Here at YWCA, we couldn't begin this newsletter any other way than by honoring our late Mayor Tom Henry. He has been a longtime champion of YWCA Northeast Indiana, consistently supporting us and helping advance our mission through proclamations, attending our events, and recognizing the importance of supporting domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. Thank you for all you have done for our community! | |
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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to raise community awareness about the difficult issue of sexual assault. According to the CDC, more than 1 in 3 women have experienced some form of of unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime. This statistic emphasizes the immediate need for society to act against these widespread forms of violence, creating safe environments and educating people on where to go if services are needed. | | |
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On April 10th, Acting Mayor Karl Bandemer declared April 2024 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Fort Wayne.
Pictured: Jalynne Hinrichs and Erica Hamilton (YWCA Sexual Violence Advocates), Jennifer Rohlf (YWCA Director of Empowerment), and Emma Walker (YWCA Sexual Violence Coordinator).
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Get involved by wearing teal on Tuesdays as a conversation starter about topics regarding sexual assault and wearing denim on Wednesday, April 24th to stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual assault. Visit our website to learn more about getting involved in this year's Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and learn more about our sexual violence services in the "Program Spotlight" section below.
This month we are proud to highlight five fabulous women in our community through our "Aha!" campaign. Keep reading to learn tidbits of knowledge that have made these local celebrities feel empowered!
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If you haven't already, be sure to register for our 3rd annual Race Against Racism 5K Walk/Run at PFW on Saturday, April 27th. Look forward to music and activities, PFW's scenic, family-friendly, and accessible course, snacks, community partners, the Pup Run, awards/raffles, and supporting a great cause! Learn more below and register here. | |
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At YWCA, we love promoting great work that is happening in our community. The Ian and Mimi Rolland Family Foundation is hosting a Fine Arts Auction, which will further the giving spirit that Ian and Mimi shared with others over the years. Find details about the foundation and the multi-part auction in the "Special Shout-out" section below.
We also love giving kudos to our staff and keeping you all in the loop with YWCA happenings. Later in this newsletter, you will hear from four incredible staff members about why they choose to work at YWCA Northeast Indiana. And then, find pictures of the progress being made at our new home, The Hefner Center.
Lastly, as we continue to advocate for the importance of allyship across cultural communities, we challenge you to look towards models of allyship in history for inspiration. Our most recent "Are You an AllY?" blog post shares about the bravery shown by Abby Kelley Foster, a woman on a mission to fight causes on two fronts: the abolition of slavery and women’s rights.
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!
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Sexual violence is an umbrella term that encompasses all different types of sexual abuse. It refers to any action that pressures or coerces someone to do something sexually that they don’t want to do. It does not discriminate based on gender, race, age, socio-economic status, or sexual orientation. Sexual violence can occur between strangers or more commonly between people who know each other. YWCA Northeast Indiana is here to help with your emotional recovery. | |
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What if...
- moving forward doesn’t require going backwards
- healing doesn’t require discussing the traumatic details
- your healing were more important than the punishment of your perpetrator
- you were finally free from trauma’s grasp
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Your "what if" is our "will be." Let YWCA’s free and confidential sexual violence services help you turn your "what if’s" into reality. Follow our social media for weekly videos from Emma Walker, YWCA's Sexual Violence Coordinator, highlighting the “what if’s” that make YWCA’s services unique and future-focused! Let us walk alongside you in your healing.
Our services include community-based advocacy, therapy services, and emergency shelter for those in crisis. One of our newer offerings is our free and confidential support group. This is intended for female identifying individuals over the age of 18 who have survived some form of sexual violence. Each week the group offers a different topic geared towards helping process the trauma of sexual violence and moving forward as a survivor. Download this flyer to learn more.
For a more detailed list of our services, visit our website.
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"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. | |
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"While teaching third graders, I witnessed a child express fear of Asian people when I informed the class that Chinese guest speakers were coming to share their culture. My 'Aha!' moment was when I saw how engaged this child became with our guests while learning to use chopsticks. False perceptions can change with exposure to real experiences."
-Marsha Smiley (Community Advocate)
"I've had micro 'Aha!' moments throughout my entire life...a lot of them probably subconsciously! But every time I volunteer, or donate, or read a book or article, or have a conversation with someone, or attend an event, etc; I am actively aware of an 'Aha!' moment. And those golden nuggets are what keep me engaged and inspired to be more and do more!”
-Kim Murphy (VP of Shared Services, Ruoff Mortgage)
"My 'Aha!' moment was realizing that we all want the same thing—to know that we matter. I love Maya Angelou’s words: 'People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.' I strive to make the people I encounter feel seen and heard."
-Joyce Armstrong-Brown (Co-Owner, Aegis Sales & Engineering)
“My daughter teaches me every day to be flexible and to treat everyone with kindness. She may only be three years old, but she shows me the importance of having fun in everything we do. My ‘Aha!’ moment is that learning can come from people of any age.
