Your Monthly News & Updates
A Message from Our Board Chair, Nancy Rowe
One of my favorite YWCA events is just around the corner: our annual gala. Aptly named “Hear Us Roar: A Speakeasy Soiree,” we’ll be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment giving some women the right to vote, and the 55th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 expanding those critical voting rights to people of color. Since joining the board, this event has been near and dear to my heart, and today as board president, I continue to serve on the gala committee that works to bring this event to fruition.

Fundraising through events is commonplace; nonetheless, it’s right in my wheelhouse. What can be better than highlighting an important cause with a great night of festivities? A charity event takes a lot of creativity and hard work — it’s almost like being a duck where you paddle vigorously under the water and look calm, cool and collected on the surface. The payoff is incredibly satisfying: sharing the important mission of the YWCA with your family, friends, and community.
 
I hope you’ll join us for our gala! "Hear Us Roar: A Speakeasy Soiree” will be held on Saturday, March 7 from 6:00pm - 11:00 p.m. at the Boulder Jewish Community Center (6006 Oreg Avenue in Boulder). For more information and to purchase tickets, visit:  https://events.handbid.com/auctions/ywca-hear-us-roar-2020/tickets
 
I’m looking forward to seeing you there!

Best wishes,

Nancy Rowe
Program Spotlight: Reading to End Racism (RER)
Our Reading to End Racism (RER) program is having a record year! We’ve completed nine readings in nine elementary schools so far this school year (2019-2020), and we have more session scheduled. We must praise our wonderful volunteers who give up their day, afternoon, or even their lunch hours to help us. The time and love they share with the community is unmatched! We appreciate all they do for the program.

We have many times when something in an RER session surprises us, but one recent reading really stood out: we were at Horizon K-8 and the students were so engaged! They were thoughtful, inquisitive, and genuinely full of interest regarding race, equity, and inclusion. Our Manager of Community Engagement and Equity, Shiquita Yarbrough, presented to several 7 th grade classes and talked about her recent visit to the slave ports on the coast of Ghana. She talked about how much the Ghanaian people suffered in the past, and the horrific tragedies that occurred. Shiquita shared with honesty and bravery so the students could have a glimpse of our country’s slave history. At the end of the day, a young boy came to our RER table - eyes filled with tears - and he thanked her for sharing. He said what he learned made his heart ache and he wished that the slave trade didn't happen, then he cried. It’s a moment we won’t forget – a moment we’ll remember because it helps heal our aching hearts. 
Donor Highlight: Bob and Catherine Murphy
My wife and I have been supporters of YWCA Boulder County since our daughter, Siân , joined the YWCA’s board. Siân made it clear to us that she felt we could be helpful to the organization both as contributors and health care professionals.

YWCA Boulder County’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women resonates with me as a father with daughters and having grown up with four sisters. The organization is an important part of the Boulder community with its focus on family issues: childcare, parenting issues, education. These are community programs that are useful today and for a lifetime. The support that the organization gives to the community resonates for decades to those families that take advantage of their programs.

I’m fortunate that our dental office ( North Boulder Dental Group ) has had the opportunity to provide biannual exams to Children’s Alley families. One of the observations I've made in our visits to YWCA Boulder County is how loved the children are by the staff. It’s clear to us on our dental visits that the children are treated as individuals and that the staff is devoted to excellent care. Plus, we’re seeing excellent dental results from our visits and this is because the staff is focusing on passing good oral hygiene instructions to the parents.

Photo: Carys, Siân, Catherine and Bob Murphy last Thanksgiving on a Caribbean vacation, which just happened to be purchased as a Live Auction item at the 2019 YWCA Gala.
Gala Tickets are Selling Fast
Buy your tickets or tables today!
Gala Tickets - $125 ($150 at the door)
Gala Table of 10 - $1,100


Sponsorship Opportunities are also available.
Sponsorship comes with a host of benefits including complimentary tickets, promotion to our supporters and partnership with one of the oldest nonprofits in Boulder County. This is a momentous year to raise awareness of your brand and demonstrate your company's support of empowering women and eliminating racism. Contact Brittny Wilson at bwilson@ywcaboulder.org or 303.443.0419 x114 for more information.

