YWCA of the City of New York

For their end-of-semester showcase, PS 298 students celebrated all the skills, techniques, and teamwork they've built through tennis this year.

Each student was gifted their own tennis racket by the incredible instructor team from Johnny Mac Tennis Project, to continue practicing these skills at home. Programs like tennis help young people build confidence and stay active.

BOARD SPOTLIGHTS! 💫

Join us in welcoming Kamiel Nawal Solomon to the YWCA NYC Board of Directors! Solomon is a Senior Program Manager for New York City Public Schools. She has extensive experience in recruitment, retention, family engagement, foster care support, and district-level operations. Welcome to the Board, Kamiel!

Also, we are welcoming Bianca Bonfim Exton to the Board! Bianca is a marketing leader with 10+ years in Brand, Consumer, Growth, and Product Marketing, with proven expertise in data-driven strategies, scaling high-performing teams, and launching multi-channel campaigns. We are so lucky to have her on our team. Welcome to the team!

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

This month, we’re celebrating the strength, joy, leadership, and resilience of LGBTQ+ communities — especially the young people and change-makers creating a more inclusive future every day.

Our community at Urban Assembly Academy for Future Leaders came together for a Rose Celebration to honor the mothers, caregivers, and loved ones who support our students every day.

Students shared heartfelt pieces they wrote in appreciation of their families and supporters. We closed out the day with the YWCA Flower Bar, where families created bouquets to take home. 💐

The Girls Symposium theme this year was "Own Your Mind. Own Your Future." Selected by the Fall 2025 cohort of the Girls Initiatives Ambassadors, this year’s theme reflects a commitment to agency, independence, and growth during a pivotal stage of young adulthood.

Own Your Mind is a call to action—encouraging young people to prioritize mental wellness, advocate for their communities, and build the knowledge and skills needed to lead with confidence and purpose.

As the school year comes to a close, we are so proud of our Funny Girls for their growth and change in perception of themselves as leaders. Through improv, students built confidence, strengthened their leadership skills, and discovered new ways to express themselves and support one another.

To celebrate the end of the year, students at PS 329 Brooklyn took part in a special showcase where they shared everything they learned with their peers, families, and community. We are so proud of each and every participant. Funny Girls is a program of the Harnisch Foundation. Thank you to The Harnisch Foundation for making this experience possible.

Girls Initiatives celebrated the end of the spring semester with Showcase Week — a special time for participants to share and celebrate all they’ve been working on throughout the semester. From STEM computer programming to powerful poetry readings, students showcased the incredible skills, confidence, and dedication they’ve built this semester. We are so proud of all they have accomplished!

Our 2026 Girls Symposium was a huge success! Centered around the theme “Own Your Mind, Own Your Future,” the symposium brought together young leaders for a day of empowerment, growth, and inspiration through engaging workshops, leadership development, and opportunities to build confidence and advocacy skills.

This event would not have been possible without the support of our dedicated sponsors. Thank you for your commitment to our mission and for your continued generosity in supporting the next generation of girls and gender expansive youth as they grow into confident leaders and change-makers.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPOTLIGHTS🌟

YWCA NYC is proud to highlight Mary Crawford, a recent addition to our Board of Directors. A longtime supporter of our work—and former interim Chief Operating Officer—Mary continuously proves to be an invaluable partner to our team. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and guidance.

The YWCA NYC also welcomes Kathleen Dumes to our Board of Directors! Dumes is the Senior Investment Strategist at Bernstein Private Wealth Management. We are so happy to continue to collaborate with Senior Leaders at Alliance Bernstein, who has been a wonderful partner to the YWCA NYC. Join us in giving Kathleen a warm welcome!