New Map Feature: YWCA Opportunity Zones
We are excited to announce the launch of the YWCA Opportunity Zones map! The map features 85 YWCAs headquartered in Opportunity Zones across 33 states. These YWCAs serve over 680,000 women, girls, and their families.
Check-out the map, which aims to connect Opportunity Zones stakeholders with YWCAs serving Opportunity Zones residents nationwide.
Help us spread the word about the map by sharing this video infographic via your social media networks. Please use the hashtag #YWCAOZ so that we can we uplift social media postings from our network.
If you have any questions about YWCA USA’s work on Opportunity Zones, please contact Liz Lopez, Senior Director of Social Impact Investing & External Affairs. |
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Association Network Meetings: Register Today!
Feb 20 - 21 at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego or
April 1 - 2 at the Hilton City Centre in Charlotte
YWCA USA will host two Association Network Meetings to discuss current initiatives, provide a platform to share and support one another, and to work together to strengthen our entire network as we work to implement YWCA USA’s Strategic Business Plan and increase synergy.
2020 is an important year for YWCA, and participation in an Association Network Meeting will allow us a moment to pause and set our intentions. The hotel block for the Feb 20 - 21 meeting in San Diego is no longer available. For additional hotel options, email Kelli Shewmaker. The hotel reservation deadline for the Charlotte meeting is March 9.
Learn more and register today!
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POTUS Delivers Annual State of the Union Address
This week, the President delivered the annual State of the Union (SOTU) address before a joint session of Congress. YWCA USA listened closely for concrete, inclusive, and comprehensive policy solutions that will eliminate racism and empower women. Thank you to everyone who followed along with us on social media @YWCAUSA.
With the recent release ofYWomenVote2020 in December, we at YWCA USA have a clear understanding of legislative priorities for women and will continue to utilize this framework to hold our elected officials - both Democrat and Republican - accountable. Learn more about #YWomenVote in 2020 and join us to learn more about this and other public policy and advocacy activities by signing up here. |
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Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Turns 27
On Wednesday, February 5th, we celebrated the 27th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Since the signing of FMLA in 1993, this program has enabled more than 270 million workers to care for themselves and loved ones, including new children, without losing their jobs or health insurance. Yet only 6 in 10 workers are protected by the FMLA due to restrictive coverage and eligibility rules, and the FMLA does not recognize the diverse forms that families take.
At YWCA USA, we marked this anniversary by urging Congress to take the long-overdue next step of passing the FAMILY Act (H.R. 1185) and ensuring paid leave for all. Join us and take action on paid leave NOW! |
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Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
On January 14th, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (H.R. 2694) passed favorably out of the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor by a vote of 29-17. According to our recent YWomenVote survey of American Women, 11% of women reported facing discrimination because they are pregnant. If passed, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act would ensure reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.
YWCA USA is looking for individuals that may have stories about pregnant workers discrimination and would be interested in participating in a coalition wide fly-in to support the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. If you have a story or additional information you’d like to share, please contact our Government Relations Manager, Pam Yuen. |
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YWCA USA’s Voter Registration Page is Ready
YWCA USA is partnering with When We All Vote to register voters all across the country. Check out our new YWCA voter registration webpage. You can use this page as a quick and easy way to register voters in your community.
This will help us to get even more community members involved as well as help us quantify our impact around the country! |
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February Social Media Graphics
February is Black History Month, which means celebrating and reflecting on a rich history of Black American culture, innovation, and revolution. Please share our Black History Month posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn throughout the month of February.
Also, we have drafted sample social media posts to make engaging in our #YWomenVote campaign as easy as possible. We hope you will utilize our February social media toolkit, full of helpful content for you to use or repurpose. |
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Stand Against Racism
Check out StandAgainstRacism.org to learn more about this year’s theme, access new tools and resources, and register your events.
Watch the recording of our Stand Against Racism webinar to learn more about Stand Against Racism 2020 and all the resources we have available to make your Stand Against Racism a success.
Our Stand Against Racism ad will run in USA Today's Black History Month Special Edition stand-alone publication. The publication will be distributed on newsstands nationally for the entire month of February, right next to the daily USA Today newspaper. If you are interested in using this ad design, please email communications@ywca.org.
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Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Fiscal Year 2020 Grants
This is a friendly reminder that application deadlines are approaching for several OVW Fiscal Year 2020 grants. The list of opportunities and application requirements can be found by clicking here.
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2020 Quarterly Training
There are several webinars available to support YWCA staff and leadership in 2020! Live quarterly webinars are available on the topics below. Recordings of each session can be found on the intranet. View full descriptions and dates on the YWCA Intranet.
- YWCA 101 for New Staff Members and Volunteers. Our YWCA 101 webinars are a great opportunity for local association staff and board members to learn all about the YWCA in just sixty minutes. Tuesday, February 11th, 4 p.m. ET /1 p.m. PT Register Now.
- YWCA Board Chair/President Strategies for Success. This webinar is designed for existing or new board chairs/presidents to instill confidence, share strategies, and build skills for those who have or will step into this position. Thursday, February 13th, 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT Register Now.
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Planning Big Things for Women’s History Month? We Want to Hear About It!
