The Time Is Now - CEO Address by Christine Bork
Delivered at YWCA Leader Luncheon, October 15, 2009 

For six years I sat with you in the audience, enjoying the program. I never dreamed I would be standing before you today, and I surely never thought that when my time did come, I’d be here without hair.

The women who began this organization realized that time mattered. Recognizing that society was changing they made a place for girls just arriving in the city and ignored warnings about a woman’s ‘proper place.’ When these women integrated our services, they did it despite those who said, ‘Too soon.’ And when they organized bus trips for ordinary African American and White women to help register voters every Wednesday in Mississippi, they ignored everyone around them who said, ‘Hold on.’ They knew - like we know - that The Time is Now.

Thanks to them, we can look around this ballroom and see the fruits of their labor. Some of us sit in the C-suite; some of us have gone on to great academic or professional success. Some of us are first, second or even third generation college grads. Some of us have worked all our lives and are proudly supporting our families, whether singly or with partners and family. Some of us are mentors. Some of us are leaders. Some of us will be. But not enough of us are.

When most people in poverty are single women, how far have we come?

When 1 in 7 of us are under- or uninsured, how far have we come?

When we still get paid only a fraction of the whole dollar that we’ve earned, how far have we come?

When we must make the choice between our families and our work, to the detriment of the other, how far have we come?

When those who assault women and girls are still celebrated and protected in our culture, how far have we come?

When the likelihood of success is still measured by the color of our skin, how far have we come?

The Time is Now.

Now is the time to build a movement that supports the spiritual, physical and economic well-being of women and girls.

Now is the time to take advantage of our political moment and advocate on those issues that change the material circumstances of a woman’s life.

Now is the time to defeat bigotry and heal the rifts of our shared history.

Now is the time to Aspire, Believe, and Thrive so we can build the world we want our daughters to inherit.

I want you to think about the most important woman or girl in your life. Then imagine her in a world that believes in justice and equality for everyone. Imagine her in a world where a woman can be whole. A world where a woman’s knowledge and power are valued and shared. A world where we are all ‘wise Latinas.’

The YWCA knows how to build this world. We know this because we DO this. We’re building it now in our Campaign for the Model YWCA. Our movements succeed because we match our thoughts to actions, and we link arms with other women while doing so. Lifting as we climb, we ask you to join our movement. 

Become a member of the YWCA and share in our vision of the world. Membership is free but your reward is great. If we want to change the world, then the Time is NOW to do it.

Thank you.

 
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