Since 1869, the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh has worked to improve our community by increasing the status of women, girls and families and advancing racial justice.  Often ahead of its time and with remarkable vision, the YWCA has tackled such issues as homelessness, childcare needs, disparities in unemployment, fair housing and civil rights.  Today, the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh is at the forefront of efforts by offering an array of programs and services, which are guided by a common vision:  peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people.  We invite you to join the YWCA greater Pittsburgh in our mission to advance the status of women and their families.

 

1869 – YWCA Greater Pittsburgh was formed by a small group of women whose goal was to become a social force for good in the community.  By combining their Christian faith with action, they dedicated their efforts to designing programs to address the lives of women and children during a time when poverty and its attendant struggles were paramount among the population.

 

1880 – YWCA Greater Pittsburgh opened the first orphanage for African-American children in Allegheny County, which is now the site of the Three Rivers Youth Organization.

 

1917 – YWCA Greater Pittsburgh created the “Committee on Colored Work,” which worked to establish savings programs and improve housing and job opportunities for African-American factory workers who flooded the region in hopes of securing wartime jobs.

 

1938 – YWCA Greater Pittsburgh members served on the first Minimum Wage Board.

 

1960s – YWCA Greater Pittsburgh developed racial dialogue teams to help ease racial tensions.

 

1970s – YWCA Greater Pittsburgh pioneered non-traditional employment programs for women by developing job opportunities in construction and the steel industry.

 

1984 – YWCA Greater Pittsburgh introduced the Bridge Housing program, which was the first transitional housing program in the nation.

 

1996 – YWCA Greater Pittsburgh opened and operated the first and only YWCA Center for Race Relations.

 

1998 – YWCA Greater Pittsburgh opened the Homewood-Brushton Center, which was largely built by women and African-American members of the Pittsburgh Black construction Association.

 

1999 – YWCA Greater Pittsburgh formed YW Homes, Inc., a non-profit subsidiary corporation with the purpose of creating desegregative affordable housing choices for low-income, single-parent families.

 

2004 – YWCA Greater Pittsburgh Center for Race Relations received the Ebony and Ivory award for organizational excellence in the area of racial reconciliation; Office of Advocacy was created.

 

2005 – Homewood-Brushton’s Children and Youth Development and Education Program receives its STAR 4 Designation based on NAEYC accreditation, a national system that sets professional standards for early childcare education programs.

 

2006 – YWCA Greater Pittsburgh Legal Resources for Women’s Department launches its new program, the “100 Lawyer one case program.”  The program is designed to match 100 attorneys with impoverished women in need of legal services for custody, divorce and support cases.

 

2007 – The YW Enterprising Women Training and Microlending Program graduates 100 women from their 10-week training courses since its 2006 inception.