YWCA Greater Austin

Her-story of YWCA Greater Austin According to Austin History Center archives, the Young Women's Christian Association of the University of Texas (later known as the University Y, and now known as YWCA Greater Austin) was founded in 1885 and chartered in 1893. During that period, it provided social opportunities for women students, consisting of Bible study, prayer groups, gospel singing and support of overseas missionary efforts—particularly in China. In 1907, members of the YWCA incorporated in the state of Texas under the name of the Young Women's Christian Association of the University of Texas. Housed on the University of Texas campus, the YWCA members met in the Old Main Building until it was torn down in 1931. In recent years, YWCA Greater Austin carries out its mission to "eliminate racism and empower women" with its current programs, YW Counseling & Referral Center, Generation YW, and the Continuing Education Series. The YW Counseling & Referral Center offered mental health counseling for women, couples, and their families on a sliding fee scale; Generation YW provides prevention/intervention services for at-risk girls, and drug education classes for girls and boys; the Continuing Education Series offers training for licensed professional counselors, social workers and marriage & family therapists. Today we still run the Generation YW program in schools and have expanded to offer school break programming as well. 2024 saw many changes for the organization including the closer of our Counseling and Referral Center and the launch of our Financial Health Clinic.