Honoring the Courageous Women Who Shaped Our Legacy
This Women’s History Month, YWCA San Diego County honors the women whose vision and determination continue to inspire a more just and equitable world. From Grace Dodge, whose compassion and leadership laid the foundation for YWCA USA, to Rosetta Lawson, who created spaces of belonging and opportunity for Black women in the face of segregation — from Julia Morgan, who broke barriers in architecture and designed spaces that strengthened communities, to Dorothy I. Height, whose bold call to eliminate racism still guides YWCA’s mission — these changemakers remind us that progress is built by those willing to lead with purpose. Their legacies live on in the work we do every day and in every life we touch.
Grace Dodge (1856-1914), the visionary founder of YWCA USA, was a pioneering force for working women and immigrants in New York City. Known for her tireless work ethic, deep empathy, and unwavering respect for the people she served, Grace dedicated her life to uplifting others. As one admirer wrote, “She lived her life full of sympathy.” Another remembered her as “our best friend… who always had loving words, kind thoughts, and sympathy for lonely ones.”
Grace helped shape the future of women’s education by founding Teachers College at Columbia University and by uniting two YWCA organizations to better support women’s evolving needs. Her legacy lives on in every woman pursuing higher education, building a career, or forging new paths.
Rosetta Lawson (1875-1936) was a trailblazer and suffragette driven by a firsthand understanding of the needs of Black women after Reconstruction. She worked to create a YWCA that served those excluded by segregation. She made history by establishing the first Phyllis Wheatley Branch of YWCA — an affirming, community‑built space by and for Black women. Her leadership expanded opportunity and visibility within a segregated system and paved the way for YWCA to become the organization it is today.
Julia Morgan (1872-1957), the first woman to be licensed as an architect in California, reshaped American architecture with her innovative designs and uncompromising vision. Best known for Hearst Castle, she also designed influential YWCA buildings across the West, including Asilomar and the Hollywood Studio Club. Her work opened doors for women in architecture and community design.
Dr. Dorothy I. Height (1912-2010), the “Godmother of the Civil Rights Movement,” boldly advanced racial and gender justice. Known for her courage and steadfast advocacy, she was a movement builder. As YWCA’s first Director of Racial Justice, her historic call to “eliminate racism, wherever it exists, by any means necessary” at the 1970 YWCA National Conference continues to inspire generations.
