The YWCA Chester County is a place for women and girls to come together to learn, strengthen their minds and advocate for social change. Social Action and Advocacy are the cornerstones of the YWCA. We reflect the values the national YWCA has held for nearly 150 years, through suffrage, through the first interracial conference in the South in the early 20th century, through the fights for civil rights and affirmative action.
The YWCA of Chester County receives some government funding, but each year we rely on the community to donate most of the funds needed to support the women and children who turn to us for education and support.
Peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people.
news/events
Race Against Racism
Mark the date! On Sunday April 26th at 1pm the Chester County Running Store is organizing a race through West Chester to benefit the YWCA Chester County and its Racial Justice programs. Click on the icon below to view or download the event flyer.
YWCA USA Recognizes Historic Election Milestone
Lorraine Cole, Ph.D., YWCA USA, CEO reflects on the election:
“On the night of November 4, 2008, the nation traveled light years from those days as a Black family prepares to move to the most prestigious address in Washington D.C., the White House.”
Dr. Dorothy Height, who led the national YWCA Office of Racial Justice throughout the Civil Rights era. Prior to her move to New York to take that position, she served as the Executive Director of the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA, which was the "colored" YWCA in Washington, D.C. In describing life in racially segregated Washington D.C. at that time, Dr. Height recounted that there were only three public places in the Nation's Capitol where a Black person could be served a meal: the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA, the 17th Street YWCA (which was the white YWCA) and Union Station.
The YWCA, as a tax-exempt not-for-profit organization, cannot endorse any political candidate or political party. But, no tax status can deny us the significance of this moment in history. The YWCA has been an active participant in every phase of racial progress in this nation, from abolition to this most historic election. What a defining moment to savor!
Although it still will be a while before "eliminating racism" will be an irrelevant focus of the dual mission of the YWCA, this turning point takes it out of the "dream" state. Let us rejoice in knowing that our next President was judged "by the content of [his] character," in Dr. King's prophetic words, and that we were alive to bear witness to it.
Fourth Annual YWCA TEAM Open House
The YWCA Chester County held our Fourth Annual TEAM (Teaching Enrichment Activities and More) Open House on March 13th. Eighteen TEAM families and their children attended this event along with volunteers from West Chester University. Parents were able to view displays the children worked on throughout the year. The displays included: Winter Wonderland, One World Mural, Thanks Books, Symbols of the Season, The Art of Me, Courageous People and Women’s History Month. BABA The Clown provided entertainment. TEAM provides bi-lingual academic support on a daily basis to over 30 local children during after school hours. For information how on you can volunteer with TEAM, please call or e-mail Fran Luft at 610-692-3737, fluftywcacc@comcast.net.
You can help the YWCA Chester County! You can…
- Donate healthy snacks to the TEAM program
- Renew your YWCA membership
- Assist the WOW instructor during the computer classes
- Read to the TEAM children
- Donate educational games
- Assist TEAM children with homework and computer activities
- Donate a gift card to a local grocery store
- Give to the Angels Campaign
- And more!
Call or e-mail Tinesar Forrest for more ways you can help 610-692-3737, ywcacc@comcast.net
GoGirlGo!
The YWCA Chester County received a grant from the Women's Sports Foundation's GoGirlGo! Program. The GoGirlGo! Program focuses on getting young people involved in sports and helping them make positive lifestyle choices. Program topics include healthy eating, the importance of staying in school, getting good grades, getting enough sleep, and various other challenges that young girls face today. The GoGirlGo! curriculum goes into great detail for each topic, sharing stories of professional athletes and how they have overcome many obstacles in their own lives in order to live a better, healthier, more fulfilled life. Each girl received a scrapbook and story book from the Women's Sports Foundation along with goggles, a lacrosse stick, ball and mouth guard. The equipment and t-shirts were generously provided by Lacrosse International. (Story Contributed by Mr. Chris Lunardi, Bayard Rustin Athletic Director)
Thank you to volunteer Sue Solas and her team for leading this effort. Job well done!
