Our Justice, Equity & Belonging team will be hosting listening circles for YWCA staff next week following the election. This is a space for us all to listen, share and be supportive of colleagues as we sustain ourselves and each other in our mission work. You are welcome to join for whichever session best suits you. The sessions we have scheduled so far are below. 

• Wednesday, Nov. 6, 1-2:30pm at YWCA Family Center (in-person in the Community Room) 

• Monday, Nov. 11, 12-1:30pm (virtual) 

The holidays are fast approaching, and we’d like you to join us at our annual holiday event, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Griswold ballroom (65 S 4TH ST). This is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the season, enjoy fellowship with other staff members, take photos in the photo booth, and pick up your new swag. This year’s theme is “YWCA Holidays in the Tropics,” and, as we’ve done previously, we’ll have a contest for the best tropical outfit! There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. We will serve brunch (buffet style) and DJ Saint is returning! Please RSVP for the event using the following link:  https://givebutter.com/YWCAStaffHolidayEvent. 

We will be ordering fleece jackets this year, so it’s important that you indicate your size in the RSVP link. We need confirmation of your attendance and jacket size by Friday, Nov. 8! 

P.S. As we're working on building a new culture in the events area, one where everyone feels welcome and included, we want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in our events. So, we're asking everyone to register or RSVP for events that have deadlines. This will help us to plan for the number of attendees and ensure that we have enough resources for everyone. 

As a part of our collective commitment to creating a positive and supportive workplace, it’s essential that we all take responsibility for maintaining the highest standards of safety, security, and ethical conduct. Achieving this goal requires the active participation of every member of our organization, regardless of role or position. 

To support this effort, we have implemented a new service called Report It®. This is an independent, third-party, anonymous hotline service that allows you to report concerns from your smartphone, tablet, or computer. This tool is an enhancement to our internal communication systems and does not replace the normal channels of raising concerns with your manager or supervisor. It serves as a secondary option for when you may feel uncomfortable using traditional methods. 

You can watch a brief video on how to access and use Report It® here and download and use the Report It® app following these instructions. 

YWCA Columbus’ Restorative Practices 101 and Racial Equity Foundations & Application workshops were recently approved for educator and caregiver continuing education credits (CEUs) through the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association (OCCRRA). YWCA's Justice, Equity & Belonging team is working on increasing access to more of our program offerings via OCCRRA.

Columbus State Community College is again conducting its digital literacy program at both the Family Center and Women’s Residency. The new cohorts started the week of Oct. 28, 2024, and we are excited for these new opportunities for residents. 

The housing department received the Flourish Grant from the City of Columbus to help with rental arrears. In partnership with Homes for Families and New Directions Career Center, YWCA will be providing rental assistance to residents at the Family Center who are linked to all three programs.

If you know anyone who would be a good fit for the following roles, please refer them to HR! 

• Family Advocate 

• Program Coordinator (Women’s Residency) 

• Foundations and Corporate Grants Administrator  

• Site Director (YKP)  

• Part-time Program Assistant (YKP) 

  
  

  As a reminder, employees who refer candidates for vacant roles are eligible for a $500 bonus (if the candidate is hired and upon completion of their probationary period). For additional information about these positions, please refer to ywcacolumbus.org/jobs or Indeed.

Thanks again to everyone who came to the Grange Insurance Center on Oct. 17 to kick off our strategic plan implementation! ICYMI: We have Strategic Plan Kickoff Event Selfies to share! And, if you haven’t already done so, please submit your feedback in our post-event survey.

• Our Justice, Equity & Belonging team wrapped up a contract with the Short North Alliance to provide our Racial Equity 101 online training video and Beyond Inclusion: Building Communities of Belonging workshop (5 sessions) free of charge to their neighbors in our central business districts. This partnership was part of a public safety initiative lead by the Short North Alliance, which was able to provide generous gift card incentives to all participants. Short North Alliance has been an amazing partner in this initiative for two years running. 

• Our JE&B team will be completing a contract with our partners at YMCA of Central Ohio, which includes eight Racial Equity 101 video screenings and facilitated conversations as part of their agency-wide ADEI initiative. We are expected to continue this multi-year partnership into 2025 and are so excited to journey along with them. 

• Our JE&B team is preparing to begin our 3rd train-the-facilitator cohort for our Racial Equity 101 online training video and companion conversations. Staff from select associations of the Ohio Council of YWCAs will be joining us in person Dec. 11 & 12, after which they will be prepared to share our training video and engage their communities in vital conversations about racial equity. We are thrilled to engage our siblings and expand our impact! #OnAMission 

This fall, YWCA completed Bright Futures cohorts for middle and high school girls at Columbus Africentric Early College High School, Columbus School for Girls, and Worthington Libraries, impacting over 35 young people, who are now empowered and equipped to be more effective community leaders! Interested in hosting a cohort at your child’s school or a community organization you’re involved with? Contact Navya Nalla for more information.