Warren YWCA to Celebrate Centennial with Dinner, Book

WARREN, Ohio – This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Warren YWCA, a milestone to be celebrated at its annual meeting May 26 and the issuance of a commemorative book in October.

Overseeing and coordinating the celebration is its Centennial Celebration Steering Committee whose chairwoman is Molly Toth, special projects coordinator at the YW.

Linda Kanney, who conducts seminars on dealing with diversity, will be the keynote speaker at the centennial celebration dinner Oct. 26 at Packard Music Hall. She has spent considerable time working with other YWCAs in Ohio and is a founding member of the Central Ohio Chapter of the Coalition of 100 Black Women. Former presidents and executive directors of the Warren YW will be honored at the dinner.

The annual meeting, with a theme of “Throwback Thursday,” will be held at 5:30 p.m. May 26 in the YW’s new building, 375 N. Park Ave., Toth said. Longtime YW associates will reminisce and reflect on their involvement and read historical notes pulled from the archives of the organization.

“It is truly remarkable to look back over the decades and see how much has changed, but we’ve always remained true to our mission of empowering women, said the YWCA’s executive director, Kenya Roberts-Howard, in a statement.

“YWCA Warren started with a small group of women meeting above the old Western Reserve Bank Building teaching English classes, providing temporary housing and serving hot meals. Over the years, we’ve served hundreds of thousands of women and children, expanded our building and restructured our services and programs. One hundred years later, we are still growing and living into our mission to empower women in Trumbull County.”

Pictured: Ground is broken in 1916 to build the Warren YWCA. Photo is posted on the YWCA’s website.

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