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25th Annual Racial Justice Summit!
Registration is NOW OPEN for the Summit, taking place October 7–8, 2026. Join us in community to cast BOLD visions for the new world we are building together.
As part of YWCA Madison’s milestone celebrations in 2026, the 25th Racial Justice Summit honors our ongoing commitment to learning and movement building and the bold vision that orients all we do: our mission and north star of eliminating racism and empowering women.
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YWEB Intro to Computer Skills Accepting Applications
Have you been impacted by the criminal justice system? Are you looking to develop skills in an ever-evolving technology world? Is healing and community important to you? If so, we invite you to apply for our Intro to Computer Skills course, beginning June 15 through August 5, 2026.
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2026 Women of Distinction Honorees
In this milestone year, as YWCA Madison celebrates 50 years of Women of Distinction alongside 25 years of the Racial Justice Summit and 20 years of the Downtown Block Party, we turn inward to honor women from within YWCA Madison’s community whose leadership, care, and commitment have shaped who we are today, continue to guide where we are going, and reach across the broader Madison community and beyond.
YWCA Madison celebrated Women of Distinction at the first-ever YWCA Madison Solidarity Sunset Soirée on Friday, May 8, 2026 at Marriott Madison West.
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YWCA Madison Solidarity Sunset Soirée
On May 8, we celebrated our first-ever Solidarity Sunset Soirée. This new signature event honors the transformative leadership of women, celebrates the impact of YWCA Madison, and brings together the shared power and love that continues to sustain our community. Join us for an elevated evening celebrating 50 years of Women of Distinction and the legacy we carry forward together.
YWCA Madison is on a mission to eliminate racism and empower women, promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
Since our founding in 1908, we have worked alongside our Madison community and in solidarity with over 200 YWCA sibling associations across the United States to build a more just and equitable world on a path towards collective liberation.
Guided by our co-created values of community, humanity, growth, and restoration, the heart of our mission lives through programs in housing justice, economic justice, restorative justice, and learning and movement building.
To truly dismantle racism and build a liberated world, our collective approach must be multifaceted, nuanced, and rooted in solidarity as all systems of oppression are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. In all areas of our work, we are committed to addressing the ways racism intersects with other systems of oppression while also working across movements to advance justice for all.
What’s Happening at the Y?
A New Tradition Begins: YWCA Madison Solidarity
Rooted in the beloved traditions of Circle and Women of Distinction, this big celebration invites us into something expansive: a living reflection of where we have been, and a collective vision of what we are becoming.
YWCA Madison is excited to welcome you to our first-ever Solidarity Sunset Soirée on Friday, May 8 from 5:30-9:00 PM at Marriot West Madison where we will be celebrating 50 Years of Women of Distinction!
YWCA Madison welcomes Vera Lewis as chief development Officer
YWCA Madison invites our beloved community to join us in welcoming Vera Lewis as Chief Development Officer as she helps sustain and expand the ongoing legacy of YWCA Madison’s collective impact in our community and beyond. Vera joins the organization with over 20 years of experience in strategic fundraising, donor engagement, marketing, and organizational leadership.
A Statement from YWCA Madison on the death of Corey ruiz & our call for shared accountability
YWCA Madison mourns the death of Corey Durell Ruiz and stands with his loved ones, the Willy Street neighborhood, and all those affected by this tragedy. Read our statement calling for a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation, meaningful accountability, and collective healing. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to advancing racial justice, equity, and the inherent dignity of every person.