Working for women
As a child Alison Niederlander would see her mother leave the house every Thursday afternoon and head to the Butler YWCA, 120 W. Cunningham St.
There she would learn skills useful for her at the time.
Later those skills became less essential to a generation of women who were joining the work force to support their families. By 1983, a change was needed.
“Knitting classes weren't cutting it to keep the building open,” said Niederlander, now serving as the YWCA's executive director.
That change saw an overhaul of the downtown Butler location's programming and focus, as well as the eventual overhaul of the building itself. While the mission may have changed, the focus on providing service to the community has not.
The YWCA was founded by philanthropist Lady Mary Jane Kinnaird in London in 1855, for traveling nurses and single women arriving from rural areas to join the industrial work force. The organization provided women with housing, education and support in a Christian atmosphere to insulate them morally and socially from urban life.
In the United States, the YWCA began in New York City in 1858 as the U.S. Ladies Christian Association. Eventually, boarding was offered to participants.
Today the YWCA exists in more than 120 countries and 20,000 communities, working toward empowering women and girls through leadership training, changing policies or regulations that obstruct the rights of women and providing safe spaces for women and girls within their communities. There has also been an increased focus on eliminating racism through dialogue and policy change.
Alejandra Y. Castillo, the CEO of YWCA USA, said,“Generations of women began their paths to empowerment, safety, and economic security by entering the doors of the YWCA, because for over 160 years, YWCA USA has continued to press for progress.
“From voting rights to civil rights; from affordable housing to equal pay; from ending gender-based discrimination to helping young girls realize their full potential — YWCA has been on a mission to eliminate racism and empower women for women and girls,” said Castillo.
The organization began in Butler in 1918, and in 1951 moved into its current location on West Cunningham Street. Niederlander said at that time it was used as a girls' dormitory and also had a cafeteria.
“Young girls from places like Chicora would come into the big city of Butler to stay here,” she said.
At some point the organization began offering classes for stay-at-home mothers, including the knitting courses Niederlander's mother took. But as more women began heading to work, the number of those taking courses dwindled.
“My mother didn't work outside the home,” Niederlander said. “I always have, so I don't take time to knit during the day, and neither does that new generation. I think that's where it started ... because they could no longer do day programs.”When former executive director Margaret Clawson took over in the early 1980s, she recognized the need to adapt. By the late 1980s, the building was renovated to create 10 personal care rooms for seniors who were no longer able to care for themselves.Niederlander said the transition is an example of how the organization has adapted with the Butler community as it has changed.“YWCAs fill a niche in the community,” she said. “(We ask) where do we need to be, and we fill that niche. That's what this YWCA has done.”Niederlander said unlike the YMCA or similar organizations, no two YWCA branches are alike.With an aging population in the county, a personal care facility is the place the Butler YWCA can make its mark.When it first began, 10 rooms were available to those in the community who could no longer care for themselves. Over the years that number has increased to 39 residents, who are given care and meals and have their housekeeping and laundry done by care specialists.There remains a focus on young women, as the staff is hired and given training by the organization on how to administer drugs and properly care for a patient.“We want them to be able to get a better job ... that pays more because while we don't pay top dollar, we do provide that training,” Niederlander said.The facility is an attractive option for seniors and families in financial hardship, offering lower rent than other similar facilities, Niederlander said.Though the low cost of living does mean the organization is always looking for ways to improve income, it has not stopped the YWCA from improving its facilities.Shortly after Niederlander joined the organization as an executive secretary in 1990 the building's gym was divided in half to make way for community space, as well as additional personal care rooms. She said that move proved to be successful, as rentals of the gymnasium had become less frequent.In 2001 a three-phase project saw the replacement of 63 single-paned windows, as well as the renovation of the building's lobby into office space.The building's exterior, as well as the concrete sidewalks, were renovated and a deck was constructed for those living on the second floor.More recent projects have seen the renovation of first-floor office spaces and conference rooms into additional personal care rooms.A large-scale construction project began in 2004, when ground was broken for the Under Our Wing Apartments, adjacent to the existing YWCA facility. The $3.2 million project saw the demolition of a home that was converted into a dentist's office.A new building was constructed, offering 24 studio apartments for low-income people 62 and older. The YWCA provides meals, housekeeping and laundry service to those residents, while a third party provides medical assistance as needed.
The organization has also expanded north, acquiring the former Bear Creek Personal Care Home in Parker in 2006. An additional 35 individuals live there and are provided the same personal care as the Butler facilities.Today, Niederlander said the physical space of the main building, particularly the second-floor rooms, are in need of an upgrade.“We need to now expand what we want to do and where we want to fit in the community,” she said.She said often, residents are unaware of what the organization offers until there is a need.“When mom or dad has fallen and they need personal care ... people say 'I didn't know you had this,'” she said of the personal care offering. “We need to have more programs to get more community recognition.”Niederlander would also like to see existing programs expanded, as well as new programs rolled out. She added she would also like to bring back programs for women, similar to those her mother engaged in decades ago. Though, she added those programs would need to be offered at night to suit the ever-changing needs of the community.
