YWCA Glendale: Our Response to Current Events – January 2021

A Message from YWCA Glendale’s CEO Tara Peterson on the Insurrection at the Nation’s Capitol

“As we continue to process the devastating acts we witnessed in yesterday’s insurrection at the Nation’s Capitol, we extend our support to those seeking answers and a path forward to a more just and equitable country. Yesterday’s acts of domestic terrorism and white supremacist violence are an affront to our democracy and to every person in our country. As an organization on the frontlines of racial justice and anti-violence work, we remain committed as ever to the heavy lifting that must be done to address white supremacy in our community and in our country. I cannot think of a more important time for YWCA Glendale to launch our 21 Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge. We invite you to join us on January 18th-February 7th to expand your knowledge of interpersonal and institutional racism and the ways in which racism and anti-Blackness show up in our personal lives, communities, and institutions. Now is the time for us to come together to learn, grow, and heal under YWCA’s bold and urgent mission of eliminating racism and empowering women,” Tara Peterson, YWCA Glendale CEO. READ MORE

YWCA Glendale Receives Historic $1M Donation from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott

GLENDALE, CA – On December 16th, Novelist, Billionaire, and Venture Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced $4.2 billion in charitable giving to 384 organizations, providing the YWCA Glendale with a historic $1M gift. This latest round of funding is part of Scott’s pledge to donate a majority of her fortune. Over 6,500 organizations were vetted through a rigorous, data-driven approach that engaged hundreds of funders, field experts, and advisors who assessed proven leadership, evidence of impact, program outcomes, and ability to strategically employ funds. READ MORE

Supporting Survivors During COVID-19

November- YWCA Glendale Releases Request for Proposals for Nonprofit Affordable Housing Developers

YWCA Glendale invites the submittal of qualifications from affordable housing developers interested in developing and operating affordable housing for low and moderate income families on the eastern parcel (pool) land area which contains approximately 8,600 SF, including a 6,350 SF basement for subterranean garage. YWCA Glendale intends to execute a long-term lease with the selected developer. The purpose of the RFP is to seek qualified developers with multiple-project experience to develop affordable housing units on underutilized parcels currently owned by YWCA Glendale. Read the RFP HERE. 

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

This month, we’d like to take you on a virtual tour of our shelter to share how we are responding to the needs of survivors during COVID-19. We are currently fundraising to complete a backyard landscaping project at the shelter so we can provide a safe, private and healing space for families leaving violent relationships. We’d love to have your support! You can follow us on social media where we will be posting information about domestic violence and the resources available to support survivors in English, Spanish and Armenian. For more information on our growing service numbers and our 10/22 Purple Tie Awards, honoring men working to end domestic violence in our community, please read our October newsletter. 

YWCA Glendale Chosen As 2020 Nonprofit of the Year By Assemblymember Laura Friedman 

YWCA Glendale is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2020 California Nonprofit of the Year by California Assemblymember Laura Friedman. YWCA Glendale is one of over a hundred other nonprofits that will be honored by their state senators and assembly members for their tremendous contributions to the communities they serve.

“The challenges of COVID-19 were not only to respond to the pandemic itself, but it caused a dramatic swell in domestic violence case loads as a side effect of isolation in place. We are pleased that our organization also rose to the challenges of calls for racial justice that have already led to social change. We are humbled to be recognized by Assemblymember Laura Friedman as Nonprofit of the Year for our work to advance gender equity and racial justice,” Valerie Merritt, YWCA Glendale Board President. READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE

Historic Sundown Town Resolution Unanimously Passed by Glendale City Council 

In June 2020, the YWCA Glendale, Black in Glendale and a group of committed community members, parents, educators, and faith leaders formed the Coalition for an Anti-Racist Glendale to lead the community forward following the murder of George Floyd and to lay the groundwork for systemic change to address racial inequities in Glendale. The Coalition determined that a critical starting point for this work would be the passage of a formal resolution to acknowledge and apologize for Glendale’s documented history as a sundown town. On September 15th, the Glendale City Council unanimously voted to pass the Sundown Town Resolution, making it the third city in the country to take this courageous step of reckoning with its past to move toward a more equitable future. You can visit our Racial Justice program page for links to media coverage on the resolution from LA Times, Spectrum News, NBC4, PBS American Portrait, and more.

UPCOMING EVENTS

February 10th-April 28th: NEW! After School Performing Arts Workshops for Girls w/ Anteaus Theatre Company (held virtually) – Registration Now Open

January 12th-May 22nd: 2021 Girls Circle After School Programming (held virtually), Registration Now Open 

December 30th at 4PM – Maker TALK with LA Library (virtual), YWCA TechGYRLS will be providing a follow along, hands-on coding activity in Scratch. Students will learn basic loops and conditional statements utilizing block coding and encouraged to express their creativity by coding a short story and seeing their characters come to life! All coding skill levels are welcome in the judgment-free space.