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| In the summer of 1919, a historic group of dedicated women, led by Mrs. James M. Jackson (wife of the doctor for whom Jackson Memorial Hospital was named), collected less than $2,000 to fund and open Miami’s YWCA. This drive was inspired by Miss Vilona P. Cutler, who arrived in Miami in April 1919 from the national YWCA headquarters with the sole purpose of establishing a YWCA chapter. On June 16, 1919, the committee launched a 1-day drive, which recruited 1,738 members and raised more than the $1,000 necessary to open a YWCA. The drive was featured by both the Miami Herald and The Miami Metropolis and announced through the blowing of every whistle and tolling of every bell in Miami at exactly 9:00 AM. By the Miami YWCA’s first birthday celebration on July 7, 1920, it was the largest in the South, with over 2,000 members. It also had the largest mortgage, having bought the Fort Dallas Hotel and valuable property at SE First Avenue and First Street for $150,000.
In 1921, William Jennings Bryan assisted the YWCA’s fundraising committee, and raised $46,673 in five days. He described the YWCA as the “home of the friendless young woman the moment she enters the city…a home where she will have the most refined influence and guardianship. It is first aid to the newcomer, friend to the stranger within our gates, home to the girls residing in the city, guardian of the welfare of the women of Miami.” Thanks to his influence over the wealthy, and the dedication of the founding women, Miami’s YWCA flourished and served over 5,000 girls and women in only three years of operation. The scope of services included classes in Spanish, dressmaking, millinery, and Bible study, journalism as well as women’s first organized sports, including basketball and swimming.
The concept of the YWCA originated in England in 1855. The movement spread to America in 1866, but was restricted to mainly northeastern states, the center of the country’s earliest industrial areas. YWCA’s were established to provide safe and affordable lodging, recreation and employment skills training for young women who were migrating from rural regions to the urban environments of large cities. Originally founded by young Christian women, the YWCA served a purpose which no other women’s organization had, “binding women and girls together in voluntary association for the good of all and for the building of a better world.”
YWCA’s are open to all faiths, and share a common mission through their affiliation with the YWCA of the USA that is to work for the empowerment of women and girls and strengthened by diversity, the Association draws together members who strive to create opportunities for women’s growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision: peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people, with one imperative-to thrust its collective power toward the elimination of racism wherever it exists and by any means necessary.
Following the lead establish through its national association, the mission of the YWCA of Greater Miami is in turn, “To provide opportunities to all races of women, girls and their families to enhance their personal growth, leadership, education, health, and empowerment.”
The YWCA of Greater Miami, now located in the heart of historic Overtown, Miami’s oldest African-American community, prides itself on being a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural community-based organization. Diversity is not only represented by the clients served, but is also reflected by the Board of Directors and staff. In recent years, the YWCA served approximately 18,000 individuals throughout the Miami-Dade community. The YWCA children’s services programs (ages 0-12) served more than 6,000 children, 40% of whom have household incomes below the median.
The scope of services provided by YWCAs throughout the country are adapted to meet the needs of the local communities they serve. There single focus is to promote the empowerment of women, volunteerism and assistance for the disenfranchised. |
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Entreprise: |
YWCA of Greater Miami-Dade, Inc |
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Adresse: |
351 NW 5th Street |
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Ville: |
miami |
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Code Postal: |
33128 |
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Etat/Région/Pays Préféré: |
fl |
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Pays: |
États-Unis |
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Téléphone: |
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Fax: |
305-416-4618 |
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E-mail: |
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