A Message from our CEO, Debbie Pope
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The YWCA is on a mission. During this milestone in history our organization’s community is at the forefront of social justice across the country and here in Boulder County. Your interest, passion, and support to advance racial justice in our community is the first step in our shared journey toward the elimination of racism.
We have started an intensive antiracist training and our first group of 40+ community members have successfully completed their training. This week, our second group of committed allies started a new class. The YWCA is committed to providing the resources, connecting points and action plans to keep moving racial justice forward.
Also, we have kept our commitment to Boulder County to provide affordable, quality childcare. The expansion project is moving rapidly, and we will be ready to welcome all our families to Persimmon Early Learning of the YWCA (formerly Children’s Alley) in September. The support of our generous donors is making this dream possible for all children and will have a lasting impact.
Finally, our programming to ensure girls of color have opportunities for the careers of the future is celebrated with a milestone of 24 young girls completing more than 600 technology badges and 350+ hours of STEM and coding programs during the STEM e3 program in May and June. It is so impressive to see these young girls discovering their talents, confidence and possible future in STEM related fields.
Please stay safe and healthy.
Best wishes,
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Debbie Pope
CEO
Photo credit Poppy & Co.
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This spring our plans for an after-school program were derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but we quickly transitioned the program online with the help of YWCA Silicon Valley and their innovative Curated Pathways coding program. With this new online program we launched our first series of seven week Cohort Groups for students from last year’s coding Jam Sessions at Google to continue building their skills.
Two groups, 10 students from Boulder Valley School District and 13 from St. Vrain Valley School District, completed the 7-week program. Curated Pathways allows students to choose which coding activities they would like to learn and allows them to complete the project at their own pace. As an extra incentive, students who completed the program were allowed to keep the Chromebook we provided for the course (thanks to a generous donor!). Continuing our partnership with Google, we held several discussion panels for women and Googlers of color to discuss their career paths and answer questions from our young participants.
This summer we are also excited to offer our first STEM E3 Virtual Summer Camp. Partnering with the City of Longmont Youth Center, we are offering a four day, two hours per day, program to start 20 young students of color on their journey to learn the fundamentals of coding. We already have a waiting list and were pleased to learn that most of the students signed up after their parents heard about it by word of mouth from other parents. These students and more will also be invited to our next series of Jam Sessions this fall!
Thank you to our generous donors and corporate partners for helping us make these STEM programs a reality!
If you would like to get involved or learn how your company could host a Jam Session and open up STEM careers to young students of color, please contact us at
rhazlitt@ywcaboulder.org.
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*VIRTUAL* 2020 Dash and Bash this September
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This September we are taking our Dash and Bash 5K VIRTUAL, so you can march, walk, or run anytime, anywhere with friends, family and coworkers to support the YWCA and our mission to empower women and eliminate racism.
Mark your calendars for September 7 to Sunday, September 27 - we'll have 20 days to run, walk or march in support of the YWCA, and fundraise to support the YWCA's programs and services. On Sunday, September 27 we'll have a virtual celebration to come together as a community online and recognize our top fundraisers and top teams.
Stay tuned for more details!
If your company would like to partner with YWCA Boulder County and become a sponsor, please get in touch with us at
rhazlitt@ywcaboulder.org.
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Now Enrolling for the 2020 - 2021 School Year
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- Experiential, play-based program that supports child-led interests and child development with a Colorado Shines Level 4 rating.
- Highly qualified teaching team works to strengthen all areas of child growth and pre-academic skills
- Permanent childcare classrooms will serve children eight weeks to 4 years old
- Healthy snacks and meals prepared daily from our on-site Nutrition Coordinator, and daily nutrition lessons and fitness with our Wellness Coordinator
Visit our
website
and fill out our
Interest Form
to sign up for an Info Session, be notified of Virtual Tours (coming soon!), and begin the enrollment process today.
Online Parent Info Sessions will be held virtually every other Wednesday, including:
- Wednesday, July 22 from 11:30 -12:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, August 5 from 11:30 -12:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, August 19 from 11:30 -12:30 p.m.
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Volunteer Highlight: Eric Roth
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When did you begin volunteering for YWCA Boulder County? 2012
What programs do you volunteer for and what do you do to help out?
For the last six months I’ve been engaged by the YWCA as an IT consultant. My role has been to acquire, configure and manage PCs for the entire organization. It was essential to replace outdated systems that were only capable of running the now-unsupported Windows 7 operating system. I’m also responsible for other miscellaneous IT-related activities.
Additionally, I’ve volunteered for several YWCA events and activities over the past few years, including Dancing with Boulder Stars (6 times); Dash and Bash; the annual gala; and the 2020 STEM coding day. I also provided various IT services over the years in support of the Business Department.
