History & Heritage

The post World War I era sharply defined history for thousands of African-Americans who migrated from the rural south to the great seaport cities of the Northeast. They came searching for jobs, housing, and safe communities where they could raise their families. During the early 1900s, Melissa Thompson Coppin, M.D., then one of 20 African-American female physicians in the United States, organized a group of churchwomen from the historic Richard Allen AME church to help with the relocation, child care needs, housing and employment problems that confronted the new Philadelphians. In 1921, WCA became the first African-American foster care placement agency in Philadelphia, beginning the legacy of encouraging “community families” to proudly accept responsibility for providing love and support for abused and/or neglected children.

The Women’s Christian Alliance has been an effective voice on behalf of children and families for over 90 years.