YWCASEMA Opens Drayton House

On January 31st, 2024 the ribbon was officially cut on YWCA Drayton House, the third residential program for women. Drayton House will house 12 women from the community, bringing the the total number of women served through our residential programs to 27.

The ceremony featured remarks from YWCA SEMA Excutive Director Gail Fortes, Board President Lindsay Carter-Monteiro, Representative Cabral, the mayor’s office, Joe Drayton, and Yvonne Drayton. Over 100 people attended to celebrate the opening and Yvonne.

 

Thank you to all who attended the ribbon cutting, donated, gave their time, and otherwise contributed to making this possible.

Yvonne Drayton served as a community leader, board member, Executive Director and Campaign Director for the YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts and retired after 17 years of service. Under Yvonne’s leadership, the YWCA enlarged the YWCA’s service area, opened our first residential program, A Woman’s Place, started a job training program for homeless women, Blue Triangle Company, and re-established women’s healthcare programming through ENCOREplus. Yvonne was also a founding member of the City of New Bedford’s Homeless Services Providers Network.

It is with great respect and gratitude for her tireless efforts and dedication to the community of Southeastern Massachusetts and YWCA locally, regionally, nationally, and worldwide that the YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts names our third residential program after her. 

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