Walnut Street YMCA 85th Anniversary Celebration

Celebrate 85 years of impact at the Walnut Street YMCA! Join us for an inspiring evening honoring our legacy of community, resilience, and service in Wilmington and beyond.

• Thursday, October 24, 2025 | 5:30–10:00 PM
• Chase Center on the Riverfront | 815 Justison St, Wilmington, DE
• Dress Code: Cocktail Attire

The night will feature moving stories, special guest speakers, tributes to community leaders, and a look ahead at the Y’s vision for the future. Whether you’ve been part of our journey for decades or are just joining the mission, this is your chance to celebrate, connect, and make a difference.

Reserve your seat today and help shape a stronger, more equitable future — together.

T.H.R.I.V.E.

Teen Hub for Resilience, Inspiration, Vision & Excellence

Monday – Friday | After School until 6 p.m.

T.H.R.I.V.E. at the Walnut St. YMCA provides support to local middle & early high school students during the academic school year. Teens are welcomed into a relaxed and supportive environment that fosters enrichment, and connected with qualified staff and peers to help them achieve their goals.

To learn more or sign up, click here.

These programs are made possible through the generosity of:

Youth In Government

Several months each year, teens meet in their local delegations to discuss and debate issues that affect citizens of Delaware. At delegation meetings, teens create and write proposed legislation to address Delaware issues, learn about the democratic system, are trained in parliamentary procedure, bill development, the legislative committee process and debate. Our goals are to develop life-long responsible citizenship in middle school and high school students by helping them become more knowledgeable and active in determining the future of our democracy.

Summer Learning Loss Prevention

In collaboration with Teach for America, over the summer months, we continue to engage children academically to help prevent knowledge loss over the summer months. We offer actives embedded in learning skills to help children engage in constant learning.

Teen Workforce Development

The Walnut Street Teen Workforce Development program provides job readiness and life skills for teens ages 15 and up while addressing a dire need for positive opportunities available to adolescents within the City of Wilmington.

Cohorts of up to 20 teens are matched with a professional career mentor. Teens participate in workshops focusing on life skills and job readiness. Topics include resume writing, financial literacy, stress management, conflict resolution, etiquette, public speaking, presentations, career guidance, interviewing techniques, job searching and placement. Each participant will be placed within a partnering agency and/or welcomed in at least one of the following departments within the YMCA: Youth Sports, Aquatics and Lifeguarding, Childcare, Membership, Maintenance, and Community Outreach.

These programs are made possible through the generosity of

Black Achievers

The Black Achievers’ goal is to encourage youth to develop educational and career awareness with the assistance and guidance of mentors from diverse career backgrounds. This program helps youth raise their academic standards, develop a positive sense of self, build character, explore diverse college and career options, and learn from role models who inspire them to greater heights. For more information, contact Jascelyn Parson at [email protected].