07/04/2026
YWCA Rhode Island hasn’t just impacted history, we’ve helped write it. From founding vital institutions to empowering generations of women and girls, our legacy is woven into the very fabric of Rhode Island’s social progress.
The YWCA has always stood at the forefront of advocacy for the most structurally disenfranchised members of our community. From being the first YWCA in the country to accept women of all denominations, to supporting newly arriving immigrants, creating dignified housing options, expanding educational opportunities for teen parents, establishing structures to secure women's rights, and most recently, advocating for unhoused veterans, our legacy is one of bold, inclusive action.
Founded in 1867 in Providence by seven visionary women, YWCA Rhode Island is the third oldest YWCA in the nation. These women were deeply concerned with providing a “home away from home” for young women migrating to the city in search of work. By 1879, the organization had already launched an employment bureau—an early sign of its commitment to economic empowerment.
YWCA Rhode Island was formed through the merging of several local chapters: YWCA of Woonsocket (1921, later YWCA Northern Rhode Island), YWCA of Providence (1890), and YWCA Pawtucket/Central Falls. In 1965, the latter two merged to form YWCA Greater Rhode Island, and in 2011, YWCA Northern Rhode Island joined to create the statewide organization we know today.
Throughout its history, YWCA Rhode Island has pioneered transformative programs. In 1980, YWCA Northern Rhode Island launched Parenting in Progress, offering teen mothers GED courses, parenting instruction, and support services. This initiative laid the foundation for the Sheila "Skip" Nowell Academy, a charter school established in 2012 to serve under-resourced students.
Several YWCA programs have grown into independent agencies, including the International Institute of Rhode Island (now Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island) and Travelers Aid Society (now Crossroads Rhode Island). YWCA helped establish the Rhode Island R**e Crisis Center (now Day One - Rhode Island's Sexual Assault & Trauma Resource Center), hosted Progreso Latino, and served as the home of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV). Its support group “The Way Out” for LGBTQQ youth evolved into Youth Pride Inc.
When we reflect on our history and compare it to our current programs and strategic vision, it’s clear that we have remained true to the mission of our foremothers.
