YWCA of Northwest Indiana

The YWCA - USA

The YWCA was founded in 1858 and is the oldest and largest multicultural women’s organization in the world. Annually, 25 million women and their families learn and grow through programs facilitated by YWCAs in 122 countries.

In the US, the YWCA mission is eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people.

The YWCA of Northwest Indiana

The Young Women’s Christian Association of Northwest Indiana traces its roots to a branch office that was located at 30 E. 6th Avenue in downtown Gary. Established in 1920 with a strong commitment to serve, the YWCA has become a well-established institution serving the community for over ninety years. In December 2000, the YWCA proudly opened a brand new facility located at 150 W. 15th Avenue in Gary, which houses the only indoor public pool in the city as well as a gymnasium, dance studio, fitness room, meeting center and full commercial kitchen. As the only YWCA in northwest Indiana we have an all-female Board of Directors and serve as a training ground for young, and especially minority, women to learn about board and community service.

Our beautiful, state-of-the-art facility provides a safe, clean, vibrant environment in the heart of Gary’s urban core that is host to a vast array of health, education, social and recreation programs. Whether it’s our “Yes We CAn!” youth enrichment programs; our full schedule of water and land aerobics; our senior lunch program; Methodist Hospital’s monthly “Health Matters” workshops; Marion Berry’s Water Babies swim instruction for infants and toddlers; College Readiness workshops; “Lunch with Doc”; Energy Assistance Intake; or our newly introduced mentorship program for at-risk teen girls, the YWCA brings the community together in healthy, enriching activities for mind, body and spirit.