In April of 2022, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles marked a historical milestone in its 140 years in Los Angeles by appointing Victor Dominguez as the non-profit’s first Latino President and CEO. In his new role, Mr. Dominguez not only breaks barriers but brings a fresh new perspective to the LA Y that moves the organization into the future with a passion dedicated to providing Angelenos in underserved communities with real opportunities to thrive.
“As the first President and CEO of color, I’m honored to serve the diverse LA community and use this platform to further the Y movement to create new impactful initiatives that offer equity, inclusion, and social justice for everyone,” said Victor Dominguez.
As President and CEO, Mr. Dominguez has a bold vision to transform not only the YMCA but all of Los Angeles by bringing much-needed resources and programs to those in overlooked areas of the city.
His commitment to providing life-changing resources is especially important for communities of color where vital programs for youth, families, and seniors are sorely lacking.
“My passion for the Y is deeply personal because our work is not about temporary aid but about lasting change”, said Victor Dominguez. “It is focused on building strong communities by empowering Angelenos with the resources to reach their full potential.”
Under his leadership, the LA Y has invested in the Latino community with several equitable programs that level the playing field and open doors to fresh opportunities. Y youth development programs are giving Latino young people the chance to participate in activities not always available in their communities such as STEM, educational and early learning readiness, group sports, youth leadership, overnight camps and healthy living via the Y’s Get Summer Program which gives teens free membership for the summer.
Another area of impact is our New American Welcome Centers designed to help immigrants and refugees fully integrate into American society and prepare receiving communities to be welcoming and inclusive. To date, the program has served over 10,500 community members with an array of Citizenship workshops, assistance with citizenship application and fee waivers, courses, translation and interpretation support, events, and partnerships that aim to holistically meet the unique needs of all who participate.
Mr. Dominguez has long been an agent for change and in his new role he has introduced a bold goal that will have unprecedented impact on all of Los Angeles for years to come. Beginning this June, all 28 locations will be transformed into YMCA Centers for Community Well-Being, an LA Y movement based on the idea that everyone deserves to be healthy, vital, and strong. The YMCA Centers of Community Well-Being will provide access to resources and experiences to enrich and strengthen our communities.
“We all have the chance to affect change in ourselves and others and if we can activate people to participate in that goal, we can build stronger communities together and that is what inspires me to find new ways to empower Angelenos with resources and programs that will make a difference in their lives.” Victor Dominguez.
A California native, Mr. Dominguez was inspired by his surroundings and his passion for working with under-resourced and vulnerable communities has been evident throughout his career. For the last two decades Mr. Dominguez served in an executive role at the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, holding various positions across the Association. Under his leadership, the LA Y created and launched the Cradle to Career initiative as well as the Achieve LA program. Mr. Dominguez led the organization through implementing a youth workforce development program, as well as expanding the early learning and PLAY programs, which have especially proven their effectiveness in urban communities. He is the founding member of the Southeast Los Angeles Collaborative (SELA). The Collaborative is dedicated to uplifting the Southeast region and inspire young leaders to have a pathway for success. He is also the founder of the Youth Empower Summit which brought together more than 700 teenagers annually for 5 years, from underserved neighborhoods onto the USC campus for a day of learning and inspiration.
Immediately prior to his role as CEO, Victor served as Executive Vice President and Chief Mission Advancement Officer for the YMCA Of Metropolitan Los Angeles. Prior to working for the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, Victor was the Executive Director for the YMCA of Greater Long Beach. He has been a National trainer for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, training adolescents in the country how to become leaders in their communities.
Mr. Dominguez currently resides in Los Angeles County with his family.
