A message from our Executive Director...
Dear Friend,
Many years ago, Tarana Burke was working as a camp counselor when she was approached by a girl who began to disclose her experience of being sexually abused. All Burke wanted to say to the girl was "Me too," but at the time, the words couldn't come out. Years later, determined to never let another girl—especially a girl of color—feel silenced by her abuse, Burke gave rise to the Me Too movement.
Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest person to ever win the Nobel Prize. "I spoke out publicly on behalf of girls and our right to learn," she recounts, "And this made me a target. In October 2012, on my way home from school, a masked gunman boarded my school bus and asked, 'Who is Malala?' He shot me..." Since her recovery Yousafzai has taken her promotion of females' right to education worldwide.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the second woman to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Advocating for the rights of women as a constitutional principle, her expertise and voice have shaped precedents that have steadily chipped away at legal barriers imposed on women. "Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn't be that women are the exception."
On this Women's History Month let's make the commitment to study, observe, and celebrate the vital role of women in American history--starting with our local community. Click here to view the International Women's Day video we created to commemorate history-making women in our community. And do consider joining us on April 18 for our annual Legacy Luncheon--meet the special women who are taking great strides today to extend the YWCA mission into the community.
Know that supporting YWCA is supporting women's empowerment, economic advancement and leadership. Together, we can create lasting change for women and girls!
Sincerely,
Tara Peterson
Executive Director
YWCA Glendale
Tara Peterson with the YW Team on International Women's Day
Manira Starts New Life--Free From Violence
Many thanks to Manira sharing her story and photo.
Manira and her two children were staying at YWCA's emergency shelter when our Case Manager, Ariana, first met her. Ariana remembers walking up and down the hallway with Manira's baby in a stroller, while mother and teenage son received therapy and other support at our Domestic Violence Service Center. The journey has been long--nearly impossible at times--but Manira was determined to break free for good from the abuser in her life, achieve self-sufficiency and start on a new path for her and her children.
Ariana remembers the first time she sat with Manira at mediation, watching Manira lower her head in defeat while her abuser shouted at her. The control he still had over her after all those years was palpable. With support from the "caring and respectful" (Manira's words) team of case managers, therapists, shelter advocates and legal experts at YWCA Glendale, Manira eventually gained the strength and skills to advocate for herself. She was also able to acknowledge the own guilt she carried for her compassionate and kind teenage son, telling him how sorry she was that he was exposed to domestic violence and that he didn't deserve any of it.
This month, Manira says her goodbyes to the Domestic Violence Services team at YWCA Glendale. "I am leaving very happy," she tells us, reflecting on the healing and empowerment that propel her family toward their new life ahead.
Thank you for supporting the critical YWCA programs that help women like Manira every day.
Manira, left, begins her new life and bids a thankful farewell to Ariana, her case manager and constant advocate
Announcing Our 2019 Heart & Excellence Honorees!
Camp Rosie Expands to Three Sessions! Registration Now Open
This summer YW is partnering with Soroptimist International Glendale to bring campers ten days of programming focusing on 9 key skill-building topics!
Did you know? Girls and young women between the ages 16-24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence — almost triple the national average. Research shows that violent behavior typically begins between the ages of 12 and 18 and that the severity of violence is often greater in cases where the pattern of abuse was established in adolescence. Camp Rosie directly addresses these startling statistics by serving as YWCA Glendale's teen dating violence prevention initiative. Primary prevention approaches like Camp Rosie strive to combat knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors associated with risk factors of teen dating violence and aim to promote knowledge attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that support protective factors and healthy relationships.Click below for more information on Camp Rosie.
We Love Our YW Volunteers!
This past month YW volunteers shared their stories on camera, helped with event planning, and completed a Legacy Luncheon mailing project in record time!
Action Alert: Urge Your Representative to Reauthorize VAWA
The good news is that on March 7 the Violence Against Women Act was re-introduced to Congress for re-authorization.
Since its original passage in 1994, VAWA has made a tremendous impact in changing culture and norms, reducing domestic and sexual violence, and improving critical victim services. VAWA provides critical funding that survivors rely on for domestic violence services, such as transitional housing, emergency shelter, and medical and legal counseling which support and protect survivors during one of the most vulnerable points in their lives. It is crucial to have a reauthorization of VAWA that maintains the safety, resources, and protections that have been critical to all survivors, particularly women of color and other marginalized communities. Reauthorization of VAWA should be an essential priority for Representatives as funding for domestic violence programming is vital to their constituents’ economic security and personal health and safety.
Where We'll Be (And Where We've Been!)
Come see us as we're out and about in the community! Would you like to see us at your event? Email info@glendaleywca.org
March 1: Camp Rosie Registration Opens
March 11-12: CPEDV’s "Shifting the Lens" Conference
March 15-29: 40-Hour DV Training with Children's Bureau
March 27: Trauma-Informed Care Training with Heluna Health
April 1-5: YWCA Glendale's biannual 40-Hour DV Training
April 18: Legacy Luncheon and Heart & Excellence Awards, La Cañada Flintridge Country Club
April 22-26: Consent Week at CalState LA in partnership with YWCA Glendale
April 23: Safety Planning Training with DV Hotline Staff
April 26-29: Stand Against Racism Week
April 30: YWCA Glendale's Stand Against Racism Event
On March 6, we were invited to present to L’aureole of Glendale, a women's philanthropic organization with a special interest in supporting organizations that help children. Many of the women were surprised to learn about the statistics of teen dating violence. We were grateful to share our views on why prevention and education are so necessary in order to prevent domestic violence, and how Camp Rosie incorporates prevention tactics within a fun summer camp setting.
735 East Lexington Drive Glendale, CA 91206
Phone (818) 242-4155 | info@glendaleywca.org
YWCA Glendale © 2019 All rights reserved.
YWCA Glendale is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
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