About:

 

The Greensboro’s YWCA is a nonprofit that opened in 1903, beginning as a recreation center for women. Today it is one of about 250 YWCA’s spanning the United States.  

 

After moving from their downtown location and fully transitioning into their current space, the YWCA changed its recreational background and solely focused on its mission statement: eliminate racism and empower women.

 

“There are some issues that we are standing up for that others are not standing up for,” said Deb Harris-Richardson, the YWCA’s Community Engagement Manager. “We are at heart a social justice organization and we quite often put ourselves on the line to stand up for causes that others might not want to stand for.”

 

Today, the Greensboro’s YWCA has four major programs and a family shelter located on the center’s first floor.

 

Of the four, the largest program is the Teen Mom Parent Mentor Program, which has six additional offshoots including:​​

 

• Teens learning childbirth education - including a certified mentor.

 

• Doula pairing and training program - a doula is an emotional care mentor for before, during and after birth. Any teen mom has the option to be paired with a doula free of charge.

 

• Adolescent parenting program - with weekly meetings.

 

• Teen families reading together - a literary program in collaboration with the Central Library and the Greensboro Children's Museum, which gives families a meal and personal time together, and a chance for children to play in the museum, while mom’s read in the library.

 

• Teen parent leadership program - summer program.

 

• Mommy and baby summer camp.

 

The second program, Healthy Moms and Healthy Babies, is for 20 to 30-year old mothers. It offers an educational experience on how to live a healthy life during and after pregnancy, focusing on topics including nutrition, motherhood, relationships, career paths and more.

 

The third and only program that requires a fee is YWorld, an afterschool program for middle school children. YWorld is a safe, bully-free zone where children can eat a snack, do their homework, play games and activities.

 

Passion to Purse, is the last program, allowing adults to come to a workshop with a specific skill and learn how to start a business.

 

Along with these available programs, is the family shelter, which is one of the only shelters in Greensboro to offer this. Since opening in 2015, a total of 25 to 30 people are living in the shelter at any time.

 

Many historical achievements have brought Greensboro’s YWCA to where it is today.

 

“We are a small staff, but we’re a hardworking staff,” Harris-Richardson said. “We’re not afraid of hard work.” The achievements speak for themselves.

 

In 1920, the Greensboro’s location offered one of the first daycare programs for working woman. At the time, this service was predominately serving women of color.

 

A more recent achievement made by the director of the teen mentoring program, Susan Cupito, was a house for young women ages 16 to 21, who were or had dealt with domestic abuse.

 

After thinking of the idea, Cupito was able to have it built with 31,000 volunteer hours. A total of seven moms and 12 children are allowed to live in the house at once. The interior architect students building the house collaborated with the moms to build something that would suit their needs.

 

In 2016, Greensboro’s location changed their name to the Shirley T. Frye YWCA. Frye is N.C. A&T Foundation Board President and a former member of the National YWCA Board and the Greensboro YWCA board of directors. Davis-Richardson said the YWCA is proud to have named their location after an inspiring local African American woman.

 

With these achievements listed, much more could be named.

 

“We still have a lot of work to do in the community,” Harris-Richardson added.

 

To volunteer at the Shirley T. Frye YWCA, visit their website. They are always looking for mentors, meal preparers, administration assistance and much more. Shirley T. Frye YWCA performs a $15 background check on all incoming volunteers to provide a continuously safe area for those they serve.