We Are History.
The YWCA of Olympia has been around since 1945 serving those in our community. A lot of organizations and community pillars got there start here at 220 Union Ave. and we wish to honor that long history by highlighting it. Check out photos and interviews about the YWCA of Olympia living and working its mission:
Eliminate Racism.
Empower Women.
Join Us May 25th 12-2pm.
Dr. Thelma Jackson is a local historian and author of the book “ Blacks in Thurston County, Washington 1950 to 1975: A Community Album”. A long time civil rights advocate and community leader they took some time to stop and talk with our director about their time with the YWCA of Olympia and its rich history.
Click here to learn more about the book and to purchase!
Dr. Thelma Jackson
Tatomya Wimbish (She/Her) Former Economic Empowerment Director and long time employee for the YWCA in the 2000’s. Stopped by and talked about starting the program, the culture of the organization and good and bad of charity
Amelia Watson (she/her) has been with the Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) Parents Representation Program (PRP) since 2006, and her most recent position is Lead Attorney. Prior to joining OPD, Ms. Watson worked for the Pierce County Department of Assigned Counsel where she had the honor of representing parents in dependency and termination of parental rights proceedings under the PRP Pilot. Ms. Watson received her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Women Studies and her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law. Ms. Watson is a founding member of the National Alliance for Parent Representation of the ABA Center of Children and the Law, an executive team member for the Family Justice Initiative, and a founding stakeholder advisor for the Washington State Parent Ally Committee. In 2012, Ms. Watson’s article A New Focus on Reasonable Efforts to Reunify was published in the Child Law Practice by the ABA Center on Children and Law. In her spare time, Ms. Watson enjoys hiking, cooking, playing with her cockapoo Charlie and spending time with her extended family. Additionally, as a longtime YWCA Olympia board member, she actively works to demand social justice in her community through the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering womxn.
Cherie Reeves Sperr, a former Director of Operations at the YWCA of Olympia, recently visited our workplace to discuss the Women of Achievement program. She shared insights from her experiences navigating significant organizational changes and highlighted the pivotal role the organization played in her personal and professional development.
