The Quad Cities Business Journal announced its Most Influential list.
The list recognizes the Quad Citizens who made the biggest mark on the region in the past year, whether through their leadership, business accomplishments, community building, or philanthropic efforts. The QCBJ asked their readers to nominate those leaders they believed were the most influential and tallied their votes to build and rank our final list.
Julie Larson, president & CEO of the YWCA Quad Cities placed 9th!
For over a century, YWCA Quad Cities has been a pillar of strength, advocacy, and support in our community.
Larson has been with the YWCA for more than 25 years. Through her leadership, the YWCA Quad Cities has worked tirelessly to empower women, eliminate racism, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
In the past year alone, the list of accomplishments is huge! Thanks to a capital campaign, the YWCA QC was able to move into its brand-new 64,000-square-foot facility summer of 2024. The new facility has allowed the YWCA to increase the size of the daycare and preschool for all, host a Summer Apprenticeship program for youth, host community gatherings in the Empowerment Center, provide more youth services through ThePlace2B, grow capacity in fitness and wellbeing programs, and launch a new QC Anti-Racist Community Advocates for Racial Equity (C.A.R.E QC) in collaboration with Healing Illinois.
Its current endeavor is to transform its former location into a State of Illinois licensed 24-hour shelter for homeless youth, which will be the only shelter for homeless youth in the Quad Cities and surrounding communities.
We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for all the work that has been done prior. Since Larson joined the YWCA team, major accomplishments have been achieved over the last 25 years.
In 2008, the YWCA became a site provider for the Illinois Preschool for All program and started with two classrooms educating children ages 3-5 with the essential skills needed. In the last couple of years, YWCA QC has been working with the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education and the Early Childhood Coalition to provide hands-on educational resources and social experiences that build strength and resilience in children. YWCA QC also hosts Intersession programs and After School programs for youth.
YWCA QC has consistently demonstrated its commitment to eliminating racism and fostering an inclusive community. Through workshops, dialogues, and advocacy efforts, YWCA QC has led the charge in promoting racial justice and creating spaces for honest, meaningful conversations about race and equity. YWCA efforts through the Week Without Violence (October) have not only raised awareness but also inspired actionable change within the community. In 2019 the first YWCA QC Race Against Racism was launched to raise awareness toward the YWCA’s mission but also to recognize individuals as Ambassadors of Change in the community who take a stand against racism in their words, deeds, and actions.
YWCA QC provides crucial services through the Empowerment Center, offering shelter, counseling, legal assistance, and advocacy to families. Their comprehensive support system empowers people to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. Through the State of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the daycare has become a safe haven for children who have family members going through trauma and need placement. Financial literacy and career exploration and training workshops are also a part of the program, empowering women and their families to build a better, more stable financial future. The YWCA Empowerment Center’s Iowa location features a free laundry service and community showers.
The YWCA QC’s ability to pivot and respond quickly to community needs underscores their deep commitment to the well-being of the community. In 2009, a group of concerned community members saw a need for a place for teenage youth who were “couch surfing” and/or homeless, and the YWCA was able to provide resources and help. The YWCA QC Board of Directors approved a drop-in center for youth called The Place2B at the annex building on the corner of 2nd Avenue and 16th Street to fill the need. To date, ThePlace2B has assisted hundreds of at-risk youth with counseling, housing assistance, programming, hot meals, clothing, and referral services. Day-to-day, The Place2B serves 30 youth.
Larson’s unwavering commitment to empowering women, eliminating racism, and supporting those in need makes her more than deserving of this honor! In our book, she’s number one!
You can see the full list here.
