Strong, Safe, and Ready to Thrive: How the Greater Green Bay YMCA is helping girls build confidence, resilience, and lifelong skills.

The Greater Green Bay YMCA‘s mission is to strengthen their community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. They believe every young person deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential in a safe, supportive environment where they can build confidence, develop positive relationships, strengthen character, and gain the skills needed to succeed in school, at home, and throughout their lives.

The Women’s Fund grant directly advances their youth development mission through the Strong & Safe Girls Program, offered to female students participating in the YMCA’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21C) after-school programs. The 21C program serves students attending high-poverty schools by providing academic support, enrichment opportunities, and social-emotional learning experiences that help close achievement gaps and prepare students for future success.

The Strong & Safe Girls Program builds on that foundation by helping participants develop critical life skills that extend far beyond personal safety. Through age-appropriate instruction in self-defense, situational awareness, boundary setting, and self-advocacy, girls gain confidence in themselves, learn to trust their instincts, communicate effectively, and make informed decisions. These experiences help strengthen resilience, leadership potential, and self-esteem during an important stage of their development.

The Greater Green Bay YMCA helps children, families, and adults build confidence, improve their well-being, and experience a lasting sense of belonging. Its programs create welcoming spaces where people can learn, connect, and grow, regardless of their background or financial circumstances. Community support makes it possible to keep these high-quality opportunities affordable and accessible while responding to growing social, emotional, and health needs across all ages.

By sharing authentic stories and measurable outcomes through digital communications, community events, media outreach, and direct engagement, the YMCA brings this impact to life. These stories show how young people are gaining skills to succeed, families are accessing meaningful opportunities, and individuals are becoming healthier and more connected. They also invite donors, volunteers, members, and community partners to see the role they can play in creating lasting change.

Looking ahead, the YMCA will continue expanding evidence-based programs, measuring outcomes, and adapting to the community’s evolving needs. The Strong & Safe Girls Program reflects this forward-looking commitment by equipping participants with confidence, self-advocacy, leadership, and personal safety skills. With support from the Women’s Fund, more girls can discover their strengths, trust their voices, and carry these essential skills into school, relationships, and the future.