HUBER HEIGHTS — As the YWCA in Dayton prepares to move locations to a new 19-acre campus in Huber Heights, President and CEO Shannon Isom says she remains focused on continuing the mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families and strengthen the Miami Valley.
Isom said the new location on Timbercrest Drive will help the organization provide more services, as they extend their downtown Dayton services.
“We knew that we had to look at how do we fix some of those gaps to make sure that our care for women, and our continual care for women, is stronger and tethered in a way that doesn’t miss anyone,” Isom told News Center 7′s Ronnell Hunt.
The YWCA has the only domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers in both Montgomery and Preble Counties.
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Isom said housing will be vital in the construction of the new campus.
“What we would like to see is a housing model that fits all needs. So, not only for women that are moving through the destabilization of housing, but really seeing an extended care around transitional housing,” Isom said.
With the help of grant money and private donors, the YWCA is currently building and transitioning to the old Montgomery County Development Center, which closed in 2018. The Huber Heights campus will include 11 buildings, 7 residential units, an administration building, community center and green space for outdoor use.
Isom said she wants to continue with efforts to eliminate racism and empower women in the Miami Valley; that includes the continuing of youth programs like “Amend Together” and “Girls Lead.”
“I want to build a racial justice equity center. So, we are really focused on solving problems within community and then having people come on this space to do the same,” Isom said.