The YWCA of the City of New York (YWCA-NYC), the nation’s very first YWCA association, is pleased to announce the confirmation of KHATUNA KORIDZE as CEO. Alba will lead the organization in its mission to eliminate racism by empowering New York City’s young women, boys, and gender non-conforming youth.

In announcing this decision, YWCA-NYC Board Chair Tracy Richelle High said, “Alba is a leader in aligning mission with strategy and has been dedicated to the well-being of NYC youth throughout her 20-year career. We are excited to welcome Alba to the YWCA-NYC and know that she will bring her commitment and rich experience as a nonprofit leader into this new season for our organization.”

Alba stated, “New York City’s youth, in particular the city’s young women and gender non-conforming youth, face the heaviest burdens of structural inequity. From gender discrimination and racism, to poverty and health injustice, the issues run deep. They need communal support, and the YWCA-NYC has been a crucial part of that support for over 160 years. We offer free educational programming through our Out-of-School (OST) programs and provide needed career mentorship and academic enrichment through our Girls Initiative program. And with the recent $3M gift by Mackenzie Scott, the YWCA-NYC is only poised to grow in deeper solidarity with NYC youth. I look forward to working alongside the staff, Board, YWCA-NYC stakeholders to create a world that sees women, girls, and people of color the way we do: equal, powerful, and unstoppable!”

Alba succeeds YWCA-NYC former board member Mary Crawford who served as interim COO. Ms. Rodriguez earned an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.S. in philosophy and biopsychology from Tufts University.

About YWCA-NYC
The YWCA-NYC’s mission is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Established in 1858, the YWCA-NYC is one of the nation’s oldest non-profit organizations committed to the personal, physical, and social development of women, their families, and their communities, and as such has been a pioneer for social change since its inception. In honor of this history, and in service of our mission, the YWCA-NYC currently provides leadership and advocacy training to 150 young women through our Girls Initiatives and out-of-school time (OST) programming for elementary- and middle-school students in culturally diverse communities in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

For media inquiries, please contact Susan Madon at smadon@ywcanyc.org or 917.930.1508.

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Photo credit: Jéan Béller

Dear YWCA NYC Community,

We write to you in the wake of the Derek Chauvin murder trial. The videos and testimony re-opened painful wounds from a year ago when George Floyd was murdered. While it is a relief that accountability has been established in this case, it also serves as a sobering reminder that this is just one small step in the fight against systemic racism in America. As we know all too well, excessive force and killings in police encounters with people of color continues. We must bear down in the work to Eliminate Racism.

The Floyd family provides inspiration to us. In the midst of the traumatic loss of their loved one and the fog of grief, their message over the past year reminds us of the ongoing nature of injustice and the need to work toward true reform and healing.

Last week was a busy time at the YWCA NYC. While taking in the conclusion of the trial, the daily work to raise awareness and advocate for our communities continued. Students who participate in our Out-of-School-Time program in Coney Island learned about exercising their rights in a democracy when they marched with placards calling for an end to the digital divide. Our high school girls led a workshop on intervening to stop harassment and hate, and nurses and midwives joined us in a webinar focused on the stark and persistent racial disparities in maternal health.

We thank our YWCA NYC community for your support that allows us to do this important work and take the fight forward. And we thank the staff of the YWCA NYC who are activists every day, both those of you serving the children and young women of NYC directly, and those carrying out critical enabling functions. Your energy, compassion and expertise make progress possible.

Let us all find inspiration in this historic verdict and commit even more urgently to the YW’s mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

Tracy Richelle High, Chair, Board of Directors
Alison Martier, Vice Chair, Board of Directors
Mary Crawford, Interim COO

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EXCITING NEWS: Largest Private Donation to YWCA NYC!

December 18, 2020

The YWCA of the City of New York is excited to amount that it has received $3 million unrestricted donation from entrepreneur, author, advocate and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This gift is the largest private donation in the 162-year history of the YWCA NYC and is part of the $4.2 billion given by Ms. Scott in the past four months to 384 organizations that provide support to people suffering the economic affects fo the COVID-19 crisis.

The YWCA NYC CEO, Maureen Friar, stated “We were completely surprised and are incredibly grateful to Ms. Scott. This generous gift will enable the YWCA NYC to not only continue to provide educational programs to children and young women in New York City, but expand into new neighborhoods, encourage more young women to become agents of change, and advocate for racial justice and gender equality.”

