By Liz Lopez Partnerships between YWCAs and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) bring needed resources to women, who are critically important economic drivers in some of our nation’s most vulnerable communities. Both YWCAs and CDFIs focus on social justice and empowerment. Both seek to build access to financial tools that support inclusion in the economic mainstream for rural, urban, and Native communities. Both seek to eliminate systemic racism and discrimination.… Continue Reading Catalysts for Change: Introducing the YWCA CDFI Map

By Yolanda Raine, Senior Director, Marketing and Communications Eliminating racism. Empowering women. Our mission lives in the soul of everyone at YWCA, because we demand a world of equity and human decency. We envision a world of opportunity and we commit ourselves to the work of justice. We’re not new to this, we’re true to… Continue Reading United we stand. Together we act. Until Justice Just Is.

This summer has challenged us when it comes to how we approach conversations about racism and the systemic racial injustices that permeate our society. From social media slide-show style infographics to restructuring diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives throughout corporate America, there has been a national “call-in” for discussions on race relations. It’s on the news, and it’s even been on Nickelodeon. At YWCA, we’ve been sounding the alarm… Continue Reading Talking to Kids About Racism

On the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave some womxn the right to vote a century ago, YWCA is proud to release our *official* list of 19 Bad a$$ womxn who are making a difference today to ensure that womxn, femmes, and all people of color are represented and able to participate in civic engagement. As we gear up for November 3rd, we’re thrilled to highlight… Continue Reading YWCA Honors 19 Bad A$$ Womxn on the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment

by Catherine Beane, Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy, YWCA I sit in the quiet of this morning, before the noise in my house begins, and I remember: 100 years ago today – August 18, 1920 – the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. A century of women’s rights launched in a… Continue Reading The Unfinished Fight for My Sisters

By Sophia Clarke, Communications Associate  Today is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. We are proud to celebrate with Black women across the country as we bring awareness to this day and work to further a world in which women — and Black women in particular — have access to pay equity in the workplace.   According… Continue Reading On Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, We Pay Mind and Attention to the Pay Inequity We Still Face

By Hillary Detamore, CEO, YWCA Olympia Hello. My name is Hillary Detamore, I use she/her pronouns, I am the CEO at YWCA Olympia, and  I am writing today about allyship and accompliceship in the fight for racial justice. I want to start by locating myself in this conversation, as someone who lives and works on… Continue Reading Accountable Allyship and Accompliceship for Ourselves and in Our Communities

As Pride Month 2020 comes to a close, we recognize how far we have to go until true LGBTQIAP+ liberation for all is achieved. YWCA is proud to stand in deep solidarity with all members of the BIPOC community regardless of gender expression or sexual orientation. We know that pride today would be nothing without… Continue Reading YWCA Celebrates Pride 2020!

By Debbie Baldwin, Digital Media Specialist The novel coronavirus outbreak has impacted us all, but when parsing out the unique experiences of the virus felt across varying population demographics, COVID-19 is anything but the great equalizer. In her recent post, my colleague Sophia broke down the effects of the crisis on communities of color, but… Continue Reading COVID-19 Has Women on the Front Lines of Two Global Pandemics