Young Women Choosing Action
Young Women Choosing Action is an intersectional, culturally responsive, trauma-informed leadership program. Young Women Choosing Action program enables young women to practice skills that can lead to new habits of decision-making rooted in an active choice rather than a reactive behavior. Through their participation in this program, young women who have had varying experiences with trauma, stress, and structural oppression will develop leadership skills, expand their understanding of their physical and emotional responses to trauma, cultivate a practice of personal well-being, and build their capacity as leaders. Young women will learn healthy decision making, self-advocacy, and self-regulation.
YWCA USA received a three year grant from the Centene Corporation and The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare to research, develop, build and pilot this new program. This program is specifically designed for girls/young women ages 13-19 and runs for 12 weeks at a variety of locations. Young Women Choosing Action is being piloted in four YWCA local Associations: YWCA of Northwest Ohio, YWCA Brooklyn, YWCA Northwest Louisiana, and YWCA Watsonville. The pilot will be implemented beginning in the summer of 2018 through the summer of 2020.
The Young Women Choosing Action curriculum is informed by valid and developmentally appropriate educational and therapeutic theories and research. Young women in the program will learn and practice real-world leadership skills by working together to identify and address an authentic community need. Mindfulness-based exercises, such as yoga and breathing activities, will support their leadership efforts and personal empowerment. Ultimately, young women who complete the program will be empowered to employ choice, mindfulness, and leadership strategies in a wide variety of life situations.
If you would like further information about applications to attend the Young Women Choosing Action, please contact Tycie Alcorn at 419-241-3235 ext. 120 or email talcorn@ywcanwo.org