Michael DeVaul
Michael DeVaul brings more than 40 years of leadership to the YMCA. He started his career at the McGaw YMCA in Evanston, Illinois, where he served for just over 15 years. He joined the YMCA of Greater Charlotte in 1999 and has continued his commitment to the movement ever since.
A wide range of organizations have recognized DeVaul for his impact. The White House honored him in 2014 as a Champion of Change for his work regarding community building, diversity, inclusion, and global engagement in the greater Charlotte area. The YMCA of the USA presented him with the 2019 Carlos Sanvee DIG Legacy Champion Award.
In his current role, DeVaul leads the YMCA's national strategy for Boys and Young Men of Color. He drives efforts across more than 100 cities to renew the YMCA's historic focus, which began in 1853 with the creation of its first Black YMCA. This work brings him back to his roots and fuels his passion for equity and opportunity.
DeVaul plays an active leadership role in the YMCA movement. He serves on several YUSA national committees and co-leads the National Equity Leadership Network, which includes the Diversity Inclusion Leadership Council, the Â鶹¹ú²ú Benefit and Strategic Plan advisory groups, and the YMCA African American CEO Leadership Network. He is a lifetime member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. DeVaul and his wife, Laura, share two sons, Cole and Beau.
He identifies as a husband and father first. He also serves as a social entrepreneur committed to creating impact and paying his privileges forward. Within the YMCA, emerging leaders know him for his guidance on Building Your Own Brand through the power of belonging. He founded MBKCLTMeck, the Theta Kappa Kappa Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in Evanston, the Nonprofit Center for Common Ground, and the live podcast @The847Series.
To hear more of DeVaul's story, listen to his interview on the podcast .