our voice

Fall 2012 YWCA Youngstown

The YWCA supports public policies that protect victims, hold perpetrators accountable and work to eradicate sexual assault and domestic violence, trafficking of women and dating violence. The YWCA recognizes the need for anti-violence programs and policies to be culturally sensitive in both their approaches to combating violence against women and in responding to victims of violence. Specifically, we support the continu-ance of full funding for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and VAWA. The YWCA also supports legislation that ensures employment stability and economic security for victims of violence against women.

The YWCA of Youngstown’s Barbara Wick Transitional Housing Program serves the area homeless population, including young women leaving foster care. Also, many women and chil-dren become homeless after leaving an abusive relationship, finding them-

In 1994, congress passed the land-mark Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA), which established a com-prehensive approach to addressing and ending violence against women. By providing a collaborative frame-work of state, federal, and local authorities, social workers, law enforcement specialists, prosecutors, and the courts, the act proved to be a useful tool to safeguard women from violence.

Supporters of the Violence Against Women’s Act argue that although a significant amount of work has been accomplished in the area of combat-ing violence against women, there is more work to be done. Especially eliminating violence against young women, women and girls of color, as well as addressing the after effects of violence on the economic situation of the victims.

The YWCA USA has taken the following position in favor of VAWA:

YWCA of Youngstown Supports the Violence Against Women’s Act

selves in a situation where they have limited financial resources or must move out of an emergency shelter within 30-90 days and need a safe place to stay until they can resolve their problems. In the past year, 50% of the customers who received housing or housing related supportive services from the YWCA were individuals and families who had histories of domestic violence. These individuals often lack the resources necessary to pay housing deposits and rents. They have bad credit histories, unfavorable refer-ences, and lack household manage-ment skills necessary to acquire and maintain safe, decent, and affordable housing. Limited finan-cial resources make rental deposits, utility costs, and the purchase of household goods unaffordable. Consequently, they move from place to place in search of stable permanent housing, many becom-ing homeless. This is when assis-tance from the YWCA Barbara Wick Transitional House helps to obtain resources needed to move to per-manent housing. The YWCA Transitional Housing program is designed to address the multiple needs of this population. It incorporates housing, supportive services including case manage-ment and daily living skills instruc-tion, and information and referrals to community services to strengthen the resident’s self-sufficiency and self-determination. For more information on how to support the program or donate items from the wish list (on page 4), call the YWCA at 330-746-6361.

The YWCA of Youngstown will be hosting a Stand Against Racism Event on Friday, April 26, 2013. The Stand Against Racism™ is a move-ment of the YWCA with the goal of bringing people together from all walks of life - across the country - to raise awareness about racism. The methodology of the Stand Against Racism™ is to bring together like-minded organizations that share in our vision of eliminating racism and celebrating the richness of diver-sity. By inviting community organiza-tions to partner with us, we maximize the outreach of this mission, attract-ing hundreds of thousands of partici-

Stand Against Racism on April 26, 2013

pants. Nationally, over 300,000 peo-ple took a Stand Against Racism in 2012. Over 2,300 companies, organi-zations, churches, governments, and civic associations across 39 states hosted their own stands! Participating organizations in the Mahoning Valley can be a part of this event at no cost. For more infor-mation on how to become a part of this exciting event, call the YWCA at 330-746-6361.

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Our Voice/YWCA Youngstown is published by the YWCA of

Youngstown. Comments and address changes to Communications Department

at 330-746-6361.

Adrian Anderson Marilyn M. Burbick Carla Baldwin Fields Elizabeth Hartwig Cryshanna A. Jackson

Shelly LaBerto Shirley Poindexter Keisha T. Robinson Amanda Sacco Jenna Santisi Norma J. Stefanik Kera A. Thompson

Leah Brooks, YWCA Executive Director

YWCA Board of Directors

Fran Curd President Deborah S. Liptak First Vice President Rhonda Warren Second Vice President Chris Gabrick Treasurer Susan C. Berny Secretary

WISH Upon a

The YWCA of Youngstown’s Wish Upon A Star Holiday gift-giving project is designed to put a smile on the faces of homeless and low-income children served through YWCA programs. This project partners with individuals and community groups to collect new toys, books, games, clothing, or monetary donations to buys gifts to distribute to those in need of assistance. If you are interested donating for this project, please call the YWCA at 330-746-6361 for more information. Gifts will be distributed mid-December.

