Stand Against Racism Events at UNCA This Week

From the Center for Diversity Education:

The Stand Against Racism is a movement of the YWCA that aims to eliminate racism by raising awareness through its annual event.

Organizations across the United States are invited to become Participating Sites by hosting their own “Stand.” Individuals are then invited to join any of the “Stands,” where hundreds of thousands of people will take a Stand Against Racism across the country.

The Following Stand Against Racism Events are Scheduled at UNC-Asheville:

April 16–19:
Visit the residency halls, Writing Center, or the Intercultural Center to create your rant and sign up for a time to rant your rant about race or take the pledge against racism on the Library Steps. Email writingcenter@unca.edu for more information.

Friday, April 20
All events are open to the public unless otherwise noted

Interior Design Against Racism
Intercultural Center 114 Highsmith Student Union – 9:00 – 10:00
Deborah Miles will lead a workshop on developing skills to assess, create, and build spaces that are welcoming and inclusive for all.

Walk Against Racism
Outdoor track (If rain, indoor track) – 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Walk with the Campus Recreation and the Student Activities departments to take a Stand Against Racism. Walk a minimum of 15 minutes on the UNC Asheville outdoor track. Email recreation@unca.edu to register. Participants will receive a bookmark with the Stand Against Racism pledge to affirm their personal and professional commitment to justice.

Rant Against Racism
Steps of Ramsey Library – 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Not to Sound Racist but……
Intercultural Center (114 HSU) – 12:40 pm – 3:00 pm
A workshop on racism and whiteness for UNC Asheville students facilitated by Reid Drake and Kyja Wilburn-Hyde. Students (only) may register by emailing rdrake@unca.edu.

Seeds of Change: Learning About and Addressing Racism
Center for Health and Wellness (460 Sherrill Center) - All day
University and community members who visit the Health and Wellness Center will receive a packet of flower seeds and a copy of A Gardener’s Tale, an allegory about how racism contributes to health disparities and what we can do about it.

To register additional activities visit www.ywcastand.org or email dmiles@unca.edu

Note: the national Stand Against Racism observance is held on April 27. UNC Asheville moved the date a week early to avoid final exams.

Holly Jones Employee Homebuyer Assistance Program

As you know, after 16 years of service, our beloved Executive Director Holly Jones has been chosen to lead the entire Southeast Region of the YWCA USA. It has long been Holly’s desire to help YW employees purchase their first home. Over 77% of YW employees are women, but less than 30% of employees own their own home. The average employee tenure is 5 years.

In Holly’s honor, the Board of Directors has established the Holly Jones Employee Homebuyer Assistance Program (affectionately known as Holly’s Home Fund) to provide matching grants to eligible employees who meet certain criteria.

The YWCA of Asheville has a small endowment at the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. All gifts made to Holly’s Home Fund will go into the Endowment, and will be in Holly’s honor.

Our goal is to provide two eligible employees per year with matching grants up to $2,500 from the Endowment.

Help make Holly’s dream come true!  Click here to make a gift or a pledge today (indicate Holly’s Home Fund in the Message/Comment section). Your gift will live forever, and will help families today and far into the future realize the dream of home ownership!

If you’d like to include a personal note with your gift, we’ll make sure Holly gets your message.

Meet Angel!

Angel is the Assistant Director of the YW’s Afterschool program.  Angel is also the single parent of three children and a full-time college student.  Slowly but surely, she is also saving for a home of her own.

“I have wonderful children, a car, a full-time job, I’m getting an education…..and now I want to be a homeowner! I’m saving about $10/paycheck toward our house.  I’m going to try to be the first YW employee to complete the program and get a matching grant!”

End of Year Giving Reminder

Thank you for being part of the YW family!

Because of your contributions and support:

• 95 people with diabetes are exercising!
• 9 young moms graduated from high school!
• 33 teens are doing better in school!
• 50 children are playing on our Natural Learning Playground!
• 75 women have improved their earning power!

If you’ve not made a gift to the YWCA this year, please support these and other vital programs that change lives and change our community!

During this gift-giving season, consider making a gift in honor or memory of someone, or purchase a YW membership as a gift for that hard-to-buy-for person. To make a contribution to the YWCA of Asheville, visit our website at www.ywcaofasheville.org, or click on the Donate Now link below.

We know you have choices for your health & fitness membership and for your charitable giving.  Thank you for supporting the YWCA of Asheville!  Contributions to the YWCA are tax-deductible to the fullest extent to allowed by law.

Parting Request from Holly Jones

Friday is the last day at the YWCA of Asheville for outgoing Executive Director Holly Jones. Here is a letter she sent to YWCA members and donors: 

Dear YW Family,

Sixteen years ago, I saw an ad in the Raleigh News and Observer for an Executive Director. The most memorable and life changing part of this ad was the bolded part describing the mission of the organization: Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women. Not long after that, I was given the chance of a lifetime to become the leader of the YWCA of Asheville.

Over those years, the life changing stories I’ve seen and heard are remarkable. However, the story that I will carry from this place is a personal one. I became a mom while serving the YWCA. My daughter Gabriela has been raised at 185 South French Broad Avenue, growing up in the YWCA childcare and afterschool, becoming a fantastic little swimmer through our Aquatics program and now doing Kid’s Yoga.

From the very beginning, I received daily encouragement and advice. All women deserve the support and care I received as a new mom.From the very beginning, Gabriela received the most profound foundation for school and life that a child could ever hope for. All children in our community deserve such a start.

As most of you know, I will be leaving the position of Executive Director in January 2012 to become the Regional Manager for the YWCA Southeast Region.

