When was ywca founded

The new Phyllis Wheatley Branch named for the famous black poet of the Revolutionary War era was the first of its kind in the Northwest, providing social, educational, and employment programs to African-American members. As the new representative in the s, Bertha Pitts Campbell protested, saying that if she was expected to attend meetings, she wanted to vote. The board requested a change in policy from the national association, which granted its approval, giving Seattle the distinction of having the first racially integrated YWCA board in the nation.

Racially segregated pools were common at this time, and continued to be into the s. Throughout the turbulent s and s, YWCA championed social justice and equal rights. Understanding that the only way to eliminate racism and empower women was to address the root causes of injustice, YWCA continues to advocate at the city, county, state, and federal level. As YWCA began to acquire and build additional permanent housing units for low-income women and families in the s and 90s, the organization committed to fair housing practices that reject discrimination based on race and other factors.

Each new facility reflected the growing needs of the community and the shift in the diversity of the region. Culturally appropriate employment, counseling and family services were offered including programs to support girls of color as the next generation of successful women leaders.

Our history is one to be proud of, but also one to continue to examine for the disparities in the treatment of our members and the stories we tell. Breadcrumb Home History. Founded in , our organization is built on a legacy of women helping women, and has spent more than a century responding to the needs of women, girls, and families in our community. YWCA was the first organization to introduce the positive health concept and sex education in all health programming.

Grace Dodge Hotel completed construction of a Washington, D. YWCA delegates supported birth control services and worked to make it more widely available to the general population. YWCA held the Interracial Seminar, marking the first intercollegiate, interracial, co-ed conference in the south. House of Representatives and the U. In the s and s, YWCA pushed to integrate racially segregated housing at associations across the U.

Throughout the s, YWCA integrated its branches and facilities. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dorothy Height as director. The YWCA National Board voted to participate in Project Equality and reassessed its business dealings with companies that have discriminatory employment practices, including withdrawing funds from banks that overtly participated in the South African Consortium.

YWCA created its Week Without Violence initiative, an awareness campaign aimed at uniting people against violence in communities. The annual observance is held the third week of October. The goal of TechGYRLS is to provide technology education in an all-girl environment where girls feel comfortable taking risks and opening up to new learning opportunities.

The campaign focused on igniting a new generation of 22 million young women aged 18 to 34, inspiring them to get involved with important issues facing women and the country today. At the YWCA Annual Meeting in May , a transition from the prior regional structure to a national federated structure was approved, followed by the adoption of new bylaws in November Learn more by exploring the timeline below.