YMCA in San Diego County, Mexico join forces in first cross-border partnership for group

The Dividing line View Family YMCA Photo courtesy of Sweetwater Union High School District The YMCA of San Diego County and YMCA M xico have signed a binational agreement to provide tools for those on both sides of the frontier the groups stated Tuesday The agreement marks the first international partnership in the -year history of the national YMCA Together the organizations aim to serve more than million people living near the perimeter The Cali-Baja YMCA Binational Initiative reflects the true spirit of the global YMCA movement uniting across borders through a shared mission vision and commitment to district disclosed Todd Tibbits president and CEO of the San Diego County organization He described the region as one of the the majority interconnected in the world and declared that sharing information will lead to stronger lives on both sides of the demarcation As a way to mark the historic agreement leaders of the nonprofits also officially reopened the aquatics facility at Club Deportivo YMCA Tijuana Improvements include resurfaced decks and new filtration systems scar Velasco secretario general of YMCA de M xico mentioned each organization brings valuable perspectives and regional insight With this formal partnership we are building a future where the YMCA stands for opportunity and unity across borders he declared We re strengthening our staff improving our facilities and expanding our reach because every child in the Cali-Baja region deserves a safe nurturing place to grow The stateside and Mexican organizations will now collaborate in seven areas including sharing a binational advisory board of members six from each country Additionally they have appointed a new director of binational engagement Valeria Ruiz who will split her time on each side of the edge