The Manhattan JCC
Millions of American of every racial, economic, and religious group have slowly been coming back to their local YMCAs and JCCs. Shuttered in March because of the pandemic, gymnasiums, fitness centers, pools and early childhood centers — which help people stay healthy and connected under normal circumstances — have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. Getting back on our feet will be a difficult process. But we are determined.
We’re determined not only because our gyms and pools and schools are beloved by the many thousands of people who call us their home away from home — there are lots of places people can work out in our city (even in our living rooms, it turns out) — but also because, as we usher in a new administration after a year that threatened our core democratic institutions, we know that community centers and YMCAs continue to play a vital role in strengthening citizenship and articulating the values that shape our country.