The YWCA Boston is a wellspring for women - offering a place, a voice, and a home for women at all stages of their lives.

Unified by a common goal to achieve gender and racial justice, the YWCA provides a unique environment where women from all walks of life come together to access the tools and opportunities they need to participate fully in all spheres of life, to make their voices heard on issues of concern, and to claim their individual and collective power.

The YWCA's Mission and One Imperative

The YWCA is a women’s membership organization nourished by its roots in the Christian faith and sustained by the richness of many beliefs and values. Strengthened by diversity, the Association draws together members who strive to create opportunities for women’s leadership and power in order to maintain a common vision: peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people.

Our One Imperative is to thrust our collective power toward the elimination of racism wherever it exists and by any means necessary.

We are an organization of firsts. We were the first YWCA in the United States, the first organization in Boston to offer professional development classes for women, and we offered the first gymnaseum for women in the nation.

Read more about our history and historic firsts.