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YWCA VOLUNTEERS - MAKING A DIFFERENCE Volunteering is
Yours in service,
Isonel
Pictured L-R: Kathleen Callaghan, Christine Goldberg, Lydia Acosta, Mary Jacob, and Tanya Freeman
MAY CONNECTIONS
Valerie Carville, YWCA Connections Member
The East Baton Rouge Parish Library System was founded in 1939 with a mission to serve all residents of the parish as an informational, education and recreational center. Lydia Acosta, Director of EBR Parish Library was the guest speaker at the YWCA May 2, 2006 Connections meeting held at the Baton Rouge Marriott. Her speech contained a wealth of information regarding the library system, including the following highlights:
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One of 12 nationwide “showcase libraries,” due to the exemplary juvenile outreach center
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Serves over 400,000 residents
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Includes 12 branches, a main branch, two outreach centers and a book mobile
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Employs over 400 staff
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Over 2,000 programs available to residents
Other noteworthy statistics involved library usage. For example, 1.9 million residents visited the library last year which is a 10% increase from the prior year and the over 400 public computers have doubled in usage over the last year. Seventy-seven percent of the population has a library card, which is up 9% over last year, and over 14,000 participated in the summer reading program. Last year alone, they opened three new branches.
The library offers many resources beyond books. There are meeting rooms in many of the branches, which are open to the public and free of charge. There is a career center in the works for the River Center, which will provide free services to assist anyone in the process of a career transition. There is a homework help line at the Renaissance Park in Baker, which will be moving to New Orleans at the end of this year.
The future is bright for the library system, with plans for two community branches and construction of the new main library this coming year. Ultimately, the library’s goal is continue to provide services while attempting to keep pace with technology and maintaining traditional resources.
For upcoming Connections meetings, please visit our calendar of events.
(Pictured L-R): Sandra Thompson, Valerie Carville, Mary Jackson, Elizabeth English, Robin Williams, Myrna Arroyo
JUNE CONNECTIONS
Kirsten Allen, YWCA Connections Member
On Tuesday April 4, 2006
For upcoming Connections meetings, please visit our calendar of events.
•Pap Cancer Screenings
July 10
Renaissance Village
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
1800 Groom Road
Baker
July 17
Elm Grove FEMA Village
10498 Elm Grove Garden Drive
July 24
Renaissance FEMA Village
1800 Groom Road
Baker
July 27
Airport FEMA Village
10700 S. Gibbens Drive
Baton Rouge
August 7
Hollier Court (Airport 1)
4910 Hollier Road
Baton Rouge
August 14
Renaissance FEMA Village
1800 Groom Road
Baker
•Breast Cancer Screenings
July 11
LSU Midcity Clinic
5:00 - 7:00 pm
1401 N. Foster Drive
Baton Rouge
July 21
Leo S. Butler Community Center
1:00 - 4:30 pm
950 E. Washington St.
Baton Rouge
July 21
Leo S. Butler Community Center
1:00 - 4:30 pm
950 E. Washington St.
Baton Rouge
August 8
LSU Midcity Clinic
5:00 - 7:00 pm
1401 N. Foster Drive
Baton Rouge
August 18
Leo S. Butler Community Center
1:00 - 4:30 pm
950 E. Washington St.
Baton Rouge
•Connections Meeting
Tuesday, June 11, 2006
Baton Rouge Marriott Hotel
5500 Hilton Avenue
Speaker: Chancellor O'Keefe
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Baton Rouge Marriott Hotel
5500 Hilton Avenue
Speaker: Women of Achievement
Kickoff Luncheon
For Details On Our Events,
Please Visit Our Calendar Page
YWCA is proud to be a United Way Member Agency
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Educating the Community
By Traneisha Jones, YWCA Summer Intern
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore- -
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over - -
Like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
Like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
- Langston Hughes
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| Pictured at the community workship are National Spokesperson, Pride Youth Programs- Milton Creagh;Community Liaison, Wanda Crump; YWCA Family Advocate, Barbara Varmall;Instructional Trainer, Nanette Glenn;Parental Involvement Coordinator for EBR, John Cavell; and Chairman of the Board- BAEO, Dr. Howard Fuller. |
On Saturday, June 10, 2006 the YWCA’s Family Resource Center in conjunction with BAEO (Black Alliance for Educational Options) and Baton Rouge Parent University hosted a community workshop at Miracle Place Church in Baker, LA in an effort to make certain no more dreams are deferred. Too often in impoverished and mostly African American communities, education takes a back seat. As a result of this, few succeed while many others never make it to a point of stability because education is the key to attaining one’s dreams and ultimately success. The workshop entitled “ Helping Children to Excel” was the final parent education session to take place for the 2005-2006 school year. Though many parents could benefit from the workshops held, the primary audience for this session was those impacted by Hurricane Katrina now residing in the Baker area.
Joining the YWCA at the workshop were representatives from several educational programs including Literacy Works, JABECA (Journey through Academics to Boldly Empower Children to Achieve) Educational Services, Camp Noah, LACHIP, Tobacco Free Living and Louisiana Virtual Schools.
The purpose of the workshop was to increase parental and familial involvement in an effort to boost student achievement. Howard Fuller, Ph.D., Board Chair of BAEO and Founder/Director of the Institute for Transformation of Learning at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was the keynote speaker for the event. He gave a remarkable presentation on the importance of receiving an education from the perspective of both parent and child. Many parents seem enthusiastic and motivated not only to take a more active role in their children’s education, but also to gain more education for themselves. They actively participated in the sessions by asking pertinent questions and also by offering helpful hints to other parents in attendance.
Simone Higginbotham, program coordinator of Literacy Works, a YWCA partner in combating literacy, commented, “There is a great need for [literacy] programs within our communities. We have been doing a lot of work within Renaissance Village (a FEMA residential community for displaced residents). Literacy Works helps individuals prepare for the obtaining their GED. Our enrollment has greatly increased as a result of Hurricane Katrina. We went from meeting twice a week to meeting everyday. Our services are important to their survival and the survival of their families”.
The YWCA’s Family Resource Center will host more community-wide parenting workshops in the fall to continue educating parents and families. For more information about the Resource Center or to schedule a workshop, please call the Family Resource Center at 225-338-0026.
ACTRESS LYNN WHITFIELD ANNOUNCED AS SPECIAL GUEST AT YWCA WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT GALA
 The YWCA of Greater Baton Rouge announces Emmy award-winning actress Lynn Whitfield as Special Guest of the 2006 YWCA Women of Achievement Awards Gala on October 18th at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center. This celebration marks the 24th year the YWCA has honored local women who have distinguished themselves through professional achievement, personal accomplishment and community service.
Baton Rouge-native Whitfield has won Emmy and NAACP Image Awards, in addition to Golden Globe and Cable ACE Award nominations, all for her portrayal of the entertainer Josephine Baker in HBO’s “The Josephine Baker Story.” More recently, Whitfield won an Image Award in 2005 for her performance in “Redemption” (The Stanley “Tookie” Williams Story) opposite Oscar winner Jamie Foxx. Among young audiences, she is better known for her portrayal as “Cheetah Momma”, the mother of Raven, in the successful Disney movie “Cheetah Girls.” Whitfield recently completed filming of the “Cheetah Girls” sequel in Spain.
Whitfield co-starred in the landmark production of Oprah Winfrey’s “The Women of Brewster Place” and has had starring roles in numerous television movies and mini-series, including “Without a Trace,” “Touched By an Angel,” and “I’ll Fly Away.” She appears this fall with James Woods in a new series, “Shark.” She has been seen in such feature films as Chris Rock’s directorial debut, “Head of State;” “Stepmom” with Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon; “Eve’s Bayou” co-starring Samuel L. Jackson; “A Thin Line Between Love and Hate,” “Silverado,” “Doctor Detroit,” and this year’s feature film “Madea’s Family Reunion.”
Proceeds from the gala will be used to support the mission, programs and activities of the YWCA of Greater Baton Rouge. Some of this year’s sponsorship benefits include a reception with Whitfield. For more information regarding the Women of Achievement Awards Gala and sponsorship opportunities, please contact the YWCA office at (225) 383-0681 or access their website at www.ywca-br.org.
ONE BOOK ONE COMMUNITY
 The YWCA is sponsoring a community initiative called “One Book One Community”. All Baton Rouge residents, including students and adults, are urged to read the book "Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black", by Gregory Howard Williams, and then participate in community discussions and events surrounding the book.
The other partnering agencies are: Cox Communications, Southern University, LSU, Forum 35, and the East Baton Rouge Libraries. The goal of this initiative is to promote recreational reading and make our community aware of social issues through a community learning experience.
For more information, please contact Isaac Netters at nettersi@ywca-br.org or (225)383-0681 ext. 17 or visit the website, www.onebookbr.org.
YWCA YOUTH & TEEN SERVICES PROGRAM
It is difficult for many youth to maintain their purity in today’s sexually dominated society. Television, radio, and billboards are all drenched with sexual images. Due to these images being portrayed in all sectors of society, it is no wonder harsh statistics relating to sex continue to rise. STD’s, HIV, AIDS, STI’s, pregnancy, and many other things have begun to invade and alter the lives of American youth at an alarming rate. One would think that as a result of this epidemic, more parents, teachers, and adults in general, would take the initiative and begin to educate youth on this vital issue. Unfortunately, many decline to do so. The YWCA, however, has taken the initiative and is now actively working to educate youth, ages 10-17, on the causes, effects, and alternatives to having sex through their Positively kNOw and You&Me&HIV sessions. According to a survey given to the students by the YWCA, 98% of students who participate in the programs offered by the YWCA say they will not engage in pre-marital sex.
Rayla Square, a seventh grader at Southern University Laboratory School, commented, “[Through this program] I have learned that you should never have sex [before marriage] because you can get a disease and no one wants a disease because it is bad and it can lead to sickness and death. [I also learned] not to let others pressure you, decide the best choice for you.”
Both Positively kNow and You&Me&HIV operate in East Baton Rouge, Iberville, East Feliciana, and West Feliciana Parishes through area churches, community organizations, LSYOU (Louisiana State Youth Opportunities Unlimited), NYSP (National Youth Sports Program), and Upward Bound. Over the course of a year, the program impacts over 3,000 youth.
For more information regarding the YWCA Positively kNOw and You&Me&HIV programs contact Keshala Jackson at jacksonk@ywca-br.org.
Dear Istrouma Early Head Start Staff,
I am writing the center in appreciation of the love, patience, and care which they give to each individual child.
They broaden the children’s self-esteem by getting on their levels and by not being shy when participating in the children’s play activities.
When the teachers do adhere to such things this gives the child more insight to be playful, friendly and not to be isolated amongst their peers and of their surroundings.
They are very much appreciated for not only being involved with the child, but for being here for the parents also.
They accept each parent equally and they place no label or judge any of us. It’s very nice to be somewhere where you can be accepted equally and praised for continuing your education and having the strength to succeed in life.
I feel that this is a program that should be accepted everywhere in the U.S. where the rate of teen pregnancy continues to grow.
Many parents are forced to drop out of school because of the lack of childcare and not having the finances to pay for childcare.
This makes them a STATISTIC and people STEREOTYPE those who follow in those footsteps.
As a teen parent I want people to have the faith in me to be a great success in life, and not to look down on me.
This program has given me the opportunity to expand my horizons and better myself.
Thank you for your hard work, determination, and for lending a helping hand.
Sincerely,
Shantina Miles
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
This year the YWCA Istrouma Early Head Start Center has 2 graduates: Ms. Shareka Dunbar, from Istrouma High School and Ms. Brittany Vicks from Scotlandville High School. We had a great senior celebration on Thursday, May 25th. The graduates from Istrouma and Glen Oaks sites and their EHS support staff had lunch @ Picadilly and were pampered at a spa in Cortana Mall, thanks to a contribution from a wonderful donor. It was a new experience for most of those in attendance.
The YWK program is proud to have hired another Early Head Start parent, Ms. Desiree Phillips. Ms. Phillips was an active participant in the Istrouma program, graduate of Istrouma High School and has recently completed her child development internship for LTC at the Istrouma site. She is now working at the ARC site as a teacher. We are very proud to have her return and give to the program and the community.
HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?
Take The Y Challenge!
The YWCA is issuing a challenge to all their newsletter readers. We would like to know exactly how much you know about the YWCA. Copy and paste the following questions into a new email by clicking here. Answer them and send the e-mail or you can fax them to (225) 383-5733 (Attn: Lynelle Dixon). If you encounter difficulties with our "clicking here" link above, simply email them directly to them to dixonl@ywca-br.org.
Y- Wait? Take the challenge today and you could be one of the first five correct responders to win a spectacular prize.
Questions:
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True or False: The YWCA is just for women.
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In what year was the YWCA founded?
a.) 1608 b.) 1855 c.) 1902 d.) 1756
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In what state did the first Native American YWCA open?
a.) Louisiana b.) Michigan c.) Oklahoma d.) Omaha
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True or False: The YWCA offers swimming accommodations.
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BONUS: What is the function of the YWCA Women of Achievement Gala?
Hint: All answers can be found at www.ywca.org or at www.ywca-br.org. Happy Hunting!
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