YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts

Founded in 1911, YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts is a women's membership movement whose Mission is to eliminate racism and empower women. YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts serves an area that stretches from the Rhode Island state line east to Provincetown, south to the Islands and north to Attleboro, Brockton and Plymouth. YWCA helps women, girls and their families attain self-sufficiency by providing services to support the vast needs of people from numerous populations. While the special concerns of women provide the impetus for YWCA services, many programs are open to everyone. YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts programs and services are identified in five areas: Advocacy, Adult Services, YWCA Health & Wellness, Residential Services and Youth Services. ADULT SERVICES - Short-Distance Medical Transportation, and the Widowed Persons Program for men and women. ADVOCACY - YWCA?s Hallmark Programs: Racial Justice and Women?s Economic Advancement. Racial Justice Workshops and Study Circles, Financial Planning Workshops, Steps to Stability, WAGE (Women Are Getting Even)Clubs around pay inequity, Leadership Development Programs for Young Women, YWCA Leading Ladies, The Clothesline Project: a visual display that bears testament to violence against women, The Mayor?s Youth Council and Public Policy activities. YWCA HEALTH & WELLNESS - a community outreach and education program focusing on breast health, cardiovascular health, colorectal health, diabetes, nutrition, tobacco cessation outreach, cervical health for women and girls, and prostate health for men and boys. RESIDENTIAL SERVICES: A Woman?s Place and Another Woman?s Place provides single-occupancy housing in a congregate living model for low-income women. YOUTH SERVICES - YWkids School Age Program, which provides licensed child care with transportation to 52 children ages 5-13 after school and during vacations. Other programs include Girls Exclusive After-School and Summer Programs for girls ages 10-14.

YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts is one of 300 member associations of the YWCA USA. The national organization was chartered in 1858 and is one of the largest women-owned and run groups in the country continuing a heritage of leadership in issues that affect the daily lives of women and girls. Incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1911 as the New Bedford YWCA, this Association operated autonomously at the discretion of its Board of Directors and with the leadership of its Executive Director. The New Bedford YWCA changed its name to YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts to more accurately reflect its service area. Activities are taking place in locations from Rochester to Fall River and up to Taunton. Outreach and some occasional activities occur from Attleboro to Providence and north to Brockton, and as far as Falmouth and Nantucket. This Association has changed its program emphasis a number of times during its 100+ years of service to the community. It has been a residence to young women coming to work in the city. It has been an instrument for change in the development of leadership skills in girls and women. It has been in the forefront of swim training and water safety. It has been a community center for the hub of the city. It has been home of investment clubs and bridge clubs, Girl Scouts and senior citizens, prevention programs and recovery programs, literacy classes and book clubs, Martin Luther King celebrations and Japanese cooking classes, couples clubs and Displaced Homemakers, teen dances, The Lavender Cafe, and the Widowed Persons Service. The YWCA celebrates diversity and has continuously worked to afford diverse activities and opportunities to women, girls and their families.