Y works to heal Baltimore’s legacy of inequality
While I certainly don’t know all that went into Target's decision-making process in closing their Mondawmin Mall location, I am profoundly disturbed by Maggie Master's unfounded description of the Y and her false narrative about how we operate (“The tale of two Targets, a Baltimore segregation story,” Nov. 20). Target seeks returns for its shareholders; the Y is nonprofit dedicated to building community and helping people, families and neighborhoods.
The Weinberg Y in Waverly was the first modern Y built in Central Maryland in a very long time (2004). It attracts wonderful members and employees from a richly diverse set of neighborhoods, including Baltimore’s most challenged and wealthiest. Like all of our Ys, it provides scholarships for those who need help. It is a bustling hub of wellness, youth development, mentoring, volunteerism, early childhood development and community investment for over 12,000 people.
While Target may be withdrawing from West Baltimore, we operate the 101-year-old Y in Druid Hill, which we have no intention of closing despite the challenges of the neighborhood it serves and the substantial subsidy it requires to remain open.
Additionally, the Y proudly runs Head Start, community school programs, after school, summer enrichment and mentoring programs across the city, raising and securing over $13.5 million in funding for Baltimore's most needy families, kids and seniors.
Our Orokawa Y in Towson was built only a few years ago, replacing a dilapidated building much older than the Weinberg Y in Waverly. It’s actually somewhat smaller and cost less to build and doesn’t have some amenities found at the Weinberg Y in Waverly. The programming, quality and community engagement is the same at both of those Ys, and in all of our Ys around the region.
One more thing. We are in the midst of a $16 million capital campaign to do a massive update to the Weinberg Y in Waverly, to the Druid Hill Y and to build a brand new Y at the Cardinal Gibbons site in Southwest Baltimore. We wouldn’t be doing that if we weren’t deeply committed to the well-being of the good people and neighborhoods of Baltimore. White supremacy, racism and oppression clearly exist in our city and society, but they are anathema to the Y’s values, mission and purpose.