We celebrated the strength and resilience of female athletes and those identifying with womanhood at our 15th annual YWCA Minneapolis Women’s Triathlon on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, at Lake Nokomis. It is one of the largest triathlons of its kind in the contiguous United States.

Our school systems have failed to live up to the promise of providing quality and enriching education for all students. In some states, legislation actively hinders inclusive practices. Here in Minnesota, we have a unique opportunity to lead the charge for transformative change by fostering elements of DEI in schools.

The Youth In Action (YIA) group at South High School (students who identify with girlhood — freshman to senior) meets every other week to share their views and experiences, learn about social injustice and discover how their values and identity can be transformed through advocacy and activism. By the end of the year-long program, the YIA cohort will implement an advocacy project that improves their community in a tangible way. YWCA has structured the TAC experience around community building, shared expectations, and learning through activities, field trips, and guest speakers.

On April 19, 2024, former YWCA Minneapolis Board Member Sharon J. Lubinski passed away. Learn more about the trailblazing achievements of Lubinski and her legacy of service.

As we continue to explore the “Web of Racism” and its focus on systemic racism in the United States, health care stands out as an institution that historically reproduces race-based disparities. A closer look at what is meant by “health care disparities” includes the different ways that racism is manifest in the clinical and hospital experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Taking time to learn about the varied layers of racism at work within the healthcare system produces several different lenses with which to learn more about this topic.

At YWCA Minneapolis Early Childhood Education centers we use the Social Responsibility “The We Care” Curriculum. Explore what that means, how it looks in an early childhood classroom and why it’s so important.

The Web of Systemic Racism identifies areas wherein Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) experience unequal or lack access to resources everyone needs to thrive in mainstream society. Examined here is systemic racism in housing practices, touching on access to high-opportunity neighborhoods, access to basic housing quality and homeownership.

Franklin Middle School Beacons is moving full STEAM ahead with engaging students into project-based learning. Evidence of this was shown at Franklin’s recent 1st Annual STEAM Fest where students, families, and staff all participated in fun and engaging STEM and STEAM learning activities.

When a child is enrolled in an early childhood education program, it is often their first community outside the home and is very influential in children’s development. Community involvement and engagement produce long-term benefits in the lives of children. It gives them a sense of belonging and is crucial to building their identity.

Carliene Quist, Girls & Youth Program Manager, arrived in Milwaukee for the October 2023 Women’s Convention with a suitcase and her work laptop. She returned home to Minneapolis with a truckload of donations for participants in Girls & Youth programs!

Kym Zest is returning to the YWCA Women’s Triathlon as Race Director! In her five-year break from the race she pursued other athletic achievements, started her own coaching business, and had a baby. Now, she’s back to serve the triathlon community, as it has been her home base since 1997.

During the current school year and into summer 2024, YWCA Girls & Youth will serve upwards of 850 youth in Beacons afterschool programming. Among them are 450 students at YWCA’s new Beacons Learning Center: South High School!

In December, YWCA Minneapolis partnered with Delta Dental of Minnesota to get toys for our children. Each child made a paper ornament and wrote their name and one item they requested on the back of the ornament, and our staff passed these along to the Delta Dental of Minnesota team. Through Delta’s holiday “Give a Smile” Toy Drive, they gifted 150 children from our Early Childhood Education centers (ages 3 - 10 years old) a present!

YWCA Minneapolis Early Childhood Education equips children with the knowledge and skills to reach their potential. By delivering the utmost care, all our teachers create lasting impressions on children as they learn to grow with YWCA Minneapolis and beyond.

This year’s It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race™ event will be one for the books — we are expanding to a half-day summit featuring keynote presenter Dr. Marc Lamont Hill and breakout sessions with local activist presenters Dr. Joi Lewis and Kyle "Guante" Tran Myhre.

As the largest all-women triathlon in the country, the race attracted participants ages 11 to 80+ with varying levels of experience, diverse backgrounds and powerful stories.

We asked YWCA Minneapolis employees to identify their favorite Black-owned businesses and organizations in Minnesota to uplift National Black Business Month. The following is a list we compiled from their recommendations.

Over five days, ten of our Girls Inc. Eureka! youth put their science, engineering and creative minds to work and created milk carton floats!