Happy July! Many Americans welcome this month by enjoying fireworks, hot dogs, and lake days with friends and family to celebrate the Fourth of July. We celebrate our freedom because of brave men and women who have willingly sacrificed their lives for our country. However, we must remember that many people around the world, in America, and even in our community, do not feel free. From individuals in abusive relationships, to families living with limited access to care, to populations facing discrimination, "freedom" may be the last thing they are feeling on Independence Day. In fact, to some, freedom may seem unattainable.

Here at YWCA Northeast Indiana, we remember the heroes that paid the ultimate price for our freedom, and we strive to ensure that those freedoms are fully accessible to all Americans today, tomorrow, and each day. YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

We are proud to highlight four fabulous members of our community through our "Aha!" campaign. Keep reading to learn tidbits of knowledge that have made these local celebrities feel empowered!

Mark your calendars, because we have some exceptional events lined up for the coming months! Join us at 2pm this Saturday, July 20th at Cinema Center for the final film in our Allyship & Film Series, Myanmar's Killing Fields. Secret footage and eyewitness accounts expose a brutal campaign by the Myanmar military against Rohingya Muslims. A post film discussion with look at the Burmese community right here in northeast Indiana and how we can practice allyship. Find a link to register in the upcoming paragraphs.

As you may know, our biggest fundraising event of the year, Circle, is scheduled for Thursday, October 3rd from 11:30am-1pm at Ceruti's. In it's 28th year of raising life-saving dollars for our domestic violence services, this event will explore top barriers that prevent individuals from fleeing an abusive relationship. Alongside the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, we will hear from a panel of experts who will share accessible resources in the community that support individuals experiencing abuse and help them overcome obstacles. Learn more about registering, hosting a table, and other ways to get involved in our "Upcoming Events" section below.

We love giving kudos to our staff and celebrating their work anniversaries. Later in this newsletter, you will hear from Takarra, an incredible staff member who shares why she chooses to work at YWCA Northeast Indiana and what drives her #PersimmonPride!

YWCA Northeast Indiana's “Are You an AllY?” blog series utilizes stories, videos, and articles with the hope of appealing to your brain and heart as we engage the nuances of social justice. This month, Racial Justice Coordinator Heather Guy shares what she's learned from past experiences and younger generations that has shaped her journey of allyship for the LGBTQ+ community. Find her blog post below.

We have officially been operating out of our new location, The Hefner Center, for over a month, and each day it is feeling more and more like home! We are grateful to be getting settled despite ongoing construction to half of our building. If you would like to help us meet our financial goal and contribute to the final phase of our capital campaign, keep scrolling to the "Get Involved" section at the end of our newsletter. There you will also find information on our Goldstein Family Scholarship Program as well as in-kind donation opportunities.

We cannot do what we do without people like you. You make the difference, not only in our organization, but in our community. We are beyond grateful for all of your support!

Bonnie's House

Named in honor of lifelong YWCA supporter, Bonnie Hefner (pictured below), our emergency shelter is available for individuals or families who need a safe place to stay because they are experiencing domestic violence. Domestic violence can come in different forms, including, but not limited to, physical, sexual, emotional, or financial abuse. Many individuals experiencing abuse may not realize they are in an unhealthy relationship.

Residents at Bonnie’s House are offered a wide variety of onsite support groups and classes, and YWCA’s Client Care Technicians provide 24-hour living support. Client Care Technicians are trained in evidence-based practices, including trauma-informed care, and are trained to understand the needs of survivors of domestic violence. Client Care Technicians connect residents with resources and provide emotional support and encouragement as residents come and go from the facility. 

Children living with their parent in our domestic violence shelter are offered age-appropriate support so that they can begin to process and heal from trauma in a healthy way. YWCA has a Child Advocate on staff in our residential programs who develops programs and activities designed to increase parenting knowledge, decrease risk for child abuse or neglect, increase emotional management for children, and normalize family relationships after trauma.

Bonnie’s House is partially supported by a grants from:

To learn more about types of abuse and the services we offer to those in crisis, visit our website.

"Aha!" Empowerment Campaign

YWCA Northeast Indiana is BIG on empowerment. It is who we are and what we stand for. Our 2024 "Aha!" campaign features local celebrities sharing moments that have helped them feel more empowered.

"There is a term called 'glimmer,' which is opposite of a 'trigger.' Glimmers are micro moments in your day that make you feel joy, happiness, peace, or gratitude. An 'Aha!' moment for me is when I learned that we can train our brains to be on the lookout for glimmers. The more we are on the lookout for glimmers, the more these tiny moments will begin to appear, and you start to see things differently."

-Deborah Zehr (YWCA Board member and Co-Chair of YWCA's Marketing & Development Committee)

“There was a time in my life when I dreaded doing what seemed to be thankless and meaningless tasks. That was until I had a conversation with my mom, Valerie Messiah, who gave me my most memorable 'Aha!' moment. She told me, 'Son, you do what you have to do today, so you can do what you want to do tomorrow!' It was then that my life and perspective changed forever!”

-Darius Darling (HR Specialist - Recruiting, Brotherhood Mutual)

"I have learned the importance of dreaming big. It can be common for people to let their own self-doubts negatively affect what they believe they can accomplish. Being confident in our talents and dreaming big goals often comes with a few barriers along the way. An 'Aha!' moment for me was when a former boss taught me the value in having difficult conversations that include grace and transparency. As a result, I have grown so much from this lesson."

