YWCA Women’s Empowerment Center opens in Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The YWCA Women’s Empowerment Center has officially opened its doors at 1609 North Boulevard in the MidCity Gardens area, offering a safe, supportive, and empowering space for women.

“Many women have to travel to different locations in order to receive the holistic services that they do. This site that we’re opening is through the YWCA Women’s Empowerment Center. When that woman walks through the door, everything she needs is in this building,” said Dianna Payton, the CEO of the YWCA’s Empowerment Center.

On Thursday, the community gathered to explore the center’s wide range of offerings, including mental health support, legal assistance, domestic violence services, and a creative space for artistic expression and relaxation.

“The dream of this space is that when a woman walks through those front doors, she receives everything she needs from case management to her mental health to having recreational things to do,” said Payton.

Payton said the center’s creation is the result of collaboration among multiple organizations, as well as support from state and local leaders.

“We have the Power Coalition is using that framework to provide art therapy and to together world-renowned artists who will teach classes to provide different opportunities for women in this facility,” she said about one of the organizations who helped.

She also emphasized that the center welcomes additional community groups and individuals who want to contribute to its mission.

“We have a multipurpose room, if you have a class you want to teach or something you want to do, and we have time on the calendar. You can use the space is open to all of our partners and people are trying to make a difference,” she said.

The YWCA’s Women’s Empowerment Center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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