Girls to Ladies Program
The YWCA of Northwest Ohio’s former Girls to Ladies program was an impact effort that aimed at fostering the health, wellbeing, growth, and success of young girls of color, spanning the ages of 12 to 19. In the face of longstanding prejudice and injustice experienced by minority girls, this program served as a beacon of hope. By offering valuable education, unwavering support, and essential skills, it empowered participants to overcome the barriers they encountered during this pivotal phase of their lives. Notably, this program was sustained through public funding. For those who share an interest in contributing to this vital cause in the future, reaching out to the Youth Development director, Tycie Alcorn, can be done through the following means: Phone – 419-241-3235 ext. 120 or Email – talcorn@ywcanwo.org. Every effort counts towards making a meaningful difference and championing the advancement of these young girls.
Girls to Ladies Program
G2L22
Young Women Choosing Action
YWCA USA received a three year grant from the Centene Corporation and The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare to research, develop, build and pilot this program. This program was specifically designed for girls/young women ages 13-19 and ran for 12 weeks at a variety of locations. Young Women Choosing Action was piloted in four YWCA local Associations: YWCA of Northwest Ohio, YWCA Brooklyn, YWCA Northwest Louisiana, and YWCA Watsonville. The pilot was implemented in the summer of 2018 through the summer of 2020.
Young Women Choosing Action was an intersectional, culturally responsive, trauma-informed leadership program. Young Women Choosing Action program that enabled young women to practice skills that lead to new habits of decision-making rooted in an active choice rather than a reactive behavior. Through their participation in this program, young women who have had varying experiences with trauma, stress, and structural oppression developed leadership skills, expanded their understanding of their physical and emotional responses to trauma, cultivated a practice of personal well-being, and built their capacity as leaders. Young women learned healthy decision making, self-advocacy, and self-regulation.