About Us

Pictures of Women and Children, Community Education, YWCA La Crosse

YWCA La Crosse is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

Adopted by YWCA USA General Assembly in 2009.

Our Herstory:

Teacher With Her Students, Childcare, YWCA La Crosse
Teacher With Her Students, Childcare, YWCA La Crosse
Two Women in the Kitchen, Childcare, YWCA La Crosse

In 1903, before the nation saw women as equals, community members in the La Crosse area united to improve the lives of women and girls in the Coulee Region. They voted to found YWCA La Crosse. For decades, YWCA La Crosse provided programs to inspire girls to grow into leaders of tomorrow, advocate for women, and empower women to work toward self-sufficiency. Over time, YWCA La Crosse's mission expanded to include a focus on racial injustice. In 2009, YWCA La Crosse adopted its current mission: eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. For 120 years, our programming has evolved to meet the needs of our community and ensure that women and girls, especially women and girls of color, have the support they need to succeed. Today, we accomplish our mission through four main programmatic areas: child care, supportive housing, restorative practices and community education.

Key Dates in YWCA History

  • 1858

    The first association in the U.S., Ladies Christian Association, formed in New York City.

  • 1903

    Community members in the Coulee Region vote to found YWCA La Crosse to improve the lives of women.

  • 1905

    YWCA La Crosse purchases the former Mons Anderson home at 410 Cass Street.

  • 1906

    YWCA La Crosse’s charter is approved by the national organization.

    Lunch is served to working women in the downtown area as part of the Noon Rest program.

  • 1908

    YWCA La Crosse is incorporated.

  • 1919

    YWCA La Crosse moves back to their original home, 420 Main Street downtown, to accommodate their growing membership.

  • 1926

    Membership changes from church memberships to individual memberships.

  • 1931

    YWCA La Crosse purchases the Elsie Gile Scott mansion and uses the property for meetings, a youth center, and temporary residences for women relocating to or seeking work in La Crosse.

  • 1946

    Interracial Charter adopted, starting the process of desegregation.

  • 1947

    YWCA La Crosse nursery program is established by Mrs. William Gerrard.

  • 1953

    YWCA La Crosse celebrates 50 years in the Coulee Region!

  • 1963

    YMCA and YWCA La Crosse Boards adopt a new operating agreement in which each group would share & operate a joint facility on West Avenue, while maintaining its own programming & staff.

    Nat’l Direct Action Program ensures full desegregation in YWCAs.

  • 1967

    Construction on the YMCA/YWCA La Crosse building on West Avenue begins and "The White House" at 110 West Ave. South is home for YWCA La Crosse during the two years of construction.

  • 1969

    Construction of the joint YMCA/YWCA La Crosse facility is completed, the building is opened to the public, and membership rates soar.

  • 1970

    The One Imperative (“To thrust our collective power towards the elimination of racism, wherever it exists, by any means necessary.”) adopted.

  • 1978

    The New Horizons shelter opens in May 1978 to help women escaping domestic abuse.

  • 1979

    The Action Audit for Change begins with the goal of providing equal employment and programming “to all people without regard to race, color, creed, sex, disability, age, or national origin and to promote the realization of that policy through a well-defined positive Affirmative Action Plan”.

  • 1992

    YWCA La Crosse moves out of their joint facility with YMCA, selling its half of the building and equipment to YMCA and relocates to Onalaska.

    YWCA Child Care Center South relocates to the English Lutheran Church on King St.

  • 1993

    La Crosse Young Women’s Christian Association changes its name to Coulee Region YWCA.

  • 2000

    YWCA La Crosse restructures to focus more heavily on social justice issues.

  • 2009

    YWCA La Crosse adopts its current national mission statement: to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

  • 2011

    YWCA Child Center opens in August on the campus of Western Technical College.

  • 2015

    The Eliminating Racism Campaign becomes a signature campaign of YWCA La Crosse.

    National Corporate name changed from “Young Women’s Christian Association of the United States of America, Inc.” to “YWCA USA, Inc.”

  • 2021

    REACH Services and Resource Center opens and YWCA La Crosse Headquarters moves to its current location, 212 11th Street S.