Lynda Gonzales-Chavez

Lynda Gonzales-Chavez leads national efforts to ensure that all segments of society can access the Y, feel welcome and fully engage as participants, members, volunteers and staff.

She has worked at Y-USA since May 1999 and has more than 25 years of experience with the Y as a staff member and volunteer. Most recently she spent five years as V.P., Diversity and Inclusion, providing strategic support to YMCAs working to ensure access, inclusion and engagement for all. Gonzales-Chavez previously was Senior Associate Director in Y-USA’s International Group, helping to train more than 500 volunteers and staff annually on cultural competence, inclusion practices and integration of immigrant and underserved communities.

She started her career as Youth Director at the YMCA of Central New Mexico and later focused on gang intervention for Youth Development, Inc., in Albuquerque. As Associate Director in the International Group from 2002 to 2007, she partnered with Ys in Latin America and the Caribbean on HIV/AIDS and substance-abuse prevention and outreach to high-risk and incarcerated populations.