Volume 16: January 2008

pasadena-foothill valley

 

YWCA Survey Reveals Women's Priorities for New Obama Administration  


National Survey of American Women Shows Generation Y is More Concerned About Racial Discrimination, More Demanding of New Administration

On November 24, the YWCA USA marked its 150th Anniversary at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. and unveiled the results of our new national public opinion poll of American women. This survey identifies the issues women want the new administration to address and what they think are obstacles to their progress. This survey found the views of younger women are remarkably different from other women, especially in their broad and urgent list of priorities, deep commitment to racial tolerance and concerns about their future. Marked differences between the views of women of color and white women also are identified.

Some key findings from the survey include:

  • The majority of all American women say that personal economic problems pose the greatest barriers to their success over the next ten years, including: Lack of retirement savings (70%), major illness or medical expense (68%), lack of jobs or layoffs due to jobs sent overseas (63%) and cost of college or higher education (60%).
  • Nine in ten (92%) American women aged 18-70 say that President-elect Obama and the new Congress should make solving the financial crisis in the U.S. the number-one priority to address in the first year.
  • Seven in ten (73%) Gen Y women say that violence against women in the U.S. should be a top priority or President-elect Obama and Congress to address in the first year.
  • One in three (36%) women of Generation Y say they are “very worried” about being a victim of or knowing someone who is a victim of domestic violence, compared with one in four older women (23%).
  • Gen Y are more likely than older women to say that discrimination against Blacks (42% vs. 24%) and Hispanics (28% vs. 18%) is a “very serious” problem in the country.

Go here to view more key findings, full report and press release.

“At this moment in our history, these are surprising findings about young women,” said YWCA USA CEO, Dr. Lorraine Cole. “Despite the progress we have made in this country with regard to racial issues, this new generation of women is actually quite concerned about personal experiences with racism for themselves and women like them. This is clearly an assertive generation of young women who are very clear what they want from President-elect Obama and the new Congress –we all need to pay attention to them.”

 

Partnering for Girl's Health

The YWCA is excited to host the Pasadena Junior League's Be R.E.A.L. program (Relationships, Extraordinary, Authentic, Loving).   

Be R.E.A.L is a program taught hand in hand with the Junior League and the Institute for Girls Development.

Imagine a series of workshops in which a middle-school girl can develop and practice vital skills for positive relationships and conflict resolution. Imagine an opportunity in which caregivers (parents, grandparents and guardians) gain insight about their middle-school girl and how to help her navigate her social world. Imagine the learning that could take place if there was a program that allows girls and their caregivers a chance to practice talking straight, without drama or conflict.

Be REAL is that series. Many families have participated in the program two and three years in a row. Why? Because “we love it” say girls and parents. Girls and their caregivers have an opportunity to practice valuable skills, to enhance their relationships with each other and even have some fun while participating. Girls and their “grown-ups” have the opportunity to enhance their relationships, through this extraordinary and authentic program called BE REAL.    

If you are interested or know anyone that would be interested, contact Rosiris Paniagua, chair of the Be REAL committee at rosiris_paniagua@yahoo.com or 626-622-7174

Be REAL will be held weekly starting on Wednesday, February 25 and ending on Wednesday, April 1. 
Time: 6:30-8:30pm.
Location: YWCA Office, 1200 North Fair Oaks, Pasadena CA, 91103

 



The YWCA USA is celebrating 150 years of empowering women and girls and  advocating for critical social issues. Lending its rich history and legacy of accomplishments, the YWCA USA is focused on igniting a new generation of 22 million young women aged 18 to 34 to get involved with important issues facing women and the country today.

This call to action focuses on many topics, including self-esteem and body image issues, HIV/AIDS, health care, quality childcare, gender equality and racial justice.


To find out more about these topics, go to the YWCA USA website.
 
 
 

New Year, New Programs
The YWCA is proud to announce our winter programs.  

With the changing economic times, concerns over health and fitness for our youth and support for our parents in the community, the YWCA has decided to start the New Year with three new programs tailored for our community members. 

Classes begin February 2009, for more information and to sign up for any of these classes, please call us at 626-296-8433.

Financial Literacy Program
Polling data and focus group studies consistently show that people have an appetite -- an intellectual curiosity -- for more "investor and financial" learning materials. We hear them. That's why the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley is offering a Financial Literacy workshop presented by Wescom Credit Union. The low level of personal savings and high level of debt among Americans has raised concerns and increased the need for more financial education. 

Classes will start in February and are designed to provide participants with the tools needed to develop/sharpen their financial awareness. The program will cover topics from the basic “Spending Your Money Wisely, Saving and Budgeting" to the more detailed “Investing Advice" and “How to Start a Business.”

