Mission
YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
This YWCA mission statement was adopted by the General Assembly in 2009. Across the USA, there are 225 associations that serve more than 2 million women, girls, and their families. We are also part of World YWCA, an international movement serving 25 million worldwide in 120 countries.
Vision
Through our collective work, YWCA Princeton will be known in the Great Mercer County community as an organization where:
- Women and girls reflect our multicultural community;
- Women and girls feel safe, energized, and renewed;
- Women’s and girls’ voices are heard, and they are given leadership opportunities;
- Women and girls serve other women and girls and work toward the elimination of racism, both locally and globally; and
- Women and girls are encouraged to participate in advocacy and action efforts.
We strongly believe that until women around the world have parity, we must continue to thrust our collective power and solidarity in that direction.
Our Mission In Action
At YWCA Princeton, we seek a world free from inequity. That is why our mission is so bold. We advance our work through mission-based programs that address the byproducts of inequity: affordability and accessibility.
The advancement of our mission is critical in securing a safe and secure future for women and girls and people of color – and we need your help.
How you can help:
- Make a tax-deductible donation here.
- Make your donation a recurring gift
- Join the Friends-level supporters by donating at the $200 level or higher
- Give to our Annual Fund
- Sign up for our monthly newsletter by texting YWCAPRINCETON to 22828
- Volunteer for individual, group, or corporate opportunities by emailing volunteer@ywcaprinceton.org
- Follow @ywcaprinceton on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
YWCA supports improving access to quality, affordable, and accessible early childhood programs as a means of reducing barriers to successful workplace participation by women, particularly women of color, and providing children with culturally sensitive, developmentally-appropriate activities that enable them to succeed in school.
Our Young Wonders Child Development Center:
- Provides child care for children aged 6 weeks – 6 years old
- Open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am – 6:00 pm
- Offers a bilingual nursery school for primary Spanish-speaking children ages 2 and ½ – 5 years old
- Licensed by State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families
- Participant of GROW NJ Kids
YWCA supports improving access to quality, affordable, and accessible after school programs as a means of reducing barriers to successful workplace participation by women, particularly women of color, and providing children with culturally sensitive, developmentally-appropriate activities that enable them to succeed in school.
Our After School Program is offered to families enrolled in the Princeton Public School District’s Riverside, Johnson Park, and Community Park Schools.
- Provides after school programming Monday through Friday between 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- Offers enrichment activities such as STEM, robotics, anti-bullying education, dance, etc.
- Member of the New Jersey School Age Care Coalition and the Afterschool Alliance
YWCA supports providing people of all ages and abilities with programs that enhance their well-being. Our Aquatics program provides swimming lessons, competitive swim training, and pool access to toddlers, teens, adults, and seniors.
YWCA supports improving access to women’s health supports thereby empowering women to take control over their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our Breast Cancer Resource Center offers support to breast cancer patients and survivors including:
- Transportation assistance to critical medical appointments
- Wig and prosthesis boutique
- Fitness and wellness programs
- Support groups
- Outreach and education
- Integrative arts therapy
YWCA supports creating inclusive spaces for community members to come together and feel accepted. Our Newcomers & Friends Club invites you to join this social club where new friendships are formed, experiences are shared, and a vibrant community is celebrated.
YWCA believes that empowered women empower women. NEXT Gen is a Board comprised of professional women ages 21 – 34 who want to advance the YWCA mission, as well as receive mentorship opportunities.
YWCA supports immigrant justice because it is integral to racial justice. All immigrants – regardless of status – deserve to be safe, healthy, and treated with dignity and respect. English literacy empowers immigrants to advocate for themselves – in every aspect of their lives.
Our English as a Second Language program provides English literacy education to adult learners.
- Programming for Latina and women of color in Trenton
- Immersive learning experience includes technology and field trips
- Small class sizes
- Free U.S. citizenship preparation classes
YWCA supports education as a means to achieve equity. A high school diploma or equivalent is paramount to an individual’s self-sufficiency and independence.
Our High School Equivalency program offers preparation classes and onsite testing for individuals earning their high school diploma equivalent.
- Review classes offered in Trenton and Princeton
- Testing onsite at Princeton at our certified High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) Testing Center
YWCA supports STEM programming for women and girls because it reduces the gender and racial disparities present in the STEM field.
Our STEM/Robotics program:
- Provides year-round, competitive all girls Robotics programming for girls in grades 4 – 12
- Offers summer STEM programming for children ages 6 – 15 years old
- Member of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST)
YWCA Princeton founded the Stand Against Racism with the former YWCA Trenton in 2007. It has since become a signature campaign of YWCA USA and all 200+ YWCAs across the nation.
Stand Against Racism is a year-long campaign to unite our voices to educate, promote, and advocate for racial justice. Through this campaign, we invite our community to take a stand with us against racism.