June News & Updates

June| Issue 4.0

Greetings Kim,

Happy Pride and Indigenous History month!

It has been another busy month for YWCA Cambridge. We had the opportunity to meet with colleagues from across the national YWCA movement; demand for our in-school youth programming continues to soar; we're gearing up for another season of Roots of Empathy; child care centres are busy tending to their vegetable gardens with the children; and our advocacy to advance gender equity never stops.

This month is a special one, being both Pride and Indigenous History Month. It's an opportunity to celebrate achievements made toward Indigenous justice and justice for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, but it is also a time to reflect on the challenges that still remain and the new threats arising, particularly the rise of anti-2SLGBTQ+ legislation south of the border and the snail's pace with which we see action on both the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and the Inquiry into MMIWG2S Calls For Justice.

However you observe this month, may you find wisdom, hope and ways of enacting your allyship with others.

Kim Decker

CEO

YWCA Annual Members Meeting

Members of our leadership team and our board chair had the opportunity to attend YWCA Canada's 131st Annual Members Meeting in Saskatchewan this month!

Read about their time there and view photo highlights on our blog.

PLUS! YWCA Cambridge took home THREE recognition awards!

Kim Decker, our CEO, took home the Carolyn B. Bray award for her spirit, dedication and creativity as a leader.

The YWCA Ontario Coalition took home the "Voice For Women and Girls Advocacy award for our joint advocacy efforts over 2022-23.

And YWCA Cambridge received a recognition award for 75 years of operating. Stay tuned for ways we'll be celebrating this big milestone.

Latest News on Our Child Care Advocacy

The Province of Ontario recently released a discussion paper outlining its proposed funding formula for the 2024 rollout of the Canada-Ontario child care plan and invited feedback.

YWCA Cambridge and the YWCA Ontario Coalition produced a detailed analysis of the funding formula, pointing out a number of key concerns we have with the proposed plan.

Read Our Full Analysis

Pride Month & Indigenous People's Day

National Indigenous History Month is a time for us to honour the history, heritage and diversity of Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island.

It's also Pride Month, which is a celebratory month whose history is rooted in protest. It has become a movement dedicated to advancing the rights of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals' right to live free from violence and discrimination.

Follow our social channels for ways you can engage in this important month!

Roots of Empathy Is Looking For Volunteers and Tiny Teachers!

Learn more about these opportunities and about this award-winning program that has shown dramatic effects in reducing levels of aggression among school children while raising social and emotional competence and increasing empathy, by visiting our website.

Want to get involved? Contact Roots of Empathy Coordinator, Lili Galbraith at l.galbraith@ywcacambridge.ca.

Learn More About Roots of Empathy

Youth Program Update: We're celebrating Pride and Indigenous History Month!

A part of this month is recognizing the impact 2SLGBTQ+ folks have had on history and on advancing dignity and justice for all.

How can we show up as allies this pride Month?

Supporting Pride locally (Check out Grand River Pride!)
Listening and Learning
Speaking out against homophobia and transphobia when we see/hear it

June is also National Indigenous History Month, an opportunity to celebrate and learn the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples. Indigenous History Month reminds us of our commitment to allyship, solidarity, and reconciliation.

This can look like many things including listening, and learning, and building relationships in the community.

Join us for a special Family Story Time in the park! In honour of Indigenous Peoples' Day on June 21, from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. We will be reading We Learn From the Sun by David Bouchard. This book includes beautiful Woodland style paintings by Allison Parker and teaches us the spiritual lessons we can learn from the seven sacred teachings.

We will spend some time reading the story together, engaging in some discussion and playing a few games. Join us for a free copy of the book, a snack, and a fun evening!

To register or for further inquiry: email c.jaipersaud@ywcacambridge.ca

This free, pre-employment and life skills program aims to support women and gender diverse individuals throughout Waterloo Region as they prepare to enter or re-enter the workforce. Small Steps is a holistic program, meaning emphasis is not only on hard skills like resume and cover letter-writing, but also on building a community of support while also identifying personal strengths and areas for growth, all in a supportive environment.

Small Steps is being offered virtually this summer and runs July 3 - August 31. Individuals are welcome to self refer and can do so directly by contacting SSTS program coordinator, Sara, at s.hohenadel@ywcacambridge.ca or SSTS outreach coordinator, Terra, at t.macdonald@ywcacambridge.ca.

Learn more about Small Steps to Success by visiting out website.

Learn About SSTS

Child Care Update

We had a wonderful successful first FunDrive fundraiser in partnership with Value Village on May 27^th. Thank you to all the families who contributed and participated.

We raised a total of $583.00!

Three Key Reasons Why Your Role As An Individual Donor is Invaluable!

Today, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support to YWCA Cambridge.

Your commitment to our cause has been instrumental in helping us uplift and empower the women and gender diverse individuals in our local community.

As a nonprofit organization, we rely on the generosity and compassion of individuals like you to ensure the continuity of our free programming. We want to emphasize just how vital your support is in allowing us to make a tangible difference right here in our community.

SOLD OUT: WOMEN OF DISTINCTION AWARDS

It is with great honour that we invite you to join us in celebrating the exceptional achievements and contributions of eight remarkable women from our local community! On June 14, we will be hosting our sold out, prestigious Women of Distinction awards GALA, and we couldn't be more excited to have so many of you in attendance.

The Women of Distinction awards ceremony will be an evening filled with celebration, inspiration, and networking opportunities. We encourage you to donate and send an e-card to recognize these exceptional individuals and show your appreciation for their remarkable accomplishments. These fundraising events go directly back into our community program and so we want to thank you for your on going support!

CLICK TO DONATE OR SEND AN E CARD TO A RECIPIENT

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