Emergency shelters across Central Ohio, including the YWCA Family Center, are losing critical funding in 2025. Without creating and investing in a new funding solution thousands of families may be pushed deeper into crisis. Register here to join YWCA Columbus virtually on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Invite your friends to learn more about the region’s homelessness crisis and urge our elected officials to act now! 

The Education Department has finalized training dates for First Aid/CPR classes (below)! Please use the appropriate link below to register for the class of your choice. Keep in mind that registration is first come, first serve, and there are only 25 spots available per session. Each class will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the ballroom at our downtown office. 

All registrants will be given access to online trainings via ADP 1-2 weeks before the in-person training. These MUST be completed prior to attending your in-person class or you will not be able to be certified. The First Aid/CPR classes are combined and cannot be taken separately. As a reminder, these classes are free for all YWCA employees! 

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Loren Beckett or Tamika Pierce! 

Friday, Aug. 8: CPR/First Aid Class: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PCHM82B 

 Friday, Dec. 12: CPR/First Aid Classes: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3RZDR67 

Join us for an extended Racial Justice Challenge beginning June 2! This year’s challenge will focus on Misinformation, Interpersonal Racism, The American Dream, and the Racialization of Crime, and each topic will span across two weeks, giving you more time and capacity for consuming and processing the information.  

Like in past years, we will offer internal engagement and incentive opportunities along the way, such as biweekly Zoom calls about each topic, weekly surveys with associated gift card raffles, and a culminating roundtable event at the end of July. Register here! 

Our Justice, Equity & Belonging team recently hosted a live screening of the Restorative Practices 101 online training video at the Intimacy Professionals Summit for both in-person and virtual attendees from around the world.  

And, our brand-new virtual training on Restorative Practices is now available for purchase! For a limited time only, use promo code SUMMER25 to receive a 10% discount. 

We recently created an exclusive club for YWCA supporters who set up a recurring, monthly donation of at least $25 to sustain the mission and work of YWCA Columbus. Staff may join the Persimmon Club – and invite your friends! Club members will receive a pin and other exclusive benefits. 

YWCA recently launched our very first Bright Futures Racial Equity 101 Workshops with The Wellington School, the Columbus Metropolitan Library (Main Branch), the Westerville Public Library, and Girl’s Leap (with more to come)! The sessions are completely free and empower youth through education and engagement. 

In addition, we officially launched our first cohort of Bright Futures Middle Schoolers from Metro Schools in April. This 6-week program is designed to build racial equity awareness and leadership among youth in grades 7-12. Our empowerment team can also personalize the Bright Futures curriculum for second graders, after recently joining Cassingham Elementary in Bexley for its Social Justice Day! 

If you’re interested in bringing a Racial Equity 101 Workshop to your school or group, please reach out to Navya Nalla! 

The YWCA Columbus social justice team hosted two listening sessions in partnership with the Human Service Chamber in April that provided much needed space for leaders and community members at-large to process recent political violence that is threatening the wellness and viability of chamber organizations and their people. If you are interested in bringing facilitated listening sessions to your organization or team, please contact Justice, Equity & Belonging program manager Phyl Flanagan. 

The advocacy team helped launch Women’s Residency Advocacy Council interest forms in April, engaging and informing residents about opportunities to get involved with the Advocacy Council. The council’s first session is coming up in June! The team also provided legislative updates to the Women’s Residency Center. 

In addition, our advocacy team signed on to a coalition letter, coauthored by multiple organizations, that urges Ohio leaders to prioritize childcare and the Child Tax Credit in the final state budget. 

In March and April, the team attended several key coalition meetings with partners at Honesty for Ohio Education, Groundwork Ohio, Advocates for Ohio’s Future, and the Economic Mobility Alliance. We also provided thought leadership to Franklin County Commissioners at hearings on economic development and homelessness and neighborhoods.