Enriching the Community
412 Elizabeth St. Charleston, WV 25311
Center Phone: 304.952.1351
Center Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm or By Appointment
To receive additional information or to inquire about utilizing the space for an event or activity, click here.
Shanté Ellis
Executive Director
The YWCA Charleston's Community Enrichment program is dedicated to building a vibrant and supportive West Virginia community where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered. This program focuses on creating a culture that celebrates various backgrounds, promotes fairness, and encourages collaboration among all members of the West Virginia community.
By appreciating varied perspectives, promoting fairness, and fostering a sense of belonging, we can collectively create conditions where all individuals can thrive and contribute their best to the community.
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West Virginia has a rich history of varied communities. Today, the state is home to people from various backgrounds, contributing to the state's unique cultural landscape.
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The YWCA Charleston has a long history of working to strengthen community bonds in West Virginia. The Community Enrichment program is a key initiative in this effort.
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The Community Enrichment program provides educational workshops and seminars, civic-engagement initiatives, and supportive resources.
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Our Katherine "Kitty" Dooley Center for Community Enrichment is committed to working with individuals and organizations from all walks of life to build a stronger and more connected West Virginia.
May 20th
Japanese Cultural and Language Lesson
In Celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, this family-friendly event is in partnership with Marshall University Japanese Outreach Program. We are proud to host a Japanese Cultural and Language Lesson designed to expose local families to beauty and richness of Japanese culture.
Date: May 20th, 2025
Time 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Location: 412 Elizabeth St.
Charleston, WV 25311
May 29th
Pull up a chair and join us for an engaging fireside chat with the trailblazing founder and president of the West Virginia Women's Alliance. In this intimate and candid conversation, we'll explore her journey of advocacy, the founding of a movement, and the ongoing fight for equity and empowerment across the Mountain State.
Book Now using the link below, we look forward to having you there.
Date: Tuesday, May 29th, 2025
Time 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Location: 412 Elizabeth Street
Charleston, WV 25311
June 12th
Join us for a meaningful and fun-filled event as we shine a light on the importance of protecting and respecting our elders. Enjoy free food, fun activities, bingo, and giveaways while learning how to work together to build a safer, more compassionate community for all generations.
*This event is intended for adults 60 years of age and older.
All attendees are encouraged to wear purple.
Date: June 12, 2025
Time: 12:00 - 2:00 PM
Location: 412 Elizabeth Street
Charleston, WV 25311
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June 12th
Join us for a meaningful and fun-filled event as we shine a light on the importance of protecting and respecting our elders. Enjoy free food, fun activities, bingo, and giveaways while learning how to work together to build a safer, more compassionate community for all generations.
*This event is intended for adults 60 years of age and older.
All attendees are encouraged to wear purple.
Date: June 12, 2025
Time: 12:00 - 2:00 PM
Location: 412 Elizabeth Street
Charleston, WV 25311
June 12th
Join us for a meaningful and fun-filled event as we shine a light on the importance of protecting and respecting our elders. Enjoy free food, fun activities, bingo, and giveaways while learning how to work together to build a safer, more compassionate community for all generations.
*This event is intended for adults 60 years of age and older.
All attendees are encouraged to wear purple.
Date: June 12, 2025
Time: 12:00 - 2:00 PM
Location: 412 Elizabeth Street
Charleston, WV 25311
June 17th
Acclaimed author and visionary leader, Dr. Michelle Foster, invites you to unlock your potential with Journey to Maximizing Impact - an empowering guided journal designed to inspire reflection, growth, and leadership in a nonprofit world.
Event includes Book Reading and Signing by author.
Date: June 17, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: 412 Elizabeth Street
Charleston, WV 25311
June 12th
Join us for a meaningful and fun-filled event as we shine a light on the importance of protecting and respecting our elders. Enjoy free food, fun activities, bingo, and giveaways while learning how to work together to build a safer, more compassionate community for all generations.
*This event is intended for adults 60 years of age and older.
