YWCA Greater Los Angeles

YWCA Greater Los Angeles is a charitable organization with a focus on addressing issues of poverty, homelessness, domestic violence and skills training for the community.

YWCA Greater Los Angeles
YWCA/GLA
Established1894
Location
Staff
Faye Washington, CEO
Websitewww.YWCAGLA.org

About

The Los Angeles YWCA has operated for more than one hundred years with programs in community advocacy, Child development services, Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling program",[1] the Empowerment Project for Senior Citizens, Youth Education and recreation training as well as the L.A. Job Corps program.[2][3]

History

Founded in 1894,[4] the YWCA Greater Los Angeles serving the needs of women and their families in the Los Angeles community is modeled after the national Young Women's Christian Association which is a membership movement dedicated to the concept of empowering women by creating opportunities for growth, leadership and eliminating racism.

In 1913 the Mary Andrews Clark Memorial Home began serving as an Institution of "Comfort and Uplifting",[5] which served as an affordable residence for working girls until 1987. In 1918 the YWCA took control of The Hollywood Studio Club a hotel residence for aspiring actresses.

In 1953 the Compton development Center was established[6] with programs designed for teens. In the late 1950s, the YWCA Greater Los Angeles began operation of a transient hotel for women and in 1965 the first Los Angeles Job Corps Center opened. By the late 1960s the YWCA established both the East Los Angeles and the Angeles Mesa Activity Centers.

By the late 1970s, the Infant Learning Center at San Fernando High School was opened in 1975 as the L.A. Job Corps program continued to grow and expand when it moved into the Hollywood Studio Club.[7] In the early 1980s, the YWCA began child development and lLtchkey Services[8] in thirteen area elementary schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District. In 1985 the Compton Center began counseling programs for women who were survivors of sexual assault which continued until the building was sold in 1993.

The YWCA became the lead agency for the "LA Bridges After School Program" at L.A.'s John Muir Middle School in 1998. The YWCA Greater Los Angeles was granted an extended five-year contract in 2000 for the operation of the LA Job Corps[9] program from the Department of Labor.

In 2001, the organization created an Urban Campus Project focused on housing, health and medical services, charter high school, and vocational services. They also founded the Society of Benefactrix, which was launched in support of the YWCA's philosophical ideals and programs. In 2003, the Union Pacific Child Development Center in East Los Angeles was opened.[10]

In 2009, the first "Jeans 4 Justice" event was held.[11] On April 1, 2012, the YWCA Greater Los Angeles moved into their Urban Campus Building at 1020 Olive Street, Los Angeles along with the LA Job Corps[12]

Phenomenal Woman of the Year

The YWCA Greater Los Angeles each year presents its award for Phenomenal Woman. The 2011 honoree was actress/model Kathy Ireland and local politician Jan Perry. The 2012 award went to SEIU - Butler United Long Term Care Workers' Union President, Laphonza Butler.[13][14]

References
  1. Gayle Pollard-Terry Los Angeles Times (2004-07-25). "Black Rape, Incest Victims Reluctant To Report Crimes". Orlando Sentinel.
  2. Richard Guzmán (2012-02-17). "YWCA Job Corps Campus - Nonprofit/Community". Los Angeles Downtown News.
  3. "Los Angeles YWCA Awarded $82 mil To Fund Job Corps Urban Campus Housing". Minority News. 2012-09-26.
  4. "Los Angeles YWCA opened". Los Angeles Herald. 1894-09-29.
  5. "Thousands Go To Reception: Mansion for Young Women Publicly Opens; Attendance a Happy Surprise to the Y.W.C.A.; Clark Memorial Home the Visitors' Mecca". Los Angeles Times. 1913-05-14.
  6. Allison Jean Eaton (2008-06-28). "Kids at YWCA CDC Design Their Dream Playground". Compton Bulletin.
  7. Roger Vincent (2004-04-12). "YWCA to Build Job Center in Downtown L.A." Los Angeles Times.
  8. "LATCHKEY KIDS WOULD FEEL LAUSD'S CUT". L.A. Daily News. 2012-06-26.
  9. Eric Malinic (1988-11-16). "Job Corps Program in Downtown YWCA Named as Best in U.S.". Los Angeles Times.
  10. Carla Rivera (2005-03-24). "A New Day for L.A. Preschools". Los Angeles Times.
  11. Christine Sabathia (2007-06-27). "Jeans for Justice". Los Angeles Sentinel.
  12. Richard Guzmán, Jon Regardie and Ryan Vaillancourt (2012-12-21). "YWCA Job Corps Campus - Opened". Los Angeles Downtown News.
  13. "YWCA Greater Los Angeles Hosts 2012 Phenomenal Woman Awards Luncheon". Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley Journal. 2012-05-02.
  14. "YWCA Greater Los Angeles Names Kathy Ireland 2011 Phenomenal Woman". Los Angeles Times. 2011-05-18.
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