The YWCA of Metropolitan St. Louis has helped to make major strides in the empowerment of women, and it is located right here on the campus at Saint Louis University.

Since 1994, the St. Louis Young Women’s Christian Association has been located in the Phyllis Wheatley Building on West Pine Boulevard, across from DeMattias Hall. While the YWCA is not affiliated with the University, the agency has enjoyed a friendly relationship with the school.

“We absolutely love being on this campus,” said Joy Burns, chief executive officer of the YWCA of Metropolitan St. Louis.

According to Burns, the YWCA is the oldest and largest women’s membership organization. Branches have been established in about 150 countries and approximately 300 branches exist in the United States.

The YWCA of Metropolitan St. Louis was established in 1904 to provide housing and job training for rural women who came to the city seeking work opportunities at the World’s Fair. Since then, the organization has broadened its focus to meet the changing needs of women.

“Our goal is to help women fulfill their own potential,” Burns said. “We are also committed to social justice in all that we do and are a multicultural organization at all levels.”

There are more than 20 YWCA sites throughout St. Louis city and county that offer programs to fulfill this mission. The agency is part of a coalition that runs the Regional Sexual Assault Center, which trains volunteers to assist victims of rape. The YWCA also runs a large majority of the Head Start programs in St. Louis county and city.

One of the programs that takes place at the Phyllis Wheatley Building, which was a retreat center for priests before the YWCA purchased it, is the agency’s Transitional Housing Program. In the program, women who are typically single and homeless can stay at the center for up to two years. While there, they benefit from affordable housing, counseling and job readiness training and can work with licensed clinical social workers.

According to Burns, a college campus like SLU’s is an ideal place for such a program because the environment exposes the young women to other choices for their future. “Empowering people is all about showing them options,” she said.

Burns added that several SLU social work students intern or participate in practicum work in the Transitional Housing program. Another way SLU students can get involved at the YWCA is by volunteering for another major program that takes place at the Wheatley building-the YW-Teens program, which is an after-school leadership development program for middle school girls. They meet five days per week and participate in a variety of activities that offer knowledge, skill and values that lead to success in adolescent and adult life.

There are also volunteer and internship opportunities in the YWCA’s administrative offices, also located in the Wheatley building. Students can gain hands-on experience in non-profit operations, from public relations to development to fundraising.

Senior Nicole Honerkamp is currently interning in the YWCA’s development department, working on publicity and fundraising as part of her Women’s Studies capstone project.

“It has been a really good experience, and I couldn’t ask for a more convenient location,” Honerkamp said.

Students who are interested in work or volunteer opportunities at the YWCA can call 531-1115.