About Us
Youngstown Business and Professional Women, or YBPW is a non-profit organization for working women in and around the Mahoning Valley. Our mission is the advancement and empowerment of women through mentorship and education.When we meet
YBPW meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at a local restaurant. Dinner meetings begin at 5:30 pm and include network opportunities and presentations on topics affecting working women.
Our History
‘YBPW was established in 1920 and is affiliated with the Ohio BPW and BPW Foundation. Our organization is rich in history and rooted in tradition.
While mobilizing for World War I, the U.S. Government recognized the need for a cohesive group to coordinate identification of women’s available skills and experience. A Women’s War Council, financed through a federal grant, was established by the War Department to organize the resources of professional women.
The National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs was founded on July 15, 1919. The organization later filed to do business as (dba) Business and Professional Women/USA (BPW/USA).
BPW/USA became the Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Foundation in 1956.
President John F. Kennedy signs the 1963 Equal Pay Act into law as 1962-63 BPW/USA president Dr. Minnie Miles watches. Dr. Miles received the first pen from the signing.
Our Gallery
2023-2024 Executive Board
President: Jessica Foster ybpwboard1@gmail.com
1st Vice President: Dr. Erinn Vranches ybpwboard2@gmail.com
2nd Vice President of Membership: Gina DeGenova Zawrotek ybpwboard3@gmail.com
Treasurer: Angela Duskey ybpwboard4@gmail.com
Recording Secretary: Becki Bruno ybpwboard6@gmail.com
Correspondence Secretary: Erin Brand ybpwboard5@gmail.com
Scholarship Chair: Dee McFarland
Legislative Platform
2020-2021 BPW/OHIO LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
PREAMBLE: The Alice Paul Equal Rights Amendment shall stand first, foremost, and above all other items which may appear on the Legislative Platform of this Federation until equal rights for women and men become guaranteed in the United States Constitution.
THE ALICE PAUL EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT: Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
CIVIL RIGHTS: Actively work to pass legislation, which will ensure equal rights and remedies for women in all phases of their lives, including support of affirmative action programs; and eliminate all forms of harassment against individuals.
ECONOMIC EQUITY: Actively work to support equal educational opportunities; equal treatment for women in all areas of employment, including adequate retirement benefits, improved programs for women re-entering the workforce, and implementation of equal pay for work of comparable worth.
DEPENDENT CARE: Actively work to strengthen and improve enrichment programs, physical facilities, and funding for affordable quality dependent care of all ages.
VICTIM RIGHTS: Actively work to strengthen and enforce legal protection for all individuals who are victims of violent acts including domestic and/or sexual violence; and human trafficking; promote violence prevention programs; support services and facilities for survivors of this violence and the funding thereof; and support legislation, which provides compensatory and punitive damage awards to victims.
HEALTH: Actively work to strengthen and enforce legal protection for full access to all health care services including reproductive choice, funding for research into and protection for women’s health care, and educational programs concerning women’s health issues.
POLICY ITEMS: Actively work for the election of and appointment to policy-making positions those who support the BPW Legislative Platform.
Adopted May 2020
Source: Ohio Business and Professional Women