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 empowerment means...
YWCA Boston has proudly served the Boston community for well over a century. But our vision of service is not a one-way street.
Whether we are mobilizing women to encourage other women to take control of their health, training volunteers to facilitate community conversations about race, or organizing opportunities for Boston businesses to educate themselves and the city as a whole about important issues, YWCA Boston meets its goals of eliminating racism and empowering women by helping local residents help themselves.
You may have participated in a YWCA program, volunteered to help run one, funded the program effort, or all of the above. However you have been involved with realizing YWCA Boston's mission, we thank you for taking the time to empower yourself and your neighbors. And we look forward to continuing to work alongside you in 2010! |
teaming up to keep boston women healthy
This January, more than 40 Neighborhood Health Plan employees and other volunteers participated in YWCA Boston's Woman-to-Woman outreach program, designed to encourage women to be proactive with their breast health.
With technical and administrative support from Neighborhood Health Plan's corporate headquarters, volunteers staffed phone banks and reached out to more than 1,000 Boston women to encourage them to get an annual physical exam and mammogram. In addition to personal reminders about upcoming annual exams, dozens of women were connected to health resources to assist with their most immediate health needs and concerns.
"We are deeply appreciative of the growing support and involvement of Neighborhood Health Plan with our women's health programs," said YWCA Boston President & CEO Sylvia Ferrell-Jones. "With significant health disparities affecting the well-being of many of Boston's lower-income women, this cross-sector collaboration is an excellent example of how we can all work together to improve women's health."
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 boston talking about race
Issues surrounding race and ethnicity are something that "everybody talks about," but few do so in a focused way in mixed groups where discussions can make a difference. In 2010, YWCA Boston will facilitate 10 multi-session dialogues about race and ethnicity throughout the city with the aim of strenghthening inclusiveness, opportunity, respect and justice for all in the area.
This February, YWCA Boston ran our first Community Dialogue series of the year, with 14 diverse participants building understanding, trust, and relationships with each other. Debbie Lewis, a Community Dialogue volunteer facilitator, says that participants in the February dialogue "were willing to be honest about their hopes, frustrations, and disappointments about race relations in the city." Participants will now have opportunities to put their ideas into action through participation in civic engagement projects.
An amazing asset in a diverse city that remains divided along racial and ethnic lines, the Community Dialogues program recently won a "Closing the Achievement Gap" grant from the Boston Public Schools to fund a parent/staff dialogue series at the Roosevelt School in Hyde Park.
If you would like to learn more about the Community Dialogues, or would like to participate in them yourself, please contact Kathryn Henderson. |
 you can make a stand
You, your workplace, your school, your place of worship, or any other group you associate with can take a Stand Against Racism with YWCA and groups across the nation on April 30.
"Stand Against Racism" is a national day of action initiated by YWCA USA to raise awareness that racism still exists and can't be ignored or tolerated. Click here to become a participating site - there is no fee to join, and the YWCA will send you all the materials you need to create your stand!
Here are some examples of what Boston area groups have pledged to do as part of the Stand Against Racism:
- A bank is having tellers wear SAR buttons and there will be a banner that customers can sign pledging their support of anti-racism efforts.
- A large company is screening a film during lunch and the diversity officer will facilitate a discussion group following the film.
- A local community is hosting an art contest for children with the theme of "Celebrating Diversity."
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academy of women achievers class of 2010
YWCA Boston is pleased to announce that the following women will be inducted into our Academy of Women Achievers at a celebration this June (see Upcoming Events for event details):
Josefina Bonilla
Editor and Publisher
Color Magazine
Deborah Enos
Chief Executive Officer
Neighborhood Health Plan
Vicary Graham
Regional President
BNY Mellon
Pamela Lenehan
President
Ridge Hill Consulting
Sandra Sims-Williams
Senior Vice President
VivaKi/Digitas
The Sandra B. Henriquez Racial Justice Award will be presented to
Peggy McIntosh, Associate Director of the Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College.
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upcoming events
Vagina Monologues
March 5 and 6, 2010
7:30 p.m.
March 7, 2010
3:00 p.m. 2nd floor Kuumba Library
140 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 02116
Boston GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) is producing a benefit production of the Vagina Monologues at the YWCA Boston, with proceeds supporting the work of the YWCA and other women & girl-serving organizations.
Stand Against Racism
April 30, 2010
This is an all-day, city-wide event.
16th Annual Academy of Women Achievers Celebration Luncheon
June 1, 2010
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Westin Copley Place
10 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
Keynote speaker Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D., President of Spelman College, will be joining the YWCA as we honor Boston's leading women and celebrate 144 years of eliminating racism and empowering women.
Empower Hour
March 4, 2010
April 1, 2010
May 6, 2010
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
4th floor Conference Room
YWCA Boston 140 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 02116
Join us at one of these monthly introductions to the YWCA's work.
For details, contact Julie Martin.
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