Blogs

A Message from Interim CEO, Casey Harden

This summer was a busy one for YWCA USA. We kicked it off with our Bold Mission, Bright Future conference in early June and have kept that momentum rolling all season long. We are continuing to boldly speak out for justice and equity amidst a challenging political climate. I encourage you to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to see what we're saying each day. Beyond raising our voices, we are employing smart strategies for change including training state-level advocacy YWCA cohorts in key states. We are continuing to strengthen our nation-wide mission work with the release of a Racial Justice Training Manual (funded by the Yellow Chair Foundation) to our entire network, a new partnership with USA Track & Field, and support from Nordstrom's Treasure & Bond for local STEM programming. As we head into what I anticipate will be a very impactful autumn, I want to invite each of you to join us for YWCA's annual, worldwide Week Without Violence campaign to end gender-based violence from October 16 – 20. Together, we make real change. Finally, please join me in welcoming YWCA USA's new CEO, Alejandra Y. Castillo to our incredible movement. Alejandra officially joins us on September 18 – we can't wait!

Casey Harden
Interim CEO YWCA USA

Charlottesville Response

We were outraged, yet not surprised, by last month's white supremacist march in Charlottesville. It served as a harsh reminder that every American, especially white Americans, must keep our country's ongoing legacy of racism at the front of our minds. We will not tolerate or normalize racism in any of its insidious forms.

Week Without Violence

Week Without Violence is part of a global movement to end violence against women and girls with YWCAs across the country and around the world. Unfortunately, survivors of violence are not given equal access to resources and support. In fact, some violence is ignored altogether. That's why, as we work to end gender-based violence, we also address the unique challenges women and girls may face. Join us from October 16 to 20 as we hold events, share information and stories, advocate, and more, with a common goal in mind: together, we can end gender-based violence. We look forward to opening registration to the YWCA network and the public within the next few days. Don't miss out!

We are fired up! Every day, we fight hard for the communities we serve. But we can't do it alone. We are powered by you! Support our mission by making a tax deductible, recurring donation today.

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Creating Change Locally

YWCA O'ahu Ensures Post-Incarceration IDs

YWCA O'ahu led efforts to pass an important economic empowerment bill requiring that identification be issued to those being released from incarceration. This effort was a success not only because it passed, but also because it provided an opportunity for women in YWCA programs to learn more about advocacy and the legislative process. Read More »

Missoula Girls Have GRIT!

YWCA Missoula is offering a new program called GRIT! (Girls Representing in Trades) that offers hands-on exposure to trade opportunities to provide middle school- and high school-aged girls with educational and economic options, increase their confidence, and expand their perception of the range of attainable educational and career options. Read More »

Beyond GED in Wisconsin

YWCA Southeastern Wisconsin is helping students gain high school credentials. With the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, they developed YWCA's 5.09 program to address challenges students had with the new GED test. This program is competency-based and uses alternative methods to help students obtain their GED and achieve success in the workforce. Read More »

YWCA in the News

This quarter we were pleased to appear in three prominent news outlets. NBCnews.com featured a piece highlighting Alejandra Y. Castillo, our incoming CEO! Women's E-News ran an op-ed about the importance of the ACA for women written by our senior policy analyst, Caitlin Lowry, and our government relations manager, Jessica Pinckney. A statement in response to President Trump encouraging policy violence appeared on USAToday.com.

Community Voices

“Accessible and affordable child care is the primary path to financial security for working families, and the federal child care subsidy program, administered by the states, provides critical support on this path.”
Magdeline (Maggie) Jensen, CEO, YWCA Greater Pittsburgh. Read our full interview with Maggie – the first of a series with local experts.

"Domestic violence touches us all, either directly or indirectly, and we all have a responsibility as a community to support survivors of violence and speak up when critical services are at risk of being eliminated.” Caroline Bartlett, director, YWCA Clark County. Read more »

“Men have to be held accountable and have a unique responsibility to make sure women and others have opportunities... It takes all of us to make this happen.” Chaz Kellem, senior director, YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh. Read more »

ACA Success

In May, the House of Representatives passed a horrifying bill that would have rolled back critical healthcare gains for women. The fight wasn't over yet.

Since then, we have seen the Better Care Reconciliation Act and most recently The Health Care Freedom Act (aka the "skinny repeal") come out of the Senate. Each attempt would have been detrimental to women, girls, and low-income families across the country. Thankfully, we have now witnessed firsthand the power we have as advocates when we speak out against policies that would deepen disparities among us and further injustice. Through Capitol Hill Day meetings, phone calls and emails to senators and representatives, we stood with our communities and our allies to preserve healthcare for millions. Your voice made a difference!

We might have won, but the work to protect our care is not over yet. Write to your senator today regarding their vote on the final bill and urge them to participate in an open, transparent, bipartisan process on any future attempts to change our healthcare. Thank you again for taking action to protect health care for millions of Americans.

About Our Cover Photo

Samantha Davis is the field engagement manager at YWCA USA. In this role, she supports state and local-level advocacy strategies; and provides practical trainings, tools, and resources for YWCAs as they build advocacy and racial justice capacity. Samantha joined the YWCA movement last fall as a natural continuation of her lifelong work organizing for racial equity and social justice. When she's not at work with YWCA, Samantha is empowering Black youth in Washington, D.C. through civic engagement and leadership development at her nonprofit, Black Swan Academy. Hear from Samantha everyday on Twitter and Instagram by following @samanthapaigeme.