters from York College.

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York nonprofits receive Racial Equity grants