November Policy Update

Coming soon! We'll be hiring a Spring Public Policy & Communications intern. This is a paid part-time position from January - April 2024. This opportunity is open to all, and enrollment in a college or university is not required. Check out our employment opportunities here.

Request for Proposals: Strategic Planning Consulting

YWCA Utah seeks proposals from consultants experienced in strategic planning and knowledgeable about Utah, nonprofits, and diversity- and equity-centered practices to work with the Board of Directors and the YWCA staff on a new, three-year strategic plan. Deadline: December 1, 2023.

Transgender Day of Remembrance

November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day when we honor transgender people whose lives were lost due to anti-transgender violence. It takes place during Transgender Awareness Week, a time when we celebrate and honor trans community members. Check out these local events.

Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month. In Utah, there are eight sovereign Tribal Nations with active and thriving governments and communities.

The Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation is taking the lead on an ecological restoration project in Northern Utah that will restore one of the main tributaries of the Great Salt Lake. Learn more about the project here.

Each year, thanks to the generosity of our community, YWCA Utah opens Candy Cane Lane—a unique holiday-themed pop-up store where domestic violence survivors can choose gifts for their families during the winter holiday season. The inspiring and heartwarming donations we receive in preparation for Candy Cane Lane enable us to offer a wide array of gifts and essential items free of charge to approximately 200 survivors. This year, Candy Cane Lane will be open from December 13th through December 16th, and we are currently accepting donations for this beautiful event.

New Report! Child Care in Utah

Voices for Utah Children published a report and interactive map with county-level data on the child care crisis in Utah. The findings show that current licensed child care centers only meet 36% percent of the demand. In Salt Lake County, only 17% of the 27,335 children who are eligible for child care subsidies receive them. Explore the map and the findings here.

We are partnering with the Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) to do a comprehensive study linked to A Bolder Way Forward for Utah. We encourage you to participate. See the details below from the ULWP: 

The Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) is conducting a statewide study to explore more deeply Utahns’ understanding, awareness, attitudes, concerns, and perceptions around challenges that women and girls face. We welcome all individuals living in the state age 18 or older to participate. The survey will take 10-20 minutes to complete. Dr. Susan Madsen is the primary researcher for this study. If you have questions or concerns, you can contact her at uwlp@usu.edu (USU IRB 13906). You can participate by clicking on the applicable link: English or Spanish.  

The Utah Legislative Session starts on January 16th. You can check out dates, schedules, committees and bills filed here.

This past interim session, the Missing Murdered and Indigenous Relatives Task Force of the Utah Legislature issued a report with findings and recommendations. Read the report here.