MARCH – APRIL 2022
March Birthdays
1 Shelby Gayer
1 Mary Rogers
2 Michael Nicholson
3 Ryan Kennedy
6 Mariah Cox
9 Mariah Davis
10 Yvonne McBroom
11 Jacqueline Johnson
15 Michelle Chapman
17 Deborah Huth
17 Bailee Marie Reeves
19 Da Nesha Turnbo
19 Teresa Woods
20 Roselan Williams
21 Anita Rastogi
27 Jasmine Nelms
31 Roberta Romito
April Birthdays
1 Michelle Chieffo
3 Betty Rickabaugh
7 Stephen Hiller
8 Bianca Daniels
8 Cheryl Glenn
9 James Mason
10 Stephanie Bland
12 Nicole Hornbeck
20 Ashley Gilliam
25 Nathaniel Ward
26 Cornelius Washington
28 Rosalyn Lasekan
March Anniversaries
1 YEAR
Phyliss Flanagan
Rachelle Harvey
Spencer Stultz
2 YEARS
Montavious Cowart
Frederick Mills
3 YEARS
Kristopher James Ross-Wilcox
Roselan Williams
4 YEARS
Michelle Hameed
6 YEARS
Stevi Chiles
7 YEARS
Loren Beckett
8 YEARS
Kenneth Yahnke
14 YEARS
Elaine Colna
April Anniversaries
3 YEARS
Paula Eskridge
10 YEARS
Nancy Conkel
19 YEARS
Beverly Gyure
Ava Auen-Ryan
Program Assistant YKP
Regina Clemons
Chief Program Officer – Housing
Kayla Hylton
Program Assistant YKP
James Mason
Custodial Technician – Family Center
Jasmine Nelms
Family Support Specialist – Family Center
Ellen Roberts
Engagement Specialist – Women’s Residency
Sara Rhoads
Program Assistant YKP
Roberta Romito
Program Assistant YKP
Joyce Stewart
Program Assistant YKP
Kim Williams
Family Support Specialist – Family Center
We love celebrating our team promotions within YWCA Columbus
Rolana Kinzer has been promoted to Food Service Coordinator.
Lenice Aiken has been promoted to Childcare Center Cook.
Team Announcements + Updates
- Mandatory All Staff Training
- Internal Equity Council
- Family Center News
- YKP Team News
- Advancement Team News
- Black History Month Screening
- Women's History Month
The Gender Unicorn: Gender & Sexuality 101
Course Description: Explore the complexity and depth of gender, including gender identity, gender expression, and sex assigned at birth; along with sexuality and the LGBTQIA+ acronym.
Participants will practice using personal gender pronouns correctly (and the importance of doing so), and what words to avoid. There will be two training sessions, below are the dates and times as well as the ZOOM Links to view the live sessions. There will be a recording that will be shared on ADP for those who are unable to attend.
Option 1 time: Mar 16, 2022 10:30 AM ET
Option 2 time: Mar 17, 2022 01:00 PM ET
Internal Equity Council
The Internal Equity Council is accepting new members! The council accepts new members at the start of the year (we are a little late, I know J) and we would love to have additional folks from all of our various programs join! We need your voice!
We meet once a month, for two hours. This is a working council: we have rich discussions about issues of equity and inclusion in our organization and make recommendations on actions to address these challenges. Now is a great time to join: this year, our focus is taking action to address some key issues that came out in the organizational equity survey. Our official kickoff meeting for the year will be on March 11, 12:00-2:00 PM. Due to COVID, our meetings will be virtual.
Follow up with Jillian Olinger, jolinger@ywcacolumbus.org, for more info!
Updates from Workforce Development
Currently, Workforce Development is working on gaining new partnerships with organizations that will be helpful to YWCA Columbus residents — including those with criminal backgrounds needing extra support to gain employment. New partnerships in the works include the Affordable Housing Alliance Central Ohio. We have been working on a pilot program called Step to Success as well. In Steps for Success, residents are able to look into careers and jobs they have been interested in but did not previously know how to get started.
Since mid-December, we’ve been able to help 26 residents link with the program, and a total of 43 residents are continuing to utilize the employment services they offer.
Family Center Donation
Xiamen Anta Co LTD donated 100 pairs of athletic men’s shoes!
