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Women's Empowerment & Economic Advancement
YWCA Greater Green Bay has been striving to meet the changing needs of women and girls in the Brown County area since it opened its doors in 1919 at the corner of Cherry and Adams Streets. Whether it was offering safe boarding houses to working women in the 1920s or supporting war brides in the 1940s or sponsoring girls reserves in the 1960s, YWCA Greater Green Bay has always had its finger on the pulse of what women in our community need to thrive and grow. Today, our Women’s Empowerment Center, which opened in September 2013, remains at the forefront of women- and girl-centered programming and services in our community.
We believe every woman has the right to choose their direction. We offer economic prosperity and advancement education to empower and equip women to set their own course towards personal and professional fulfillment and economic self-sufficiency.
We meet each woman where they are in life and without judgement. Our programs are designed to help women of all ethnicities build self-confidence, develop job and life skills, and gain relevant work experience in a positive, nurturing environment that fosters personal and professional growth.
Career Closet
Established in 1993, the Women’s Career Closet provides free, work-appropriate clothing to area women. Whether preparing for an interview or building a wardrobe for an existing job, women may visit the Women’s Career Closet up to four times per calendar year. This program is offered thanks to the generous donations of clothing and service by local community members.
Madison Street Boutique
The Madison Street Boutique at the YWCA opened in May 2017 and features a wide array of new and gently used ladies’ brand-name clothing and accessories, along with swimwear, athletic wear, sleepwear, and special occasion apparel for an affordable suggested donation per item. Proceeds benefit Women’s Empowerment and Economic Advancement programs and services.
TechGYRLS® Youth Program
The YWCA TechGYRLS® – S.T.E.A.M. Experience Series seeks to empower young girls (particularly underrepresented girls) in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math and to encourage them to pursue careers within these fields. Through collaboration with area organizations and businesses, the field visits are led by women within the S.T.E.A.M. industries. Each field visit will provide a hands on experience for the girls. TechGYRLS® is FREE to participating girls grades 3-8.
*All participants will need to be dropped off at the YWCA and will receive complimentary bussing to their field visit destination.
Computer Learning Lab
Computers are available for use in the Rebecca Chernick Innovation Lab on the second floor of the Women’s Empowerment Center on Tuesdays from 1:00 – 3:00 pm. This lab is intended to make economic advancement easier for women and girls without access to technology at home. A staff member or volunteer will be present to help with basic computer skills, job searches, and other needs. Whether you need to brush up on your word processing skills, or you need help updating your resume for a job interview – let us be your resource. We are even here to help if you need help setting up a new email address or navigating your new phone.
Early Childhood Education
Safe, dependable, affordable childcare is an essential component of women’s economic advancement. Women are often the primary caregivers in their families and many leave the workforce, change careers, and/or pass up advancement opportunities in order to care for their families. Access to affordable, high-quality childcare gives women the opportunity to pursue their career goals while knowing their children are still well cared for during the day. This is why YWCA Greater Green Bay has offered childcare since the 1980’s and why we advocate for greater access to affordable childcare for all families across the country.