YWCA USA

File:YWCA In Service for the Girls of the World - Poster, 1919 s58d.5.jpg

Neysa Moran McMein (1888-1949) 'Y.W.C.A. In Service for the Girls of the World', Poster, 1919

The YWCA USA (Young Women's Christian Association USA) is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in the United Kingdom in 1855. The umbrella organization for the national associations is the World YWCA, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The original Christian focus is still strong in many of the national movements, but some have changed their focus to social programs and services and mission-based topics.

The YWCA is independent of the YMCA, though many local YMCA and YWCA associations have amalgamated into YM/YWCAs or YMCA-YWCAs, and belong to both organizations while providing the programs of each.

In the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the name has been truncated to YWCA England & Wales as Christianity no longer plays an integral part in the organization. YWCA England & Wales concentrates on informal education (youth work), information and signposting for young women growing up in disadvantaged areas. It also campaigns on issues that affect young women. YWCA's most recent campaign was called "Respect young mums", and was about getting better support for teenage mothers.

Jury's Hotel, Great Russell Street, London, was originally built by Sir Edwin Lutyens as the YWCA headquarters - the railings at the entrance still bear the YWCA monogram.

In the US

YWCA summer camp in 1919

In the United States, there are nearly 300 YWCA associations nationwide at close to 1,100 sites serving 2.6 million members and participants. Associations are configured into 9 regions. Regions vary in size from 19 associations (New England) to 60 associations (Great Lakes). The average of the other regions is 32 associations. The associations employ about 14,000 staff members - 44% are full-time and 56% part-time. In 2004, the YWCA USA utilized 75,225 volunteers to deliver services.

In 2004, YWCA USA associations registered 2.6 million people in programs for children, youth and adults, of which 22% were helped with domestic violence programs, 8% were involved in economic empowerment & leadership development programs, 10% participated in racial justice programs, 7% were served by housing and shelter programs, 24% experienced child, youth and teen programs, 24% enjoyed the benefits of health, fitness and aquatic programs. The majority of the YWCA USA associations publicly advocate on Racial Justice, Violence Against Women, Early Childhood Education and Increasing Women's Income issues.

The YWCA of The City of New York is 150 years old and is the oldest of all of the YWCAs in the United States. Details of the formation and purpose of the initial New York YWCA can be found with references in the Grace Hoadley Dodge wikipedia page. They are unique in that the organization is guided purely by human service-oriented programs rather than physical services. Such programs include their Early Learning Centers, Family Resource Center, Out-of-School Programs, Professional Development Programming, and Women's Employment Programming to name a few and still guided by the YW mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. They are a major component of the non-profit community in New York City. They produce several fundraising events annually including the Salute to Women Leaders Luncheon, the YWCA-NYC Theatre Benefit (featuring the broadway hit The Color Purple in 2005 and the revival of Michael Bennett's A Chorus Line in 2006). Their annual Summer Soirée (held at the W Hotel in 2005 and Cipriani 23rd Street in 2006) presents their "W" award. This award is presented to a woman who is a visionary, an innovator, trend-setter, a woman who gives back to her community and helps those the YW serves daily: the women, girls and families of New York City. In 2005, this award was given to Marian McEvoy and in 2006 to Star Jones-Reynolds.

The YWCA USA is a preeminent provider of domestic violence programs and shelters in the United States, serving well over ½ million women and children. As comparison, the largest national hotline averages 192,000 calls per year. They are one of the largest providers of child care in the United States with nearly 350,000 children cared for, possibly more children than the largest for-profit center chain. The total income per year is almost $650 million - ($649,500,430). Of this amount, 49% is from government grants, 23% from public support (individuals, foundations, corporations) and membership fees, and 21% from program service fees.

Extensive Archives located at YWCA of the U.S.A. Records, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass. Record Group 6. Program: Series III. Public Advocacy, 1870-2002 contain detailed records of the numerous and varied actions taken by the YWCA USA to improve the quality of life for women in the United States and worldwide.

The YWCA USA is an organizational member of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, which advocates gun control.

Historical Racial Discrimination

The YWCA was established for predominantly white middle-class women based upon a strong Christian morality. The movement had a powerful influence on the changing dynamics of the urban landscape. At first, space was created to protect young men and women migrating to urban centers from the demoralizing forces of urban life. Over time it was clear that the implementation of these traditional values would not withstand the pressures of a changing society and people. Prior to the U.S. civil rights movement, most YWCA facilities were segregated or operated as separate organizations. Organizations serving women of color were not funded or supported in ways that white middle class women were. This is true for most social institutions in the United States at this time. Women of color struggled against racism and discrimination; and saw the YWCA as a strategic way to forge relationships with white women while eradicating racial injustice. In 1913 Eva Bowles was one of the first African American Women to be given a position with space, power, and economic support. She headed the YWCA Colored City Work Division that provided support to Women and Men of Color after World War I. Edith Bremer was another influential woman who did not agree with the original constraints of the YWCA ideologies. She denied support of the Christian moral uplift, character building, and assimilation of newly arrived immigrants at Ellis Island. Bremer was one of the few who strived for cultural pluralism in the 1920s. Advocates like Helen L. Seaborg in Washington, D.C. worked successfully to mediate mergers between the segregated groups. It was not until 1946 that an interracial charter was established by the national YWCA to desegregate the existing separate by color organizations. These changes did not happen with out struggle and turmoil; many white women strongly resisted integration with de facto segregation. This charter did eventually lead to the dismantling of segregation for the YWCA especially important leadership roles within the institution. The YWCA's changing population assisted in the transition of a newly urbanized population creating spaces that supported all men and women to explore each other's identities. This also created a viable example of how unequal and unjust U.S. society was and how it could improve/change social relations.

Today the YWCA works worldwide to eliminate racism. It has also been working to eliminate classism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, and discrimination based on disability.

Bibliography

• Mary S. Sims, The YWCA: An Unfolding Purpose (New York: Woman's Press, 1950).
• Mary S. Sims, The Purpose Widens, 1947-1967 (New York: YWCA, 1969).
• Ed. Nina Mjagkij and Margaret Spratt, Men and Women Adrift: The YMCA and the YWCA in the City (New York: New York University Press, 1997).

See also

• World YWCA
• YWCA of Calgary
• YMCA
• 92nd Street Y
• Feminist Movement

External links

• Civil Rights Greensboro: Young Women’s Christian Association
• YWCA USA
• World Young Women's Christian Association
• National YWCAs Listing