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Volume 15: October 2008 |
pasadena-foothill valley |
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YWCA USA Sponsors 2008 Presidential
Debates
 The YWCA, the nation's oldest and largest women's organization, will mark another milestone in its 150 year history by becoming a national sponsor of the 2008 presidential debates. The debates are organized by the Commission on Presidential Debates. There will be three debates for the presidential nominees and one for the vice-presidential nominees.
"With so many critical issues at stake in this election that impact women and their families, the aim of local YWCA's nationwide is to be a resource for voter education and empowerment," said Lorraine Cole, PhD, YWCA USA's CEO. "Next to actually voting, viewing the presidential and vice presidential debates is one of the most important ways for Americans to engage in the election process. By sponsoring these debates, the YWCA will be helping to enlighten Americans as they cast their votes in this landmark election." The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) was established in 1987 to ensure that debates, as a permanent part of every general election, provide the best possible information to viewers and listeners. "The CPD is honored to have the support and involvement of the YWCA in the 2008 presidential debates and looks forward to working together on these historic events," said executive director Janet Brown. The YWCA encourages each of you to hold your own debate watching parties and help and your community get to the polls informed. For information on having a debate watching party <click here>. For more information on the debates, go to www.debates.org.
 Space is limited so make
sure to reserve your seat today if you have not
already.
Tables of ten for $550 and
Individual tickets for $55 The keynote speakers for the breakfast are
the Honorable Linda Sanchez, congresswoman representing
the 39th Congressional District and the Honorable Loretta
Sanchez, congresswoman representing the 47th Congressional
District.
Highly admired educator Renatta Cooper will receive the 2008 YWCA Racial Justice Award which recognizes her long history of outstanding work to ensure that children of all ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds receive a quality education beginning with preschool.
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Just for
Girls (JFG) News Young ladies at Blair have spent multiple sessions discussing and role playing what it means to be a good friend. Difficult questions were considered about how to continue to be respectful with people when you choose not to be friends with them anymore. The girls spoke candidly about conflicts that seem to always come up in their friendships now and were given the space to journal about these issues and brainstorm creative solutions within the group. When asked
how to deal with conflict in friendships, one participant shared, "I
think its ok if you choose not to be someones friend, but just
because they are not your friend doesn't mean you go around spreading
gossip about them - you respect them when you don't talk bad about
them." These conversations and more have girls at Blair addressing
relevant issues. Tuesday: Wednesday:
Thursday: For more information
about how to connect your daughter or someone else you know to a JFG group
please call our Program Manager, Jasmine Guerrero at (626) 296-8433 or
jguerrero@ywca-pasadena.org Building Our Board Starting October 1st, the YWCA was pleased to welcome Susan Kinney to the board for her first term. Susan Kinney has been actively involved in the Pasadena community for several years, most notable as the owner of The Castle Press since 1979. She is a 35-year printing industry veteran with nationally and locally involved with many printing trade associations, organizations and honor societies During September, the YWCA welcomed Margaret Checca back to the board. Margaret has been associated with the YWCA (Pasadena and Los Angeles) for about 25 years. She also serves as a member at large on the Executive Committee and as a member of the Finance Committee of the YWCA Pacific Region. | |
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YWCA Pasadena Foothill Valley highlighted at Vroman's Bookstore
Did you know the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley is a 'Vroman's Gives Back' organization? This program allows Vroman's to give 1% of all purchases to the local community organization of your choice. Go by Vroman's this month to see the YWCA highlighted in one of the outside display windows and make us your organization of choice. All you have to do is tell them you want to help the YWCA! It's free for you and it supports us!
Your contribution to the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley allows us to continue to offer our community:
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?
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Join the
Discussion: "...A More Perfect
Union."
Last month's issue of this newsletter had an article – "Affirmative Action – Another Symptom" that addressed the relationship between racial justice and Affirmative Action. Ever since the incorporation of Prop-209 the subject of Affirmative Action and its application in California has changed. Today's application must comply with California Constitution, Article 1, Section 31. "(a) the State shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting." With Section 31 have come numerous implementations of the California constitution's affirmative action intention. As we may all recall, one of the most significant reasons for the Federal Government's inclusion of affirmative action in its practices was to correct and compensate for the injustices experienced by the African Americans in America. I have included Figure 1 (below) in these thoughts to emphasize the magnitude of the period during which African Americans have been living in America without the assistance of the practice of Affirmative Action – a period of 132,495 days (Between Slavery & Jim Crow) , compared to 9,125 days living with Affirmative Action (in California), i.e., before the Proposition 209 focused efforts. Those of us seeking racial justice and its consequence of "a more perfection Union" invite everyone to join us in our pursuit. One organization that continues its focus on the implementation of affirmative action is Pasadena City College (PCC) where the policy includes, "steps that the district will take in meeting and improving expected representation of qualified members of historically under represented groups in the administration, faculty and staff." PCC Human Resources personnel are required to implement a "set of constitutional, statutory and regulatory mandates that create two competing legal obligations: the mandated commitment to diversity on the one hand, and the prohibition against discrimination on the other." Their example serves all of us in our pursuit of "a more perfection Union!"
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. Fore more details please contact Denise Jones, our committee chair or Ashley Phillips at the YWCA office. |
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YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley 1200 N. Fair Oaks Ave. • Pasadena,CA 91103 |
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Phone: 626-296-8433 • Fax: 626-296-8434 |