Welcome to the first installment of YWCA New Hampshire's newly relaunched empowerNOTES, just in time for Women's History Month! You can look forward to keeping up with all things YWCA NH each quarter. |
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Welcome back to empowerNOTES. It is true, we have been away for some time! We are very excited to share what we have been up to over the last two years and our plans for the future.
It is supporters like you that allow us to make this work possible. As the CEO of YWCA NH, I am proud of how we showed up for our community over the last few years amidst the pandemic. I am looking forward to future opportunities to connect with you!
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Hi and Welcome Back to empowerNOTES. Here at the YWCA NH, we've recommitted ourselves to the progression of our mission- paying special attention to what it means to work towards 'eliminating racism' here in the Granite State.
Our work will continue to focus in what it means to empower women, girls, and gender queer folx in our communities, while thinking more intentionally about the intersection that racial and ethnic identity creates.
As the new Chief Diversity Officer, I know that it is because of your support that we are able to continue this important work across our state. Thank you for walking this journey with us!
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We had an amazing kickoff to our new Advocate In Me program in February! This program is in partnership with GEARUP and the Manchester School District, funded by a grant from Fidelity Investments. Each week for the next few months, a group of local high schoolers will come to learn the basics of advocacy work in the community and develop their advocacy skills! |
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For over a year, YWCA NH has been working on expanding our reach to a satellite office in Derry for our REACH Crisis Services program. We finally were able to open and start seeing clients there this past month! This office will be open 9-4:30PM Mondays and Wednesdays, located at 16 Manning Street, Unit 110. We are excited to integrate into the larger Derry Community! |
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We are excited to roll out the branding of our RISE Housing Program! RISE is a sub-program of REACH Crisis Services, combining our 3 survivor driven housing programs that assist with obtaining and/or sustaining stable, safe housing and provide them with the support and resources needed to become self-sustainable. This newly branded sub-program is an exciting expansion and re-organization of our ongoing focus on survivor housing! |
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Manchester Outright Youth Group |
Manchester Outright has been offering an LGBTQ+ Youth support group since June 2021 and have grown the group size over the last 8 months. The group has been successful in its mission of providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth and is now up to 10 regular weekly attendees! |
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A survivor reached out to us a few months ago looking for help—they were experiencing domestic violence, particularly a great deal of financial abuse. After an especially scary incident, they reached out to us concerned about their safety and the safety of their children. They did not have friends or family that could help them, and had been out of work due to the abuse they were experiencing. When they called us, they were afraid and unsure what to do next.
We supported this survivor emotionally, made them aware of resources, and helped them safety plan, and within two days of working with us, the survivor made the choice to leave their abuser. We connected them with multiple resources in the community, including legal services and a community action program. With our assistance, this individual was able to successfully obtain an order of protection, get help with financial assistance, and begin to reestablish their life. With the support of an advocate, this survivor was able to leave their past behind, and is looking forward to what the future is going to bring.
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New Staff
Help us welcome the newest members of our YW team! In February, we added 3 new team members--here is a little about what brought them to our organization:
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Melissa, Direct Service Advocate: "I feel that I am at a point in my life that I can be of service in the community."
Emma, Community Education Advocate: "I am passionate about YWCA’s mission and providing education to the community to make people more aware of our services and programs."
Glenda, RISE Housing Manager: "I wanted a work place where I could use all my experience and make a change."
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REACH for Hope 5K - Race Against Racism (4/30) |
Join us on April 30th! It’s time for our annual 5K race to support our programming, including expanding our racial equity work! Run, jog, walk, or stroll-no matter your choice, you're helping us make great strides in fulfilling our mission to eliminate racism and empower women to help build healthier and safer communities in New Hampshire.
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Calling all talented youth ages 13-18. Bring your talents to YWCA NH on Friday 3/25 (6-8pm) for all to see and enjoy! info@ywcanh.org for more information. |
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Stand Against Racism (4/4) |
Launching April 4, the Stand Against Racism Challenge is a virtual learning tool designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. Register now by visiting the Stand Against Racism homepage to gain access the "Join the Challenge" registration tool!
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We will be hosting Spring Open Houses at both our main office in Manchester as well as our new satellite office in Derry! Stay tuned to our social media and emails for details to come learn more about our work, meet the team, and our most recent updates! |
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- April - Sexual Assault Awareness Month
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April 30 - REACH for Hope 5K - Race Against Racism
- June - Pride Month
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Join us in our mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
Join us as we work to create a thriving community free from violence and oppression.
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