First, a Farewell
Thanks and best wishes to Gahanna Program Administrator, Justis Davis. Justis’ last day will be Friday, March 11. We thank you for your dedication to the YWCA mission and wish you the best!
Now Hiring
YWCA Kids Place programs are currently hiring 17+ year olds for seasonal Summer Camp staff. If you know of someone who wants a great part-time job, please reach out to HR, Laura Miller, or Steve Hiller.
We’re also hiring for a Gahanna District Coordinator! This full-time position will help supervise the day camp program in the summer and support the afterschool programs during the school year. If you know a candidate with a background in youth development who is looking for the next step in their career, reach out to HR, Steve Hiller, or Nichelle Harris.
Education Updates
Working collaboratively, Nichelle Harris and Amber Jacott submitted for the Ohio Department of Education’s Summer Learning and Afterschool grants. Applications were submitted for a summer wraparound program in both Westerville and Gahanna and to expand the United Schools Network programs.
Hello & Goodbye’s
Mindy Meeker, Event Project Manager, moved on from her official role with YWCA Columbus on January 7th. We thank Mindy for her work on 2021 Women of Achievement and Activists and Agitators Events (and all of the other things!) and wish her much success is in her future endeavors!
Lea Goldsmith joined the Advancement Team as our new Event Project Manager on March 21st. Please help us welcome Lea to Team YWCA!!
Sharday Urtarte’s, Project Specialist, last day will be March 11th. May sure you take a moment to wish her well in her next adventure. We are grateful for everything she has done for our team in her short time with us!
Black History Month Screening
On Friday, February 25, YWCA Columbus’ DE&I team led a 20-minute screening of I Am Not Your Negro, followed by an authentic discussion.
Be Part of Our Women’s History Month Campaign
March is Women’s History Month – and the MarComm team (Mike + Diana) is asking for your help in a social media campaign. If you have a few minutes, can you please answer the following question with a 30-second video or 2-3 written sentences?
Question: Name a woman in history or a woman making history today that influences you and why.
Please upload your videos here to our team Dropbox, or email the 2-3 sentences to dyates@ywcacolumbus.org ASAP to be included.
Save the Date
YKP Summer Day Camp
Registration for our Kids Place Summer Day Camp in Gahanna and Westerville opens Monday, March 7!
International Women’s Day
For International Women’s Day (and the month of March), Wolf’s Ridge Brewing will be releasing a ‘Ladies Who Brunch’ stout that $1 per draft and 10% of packaged sales will go to YWCA Columbus.
Stand Against Racism Challenge
YWCA Columbus is joining forces with YWCA USA for this year’s Stand Against Racism Challenge. Previously known as the 21-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge, the Challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to discover how racial injustice and social injustice impact our community, to connect with one another, and to identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.
register HERE
( When registering, under “Which YWCA are you participating with?” please be sure to choose Columbus!)
We are also bringing the conversation local during the month of April on these topics in a Facebook Group led by our Leadership and Social Justice team. Join the Group and be part of the discussion here!
Women of Achievement
You’re invited to YWCA Columbus’s 37th Women of Achievement 2022 Event! The event will take place virtually from 12 pm on Wednesday, April 27. Stay tuned for more details. Feel free to RSVP on Facebook or LinkedIn, too.
Alumni Book Club
Alumni Book Club: May 26th at 5 pm: Get your copy now and join us for a discussion of “You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience” by Tarana Burke and Brene Brown. RSVP today!
YWCA Columbus in the News
The Columbus Dispatch recognized our 2022 Women on the Rise. (January 2022)
Christie Angel was featured in a Columbus Dispatch roundup of events to partake in for MLK day. (January 2022)
Safe & Sound was featured in an article by Columbus Dispatch about mothers and work-life balance during a pandemic (February 2022)
Immediate Past YWCA Columbus Board Chair Sandy Doyle-Ahern had a feature in Columbus Monthly (February 2022)
Christie Angel discussed her next steps here, here, and here. (February 2022)
Wolfs Ridge Brewing released news about their upcoming beer that will benefit YWCA Columbus. (February 2022)
Bath & Body Works mentioned YWCA Columbus on social media for their Women’s History Month campaign. They have also (March 2022)