8/02/19
YWCA Visits the U.S.-Mexico Border
We were proud to join Dr. Sylvia Acosta and her team at YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region, as well as our partners at Hispanics in Philanthropy, for a powerful exploration of the continuing humanitarian crisis at the U.S. southern border. YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo was joined by Alyssa Martinez (YWCA North Central Washington), Ashley Reynolds Marshall (YWCA Central Virginia), and Lisa McDuffie (YWCA Northwest Ohio) for briefings with service providers and advocates in El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad-Juarez, Mexico.
Read more about the delegation visit, which was organized as a response to the reports of deplorable treatment and worsening conditions for migrants and asylum-seekers arriving in the U.S. In the weeks ahead, we look forward to sharing more about what we learned and how YWCAs can support immigrant families in their communities and at the border. We thank YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region for their leadership and, as Alejandra noted, we as YWCAs are here “to elevate and protect the humanity and dignity of all individuals.”
From L to R: YWCA North Central Washington deputy director Alyssa Martinez; YWCA Northwest Washington president and CEO Lisa McDuffie; YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region CEO Dr. Sylvia Acosta; YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo; and YWCA Central Virginia executive director Ashley Reynolds Marshall
Deadline Today: Fill Out 2019 Voter Engagement Form
National Voter Registration Day is coming up on September 24th. Sign up to receive posters, pledge to vote cards, and other resources to share with your community. If you are planning to engage in the election or interested in learning more, please complete this form by the end of today, August 2, and don’t forget to join the YWCA Voter Engagement community on the intranet for voting updates and resources.
Governance Fundamentals Webinar
Strong governance and a positive board/CEO partnership are important characteristics of highly successful local associations. Join us for our upcoming Governance 101 webinar on Wednesday, August 14 at 7 p.m. ET. This session is set for late afternoon/early evening to accommodate anyone who may not be available during traditional work hours. Local association board members and CEOs/EDs are encouraged to attend. Register now!
This 1-hour webinar will include these and other topics:
- Volunteer governance in the nonprofit sector
- The legal duties of board members • 10 key roles and responsibilities of board members • Questions board members should ask
- Resources available to you
Organize Your Butterflies: Building a World of Gender Justice
In our latest podcast episode, YWCA USA CEO Alejandra Y. Castillo sits down for an engaging conversation with advocate, organizer, and attorney, Mónica Ramirez. During this interview, they discuss the fight to end gender-based violence and promote gender justice, and Mónica shares her story and legacy as the daughter and granddaughter or migrant farmworkers, who taught her that every person has value and is important. Mónica talks about her determination to uplift communities and build power, how she ended up creating her dream job, and her belief that by focusing on what is right, we can build the world of our dream – of world that is just, equal, and free from gender-based violence. Listen now and let us know what you think on social media using #YWCAButterflies.
This episode’s YWCA Spotlight features YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee! Alejandra chats with their president and CEO Sharon K. Roberson about the organization’s AMEND Together program, which aims to change culture by engaging and educating boys and men on healthy masculinity, respect, and violence prevention. YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee is hosting the first-ever national conference on violence against women and healthy masculinity on September 9-10 in Nashville, bringing together business, civic, nonprofit, faith, and athletic leaders to talk about these issues, changing culture, sexual assault and harassment prevention, and Title IX.
Health & Wellness Community Webinar feat. USA Triathlon
Join us at 2 p.m. ET on August 15 for our quarterly Health & Wellness community webinar to hear updates from the national office as well as a presentation from our special guest, USA Triathlon (USAT). USAT has many free and low-cost resources for youth programming including Splash & Dash, Summer and After School Manuals, and a National Youth Series. To learn more about how to bring USAT to your community — or if you have an awesome idea about a resource you want to see — join us for the Health & Wellness webinar or email Kari Ann Pappas and Cody Crowther at USAT.
Not part of our Health and Wellness community on the intranet yet? Join today! Log-in to the intranet (create an account if you haven't done so yet), then go to “Communities,” and click on “All Communities.” Here, you can join several YWCA communities, including the Health & Wellness community. Click “Join” and stay up-to-date with all things Health & Wellness!
YWCA Supports the End Racial and Religious Profiling Act (ERRPA) of 2019
On Wednesday, July 31, Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) hosted a briefing on the "End Racial and Religious Profiling Act (ERRPA) of 2019." YWCA National Capital Area CEO Monica Grey joined a panel of experts to discuss the importance of this bill for people of color and religious minorities in communities across the country. YWCA USA believes we must begin identifying and documenting patterns and practices that result in racial and religious profiling, people of color, especially women and girls. Thanks Monica for helping us fighting against institutional and structural racism! Learn more about the briefing and ERRPA in Senator Cardin’s press release.
Act Now: Support VAWA Reauthorization
H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019 (VAWA), passed through the House of Representatives almost four months ago, on April 4th. This important and lifesaving legislation maintains the safety, resources, and protections that have been critical to all survivors, particularly women of color and other marginalized communities. However, the Senate has STILL not introduced a version of this reauthorization bill. Take action now: urge your Senators to stand with survivors by supporting full funding of VAWA and passing a substantially similar bill in the Senate.
July Public Policy Webinar
As Congress’s August Recess approaches, YWCAs across the country are preparing to engage their federal legislators in their home districts. August Recess is a great opportunity to get to know your representatives, attend local events, and advance your advocacy agendas. Learn more about how to take advantage of this recess and other federal legislative updates by watching or re-watching our July Public Policy Webinar!
2020 Census
At YWCA, we are committed to making sure we have a full and accurate Census count in the communities we serve. We will be launching our official Census campaign in the new year but would like to share more information about Census grants and opportunities through partner organizations. If you are interested or planning to engage in the 2020 Census, please complete this form and join the Census community on the intranet for updates and resources
YWCA Data Map
In case you missed it, we launched YWCA’s new interactive data map last week! This innovative tool showcases our network’s impact, and features key data for each local YWCA as well as county- and state-level demographic data. Learn more about the map in our blog post and video. Be sure to check it out and share it with your friends and colleagues using our helpful toolkit.
Important Dates
#Communications Promotion Strategies
#NationalCommunications#WeeklyWrap-up