YWCA Answers Needs Of Area Women For Over 150 Years BY KAREN GERHARDINGER Eliminating racism. Empowering women. That’s the mission of the YWCA of Northwest Ohio – a nonprofit organization that’s been answering the needs of area women and their families for 150 years. “What really drives our mission is stepping in with programs that are intentionally structured to respond to what research shows is happening in our area,” said Lisa McDuffie, CEO and president of the YWCA of Northwest Ohio. The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) was formed in Toledo in 1870 in response to an influx of young women moving to the “big city” from rural areas to find work. These women needed housing and resources, so classes in those early years included reading, sewing, physical fitness and advocacy. The YWCA is not affiliated at all with the YMCA. “The main question I get is, ‘Which branch do you work at?’” McDuffie laughed. “The YMCA is another fine organization with a great mission, but we are the only YWCA in town.” A History Of Caring Over the years, the YWCA has adapted to meet new challenges. In 1979, the YWCA was the first in the city to open a domestic violence shelter that now serves about 500 people annually with emergency shelter and over 6,000 a year with other services, ranging from education and outreach to court advocacy, safety planning and domestic violence support groups. In 1989, the YWCA established the Rape Crisis Center, which offers 24/7 services through its sexual violence hotline and hospital outreach program, providing in-person crisis intervention, advocacy, case management, support groups and referrals for trauma counseling. This center is the largest in Ohio and serves approximately 2,000 survivors a year. For over 30 years, the YWCA has provided education in area schools about teen pregnancy and its direct link to increased poverty and dropout rates, lower educational obtainment and increased health issues. Housing remains one of the YWCA’s core missions, and the Permanent Supportive Housing program helps women who are experiencing a housing crisis to obtain appropriate, affordable housing, as well as services to improve residential stability. For 26 years, the YWCA has educated women on the importance of breast cancer screenings and early detection. This program targets all women, but specifically reaches out to women of color who have a higher instance of latestage diagnosis and death. This same department also provides outreach services to pregnant and parenting women to work against the epidemic of infant mortality. The YWCA Child Care Resource and Referral program is our community’s expert in childcare needs. It assists parents with their quest to find quality childcare and works with childcare providers, offering technical assistance through Step Up to Quality standard ratings. Leading The Way Eliminating racism might seem like a bold goal, but McDuffie explained that the YWCA is working with area partners to do just that. “Racism really looks different in our era,” she said. “It does not necessarily look like it did to our grandparents. White supremacists are no longer covering their faces. Now, they’re bold and will say anything and do anything. The way I address our race-equity work is with the same level of boldness,” McDuffie said. Racism has been declared a public health crisis in municipalities across the country, including Toledo and Lucas County. While that is a step in the right direction, concrete actions must be planned and executed, McDuffie said. Soon after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020, McDuffie and Robin Reese from Lucas County Children Services brought several African American leaders together to develop the Toledo Black Agenda – a document that connects the dots on six factors that impact the lives of black and brown people. This document is meant to start the conversation and move the community into a comprehensive strategy to dismantle racism. The first step to addressing any problem is defining it. Systemic racism is deeply rooted in the fabric of our country’s governing culture, McDuffie said. The Toledo Black Agenda is a manifesto to creating a more equitable community for people of color. McDuffie is excited to see how public and private sectors will ignite the community and change the landscape for people of color. “The YWCA is committed to rooting out race inequity, and eliminating racism is a goal that can only be achieved by the work of many, and it starts with understanding, checking unconscious biases and becoming an ally for racial justice,” McDuffie said. The YWCA provides programming around courageous conversations on race through Dialogue to Change, an annual Stand Against Racism Summit; workshops and training on Racial Justice 101 and community book discussions. During the month of March, the YWCA will host a 21-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge with a free tool designed to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege and leadership. Log on to www.ywcanwo.org Page 6 Lisa McDuffie, CEO and President of YWCA of Northwest Ohio for more information on how to participate. A Revitalized Home Since its founding in Toledo, the YWCA has been within a few blocks of its current home at 1018 Jefferson Ave. That 65-yearold building, though, is in need of a major renovation. “Our long-term goal is to raise $12 million,” McDuffie said. “That buys us a renovated building with more than double the capacity for families that have experienced domestic violence and sexual assault, with communal rooms for childcare resources and a noninstitutional environment for youths.” The YWCA “provides great programs and services and we want a facility that reflects the same care and services we provide,” she added. The YWCA of Northwest Ohio has received $2 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The Ohio State Capital Budget also provided $200,000 to help the YWCA with a capital campaign and ongoing operations. Community Support The YWCA continues to receive support from area leaders and community members. That was never more obvious than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Within two weeks of the first shutdown, every elected representative was calling McDuffie to ask her about the YWCA’s needs. While the first few weeks of the shelterin-place order were slower than usual, the YWCA got the message out that the shelter is always available. “We had a lull for a week and a half until people knew we were open. Then, the phone lines continued to soar,” she said. For those in a situation of domestic violence, nothing is scarier than sheltering in place with an abuser. The YWCA is the area’s top resource to help women and their families seek shelter and the resources they need to not only survive, but to thrive. For more information on YWCA programs, visit www.ywcanwo.org.
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