Active Advocacy

During various meetings and conferences, the Alliance provides vital education to Y professionals and board members to foster cooperation and consensus on important issues.

Indiana YMCAs provide important data that contributes to the development of an annual report that highlights the Ys' collective work to address some of the most critical issues impacting our State. Click here for the most recent Community Benefit Report.

Grassroots advocacy is imperative.  As part of a coordinated biennial effort, local YMCAs host local, state and federal elected and appointed officials during local outreach events.  The outreach affords Ys with opportunities to develop deeper more meaningful relationships with public leaders while speaking to the issues impacting their communities.

The biennial event affords YMCA leaders and volunteers an opportunity to meet with their state-level elected officials to learn how YMCAs can partner with the State for greater community impact, advocate in relation to specific policy issues, and share about the important work of YMCAs throughout the State.

INYaG is a year-long experiential learning civic engagement program that that uses mock government as a vehicle for teaching Hoosier 7^th through 12^th graders about democracy.  The program develops young men and women who will be better citizens by being both knowledgeable and active in determining the future of our democracy.

Comprised of YMCA staff and board members from around the State, the committee is responsible for providing a clear strategy for public policy advocacy and organizing advocacy efforts across the state.  One of the primary responsibilities of the committee is to lead the development and adoption of the Alliance's annual Policy Priorities. 

Every year, the Alliance sends Y advocates to join hundreds of their YMCA colleagues on Capitol Hill for an event that provides opportunities to engage in policy-focused conversations, learn about the Y’s legislative priorities and attend breakout sessions on advancing the role of advocacy at the Y.  During the visit, these participants also make time to educate policymakers on issues of importance to the communities served by Indiana’s Ys.