YWCA Columbus extends our condolences to the family of Ta’Kiya Young, including her two young children who have been left without a mother, after Blendon Township police took her life on Aug. 24. We grieve for this young Black mother, who was also expecting her third child in November, with the understanding that this tragedy… Continue Reading YWCA Columbus Statement on Death of Ta’Kiya Young
Aug. 15, 2023 (COLUMBUS, OH) – Beginning in June, YWCA Columbus, along with Bridging Our Communities Together for Success, ACHIEVE Professional Development Center, and the City of Columbus, offered a free 12-week institute for high school students interested in earning their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Twelve students participated in the workforce development program and received all… Continue Reading YWCA Columbus Recognizes Local Youth Through Workforce Development Program
In a win for democracy and the rights of all Ohioans, voters emphatically voted down Issue 1 yesterday. YWCA Columbus is grateful to all of our coalition partners who worked tirelessly on the “Vote No in August” campaign, as well as grassroots efforts across the state to turn out a historically high number of voters… Continue Reading Ohio Votes Against Issue 1 in August Special Election
Columbus City Council has approved several initiatives since April aimed at addressing Columbus’ housing crisis, the most recent of which included five pieces of legislation passed last night, July 31. YWCA Columbus is grateful for Council’s efforts to protect renters, provide financial support for Columbus families, and ensure every resident in our city has access… Continue Reading YWCA Columbus Statement on Housing For All Legislation
This November, Ohioans will get to vote on the issue of abortion access. YWCA Columbus congratulates and thanks Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights, whose hard work to gather signatures resulted in 495,938 valid signatures, which is more than the required amount of 413,487 signatures needed for ballot issues. This effort shows that Ohioans do support… Continue Reading Reproductive Freedom Amendment to Appear on Ohio Ballot this November
Today, with a 6-3 majority, the United States Supreme Court has functionally struck down the use of Affirmative Action at the university level, setting a dangerous precedent that will erode decades of work done to increase access to higher education for Black and Indigenous people and other people of color. Historically, white people have had… Continue Reading Supreme Court Ends Affirmative Action in Higher Education
Last night, despite the pushback of many Ohioans, including YWCA Columbus, the Ohio House of Representatives passed two anti-trans bills. House Bill 68 would ban gender-affirming care for youth – and recently became the vehicle bill for House Bill 6, the anti-trans sports bill, as it was folded into House Bill 68. Many reputable… Continue Reading Two Anti-Trans Bills Pushed Through Ohio House of Representatives
June 22, 2023 (COLUMBUS, OH) – Last night, YWCA Columbus announced that Ibram X. Kendi will be speaking at its Oct. 19 Activists and Agitators event about antiracism, education, and his recent work to make history accessible to all ages. “Dr. Kendi is well-known for his research and activism around systemic racism, and we are… Continue Reading YWCA Columbus Welcomes Ibram X. Kendi to Columbus
June 12, 2023 (Columbus, Ohio) – On Friday, June 9, YWCA Columbus was awarded the 2023 Association Excellence Award for Mission Impact in the Field of Racial Justice by Margaret Mitchell, CEO of YWCA USA. The award, which was presented during YWCA USA’s Awards Reception and Persimmon Party, capped off YWCA USA’s National Conference in Washington D.C., a three-day gathering for YWCA… Continue Reading YWCA Columbus Achieves Top Honor on National Stage
YWCA Columbus is deeply disappointed and alarmed with the Senate’s proposed budget, which was released this week to the public. We have been working with our legislators in both chambers to secure funding for a shared budget ask across 13 YWCAs in Ohio that provide essential human services throughout the state. This funding, shared amongst… Continue Reading YWCA Columbus Responds to Proposed Ohio Budget Bill for FY24-25
The Higher Education & Workforce Committee passed Ohio House Bill 6 (HB6) out of committee today. This bill would force transgender children to play on the sports team that aligns with their gender assigned at birth, rather than their true gender identity. If passed, the bill will present physical and emotional danger for trans children… Continue Reading YWCA Columbus Statement on Ohio House Bill 6
This week, medical examiners in New York City ruled the death of Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old Black man, a homicide following an incident on May 1, during which Neely was forcibly held in a chokehold by a white vigilante – and restrained by other riders – for several minutes. The dehumanization of individuals experiencing homelessness… Continue Reading YWCA Columbus Statement on Death of Jordan Neely
NBC4 | Interview | YWCA Columbus President & CEO Liz Brown joins NBC4’s Daytime Columbus to discuss the upcoming Women of Achievement luncheon on April 27. Watch the full segment here.
