Celebrating Women’s History Month: Honoring the Past, Empowering the Future

March is Women’s History Month—a time to recognize the incredible achievements of women throughout history and reflect on the work still ahead in advancing opportunities for women. At the YWCA Northwestern IL, we’ve been hard at work for more than 130 years, to empower women, eliminate racism, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

This month, we celebrate the trailblazers of the past while continuing to uplift and support women in our communities today.

 A Legacy of Empowering Women

The YWCA has played a pivotal role in women’s history for over a century. Founded in 1858, YWCA has been one of the first organizations in the United States dedicated to supporting women’s empowerment, economic advancement, and social justice. Throughout history, the YWCA has:

• Advocated for Women’s Rights: We were part of the early women’s suffrage movement and have continuously fought for gender equity.
• Led the Fight Against Racism: In 1946, the YWCA became one of the first national organizations to adopt an “Eliminate Racism” mission, recognizing that racial justice is key to gender equality.
• Supported Working Women: We have provided job training, career development, and childcare services to help women gain financial independence.
• Championed Civil Rights: The YWCA has a long history of advocating for equality, including participation in the 1963 March on Washington and other key efforts to promote inclusion and opportunity for all.

Today, our mission remains as vital as ever. We continue to empower women through education, advocacy, and direct support programs that make a lasting impact.

YWCA Northwestern IL Programs: Celebrating Women Every Day

Our programs are designed to uplift, educate, and empower women of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. Here’s how we’re celebrating Women’s History Month:

1. Honoring Women Leaders & Trailblazers
   • We host workshops, panel discussions, and speaker series featuring women leaders, activists, and historians who inspire us to continue pushing for change.
   • One way we honor women leaders is through our Leader Luncheon XLV: Women of Achievement event on March 3^rd. This luncheon gives us the opportunity to uplift six exemplary women in our community who are striving to make a difference in the following categories: Business, Community Leadership, Mentorship, Professions, Promise, and Racial Justice.

2. Empowering the Next Generation
   • Through our mentorship and leadership programs, we help young women and girls build confidence, develop skills, and pursue their dreams.
   • One of the programs we offer to support the next generation of women leaders includes our Women’s Entrepreneur Leadership Academy, which offers a free four-week course throughout the month of March to help women enhance their executive presence, goals, and communication to build their businesses.
   • We also offer YW Tech Lab, a training program designed to address the significant underrepresentation of women and people of color in the IT and tech industries. This program provides digital skills, industry-recognized certifications, and hands-on training to help underserved individuals gain access to meaningful careers in technology.

3. Advocacy for Gender & Racial Equity
   • From fighting for equal pay and reproductive rights to supporting survivors of domestic violence, we work to eliminate barriers that hold women back.

4. Support Services for Women & Families
   • We provide housing assistance, career training, childcare, mental health resources, and advocacy to ensure all women have the support they need to thrive.
   • This vital assistance is provided through in-depth case management from various programs geared towards women and families of all backgrounds, including our Family Advocacy Center, Immigrant Services programs, Healthy Families home visiting program, English classes, Child Care Assistance Program, and more.

How You Can Get Involved

Women’s History Month is not just about looking back—it’s about taking action for the future. Here’s how you can support our mission:

• Attend an Event: Join us for discussions, workshops, and celebrations honoring women’s achievements.
• Volunteer: Give your time to mentor, support, or advocate for women in need.
• Donate: Your contributions help us continue providing critical programs and services to empower women and families.
• Share Stories: Use your voice to celebrate the women—past and present—who have made a difference in your life and in your community.

At the YWCA Northwestern IL, we believe that every woman’s story matters. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let’s commit to building a future where every woman and girl has the opportunity to succeed.

Join us in honoring the past, supporting the present, and shaping the future—because when women rise, we all rise.

– Amanda Lantz, Immigrant Services Coordinator