YWCA Northwest Ohio Mission and Media Statement YWCA of Northwest Ohio is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. We care deeply about the health and well-being of each and every woman and we believe all women have a fundamental right to make their own health care… Continue Reading YWCA Northwest Ohio Mission and Media Statement
“On May 16th, Black families in Buffalo woke up without someone they loved, someone they depended on, someone they laughed with, someone they cried on…only because they were Black in America. These horrific shootings are not the result of a lone extremist or an individual suffering from a mental health episode. This shooting, the 2015… Continue Reading YWCA Statement on Buffalo Shooting
Today, the Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson as the next Supreme Court Justice of the United States, making her the first Black woman, the sixth woman overall, and the first public defender to serve on the Court. We applaud her confirmation and are excited to see such an extraordinary & experienced jurist have a seat on the… Continue Reading Congratulations to Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson!
YWCA ANNOUNCES MILESTONES 2022 VIRTUAL AWARDS EVENT January 6, 2022 – Toledo, OH Lisa McDuffie, YWCA President and CEO announced the 2022 Honorees for the YWCA Milestones: A Tribute to Women Annual Awards Event: The 2022 recipients are: … Continue Reading YWCA of NWO Announces 2022 Milestones Recipients
National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) has finally arrived and it’s not too late to participate! Over the past year, we’ve seen firsthand how registering people to vote creates a stronger, more representative America. That’s why YWCA is spreading the word about the importance of checking your voter registration and making sure others are #VoteReady. We… Continue Reading Get Out To Vote
(Washington, D.C., September 20, 2021) — Today, YWCA USA filed an amicus brief joined by Girls Inc., Supermajority Education Fund, and United State of Women (USOW), urging the Supreme Court to protect the fundamental right of women to decide whether or not to have a pre-viability abortion. The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, challenges the right of women… Continue Reading Standing up for young women and young women of color at the Supreme Court
‘We are dying:’ Local women urge Black community to get vaccine Brooks Sutherland, The Blade, Toledo, Ohio Tue, August 3, 2021, 11:07 PM·5 min read Aug. 3—Speaking to a crowd of dozens of people who showed up to downtown Toledo Tuesday to hear about the importance of getting the coronavirus vaccine, Dr. Anita Lewis-Sewell began… Continue Reading ‘We are dying:’ Local Women Urge Black Community to get vaccine
Join us for a 30-minute webinar on Tuesday, June 15 at 6:00pm to learn more about the state of child care in Ohio’s biennial budget, the Senate’s damaging language on child care, and how you can join thousands of Ohioans in this urgent call to action to save quality child care. During the webinar, you… Continue Reading HELP SAVE OHIO CHILD CARE!
The YWCA of Northwest Ohio stands with the family of George Floyd as they continue to grieve the loss of their loved one. The murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 shined a spotlight on police brutality that disproportionately affects Black people and other people of color in our country. Yesterday’s guilty verdict of… Continue Reading YWCA of Northwest Ohio Statement on Derek Chauvin Conviction
The YWCA of Northwest Ohio has long stood for the empowerment of women and the elimination of racism. The events over the past few days have spotlighted the urgency to be bold and courageous. Warnings from the FBI alert us to expect additional attacks across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This is… Continue Reading Until Justice Just Is
The YWCA of Northwest Ohio is the proud recipient of a $2 million donation from national philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. (Link: https://mackenzie-scott.medium.com/384-ways-to-help-45d0b9ac6ad8) The funds, which were announced yesterday, will be used for operations and to seed a $12 million capital campaign at the YWCA. “Being one of the 384 organizations painstakingly selected to receive a donation… Continue Reading LOCAL YWCA RECEIVES $2 MILLION DONATION FROM MACKENZIE SCOTT
The YWCA of Northwest Ohio sends our deep condolences to the family, friends, and community of George Floyd. We are disgusted by the senseless actions inflicted by the Minneapolis police officers, and we stand with citizens all over the world who are hurt, enraged, and fed up with the abuse of power subjected on people… Continue Reading RESPONSE TO THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD
COVID-19: ‘The equalizer’ highlights our inequities. Racism should be declared a public health crisis. Lisa McDuffie, President/CEO YWCA Northwest Ohio Throughout our history, the United States has repeatedly disenfranchised and silenced communities of color. Marginalized communities have endured endless campaigns of exploitation, violence, mass incarceration, housing discrimination, and economic disinvestment. Recent reports are showing how… Continue Reading COVID-19: ‘The equalizer’ highlights our inequities
YWCA Northwest Ohio to Domestic Violence Survivors Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: “We Are Open for You” YWCA Northwest Ohio is working in compliance with Ohio’s “Shelter in Place” mandate. Our domestic violence shelter staff is working diligently to continue to provide safety, shelter and support services, while maintaining the health and wellbeing of our clients… Continue Reading Domestic Violence Survivors We Are Open for You!