-Kara Densmore (Community Executive Assistant, Old National Bank)
“In 2000, I knew it was important to select books that showed minority children in the illustrations so that the families of color could see themselves in the books. My 'Aha!' moment was when Jennifer Hayes, who was helping with the Read to Me program, pointed out to me that it was equally important for White children to see others in lead roles in the stories. This 'Aha!' moment changed my book selection process and my understanding of racism ever since.”
-Ginny Clark (Founder of Bookstart and Community Volunteer)
Find more "Aha!" moments by visiting our website.
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If you haven't already, make sure to sign up for our 2024 Race Against Racism 5K Walk/Run! This fundraiser raises money for YWCA Northeast Indiana's racial justice efforts, which include community events that promote racial justice through engaging conversations, learning opportunities, and collaboration with local organizations.
The 2024 event is scheduled for April 27th at PFW and encourages you to Ally Up! The event will focus on building allies to shape our community's youth and create a more inclusive future. The event is chip timed, and packet pickup begins at 9am with a race start time at 10am. Day-of registration will be available. Awards will be given out based on age categories and gender selection. Adult tickets are $45, student tickets (ages 15-23) are $20, and children 14 and under are $10. Register today!
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Building a more just and equitable community takes all of us. Find more information and event details by visiting our website.
Thank you to our top sponsors:
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Ian and Mimi Rolland Family Foundation | |
The Ian and Mimi Rolland Family Foundation's mission is to foster the enhancement of the Fort Wayne, Indiana community. They are focused on making grants to support social services, arts, education, and environmental organizations. During their lives, Ian and Mimi Rolland collected art throughout Fort Wayne and around the world. Over the years, they built an extraordinarily eclectic mix of art. Their family decided that the best thing they could do was hold an art auction, sharing the joy of Ian and Mimi's art with those in our community. The Rolland Fine Art Auction is online now and will be live on Saturday, April 20, 2024. All proceeds from the auction will be placed in the Ian & Mimi Rolland Family Foundation. | |
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On Saturday, April 20th, the silent auction will continue, and there will be additional items that are only available at the event, which begins at 5:30pm at the Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana headquarters. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased here. Instant buy items will also become available on a first come, first served basis beginning at 5:30pm on the 20th.
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The silent auction portion of the event has already begun and you can view and bid on pieces now. Find out more by visiting their website. | |
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. | |
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"I work at YWCA to support others in their journey to recovery in various areas of their life, and to bring brightness to those I serve. I can smile today and be me!"
-Tammy (Addiction Case Manager)
"I choose to work at YWCA Northeast Indiana because I enjoy helping others"
-Pam (Client Care Technician Float)
"I choose to work at YWCA because I believe in the mission and vision. I like teaching the residents about nutrition and how to stay healthy. I also enjoy empowering residents to use their voice and to advocate for themselves."
-Lynnsie (Nutrition Coordinator)
“I choose to work at YWCA because I am passionate about the mission and knowing
that the services YWCA provides are making a difference in the lives of so many
individuals and families in need. It's inspiring hearing the stories and triumphs with the circumstances that our staff and clients experience."
-Katelynn (HR Generalist)
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The passion from our staff, in addition to the unending support from our community, is what makes our work possible. Thank you to our staff and the northeast Indiana community for your support! | |
"The Scoop" will keep you up to date on the latest happenings as we renovate our new building. After construction, the former Hall’s Guesthouse Hotel at 1313 W. Washington Center Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana will become YWCA’s new home: The Hefner Center. Stay tuned for updates! | |
Walls are being painted and tiled while flooring is being installed! Check out the photos below of the hallway walls, bathroom tile, bedroom entrances, and client room flooring. We are getting closer each day to being move-in ready! | |
“Go where you are least wanted, for there you are most needed.” -Abby Kelly Foster | |
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"As humans, what is more of our natural impulse? To protect ourselves and our comfort or to embrace change? When reflecting on the state of today’s socio-cultural climate, as it relates to racial diversity, it seems that the insistence on comfort might be our greatest barrier to collective social advancement. As we continue to advocate the importance of allyship across cultural communities, it is important to look towards models of allyship in history. One example of bravery and allyship is that of Abby Kelley Foster, a woman on a mission to fight causes on two fronts; abolition of slavery and women’s rights." Find the full blog post on our website.
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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. We are not able to serve the growing demand for our services in our current, limited space. And, while there is beauty in the patina, our old keys won’t open new doors. Now, we begin a journey of opening new doors. Will you join us? | |
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The time has come when the past is no longer enough.
The time has come to look, not at what could be, but what will be.
It’s time to unlock new doors.
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Learn more about our capital campaign and how you can get involved and support YWCA Northeast Indiana by visiting our website. | |
Goldstein Family Scholarship Program | |
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The goal of the Goldstein Family Scholarship Program is to help female survivors of domestic violence improve their self-sufficiency and quality of life by completing higher education. The scholarship fund provides financial support for tuition, books, rent, utilities, and childcare. Learn more here.
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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:
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