JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2022
January Birthdays
1 Fatima Diallo
2 Justis Davis
9 Lauren Baker
10 Haley Bingham
15 Abigail Eckman
17 William Benson
18 Mandi Buchwald
19 Alexa Bush
21 Amos Li
22 Brittany Holmes
23 Fredrick Phells
29 Wayne Deal
31 Phyliss Flanagan
February Birthdays
1 Julia Berry
1 Keith Hall
1 Sally Ristucci
1 Sonya Todd
2 Hadia Djigo
4 Christie Angel
9 Vuanita Hill
13 Katherine Taylor
15 Donovan Hines
17 Linda Cox
21 Stacy McLain
23 Deborah Turner
26 Camille Moultrie
26 Shannon Thomas
26 Loren Beckett
26 Elizabeth Martindale
January Anniversaries
1 YEAR
Roselan Lasekan
2 YEARS
Phillip Grissett
3 YEARS
Alexa Bush
Jillian Olinger
8 YEARS
Deborah Turner
15 YEARS
Katherine Taylor
16 YEARS
Keith Hall
22 YEARS
Valerie Henthorn
24 YEARS
Deborah Delzell
February Anniversaries
1 YEAR
Bianca Daniels
Melanie Henterly
Camille Moultree
Joyanna Reese
Jose Torres
2 YEARS
Whitney Garrett
4 YEARS
Judy Peterson
7 YEARS
Janice Tunstall
8 YEARS
Stephanie Bland
Cheryl Glenn
10 YEARS
Jerome Burger
Wayne Deal
Bridget Baker
Program Assistant YKP
Julia Berry
Engagement Specialist – Women’s Residency
Don’Taueja Barnes
Program Assistant YKP
Diariou Diallo
Program Assistant YKP
Fatimata Diallo
Program Assistant YKP
Hadia Dijigo
Program Assistant YKP
Mary Lemrick
Service Coordinator – Women’s Residency
Bailee Reeves
Program Assistant YKP
Anna Stuart
Program Assistant YKP
Tya Walker
Program Assistant YKP
Team Announcements + Updates
Racial Justice 101
The first required training, Racial Justice 101 is a 50-minute webinar which introduces the basics of understanding racism: how it manifests through social and political institutions, in overt and hidden forms, now and throughout history. By completing this training, you’ll gain insight and tools to help you become an active participant in the fight for equity. There is a mini-knowledge check that must be completed by all staff members to confirm that this training was completed. If you have already watched the video, just complete the knowledge check as it will serve as documentation that this training was completed. We do not have record of which individuals completed this training at the time, so if you do not recall viewing this video, consider this a refresher. Once the mini-knowledge check has been completed we will have record of your completion on file.
Empowered Resilience Training
The 2nd required training “Empowered Resilience: Engaging in Culturally Responsive and Trauma Supportive Care for Marginalized Individuals and Communities” training purpose is to explore and increase understanding regarding the impact of oppression and marginalization as trauma for individuals and communities; with a focus on the ways relationships and connection can be used as tools in creating collaborative healing environments. We are asking all employees to complete the Evaluation Survey for this training. The survey serves as confirmation of completion for those who viewed the video training. It also gives us valuable feedback and insight needed to make training adjustments, identify training needs, and effective training approaches. If you attended one of the live training sessions, your attendance was recorded. You do not have to view the training video. However, please consider completing the evaluation to provide us with feedback regarding this training and further training efforts.
Beginning January 1, 2022, YWCA each employee received 2 additional ‘flexible holidays’ for Juneteenth and Unity Day (can be used for non-traditional religious holidays). This will be in addition to our standard paid holidays. Flexible holidays must be taken within the calendar year and will not carryover if not used (like personal time), and can’t be used in increments. For part-time employees scheduled to work a minimum of 25 hours per week over 12 months, the flexible holidays are pro-rated. Employee can find these hours in their time off balances in ADP.
Leadership for Social Change 2022
We are excited to announce the acceptance of TWO outstanding YWCA Columbus staff members into the 2022 Leadership for Social Change 2022! Please congratulate Sharday Urtarte, Project Specialist, and Liz Kittner, Communications & Technology Specialist, as they join other change-makers in developing leadership skills to advance social change in our community.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Trainings in 2021
2021 was a year of transformation and growth for the Leadership & Social Justice team, as we embarked on building a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training business. Not only did we develop a slew of new training services and expand the team, we began implementing these services to the greater Columbus community, starting a ripple effect of change.
In 2021, we provided training to over 1400 people and 24 organizations, who reported significant improvements in racial literacy, and in their awareness of and commitment to practicing anti-racism in their decision-making power.
Entrepreneurship Education
Our team is working on some big projects to support student’s social-emotional health, streamline and enhance new staff training, and teach entrepreneurship education in our programs.
In December, we were thrilled to have Chic Thompson join our team to teach us about his youth entrepreneur curriculum we’re using. Chic is a Batten Fellow of Entrepreneurship at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and has worked with and for major corporations including Disney, Pepsi, Starbucks, GoreTex and others to help them develop new ideas, innovate, and overcome challenges. He’s a talented cartoonist and persuasive communicator. He has worked with schools and youth-serving organizations across the US, Africa, Central and South America to build the entrepreneurial mindset in children, youth and teens. He calls his dyslexia a gift because it helps him to see the world differently – a perspective that sparks creativity and problem-solving skills. This different perspective is one that we can all learn from. You can learn more about Chic and his work in his “Life is a Brainstorm” Tedx Talk and by checking out the WagiLabs website.
Our Social Media Accounts
Are you following YWCA Columbus on social media? Be sure to check out our accounts and follow along as we share updates on the hard work from staff across the Y and the impact YWCA Columbus makes in the community.
TikTok (first posts coming this month!)
Save the Date
YWCA Winter Social Food Truck Luncheon
The Winter Social is still a go — especially with 24/7 staff still working! Staff working from home are invited to come down and get lunch at either Family Center or Griswold Building.
Stand Against Racism Challenge
In 2022, the 21-Day Challenge and the Stand Against Racism campaign will combine to become the Stand Against Racism Challenge. It will still involve 21-days of racial equity content for our audience to engage with and discuss. It will take place in April, so watch your email for registration information in the spring!
Women of Achievement 2022
Our 37th Annual Women of Achievement will be held on Wednesday, April 27th.
YWCA Columbus in the News
The Columbus Dispatch shared our 6 Women of Achievement honorees. (November 2021)
10TV invited Christie Angel to help announce our Women of Achievement honorees. (November 2021)
Columbus Business First helped announce our new American Electric Power Foundation Center for Racial Equity at YWCA Columbus. Christie Angel and Spencer Stultz were featured, and so was one of our DEI training partners from the Greater Columbus Arts Council. (November 2021)
YWCA Columbus joined other community leaders to demand affordable housing and to address the disproportionate impact on communities of color. The Columbus Dispatch covered the event. (November 2021)
YWCA Kids Place received a shout-out in the Afterschool Alliance’s “Afterschool Snack” for our Entrepreneurial Education work. (December 2021)
Christie Angel was the featured Commencement speaker for Columbus State Community College’s December graduation. You can watch her address (there are good reminders for all!) beginning around the 25-minute mark in the video here. (December 2021)
The American Electric Power Foundation shared a video showcasing the work of our new Center for Racial Equity. (December 2021)