Our History↘

For 125 years, YWCA has helped women, children and families in Nashville and Middle Tennessee build safer, more self-sufficient lives.

We work to bring out the individual strengths of women and youth and to foster resiliency and self-sufficiency. Our philosophy, in keeping with the mission of the YWCA to empower women and families, centers on providing the skills and confidence needed to succeed.

YWCA is proud to be the oldest and largest women’s movement, providing services for women and their families in our community. Our local programs and services have furthered the YWCA vision of peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people since 1898. Over the past 125 years, programs have evolved and have included educational and employment classes for women, teen clubs, community dialogue groups to discuss race relations, and most recently career, youth empowerment, and advocacy programming.

To empower women and eliminate racism, we must meet our clients where they are most vulnerable and provide the compassion and services that place them on a path to self-sufficiency and success. Our vision is that all women and their families can achieve their full potential in a world without discrimination. This requires a focus on the future, anticipating the needs of our clients, and creating innovative solutions to the problems they most often face – unsafe living conditions, poverty, discrimination, and under- or unemployment.

We are evolving our services to meet the changing needs of our clients today and in the future.

Unveiling of Blue Triangle Branch historic marker at 17th and Pearl Streets.

We remain rooted in rich history, but our approach to serving our clients is holistic, strategic, and innovative.

Key Dates in YWCA History

  • 1898

    YWCA Nashville was founded in three rooms over the Gartner & Maden Millinery Shop, 227 North Summer St. (now 5th Ave.)

  • 1909

    The YWCA broke ground for a new building on Vine Street (7th Ave.) When the YWCA opened its new building, there were no integrated buildings in Nashville but the leadership of the YWCA was committed to extending programs to African American women.

  • 1919

    National YWCA funds a branch for African-American women in Nashville, known as the Blue Triangle Branch. Click here to read more about this important part of our history.

  • 1921

    Property at 5th and Gay was purchased for Blue Triangle Branch.

  • 1930s

    The Great Depression made the YWCA a haven for women and girls. The women of this city went to the YWCA for recreation, diversion, welfare, food, physical education and training.

  • 1941

    The Nashville YWCA mobilized to support the war through Red Cross drives, sewing, dances for soldiers and donating building space for defense work.

  • 1962

    The YWCA began to offer classes in Green Hills and Donelson.

  • 1964

    The Blue Triangle Branch and the Downtown YWCA became one interracial YWCA.

  • 1974

    YWCA’s Board agreed to provide emergency facilities for women referred by Rape and Crisis Center.

  • 1976

    Try Angle House opened for troubled teenage girls.

  • 1978

    The YWCA moved to Woodmont home, CABLE was established, and Career and Life Planning for Women and Girls was created. The Displaced Homemakers Program also began for women who were entering or re-entering the workforce.

  • 1980

    The YWCA opened the first domestic violence shelter in Nashville.

  • 1985

    A Capital Campaign of $2 million was completed for new facility at the Woodmont location.

  • 1992

    The Academy for Women of Achievement was established to honor inspiring women in the Nashville community.

  • 1998

    The YWCA celebrated 100 years of service to women, girls, and families in Middle Tennessee.

  • 2000

    The YWCA opened the Weaver Domestic Violence Center in Nashville, the largest emergency shelter of its kind in the state.

  • 2008

    The YWCA became the Nashville affiliate of Girls Inc. and has served more than 4,000 girls in Metro Nashville Public Schools since programming began.

  • 2010

    Re-New at the YWCA was founded by local interior designer Julie Davis and her friend Cheryl Hays to completely furnish and decorate homes of women leaving the shelter and moving into the community.

  • 2013

    The YWCA launched an innovative primary prevention initiative dedicated to ending violence against women and girls by engaging and educating men and boys. The AMEND Together program (formerly called MEND and Engaging Men) seeks to challenge, cultivate, and change the culture that perpetuates violence against women.

  • 2014

    The YWCA became the Nashville affiliate for Dress for Success.

  • 2016

    The Lethality Assessment Protocol (LAP) was implemented in Nashville through the Mayor’s Office of Family Safety, Metro Nashville Police Department, and YWCA. Created by the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence in 2005, LAP is an innovative strategy to prevent domestic violence homicides and serious injuries by providing an easy and effective method for police and advocates to identify victims of domestic violence who are at the highest risk.

  • 2017

    Shear Haven, a domestic violence education training for the beauty industry, was co-founded by YWCA and volunteer, survivor, and salon owner/stylist Susanne Post. Post and YWCA’s Advocacy Committee worked to educate Tennessee lawmakers about the need for this training in the beauty industry. Thanks to our efforts, a new state law was passed and signed by Governor Bill Lee in the spring of 2021. The mandatory training law took effect on Jan. 1, 2022. Read more here.

  • 2018

    Weaver Domestic Violence Center expanded to 65-bed facility.

  • 2020

    24-Hour Crisis & Support Helpline added texting service to enable more victims to reach out for help. Weaver Center turns 20.

  • 2021

    Abbie’s Safe Home opens on the Weaver Center Campus. This state-of-the-art pet shelter is the largest in Tennessee and allows all members of the family to escape domestic violence and heal. Read more about this initiative here.