A MESSAGE FROM YWCA CEO, TARA PETERSON

Back in September, I wrote a letter to the editor that was published in both Glendale News-Press and Pasadena Outlook. I shared our story of growth and the new opportunities that came out of a time that was difficult for so many organizations. To this, I credit our determined staff, our amazing community, and a dedication to our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. Despite these challenging times, YWCA stuck to its core values: courage, compassion, and commitment. In doing so, we continue to stand for equity and show up for every woman seeking safety and every girl seeking empowering opportunities.

 As 2021 nears its end, I now reflect on the incredible community we have here in Glendale and Pasadena. I know that living in the same city does not determine a community. Community is defined by the values that bind us together, and for YWCA it is the people and the organizations that work with us as we build a more just and equitable future for all. November is a month where we make note of all the things we are grateful for, and to say that I am grateful for this YWCA and all the folks who help support it, would be a vast understatement.

As someone who values being in community with others, I, too, struggled over the past two years. But the outpouring of compassion, generosity, and love that we have received from our supporters, program participants, volunteers, board members, staff, and the rest of our community has been nothing short of remarkable. So much of our work revolves around the connections we build in the community and the people who seek our services. You are the reason we can achieve our mission.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support of YWCA and for your belief in our core values and programs that create safety and inspire hope and belonging for ALL. I am so grateful and honored to be a part of such a wonderful community.
 
In peace & partnership, 
A SEASON OF GROWTH FOR SURVIVORS

Liz* came to us in 2016 after leaving her abusive partner and father of her two children. Despite her attempts to start a new life, she struggled to move forward. Because of her immigration status, she couldn’t find work, which then made it hard to secure housing. She suffered from PTSD and worried her abuser would find her and hurt her children, a fear that was exacerbated when he began contacting and threatening her.

At YWCA, Liz received legal advocacy, case management, and housing navigation services and graduated our program in 2019. She was able to find permanent housing, apply for her U-Visa, and build a supportive community for her and her children. She was also a beneficiary of our holiday Adopt-a-Family Program, which helped her fulfill her children's holiday wish lists while she was unable to work.

Last week, Liz came back to YWCA, a full five years since she first walked through our doors. This picture captures her opening an envelope that would change the course of her life - at long last, her U-Visa and work permit had finally arrived! Her former case manager was there to greet her and celebrate this hard-fought, long-awaited milestone. Surviving domestic violence is a long journey filled with many obstacles, but with a strong community of supporters and a steadfast commitment to grow, heal, and rebuild, we can travel it together. Congratulations, Liz! We can't wait to see where your journey takes you now.

*Named changed for confidentiality.
TECHGYRLS PROGRAMS ARE BACK! HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR 1ST FAMILY STEAM EVENT & LAUNCH OF ROBOTICS WORKSHOPS & MENTORING AT THE JACKIE ROBINSON COMMUNITY CENTER!

On November 8th, we hosted our first intergenerational STEAM event for National STEAM Day. Joining YWCA chapters across the country, girls in our TechGYRLS program invited the adults and siblings in their lives to join them for a special event where they explored simple circuitry, neon art, and created their own wearable LED scarves. Participants moved through hands-on activity stations, worked together as a family on their own signature pieces, and enjoyed a tasty meal provided by Wingstop's new Glendale location. Since the event reached capacity shortly after registration opened, we are working to provide another family event in early 2022 for our waitlisted families.
On November 4th, we kicked off our new program partnership with the Jackie Robinson Community Center and City of Pasadena where we will be offering girls ages 11-15 onsite 1:1 STEAM mentorship, tutoring, and robotics workshops (with the opportunity to build Lego 2.0 robots!). We are so thrilled to see this amazing partnership come to life and look forward to introducing girls to the incredible world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. This is a free program, with all materials provided at no cost and pizza dinners provided to go.
19TH ANNUAL WOMEN FOR RACIAL JUSTICE BREAKFAST RECAP: BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH TRUTH, HEALING, AND TRANSFORMATION

On October 20th, over 200 individuals virtually came together for the 19th Annual Women for Racial Justice Breakfast, presented by Avery Dennison, which generated $88K in support of our Pasadena Girls' Empowerment Programs. This signature event featured inspiring speeches from our honorees on the frontlines of advancing racial and gender justice: Congressmember Karen Bass, Immigration Attorney, Angeline Chen, Planned Parenthood's VP of Advocacy and Equity, Juliana Serrano, and Allen Edson of NAACP - Pasadena Branch. We also spotlighted our Girls' Empowerment Programs and our keynote was delivered by world-renowned poet and activist Nikki Giovanni, who kicked off her speech with an electric reading of "EgoTripping." We are grateful to all who joined us for this special moment of community-building shaped around the event theme of Truth, Healing, and Transformation and we look forward to coming together again (in person!) in the future.
UPCOMING EVENTS
735 East Lexington Drive
Glendale, CA 91206
Phone: 1-(818) 242-4155
Support YWCA Glendale and Pasadena's mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.