YWCA Evanston/North Shore ceremonially breaks ground on expansion

Although YWCA Evanston/North Shore began working on its campus expansion and renovation several years ago, the organization held a small, socially distanced groundbreaking ceremony on September 17 at the YWCA to officially launch the project.“This morning marks an incredible milestone in the work of YWCA Evanston/North Shore,” said Karen Singer, president and CEO in front of a small group composed of people involved in the project and community leaders including Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty.“Our expanded campus will enable us to continue building on our mission and our vision,” said Singer. “Through this project, we are building racial and gender justice, equitable communities, safety from abuse for women and children, opportunities for women to work toward stable economic futures, and we’re building a community where all youth are safe in the water.”YWCA’s expansion project, which is scheduled to be completed by mid-2021, will double the capacity of the organization’s emergency shelter for domestic abuse survivors and their families, expand classroom and training space for economic empowerment and racial equity programs, and upgrade the pool areas to boost the mission-driven Flying Fish aquatics programs.Through grants and private donations, YWCA Evanston/North Shore has raised $16.6 million toward its funding goal of $18.5 million for the project.