MARCH 22, 2023 (COLUMBUS, OH) – On Thursday, April 27, 2023, YWCA Columbus will host its 38th annual Women of Achievement luncheon at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, celebrating six women who have made outstanding contributions to their workplaces, communities, families, and the Central Ohio region. This year’s Women of Achievement are: Laurel Beatty Blunt… Continue Reading YWCA Columbus Presents 38th Annual Women of Achievement Luncheon
This week, we are tuned into Senate Bill 83. Introduced by Senator Jerry C. Cirino last week, SB83 is a comprehensive attack on higher education – from prohibiting mandatory DEI trainings to prohibiting collective bargaining. YWCA Columbus is opposed to this bill on the grounds that it directly threatens our vision for a just and… Continue Reading YWCA Columbus statement on Senate Bill 83
YWCA Columbus joins marginalized communities and people of color to grieve the unjust death of Irvo Otieno: As more horrifying details emerge from Virginia following the death of Irvo N. Otieno, YWCA Columbus mourns the untimely and unjust death of another young Black man in this country and joins his family in calling for a… Continue Reading YWCA Columbus statement on the death of Irvo Otieno
YWCA Columbus reacts to Columbus City Council’s pay equity legislation: As an organization dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women, YWCA Columbus applauds the pay equity legislation passed by Columbus City Council on March 13, 2023. We proudly support this measure to narrow the pay gap, having testified in favor of passage. Introduced by Councilmember… Continue Reading YWCA Columbus statement on Columbus City Council’s pay equity legislation
On March 1, the 2023 YWCA Columbus Women on the Rise were featured in an article by The Columbus Dispatch. These honorees are young women at the beginning of their careers who are dedicated to making a positive impact in their community and their workplaces. YWCA Columbus will honor these six women, along with six… Continue Reading Columbus Dispatch Feature: Meet the YWCA Columbus Women on the Rise
By: Catherine Less, Leadership & Social Justice Intern, and Lalitha Pamidigantam, Advocacy Manager Across the nation, we see a Black maternal health crisis that exemplifies the systemic racial disparities and the lack of equitable access to healthcare. The implicit biases in the American healthcare and medical systems create barriers to care that directly affect both… Continue Reading Working Toward Health Equity
YWCA Columbus reacts to Columbus City Council’s 2023 budget: YWCA Columbus is pleased to see that Columbus City Council has announced a budget amendment for a nonpolice crisis response model pilot, a program that has the potential to serve people in mental or physical health crises without the use of police. We have pursued this… Continue Reading YWCA Columbus statement on Columbus City Council’s 2023 budget
YWCA Columbus joins marginalized communities and people of color to grieve and acknowledge the events of this week underpinned by white supremacy and systemic racism: In the aftermath of the senseless and brutal murders of Tyre Nichols and Manuel “Tortuguita” Paez Teran at the hands of police, the murder of Sinzae Reed and the prosecutorial… Continue Reading Acknowledging and grieving this week’s events
It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of one of our beloved teammates, Marilyn Muniz. Marilyn was the YWCA Kids Place site director at Goshen Lane Elementary School. She had an infectiously positive spirit and was adored by her peers and students. This spirit will live on in the lives she touched,… Continue Reading Remembering our teammate, Marilyn Muniz
YWCA Columbus statement on recent violence leveled against the AAPI community: YWCA Columbus extends its deepest condolences to the AAPI community amid the recent mass shootings and acts of violence targeting AAPI people, many of whom were meant to be celebrating the Lunar New Year this weekend. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and, more broadly, throughout our… Continue Reading YWCA Columbus condemns violence leveled against the AAPI community
YWCA Columbus Statement on the Ohio State Board of Education’s decision to pass anti-trans resolution: Over the past several months, YWCA Columbus has stood firm with our partners, showing up at the Ohio State School Board of Education and fighting for the safety and dignity of transgender students in Ohio. Today, Member Toal’s amended resolution… Continue Reading YWCA Columbus Statement on Board of Education’s decision to pass anti-trans resolution
By: Clovis Westlund, Leadership & Social Justice Intern Anti-Trans Legislation in the 2020s: Politics, Power, and Impact Communities across the country are being inundated with anti-trans legislation. Whether the bills are targeting sports, bathrooms, healthcare, classrooms, or pronouns, trans youth are now forced to advocate for their survival, defending their right to exist in front… Continue Reading Anti-Trans Legislation in the 2020s: Politics, Power, and Impact