Celebrate the YWCA at UNCA Thursday

Celebrating Advocacy: Asheville YWCA
Working to Empower Women and Eliminate Racism

A chance to hear a brief history of the deep roots and current stories of the Asheville YWCA, its mission, its accomplishments and it vision, all highlighting its true “staying power” in our area.

A chance to say THANK YOU and
HOW CAN WE BE INVOLVED.

UNC-Asheville, Laurel Forum, Wednesday, March 17, 6:45 pm

Sarah Judson, UNC Asheville Associate Professor in History, will contextualize the theme of celebration of work well done, through a brief history of the YWCA in Asheville. Holly Jones, YWCA Executive Director, and Catherine Peck, YWCA Program Director, will introduce the panel of four or five dynamic and effective YWCA program directors telling their stories of why they are committed to the YWCA’s goals and how people in their programs over the years exemplify real progress.

The focus is on the YWCA programs advocating for children and youth, health and economic empowerment, including the following:

• New Choices: Strategies for Success (Displaced Homemaker Program)
• Preventive Health (Diabetes Wellness and Health Outreach Programs)
• Future Vision for students ages 12-18 (Dropout Prevention and Mentoring Programs)
• School Age for students K-12 (After School and Summer Camp Programs)
• MotherLove/Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention

Some examples of ways in which the YWCA and UNC Asheville are already partnering will be given. Students (and others) will learn of upcoming opportunities to make significant contributions in selected events or initiatives. The evening will end with a question and answer period.

The public is cordially invited to join UNC Asheville in this celebratory and informative gathering, exploring the following questions and more:

• What is and has been the significance of the Asheville YWCA in our wider community?
• How successful has it been in fulfilling its twin goals of combating racism and empowering women?
• How long has it been active in the Asheville area?
• What are some of its current or near-future initiatives?

Sponsored by UNC Asheville’s Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, Africana Studies Program, Center for Diversity Education, Ramsey Library Special Collections, NEH Professor in the Humanities, History Department, Career Center, and the Key Center for Service Learning.

Photo from the YWCA Archives, 1964