Volunteer
We need volunteers for event night. Contact Brittny Wilson at bwilson@ywcaboulder.org or 303.443.0419 x114 for more information.
Now Enrolling for the 2020 -2021 School Year
Children's Alley is Now Enrolling for Permanent Childcare Slots starting Fall 2020

Exciting news from YWCA Boulder County’s Children’s Alley: we’ll be opening two new permanent classrooms in August 2020! Our permanent classrooms will serve children 15 months to preschool age.

Children’s Alley is an experiential, play-based program offering approaches from Storybook Journey and Creative Curriculum that support child-led interests and child development. Our partnerships with Farm to ECE helps cultivate our daily nutrition lessons. In addition, children can explore different types of movement through fitness and yoga classes with our Wellness Coordinator.

Our highly qualified teaching team works to strengthen all areas of child growth and pre-academic skills including social-emotional, gross and fine motor, early literacy, STEM, and social studies. YWCA Boulder County Children’s Alley is a Colorado Shines Level 4 Program. Our on-site Nutrition Coordinator prepares healthy snacks and meals daily for all children in our care. Other program partnerships include HEAL and ECHO Seed Grant for Outdoor Learning Environments.

Family tours will be held every Wednesday, starting March 11, from 10:00-11:00 AM. Call to schedule a tour and begin your enrollment process today: (303) 449-1951. For additional enrollment and tuition info, email Kate Hise at: khise@ywcaboulder.org .
Each for Equal: Celebrating Progress Towards Equal Pay, Equal Representation & Equal Voices for Women
Join YWCA Boulder County and WoCo BoCo in commemorating International Women's Day and celebrating women who are fighting for gender equity across Colorado.

Sunday, March 8, 2020
2:00 PM - 4:15 PM
The OUR Center
220 Collyer Street, Longmont

Key Note Speaker Lucy Marsh

Lucy is the University of Denver law professor who started the Equal Pay litigation against the University that resulted in a Settlement Agreement which required the university to pay $2.66 million, submit to independent monitoring for six years – and give significant pay raises to all the women law professors involved. Help us honor KC Becker and other strong women in Boulder County who are making that progress a reality.

2020 International Women's Day Honorees

We will celebrate the work for our 2020 International Women's Day Honorees: Speaker of the Colorado House KC Becker and Carmen Ramirez, Longmont community leader and advocate.

“Each for Equal” Panel

Moderated by YWCA Boulder County CEO, Debbie Pope, this panel will feature community leaders analyzing our theme Each for Equal. We will discuss the wage gap for women, its impact on women of color, and the reality of inequality in the workplace. We will hear what some Boulder County employers are doing to change that. Panelists include: 

Ali Beatty, Technical Program Manager, Google

Michelle Frierson, PhD Candidate CU Boulder

Kathy Olivier, AAUW and Start Smart-Work Smart 

Lupita Sanchez, I Have a Dream Foundation

Advocacy Updates
Colorado Senate Bill 93 - Consumer and Employee Dispute Resolution Fairness Act

Senate Bill 93 is under consideration by Colorado lawmakers. Under the law, employee contracts can contain “forced arbitration” clauses that contractually forbid workers from telling their stories of workplace harassment. SB 93 would enact the “Consumer and Employee Dispute Resolution Fairness Act”, which would make gains towards transparency around this issue and lay the important groundwork for more substantive change down the road. Call your representatives to encourage its passage. The Denver Post talked to the bill’s author about what it can accomplish: https://www.denverpost.com/2019/12/12/colorado-metoo-forced-arbitration/
Donate your tax refund with ReFUND CO
Do you expect a state income tax refund?

Now you can donate some or all of it! It's a simple and fast way to support YWCA Boulder County. Visit refundwhatmatters.org to learn more and to find the nonprofit registration number to enter on your tax return. When you complete your state tax return, enter Registration #20023006070 for YWCA Boulder County.
Meet the Staff: Aimee Wilde
Aimee Wilde, Office Manager & Receptionist

Aimee joined YWCA Boulder County in January 2020. She greets our guests, supports both Children's Alley and YWCA Administrative staff, facilitates parenting classes and oversees everything in the building.

