YWCA of Mahoning Valley looks back on 120 years of serving community
For over 100 years, staff and volunteers have uplifted their neighbors in need while working with the Young Women’s Christian Association of the Mahoning Valley, founded in 1904.
Here’s a look at the local 120-year history of programs and upcoming events aiming to empower women and eliminate racism in the Youngstown and Warren area.
120-year-history of the YWCA Mahoning Valley
The YWCA organization was brought from England to New York City for the first time in 1858.
In 1911, L.A. Woodard laid the foundation for the YWCA Youngstown office at 25 W. Rayen Ave., the same building the YWCA Mahoning Valley is operating out of today.
Programming began in 1904 when the starting team of 800 members rented rooms in the Clarke Building in Youngstown.
By 1931, there were 500 young women living at the YWCA Youngstown each year, and 500 more women staying in the area for short periods of time used the facilities at the YWCA regularly.
Their monthly rent to live there was between $15 and $20.
Programming started expanding around 1946 with the first African-American history class, as well as career development for women and entrepreneurship later in the 1980s.
In 1996, the Discovery Place started when the YWCA purchased Dr. Mary J. Beaubien’s early education program.
Beaubien worked as chair of the Youngstown State University’s education department.
Ever since 1996, children between ages six weeks to five years have been coming to the Discovery Place Early Learning Center for kindergarten readiness at a monthly tuition enrollment rate.
In 2011, the YWCA Youngstown completed a $10-million renovation that created on-site permanent apartments for disabled and low-to moderate-income renters.
In 2014, the YWCA Warren opened WINGS, providing permanent housing and support for women and children in Trumbull County.
In 2017, the YWCA Youngstown celebrated completing their own permanent and transitional housing program called the Kensington Liberation Station Project.
It’s open to low-income families and veterans.
At first, the YWCA Youngstown office was separate from the YWCA Warren, which was established in 1916.
The two organizations merged in 2018 to serve Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
YWCA Mahoning Valley: Eliminating racism, empowering women
Now, the YWCA Mahoning Valley is continuing to provide access to newly-renovated affordable housing like the Illinois Avenue housing project, as well as affordable childcare options for working families.
The YWCA Mahoning Valley hosts annual events for community engagement, including the YWCA Women Artists Celebration which began in 1982 and the Young Women With Bright Futures awards program that’s been going on since 1994.
This summer, YWCA Mahoning Valley is hosting a STEAM summer day camp with activities to learn about robotics, healthy lifestyles and advanced technology.
Learn more on the YWCA website.
