YMCA Southcoast in the News
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Lucria Ortiz believes service and human connection are the heart of the Y. From her office, she looks to New Bedford YMCA branch below and focuses on listening, meeting people where they are, and leading with an open mind. She brings experience as a public defender, nonprofit leader, and longtime Y manager, and she is glad to be back in New England. Ortiz values how people from all walks of life share the same spaces at the Y, and she says that spirit of community is what makes the organization special.
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At YMCA Southcoast’s Annual Meeting on June 11, Lucria Ortiz was introduced as the new President and CEO, becoming the first woman and CEO of color to lead the organization. Ortiz spoke about growing up like the kids who walk into the New Bedford and Fall River branches and said she is committed to serving families across Mattapoisett, Dartmouth, Wareham, New Bedford, Swansea, and Fall River. Selected through a national search, she brings more than 20 years of experience in government, nonprofit, and legal work and has led efforts in youth development, food access, and violence prevention.
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The Fall River YMCA and Stoico/FIRSTFED YMCA will host Cheers for a Cause 2025 on Friday, Sept. 19 at The Narrows Center for the Arts. The event will feature wine and beer tastings from local distributors and craft breweries, food samples from area restaurants, raffle items, a premium live auction, live music, and a photo booth. All proceeds support YMCA Southcoast’s Annual Campaign, which helps ensure access to YMCA programs for all. YMCA Southcoast is a nonprofit with six branches along the south coast of Massachusetts.
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More than 300 UMass Dartmouth students took part in the university’s 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance on September 9, gathering at YMCA Southcoast’s Sharing the Harvest Community Farm to honor those lost on September 11, 2001 by giving back. Volunteers worked in shifts harvesting squash, clearing protective plastic from summer crops, and helping prepare the farm for the fall growing season.
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Our very own Lucria Ortiz was interviewed on the “Mags In The Morning & J-9” show which aired on WNB One Radio.
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YMCA Southcoast proudly announces the appointment of Lucria Ortiz as the new CEO, effective June 2, 2025.
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