Bloomfield Honors YWCA For Women’s History Month

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Township of Bloomfield. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

The YWCA Northern New Jersey (YWCANNJ) was recently honored by the Bloomfield Township mayor and council with a Women’s History Month proclamation recognizing the organization’s transformative impact helping women across northern New Jersey overcome adversity, achieve economic independence, and build stronger futures.

For more than a century, YWCA Northern New Jersey has helped women at critical turning points in their lives, whether recovering from trauma, returning to the workforce, or seeking stability for themselves and their families. Each year, thousands of women across Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Bergen and Morris counties, including many in Bloomfield, rely on the organization’s programs and services.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized by the Township of Bloomfield during Women’s History Month,” said Helen Archontou, CEO of YWCA Northern New Jersey. “Every day, we work with women who are determined to move forward as they find employment, heal from trauma, and create new opportunities for themselves and their families. This recognition reflects their strength and the importance of ensuring women have access to the resources and support they need to succeed.”

Through its Women of the Workforce equity initiative, programs such as YW WE360° Business Essentials Program, YW Tech Lab, and its annual Career Expo connect women with career coaching, job training, and employers actively hiring to help participants secure meaningful employment and long-term stability. The organization’s Reentry Support Services helps women returning from incarceration rebuild their lives by providing case management, employment assistance, and housing connections.

YWCA Northern New Jersey also provides critical support for survivors through healingSPACE, Bergen County’s only sexual violence resource center, which offers a 24-hour confidential hotline, counseling, and advocacy. Through Operation Sisterhood, the organization supports women veterans with mental health services, career readiness training, and specialized support for those recovering from military sexual trauma.

In addition, the organization recently launched New Jersey’s first Center for Racial Healing, expanding access to culturally responsive mental health care. YWCANNJ’s groundbreaking Know Your Employee Rights initiative equips women with tools to protect themselves in the workplace, helping them recognize and respond to discrimination, harassment, and inequity.

Beyond workforce and trauma services, the organization supports families through affordable child care, youth development programs, and STEM initiatives that empower young girls to pursue careers in fields where women remain underrepresented.

“We are proud to recognize YWCA Northern New Jersey for its extraordinary work on behalf of women and families in our community,” said Bloomfield Mayor Jenny Mundell. “For generations, YWCANNJ has helped women in Bloomfield and throughout our region find jobs, heal from trauma, support their families, and build better futures. Their work changes lives every single day.”

As YWCA Northern New Jersey looks to the future, its mission remains as urgent as ever: ensuring that every woman, regardless of her circumstances, has access to the resources, support, and opportunities she needs to thrive.

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