YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago

The Women's Christian Association was founded in 1876 by thirteen Chicago women concerned about the plight of single young women in the city. Within four years, the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), as it was later called, was running two residences for working women, an employment bureau and a dispensary. Members of the YWCA also monitored railway stations and steamer entrances to provide protection to young women arriving in a strange city and to direct them to a safe place to stay. The YWCA emphasized physical education in its early years. In the 1930's and 40's, it branched out into the area of social legislation for women and girls. In the 1930's, the YWCA began racially integrating its activities, residences and Board of directors. The YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago continues to offer programs and services to women in the areas of employment, health, education, and anti-racism.