January 25, 2019
We are pleased to provide the following updates:
Federal Shutdown May Impact YWCA Program Funding
YWCA USA is monitoring ongoing developments regarding the federal government shutdown. This shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, has impacted workers, families, and YWCAs across the country. The current short-term solution, while a welcome respite, will not provide the long-term stability and security that women, families, and communities across the country need and deserve. We will continue to be in touch over the coming weeks.
YWCA USA wants to support you. Here are some quick actions you can take NOW:
- Contact your Members of Congress today to support the short-term solution to reopen the government, and urge them to use this time to come up with a longer-term resolution to end the shutdown. A short-term solution helps workers and families who need immediate relief, but without a longer-term solution, we could be right back at this same impasse in a few short weeks.
- Register to join the Public Policy Update Webinar, this WEDNESDAY January 30 to learn more about how your sister YWCAs are handling the shutdown.
- Complete this brief survey to help us better understand the scope of the shutdown’s impact on the YWCA network and the extent of financial distress the shutdown may be causing for individual YWCAs. We’ll use this information to evaluate how YWCA USA can best support local YWCAs through this situation, as well as in our federal advocacy regarding the shutdown.
Thank You for Joining the 2019 Women’s March
YWCA USA and many local associations around the country joined their local Women’s March to stand in solidarity with all women and to amplify the call for vital policy changes. As we continue the important work of reflecting on and learning from our experiences, read our Women’s March retrospective on the YWCA USA blog and take a look at YWCA Genesee County CEO, Millie Tomidy-Pepper, speaking at her local march! Feel free to contact Asha Kuziwa, Field Organizer, at akuziwa@ywca.org if you have questions or need additional support.
Advocacy Actions of the Week
- Act now to get Secretary DeVos’s #HandsOffIX: Join YWCA USA in strongly opposing the Department of Education’s proposed changes to Title IX regulations, which would drastically alter how schools respond to sexual harassment. If implemented this attack on Title IX would make schools more dangerous for all students and especially those most marginalized who already face immense barriers to safety on campus. With only 5 DAYS until the comment period closes, it is critical to join our partners from End Rape on Campus and Know Your IX in the #HandsOffIX campaign. Take action now:
- Contact your Members of Congress today about the government shutdown: A short-term solution to re-open the government allows workers to get back to work and helps families across the country—but without a longer-term solution, we could be back at this same impasse in a few short weeks. We need a long-term solution. Contact your members of Congress to urge them to use these three weeks to come to a long-term solution—one that does not come at the expense of immigrant women, children and families, DACA or TPS recipients, or asylum seekers.
Health & Wellness Affinity Group Meeting
The next meeting of the Health & Wellness Affinity Group is on February 21 at 2:00 p.m. ET. Our special guests for this meeting are from USA Ultimate. Join us as we explore the ways that ultimate frisbee can be implemented in local associations at little to no cost and simultaneously educate youth on our social justice values. Although ultimate frisbee is one of the few sports that does not divide teams by “gender,” USA Ultimate does offer the Girl’s Ultimate Movement kit to specifically introduce and recruit girls to the sport.
2019 Call for YWCA USA Board of Director Nominations
There is still time nominate leaders who think fit our values and vision for the YWCA USA Board of Director Nominations for 2019. All nomination submissions must be emailed to boardnominations@ywca.org by close of business on Thursday, January 31. Learn more in the board nomination packet, which includes a "fillable" nomination form to assist candidates in providing the requested information.
Grant Opportunity to Expand High-Quality Youth Apprenticeships
The Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA), a multi-funder initiative led by New America, has announced a request for applications for its apprenticeship grants. The four-to-eight grants, valued at approximately $200,000 each, with complimentary technical assistance from leading experts in the education, workforce and policy sectors, will be offered to organizations that support the launch and expansion of high-quality youth apprenticeship programs in cities and states across the country. Submissions for the open application must be completed online by 11:59 p.m. PT on March 8. Grantees will be announced in early May 2019.
Important Dates
Questions about what you read today? Contact communications@ywca.org.
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