YWCA Email List

YWCA eblasts offers news, information, and updates about our upcoming programs. To subscribe visit www.ywca.org/youngstown or email Varada Bhide at vbhide@ywcaofyoungstown.org

Minority Health Month

Events in April 2013

The YWCA of Youngstown has received a grant from the Ohio Commission on Minority Health to host two events in the month of April 2013. The first event, Saying No is Possible: Education about Substance Abuse and Violence will be held on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at the Chaney High School from 3:30 to 5:30 pm. This Youth event will feature talk by Counselors on Substance Abuse & Violence. A Self-defense in-structor will demonstrate self-defense techniques. Harambee Youth Group will perform an inter-active session with the attendees. The second event, Prevention is the Best Medicine: Your Health is in Your Hands! will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 9:30 am to 1 pm at the YWCA of Youngstown. Featured topics include diabetes, hypertension, cancer. A Zumba session, along with a cooking demonstration and free chair massages will be the other highlights of the event. Both these events are free and open to the community.

YWCA Childcare Offering

Up to 10% Discount

The YWCA of Youngstown is gearing up to work on a new strategic plan to map out a vision for the future programming for the YWCA. The vision of the previous strategic plan to renovate and historically preserve the YWCA building has been accom-plished. As we start work on a new plan, we would like to request the community to provide input on the kind of programs they would like to see us deliver. We are looking for your valuable suggestions on things you feel are needed to revitalize this community. Please visit the YWCA website at www.ywca.org/youngstown to take our survey and express your opinion. Thank you.

YWCA Taking Care of

Your Health

The YWCA of Youngstown is now offering health and fitness classes in the newly renovated historical gym. Currently featuring Stressercise (exercising your body and your mind) and Zumba classes, with more clas-ses in the works. These classes are offered at reasonable prices on a pay as you go basis and are free for the YWCA residents. Call the YWCA at 330-746-6361 for more information.

YWCA Seeks Your Input

for Strategic Planning

The YWCA Discovery Place is back home in its beautiful facility in the YWCA Rayen Avenue building, located at 25 W. Rayen Avenue. The daycare has undergone an amazing transfor-mation and is now offering free regis-tration through the month of December. Up to a 10% discount is available for employees working in the downtown Youngstown area within a 2 mile radius of the YWCA. With new reduced pric-ing, the YWCA childcare program is the best quality care in the area. O

The YWCA infant, toddler and pre-school program is open to children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. The School-Age Child Care program and Summer Care Camp serve children ages 6 to 12 years. The program is taught by de-greed and certified teachers. Music, art, and language enhance the pro-gram. The child care program operates year round from Monday to Friday, 6:30 am to 6 pm. Daily and full-time rates are available. The child care cen-ter is special needs inclusive and is licensed through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

United Way Day of Caring

Thank you to the United Way of Youngs-town and the Mahoning Valley and their Day of Caring Volunteers from Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley for the amazing de-cluttering and organizing work they performed at the Childcare.

30th Women Artists: A Celebration Art Show

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The 18th annual Young Women with Bright Futures Awards were held on March 10, 2012. Twenty-eight seniors from area schools were nominated by their school administrators and honored for their academic excellence, leadership qualities, creativity, and community service. Taylor Jordyn Wamsley, Life Skill Center, won the essay award for writing about her experi-ences and work in the areas of eliminating

racism and empowering women. Alexandra Hames, Western Reserve High School, won the YSU Award. The Vindi-cator was the corporate sponsor for this event. Major Sponsors were Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley, Humility of Mary Health Partners and Carolyn Mitchell. Carla Baldwin Fields, Assistant County Prosecutor with the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office, was the guest speaker for this event. Dr. Cryshanna A. Jackson served as the chair for the event. For information on how to get involved with this event, call 330-746-6361.

2012 Year at a Glance

The 30th Women Artists: A Celebration Art Show was held from June 16 - July 27, 2012 at the John J. McDonough Museum of Art, YSU. This juried art show presented works by local, regional, and national women artists age 18 and older. Sixty-two pieces created by 35 women artists were on display. Leslie A. Brothers, Director, McDonough Museum of Art served as juror for the show. Cheryl Deibel and Kathryn Infante were the co-chairs for the 30th annual event. The Corporate Event Sponsor was Home Savings Charitable Foundation. Major sponsor was Carolynn Mitchell. Funds raised through this art show supports the Barbara Wick Transitional Housing for low-income and homeless women with or without families.

