Agency Details:

YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts

YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

Description:
The YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts provides Youth Services and Adult Services as well as programs of Advocacy and personal enrichment activities. Whatever the service, program or activity, all planning supports the Mission of the YWCA which seeks to empower women and eliminate racism.

Presently, the YWCA offers program and services in the following areas:
ADULT SERVICES - includes Medical Transportation, WPP (Widowed Persons Program) and Investment clubs.

ADVOCACY - including Racial Justice programs, Women's Economic Empowerment Programs, The Clothesline Project, The Mayor's Youth Council and Women-In-Politics activities.

WELLNESS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS - includes outreach and education for breast, cervical, colon cancer, cardiovascular disease, nutrition and smoking cessation, Breast Cancer Support Group, wellness days and informational activities around women's health.

WOMEN'S COLLABORATIVE PROJECT (WCP) includes The Blue Triangle Company which offers job training for women. Residential Services provides housing for single women.

YOUTH SERVICES - includes Yw kids School Age Child Care, Girls Giving and Growing,Teen Talk, Home Alone and Babysitting courses.

History:
The YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts is one of 300 member associations of the YWCA USA. The national organization was chartered in 1858 and is one of the largest women-owned and run groups in the country continuing a 145 year heritage of leadership in issues that affect the daily lives of women and girls. Incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1911 as the New Bedford YWCA, this Association operated autonomously at the discretion of its Board of Directors and with the leadership of its Executive Director.
The New Bedford YWCA changed its name to the YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts to more accurately reflect its service area. Activities are taking place in locations from Rochester to Fall River and up to Taunton. Outreach and some occasional activities occur from Attleboro to Providence and north to Brockton.
This Association has changed its program emphasis a number of times during its 90 years of service to the community. It has been a residence to young women coming to work in the city. It has been an instrument for change in the development of leadership skills in girls and women. It has been in the forefront of swim training and water safety. It has been a community center for the hub of the city. It has been home of investment clubs and bridge clubs, Girl Scouts and senior citizens, prevention programs and recovery programs, literacy classes and book clubs, Martin Luther King celebrations and Japanese cooking classes, couples clubs and Displaced Homemakers, teen dances, The Lavender Cafe, the Widowed Persons Service. The YWCA celebrates diversity and has continuously worked to afford diverse activities and opportunities to women, girls and their families.

Contact person: Linda Larsen, Office Manager, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: 508-999-2802

Address:

20 South Sixth Street New Bedford, MA 02740 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.ywcasema.org

Directions:

Exit 15 off Interstate 195 onto Route 18 South. Take Route 18 South through second set of lights to School Street. Bear right onto School Street; the YWCA is four blocks up on the right (corner of South. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: in front of building, 0 minute walk

Last updated on August 11, 2009