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Our Mission Statement

We build strong kids, strong families, and strong communites by enriching the lives of all people in spirit, mind, and body.

We are currently operating from a temporary office space at 747 Commercial Street (between Grant & Kearny and Stockton & Clay). Our pool and fitness facility will be closed for renovation/building with a projected completion of Spring 2010. We are continuing youth programs at offsite locations.

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Our Capital Project : Honoring the Legacy, Building for the Future

The Capital Project (updated December 11, 2008)

On November 19, 2008, a construction team began work in our building!  We are working with West Bay Builders, INC., of Novato, CA.  The first three months of work will include site preparation and interior demolition at 855 Sacramento Street.   To view pictures and short videos of the demolition, please visit this link:  http://chinatownymca.wordpress.com/.

 

The Chinatown YMCA is committed to community involvement in all phases of the construction and will continue to work with the Chinese for Affirmative action (CAA) and the construction Company to include members of the community in all phases of the project.

 

The project includes a renovation of the current 1926 four-story building as well as construction of a new three-story addition. The existing YMCA building will be renovated and upgraded to be safe, accessible and more energy efficient. 

 

Our yard is being used for loading and unloading interior debris, wall and ceilings removed, we can see the old ceiling of the Men's Reading Room- we will try to restore as much as we can after construction.


We plan to regain the openness of this area as a volunteer/member lounge and community center. 

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Our History: A Legacy In Our Community

The Chinatown YMCA has been a major presence in the Chinese Community since 1911.  We began as the Chinese YMCA 96 years ago serving young chinese men in the area of health education and religion.  In 1926 our current facility opened offering a gym, showers and locker rooms, game rooms, a billiard room, social rooms, bedrooms, and a pool.  For the next 78 years our focus has been leadership training, educational support, sports, camping, and swimming. 

Today, the Chinatown YMCA continues to reach youth and families within Chinatown and Chinese Americans from around the Bay Area.  Our focus continues to be educational support, mentoring programs, youth development programs including college, career, and work skills develoment, sports, recreation, art, ballet, leadership development, and  camping.  We strive to emphasize character values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

The "Chinese YMCA" in the 1930's (notice the streetcar tracks).