Our Mission

The Mission of YWCA Lancaster

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

Everything we do is based on the belief that all women and families have the right to be safe and choose the direction of their lives.

 Since 1889, we have served children and adults in the community through a variety of programs. Current offerings include the Racial Equity Institute, Lancaster County’s premier antibias and antiracism training, Kepler Hall Residence Program, home to fifty women, men and children; YWonderful Kids providing child enrichment for ages six weeks to five years and before/after school care in a number of settings; YWCA Lancaster’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center provides confidential and no-cost counseling services to victim survivors of sexual violence, as well as their significant others, and provides primary prevention education programs across the county, and the New Choices Career Development Program, a life-changing opportunity for Lancaster, York and Chester County’s individuals in transition to achieve economic self-sufficiency through personal development, career guidance, and job training.

Our programs address the fact that far too many individuals experience violence, and lack economic security, and these issues disproportionately impact women and people of color. If we want to empower all women, we must also tackle racism.

When all women and families are able to reach their full potential, our communities thrive.