During CSW members of the YWCA delegation had the opportunity to meet with our sisters at the YWCA of Brooklyn.  This was a great opportunity to meet with sisters who are in the middle of an extraordinary reinvention of the YWCA within this diverse community.

The YWCA of Brooklyn was established in the late 1800s, with its main focus being providing housing for women.  As part of this, they moved into a building in the 1920s which continued to provide housing to single women.  Housing provided was single room accommodation.  The building is eleven stories and provided housing to hundreds of women.

Many YWCAs know that the provision of an asset such as this is both a gift and a challenge, with the key issue being upkeep.  A particular issue for this YWCA was the need to revitalize an ageing asset and look at the type of accommodation being provided.  A strategic review process was undertaken, which involved looking at a number of options, including selling the buidling.  The YWCA of Brooklyn however decided to keep the building and embarked on a hugh building project which is now in its final stages.  It has involved finding funding sources, and the gutting and renovation of the first five floors of the building to turn them into studio apartments.  There are also a number of floors that are dedicated to providing community space, office space (including co-locating with like minded not for profit organisations) and even an art gallery!  This is all part of the strategy to create better connections with the community, and create community within the center.  Once the building project is complete (which is only a few weeks off), the organisation will focus on expanding programs which currently include the housing program, health and wellbeing projects and a free mobile mammogram service that visits local community.

We were so impressed by the tenancity, optimism and hard work demonstrated by the board and staff at the YWCA of Brooklyn.  They have achieved an extraordinary thing in being able to revitalize an ageing asset, and being able to evolve the organisation into a vibrant and exciting place to be.  The women we met were the essence of a YWCA woman who work tirelessly, creatively and constructively to build a future for the YWCA in their local community.  We were humbled by their generosity and grace and can not wait to hear of the many successes that are in their future.



Members of the YWCA of Brooklyn host YWCA delegates from CSW