Blogs

#WWV23 Launch Day Approaching 

Celebrating Five Years of the WOMN ETF

Strategy, Impact & Evaluation is teaming up with Learning and Development!

We are pleased to introduce the webinar series, “Elevate, Leverage, and Evaluate Your Data!” as a means to learn how we can best utilize our data for impact. Our first topic will cover the 2022 Inventory and Impact Dashboard and will take place on Wednesday, August 30 from 3-4 p.m. EDT. The webinar will teach you how to navigate the Dashboard and use its data to drive decision-making. Please register here.

If you have questions, please email us at: strategyimpactevaluation@ywca.org

There’s Still Time to Take Action: Avert the Child Care Cliff

Thank you to everyone who has already added their association to this letter to Congressurging action to avert the child care cliff. If you haven’t taken action yet, there’s still time to join the national chorus demanding that Congress take action to offset the steep drop in funding for child care once American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars expire on September 30. Without that action, 3.2 million children will lose access to child care.

Steps to take before August 31:

• Join this sign-on letter urging Congress to invest $16 billion in emergency child care funding to avert the looming child care cliff that will hit on September 30. Emergency child care funds would address shrinking child care spots, staffing shortages, and rising prices that will disrupt families, providers, and our economy. Complete this form by August 31 to add your YWCA.
• Meet or call your Senators and Representatives while they are home for August recess. Just like during Capitol Hill Day, tell them we need Congress to ensure robust funding for YWCA programs in our communities.
• Learn more about how the proposed budget could impact YWCA network priorities. 

Update: YWCA USA Joins Amicus Brief in U.S. v. Rahimi

This fall, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in United States v. Rahimi, a case challenging the constitutionality of the federal law that prohibits people subject to a domestic violence restraining order from possessing firearms.

We are proud to join 27 other nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations dedicated to ending gun and intimate partner violence in this effort. Collectively, we argue that the lower court's analysis and ruling were erroneous. The amicus brief sets forth in detail that "domestic violence is pervasive, deadly, and inextricably linked with firearms in the United States" and argues that the Court should sustain the ability of legislatures to pass laws that disarm dangerous individuals.

"For thousands of women, children, and other potential victims of domestic violence, as well as potential other victims of mass shootings by domestic abusers, the stakes are literally life or death."

New Partnership With FreeWill: August is National Make-A-Wish Month

For over 165 years, YWCA has been at the forefront of some of the most significant social movements of our time. As we continue to make strides, planning for a sustainable future is essential. You may not know this, but August is National Make-A-Will Month, and is a great time to consider creating a will if you do not have one, as it is one of the best ways to:

• Safeguard your loved ones and precious belongings
• Communicate important financial and healthcare decisions
• Make a lasting impact with the causes you believe in

At YWCA, we believe creating a will shouldn’t be a luxury for those who can afford it but a necessity available to all, and we are excited about our new partnership with FreeWill to offer our community this free and secure estate planning tool.

Perspectives on the Giving USA 2023 Report

If you missed this week’s discussion with CCS Fundraising on Giving USA 2023: The Annual Report on Philanthropy, you can view the recording here (passcode: VRQ@9xi0), and the slides are available here. The discussion covered the report's big take-aways, a look ahead to how trends in giving may shape your organization's fundraising strategy, and a Q&A. To continue the conversation, join the Fund/Resource Development Community on the YWCA Intranet.

YWCA Group Healthcare Town Hall

Please join us on September 18 at 1:00 p.m. EDT for a network-wide conversation about the opportunity to pursue group healthcare for YWCA membership. This event will be hosted by YWCA USA CEO Margaret Mitchell, YWCA Metropolitan St. Louis CEO Dr. Cheryl Watkins, and YWCA Westfield Executive Director Stephanie Stevens. Questions about this work can be submitted ahead of the session here. Register to attend the event here.

Updates for Squarespace Website Launch: Recording and Sign-Up Form Available!

Thank you to all who attended our recent Squarespace and EveryAction sessions. We hope all your questions were answered. If you missed them, recordings can be accessed below. If you have any more follow-up questions, please post them on the intranet community. 

Recordings:

• Squarespace
• EveryAction

Next Step: Please let us know your interest in signing up for:

• Squarespace
• EveryAction

Sisterhood Successes

Sisterhood successes was designed to highlight the work you do across the country to make our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women a reality. Each week, we will highlight successes of our sisters in the mission.

Below is a Sisterhood Success from the Northeast:

You're Invited to YWCA Minneapolis' "It's Time to Talk: Forum on Race" Event

YWCA Minneapolis Invites You to their 21st Annual It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race
Wednesday, September 27, 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CT
Free! Virtual!

Join YWCA Minneapolis for this free virtual learning opportunity, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Marc Lamont Hill and breakout speakers including Dr. Joi Lewis and Kyle “Guante” Myhre. Learn more about this half-day event here and register here for what is sure to be a powerful time of awareness, engagement, and inspiration for the work ahead. 

YWCA Staff Discounted Rates to join YWCA Madison's Racial Justice Summit, October 3-5, 2023

YWCA Madison is collaborating with national authors Ruha Benjamin, Clint Smith, Autumn Brown, Kimberly Brazwell, and Susan Raffo, as well as practitioners, artists and organizers to invite us all to practice Creating New Possibilities for Intersectional Racial Justice, Collective Healing and Liberation. YWCA staff across our network are invited to visit this Registration Page and register with a discounted rate with the Promo Codes below. The registration deadline is September 4.

• Use code YWCA_Discounted_VIRTUAL to attend virtually on October 3-4 at $100/person.

• Use code Discounted_VIRTUAL+INPERSON to attend virtually on October 3- 4, PLUS in person on October 5 at $260/person.

For any questions email racialjustice@ywcamadison.org.

Is it Time for a Board Assessment?

YWCA USA Employment Opportunities

Check out these featured employment opportunities and all of the YWCA job openings around the country listed in our jobs center. We are also excited to share that YWCA USA will be hiring several roles over the next few months. Below you will find our current hiring roles. Interested candidates can email your resume to HR@ywca.org:

• Director of External Communications
• Vice President of Finance

Important Dates for Your Calendar

• August: National Black Business Month
• August: National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM)
• August 26: Women's Equality Day
• August 26: 2023 March on Washington
• August 28: 60th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington
• August 31: Deadline for associations to sign letter to avert child care cliff
• September: National Campus Safety Awareness Month
• September: Hispanic Heritage Month
• September 4: Labor Day
• September 5: International Charity Day

Questions about what you read today? Contact communications@ywca.org.

Does your local association have new staff members?

Please have them first register to access the YWCA Intranetand then sign up to receive the Weekly Wrap-Upto get all the updates from YWCA USA!