Walnut Street YMCA Continues 85th Anniversary Celebration With Preview/Media Day Event September 22
Wilmington, DE – The Walnut Street YMCA, a cornerstone of the East Wilmington community since 1940, is celebrating its 85th Anniversary, a milestone occasion honoring more than eight decades of youth development, civic engagement, and community progress.
To highlight this legacy of strength and resilience, the YMCA will host an 85th Anniversary Preview and Media Day on Monday, September 22, 2025 at 12pm. The event will feature a panel discussion with the YMCA’s Lifetime Achievement Awards recipients, offering community members, partners, and the press an opportunity to learn more about the Y’s history and hear directly from the honorees. These award recipients will be formally recognized during the YMCA’s 85th Anniversary Celebration on October 24, 2025.
2025 Honorees:
- Representative Stephanie T. Bolden
- Claire Carey
- Harmon Carey
- Mayor James Sills
- Enid Wallace-Haley
Historical Perspective
The Walnut Street YMCA opened in September 1940 to great anticipation within Wilmington’s Black community. It became a vital center for cultural, athletic, and civil rights life during segregation. The facility featured an indoor swimming pool, bowling alley, auditorium, cafeteria, library, gymnasium, workshop, game room, meeting rooms, and dormitories. This historic location was a beacon of hope, creating opportunities and access at a time when segregation limited options for Black residents and traveling dignitaries. Remarkably, the pool was the only indoor option available at the time. The Walnut Street YMCA was also the first in the nation designed to serve both men and women under one roof.
“The Walnut Street YMCA was not just a recreational facility; it was a center of life, leadership, and progress for Wilmington’s Black community during segregation,” wrote Dr. Jeanne Nutter in her 2024 Images of America book, Walnut Street YMCA and YWCA.
Honoring Legacy, Resilience, and Future
Today, the Walnut Street YMCA continues to respond to the community’s needs while empowering generations of youth and families through education, mentorship, performing arts, leadership development, and community outreach. Every day, the Y delivers measurable impact across its core programs:
- Closing the Achievement Gap: Each year, the Walnut Street YMCA provides high-quality preschool, after-school, and summer camp programs for more than 300 local children. These programs build academic and social skills while preventing summer learning loss. In 2024, 85% of participants received nearly $1 million in financial assistance, ensuring all children have access to opportunities that help close the achievement gap.
- Teen Development: In 2024, 1,830 teens connected with inspiring mentors in safe youth development programs that fostered confidence, resilience, and leadership.
- Black Achievers Program: Since its inception, the nationally recognized program has served more than 1,700 youth, with 95% of participants pursuing higher education.
- Youth in Government: Students gain hands-on civic experience by learning the legislative process, debating parliamentary procedure, and working with peers from across the state to develop solutions to issues facing Delawareans.
- Teen Workforce Development: Participants reported 90% improved interview skills, 98% gained confidence as employees, 92% strengthened communication, and 98% enhanced financial literacy and budgeting.
- Performing Arts: More than 80 Wilmington youth build confidence and discipline each year through the Essence Legacy Performing Arts (ELPA) program.
“For 85 years, the Walnut Street YMCA has been more than just a building — it has been a cornerstone of excellence, a safe haven for generations of youth and families, and a symbol of community progress. This celebration will pay tribute to our past while laying the foundation for an even brighter future,” said Anesha Law, Community Executive Director, Walnut Street YMCA.
Upcoming 85th Anniversary Celebration – October 24, 2025
The 85th Anniversary signature event will be a historic gala at the Chase Center on the Riverfront on Friday, October 24, 2025, where alumni, civic leaders, families, and supporters will gather to honor the legacy of the YMCA and reaffirm its mission of equity, opportunity, and community well-being. The evening will feature powerful storytelling, recognition of community champions, and a vision for the YMCA’s next era of impact. The 85th Anniversary celebration will also extend into 2026 with the release of a new documentary by Dr. Jeanne Nutter, capturing the Walnut Street YMCA’s inspirational legacy and lasting impact.
About the YMCA of Delaware: The YMCA of Delaware is Delaware’s largest nonprofit organization committed to empowering youth, fostering healthy living, and promoting strong communities. With seven branches statewide, a youth resource center, and an overnight camp and conference center in Worton, Maryland, the Y has developed longstanding relationships and a physical presence in Delaware so it can deliver lasting personal and social change. We are committed to serving everyone – regardless of age, income, or background –nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving Delaware’s health and wellbeing, and creating a healthy, inclusive community where all people reach their full potential. www.ymcade.org.
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