-Julia Stambaugh (CFO, YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne)

“Years ago, I attended YWCA’s Circle event. The keynote speaker was Sara Hall. She was a victim of domestic violence who reclaimed her life through the rigorous rhythm of rowing. She became the 1998 World Master Champion in the women's single shell. My ‘Aha!’ moment was learning that lives that look perfect on the outside can hide a life that is anything but perfect. Domestic violence crosses age, race, gender, and socioeconomic boundaries. It can happen to any one of us. To this day, her book sits on my bookshelf as a reminder of the power that women can find to take back their lives, given support.”

-Judy Roy (VP for Finance and Administration, Indiana Tech)

Find more "Aha!" moments by visiting our website. 

The Allyship & Film Series project is a partnership between YWCA Northeast Indiana’s Racial Justice program and Fort Wayne Cinema Center. The goal of the film and discussion series is to:

• Create space for viewers to develop empathy and understanding of diverse cultures
• Model ways for viewers to practice allyship for other communities
• Promote the voices and stories of marginalized groups, including local stories
• Educate viewers through specialized scholar facilitation and thought-provoking community discussion

This program has been made possible through a grant from Indiana Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Our third Diversity Dialogue event of 2024 is on Thursday, August 22nd. The topic is Nurturing the People. Recognizing that some communities in need experience gaps in accessing care and services, we will examine the work of those who work to provide supplemental forms of nourishment in our community.

The event will take place from 12-1:30pm at the Allen County Public Library (Main Branch) in Meeting Room AB. This event will also be available via livestream. We hope to see you there!

28th Annual Circle Event

We invite you to come together with us as a community for this year’s Circle event. Local survivors will bravely tell their stories and reflect on their past, letting others know it is possible to overcome barriers to experience a better day. Alongside the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, we will have experts address the top barriers preventing someone from escaping domestic violence. Your registration fee directly benefits our domestic violence programming. Learn more about the event on our website.

Host a Table

Table Hosts are integral to the success of Circle and have the goal to (literally) bring people to the table who would be willing to learn more about YWCA’s mission and make a financial contribution to support YWCA’s domestic violence services.

We have expanded ticket options for Table Hosts to make hosting a table more accessible. In addition to purchasing seats for a whole table or seats for a half table, you can also elect to pay half the registration fees for your table guests or pay the lunch cost for your guests. Guests are then responsible for paying the remainder of their ticket price when they register, using a special discount code. The option also remains to purchase a general admission ticket and invite guests to your table who will also each pay their full ticket cost. Learn more about hosting a table here.

Nominate Someone for the Peggy Hobbs Service Award

The Peggy Hobbs Service Award began in 1977 with the intent to honor a woman of outstanding personal development, achievement, and dedication as a volunteer. YWCA Northeast Indiana continues Peggy’s legacy by presenting the Peggy Hobbs Service Award to a woman who embodies the passion, commitment, and dedication of Peggy Hobbs at YWCA’s annual Circle event. 

Nominations for the 2024 Peggy Hobbs Award are due by July 31, 2024. Find the short nomination form here.

Sharon Tucker and the City of Fort Wayne

Lincoln Financial

What is Persimmon Pride? Persimmon is the orange pantone color of our YWCA brand. Internally, #PersimmonPride is more than a hashtag or mantra. It is a belief in the impact the YWCA team is having in our community. It's more than a saying. It is who we are and what we believe in.

Straight, but not Narrow

"With all the labels regarding generational designations, I have chosen my preferred phrase, '80’s baby, 90’s raised me.' This phrase places me right at the intersection of a generational, social, and cultural shift that contextualizes my life’s experiences. It means to me that during my early childhood years, there were epic snowfalls in December and terry cloth shorts in the summer. There were rotary telephones and answering machines. My brothers and I would stay the night at my grandma’s house and watch black and white reruns of a nostalgic America. They always bored me, because where were the Black people? One way I am able to take note of this shift is when I look at the impact a shifting society has had on the evolution of my own attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community.

The gravity of social change in my lifetime really hits me as I engage our community’s youth. Younger generation’s insistence on being treated with respect and dignity is matched by their willingness to protect your right to the same treatment. This evolved perspective de-centers individuals, while emphasizing a sense of collective well being. As I continue to strive in my journey as an ally to those different from me, I look to the younger generations of Americans as I find that they may have a better understanding of what it means to be a truly free individual."



Find the full article here and check out past posts from our "Are You an AllY?" blog series by visiting our website.

Capital Campaign

There is value in the past. Our history at YWCA Northeast Indiana is full of experiences, experiences that have helped develop us into the life-saving agency we are today. However, we were not able to serve the growing demand for our services in the space at our Decatur Road location. And, while there is beauty in the patina, our old keys won’t open new doors. Although we aren't fully funded yet and renovations are still underway, your help and support thus far has gotten us a long way. YOU ALL are the keys that have helped us open our new doors, and open doors bring hope! Thanks to generous supporters like yourself, we are now operating out of our Washington Center Road location, The Hefner Center!

We are so proud of our progress and that the doors are being opened, fostering hope for those in need of our services. Thank you for being the key to a safer, stronger, and more educated community. Our future is bright!

Learn more about our capital campaign and how you can help us in our final phase by visiting our website.

Goldstein Family Scholarship Program

Donate

With our upcoming move to The Hefner Center, we are excited to have a larger kitchen, which will help our nutrition team better serve our clients. This larger kitchen comes will additional needs. Click here to view our kitchen supply wish list, and check out our website for other in-kind donation opportunities.

If you would like to financially support YWCA Northeast Indiana, you can access our donation page by following the link below: