Volume 15: September 2008

pasadena-foothill valley

Secure Your Reservation
2008 Women for Racial Justice Breakfast
 
Embracing Our Diversity. That's what makes Pasadena a special place to live. But sometimes keeping that mission alive needs a gentle nudge. One "nudge" comes from the YWCA Women for Racial Justice Breakfast held this year on Monday, October 20 at the Pasadena Hilton Hotel. We hope it is already on your calendar and that your reservation is already in. If not, here's an update that should spur you to action.

Two Californians who have not let ethnic or gender bias hold them back will be our Keynote Speakers, the unique Congressional "Sister Act."  Congresswoman Linda Sanchez is the first Latina in history to serve on the House Judiciary Committee and chairs the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law. Her sister, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, is the first woman and person of color to represent an Orange County district. She began her congressional career in 1996 and is currently serving her sixth term in the House of Representatives. They are a formidable pair.

      
Linda Sanchez               Loretta Sanchez

Racial Justice Awardee
Highly admired educator Renatta Cooper will receive the YWCA Racial Justice Award that 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.


 Be a 'Community Advocate' by purchasing a table and inviting friends to join you at the breakfast.

 Tables of ten for $450; $550 after September 26 
Individual tickets for $45; $55 after September 26

You may purchase tables or individual tickets here or by sending a check to:

YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley, 1200 North Fair Oaks, Pasadena CA, 91103
Please write 'WRJB' in memo line.

 
Be Informed 
The national YWCA is going to ensure no one goes to the polls uniformed!

Stay tuned in early September for the national YWCA's new elections website. It will contain voter issue guides, a comprehensive database of all federal and state candidates, interactive surveys, a bulletin board where you can leave comments about the election and describe your election activities, a get-out-the-vote guide, and polling places and their hours of operation.

Keep your eye on the national website www.ywca.org for the launch of the elections website.

 

Just for Girls  (JFG) News
JFG programming continues to provide places of safety and conversation for middle & high school girls throughout the Pasadena School District

The beginning of the school year marks the start of one of our flagship programs, Just for Girls, our after-school girls mentoring program.  We are constantly responding to changing needs and opportunities and are pleased to offer the following locations and times for our program.


Our Current JFG schedule:

Monday:
Willard Elementary School (4th grade): 12:45 - 1:45pm
Willard Elementary School (5th grade): 1:50 - 2:50pm

Tuesday:
YWCA, Middle School: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Blair IB School LEARNs (7th-9th): 3:00pm - 4:30pm

Wednesday: 
Mustangs on the Move @ Muir High School:3:30-5:30pm

Thursday:
YWCA, High School group: 4:00 - 6:00pm
Blair IB School LEARNs (7th-9th): 3:00 - 4:30pm


You can help us connect to more young women. 
If you have a daughter at one of these schools or would like her to be a part of one of the groups here at the YWCA then let us know! We would love to connect with more young ladies and are excited about the opportunity to continue to expand!

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


 

The 2008 Week Without Violence will begin Monday, October 20.  All YWCA Just for Girls programs that week will include special activities. 

All community organizations are invited to schedule a special, appropriate activity and then give us the details for inclusion in the calendar.  Beginning on October 6, a Community Calendar of Events will be featured on the YWCA website.  Also on October 20 a printed Calender of Community Events will be distributed at the Women for Racial Justice Breakfast.



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 you and our young women, your sister, your wife, and our families 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 Program Office    .
  • Make a gift of stock, real estate, or money.
    Contact the Development Office    .
  • 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

 

Join the Discussion:
thoughts from members of our Racial Justice Committee

Affirmative Action – Another Symptom!
by Bill DeTally

Sometimes I think about the health of our society, particularly with regard to varying symptoms indicating health or non-health of racial justice in Pasadena. Recently at one of the Racial Justice Committee Meetings of the YWCA, in Pasadena, we consulted on one of these symptoms – affirmative action in the State of California. 

Ever since the passing of Proposition 209 in 1996, the consideration of race or gender when evaluating the qualifications of an individual or group of individuals operating as a corporate entity has been disallowed, thereby rendering race and gender neutral in California. The effects of this are still being measured, but all indications are that a major effect is to significantly decrease participation by women and people of color whenever they compete with men or those not considered people of color.

In the upcoming November 2008 elections, three states, Colorado, Nebraska and Arizona, will be asking their people to accept or deny the application of Affirmative Action in their states. Once again, the equity of implementing Affirmative Action will be in question, and once again, we will be measuring the health of racial justice.

Race continues to be a subjective issue even as our nation prepares to elect its President, a task significantly influenced by our understanding of the effects and practice of Affirmative Action in our society.
~~

This topic will be expanded on in the October newsletter so make sure to check out part 2. 

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.

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

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

www.ywca-pasadena.org