As I leave, I have one final opportunity to ask you to help this remarkable YWCA. Your gift will give hundreds of children and women in our community the support they deserve. You can click here or the button below to donate.

 

 

It has been an honor and privilege to lead the YWCA of Asheville. It has been the chance of a lifetime. Thank you for your deep commitment to the YWCA.

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Holly Jones
Executive Director

Club W Boot Camp Starting Monday, December 5

YWCA Club W Boot Camp will run December 5-9 and 12-16, Monday – Friday, 6:30 am – 7:30 am. Improve cardio fitness and build lean muscle mass. Pre and post assessments including BMI and weight. The cost is $100 for Club W members and $175 for non-members. Sign up at the YWCA or call 254-7206 x 213.

Click here for a message from the instructor Misty Garren.

Here are quotes from participants in the last Boot Camp class:
The class was fantastic.
Misty is incredibly smart and knowledgeable on fitness.
She was able to give everyone modifications when they needed it.
She made sure each class was different, so we didn’t get bored.
She also kept a calorie count each day, which was great so we knew what we were burning.
She was super friendly and supportive.
 Boot Camp was wonderful! 
I love the mix of exercises and the push by Misty. 
It helped me to remember the that body weight is the best strength training.

Donations Needed for FutureVision Holiday Thrift Store

YWCA FutureVision middle and high school students will be given a chance to go “shopping” with pretend money in our annual holiday thrift store. This is an opportunity for students to purchase items they may need (like coats, shoes, pants, etc.), as well as a lesson in budgeting.

NEEDED: Boys and Girls items suitable for ages 11-18 years

• Shirts (youth sizes and adults)
• Pants (sizes: youth 16—junior 9, boys 14 youth -34 waist)
• Coats (S-XL)
• Shoes
• Belts
• Ties, Jewelry, Hats, Accessories
• Gift items (toys, candles, frames, sports equipment, backpacks, etc.)

Drop off donations at the YWCA of Asheville, 185 S. French Broad Ave., by December 1. Questions? 254-7206 ext. 205.

Domestic Violence Vigil Wed. October 26 at the YWCA

Domestic Violence Vigil to honor victims and survivors of abuse

Helpmate and the YWCA of Asheville recognize October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In an effort to honor victims and survivors of domestic violence, Helpmate and the YWCA MotherLove program are holidng a Domestic Violence Vigil on Wednesday, October 26 at 5:30 pm. On display will be the Silent Witness Exhibit, Clothesline Project, and art work created by children living in Helpmate’s Emergency Shelter. A survivor of domestic violence will also be present at this event to tell her story. The names of domestic violence homicide victims will also be read in order to memorialize those that have lost their lives in North Carolina so far in 2011. The public is encouraged to attend this free event.

Media Coverage of the Delta’s City Council Candidate Forum

Last Thursday the Asheville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., in support of the YWCA’s Stand Against Racism, hosted a City Council Candidate forum with a focus on race issues in Asheville.

 
Here is an excerpt from the Asheville Citizen-Times article about the forum:

“City Council candidates debated race relations, police oversight by residents and whether the city should take on enforcement of immigration laws in an effort to differentiate themselves as voters begin picking municipal leaders for the next four years.

Early voting is already under way and with less than three weeks before the Nov. 8 election day, candidates used a race relations forum to advance their campaigns.

Top vote-getters will take three open seats on the seven-member council.

The forum was sponsored by the Asheville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the YWCA, which hosted the event at its South French Broad Avenue facility. Most of the more than two dozen audience members were African-Americans, a rarity at council forums. All of the candidates are white.

Candidates sounded similar notes on issues, including whether builders should be mandated to include affordable housing and whether police should be enforcers of federal immigration rules.”

Read the full Citizen-Times article here.

Listen to the Mountain Xpress podcast about the forum.

Look for an article in the next issue of Mountain Xpress.

Babies in a a Buggy

Happy Friday! Here’s a cute shoot of babies from our 5-Star Licensed Child Care Center on a spin around the YWCA.

Announcement from YWCA E.D. Holly Jones

Almost sixteen years ago, I was given the chance of a lifetime when I became Executive Director of the YWCA of Asheville. Over those years, I have had the privilege of working with scores of volunteers and staff members to lead this association to a place of strength and promise, always with our mission, “eliminating racism and empowering women” guiding us. A new vocational opportunity, grounded in our powerful mission, has presented itself, and I believe it is the right challenge for me to pursue at this time in my life.

In January 2012, I will be assuming the role of Regional Manager for the YWCA Southeast Region. In this new role, I will be working with 23 local YWCAs, in seven southeastern states, to strengthen their organizational capacities and enhance the YWCA’s collective voice. Fortunately, I will be able to assume the duties of my new job and base the Southeast Regional Office here in Asheville.

My departure from the YWCA of Asheville fills me with much sadness, because I think of this place as my home. It is the most alive and diverse place in our city and it is filled with people dedicated to serving women and children and having a significant positive impact on the community. In addition, the people here have reminded me daily of the mission we are all dedicated to. My heart is filled with enormous gratitude knowing that the lessons gained here at the YWCA of Asheville will help me serve and strengthen our sister associations in the Southeast.

Transition of a long-time executive director is never easy. Yet I believe the organization is poised well for the future and ready for new leadership. The YWCA of Asheville is strong –programmatically, financially and organizationally. The current board has great leadership and vision. The staff is talented, committed and solid.

I will continue to be the YWCA’s biggest champion, ever passionate about the work being done daily and the people working and volunteering for our mission.

Thank you for believing in the YWCA!

photo by sandra stambaugh