A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader
takes people where they don't necessarily want to go but ought
to be. - Rosalynn Carter - |
For information on any of our leadership programs
click here or call Judy Allen at .
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leadership development
The YWCA has always been committed to cultivating and encouraging leadership in women. In 1927 when Laniākea was first built, leadership was called by other names – civic duty, social responsibility, and community service – but it was at its core, leadership.
Early in the YWCA’s history, the Girls Reserve, established in 1918 and later known as Y-Teens, enabled teenagers to develop as leaders through recreational activities, character education, vocational skills training and community service. By 1936, the YWCA Club Room served over 50 different clubs comprised of 3,000 women and girls representing every nationality in Hawai'i. The International Institute provided education, recreation and protection for the foreign-born women in Hawai'i, and forum luncheons on the first Thursday of each month discussed public affair topics.
Currently, the YWCA of O'ahu is creating the first pilot site for national rollout of a youth leadership and mentor programs, Life Inc., to serve as a best-practice model for expansion to in-school and after-school programs throughout Hawai'i and the YWCA nationally. The YWCA is very proud of its Academy of 126 Women Leaders who have been honored over the past 30 years by the YWCA at LeaderLuncheon, the State’s largest and longest-running women’s leadership event. Over 60 senior executive women leaders trained in Hawaii at Women Leading Change, an innovative leadership program in partnership with the Institute for Women’s Leadership, launched by the YWCA in 2005. Continuing in the tradition of Y-Teens, the Youth Advisory Board is young women committed to leadership and community service. Through their annual Young LeaderLuncheon, they have raised and distributed over $12,000 in scholarships to young women.
As we look forward to the future, we know that the YWCA of O'ahu’s Laniākea location will provide a comprehensive array of programs and services to develop and sustain leaders on their journey. The YWCA will continue to be a high-impact community leader for sustainable change, encouraging and cultivating under-represented groups to become highly visible role models and leaders. The YWCA will continue working with youth, inspiring them to envision Hawai'i in their future and grooming them to become our next generation of leaders.
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