YWCA Boston

140 Clarendon Street
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	Boston, Massachusetts
Built	1929
Architect	Shepard, George F.& Frederic Stearns; Root, Henry
Architectural style	Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.	04000119
Added to NRHP	March 3, 2004

YWCA Boston is the United States' oldest YWCA, having formed in 1866. With a mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all, the organization has been providing life-changing programs to Boston residents and visitors from more than one-hundred forty-four years.

Historically, YWCA community programs have included recreation facilities, daycare, adult and child education, and advocacy work for women and children's rights. Since 1880, the organization has provided affordable permanent and temporary housing for women, transients and students at its 40 Berkeley Street site.

In addition to its provision of housing and advocacy efforts, today's YWCA Boston provides women and girls' health education and awareness with a focus on breast cancer, cardiovascular health, media/body image, financial literacy, self-esteem and nutrition.

Additionally, the organization produces programs to promote racial equality. In 2009, it consolidated its operations with the all-volunteer City-Wide Dialogues on Boston's Racial and Ethnic Diversity, and has expanded the breadth and scope of that program's community and youth/police interracial dialogues efforts, adding leadership development, and community action planning and implementation components to its curricula.

In all, YWCA Boston serves more than 8,000 residents and guests annually

YWCA Boston's historic landmark headquarters at 140 Clarendon Street was built in 1929 by George F. and Frederic Stearns and added to the National Historic Register in 2004. Once housing an indoor swimming pool and recreation facilities, the building - operated by YWCA Boston-affiliate Clarendon Residences LLC - now provides affordable and market-rate housing, the boutique Hotel 140, facilities for the Lyric Stage of Boston and Snowden International High School and corporate offices for several small and mid-sized for-profit and not-for-profit tenants.

For more information on YWCA Boston please visit its website.

References

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