HER-Story Our Roots and Our Work Adapted from the national presentation compiled by Kay Philips and Myrna Deckert

Our call to action in the YWCA Mission: The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. eliminating racism empowering women ywca

for more than 155 years, the YWCA has been committed to helping women reach their full potential – and to this end, has: utilized and valued volunteer-staff partnerships to create opportunities to build women’s leadership, growth and power combined service and social action. been active in the women’s movement and, been intentional in our work to break down race and economic barriers affecting women’s abilities to thrive. eliminating racism empowering women ywca

the early days eliminating racism empowering women ywca

YWCA Firsts: 1864 First boarding house for female students, teachers and factory workers, in New York City First single mothers residence, “The Retreat,” in Cleveland First women’s employment bureau, in New York City First home study courses for women, offered in several southern cotton mills First interracial conference in the US south, in Louisville First English as a second language courses, New York City First meeting organized of women physicians First women’s pension fund The Atlanta YWCA opens its cafeteria to blacks, becoming the city’s first integrated public dining facility Convention adopts freedom of choice resolutions Convention adopts the One Imperative, which is re-affirmed at every subsequent convention First grant given to a voluntary agency for publicizing jobs for women-led local public works projects First women’s organization invited to join the multi sport division of the US Olympic Committee First National Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism organized, First grant given to ensure breast cancer detection services to underserved women.

We have a proud her-story and a compelling future… eliminating racism empowering women ywca

“Of all the virtues, courage is the most important. Because without courage, it is impossible to practice the other virtues with consistency.” Maya Angelou eliminating racism empowering women ywca