After two years of meeting virtually, the WSC World Service Council (WSC) gathered in NYC at the Cosmopolitan Club Oct. 28 for its 102nd annual meeting that featured World YWCA General Casey Harden and YWCA CEO Margaret Mitchell.
WSC Co-chair Mildred Morrison presided over the meeting of WSC members and many YWCA USA affiliate CEOs and volunteers. Everyone received a WSC pin and history booklet that was prepared for the 100th anniversary of the WSC. In addition, there were several books available for sale by Wanda Hendricks’ whose research on The Life of Madie Hall Xuma: Black Women’s Global Activism during Jim Crow and Apartheid included much history of the YWCA in the USA and Africa. A business meeting during the morning included updates on the work of the YWCA USA and World YWCA, followed by a luncheon and networking
The highlight of the day was an afternoon panel discussion with Casey Harden and Margaret Mitchell facilitated by YWCA Board Chair Tina Herrera. The topic was the current status of women around the globe and exploring strategies to overcome the disproportionate effects of Covid consequences, economic chaos, climate change disasters, war in Europe, Supreme Court decisions and the rise of autocracy around the world. Both Casey and Margaret talked about the critical significance for engaging Gen Z women who will plan and lead upcoming generations Alpha and Beta as a force for attaining true equity. Joining young women around the globe by building an all-encompassing communication platform that includes unifying messaging and the latest technology tools can provide powerful activism to move the needle around women’s rights.