YWCA Duluth

Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women

YWCA Duluth offers cradle-to-career support for women and children in our community. Since 1893, we have taken a leadership role on changing issues facing women and their families: childcare, affordable housing, career development, after-school programming, domestic violence, health, and racial and gender discrimination. Our quality programming includes Young Mothers Transitional Housing Program, Early Childhood Education Center, Gender Equity Project, and parenting groups and educational resources for families.

Young Mothers Program serves new mothers and their infants by providing safe housing and family advocacy in an environment that addresses the needs of the whole family. Services include life skills programming, access to therapeutic services, childcare, parenting education, academic support for those in school, work readiness, and Circles of Security programming. The women served are ages 16-21 and are homeless or at-risk for becoming homeless, all are low-income, and many are BIPOC.

Early Childhood Education Center serves families with children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. YWCA staff advocate for the needs of each family in partnership with the school system and other partners. We utilize early literacy and developmentally appropriate curricula in addition to taking an anti-bias approach to educating children. The majority of children served are BIPOC and from low-income families. The center boasts a 4-star Parent Aware rating. Your support helps us to continue to provide high-quality childcare and wraparound services to families in need.

Gender Equity Project is made up of two initiatives:

1. Young Women's Initiative - Duluth Cabinet, a leadership and action cohort of diverse female-identifying, non-binary, and other gender expansive program participants ages 16-24. This cohort is focused on learning and doing with all aspects decided by the young people themselves. 
2. Gender Equity Summit, an annual gathering of women, girls, and people who identify as nonbinary, transgender, or genderqueer. The goal is to create connections and partnerships, build leadership skills and opportunities, create opportunities for self-care and healing, and build collective power to make social change. 

By providing opportunities to advocate and lead, a healthy environment, and positive supportive relationships, YWCA Duluth assists women and BIPOC in creating foundations to break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their children. We are often their last stop, and your gift makes these programs possible.