J.B. AND EMILY VAN NUYS CHARITIES HONORS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH BY AWARDING $300K TO ADVANCE YWCA GLENDALE'S VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORK

In recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Van Nuys Charities announced its recent slate of grants to organizations focused on domestic violence prevention education. We are honored to receive a $300K, three year grant to support our growing prevention work and to join a cohort of eight other grantee organizations in Los Angeles County for continued opportunities to learn and share prevention strategies. This year’s grant will bring VNC's total investment in YWCA Glendale to $525K over 6 years. 

“The YWCA Glendale is grateful for the investment that the Van Nuys Charities has made to support not only our prevention efforts in Glendale – but domestic violence prevention across the County. With the implementation of the Safe Dates dating violence prevention curriculum, we have engaged over 150 middle and high school aged girls in conversations about healthy relationships, self-esteem, gender norms, and communication. We are deeply grateful for the Van Nuys Charities' transformative investment that allows us to continue to strengthen and expand our reach and organizational capacity in the ever critical field of violence prevention," Tara Peterson, CEO, YWCA Glendale.
Tara Peterson, seated with Van Nuys Charities Trustees and grantee partner organizations.

YWCA Glendale's Violence Prevention Guiding Principle
Prevention works by teaching safe and healthy relationship skills to school-age youth, improving school climates and safety with peer lead programs, shifting the culture by engaging boys and men in gender equity, and promoting racial justice with culturally-responsive solutions.

Domestic Violence & Teen Dating Violence Prevention & Education Approach
We offer a range of programming, trainings, presentations, activities, and workshops that help build awareness of domestic violence and teen dating violence, work to break the cycle of violence, and serve to prevent future incidents of violence. We support local community events, health and wellness fairs, school events, and law enforcement, faith based and healthcare provider trainings through tailored presentations.

Safe Dates
Safe Dates is a school-based prevention program for all middle and high school students. It is designed to stop or prevent dating violence, including the psychological, physical, and sexual abuse that occurs too often in teen relationships. Over multiple sessions, trained facilitators will engage students in dynamic conversations about gender norms, technology and dating, consent, communication, and substance use. These discussions allow students to come away from this program having built strong skills around healthy conflict resolution and peer advocacy to prevent and end teen dating violence.
Domestic Violence 101 Workshops
Understanding healthy relationships starts with great conversations about communication, intimacy, connection, and equity. Domestic violence affects our community in countless ways. For those workplaces, organizations, youth groups, or classrooms seeking to support survivors, understanding the realities of domestic violence is a key first step. This workshop invites participants to expand their understanding of healthy and unhealthy relationships, to challenge the myths and misinformation perpetuated by the media, to learn how to empower and support survivors, and to understand how they can work to end domestic violence in our community.

Healthy Relationships/Teen Dating Violence Workshop
This workshop was developed for high school students and invites them to dive deeper into understanding teen dating violence and engaging in healthy and safe relationships. The real-life scenarios discussed in class will provide teens with the tools to communicate their needs and wants effectively, recognize red flags for abuse, prevent breakup violence, and support friends who might be in unhealthy relationships.
YWCA GLENDALE & YWCA PASADENA TEAM UP FOR NEW FALL & WINTER TechGYRLS PROGRAMMING:
Wearable Tech, Lego Robotics, Google CS Coding, and STEAM Mentorship
Through our Girls Circle after school program, TechGYRLS STEAM workshops, classes and mentorship program, Safe Dates dating violence prevention curriculum, and Camp Rosie: Girls on the Rise summer camp, we address the risk factors that contribute to girls' potential victimization: low self-esteem, having few friends and/or a small support system, emotional dependence and insecurity, belief in strict gender roles, lack of connection to their community, and perceived weak community sanctions against violence by boosting protective factors for girls: increased confidence, trusted relationships mentors/adults, establishing and strengthening support networks, and knowledge of healthy relationship dynamics and community resources.

Registration is open for Girls Circle and TechGRYLS Fall/Winter TechGYRLS groups and workshops!
THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE 2ND ANNUAL PURPLE TIE AWARDS
On October 22nd, YWCA Glendale and the Glendale Commission on the Status of Women hosted the 2nd Annual Purple Tie Awards, recognizing men in our community who are working to end domestic violence: T.C. Kim, Jerome French, Sergeant Ernesto Gaxiola, and Father Vazken Movsesian. It was a true honor to have Casey Gwinn, founder of the Family Justice Center Model join us for a special keynote on Reimagining Hope. The event's conversation format offered us an opportunity to dive deep into the issues of men's leadership in ending violence against women, responding to domestic violence during COVID-19, the science of hope in the face of adversity, and understanding the multiple levels of trauma families face in times of war and displacement. Thank you to our sponsors: Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital, Los Angeles County Board Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and Chief Carl Povilaitis and the Glendale Police Department for making this event possible. If you missed the event, you can now watch the recording at the below link.
735 East Lexington Drive
Glendale, CA 91206
Phone: 1-(818) 242-4155
Support YWCA Glendale's mission to eliminate racism and empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.