Vision
The purpose of the Young Women's Christian Association of Oklahoma City is to identify the ever changing needs of women, youth, and other disenfranchised groups, and to meet these needs through programs, services, and continued community education.

From the President and Executive Director
"To love what you do and feel that it matters -- how could anything be mroe fun." These words from Katherine Graham, an American newspaper publisher, aptly describe how many of us -- volunteers and staff -- feel about our work at the YWCA

Women of all ages and abilities come to the YWCA. Some see the YWCA as a place to further leadership skills and become community leaders. Others see us as a lifeboat, a place where one can be rescued and helped to survie when cast adrift without an effective support system. Passageway Shelter has been that lifeboat for thousands of women and children wanting to escape from domestic violence. This year YES!, a transitional housing facility for women who need more time for their journey, was opened. Domestic Violence Advocacy and Rape Crisis continued to be our largest programs, providing personal contact to victims and familie experiencing turbulent waters.

The YWCA is also a place of fun -- to learn to play sports -- basketball, swimming, baseball, an soccer. Girls an boys learn they can compete while, even more importantly, being part of a team that helps them grow and improve skills. As part of our continued collaboration with Positive Tomorrows, these students regularly engage in physical education with swim activities at our Ione pool.

The Gaylord Hand in Hand Learning Center is scheduled to open in April of 1998. It will prmarily serve the children staying at Passageway and living in YES! It will be our second chil car location. The Ione facility usually operates at capacity, and its Enviromental Summer Day Camp makes great use of the 40 acres of wooded property.

Senior Nutrition was our "anchor"program at McFarland this past year. The Kwanzaa Celebration was also well attended, and Tae Kwon Do remains a favorite with youngsters.

In October our Week Without violence received much media coverage. Board volunteers collaborated with local churches and schools to make this a memorable week-long event

The YWCA of the USA has undergone a strategic planning process since our last convetion. We are now looking forward to our National convention this July so that we may participate in the final phases of this process.

It was a good year. As we look back, there is a sense of accomplishment in having met the challenge to find a sense of community that allowed for the expression of different and distinctive experiences and concerns. Our Racial Justice Training helped us to meet that challenge. We've overcome many obstacles and worked to make our membership truly inclusive -- furthering our vision of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people. Everything cannot be resolved in a year's time, we have learned, but we've made good progress. With honeesty and commitment we will continue to experience positive change throughout the YWCA of Oklahoma City.