Ohio Child Care Programs to Close As anticipated, Governor Mike DeWine announced this afternoon that all Ohio child care programs will close beginning Thursday, March 26 through at least Thursday, April 30. This emergency action is among many that have been enacted statewide to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. An official order about child… Continue Reading STAY AT HOME ORDER-OHIO CHILD CARE PROGRAMS TO CLOSE
At the YWCA of Northwest Ohio, the safety, health and well-being of the individuals and families we serve are at the top of our priorities. Like you, we are actively monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. In these unprecedented times, we will continue to provide services in the safest manner possible. Domestic Violence Shelter: As our… Continue Reading A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO
Four new volunteers completed some 30 hours of training to prepare for work with the YWCA’s Rape Crisis Center. The six-week training program includes segments on trauma-informed care, human trafficking, working with minority populations, and drug factors in sexual assault. The volunteers will help provide coverage for the Rape Crisis Center’s 24-hour hotline and advocacy… Continue Reading RAPE CRISIS CENTER ADDS NEW VOLUNTEERS
August 2 YWCA Health Fair, 1018 Jefferson Avenue. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free blood pressure and blood sugar testing, PAP smears, clinical breast examinations, Vision and hearing screenings, bone density scans, and HIV testing. August 10 28th annual Pollyball Tournament, International Park. Proceeds benefit the YWCA of Northwest Ohio’s Breast Cancer Awareness and Assistance program. For… Continue Reading UPCOMING EVENTS
More than 200 people attended a lecture by renowned educator and anti-racist activist Jane Elliott as part of the YWCA’s Stand Against Racism, an event held late in April on the campus of the University of Toledo Medical Center. Elliott looked back over the past 50 years since her famous brown eyes-blue eyes experiment that focused on… Continue Reading NORTHWEST OHIO YWCA HOSTS CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE AS PART OF ITS “STAND AGAINST RACISM” INITIATIVE
YWCA President Lisa McDuffie was among hundreds of YWCA leaders from across the country who met in Washington, D.C., earlier this month at the YWCA-USA national convention. Among planned activities were meetings with Senate and House staff members to discuss legislative actions that affect women and children. Issues that YWCA leaders discussed with legislative staff… Continue Reading LOCAL YWCA LEADER VISITS CAPITOL HILL TO SUPPORT LEGISLATIVE ACTION ON BEHALF OF WOMEN
The YWCA’s domestic violence shelter hosted a free legal clinic last month at the YWCA. The clinic brought participants together with local attorneys to get help with civil – not criminal – cases. In the two-hour session, more than 30 clients got answers to questions about divorce, child support, housing, and other topics. The program… Continue Reading FREE LEGAL CLINIC DRAWS FULL HOUSE
Nearly 50 seniors who participated in the YWCA’s Teen Outreach Program (TOP) graduated last month from Toledo Public Schools. Two TOP teens — twins Deontae and Deontre Wright — were valedictorian and salutatorian at Scott High School. The two young men received full tuition scholarships to attend The Ohio State University in the Fall. For more information about TOP… Continue Reading TEEN OUTREACH PROGRAM (TOP)
The YWCA has named Kelley Webb as its racial justice director, a newly created position that reflects the organization’s mission “to eliminate racism.” Webb, a Ph.D. student at the University of Toledo working toward a degree in educational theory and social foundations, has focused her efforts on educating others about issues of racial justice. She holds a… Continue Reading YWCA NAMES NEW RACIAL JUSTICE DIRECTOR
The YWCA will host a town hall session on August 7 as part of a community-wide effort led by the Zonta Club Toledo 1 to address discrimination against women. The local effort is part of a national initiative to advance the United Nations’ international bill of rights for women. The United States is one of… Continue Reading YWCA TO HOST TOWN HALL TO SUPPORT BILL OF RIGHTS FOR WOMEN
More than 80 percent of 3- and 4-year olds in Toledo are not ready for kindergarten. And so, led by the Office of the Mayor, officials from Toledo Public Schools, and a group of community leaders, efforts are underway to increase the number of kindergarten-ready children in Toledo by offering quality preschool opportunities to 4-year… Continue Reading YWCA SUPPORTS UNIVERSAL PRE-K MODEL