This 10 week program is for women fifteen and older.
Cost: Free

Dance Program
The YWCA Pasadena–Foothill Valley has partnered with Lineage Dance Company to offer a contemporary dance class for our youth. Students will learn the fundamentals in a highly interactive and gently structured class to enhance the child's trust in her own creative expression. Dance techniques are integrated in age appropriate ways so that the children truly enjoy their experience of dance. Through this process our girls will gain a sense of empowerment and develop feelings of being valued, creative and worthy.

The dance classes are for middle school girls and are offered in 10 week cycles starting Monday, February 23.
Cost: $10/class - limited scholarships are available

Parenting Classes
The YWCA is offering Parenting Education Classes that will be facilitated by Akoko-Nan Parent Education and Support Group. This class will provide support for parents in need of basic parenting skills and practices by delivering training on child safety, parental functions, family nutrition and developmental stages. Hands on demonstration providing several parenting techniques along with a module on teenagers’ drugs and alcohol statistics will be provided.

Childcare is provided while parents are in class. The childcare educator will assist children with homework assignments and provide a companion lesson to the parents' curriculum.  

This 20 week class is for Moms and Dads and will begin February 24 from 6-8pm. Participants will receive a certificate upon completion of the program.
Cost: $10/class

Do you know
"What's the Difference?"

Two new entries were posted over the Christmas break; "Buyer's Remorse - Not the Change We Wanted" by CeCe Grady and "What Color (or Religion) is Fraud" by Susan Carrier.  Check them out at www.ywcapasadena.blogspot.com.  While at the site, remember to subscribe to the blog so that the updates come to you.

If you would like to contribute to the blog with an original post, please email Community Outreach Coordinator, Ashley Phillips, at ashley@ywca-pasadena.org
 

 
Donate Online NOW!

Your contribution to the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley allows us to continue to offer our community:

  • Just For Girls enrichment and development program for the school aged young women of Pasadena
  • Racial Justice work in our community
  • Community Building efforts through public dialogue and our program initiatives
  • Ensuring that women from all walks of life have a voice in our city, region and nation
Your generosity ensures that we cultivate the next entrepreneur, the next engineer, the next scientist, or the next U.S. Speaker of the House!


 
How Can I Get Involved?
  • Volunteer. We are always recruiting women and girls to join a committee or to volunteer in the office.
    Contact the Programs Office at programs@ywca-pasadena.org.
  • Make a gift of stock, real estate or money.
    Contact the Development Office at pr@ywca-pasadena.org.
  • Join the Racial Justice Committee.
    Be a part of the conversation. Contact Denise Jones,     Chair.
  • Contribute a brief article to our blog, "What's the Difference?" Contact Ashley Phillips, Community Outreach Coordinator at ashley@ywca-pasadena.org.


What Will You Do Next?


by Bill DeTally

It is not possible to overstate or over focus on the importance of the communal act we have witnessed with the election of President-elect Obama. Given the importance of this view, what must we do next to give more meaning to the communal act? Some ideas in response to this question are given below (excerpted from material compiled by the Institute for the Healing of Racism of Honolulu, Hawaii):

 

  1. Become knowledgeable – learn about racism, sexism, classism and other forms of prejudice.
  2. Study causes of violence, hatred and discrimination.
  3. Read all types of history from various cultural perspectives.
  4. Learn communication skills for a changing world.
  5. Learn skills for cross-cultural communication and organizational effectiveness.
  6. Cultivate associates from other groups – decide to develop close personal and professional relationships with others different from yourself.
  7. Choose to have contact with ethnic groups other than your own by attending their community and cultural events.
  8. Cultivate allies – decide to become an ally to ethnic groups other than your own and to their causes.
  9. Educate each other on recognizing prejudice and discriminatory behavior.
  10. Strive for harmony and unity in your home.
  11. Get involved with anti-prejudice organizations and issues; and finally, most important of all, don’t underestimate the worth of your anti-prejudice contributions.


However puny you may think your actions are, you are still contributing to world peace and ripples of your smallest efforts will be far-reaching!

~~Join the Discussion, Join the Committee ~~

If discussing these issues and responding to them interests you, we would love to have you join our Racial Justice Committee.  We meet every 4th Wednesday at the YWCA.  For more details, please contact Denise Jones, our committee chair, or Ashley Phillips at the YWCA office at 626-296-8433.

YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley 1200 N. Fair Oaks Ave. • Pasadena,CA 91103

Phone: 626-296-8433 • Fax: 626-296-8434

www.ywca-pasadena.org