Gaye Adams Massey

Tell us about your background?  Share about your work at YWCA Saint Paul?

I’m originally from Texas, and I’ve also lived on the west coast, the east coast and now the Midwest.  I practiced health care law for most of my career and came to Minnesota in 2001 to join UnitedHealth Group (UHG) as a general counsel for one of its divisions.  After I left UHG, I was excited to take the CEO role at YWCA St. Paul because of its mission – eliminating racism & empowering women – and because of the opportunity it gave me to work on issues that affect the lives of people working to build stability and a good future for their families.  YWCA St. Paul provides employment services & career pathways training, supportive housing for homeless families, and youth development programs for young people between 15-24 years old.  We also advocate and educate on issues of racial justice and run a health & fitness center.  I am inspired daily by the people I work with, and I feel fortunate to be doing work that tackles tough, important issues – like homelessness, unemployment, youth empowerment and racial justice.

What are the some of the most significant barriers to employment you are seeing in our community at this time?

Many of the barriers facing low-income workers are what you might expect – lack of affordable childcare, transportation costs and availability, difficulty getting a driver’s license (for many youth) or having the right skills & training for open positions.  We also see degree requirements that aren’t necessary for certain positions, and discrimination against workers with a criminal record.   And of course, a lack of affordable housing can undermine the stability a worker needs to pursue and succeed in employment. 

Many of the people we work with are seeking to increase their family income through full time positions that offer benefits and opportunity for career growth.  These barriers make it so much harder than it should be.

Where do you see the most opportunities in our community?

I think government and the private sector have important roles to play in implementing policies and supports that help address issues like affordable childcare and transportation access.  Many nonprofits are doing great work to train workers so that they have the skills for in demand job.  I think we need to really invest in these efforts.  We have to stay focused on supporting access to jobs that will continue to be in demand and offer opportunities for growth over the long term.  I’m hopeful that the flexibility many employers have embraced during the pandemic and tight labor market will continue – that flexibility will make many roles more manageable for workers.  It will also require that more workers have strong digital skills; ensuring the availability of digital skills training is an important area of focus for YWCA St. Paul and many other service providers.