On Oct. 3, YWCA Columbus will host its 7th annual Activists and Agitators to explore the true history of democracy and freedom in America. Now is the time for you to purchase your pass (if you want to attend in person), invite FIVE of your closest friends, and help us spread the word on social media! We created a toolkit so sharing is seamless – check it out here.

Applications for the 2025 Kathy Duffy Espy Leadership for Social Change cohort are live now at ywcacolumbus.org. Typically, one YWCA staff member is accepted, so we encourage you to share the application with any emerging leaders on your team!

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.

Are you ready to vote on Nov. 5? Check your registration status online, locate your polling place, and find out if you can vote by mail here. Voting is one of citizens' most important rights and responsibilities. By participating in elections, you can advocate for policies and leaders that address issues such as affordable housing, social services, healthcare and more. Interested in volunteering with the League of Women Voters to register more voters? Sign up here! 

The Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio (AHACO) recently launched a community survey to evaluate the impact of the affordable housing shortage and public support for reforms that can lower housing prices. Share your thoughts on Central Ohio’s growing housing needs to help inform future advocacy work!

The Citizens Not Politicians Amendment will end gerrymandering by empowering citizens, not politicians, to draw fair districts using an open and transparent process. You can read the whole amendment here - don’t forget to vote YES on Issue 1 this November.

New for fall 2024, YWCA Columbus’ Safe & Sound childcare program will receive funding from the Columbus Early Start program, which allows qualifying families to access high-quality Pre-K programs for free or low-cost tuition. Read more here.

Safe & Sound also partnered with Columbus Speech & Hearing to conduct free screenings for students on Tuesday, Aug. 20.

Please stop by the next time you're in the finance office to welcome Jonesha McClain to the team. She's our new payroll coordinator, and we're thrilled that she joined us at the YWCA.  Jonesha was formerly with Huntington Bank, and we were lucky enough to meet her as she handled our weekly deposits. The ADP learning curve is steep, but we have no doubt that you'll be working with her on all your payroll issues in no time at all.

We are also excited to welcome Tamara Howard to YWCA Columbus as the new director of advocacy. Tamara joins the YWCA having served as manager of government affairs for Charter Communications, also known as Spectrum. In this role, she served as a liaison to elected officials, community leaders and stakeholders to advance and defend Charter’s public policy agenda and broadband expansion efforts in Central Ohio. Tamara has previous experience in public sector roles, including policy manager to Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce and senior legislative aide in the Ohio House of Representatives. She is a proud HBCU graduate, resident of Merion Village, and enjoys thrifting, scary movies, and spending time with friends and family.

YWCA Kids Place is looking for program assistants, an education subsidy coordinator, and sites directors. We are also hiring an executive assistant to the CEO. If you know anyone who would be a good fit, please refer them to HR!

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.