New YWCA opens in Glendale Heights

It's tough to put a price on what's offered by the newest tenant in the Concorde Green shopping center in Glendale Heights.

The new YWCA Patterson and McDaniel Family Center, now located at the 13,000-square-foot site, presents programs and services to empower women economically, physically and socially.

Although it began operating in early June, the center will celebrate its grand opening with an open house from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 24, that includes tours, program overviews and meetings with staff.

"If women are treated fairly and get a fair chance ... they can find financial independence and success for themselves and their families," said Pam Bozeman-Evans, chief operating officer of YWCA Metropolitan Chicago.

To make that a reality for area women, the new center at 55 E. North Ave. will offer programs that include early child-care resource and referral services; training for parents and early care or education practitioners; and support for victims of sexual violence, including individual and group counseling, violence prevention workshops and the YWCA's 24-hour Rape Crisis Hotline.

The programs were previously offered at the center's former location in Glen Ellyn. But YWCA officials said they moved to Glendale Heights to better serve women in need of their services and to expand the YWCA's programs and space.

"Glendale Heights is very diverse, racially and socio-economically," said Bozeman Evans. "We definitely never want to lose site of the fact that we have strong roots in Glen Ellyn, but we also recognize Glendale Heights was really a prime location if we were really going to walk the walk of diversity."

As part of its expansion, the Glendale Heights YWCA will launch the organization's new Economic Empowerment Service to help working women strengthen financial self-sufficiency. The program will feature one-on-one financial coaching, technology classes and job development training.

Many programs are funded in part by grants or the government, so fees are on a sliding scale or free.

Helen Figaro, director of the center's early childhood services, said the reception in Glendale Heights has been warm from residents, police and village officials. Now she hopes the open house - and the visible location in the shopping center - will help the YWCA settle even more into the community.

"We wanted to let people know we're here and we're ready to help," Figaro said.