On March 3, 1866, 30 womenย met in Boston at the home of civic reformer Pauline Durant to adopt a constitution for the Boston Young Womenโs Christian Association. It was the first time in the United States the name โ YWCA โ was used. Their objective: โThe temporal, moral, and religious welfare of young women who are dependent upon their own exertions for support.โ What followed was 150 years of YWCA Boston catalyzing unprecedented advances in womenโs empowerment and social justice in the city.
During 2016, YW Boston celebrated its 150th anniversary year with a suite of events that showcased the progress we have made toward eliminating racism and empowering women in Boston, and renewing the promise of our cityโs future as a leader in equity.
YW Boston addresses individual, interpersonal, and structural barriers in order to create more equitable spaces for women, people of color, and women of color.