YWCA USA is looking forward to celebrating Women’s History Month in March to recognize the great contributions that women have made to our nation. Is your Association planning a luncheon, town hall, march, or other initiative? We’d love to hear about it!
YWCA USA is working to build a calendar of 31 Days of Women Social Impact for the month of March. Each day, we will promote activities, events, messaging, etc. that recognizes and celebrates women leading local action for change in economic opportunity and empowerment, women’s political participation and public engagement, and gender-based violence and human rights.
We need your help. We are preparing to celebrate National Read Across America Day on Monday, March 2nd and are working to compile a list of 100 great books about or written by inspiring women. The books can be from any reading level genre: children’s, young adult, graphic novels, non-fiction, fiction, or historical. We are also organizing a 100 song diva playlist. Send us your favorites!
Send us an email, let us know what you are planning in the month of March for Women’s History Month, your favorite books and the songs you most like to crank up. |
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2020 Leadership & Capacity Building Institute – Save the Date!
Save the date for the 2020 Leadership & Capacity Building Institute, taking place June 17 – 20, in Chicago, Illinois.
Join over 400 YWCA CEOs, board members, and local association staff members for a three-day conference filled with interactive plenary sessions, workshops, and network meetings designed to strengthen and enhance the capacity of all our YWCA associations.
Registration opens February 17th. |
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New Postings to the YWCA Online Resource Library
January’s new YWCA Resource Library postings include trends, tips, and tools for strategic planning on a variety of topics such as Gen Z engagement; fundraising; social justice initiatives; staff, board and organizational performance; volunteer recruitment, and women’s economic advancement programming.
The View New Postings link on the Library's homepage provides access to descriptions and live links. If you need assistance or if you have any questions, email Martha Breunig. |
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Manhattan Institute’s Tocqueville Project Civil Society Awards
The Manhattan Institute’s Tocqueville Project is seeking nominations for the Civil Society Awards to honor the next generation of effective nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations that assist those in need and help people change the course of their lives.
If you know an inspiring nonprofit leader who—with the help of volunteers and philanthropy—is strengthening their community by addressing or preventing a social problem in their neighborhood, send a note or submit a nomination online. Nominations for MI’s $25,000 awards will be accepted until March 20, 2020. |
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Wells Fargo and Enterprise Community Partners Launch the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge
Wells Fargo and Enterprise Community Partners have opened the application process for the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge, a nationwide search for the most innovative, scalable, and viable ideas to increase housing affordability.
“YWCA is creating a safer, more just world by offering emergency, transitional, and long-term housing to survivors of domestic violence, women and families, veterans, and the elderly in communities across the nation," said Alejandra Y. Castillo, CEO, YWCA USA. "Grants and financial resources like this one from Wells Fargo can help us work to continue to fill the gap for affordable housing for many women and their families.”
The competition is expected to draw hundreds of applications from around the U.S. and will award six grants of more than $2 million each in addition to providing two years of technical assistance from Enterprise to help turn the grantees’ concepts into reality. Learn more about this opportunity here. Responses to the first-round request for proposals are due February 19, 2020. |
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Subscribe to YWCA: We Do the Work, A Monthly Update
Earlier this month, YWCA USA released the first issue of YWCA: We Do the Work, A Monthly Update. Through this electronic newsletter, we hope to elevate and increase awareness of the YWCA brand, increase clarity about YWCA’s work to drive real change, and increase support of our mission to eliminate racism and empower women.
Make sure you subscribe to our newsletter today and share with your network. |
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Fundraising Fundamentals
Last week the development team kicked off FUNDRAISING FUNDAMENTALS: a monthly webinar series designed to provide best practices and practical advice on all facets of development, answer pressing questions, and help participants achieve greater fundraising success—regardless of budget size.
In our first session, led by Kathryn Greenberg, we discussed Development Goal-Setting. Participants learned Many thanks to everyone who joined!
If you missed the webinar or would like to watch it again, you can find the recording here.
We are working to develop the agenda for the remainder of the series and we would love to hear your feedback on the first session, as well as any ideas for future topics. Please take a moment to fill out this brief, 3-minute survey and let us know what you would like to learn about. Your input will help to make the series as interesting and useful as possible.
Thank you! We hope you’ll join us for future webinars! |
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YWCA Employment Opportunities
Are you passionate about eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all? If so, we want you on our team! Check out all of the YWCA employment opportunities around the country listed in our jobs center.
Executive Assistant to the CEO and Board Liaison, Washington, DC |
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Important dates for your calendar
- February: Black History Month
- February 11: AAPI Equal Pay Day
- February 11: YWCA 101: Webinar for New Staff Members and Volunteers
- February 13: YWCA Board Chair/President Strategies for Success Webinar
- February 17: Leadership & Capacity Building Institute registration opens
- February 20 – 21: Association Network Meeting - San Diego, CA
- March: Women's History Month; YWCA's 31 Days of Social Impact for Women
- April 1 – 2: Association Network Meeting - Charlotte, NC
- April 23 – 26: Stand Against Racism
- June 17 – 20: YWCA LCBI in Chicago
Questions about what you read today? Contact communications@ywca.org.
Be sure to follow YWCA USA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. |
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