All attendees are encouraged to wear purple.
Date: June 12, 2025
Time: 12:00 - 2:00 PM
Location: 412 Elizabeth Street
Charleston, WV 25311
June 21st
AJoin YWCA Charleston for the annual "Juneteenth Freedom Ride" from the YWCA Katherine "Kitty" Dooley Center for Community Enrichment to the Gauley Bridge.
Date: June 21, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM
Starting Location:
412 Elizabeth Street
Charleston, WV 25311
Celebrate Heritage
Share the culture of our community through these inspiring videos. Join us as we celebrate all heritages and witness firsthand; the passion, talent, and pride of our community residents.
Cultural Celebrations
Events like Black History Month, Juneteenth, and Hispanic & Native American Heritage Months are more than just celebrations—they’re opportunities to learn from one another, deepen our understanding, and build lasting connections across cultures.
Recent programs such as Growing Up Jewish in Charleston and the AAPI Japanese Culture and Language Workshop highlight the power of collaboration in creating space for shared stories, traditions, and experiences that might otherwise go unheard.
Together, these events remind us that every story matters—and that when we come together in curiosity, compassion, and partnership, we strengthen the fabric of our entire community.
If you want to partner with the Community Enrichment program for a cultural celebration, contact Shanté Ellis here.
Conversation Cafe
Let's Connect and Converse!
Join us for casual chats to get to know each other better, share our stories, and discuss what matters most. From personal experiences to community issues, we'll create a space for open and honest conversations.
Our goals are to:
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Celebrate everyone's uniqueness: Create a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and included.
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Bridge the gap: Gain a deeper understanding of different perspectives and experiences.
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Heal and grow: Share stories to foster healing and personal growth.
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Build stronger connections: Strengthen relationships based on trust, belonging, and authenticity.
Race to End Racism
Thank You for Making the 2025 Race to End Racism a Success!
We’re filled with gratitude following another powerful Race to End Racism—thank you to every runner, walker, volunteer, and sponsor who showed up to move the mission forward!
Your energy, support, and commitment help fuel our work toward equity and justice in our community. Because of you, this year’s race was a resounding success.
And the momentum continues—2026 will mark the 10th anniversary of the Race to End Racism, and we’re already planning a celebration worthy of the milestone. We can’t wait to see what we build together next.
To learn more about the race and view photos from this year’s event, please visit: https://www.ywcacharleston.org/race
Your Center for Community Enrichment
The YWCA Charleston Katherine "Kitty" Dooley Center for Community Enrichment is the first of its kind in Charleston, Kanawha County, and possibly the State of West Virginia.
This center aims to be a welcoming place where people from all walks of life experience a sense of belonging. It will house the growing YWCA Charleston Community Enrichment program, which aims to increase community education and understanding and empower leaders with the tools to advance positive social change across Kanawha, Boone, and Clay counties.
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Professional Development and Welcoming Communities
The YWCA Charleston’s Center for Community Enrichment provides programming that creates supportive spaces where open dialogue, shared experiences, and community building can happen for all people, supporting community enrichment initiatives. Specific initiatives will raise awareness and develop actions via speakers, seminars, and training on topics that introduce effective strategies for corporations, organizations, educational, political, and religious institutions at all levels for people at all levels.
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Programming for Adults and Children
The YWCA Charleston’s Center for Community Enrichment will provide support structures to create a strong sense of belonging for all children in the community. Children’s education will be supported through fun and engaging activities that include; hands-on art activities, read-aloud days, crafts, STEAM events, and more. Community members will have full access to our Center's library, featuring a wide range of books for adults and children that support self-education and promote healthy community conversations.
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First-Rate Materials
To fully engage with the community, the YWCA Charleston’s Center for Community Enrichment will collaborate with individuals and community partners that include, but are not limited to, local businesses and other local entities to meet all community members’ needs, provide resources and support, share information, and foster advocacy, towards achieving YWCA Charleston’s mission of “empowering women and eliminating racism.”