Celebrate Black History Month by Joining YWCA for the Great Race Against Racism!

Participants in this year’s Great Race Against Racism will download the interactive “GooseChase” app on their mobile device and will race to collect points by visiting over twenty sites of cultural and historical significance in Knox and Anderson Counties, including Alex Haley Heritage Square, Green McAdoo Center and many more. For more information and a list of the Great Race Against Racism locations, please visit YWCA's website HERE
  1. Download the "GooseChase" app on your Android or iPhone. 
  2. Choose to play as a guest; or register for a personal account with email, username, and password of your choice. 
  3. Tap the search icon at the top and type "YWCA Great Race Against Racism" or enter game code "YWCAGreatRace2021" to find the game. 
  4. Create your team (even if you are participating as an individual) or select your team from the list if it has already been created. 
  5. Once in the game, you will be presented with a screen that reads: "Waiting to Start." The YWCA Great Race Against Racism will start on February 1 and will conclude on February 28. Be sure to check back regularly during the month of February, as bonus locations will be added. 
For 25 years, YWCA's Diversity Day and Race Against Racism 5K has been a favorite community event. Attended by nearly 500 participants annually, the event has traditionally taken place on the Saturday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's event will be held virtual. While we will miss coming together as a community at the Phyllis Wheatley Center, we welcome this opportunity to celebrate our diverse community during the entire month of February.  
Special thank you to our Diversity Sponsors for their support of the
Great Race Against Racism!

YWCA Receives Generous $1 Million Gift from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott 

YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley was honored to be selected as one of 384 organizations to receive operating support from Ms. Scott, chosen based on each organization's "high potential for impact." 
With this gift, YWCA will continue to fulfill our mission through various programs and services for women and families across our six-county service area. We look forward to identifying incremental opportunities to further enhance and expand our programs in the years ahead.  
Learn more about the organizations selected by Ms. Scott by clicking here. Hear more about the impact this gift is having in our community by clicking the image above. 

Making the Holidays Special for All 

With generous support from donors and friends, YWCA made the holiday season a little brighter for clients across our six-county service area. Because of your generosity, YWCA was able to provide gifts such as clothing, toys, and toiletries to every client we serve. Below are photos of just a few of the community partners who made it possible. Thank you to everyone who gave this holiday season! 
With the help of an anonymous donor, three families served in our Victim Advocacy Program were able to have the holiday of their dreams! 
It is a longstanding tradition for our friends at St. John's Cathedral to donate goodie bags with gift cards to the Keys of Hope Women's Program!
The ladies from Mary Kay Knoxville donated an assortment of makeup, skin care products and much more for our clients!
Click here to view our full collection of current wish-list items.

The Pandemic Will Not Stop GameChangers 

YWCA's signature program, GameChangers, is a violence prevention program for middle-school aged boys. Gamechangers uses a group mentoring model and can be hosted in an in-school or after-school setting. 
Currently, YWCA is seeking sites that would be interested in hosting a group along with adult men who are interested in becoming a mentor. You do not have to be an expert to be a GameChanger! 
If you are interested in learning more about GameChangers, visit our website by clicking here or contact Ally Slavick at aslavick@ywcaknox.com. 

Welcoming and Celebrating YWCA's Team Members

Emma Eidson, 
Domestic Violence Victim Advocate,
Knox County Court
Genevieve Turner, 
Newly promoted to Director of Grants


Join Our Team! 


YWCA is seeking energetic individuals to join our team. Some of our open positions include: 
  • Director, YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Center
  • Supporting Youth Experiencing Trauma Program Coordinator (Part-time)
  • Front Desk Clerk, PRN
  • After-School Enrichment Counselor
See the descriptions and applications by clicking HERE
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