Favorite thing about YWCA Boulder County: " My favorite thing about the YWCA is its mission and the best thing about being here is that I finally have a job that is in line with my values, what I stand for and what is important to me. I am very excited to be a part of this organization."

Something about me: "I was born and raised here in Boulder and I live in a house my grandpa built on land that’s been in my family since my great grandfather. I love to dance, especially Latin dances!"
Thank you Siân Murphy at WK Real Estate, 2020 Gala Sponsor
Thank you Siân Murphy at WK Real Estate for being an incre dible Event Sponsor and supporter of several of our events !

Your event sponsorship is truly a transformational gift that is multiplied many times and helps us meet our fundraising event goals to fuel the YWCA's programs and services.

YWCA Boulder County in the News
Our Favorite News Coverage in 2020

YWCA USA Podcast - Organize Your Butterflies
Did you know YWCA USA has a weekly podcast? In each episode, Organize Your Butterflies discusses the ways women, including many of the amazing leaders at YWCA, are working to help women, girls and families.
Organize Your Butterflies is available wherever you subscribe to podcasts, including:
Upcoming Events
  • Reading to End Racism reading, Thursday, Feb. 13 at Foothill Elementary
  • Rally to support Dr. Lupita Montoya, Friday, Feb. 14 at 3pm at the CU SEEC Atrium. For more information, please click here.
  • 14th Annual Latino Advocacy Day 2020, Sunday, Feb. 23. Talk to legislators about current issues!
  • Confident Girls of Color, Friday, Feb. 28 at Naropa Performing Arts Center. Boulder County middle and high school girls of color are encouraged to join this event to connect in a supportive space to process, ask questions, build skills, and find sisterhood. The event will include group activities, a panel discussion, and an opportunity to meet lots of new friends. To learn more and to register, please click here.
  • Reading to End Racism reading, March 5 at Whittier International Elementary
  • 2020 Gala "Hear us ROAR: A Speakeasy Soiree", Saturday, March 7, Boulder JCC. For more information and to buy tickets, please click here.
  • International Women's Day, Each for Equal with WoCo BoCo, Sunday, March 8, OUR Center (220 Collyer St., Longmont). For more information and to register, please click here.
  • Lifting As We Climb, by Candice Davis, March 5 - March 22 at BMoCA. YWCA Boulder County is pleased to partner with BMoCA in bringing this exhibit to Boulder. Lifting As We Climb is an exhibit to explore the centennial of women's suffrage and the intersection of race and gender. For more information, please visit bmoca.org.
  • Stand Against Racism Week, April 23 - 26, 2020
Did you know?
Racial Justice History

In 1940 Mary Church Terrell wrote, "A white woman has only one handicap to overcome — a great one, true, her sex; a colored woman faces two — her sex and her race." This doubling of oppressions — sexism and racism — remains in effect seventy years after Terrell's statement and is a well referenced sociological theory. W. E. B. Du Bois, one of the first black sociologists in the United States, also spoke about this concept of double consciousness, saying “The Negro is a sort of seventh son, born with a veil, and gifted with second-sight in this American world — a world which yields him not true self-consciousness, but only lets him see himself through the revelation of the other world. It is a peculiar sensation, this double consciousness, this sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity. One ever feels his twoness — an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.”

Thank you Program Funders
Thank you City of Boulder Housing and Human Services Department for your grant funding for Children's Alley!
Thank you City of Boulder Youth Opportunities Program for your grant funding of Latina Achievement Support (LAS).
Thank YOU for your support!

Our work would not be possible without the support of passionate individuals and businesses like you, how support our programs and services.

Contact us to learn more about donating stock or other assets, donating through your employers giving program or becoming an event sponsor.

Volunteers are vital to our mission and our programs and services.

Learn more about all the different ways you can get involved in our work, including volunteering with Reading to End Racism, Children's Alley, Corporate Volunteering and Event Volunteering.
YWCA Boulder County | ywcaboulder.org