By Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA USA Generations of women began their paths to empowerment, safety, and economic security by entering the doors of the YWCA, because for over 160 years, YWCA USA has continued to #PressForProgress. From voting rights to civil rights; from affordable housing to equal pay; from ending gender-based discrimination to helping… Continue Reading The Road to Equality and Justice in the U.S. Runs Through the Women’s Community

These letters were written specifically for North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis as part of a public hearing hosted by a grassroots group, Siembra NC in High Point, NC. Siembra NC is an immigrant-led group comprised of undocumented immigrants, among them local DACA recipients. These activists are asking for an opportunity to talk with their Senator… Continue Reading Letters to Congress from Dreamers in our Community

Pass the Dream Act – Not Because of Our Productivity Value But Because Dreamers are Human Beings By Citlaly Mora, Senior Director for Women’s Resource Center and Latino Family Center, YWCA High Point On a day to day basis, I work with women, immigrants, and the Latinx population in High Point, a rural city in North… Continue Reading Pass the Dream Act

By Danielle Marse-Kapr, YWCA USA Communications & Marketing Director Growing up, I had the same impression many people have. Men who commit sexual violence are notably bad people. They hang out in back alleys or drug your drink from across the bar. You can spot them in a line up. They aren’t your friends or… Continue Reading No Man is Sacred

We made history last night through our local elections! We are thrilled to see so many “firsts” during this election season, particularly as many of the firsts were women and people of color. This is what progress looks like. This is what representation and an inclusive democracy could look like. The work does not stop… Continue Reading Historic Firsts this Election Day!

By Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA USA This week in Seattle, Washington, YWCA USA convened 43 leaders representing 30 YWCAs from around the western U.S. as part of our annual geo-network meeting. By hosting these smaller “geo-networking” meetings in each of our five designated geographic networks, we are bridging the distance between our national and… Continue Reading On A Mission to Build our Collective Impact

By YWCA Alaska October 1st, 2017, was a terror filled night for America. The act of violence that occurred in Las Vegas was undeniably horrific; and sadly, we’ve experienced it before. At YWCA Alaska, we cannot in good conscious ignore this opportunity to address how violence surrounds us, and who most often perpetrates this violence.… Continue Reading On a Mission to End Violence in the Wake of Another Mass Shooting

By Caitlin Lowry, Senior Policy Analyst, YWCA USA Five years ago, I became the victim of a stalker who sent thousands of harassing and threatening messages to my email and across several online platforms. I spent countless hours talking to police, prosecutors, domestic violence advocates, my state delegate, therapists, and doctors; attending court proceedings; and… Continue Reading Refusing Silence

By Lily Eisner, YWCA USA Public Policy & Advocacy Intern, Summer 2017 One day last spring, vandals scrawled messages threatening sexual violence in common areas and stole several pairs of women’s underwear from laundry rooms in a sorority at my school, Dartmouth College. The horrific message shook the entire student body. Copycat messages and thefts began appearing… Continue Reading Taking Campus Sexual Assault Seriously—Always

By Sharon K. Roberson, President & CEO YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee A few months ago, Maria  had one arm in a sling, while the other carried her infant baby. The beating from her husband had put her in the hospital, and now that she was being discharged, she couldn’t go home. She had someone… Continue Reading In Our Community: Collaborating to End Domestic Violence