The YWCA NYC works in neighborhoods that have been greatly impacted by the COVI-19 pandemic, racial injustice and the economic downturn. the generosity of Ms. Scott and all donors make it possible for the YWCA NYCto provide the support needed to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and inequities faced by too many children and families.

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Statement on Coronavirus COVID-19
March 16, 2020

Last week, the Crisis Response Team of the YWCA of the City of New York (YWCA NYC) met to discuss COVID-19 and the likely effects on the YWCA NYC community—the young people in our programs and their families, and our staff and their loved ones. Our response team immediately began implementing new procedures to allow operations continuity, including expediting the transition to tech vendor PC Power Center, Inc. and implementing remote access to our data and systems. The novel coronavirus pandemic is unprecedented in our city, our nation and the world, and we continue to monitor news as it unfolds.  The safety and wellbeing of our community is our top priority. 

Our YWCA NYC headquarters and Family Resource Center staff have recently begun working from home to adhere to recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for social distancing and unnecessary travel.  With the closing of NYC Schools beginning today, March 16th, our Out-of-School-Time program employees have also begun working from home.  We are planning to continue to offer our leadership and STEAAM programming remotely to the high school girls involved in our Girls Initiatives and coordinate with our public-school partners to explore if any after school programming is an option. The YWCA NYC remains flexible in its approach.    

We don’t yet know how this all will play out in the coming weeks or months. Please take precautions with your own families by following protocols to stem the spread of the virus: 

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.  
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. 
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.  
• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.  

Thank you to the entire YW community—our staff, students, families, partners and donors.  We will continue to communicate our response to the situation as it unfolds. We remain, as ever, committed to our mission of eradicating racism and empowering women, and to serving New York City kids and their families to the best of our abilities. 

Respectfully,

Maureen Friar 
CEO of YWCA of the City of New York

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[Published February 14, 2020]

Former YWCA NYC Board member Margaret Breece Lowe died peacefully at home on January 30th, 2020.  Margaret served on the YWCA NYC Board of Directors from 1976-1990 and was the Board Chair from 1986-1990.  She embodied the values of the YW, putting people first both in her professional life in Human Resources and in her various public service roles. Margaret continues on as a role model for the YW-family and for the young women and children we serve. She will be missed.

The Lowe family asks that Contributions in Margaret’s memory be made to the YWCA of the City of New York.  Make Your In Memoriam Gift here or write to our team at development@ywcanyc.org.

Read Margaret’s Obituary→

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The Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation will match NEW gifts up to $250,000! Please help us reach our goal. Donate.

Invest in NYC kids. Your gift makes a difference for the young women and children in our Out-of-School-Time and Girls Initiatives programs. Every dollar is used to support our young people.

We Empower 1500 New York City youth every day through our Girl Initiatives and Out-of-School-Time programs. Our efforts prepare our young people to become the Change Leaders our city needs. You can help us reach our mission.

Watch Our Impact Video

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YWCA of the City of New York celebrated the 46th Annual Academy of Women Leaders Salute Luncheon on November 19th!

Salute is New York City’s premier tribute to change-leading women and the companies and communities that believe in them. This year, we honored our Woman of the Year, Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of Chase Consumer Banking, S&P Global’s #ChangePays initiative received our new Trailblazer Award, and we inducted 14 new members into our network of 3,000+ AWL’s.  300 New York women and men joined us in our mission to raise funds at Salute 46 in support of our racial and gender justice, empowerment, and leadership initiatives for the young women and children we serve.  Together we raised $430,000 in support of our young people!

see photos of this event→
read the event recap→

Event details:
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
11:30am-2:00pm
Cipriani 42nd Street

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YWCA NYC and supporters will gather in New York City for a week of events on October 15-19, 2019 in recognition of YWCA’s efforts in the fight to end gender-based violence. YW’s Week Without Violence is a national effort spearheaded by YWCA USA with support and participation from associations across the country. In New York City, YWCA NYC is hosting four workshops and events in support of our mission to end gender and racial violence.  Participation is open to the public, RSVP required.  Please follow the link for more information.  #WWV19  RSVP here. 

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