Dear Friends,

What does it take to create real and lasting change? It takes action. 

I’m energized by the ways in which YWCA staff members and many of you continue to take action to further our mission. Whether it be through our new YW Culinary program, our resale shop now known as YWCA Shop for Good, our heightened equity and advocacy work, or our outreach to provide equitable access and opportunity in our swimming pools, this work is making a difference. 

Are you looking for ways to take action? Join us on March 7 for our International Women’s Day commemoration. Volunteer to be a financial coach in our Advancement Project. Donate clothes to and/or shop at the YWCA Shop for Good in Wilmette. Make plans to be part of our Equity Summit in April. Donate to our swimming scholarship fund.

We’re on a mission and you’re an important part of it. Let’s keep going.

Karen Singer
President/CEO
Commemorate International Women’s Day with us on March 7
Gather your friends and join us the night before International Women’s Day for a screening of “On Her Shoulders,” a documentary about the persistence of Nadia Murad, a young woman who was held prisoner by the Islamic State group in Iraq and became a Nobel Prize-winning human rights activist. 

The screening will be held Thursday, March 7 at the Wilmette Theater at 6:30 pm. A reception at YWCA Shop for Good will precede the screening – come see the shop’s new look! The reception begins at 5:30 p.m.  

Tickets are $15, which includes 5:30 pm pre-event reception at YWCA Shop for Good, and 6:30 pm film screening and talk back at Wilmette Theatre.

Buy tickets here. 
Register for our April 11 Equity Summit
Make plans now to attend our fourth annual Equity Summit, The Way Forward: Through Healing to Transformation on Wednesday evening, April 10, and all day Thursday, April 11. 

The Equity Summit is for everyone. The goal is to bring people – of all ages and demographics – together to deepen their understanding of their own racial identities, develop skills to work for change, formulate action plans, and engage with others.
Our keynote speaker is Dr. Gail C. Christopher, an award-winning change agent and nationally recognized leader in social change. 
Learn (and share) 6 tips about setting boundaries, from our violence prevention educators
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and Hallie Cohen, a violence prevention educator for our Building Healthy Relationships program, wrote a blog post including tips for adolescents (adults, too) about setting boundaries in intimate relationships.

"The other week YWCA Violence Prevention Educators and I did an activity with six classes of 7th and 8th graders called a boundaries checklist. The checklist is four pages long and has lists of interpersonal behaviors around which people have differing boundaries. Students are supposed to read through the list, stopping for each item and taking a moment to imagine themselves experiencing it. How do they think they would feel? They rate their comfort level on a scale of one to ten...." Continue reading Hallie’s blog here.
Train to work with domestic violence survivors
We’re offering a 40-hour domestic violence training opportunity March 12-22 at the YWCA. Our program is approved by the Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional Board (ICDVP) and provides a solid base of knowledge for anyone working with individuals affected by domestic violence. 
Empower your swimmer: Flying Fish Swim Team offering tryouts for spring season
Swimmers of all ages are invited to try out for the spring season of the Flying Fish Swim Team, which is part of YWCA Evanston/North Shore’s aquatics program. 

The spring season begins April 1 and tryouts will be held during the month of March.

Contact Pete Caragher, Director of Flying Fish Aquatics if you're interested.

Learn more here.
Meet Kristin Drake
Say hello to Kristin Drake, YWCA financial education specialist! Kristin works with women in our domestic violence program and in the community to support their housing and employment needs.

"When I think about my employment, I think of how fortunate I am to be able to witness the resilience and strength of humans on a daily basis. People often come to us during the most traumatic times in their lives. While here, they’re provided with a support system that empowers them while reminding them of their own strengths. It’s amazing to witness their growth!"
Read about all the good things your support makes possible
Read stories and statistics that show how YWCA Evanston/North Shore, with your generous support, made a difference for thousands last year.

You’ll find our annual impact report here.
Become a monthly donor and make your giving easier!  
You can make a difference all year long by giving monthly to YWCA. It’s easy, just click “recurring gift” on the donation form.  

For just $10 a month, you can support survivors as they move from abuse and trauma, to healing and hope. Your gift supports …

  • emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence
  • longer-term housing and support services for women and children
  • counseling and safety planning
  • legal services support 
  • financial education workshops and coaching
  • job readiness training and housing referrals

Please don’t wait! Become a Monthly Donor now—because your gift makes a difference. 
We love our Corporate Partners!
YWCA Evanston/North Shore | Phone 847-864-8445 | ywca@ywca-ens.org | www.ywca-ens.org