What do you like best about volunteering for YWCA Boulder County?
As an introvert, I find it very fulfilling to provide behind-the-scenes support that allows the regular staff to focus on the essential mission of the YWCA. As a bonus, I’m able to participate alongside my wife, Vicki Tiedeman, who is the YWCA's bookkeeper.
What is something people may not know about you?
I play the bodhran, a traditional Irish drum. Also, I’m a lighting tech for CenterStage Theater Company in Louisville, satisfying a 40-year old bucket list item.
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Donate your IRA Distribution
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Did you know that you can donate your IRA distribution?
If you are at least 70.5 years old and have a traditional IRA, you can donate directly from your traditional IRA to a qualified charity (like YWCA Boulder County) up to $100,000 without it being considered a taxable distribution. Consult your tax advisor to see if you can further your philanthropic goals and enjoy this tax benefit!
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We are thrilled to announce that
Board Member Angelique Espinoza will serve as the new Chair of our Advocacy Committee. A huge thank you to the outgoing Advocacy Committee Chair, Elaina Shively, for all her hard work over the past year!
Thank YOU to everyone who contacted their legislators to ensure police accountability measures were passed!
Photo credit to Poppy & Co.
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Shiquita Yarbrough
Manager, Community Engagement and Equity
When did you become Manager, Community Engagement and Equity?
September 2019
What do you do at the YWCA?
As Manager of Community Engagement and Equity, I oversee three of the YWCA’s programs: Reading to End Racism (RER), Latina Achievement Support (LAS), and STEM E3, as well as manage and recruit volunteers for all three programs. I also co-lead our new antiracist training courses with our CEO, Debbie Pope.
What is your favorite thing about YWCA Boulder County?
My favorite thing about working at the YWCA is being a part of an organization that has women leaders on the board of directors and the staff. I also love going into local elementary schools with our Reading to End Racism program and talking to kids about race, listening to their questions, and teaching them they have the power to use their voices to create change.
What is something people may not know about you?
People may not know I used to be a nurse assistant in a both a hospital and a nursing home, so during this pandemic my heart goes out to all the healthcare workers. I know how essential they are, and it’s important for them to practice self-care during this difficult time.
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Thank you
WILD Council, 2020 Gala Sponsor
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Thank you, WILD Council, for being a wonderful
Event Sponsor
and supporter
!
Your event sponsorship is truly a transformational gift that is multiplied many times and helps us meet our fundraising event goals to fuel the YWCA's programs and services.
For women leaders, the WILD Council is a values-driven, professional networking group who give back to aspiring leaders, the community, and each other. The WILD Council is proud to partner with the YWCA to support their mission of eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. To learn more about the WILD Council, please visit
www.thewildcouncil.org.
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YWCA Boulder County in the News
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Debbie Pope appeared on "
Colorado's Best
" last month and spoke about Persimmon Early Learning (formerly Children's Alley) and the many exciting changes take place here at YWCA Boulder County.
Check it out here!
YWCA USA's Weekly Podcast -
Organize Your Butterflies
Learn how women, including many of the amazing leaders at YWCA, are working to help women, girls and families. Available wherever you subscribe to podcasts, including:
APPLE PODCASTS |
GOOGLE PLAY |
STITCHER |
TUNEIN |
RSS
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YWCA History
We live in unprecedented times, with the global Coronavirus pandemic causing great uncertainty about our future, and it’s a good time to reflect on our past.
We’ve been here before: the 1918 flu pandemic caused an estimated 675,000 deaths in the U.S. At that time, women could not vote or control their own money, yet shared a vision for equality and a better future.
But did you know the flu pandemic almost sidelined the women’s suffrage movement? Read on to learn more from the experts at
National Geographic in their article "
A pandemic nearly derailed the women's suffrage movement".
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- Early Childhood Education Teachers
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Thank you Program Funders
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Thank you City of Boulder Housing and Human Services Department for your grant funding for Children's Alley!
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Thank you City of Boulder Youth Opportunities Program for your grant funding of Latina Achievement Support (LAS).
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Thank YOU for your support!
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Make a Donation to YWCA Boulder County
Our work would not be possible without the
support
of passionate individuals and businesses like you, who support our programs and services.
Contact us
to learn more about donating stock or other assets, donating through your employers giving program or becoming an event sponsor.
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Non-cash Ways to Support the YWCA
- Give from your Donor Advised Fund
- Shop at smile.amazon.com and select YWCA Boulder County
- Sign up for King Soopers Community Rewards and select YWCA Boulder County
- Donate your vehicle to YWCA Boulder County through Vehicles for Charity
- Buy items from our Amazon Wishlist and ship them directly to our office
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