Ywca White Plains & Central Westchester Inc

ELIMINATE RACISM, EMPOWER WOMEN, STAND UP FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, HELP FAMILIES AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES. THE YWCA HAS A LONG HISTORY OF PROVIDING COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND THE ELIMINATION OF RACISM. AT OUR FACILITY ON NORTH STREET, WE SEE OVER 4,000 MEMBERS EACH WEEK WHO PARTICIPATE IN OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS. IN ADDITION, WE OFFER CRITICAL SERVICES FOR THOSE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, A SUPERVISED VISITATION PROGRAM, BREAST CANCER EDUCATION AND, AT OUR BUILDING ON NORTH BROADWAY, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR WOMEN.

HEALTH AND SAFETY:THE YWCA HAS A ROBUST OFFERING OF SWIMMING, GYMNASTICS AND FITNESS CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDED VARIOUS SAFETY-RELATED CLASSES, INCLUDING LIFEGUARD TRAINING. RECREATION AND FITNESS CLASSES WERE OFFERED TO DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS DAY PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE RESPITE FOR THEIR CARETAKERS. THE ENCORE PLUS PROGRAM PROVIDED UNDER-INSURED WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER EDUCATION AND MAMMOGRAMS. OVER 4,000 WOMEN RECEIVED EDUCATION THROUGH OUR OUTREACH. THE YWCA MANAGES CHILDRENS' CENTERS AT THE WHITE PLAINS COURTHOUSE, OFFERING CHILD CARE FOR PARENTS WHO HAVE MATTERS BEFORE THE COURT. THE YWCA ALSO RUNS A SUPERVISED VISIT/SAFE EXCHANGE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN GOING BETWEEN CUSTODIAL AND NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTS. OVER 3,800 HAVE BEEN SERVED BETWEEN THESE COURT-RELATED PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED ON A LIMITED BASIS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WOMEN AND GIRLS EMPOWERMENT:THE YWCA OFFERS A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN ("NAEYC") ACCREDITED EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR APPROXIMATELY 350 CHILDREN, FROM 8 WEEKS OLD THROUGH PRESCHOOL. THE YWCA ALSO PROVIDES BEFORE SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE FOR ELEMENTARY AGE STUDENTS AND WE PIVOTED TO OFFER REMOTE LEARNING FOR CHILDREN WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOLS DUE TO SHUTDOWNS. WE OPERATED A SUMMER DAY CAMP ON A REDUCED BASIS FOR CHILDREN AGE PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL WITH ACTIVITIES THAT INCLUDE ART, THEATER, SWIM AND GYMNASTICS. THROUGH OUR GIRLS EMPOWERED THROUGH MEANINGFUL SUPPORT PROGRAM, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE, MENTORING AND STEM-RELATED PROJECTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINA GIRLS WHO ATTEND WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL. THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED REMOTELY ALONG WITH TWO NEW PROGRAM OFFERINGS - Y-LEADERS, THAT PROVIDES LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS TO YOUNG WOMEN, AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT,THAT PROVIDES DIGITAL SKILLS WORKSHOPS TO WOMEN.

RACIAL JUSTICE & CIVIL RIGHTS:THE YWCA WHITE PLAINS & CENTRAL WESTCHESTER'S COMMITMENT TO RACIAL JUSTICE RUNS DEEP. THE YWCA LAUNCHED THE WESTCHESTER CENTER FOR RACIAL EQUITY IN SPRING 2021. THE CENTER FOR RACIAL EQUITY IS A DEDICATED SPACE FOR WORKING TOWARDS ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY PROVIDING THE VISION, THE PLACE, AND THE COMMUNITY TO SUSTAIN ANTI-RACIST WORK. THE CENTER FOR RACIAL EQUITY WILL ADDRESS RACISM BY PROVIDING A PLATFORM/SPACE FOR COMMUNITY RESOURCES, ACCOUNTABILITY, HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION. THROUGH A RANGE OF RACIAL EQUITY WORKSHOPS AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, THE YWCA HELPS LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS CREATE THE NECESSARY SHIFT TO BECOME MORE ANTI-RACIST WORKPLACES. ALONG WITH OUR ANNUAL STAND AGAINST RACISM, THE YWCA SPONSORS BOOK CLUB EVENTS AND COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS SERIES.