CLEVELAND — Editor's Note: The above video is a previous interview 3News conducted with Margaret Mitchell
The longtime head of the Greater Cleveland YWCA is getting a major promotion.
Margaret Mitchell, who has served as president and CEO of YWCA Greater Cleveland for a decade, has been selected as the new CEO of YWCA USA after a 10-month national search.
“I am not a Clevelander but got here as fast as I could,” said Mitchell in a statement. “This city has embraced me and given me countless opportunities. It is difficult to leave the great people and partnerships that have supported me and the YWCA the past 10 years. I am grateful beyond words to this community.”
Under Mitchell's leadership, YWCA Greater Cleveland has grown from 35 staff and a budget of $2.7 million to a team of 120 with a budget of $7.9 million. In 2019, she led the call to Declare Racism a Public Health Crisis in Cleveland and across the state through her leadership in the Ohio YWCA Council.
“Like all YWCA leaders, I believe in a world where all women and girls, especially women and girls of color, are free from racism and sexism, experience justice and equity, and are able to thrive,” Mitchell added. “On day 1, I’ll be ready to support the incredible work that our 200+ associations are doing in communities across the nation. I’m looking forward to advancing our national advocacy agenda.”
In 2021, Margaret Mitchell was honored with YWCA USA’s Excellence Award for Racial Justice in recognition of leading exemplary and innovative programming and advocacy.
“In Margaret, we found a leader with passion, a commitment to collaboration and building high-performing teams, and a belief that real social change is possible if we take an inclusive, wholistic view of our entire social system,” YWCA USA Board of Directors Chairwoman, Tina Herrera. “We are absolutely thrilled to announce Margaret as our next CEO.”
Before joining the YWCA, Mitchell was the President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Greater Cleveland and served as the VP of Business Development and Director of Partnerships at Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas (now BBBS Lone Star). She has also held senior leadership roles at Menttium, a for-profit industry leader in one-to-one corporate mentoring, featuring cross-company programs serving the Fortune 500.
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