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Building Belonging: How the YMCA Shapes Community Recovery with Victor Dominguez President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Episode 149

The Future Of Work

Release Date: 07/08/2025

Transcript- Episode 153: Why Apprenticeships Are The Pathway To A Sustainable Future Workforce Episode 153 show art Transcript- Episode 153: Why Apprenticeships Are The Pathway To A Sustainable Future Workforce Episode 153

The Future Of Work

00:00:00 Salvatrice  For the future, if we genuinely as a community care about the health, longevity, sustainability of our communities, of our local communities, the health of workforce, and I'm not talking about like physical health and mental health, I'm talking about wealth-health of our community, then I'm going to ask the employers to speak to us.                  00:00:20 Salvatrice  Tell us what is happening, why aren't they engaging? Is it because it doesn't make sense? Is it because it's just...

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Tracey Pierce [00:00:00]: I always believe that people want to do great work. I don't think we get up every day saying, “What can I not do today”? I think people want to do great work, but I don't know that we necessarily take the time to explain, and evaluate, and share. This is what it looks like, and this is why we're doing it, and this is the return we hope to see. And, oh, by the way, if you give this a try and it doesn't work, I'll be the first one to go back to, you know, take the necessary steps to adjust.   Christina Barsi [00:00:31]: The workforce landscape is rapidly...

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In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Tracey Pierce, Chief People Officer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), to discuss the transformative work happening within one of the largest municipal utilities in the U.S. Tracey takes us behind the scenes on how LADWP is navigating change, innovation, and workforce development during a time of rebuilding for the city. From adapting to climate challenges to harnessing new technologies like AI, Tracey shares the strategies that are helping LADWP build a more resilient, efficient, and future-ready...

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Maria Salinas [00:00:00]: There was a lot of conversation around technology, the advent of AI and just how jobs were changing. And I can tell you that at that time I was like, we cannot miss out on this moment. We cannot have a generation of students be left out of that opportunity of knowing that jobs are changing, that work is being impacted.   Christina Barsi [00:00:27]: The workforce landscape is rapidly changing, and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of...

info_outline Leading a Thriving Region for All: How the LA Chamber is Reimagining Economic Growth with Maria S. Salinas, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Episode 151 show art Leading a Thriving Region for All: How the LA Chamber is Reimagining Economic Growth with Maria S. Salinas, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Episode 151

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Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:00:00]: If we want to be better in the future, if we want to be bigger in the future, we need to make sure we don't leave the workforce behind. We need to make sure that we're preparing today, the workforce and the leaders that we're going to need tomorrow.   Christina Barsi [00:00:18]: The workforce landscape is rapidly changing and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education. But we need to understand how to change and...

info_outline When Goods Move, the Economy Works: Rebuilding L.A. Through Ports, Policy, and People with Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Chief Operating Officer at the Port of Long Beach Episode 150 show art When Goods Move, the Economy Works: Rebuilding L.A. Through Ports, Policy, and People with Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Chief Operating Officer at the Port of Long Beach Episode 150

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info_outline Transcript- Episode 149: Building Belonging: How the YMCA Shapes Community Recovery with Victor Dominguez President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Episode 149 show art Transcript- Episode 149: Building Belonging: How the YMCA Shapes Community Recovery with Victor Dominguez President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Episode 149

The Future Of Work

Victor Dominguez [00:00:00]: Nonprofit organizations are truly, are truly the heartbeat of community because we are serving communities every single day and are truly in tune of what is happening and the resources that are so desperately needed. And if we're really going to look at creating that overall economic stability, to create that long sense of belonging, the nonprofit organizations have to work together.   Christina Barsi [00:00:27]: The workforce landscape is rapidly changing, and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce...

info_outline Building Belonging: How the YMCA Shapes Community Recovery with Victor Dominguez President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Episode 149 show art Building Belonging: How the YMCA Shapes Community Recovery with Victor Dominguez President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Episode 149

The Future Of Work

What if rebuilding a community starts with belonging? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Victor Dominguez, the first Latino President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, to explore how the Y is redefining itself as a Center for Community Well-Being. With over two decades of service, Victor shares how the YMCA responded to the Eaton fires, expanded programs like the Foster Youth Initiative, and is measuring long-term impact through powerful social indicators. Victor unpacks how nonprofits can anchor recovery efforts, why youth development and...

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What if rebuilding a community starts with belonging? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Victor Dominguez, the first Latino President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, to explore how the Y is redefining itself as a Center for Community Well-Being. With over two decades of service, Victor shares how the YMCA responded to the Eaton fires, expanded programs like the Foster Youth Initiative, and is measuring long-term impact through powerful social indicators. Victor unpacks how nonprofits can anchor recovery efforts, why youth development and civic engagement go hand in hand, and how the Y is building more than community programs, it’s building futures.

You’ll learn: 

  • Why the YMCA’s fire recovery response goes beyond immediate aid—and is still ongoing

  • How the Foster Youth Initiative provides stability, consistency, and a sense of belonging across 28 YMCA centers

  • What it means to serve 500,000 Angelenos—and what’s next for reaching millions more

  • How the YMCA is measuring its impact through five social determinants: belonging, civic engagement, education equity, health equity, and economic stability

  • Why nonprofits must move beyond transactional service to transformational, data-driven community change

 

About the Guest:

Victor Dominguez is the President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles and the first Latino to lead the organization. With over 24 years of service, he has championed community-driven initiatives like the Foster Youth Program and the Center for Community Well-Being, positioning the Y as a vital force in disaster response, youth development, and regional resilience. Known for his commitment to equity and belonging, Victor leads with the belief that nonprofits should not only serve but transform the communities they represent.

 

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More from Victor Dominguez & YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles

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Facebook: @ymcalosangeles

 

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Find the transcript of this episode here

 

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