June 21, 2019
Welcome to summer! Here are a few updates and recaps:
Next Week: Our Podcast Launch!
We’re launching our first-ever podcast, “
Organize Your Butterflies,” on
Friday, June 28 at 12 a.m. ET. We invite you to stay up late on Thursday night to celebrate the podcast debut when the clock strikes twelve — or, if you prefer, listen to the podcast on your commute to work on Friday morning.
Each episode, we’ll discuss the ways women — including many of the amazing leaders at YWCA — are working to organize, strategize, and mobilize around critical issues like equal pay, domestic violence, women’s entrepreneurship, and more. Across the country, women are putting in the work and making a difference to help women, families, and marginalized communities.
As our trusted YWCA family, we need YOUR help to make our podcast debut a success! Here’s how you can help:
- Listen and subscribe to the podcast! You’ll be able to find “Organize Your Butterflies” on Apple Podcasts (and all major podcasting platforms) next week. We are thrilled to honor Dr. Dorothy Height, one of our great leaders, by naming our podcast "Organize Your Butterflies." You'll learn more about this name when you listen to our introductory podcast.
- Rate and review the podcast. After you listen to our debut episode, please take a few minutes to rate us out of 5 stars and write a positive review on Apple Podcasts or iTunes. The first 72 hours makes all the difference.
- Spread the word. Help us share the news and raise awareness about by emailing these details to your network, posting about it on social media using the hashtag #YWCAButterflies, and talking about it with your friends, family, and community!
- Give us your input. What topics, stories, or guests do you want to hear on the podcast? What are some of your favorite podcasts that you’d love us to emulate more and draw inspiration from? Let us know! Send your thoughts, tips, and ideas to Nancy Yasharoff.
2019 National Conference
Here are some updates and reminders following our recent national conference:
- Presentations and Resources: We’re continuing to add presentations, videos, and other materials from the 2019 National Conference to this resources Intranet page, including our official conference theme design. Check it out!
- National Conference Evaluation Survey: We value your feedback and thoughts about your conference experience. Please complete our 2019 conference evaluation survey by June 28.
- Sessions Feedback: Please provide feedback about the sessions you attended. In the 2019 YWCA National Conference app, click on “Schedule”, click on a workshop session, scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on “Session Feedback Questions.”
- Capitol Hill Day 2019: Thank you so much for making Capitol Hill Day 2019: “Our Power, Our Congress” an incredible success! YWCA brought our power to the halls of Congress, with over 250 advocates on Capitol Hill meeting with their Representatives, Senators, and staffers. As a reminder, we need your feedback to learn about what went well and what we can do better in 2021. Please fill out the “Overall CHD Survey” and “CHD Meetings Feedback” in your 2019 YWCA National Conference app. For additional questions, email advocacy@ywca.org.
- Strategic Business Plan: All documents and resources related to the Strategic Business Plan are available on the Intranet, under the “Our YWCA” tab
Congrats to YWCA Greater Cleveland
During the first 12 months of YWCA Greater Cleveland's management, 300 women experiencing homelessness at Norma Herr Women's Center — the only publicly funded shelter for single women in Cuyahoga County, Ohio — transitioned to stable housing, an increase of more than 230 percent. YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo credits YWCA Greater Cleveland and president and CEO Margaret Mitchell for their leadership, vision, and commitment to YWCA’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women, noting that “This is the power of the YWCA!” Read the full article.
Gear Up for GOTV 2019
National Voter Registration Day (September 24) and Election Day (November 5) are right around the corner! YWCA USA is already gearing up for this year’s GOTV and we want to encourage your local association to do the same. In 2018, 119 local YWCAs engaged in GOTV activities, holding more than 100 events, registering over 1500 people, and mobilizing thousands more. Let’s build on our collective power and reach even more people this year!
Join the public policy update webinar next Wednesday, June 26, at 3 p.m. ET to learn more about our 2019 GOTV mobilization efforts. Register now.
2020 Census – SCOTUS and the Citizenship Question
The Supreme Court’s decision on the Census citizenship question could be decided as early as next Monday. We know this question will have a huge impact on the communities our YWCAs serve and want to make sure you have the information you need, so please check out these resources:
The biggest question we have received is on boycotting the census if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the Secretary of Commerce’s decision to add the citizenship question to the 2020 Census. As 501(c)(3) organizations, we should not encourage a boycott because of our federal status:
- Nonprofits that advocate for a partial or full boycott of the 2020 Census could risk scrutiny of their 501(c)(3) status, and could lose that status if they are found to be responsible for conducting, planning, or sponsoring illegal activities. Publicly advocating for community members to skip a Census question (which is technically a federal crime) may qualify.
Moreover, a boycott of the Census could adversely impact communities and individuals YWCAs serve:
- Refusing to answer any census question, or intentionally giving a false answer to one, is a violation of federal law that can result in a fine according to federal law
- Returning an incomplete census questionnaire may lead to a phone call or an in-person visit to a respondent’s home by workers from the Census Bureau
- Mass non-response to the citizenship question could have negative consequences for upholding voting rights
For questions about the upcoming Census, please email State Advocacy and Civic Engagement Manager
Natalie Cone.
Makerspace Training, Collaboration and Hiring (MaTCH) Pilot
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced the launch of the
Makerspace Training, Collaboration and Hiring (MaTCH) Pilot Competition, which seeks to address the job skills and placement gaps faced by U.S. businesses by providing funding to create or expand programs with job-specific and soft skills training with existing makerspaces, including industry or trade certifications when feasible. The goal is to have all program graduates immediately placed in positions with previously identified employers that are in need of skilled labor. The SBA will award up to $1 million in total prizes to fund selected winning proposals.
Learn more and
apply by July 8, 2019.
Important Dates
Questions about what you read today? Contact communications@ywca.org.
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