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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. Recently,
several YMCA's added faith to their Character Development mission.
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.)
Faith: to develop your relationship with God, to be a seeker of truth, to trust God
with your life, to be sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.
Related values: belief, certainty, hope, and loyalty.
(Purple is assigned to faith because it represents the Kingdom of God.)
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