This June, the YMCA of Central New York is coming out for Pride. We are excited to show support for our LGBTQIA+ friends, family, members, staff, and community with several Pride-themed programs, workshops, and opportunities.
The Y is for ALL. We’re pleased to partner with CNY Pride as the host of the YMCA of Central New York Family Fun Area at the CNY Pride Festival and Parade, taking place Saturday, June 25, 2022 from 11am-5pm at the Inner Harbor in Syracuse, NY. Visibly supporting our LGBTQIA+ community is an important step towards ensuring acceptance, survival, and well-being for all. The YMCA of Central New York strives to be a safe space for youth, families, and individuals of all identities. Please join us!
If you would like to march with us in the parade or volunteer to help out at the YMCACNY Family Fun Area, please sign up here. If you are already YMCACNY staff and would like to sign up to work the event, please sign up here.
Please see below for more Pride-related activities happening across our Y. See you there!
YMCA of Central New York Pride Activities
Every Monday in June
Speaking Out: WRITE YOUR PRIDE
Downtown Writers Center Youth Writing Group
Every Monday in June, 3:30-5:30 on Zoom
LGBTQ+ students ages 14-19 and their supporters are welcome to attend this weekly writing group! Using different forms of writing (poetry, fiction, nonfiction), we'll read, write, and support the courage it takes to be a young queer writer. Learn more about the Young Authors Academy at our website.
Please email Georgia at gpopoff@gmail.com to register.
Friday, June 3
Downtown Writers Center Visiting Author Reading Series: Poet Donika Kelly
7:00pm
Register on Zoom
FREE
Donika Kelly is the author of The Renunciations, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and Bestiary. Bestiary is the winner of the Cave Canem Poetry Prize, a Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and the Kate Tufts Discovery Award. A Cave Canem graduate fellow and a founding member of the collective Poets at the End of the World, Donika has also received a Lannan Residency Fellowship, and a summer workshop fellowship from the Fine Arts Work Center. Her poems have been published in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Paris Review, and Foglifter. She currently lives in Iowa City where she teaches creative writing in the English Department at the University of Iowa.
Thursday, June 9
Virtual Lunch & Learn Workshop with the Q Center: Allyship Beyond Pride Month
12-1pm via Zoom
Please register here on zoom.
FREE for Members, Non-Members, and Staff. Open to All.
This workshop will NOT be recorded.
This workshop is intended to provide YMCACNY members, non-members, staff, volunteers, and all who wish to attend with a safe space for conversation, learning, and asking questions around LGBTQ* related terminology, concepts, and issues. Facilitated by the Q Center @ ACR Health, this training introduces The Q Center @ ACR Health's programs and locations, up to date terminology for gender and orientation, health disparities and statistics, and best practices for working with and supporting the LGBTQ* community. Please join us as we hold create space to become better allies to our LGBTQ* members, youth, staff, families, friends, and community. Because at the Y, we are for ALL.
Friday, June 10
Downtown Writers Center Pride Reading
7:00-9:00pm
Please Register on Zoom
FREE
Join us to celebrate Pride Month as we feature LGBTQAI+ members of the Downtown Writers Center community.
Saturday, June 11
Pride Flag Raising Ceremony
11:00-11:30am
Steps of Syracuse City Hall
233 E Washington St, Syracuse, NY 13202
ASL Interpretation Provided
FREE
Please join us as the Progress Pride Flag is raised in front of Syracuse’s City Hall. Local artists, including YMCA of Central New York’s Young Author Academy Participant C Noble Plessas, will perform and state and local officials will speak.
Saturday, June 18
CazPride
12:00-4:00pm
Lakeland Park in Cazenovia, NY
Stop by CazPride in Cazenovia. The YMCA of Central New York will be there supporting our community.
Saturday, June 25
CNY PRIDE FESTIVAL & PARADE
Inner Harbor, Syracuse, NY
(West Kirkpatrick St. near intersection of Van Rensselaer St.)
11:00am-5:00pm
FREE
Visit cnypride.org/pride2022 for basic event details
Walk with YMCA of Central New York in the CNY Parade, 11am-12pm
Walk with the Y of CNY in the CNY Pride Parade! The parade will depart from the Destiny USA parking lot on Solar Street at 11am, and proceeds about three quarters of a mile to the Inner Harbor on West Kirkpatrick Street. Please register to walk with us in the parade! There is no cost to walk with the Y, and all are welcome. The public may also line up to watch and support the parade!
YMCA of Central New York Family Fun Area @ CNY Pride Festival, 11-5pm
Visit the YMCA of Central New York Family Fun Area at the CNY Pride Festival!
We are proud to partner with CNY Pride to provide fun, educational, and safe enrichment activities including arts and crafts, STEM, physical movement, and more! The Rosamond Gifford Zoo and Onondaga Public Library will also be joining us in the YMCACNY Family Fun Area with activities including free inclusive book giveaways, story time, and more! The CNY Pride Festival is FREE and open to the public. To learn more about the CNY Pride Festival and Parade please visit cnypride.org. If you’d like to volunteer to help out in the YMCACNY Family Fun Area, please register here.
YMCA of Central New York Family Fun Area Schedule
YMCA of Central New York Activities
12-5pm Face Painting, Temporary Tattoos, Selfie Station, Gaga
12:30pm-2:30pm Make Your Own Jewelry, Name that LGBTQIA+ Figure
2:45pm-4:45pm DIY Button/Pin Creation, Trivia
Onondaga County Public Library Activities
12-5pm FREE inclusive book giveaway, while supplies last
12:30pm Pride Story Time with Jackie, Kids Space Librarian
3:30pm Pride Story Time with Jackie, Kids Space Librarian
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
12-5pm Family friendly activities