Dear Friends,

We are in the midst of a cultural transformation -- a national reckoning, some say -- regarding sexual harassment and violence against women. The power of the #MeToo movement has quickly shed much needed light in the dark corners of our lives. And it has empowered women to speak up and speak out.

The “Me Too” campaign was actually started in 2007 by Tarana Burke, a 44-year old black woman, as a grass-roots movement to call attention to the fact that sexual assault and violence against women happens to ALL women, and those with the least power to speak up also have the fewest resources to escape it. Their jobs are at stake, and with their jobs, their economic security.

We know that for deep transformational change to happen and for gender justice to become a reality, the cultural movement underway must shine the light on the experiences of ALL women, and change must occur for all women. It is this intersectionality that is so critical to our mission and the work we do here. Gender justice cannot happen without racial justice. It also cannot happen without engaging men in the work.

Our hope, our goal, is that ALL women can lead more empowered lives, undiminished and unthreatened by gender violence. Your support of YWCA Evanston/North Shore directly translates into creative approaches and new programs that help us move towards that goal. Thank you for helping us seize the moment and lead the transformation toward gender equity and women's empowerment in our local communities.

Karen Singer
President/CEO
International Women's Day is Thursday, March 8!
Please join us this Thursday evening at the Unitarian Church of Evanston for a screening of “I Am Jane Doe,” an inspiring documentary that tells the story of American mothers who banded together to wage war on behalf of their underage daughters, who were victims of sex trafficking. You can learn more about the event and purchase tickets here.
YWCA Evanston/North Shore is partnering with the Family Action Network (FAN) to present:
Rachel Simmons, Author, Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls

"Enough as She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy, and Fulfilling Lives"

Thursday, March 8, 2018, 7:00 PM
Richard Rothstein, Research Associate, Economic Policy Institute

"The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America"


Wednesday, March 21, 2018, 12 PM & 7:00 PM
Learn more about these events at: www.familyactionnetwork.net.
The Urgency of How:
Moving from Talk to Action
Thursday, April 12
8 am - 3 pm
at Unitarian Church of Evanston

Featuring keynote speech by Tamar Manasseh, Founder of Mothers Against Senseless Killings (MASK), plus breakout sessions and networking designed to move participants from talk to action.

Registration details to come soon!
Register Now for the Race Against Hate
You can register now for the 19th annual Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate on June 17 and take advantage of early bird registration rates. Register here.
Woman's Club Benefit to Support Bridges
We’re honored that the Woman’s Club of Evanston is naming Bridges, our longer-term housing program, as the beneficiary of its annual spring benefit on May 5. All are welcome to attend. You can learn more about this special event and purchase tickets here.
The Inspiring Story of Evanston Swims!
YWCA Evanston/North Shore is a key partner in Evanston Swims!, a collaborative effort that ensures that all Evanston children have access to swimming lessons and water safety instruction. You can read about the impact Evanston Swims! has had in five short years here, and learn more about YWCA Evanston/North Shore’s powerful connection to the program here .
Your Monthly Donation Makes A Difference
Your gift supports critical YWCA programs year-round when you become a Sustaining Donor! For as little as $10 a month, or 33 cents a day, your monthly gift helps provide emergency shelter and longer-term housing for domestic violence survivors, scholarships for families so every girl and boy can learn to swim, financial literacy classes for low-income women, and racial justice trainings that help strengthen our communities. Give monthly, and make a difference today, and every day!  

3x your impact! From March 12-31, Amazon is tripling the donation rate on your first smile.amazon.com purchase! Go to smile.amazon.com/ch/36-2193618 and Amazon donates to YWCA Evanston/North Shore.
YWCA Evanston/North Shore | Phone 847-864-8445 | ywca@ywcae-ns.org | www.ywca.org/evanston