YWCA Berkeley/Oakland

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

What is now YWCA Berkeley/Oakland was founded on March 10, 1889 by a group of UC Berkeley women. Students met frequently on campus to converse and gather.

Early YWCA leaders focused on making life better for women via a strong underpinning of social justice principles. Our vision, “peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people” has endured through more than a century and a half of YWCA work.