Dr. Hedy Lemar Walls

Chief Social Responsibility Officer
YMCA of the North

Dr. Hedy Lemar Walls is the Chief Social Responsibility Officer for the YMCA of the North, providing leadership for sustaining and growing programs and strategies that demonstrate significant community impact on critical issues such as education, poverty, and employment. Hedy has a wealth of experience and knowledge in engaging communities, particularly communities of color, and building long-term relationships and supports; developing collaborations and partnerships with community stakeholders to include for profit and nonprofit organizations.   Hedy is responsible for providing leadership for the development of a strategic framework for comprehensive researched based programs, services, and initiatives that support urban and underserved communities in partnership with key stakeholders and community partners.  Her work in establishing collaborations with the association, branches, non-profit organizations, corporations, higher educational institutions and other community stakeholders has led to the development and leverage of shared resources.  She is also an Intercultural Development Inventory Assessment Qualified Administrator (QA).

Hedy started her career as a corporate account in several corporations.  Before coming to the YMCA of the North, Hedy worked in urban and suburban school districts. She held several administrative positions for Minneapolis Public Schools providing leadership in the development, implementation, and assessment of researched-based high quality youth development and parent engagement programs.  Hedy holds a B.S. from Southern University, MBA from the University of Minnesota, MS Specialist from Minnesota State University,  and EdD from St. Mary’s University.