OUR MISSION

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

About YWCA-GCR

YWCA-GCR is committed to advocating for systemic solutions and institutional change for disparities facing women and girls of color.

Women come to YWCA-GCR in times of crisis, for safe and affordable housing, help with basic needs, such as food and clothing, victim advocacy, help with addiction, job training and career counseling, and case management. Some stay for just a few weeks, some for many years. We give women and women with children a second chance and a fresh start, by providing transitional and permanent housing combined with 360° of Support in order to empower them to be able to achieve their goals and to become self-sufficient. YWCA-GCR staff can coordinate a variety of supportive services, such as financial literacy, job readiness training, education development and TASC preparation, clothing, food and make referrals for mental health, chemical addiction treatment, and advocacy.

Not all the residents’ need all of the available supportive services, but there is one thing that every single woman receives: HOPE. Our supportive services are available to and are utilized by community members through Jamison-Rounds Ready for Work Employment Training Program, Jamison-Rounds Ready for School Program, our Food Pantry and Weekly Community Meal.  In addition, we provide Homeless Prevention and case management services to Rensselaer County residents facing eviction.

OUR HISTORY

Throughout our history YWCA has been in the forefront of most major movements in the United States as a pioneer in race relations, labor union representation, and the empowerment of women.

1883

Founding of the Troy Young Women’s Association.

First YWA Rooms in Keenan Building at Third and Broadway.

1884

YWA moves to rooms over Manufacturer’s Bank, River and King Streets.

1886

Collar laundresses strike.

1888

YWA moves to 43 Fourth Street.

1889

Troy Centennial celebration in January.

1891

Building of the Young Women’s Association building at 33 Second Street.

1896

Hart Memorial Library (Troy Public Library) built by Mary Lane Hart and others.

1898

Spanish American War.

1906

YWCA of USA formed from the International Board of Women’s & Young Women’s Christian Associations and the American Committee.

1907

The YWA’s 25th Anniversary. The Annual Report notes:

“Those who inspired and commenced this work in a room of the Keenan building a quarter of a century ago did not conceive of this home, its library, its restaurant. We greatly desire… to become an educational center for the women behind the machine and the woman in the home who will have a large part in the molding of our future citizenship… In imagination we see… rooms for enlarged class work in keeping with modern demands and methods, a gymnasium for the physical development of our growing girls and future mothers… We want the women of Troy to feel that this is woman’s work for woman.”

1915

Women’s Suffrage Amendment defeated.

Troy Young Women’s Association joins the national YWCA.

1917

United States enters World War I.

Women’s Suffrage Amendment defeated in Rensselaer County, but wins elsewhere.

Cornerstone laid for new Troy YWCA building at 21 First Street on April 28th.

1918

Dedication of new Central Young Women’s Christian Association Building on May 9th.

Influenza epidemic impacts all aspects of life.

1920

Federal Women’s Suffrage Amendment passes.

Julia Howard Bush, Nellie Cluett and Louise Cluett Cowee purchased the land for Camp Yowochas.

1925

Camp Yowochas founded on White Lily Pond in Grafton.

1929

Great Depression begins.

1941

United States enters World War II.

1944

YWCA acquires buildings to south and demolishes them for a parking lot.

1950

Luncheon in honor of Dorretta Ferber and her involvement with Camp Yowochas.

1955

First capital campaign for building and Camp Yowochas improvements.

1958

Last passenger train leaves Troy Union Station.

1965

Cohoes YWCA merges with Troy YWCA in one of first such arrangements. Programs continue in Cohoes until 1980s.

1974

New Troy City Hall dedicated.

1970

Camp Yowochas closes.

1976

United States celebrates its Bicentennial.

1981

Ramp accessibility added to YWCA building.

1983

Troy-Cohoes YWCA celebrates 100th anniversary.

1986

Kiddie Korral opens at YWCA.

1988

YWCA Day Care Center established.

1990

Ninety Women for the Nineties membership group established to support the mission of the YWCA. A capital campaign begins.

1996

HHAP Grant of $1.4 million for rehab of residences plus HUD Small Cities Grant of $500,000, City of Troy Rental Rehab Grant of $180,000 and Federal Home Loan Bank of NY Grant of $518,583 for updates and facility improvements.

2000

A new century begins. In the Company of Women membership group is formed to support the YWCA’s mission and programs.

Sally Catlin Resource Center opens, honoring long-time YW Board member, president, and community leader, Sally Catlin. The Center provides the “tools to craft the lives women want for themselves.”

2007

Building renovation begins and is completed in 2008.

2008

YWCA of Troy-Cohoes celebrates its 125th Anniversary.

2009

Name of YWCA of Troy and Cohoes becomes YWCA of the Greater Capital Region (proudly founded in Troy, NY.)

2010

YWCA-GCR holds its first Resourceful Women’s Luncheon

2021

Artist Eugene O’Neill installs At the Push of a Button mural on west-facing exterior wall of 21 First Street. This “From Troy to Troy” project was a collaboration between YWCA of the Greater Capital Region and the Arts Center of the Capital Region.

WORLD YWCA

The World YWCA is a global network of women leading social and economic change in over 120 countries worldwide. The World YWCA advocates for peace, justice, human rights and care for the environment and has been at the forefront of raising the status of women for more than a century. The World YWCA develops women’s leadership to find local solutions to the global inequalities women face.

Each year, it reaches more than 25 million women and girls through work in over 20,000 communities. Through advocacy, training and development the World YWCA empowers women, including young women, to lead social change. It is a volunteer membership movement inclusive of women from many faiths, backgrounds, and cultures. The World YWCA affirms that women’s human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated.

Strategic Framework - A quadrennial plan adopted at the World Council 2012-2015 plan goals:

  1. Women, young women and girls exercise leadership in our lives and communities and advocate for our rights.

  2. The social, economic, cultural, civil and political rights of women, young women and girls are promoted and protected through advocacy, programs and services.

  3. World YWCA movement effectively fulfills its purpose to develop the leadership of women and girls by functioning at the highest level of organizational accountability

The World YWCA reaches out to women all around the world. To find out more, visit worldywca.org.

MEET THE STAFF

Starletta Renée, Chief Executive Officer

Bonnie Benson, Chief Housing Officer

Jamie Crouse, Chief Development Officer

Virginia Marinello, Chief Finance Officer

All staff can be reached at (518) 274-7100 or directly by email by clicking on their name.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President

Brittney Moore, KIPP Tech Valley Schools

Vice President

Taryn Rackmyer, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities

Treasurer

TBD

Secretary

TBD

Members at Large

Abigail Gomes, YMCA

Alexa Andujar, LIBAD Creative Services

Amadi Turner-Tarver, Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group

Francesca LoPorto-Brandow, Amazon

Kate Wood, United University Professions

Meylin Andares, Regeneron

Sachi Vines, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Stacey Barss, MVP Health Care

Junior Board Member

Josie Briccetti