YMCA of Norwalk

In the early 1990s, many YMCAs became concerned that our nation's morality was declining rapidly. It appeared to them that more and more children were unable to tell right from wrong. YMCA of the USA began addressing this concern in the mid-1990s with the launch of the YMCA Character Development mission strategy, a renewed commitment to building the character of our movement and the people and communities it serves. As a result, many YMCAs have become core intentional and purposeful in their efforts not only to teach the Y's core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility, but also to use these values to guide individual actions and behavior, as well as organizational practices, decisions and priorities.

Caring: to demonstrate a sincere concern for others, for their needs and well-being.
Related values: compassion, forgiveness, generosity, and kindness.
(Red is assigned to caring because it is a warm color that represents the heart.)

Honesty: to tell the truth, to demonstrate reliability and trustworthiness through actions that are in keeping with my stated positions and beliefs.
Related values: integrity and fairness.
(Blue is assigned to honesty because of the saying that an honest person is "true blue.")

Respect: to treat others as I would want them to treat me, to value the worth of every person, including myself.
Related values: acceptance, empathy, self-respect and tolerance.
(Gold is assigned to respect to represent the Golden Rule.)

Responsibility: to do what is right--what I ought to do, to be accountable for my choices of behavior and actions and my promises.
Related values: commitment, courage, good health, service and citizenship.
(Green is assigned to responsibility to represent doing what is right, such as honoring the environment or waiting for a green traffic light.)

YMCA of Norwalk • 370 West Avenue • Norwalk, CT 06850 • (203) 866-4425