The Women’s Leadership Conference was held on June 8, 2012. Keynote address Stressed spelled backwards is Desserts: De-stress with Humor! was given by Shirley Lisk, St. Joseph Health Center. Other topics included Women as a Financial Force: Creating a Strategy that Works for You; Women & Politics - Dare to Compete; Dare to Change Step into Leadership; Deskercise: Workplace Workouts; and The True Cost of Food: Organic vs. Conventional. Major Sponsors were Hunting-ton Bank; Merrill Lynch Wealth Management - Bank of America Corpora-tion; Schroedel, Scullin, Bestic, LLC; Traci Miller- The Growth Coach; and United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.

5th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference

18th Annual Young Women with Bright Futures Awards

A Beautiful Product Evolves from Years of Hard Work: Update on the YWCA Building

The YWCA of Youngstown has been diligently working on the renovation project for the past few years. Renovations include complete transformation of dormitory style apartments into 30 one-bedroom and efficiency units of permanent supportive housing, staff offices, child care center, historic lobby, two-story historic gymnasium, community meeting area with a caterer’s kitchen, and empowerment rooms. The YWCA has recently completed the landscaping project, which includes a green space by the main entrance that will act as a sanctuary for the YWCA residents and program participants to the building. It will provide recreation as well as improve the quality of life for the YWCA residents. The YWCA would like to recognize the generous contributions made by many individuals as well as major contributions by the Rotary Club of Youngstown, Thomases Family Endowment Fund, and the Fibus Family Foundation for the Landscaping Project. We would like to thank all our support-ers for their loyalty in seeing us through this lengthy, yet very rewarding process. We would also like to thank Gasser Chair Company for their generous in-kind donation of chairs for the apartments as well as banquet chairs for the YWCA lobby.

25 W. Rayen Ave., Youngstown, OH 44503 Phone: 330-746-6361 www.ywca.org/youngstown

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Youngstown, OH Permit No. 436 Twin Sheet Sets

Comforters

Laundry soap

Bath soap

Cleaning Spray

Light Bulbs

Stationery

Envelopes

Barbara M. Wick Transitional

House Wish List

Call 330-746-6361 for details

Mark your calendar

For more information, visit www.ywca.org/youngstown

February 9 9 am to 1 pm

Bridges Out of Poverty, An Interactive Experience in Poverty Simulation Williamson Elementary School

330-746-6361 ext. 102 - To Register

March 9, 2013 - 10am

19th Annual Bright Futures Awards Banquet At the Holiday Inn, Boardman

330-746-6361 ext. 112

April 17 3:30 pm

April 27 9:30 am

Minority Health Month Events Saying No is Possible: Education about Substance Abuse & Violence in Youth At Chaney High School

Prevention is the Best Medicine: Live Healthy, Live Long! At the YWCA of Youngstown

330-746-6361 ext. 112

April 26, 2013

Stand Against Racism At the YWCA of Youngstown

330-746-6361 ext. 112

June 2013 Date TBD

6th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference At the YWCA of Youngstown

330-746-6361 ext. 109

July 2013

31st Annual Women Artists: A Celebration! Art Sow At the YWCA of Youngstown

330-746-6361 ext. 102

YWCA Infant, Toddler, Preschool and

Before & After School Program

Discovery Place YWCA of Youngstown

25 W. Rayen Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44503

After School Program

William Holmes McGuffey Elementary School 310 S. Schenley Avenue, Youngstown

Serving children ages 6 weeks to 12 years

Open Monday-Friday, 6:30 am to 6 pm

Daily & Full-time rates

Developmentally appropriate curriculum

Homework help offered

Nutritious meals and snacks included

Certified & Degreed staff

Special Needs Inclusive

ODJFS welcome

Call 330-746-6361 for details

Up to 10% discount for employees working in downtown Youngstown in a 2 mile radius of YWCA.

Get involved with the YWCA Volunteer ~ Donate ~ Become a Member

Diapers of all sizes

Cold medications

Slippers

Toothpaste

Dish Cloths/Towels

Pots/Pans/Dishes

Forks/Knives/Spoons

Dish Washing Soap

YWCA Offers Rental Spaces

The YWCA of Youngstown is offering rental space for your next event, meeting, or party. Offering three spaces to choose from: 1) The YWCA main lobby with an attached kitchenette accommodates up to 150 people. 2) The Historic Gym with an attached kitch-enette accommodates up to 200 people. 3) Empowerment Room for small meetings accommodates up to 20 people. For more information call the YWCA at 330-746-6361.