About - YWCA Tri-County Area

YWCA Tri-County Area is on a MISSION.

Serving the community for over 110 years.

We strive to fulfill our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women through education, empowerment, and advocacy.

Through our wide range of programs across the region, we provide opportunities for youth, women, families, and communities to learn, grow, and take a stand.

The communities we serve rely on us for affordable quality early education, adult basic education, women and girl empowerment programs, and diversity programming. Through these programs we make a positive change in attitudes, behaviors, and lived experiences.

Mission

YWCA Tri-County Area is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

Vision

YWCA envisions a world that holds equal promise for every person. We stand in solidarity with our community members against racial injustice and work towards a world where equality exists in every facet of our society.

Through our collective work, YWCA Tri-County Area will be known as an organization where all people, but especially women, girls and families of color, receive trauma responsive, culturally competent, education services that will support the enrichment of their lives.

Core Values

YWCA is committed to drive change, to listen, facilitate discussion, support and most importantly, act.
YWCA board of directors, staff, and volunteers serve our community with integrity, courage, accountability, and compassion.
YWCA celebrates diversity, practices inclusion, and promotes equality.

Organizational Mission and Background

Established in 1908 in a 2-story frame building as YWCA of Pottstown, YWCA Tri-County Area initially provided shelter for homeless young women and girls and countless others employed in the town’s factories. YWCA moved into its current residence at 315 King Street in 1913, where it housed women and girls permanently and temporarily, fed hungry families, added educational programs, recreational teams, and special interest clubs. Over the years, services adapted to the changing needs of girls and women in the community.

Through programs and services created to support and enrich the community, YWCA Tri-County Area remains a leader in advocating for women, girls, and families. Our Direct service programming includes early childhood education, before- and after-school enrichment, youth/girls’ development, adult education, and workforce development. YW3CA’s Mission-based advocacy efforts strengthen social capital related to women’s empowerment, racial and social justice, and health and safety.

As an educational organization that is empowering and inclusive, YWCA Tri-County Area serves more than 1,500 women, children, and families. The Tri-County Area is bounded by a 10 mile radius centered in Pottstown Borough. Target communities include all or part of the seven public school districts surrounding Pottstown: Pottstown, Pottsgrove, Spring-Ford, Owen J. Roberts, Boyertown, Daniel Boone, and Perkiomen Valley.

Community Partners

In Pottstown, YW leads and participates in strategic impact partnerships designed to improve the economic and social mobility of families in the Tri-County Area. YW has a 110-year history of sharing, collaborating, and learning with partner non-profits, civic organizations, schools, local government, and other community organizations, working to meet the community’s changing needs as well as each organization’s mission.

Our current network includes ACLAMO Family Centers, CADCOM, Community Health and Dental Care, Creative Health, Early Learning Resource Center, Family Services of Montgomery County, Interagency Council of Norristown, Intermediate Units of Montgomery, Chester, and Berks counties, MontcoWorks, MontcoWorks NOW, Montgomery County Community College, Montgomery County Human Relations Commission, Montgomery County OIC, Pennsylvania CareerLink, Philabundance, Pottstown Early Action for Kindergarten Readiness (PEAK), Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities, Pottstown NAACP, Pottstown Trauma-Informed Community Connection (PTIIC), Pottstown workforce development task force, Salvation Army, Tri-County Area school districts, Tri-County Area Chamber of Commerce, TriCounty Community Network, the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, and local and county governments.