The YMCA of Greater Boston announces that Roslindale native and West Roxbury resident Patricia Barnwell is the new executive director of the Wang YMCA of Chinatown. Previously executive director of the Waltham YMCA, another YMCA of Greater Boston facility, Barnwell fostered strong relationships within the Y and surrounding communities and also aided in the strategic growth of the association.
Serving the Greater Boston community has always been a passion of Barnwell’s. She graduated from UMass-Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and from UMass-Boston with a master’s degree in public affairs. She worked in the juvenile justice field for the Massachusetts’ Department of Youth Services and the Old Colony YMCA before becoming director of administration, finance and development at YouthBuild Boston Inc.
While at the Waltham YMCA, Barnwell worked with a team of volunteers, staff and board members to grow programs and membership, and to provide nearly $250,000 in financial assistance to the residents of Waltham and surrounding communities each year. Focusing on community development and outreach, Barnwell established service learning opportunities for students of nearby Brandeis and Bentley universities; peer mentoring programs in collaboration with UMass and the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress; and Waltham-wide health initiatives with the public schools and community partners.
In her new role as executive director at the Wang YMCA, Barnwell looks forward to continuing nurturing existing relationships with community partners and to building new ones that will further strengthen the city. “The Y is a cause-driven organization that is for youth development, for healthy living and for social responsibility,” Barnwell said, “and that’s because a strong community can only be achieved when we invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors.”
To increase its impact, the Wang YMCA, along with all YMCA of Greater Boston facilities, recently lowered membership rates to ensure everyone, regardless of income, has access to the YMCA. Serving nearly 4,000 members annually through programs for people of all ages and abilities, the facility includes after-school and summer camp programs, an early childhood education center, a fitness center, a 25-yard four-lane heated indoor pool and a basketball court.
When Barnwell is not fulfilling her role as executive director, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four daughters, ages 3 through 20.