August 24, 2018
Dear Martha,
We are pleased to provide the following updates:
Impact Shares YWCA Women's Empowerment Exchange Traded Fund
On Monday, August 27, the Impact Shares YWCA Women’s Empowerment Exchange Traded Fund will launch on the New York Stock Exchange (Ticker: WOMN)! This innovative new financial product allows YWCAs to leverage the capital markets to further our 160-year mission to eliminate racism and empower women. Not only will this product provide revenue through a donation from Impact Shares of the net advisory fees, but it provides us with a means to engage companies and the public in a discussion of the women’s empowerment movement. We will be providing additional information and updates following the launch. In the meantime, please reach out to your assigned Director of Member Service or Jill O’Donovan (jill.odonovan@ywcachicago.org) with any questions.
YWCA Real Estate and Facilities Summit
Registration is now open for the YWCA Real Estate and Facilities Summit. This inaugural event kicks off efforts to address the unmet needs of YWCAs regarding their real estate and facilities, from maintenance to leasing, to financing a building to support 21st century programming and provide revenue back to the YWCA. Learn from industry experts and YWCA leaders from the trenches to find out what you need to know when considering—and leveraging—your options.
YWCA Opposes the Nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to SCOTUS
This week, YWCA USA co-sponsored a Women’s Week of Action to highlight the negative impact that Judge Kavanaugh would have on a range of women’s issues. As part of this week of action, YWCA Central Alabama CEO Yolanda Sullivan joined us and other women’s groups on the steps of the Supreme Court on Wednesday to speak out about how his nomination is a threat to women’s ability to achieve equality in the workplace.
Huge thank you to the 30 local associations that joined this week of action by signing on to this letter urging the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee to oppose the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh. Read YWCA USA’s letter sent on August 6 to members of the Senate, calling on them to vote against the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States. Please continue to take action by urging your Senators to vote “No” on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination!
Partnership with Google: Coding parties
Google’s Made with Code is partnering with the teen girl publication Rookie magazine on a new coding experience and is offering coding parties to the YWCA network. This will be a great activity for current STEM/STEAM programs and for YWCAs that do not currently have a program but would like to try a coding activity. Please review the FAQs for details and how to sign up.
YWCAs of Massachusetts
At the recent North and Southeast Network Meeting in Annapolis, the YWCAs of Massachusetts shared the success they had in obtaining funding through the Massachusetts FY19 state budget. Through the formation of the Mass Alliance of YWCAs, the 9 YWCAs across Massachusetts aligned to develop a strategy to advocate for funding and hired a lobbyist to support their efforts. The YWCAs of Massachusetts had long been named in the annual budget to receive funding for youth violence prevention, but never received funding. They created a one-page document for their legislators that highlighted the work they are doing to prevent youth violence, especially for girls and young women of color. In addition, with support from their (female) lobbyist, the YWCAs participated in the budget process to engage with the legislators who represented their individual service areas. Ultimately, the YWs advocated the need to fund their programs to the Governor’s office. When the Governor signed the final FY19 budget, the YWCAs of MA received an allocation of $450,000. Here is an example of the letters the YWCAs used to advocate with their legislators and Governor Baker.
2018 YWCA Self-Assessment
By now, each association should have received links to the 2018 YWCA Self-Assessment survey process. If you have not received the links, contact assessment@ywca.org. The process this year has three parts: completing the online survey, uploading requested documents, and entering board member information in the database. The deadline for submission is Wednesday, September 12. You can find additional information and resources on the YWCA intranet assessment landing page. Email assessment@ywca.org with questions.
Nationwide GOTV
Initiative YWCA USA is proud to support 118 local YWCAs in our Nationwide Get Out the Vote Initiative. This initiative aims to register and mobilize 10,000 voters across the country, engage in candidate forums, and empower voters through voter protection education efforts.
Take a look at our GOTV resources and GOTV webinar recording from August 23. We hope that you will consider holding a voter registration drive during our YWCA Nationwide GOTV Week, September 1-10. YWCA is also a partner for this year’s National Voter Registration Day on September 25, and we encourage you to sign up to participate in this day of action, as well.
EmbraceRace
Join EmbraceRace for an online conversation on Tuesday, August 28 at 8:30-9:30 p.m. ET, on "Addressing Racial Injustice with Young Children," which will discuss using a children’s book, Something Happened in Our Town, recently published from the American Psychological Association, to serve as a tool for talking with kids about racial injustice and child empowerment. The conversation is part of EmbraceRace’s monthly “Talking Race & Kids” series. Registration is free, and a link of the recording is emailed to people who register but cannot tune in to the live show.
Darkness to Light Child Abuse Prevention Conference
Darkness to Light has announced the schedule of sessions and speakers for the upcoming Ignite 2018 National Prevention Conference, taking place October 9 and 10 in Memphis, TN. The conference, presented by the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, brings together sexual abuse prevention leaders around the common goal of making communities safer for children, and equips attendees with resources and tools to strengthen and organize their child sexual abuse prevention initiatives. Early registrants receive a discounted rate by registering before August 31. Visit their website for information and registration.
Resource Library
August’s postings to the YWCA Online Resource Library include a strategic plan progress dashboard, research articles covering mission, finance, board, charitable giving and technology, and 2018’s newly published KIDS COUNT Data Book. Remember: Postings developed for the Resource Library are tailored for YWCA use. Descriptions and live links for new postings are in the New Postings Index. A desk reference guide, descriptions and live links for all resources are in the Resource Library Index. Contact Martha Breunig (mbreunig@ywca.org) about any resource library holdings or needs.
YWCA Ornament
YWCA Cincinnati connected us with Rookwood Pottery, a woman-owned business founded in Cincinnati 130 years ago by pioneering artist Maria Longworth-Nichols. YWCA USA is excited to partner with Rookwood on a limited-edition holiday ornament this year. Ornaments will be available for online order starting August 30 through September 10, for guaranteed delivery by Thanksgiving. Orders after that will be available as supplies last. We will share the website and additional information next week.
Important Dates
- September 1 to 10: YWCA Nationwide GOTV Week
- September 12: Self-Assessment materials due
- October 2: Real Estate and Facilities Summit
- October 15 to 19: Week Without Violence 2018
Questions about what you read today? Contact communications@ywca.org.