WE'RE ON A MISSION
to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
YWCA has been at the forefront of the most pressing social movements for more than 160 years—from voting rights to civil rights, from affordable housing to pay equity, from violence prevention to health care reform. Today, we continue that legacy by combining responsive programming with bold advocacy to create lasting, institutional change.
Our focus remains rooted in three key areas: racial justice and civil rights, the empowerment and economic advancement of women and girls, and the health and safety of women and girls.
We proudly serve people of all backgrounds through every stage of life—from our youngest childcare clients at six weeks old to the seniors serving through RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program). YWCA McLean County is an inclusive organization, committed to serving everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or ability.
Our programs and partnerships are grounded in equity, shaped by our community’s needs, and designed to support safety, opportunity, and dignity for all.
Core Focuses
Affordable Childcare
We provide nurturing, developmentally focused childcare that supports working families and prioritizes equity from the start.
SA SURVIVOR SUPPORT
Stepping Stones Sexual Violence Crisis Center offers 24/7 crisis response, counseling, and advocacy for survivors of sexual violence in McLean County.
Reintegration & Re-Entry
We help individuals who have experienced incarceration rebuild their lives through case management, workforce training, and holistic support that centers dignity and healing.
ADULT CAREER Development
We offer workforce programs that help participants overcome barriers to employment, build confidence, and develop the tools needed for long-term success.
EQUITY Consulting
Through customized training and strategy development, we support organizations in building inclusive, equitable workplaces and communities.
Senior Volunteering
Older adults make a powerful impact through RSVP, our senior volunteer program that connects skills and passion with meaningful service.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
LAND STATEMENT
YWCA McLean County acknowledges that the land we occupy is the ancestral, unceded land of many Native groups, including the Oceti Sakowin, Myaamia, Kaskaskia, Peoria, and Kiikaapoi nations.
These peoples were robbed of their livelihoods and forcibly removed from their sacred lands. These lands were and are the traditional territory of these Native Nations; and these lands continue to carry the stories of these Nations and their struggles for survival and identity. Their ancestors continue to advocate for representation in our country that systematically denies their traumatic pasts and on-going struggles for equity and access.
At YWCA, we stand with our indigenous peers as we strive to live up to our mission of eliminating racism, and empowering women.
We extend honor to the Indigenous people who may be excluded in this acknowledgement due to historical erasure and inaccuracy.
This statement was partially drafted in collaboration by Lester Randall, Tribal Chairman of the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas, Nichole Boyd, Former Director of the Native American House at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the McLean County Museum of History. Create your own #HonorNativeLand Poster here.
LABOR STATEMENT
YWCA McLean County recognizes that every facet of American society has been built up by the unpaid labor of enslaved Black peoples. From the time of slavery to the on-going legacies of Jim Crow and current iterations of systemic anti-Blackness, our nation continues to profit off of Black suffering. We are indebted to Black labor and sacrifice, and we cannot continue to profit off of Black suffering. At YWCA, we stand with our Black peers as we strive to live up to our mission of eliminating racism, and empowering women.
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY
YWCA McLean County is committed to promoting equity and providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community, including clients, staff, volunteers, community partners, and vendors. We are committed to helping individuals of all races, ethnicities, national origins, genders, sexual orientations, incarceration backgrounds, religions, ages, abilities, and other diversities succeed through our programming and services. We are committed to promoting equity throughout our operations, including the provision of services, staffing decisions, and selection of volunteers and vendors.