YWCA Greenwich hosted its Young Women’s Initiative (YW-I) on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
This civic engagement training program hosted 24 young women, ranging from high school juniors to college sophomores. This year’s workshop welcomed 75th Secretary of the State of Connecticut, Stephanie Thomas, as the keynote speaker, who led a discussion titled, “Why Young Women’s Voices Matter in Democracy.”
“We view the Young Women’s Initiative as an opportunity for the next generation to hear from current change makers,” explained Director of the Center for Equity and Justice at YWCA Greenwich, Simone Quartey.
The workshop included group seminars led by guest speakers, such as a Gen-Z Latina panel discussion, Thea Montañez, Senior Advisor to Governor Ned Lamont, told her story – intersecting policy with the personal narrative, and a conversation led by the Chief Public Policy Officer of Planned Parenthood SNE.
YWCA Greenwich’s Young Women’s Initiative. July 26, 2025. Photo: Leslie Gomez
YWCA Greenwich’s Young Women’s Initiative. July 26, 2025. Photo: Leslie Gomez
YWCA Greenwich’s Young Women’s Initiative. July 26, 2025. Photo: Leslie Gomez
YWCA Greenwich’s Young Women’s Initiative. July 26, 2025. Photo: Leslie Gomez
YWCA Greenwich’s Young Women’s Initiative. July 26, 2025. Photo: Leslie Gomez
Secretary of the State of Connecticut Stephanie Thomas at the YWCA Greenwich’s Young Women’s Initiative. July 26, 2025. Photo: Leslie Gomez
There were also networking and Q&A opportunities for the participants to engage speakers and panelists, where the young women were required to collaborate with one another. This training program encourages young women from different walks of life to come together and learn from empowering women that they can look up to.
Featured guest speakers included the Engagement Manager for the Office of State Treasurer Erick Russell, Gabriela Koc; the Outreach Assistant for the Office of U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, Sarah Lopez; the Senior Advisor to Governor Ned Lamont, Thea Montañez; the Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Planned Parenthood Votes! CT and Planned Parenthood Votes! RI, Gretchen Raffa; and the Statewide Parent Cabinet Coordinator for Early Childhood, Chenae Russell.
More information about happenings at YWCA Greenwich is available online.
About YWCA Greenwich: Founded in 1919, YWCA Greenwich is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. YWCA Greenwich provides programs for people of all ages and genders with initiatives that include preschool and after school programs, aquatics programs, youth athletics, health and fitness programs and seminars focusing on racial justice and women’s empowerment. Additionally, YWCA Greenwich is the only provider of both domestic and sexual violence services in Greenwich, with staff who are licensed to provide crisis intervention, counseling, shelter, and victim advocacy. These services are free.